A look into my Stockpile + How I do it!
Many of you have asked to see my stockpile. I was organizing everything the other night and decided to snap some photos while I was doing it. Its nothing fantastic–but this is mine! I can proudly say that this is something that I have worked very hard for and I’m so happy to rely on it. I stopped stockpiling about 3 months ago. We just didn’t have enough room in our garage and we needed to rotate items to make room for more. our stockpile was about 2 times larger 6 months ago — and it took about 6 months to get that size.
When you stockpile–you will realize that it does take time to really build one. It doesn’t happen over night and as long as you set a budget (I’ll show you how I do it) you will not overspend.
Mens, Women’s and kids body wash
Floss, Toothbrushes
Toothpaste, Kleenex and Razors (I’m sure I have about 30 tubes of toothpaste 🙂 )
Cleaning items, light bulbs
Feminine Hygenie items
Baby items
Juice, Pasta Sauce, Dressings, Canned tomatoes
Cereal, Pasta, Snacks
Laundry Detergent, Softener
Travel Size items
Misc. items (I used to have about 20 bottles of contact solution! I have not purchased any for about a year and a half..so its getting pretty low)
Deodorant, bath items
Medicine items
Make up, Hair items, lotions, Q tips
How I stockpile:
- Set a budget. I set aside $8 per week to stockpile. So obviously, the more free or cheap items I get, my $8 goes further. When I do get free items, I get just enough to last 6-8 weeks if possible. Sometimes I will pick up free items, even if I don’t need it at that time because I will use it. I’m just adding to the pile. Nothing to shop for that week? Stockpile money goes to the grocery budget or rolls over to next week. I make sure to never go over my budget.
- Any drugstore rewards or catalinas go back into my stockpile budget. I usually always take advantage of Free or moneymaker store reward items because it helps add to my stockpile and gives me more money to spend towards my pile.
Quick question 🙂 When you say you set aside $8 does that include tax? Tax kills me everytime. lol
If you ever care to donate any of it to the homeless or needy, I would be happy to distribute it. Just a thought to keep in mind <3
I actually donate 4 times a year. At least 1/3 goes to a woman’s shelter near my home!
Yes. I factor sales tax. Tax is not applied on food items so I really do not pay a ton of tax.
Amazing, I have a little stock pile, getting there, I love it, Thanks soo much for all the tips. Detergent and snacks are the one thing I need to learn how to effectively stock up on. My husband finds it interesting how many toothpastes, deorants, body washes, shampoos we now have LOl, he doesnt quite understand that i stock up if the price is right, til the next sale.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! I’m done to the barebones on mine and that’s why I’m checking in! I got a bit burnt out but now I’m ready to go! Thanks for the heads up on the Schicks razors!
I am really looking forward to seeing your grocery post. My monthly budget is 200 as well, but I always seem to go over it. Its frustrating. Also my monthly couponing bugdget is $75. Thats including buying extra papers(I only get 1 delivered and they are $2+tax at the store!) Even with this I don’t seem to get much each week. And to be honest rolling my ecb’s is kind of intimidating when I go to the cashiers. lol. I feel like they are going to yell at me, even though they never have 🙂
I just wanted to let you know that a cashier at 7-Eleven noticed I was coming in to buy papers every Sunday. She asked if I was getting them for the coupons and of course I said yes. She told me that the Sunday edition of the LA Times (which they get on Saturdays) has all the coupons in it also! The same as on Sunday! It is also cheaper ($1.50 each). Since I buy about 10 papers, they give me a discount. Saving money is saving money. Hope this helps:)
@ashley – Go to the store at off hours to do a bunch of rolling transactions. The cashiers don’t mind but it helps if you are not creating a line of disgruntled people behind you. If the store is busy, you can usually get a manager or someone who is not a regular cashier to ring you up at another register so you don’t bug other customers.
@Regina, I too noticed the coupons in the saturday LA Times a while back but It doesn’t always have the store ads and is sometimes missing the Parade magazine. Plus I’m always just a little nervous that I am going to miss something.
[…] A look into my Stockpile + How I do it! […]
🙂 I remember the MM$ deal on that travel size CVS sunblock! 🙂
this is SO helpful! i need help making a budget for this type of stuff because i find it hard not to overspend by trying to do too many deals. Thank you!!
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