how much is too much ?

[itlw8]

lots of cereal sales lately and I had coupons so we have tons of cereal..... but I still have $1 coupons for Cheerios... how much is too much? We end up donating to food drives so should I just get it even if I do not need it now ??


now I am getting mac and cheese out my ears using the kraft coupons in the ALL You magazine

Where do you draw the line ?? 1 year of use???

[Momof3girls]

I have about a year's supply of things or a bit longer if the exp. date is further out.

[Suzy]

I have limited storage space so I buy until I don't have any more room or a few months supply, which ever comes first

[janelane]

For me our stockpile is dependent on space, which we don't have much of. If you have the space, I'd think, expiration dates and how fast you go through food would be a factor.

My grandparents have a real problem with this. My grandmother hoards food, it's only the two of them so they don't go through it, then she'll go through her cabinets and try to give me expired stuff that we don't even eat here. (and I'm talking WELL expired stuff. I have a box of jello pudding from the mid 80's that I pulled out of her cupboard a month ago that I now use for decoration.)

I think if it gets to the point that things are going to waste, that's a sign to stop, but if you know you'll use it, or send it to a food drive, and you have the space, then there's no harm I'd think, especially with prices going up up up up.

[StaceyS]

I donate, too. I figure, I want to donate anyway, I may as well stock up when I can get it cheap/free and then donate more than I may have been able to otherwise.

[Wendy Mack]

Well this is how I do it .. if its something that doesn't expire.. i get what i can for free or cheap and store it. I have tons of shampoo and razors lol ... And food I look for experation dates. If its a long time coming and its something my family uses then i get what i can ... otherwise i just get what we can use. I am lucky and have some storage space I just need to reorganize it. And if you are donating .. and its pretty much free.. I would get what you could. I know here in Iowa we have alot of displaced families yet from the floods that could use things.

[cheles2kids]

Well this is how I do it .. if its something that doesn't expire.. i get what i can for free or cheap and store it. I have tons of shampoo and razors lol ... And food I look for experation dates. If its a long time coming and its something my family uses then i get what i can ... otherwise i just get what we can use. I am lucky and have some storage space I just need to reorganize it. And if you are donating .. and its pretty much free.. I would get what you could. I know here in Iowa we have alot of displaced families yet from the floods that could use things.

Well written, Wendy! This is basicallly my school of thought as well.
I know most canned items and such usually have a 2 year shelf life on them.

Cereal and more unstable foods can be frozen to help keep them fresher for longer. But depending upon the cereal also depends on how well it will freeze. I would just freeze a box or two to see how they hold up.

Also for things like Cheerios, if you personally know a young, needy family just starting out, I'm sure they would love to have some extra groceries.
This could be someone you know, or even a family from your church that seems to be struggling to make ends meet.

Also remember that Christmas time is coming around soon and most churches do holiday boxes of food that they distribute to low-income, needy families.
So if you can get them for an excellent price now, I would go ahead and buy them and then consider donating a few more boxes around the holiday time.

I know alot of food banks and such have really tightened down on what food donations that they will take.

[MommaStumpf]

Yes it really all depends on how often you eat the foods you are stockpiling (soory if thats spelled wrong) and how much usable (I mean really usable) space you have to store it in. The other thing to consider is price after the coupon. (if its not costing you like free and you are donating the items then I would go ahead and use the coupons you have most food banks are in need now)