When the items you use most go on sale you need to stockpile! Stockpiling is when you buy several of the same item for future use. What items does your household use the most? We go through Angel Soft toilet paper, Pert Plus shampoo, and BBQ sauce faster than anything else. Your family may go through other items such as paper towels, frozen pizzas, or dryer sheets. Make a list of your most used items so you will know what to watch for on sale.
When your items do go on sale you have to decide if you should buy enough for the time being, or if the sale is good enough to add items to your stockpile. This week Pert Plus was on sale 2 bottles for $5 with $3 credit to use on a future purchase. That makes my normal $3.28 shampoo $2.50 each and then after the credit, it’s like spending $1 per bottle. Luckily I had a pile of $1.50 off Pert Plus coupons from the newspaper and internet, so I would pay $2 cash for every 2 bottles, and then get a $2 credit on my next purchase. I bought 6 bottles, enough for four or five months. If I would have had more coupons I would have kept buying, as my shampoo was basically free. I paid $6 total out of pocket and had $6 in credit. I then turned around and spent that $6 on other sale items for my stockpile.
Don’t limit yourself to just a few of your most used items, if the sale is a great sale, you can stockpile even rarely used items. If after combining coupons and the sale price items are free or almost free, why not buy? I buy food we’ve never tried before when I can find it for free or around .50. If I buy five of a new soup at .18 each and I don’t like the flavor, I end up giving them away to family, trading them with friends for stuff I do like, or donating them at my son’s can food drive. Don’t be afraid to stockpile items that are almost free. Some of the most popular stockpile items are air fresheners and plug ins, just because it seems every other week with coupons and sales you can get them free.
Most people worry that they don’t have room to store stockpile items. Even people in tiny one room apartments find space. Buy an under bed container and store items there. Linen closets, under bathroom sinks, and garages are great stockpile places. Just make sure you remember where you put what and don’t forget to use the items before the expiration date. What do you do when your stockpile starts taking over the house? Throw together a gift basket of stock pile items for that new bride, college student, or struggling family down the block. If you got most of your items free or for pennies on the dollar you can afford to give some away. Selling flat rate boxes of like items will also make you some quick cash on eBay.
The next time you see your deodorant on sale super cheap, grab a few extra to stockpile. If you keep everything you use in bulk you will never have to worry about running out unexpectedly, and you’ll never have to pay full price again. If you need help finding your items to stockpile there are many sites out there that post stores sales, and Wwhow is a great resource. Leave a comment with your stockpiling tips or let us know what you plan to stockpile!
