Overstocking???

[dschipman]

I just have a quick question for you all. Do you think that you can overstockpile? My husband is actually the one who has been trying to teach me how to find the bargins and stock up whenever possible. BUT, lets say for example, you have 30 cans of veggies, but you go to the store and see that they have canned veggies on sale for 25 cents a piece, do you buy more?? We are in the process of trying to pay down our bills, so I feel that if we need it then YES, lets buy it, but if we don't wouldn't it be better to put that extra money towards bills? UGH, I guess I am just looking for opinions, what would you do?

Thanks
Dawn

[WV_mom_of2]

Everyone has different ideas of what stockpiling means and how to do it. To me, if you are putting yourself into debt, missing bill payments or buying so much extra that it goes to waste, then yes you can over stockpile. Part of stockpiling for me is being prepared for the future and for a disaster. Part of that is knowing what we need to get through several months and what a good deal is. If I ran onto canned veggies in this day and time for .25 a can, I'd buy cases as long as the use by date was a year or more from now LOL.

Right now I probably have at least 50 cans of green beans, 25 of corn, 25 of peas, 22 cans of tuna, 24 cans of kidney beans, 25 cans of tomato soup, 12 jars of peanut butter, etc. If these things went on a good sale, I'd buy more because they are items we use on a regular basis and it's better to have them at sale price then have to pay more for them later. This is especially true right now when it seems prices are going up every day! A good sale price today might not be seen again! (think peanut butter..... several months ago name brands were on sale here regularly for .99 for an 18oz jar. Now it's 1.50 on sale)

For me it's also about being prepared in an emergency. I can be stranded in my home for a week at a time in a blizzard and I've done without power for nine days before. I want to have everything here that I would need to keep my family fed and well for several months. If my dh were to get hurt or lose his job, we could eat on what's here and put any money towards bills.

As long as it isn't causing financial hardship to stock up and you use the food before it goes bad, then I don't think you can over-stockpile!

[dcompton]

I agree with the above. Stockpiling is a great way to save money - if you don't buy more than you can use before it goes bad. However, we can't put all our eggs in that basket; stockpiling can't not take the place of some readily available emergency funds. Not many landlords would barter canned green beans for the rent. On the other hand, a good stockpile is another form of an emergency fund, and I think an important one. As Sherri said, it frees up money to pay the bills in tough times.

I would work at paying down the bills, definitely. But I think it's also important, if you can, to budget some money toward building up a stockpile. Only you can decide what is enough or too much; that will depend on a lot of variables -- how secure you feel your income is, how many would have to live off of it, how long you would want it to last, whether you live in a place where natural disasters are likely, how concerned you are about inflation.

But veggies .25 a can? That's a really great sale. I would definitely stock up some more if I have the available funds to do it.

[dschipman]

Thank you both. I totally understand stocking up when there is a good deal. I was just getting lost in how much are bills are and needing (WANTING) to get them paid. Money is a little tight from month to month and we have a good size pantry that we try to keep stocked with everything that we use on a regular basis. My concern was over buying, but like you both said if its a good deal and we will use it, then good.

Thank you both.

Dawn

[elphie]

For my stockpile I try to anticipate if I have enough to last until it will be on sale again. For example, I have noticed that my local supermarket has about a six week rotation in their sales so I try to buy about six weeks worth of whatever it is. This way I never pay more than the best sale price but I also don't buy more than I can store or can afford.

[MomToTwoBoys]

My ideal of overstockpiling is like this:

You can never have too many non-expiry items like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, toothbrushes, facial tissues, etc.

It's always good to buy extra but if you buy too much, and you don't have the room for it, you end up wasting money in the process. If I have too much of something and it's still on sale, I just bypass that sale and use the money I'd have spent on the vegetables for something else. I try to buy what I know I'll use before it hits the limit of the expiration date. For example, if I stockpile mushrooms and the first can is due to expire in June 2010, then I'll continue to stockpile and just put the June 2010 one in the front every time I buy more.

[macemesmum]

I love my stockpile, i am on my last tub of nappy san stain soaker (just opened it today) i brought it 2 years ago at a bulk place for ^.99 it now costs !3.50 in the shop so i think that is a great job!!

[IntlMom]

I don;t think you can over stockpile....and if by chance you deem you have bought "too much"...please donate it to your local food bank.........you will receive great blessing from it!