Giving away the stockpile?

**mama2James** · 03-03-2010, 07:01 AM

Just wondering how many of us donate or give away stockpile items, either occasionally or on a regular basis?
I don't have a big stockpile yet, but I have enough of some things that I have been able to share with my family to help them out. My mom is disabled and constantly worrying about where to find the money for things she is running out of. Last week she happened to mention that she was getting short on mayonnaise, so I gave her a jar. I had four that need to be used before the exp. date in June. Yesterday my mom and younger sister were here visiting and they were talking about some things they needed at the grocery store. My sister is 18 and still lives at home, she usually buys the household stuff like TP, shampoo etc. She asked me if I had any coupons that I could give them to help out. I sent them home with what they needed instead: a four pack of TP, a bottle of laundry soap, shampoo, conditioner and trashbags. When I give them things, they are very thankful and they look amazed that I am able to afford to be generous like that. As much as I try to explain that I didn't pay much at all, with coupons/sales etc, my mom just can't wrap her head around it, because she has always lived with such scarcity, just buying what you need right this minute. It feels really good to be able to help. I've tried to teach her how to stockpile, but she is too scared to spend money ahead, it's something we might be able to work on over time.
I need to find a good place to donate my extra tubes of toothpaste, I have so many that I got for free at CVS, I feel like I'll never use them up. I think I may bring them to a homeless shelter.
Do you give away/donate stockpile items? To whom?

**cmr3399** · 03-03-2010, 07:06 AM

That's a very good question. I do try to use everything, especially with times being so tough...however I do donate from time to time...and I give to the food Bank at my Church as well as the Food Bank in my county!

Hope this helps!!!

**Grainlady** · 03-03-2010, 07:51 AM

I have stocked canned veggies in storage, but we really don't like to eat them and consider them emergency-use food. Each year these items get donated to the local Food Bank.

We also have a "starving artist" son who goes shopping in our storage room when he comes home for visits.

**ladytoysdream** · 03-03-2010, 08:08 AM

I donate to family members when I have something extra to spare. Up untill recently, I was giving away about 6 dozen eggs a week from our chickens. Now I have a buyer for those eggs.
I also give to 2 church pantries when I can. Some of those things were from our garden last summer and fall.

**NewLeaf** · 03-03-2010, 08:36 AM

I have posted before about my BIL who stole some things from my stockpile twice!!! He is unemployed at the moment and we were letting him do his laundry in our basement. That's when he stole from my canned goods.

Now, we give him some items from time to time to help him, but he is no longer allowed to be alone in the basement. We gave him items from the SP at Christmas like:toothpaste, deodarant, toothbrush, shampoo, soap, etc.

I don't know why he felt he had to steal, but I have forgiven him and moved on. We told him he just needs to ask.

**MaryCarney** · 03-03-2010, 09:56 AM

M2J - if your mom's reluctant to stockpile - why don't you stockpile for her? Find out (although I'm sure you already know) the items which would be of most use to her, and focus your couponing and sale shopping on them. Then, maybe Christmas, Mother's Day or her birthday - give it to her as a gift?

When we sold our home in December, we knew we'd be 'homeless' for a while (we live with our adult daughter, and close on our new place in two weeks). We gave most of our stockpile away to the local Caring Center. Our old home had a 10' by 10' walk-in pantry with 200+ linear feet of shelves. Our new home hasn't got a pantry (yet) so there would have been nowhere to put stuff anyway.

**Libby** · 03-03-2010, 10:47 AM

I like MC's idea to stockpile for your mom in advance and present it as a gift.

I donate to my freeloading bro...he's just one who can't 'seem' to help himself.....he's cheap as in embarrassing cheap at the stores but refuses to shop disc groc stores and use coupons. I can not figure out how he sees himself better then everyone else for NOT saving every penny he's earned.

Each time he comes to visit my dad - he manages to find a reason to be down in my area of the house and raids my stockpile. I have it so organized (b/c I only stock a limited # of things) that I KNOW whats missing. There are actually gaps on the shelves. I always send him an email after I find out he's been by to tell him "YOU'RE WELCOME for stealing from your baby sister." BTW: My bro doesn't seem to come by to visit dad as often anymore. I wonder why?

I know its my bro, and if he asked, I'd have no prob sharing but just ask! Let's just say that I've learned to hide my stockpile in boxes now on the shelf and label the box 'photos' or 'craft supplies' etc. Whats not easily visible seems to stay put...imagine that.

Other times I'll take one of my extra "x" item from my stockpile to my sister's, friend's or bf's b/c I know they could use it or it came up in convo that they needed something and I just happened to have it and be seeing them shortly.

**frugalwarrior2** · 03-03-2010, 11:07 AM

Our goal is 1 shopping cart per month to the local food pantry. So far 4 carts and 1/2 on the floor from Feb. not organized yet (yes,I know it's Mar.)
As I get better at this I get more and more FREE items too.
Mom and I trade coupons as well as a few other people from FV. It is casual and we just list what we need. No one is tight about 1 for 1 or anything.

I think you should stockpile for mom. Make her gift baskets. Throw in a few pretties she would never buy for herself. Make up holidays if you have to. St.Patricks day w/ green wrap on anything she would use.

**MaryCarney** · 03-03-2010, 04:09 PM

Oooohhhh, stockpile gift baskets. I LOVE that idea. That sounds like a challenge to me - a gift basket stuffed with free or nearly free (you paid less than 10% of retail ) items. What do you all think???

**KimberlySi** · 03-03-2010, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by MaryCarney

Oooohhhh, stockpile gift baskets. I LOVE that idea. That sounds like a challenge to me - a gift basket stuffed with free or nearly free (you paid less than 10% of retail ) items. What do you all think???

I think this sounds like a great idea! I'll have to give it a try.

Kim

**justpeachy92** · 03-03-2010, 05:10 PM

I will use stuff that we have stockpiled for charity use or to help out friends or family. I also use coupons and sales for the sole purpose of charity, pet food to donate to local animal shelters, and I take personal care items to a local womans and childrens shelter.

**marjorie** · 03-03-2010, 05:17 PM

In considering the baskets of stockpiled items, don't forget the young adults and college students! One year I gifted all my nieces and nephews with reusable bags full of goodies, and they were thrilled! They don't get the whole couponing thing and loved having a wide variety of mostly toiletries to try and to use. I estimated that each bag was in excess of $70 when all was said and done if I'd had to pay full price.

**spyzvixxen** · 03-13-2010, 04:36 PM

You can lead a horse to water....

It seems to me that people act interested in learning how to coupon when in reality, they really just want you to hand them the stuff without doing any of the work.

**ladykemma2** · 03-13-2010, 05:48 PM

i don't store anything i don't use. store what you eat, eat what you store.

i don't understand the CVSers at all. i got all this crap for 15 bucks...boy what a deal.... but i'll never use it so i'll give it away... isn't that a waste of the original 15 bucks?

**Nada.Leona** · 03-13-2010, 06:44 PM

DH and I are trying to cut down on our comsumption of salt and sugar, so we ended up giving away a lot of stockpiled crap foods. Which probably wasn't the best idea.