When did you find your stockpile finally being worth it?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 09-07-2008, 10:20 AM

I sat down with my list and as many of you know, I've been working on a stockpile since June. It's three months later and finally, I'm seeing the benefits of using the stockpile as a means of planning meals. I made out a list of meals and realized I only needed one or two ingredients from each meal at the store, with those ingredients being ones that are perishable! I then realized that I could build up my stockpile in other areas and get a large bulk of what I'm using in the winter time.

Not only that, but if I spend $225 today then I get a free 4kg box of chicken and this is the chicken I absolutely will not live without. I usually budget us at $240/bi-weekly and we've had some changes in the household as of late (both kids going back to school, one child starting a lunch program at school, etc) so I can actually devote a huge chunk of this budgeted amount to the stockpile.

So to those whom stockpile: when did you notice a change in your shopping habits to where you were using most of it out of your stockpile? When did you realize it was worth it?

**ladykemma2** · 09-07-2008, 10:41 AM

i realized it was worth it when my ex-husband ended up in intensive care for a month and was healing for several more months. for a month there was no income at all, and any funds were going to parking in the medical center, meals in the hospital, etc.
we were living on his short term disability. we lived on the food/supplies storage.

then again, when he lost his job.

then again, when he had cancer.

then again when i divorced him. i lived on it. i still have not replenished; i can't afford it.

so, i have a testimony of food/supplies storage.

**dilligaf** · 09-07-2008, 12:41 PM

depend on which stock pile you speak of

. WE have short term stocks and long term stocks here. At all times we keep a yr and a half to two years worth of basic foods in case of any type of disaster either personally or wide scale. We do not or i should say have not touched that other than to rotate that supply and replenish it and do not plan on it unless absolutely needed.

Our short term supplies are for about3-6 months worth of goods. I do use them when we are being tight wads because of work issues or when i simply do not want to go to town for a couple or several weeks. .

The largest portion of our stocks are home garden raised. Most of what we buy are oils , sugar and coffee products so in that respect our supplies are always verying with what is being harvested from the gardens during any one period

**Jamauk** · 09-07-2008, 01:06 PM

I really started to notice it recently. With everything that's been going on with moving/not moving/switching schools/school starting, etc....its been nice to not really have to worry about going to the grocery store.

There have been a couple of decent sales that I've tried to hit, but even if I didn't make it to the store, I really didn't stress because I knew we had plenty of food around to feed us and there would be another sale shortly.

Its really helped keep my stress levels down during this ultra stressed out time

**staceyy** · 09-07-2008, 01:32 PM

When I was able to help a family member who was suffering financially and get my extended family to see the benefits of putting provisions aside. Everyone in my family now stockpiles. They thought I was nuts at first!

**dcompton** · 09-07-2008, 03:30 PM

I finally got my stockpile where I wanted it very recently. Pantry stuffed, freezer full. It will save money, but right now, I mostly appreciate it's savings in time and stress. I look at all the sale flyers and think, nope, don't need to shop this week.

On the downside, I've been hit with an unexpected move with no time to use up any of it. I had to pack the whole dang thing. Half the boxes sitting in my living room waiting for the movers on Tuesday are pantry. Which also means I can't be using any of it because it's in sealed boxes. I've been eating out a lot this last week! But that's only for this momentary crisis. I'll be back on track by about Thursday. I hope.

**dianne9106** · 09-07-2008, 05:30 PM

My stockpile really helped out when other people were in need of food. I had the ability to get out a couple of brown grocery bags and fill them up and take it to them. It has also been nice having the things on hand such as pasta sauce, soap, shampoo, razor refills for my husband for an entire year!! I need to build it back up before the baby gets close to coming - I want to be able to relax without worrying about doing a huge shop. I have about 500 newborn and size 1 diapers on hand (my husband decided not to do cloth again), I just need to work on getting everything else back up to the standard that I had it before. Great Topic!!

**Jskell911** · 09-07-2008, 10:12 PM

The first time my stockpile more than paid for itself was when I was out of work for 8 weeks after my Hyster. We only had to buy milk and bread and what a lifesaver that was, as money was really tight.

**madhen** · 09-07-2008, 11:23 PM

I have just started my stockpile, and reading all these posts really motivates me to keep going!

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 09-08-2008, 01:58 AM

Right after DS#1 was born, our income went down roughly 40%. The month, I spent $17.50 for the ENTIRE month. The rest of the stuff was out of my pantry.

When DH was out of work after emergency surgery last October, we ate out of our pantry. Thank goodness we had it--it saved us!

**ladykemma2** · 09-17-2008, 08:23 PM

my stockpile saw me through hurricane ike, where there were power failures/no groceries on the shelves/transportation system /food delivery system failed.

now i really really really need to replenish.