When I first started couponing and stockpiling, most of my family and friends thought I was a bit nuts. After months of watching me clip coupons, scour ads and listen to me get so excited about how many boxes of cereal I bought for 55 cents, it wasn't long before a few of them began to think I was a blooming genius and started to ask me about starting their own little stockpile!
When creating your family's stockpile the goal is to buy in advance the quanties your family will need and use when prices are at their lowest. Here's an example: Last summer I went to Shaw's and purchased 30 bottles of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce. The BBQ sauce was on sale 10 for $10. / $1 each and I had a coupon for $1 off of 2 making them 50 cents each! Woo Hoo! Yes, the check out girl had an eye rolling good time, and the guy behind me looked at me a bit funny, but I could care less. I haven't bought BBQ sauce since last May and I won't again until next May! We have enough to last us through to the next sale and we've been able to include them in our donations to the food pantries.
Breakdown of Savings
- 30 bottles of BBQ sauce @ $1.99 (Regular Price)
- 30 bottles at regular price = $59.70
- Total I paid = $15.00 for 30 bottles (What I Paid)
- Total saved = $44.70 (What I Saved!)
Now apply that method to other nonperishable items. If you began saving $44.70 a year on just (5) items, you’d create a $223.50 annual surplus in your grocery budget. You can see how quickly your savings will add up. You could utilize that savings for credit card debit or maybe to help get through the heating season!
Where to start
Think about how many people are in your family and how many months you would like to store up for. This will depend on your purpose for building a stockpile. We maintain a stockpile because:
- It saves us money
- We are prepared in case we were to ever lose our income for any period of time
- We want to be able to give to any family, friends, neighbors if the need arise
- We want to be able to donate to our church and local food pantries
We're always striving for a 12 month supply plus a little extra for donations. Make a list of items that you would like in your stockpile. Figure out how much you can afford to contribute to your new endeavor. This can be as little as $5 a month. Between couponing and sale shopping you can begin adding to your pantry without a big crunch on your budget. Watch your sales flyers and learn when items are coming up to the "sales cycle". This is the time of year when items are at their lowest price. Sort of like the "white sales" of the grocery world. February, by the way, is national canned veggie month, so stock up!
Payoff Time!
It takes a while to see your stockpile grow. At first you'll have a lot of a few things and you may be discouraged. Be patient! As you continue to work towards your goal you will notice that you'll no longer need to purchase staples each time you go shopping but can wait for the next "big sale" or "great coupon". Anything you buy on sale, at rock bottom prices, will only be money saved this time next year.
The Bible and Stockpiling
Someone recently asked me if I felt that "stockpiling" was hoarding or Biblically sound. I don't profess to be a Biblical scholar. This is only my understanding and my belief.
I believe that if you chose to stockpile because you are afraid of the future, whether it be war, famine or economic hardship and your stockpiling I think you may have a problem.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7
I chose to stockpile to be a good steward of our family's finances and to be a good helpmate to my husband. I do not stockpile out of fear. I know that the Lord will provide for me. I fear not and neither should you.
These are some of the reasons I believe it to be Biblically sound to stockpile:
Being a wife:
"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness"
Proverbs 31:7
It takes time to do all that couponing, scanning, planning and shopping!
"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar."
Proverbs 31:14
Yes, I travel to Auburn and sometimes even Augusta....that's pretty darn far!
"She considereth a field and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."
Proverbs 31:16
A wise and prudent woman knows where and when to reap the benefits of a good sale for her family!
Most importantly, please don't forget to share!
So many of us have been blessed in many ways. Many of our neighbors struggle daily. Please don't forget them when you do your shopping. Your church or local food pantry would love to have any donation, no matter how small! Share your blessings!
"He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."
Luke 3:11
"He that give unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hide his eyes shall have many a curse."
Proverbs 28:27
Stockpiling vs Hoarding
What is the difference between stockpiling and hoarding?
People that stockpile, usually buy things that they will use, at the lowest price possible, in quantities that will last them until the next sale or until the item will expire.
Hoarding is buying things that you know you will never use, just because you can get them for free and then just letting them sit around until they go bad. You take pride in just "having" them. Even though you know you will never use them.
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