Stockpiling is the secret to really lowering your grocery bill. Today, I am giving you a little peek inside my pantry. It is where I keep the majority of my food stockpile. I don’t know why, but this feels so personal. I ‘d almost rather tell you my weight, than post a picture of my pantry, but here it goes…
What is stockpiling? A stockpile by definition is a reserve supply of goods. Stockpiling is simply buying groceries and household goods when they are at their cheapest and buying enough to last you until the next great sale! Nearly, everything you see in this picture was free or less than $.50!
Why should you stockpile? When you stockpile, you only buy your non-perishables when they at their lowest price. You never have to pay full price for that box of cereal or that roll of paper towels because you always have enough on hand.
How much should you buy? Stores sales generally run on a three month cycle. Meaning that B1G1 cereal, that also has matching coupons, and only cost $.28 will not likely be that price for another three months. When your favorite products are at that rock bottom price, you should buy enough to last your family three months. Each family is going to be different. If you look at the picture of my pantry, you will see an insane amount of cereal! At last count, I think I had nearly 30 boxes. Most families will not eat 30 boxes of cereal in three months, but we love cereal! We eat it for breakfast, for snacks and even for dessert! I know my family will have no problem going through those 30 boxes long before their expiration date.
What should you stockpile? I only stockpile non-perishables because I don’t have an extra freezer. If you have an extra freezer, than you can also stockpile anything you can freeze. However, if you live in an area that has a hurricane season, like I do, I would recommend keeping your freezer supplies low during those months.
Here is a list of some items I stockpile:
Cereal
Granola bars
Oatmeal
Pasta
Spaghetti Sauce
Salad dressing
Condiments
Boxed side dishes
Frosting
Baking Mixes
Snacks
Paper Products
Laundry Products
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Shampoo
Conditioner
Personal Hygiene Products
Over the counter medicines
Cleaning Supplies
Air fresheners
Stockpiling Tips:
• Keep the labels facing out, so you know what you have.
• Stack it according to expiration date, so you eat the food closest to its expiration date first. First in, first out!
• Put bay leaves between your boxes of pasta and cereal to keep out weevils.
• Don’t try to fill up your stockpile all at once. Let it build slowly as the sales come around.
I think that is everything, but if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
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looks like my pantry LOL
Your pantry is so organized. I'm impressed! Thanks for linking up to my Thrifty Thursday post!
Looks great! Thanks for linking up!
I love it! What a great article, and your pantry is SO pretty! LOL!
Very neat and tidy! Way to go!
Thanks all. Sometimes I feel like a am playing grocery Tetris, trying to make it all fit.
ROFMBO… I think we shop at the same stores! I see the free publix water, and the albertson's marcal napkins! lol.
i found sets of shelves in the garage, just minding their own business, slacking off. I put those babies to work! lol. i bought 19 pkgs of Finish DW detergent when W-D had them on sale for "half" price (and then $1\1 coups!). well, you get the pic
TY for all you do!
new to couponing. will you be in the birmingham, al area this month? very excited to get started
HI Shelley,
Nope, but I have a lot about how to get started in my couponing 101 (tab at the top). Read through those, take it slow and ask any questions you may have.
Welcome to couponing, you will be amazed how much you save!
The only problem with stockpiles is when they overflow your available space–takes creativity at times and lots of donating.
I have a lot of space in my pantry, but it is very deep. It is hard to layer things right so that I don't forget what is in the back. It is also dark and hard to see the back. I just organized it again, but it is hard to keep up with.
Some thoughts on knowing what you have and what's in the back of the pantry…I make a list of what I have on each shelf, date it, and stick it on the inside of the door. When I add/use, or rearrange, I update the list. Also, Get a couple of cheap storage containers, not big ones, the kind you can put in drawers with low sides, ($ store) and load things in them, in the pantry. Then you can pull them out to see what's in the back. I do the same for the freezer when I stock up on veges, bag dinners, etc…
Your pantry looks amazing i couldn't be more impresed!You must save alot of money.It is so neatly organized.Ilove how the cereal is organized by exporasion date.I'm guessing your other cabinets look like that too.Mabye even your whole house.Your family must realy realy realy apreciate all you do for them. I now I would.
I always use a black sharpie to date opened products,since there is only my hubby and I now. I have always been a stockpiler, it's gotten us through some rough times. In the past years, you used to be able to save upcs and get rebates. It's also nice to be able to make a care package for someone in need without putting a dent in your own stock. Thanks for your awesome suggestions.
Great stockpile! I've been couponing for about 3 months now and have learned how to save soo much!
There's just my husband and I, but I have a stockpile full of many of the things in yours! It's so great to get things cheap and not have to buy full price.
I keep a list of whats in the pantry and how many taped on the back of the pantry door! It lets me at a quick glance see what I have. I mark off what I use then make a new on when needed.
love your pantry!!! now is this just for your stockpile? like where do you keep open cereal, snacks, etc. i have everything together in one pantry but yours looks much nicer
Awesome tip about the bay leaves – I need to start doing that. I store most of my stock pile in our basement on plastic shelves, as my pantry is teeny tiny.
My open items are generally kept in my kitchen cabinets.
You’re just as thrifty as I.
My husband and daughter say they think I have more stock than the stores, but why pay full price for anything if you don’t have to, eh? When it’s not perishable, I stock up!
At the current prices for food, I’d have to take out another mortgage on the house just to eat if I just wandered around stores without a plan and a fist full of coupons.
It’s nice to know that you share my “rescue from high prices” technique!
HELLO IM WRITTING TO ASK PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE COUPONS THEY WOULD LIKE TO TRADE WERE I LIE THERE IS NO COUPONS AND THINGS ARE SO HIGH I NEED PEOPLE TO HELP ME GET COUPONS PLEASE . MY ADDRESS IS 1000 ELS COURT MOREHEAD CITY NC 28557 PLEASE CAN YOU ALL HELP ME I AM A COLLEGE GIRL AND THINGS ARE SO HIGH IN PRICE PLEASE HELP ME OUT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH
One of the big ones I stock up on is canned veggies! One of my local store occasionally has a coupon for $5 off your order for every ten store brand items you buy. When I see them out I grab a stack and then wait for their veggies to go on sale 2 for $1. Ta-da free veggies!
I once got 500 cans and 400 yogurts and made $40. Yogurt was on sale for 10 for $4. Manager was none to happy- but the wording on the coupon was on my side. Plus I explained that I donate a majority of it to a local food bank/soup kitchen! We sent the store a nice letter on the soup kitchens letter head and I called corporate head quarters to commend the employees who helped me, and let them know what great marketing it was. In return they sent the soup kitchen a $200 gift card and 20- $20 gift cards to give to people in need! It was very nice to be able to drop off 380 yogurts to the soup kitchen! It’s one of those things you don’t buy when you’re broke and it was much appreciated!
Normally I only use 4 or 5 of the coupons though- which means 40 or 50 cans of veggies!
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