One common factor among preppers is their stockpile. It is their way of preparing for the day of the apocalypse and making sure that they would have all that they need for months or years to come when it happens. Stockpiling is a fun way to store items with long shelf lives by the bulk. It’s actually an art where preppers would buy items in bulk at very low prices.
The amount of satisfaction is immeasurable when they realize how much money they saved by doing so.
Of course, purchasing items in bulk is not really light on the wallet. Especially when it’s something that you don’t need at the moment. It requires strict budgeting and practical thinking. Otherwise, you might end up sacrificing your current needs.
Not to worry though because you have come to the right place. Here’s a list of money-saving stockpiling tips that you can follow to ease the pressure.
1. Start Small
Aside from the regular weekly grocery budget, you can add a few more bucks for the goods that you need to stockpile on.
2. Figure Out How Much of Each Item to Stockpile
An ideal stockpile should last you at least 3 to 6 months.
Segregate the fast moving items from the slow-moving ones. One way to to do this is by writing down the date at the bottom of an item upon opening. When empty, just check the date and you’ll know how long it lasted.
3. Stockpile on Items that You and Your Family Enjoy
This is pretty basic, otherwise, the rest of the goods will just be put to waste.
You might as well be giving your money away…if that’s always the case.
4. Assess your Families Staple Food Consumption
This is how you narrow down on the items based on the previous tip.
The grocery receipts will show your list to the frequently bought non-perishables such as canned goods and dried staples.
5. Make a Master List
After the previous tip, list down all the products that you and your household members use all the time.
Start with the groceries. This way it will help you refrain from indulging on “good deals” and just down to the basics. The best method is to cut down on the average expenditure on the products on the list.
6. Know Your Stock Up Price
It may sound ridiculous but without knowing the realistic stock up price of the items on your list, you’ll never know if you were actually saving money.
7. Avoid Impulsive Buying
It was noted that families spend a few thousand dollars on spur-of-the-moment buying.
Other than following the list and sticking to the budget, always use cash as much as possible. That would mean your credit card should be left home.
8. Start Using Coupons
Clipping, organizing and matching coupons to sales may be time-consuming.
However, when done with due diligence, it can save you 60- 75% off your average grocery bill.
9. Know What Breed of Couponer You Are
There are three main types of couponer:
- The Casual Couponer
- The Skilled Couponer
- The Extreme Couponer
This way you know which breed saves the most.
10. Try Different Brands
Even if you may be loyal to a certain brand, you will have to match your coupons to a brand on sale. You will be surprised at how the brands you are currently using aren't any better than the ones on sale.
11. Set Aside a Specific Amount or Budget on Building your Stockpile
You can actually start your stockpile even on a tight budget.
You can start by setting aside a specific amount solely intended for it on a monthly basis.
12. Start with $5.00 a Week
You’ll be amazed at how you can fill your pantry by spending $5.00 a week on a specific item.
This article can show you a list of 18 items that you can rotate to make sure you don’t run out. And this is without the use of coupons!
13. Watch for Sales on Basic Staples During Holidays
With just $10.00 a month, you can save a lot with basic pantry staples such as dried pasta and beans. The key is to look out for sales on these items during Labor Day, the 4th of July or other holidays.
14. Use Storage Jars
To avoid losing your stockpile to mice and bugs, you should store them in glass storage jars as much as possible.
15. Keep Your Stockpile Organized
First, you need to know where to put it. Next, you need to know which items you have and don’t have. That way you don’t get to spend unnecessarily on items that you already have in stock.
16. First In First Out
Organize your stocks based on the expiration date labeled on the item.
This way you don’t waste any product because since it's in the rotation based on the expiration date.
17. Stock up on Powdered Milk
This product has a shelf life of up to 10 years if stored properly. Commercial powdered milk can have a shelf life of up to 10 years. Imagine the savings when buying this in bulk.
18. Stock up on Rice
This product has a very long shelf life if stored properly. You can actually extend its storage value by placing it in buckets or canisters. Plus it’s super cheap.
19. Store Non-Perishable Food Items
Food items such as brown rice, canned Alaskan wild salmon, bulk nuts, and wild beans are just some of the items that are considered as best survival foods that have great packaging and can last very long.
- Includes one 24-count box of 0.97-ounce Slim Jim Original Flavor Giant Size Smoked Meat Sticks
- Each individually wrapped snack stick is made to please your carnivorous cravings with a bold taste your taste buds will love
- Enjoy this beefy protein snack food for an easy, on-the-go meat feast that’ll kick hunger to the curb
20. Economize by Buying in Bulk
Comparing prices among stores is a good way to find out which ones have the lowest prices. Usually, warehouses, cooperatives, and buying clubs are the ones that offer great prices. By buying them in bulk you sometimes get a discount.
21. Purchase the Bulk of Your Food Supply from a Reputable Dealer
Reputable dealers usually have their products in good packaging and containers to ensure quality sealing. That way it will bring you more bang for your buck.
22. Don’t Go Overboard
As tempting as it may be to buy a bulk load of products, you need to control that urge.
Stores usually put the same items on sale on an 8 to 12-week cycle. So, you just need to purchase that amount for the same number of weeks depending on your usage. By the time you run out, it’ll be on sale again.
23. Use the Buddy System
Partnering with bulk purchases can save you a lot of money by splitting the purchases.
24. Shop from your Pantry
Plan your menu based on what you have in your stockpile. Then just replace what you used in order for it not to run out.
25. Grow Your Own Food
If you have available space or piece of land, why not start your own garden?
26. Purchase a Food Dehydrator
A quality product like this allows you to store healthy or perishable foods for a longer period of time.
27. Invest in a Freezer
This will help you store freezable items that will also create variety in your daily meal preparation.
Additionally, you can extend the storage life of your perishable items.
28. Buy an Exact Amount of Ammo for Every Gun You Own
Being able to determine which gun should have more ammo than the rest is a good way to determine how much you need to buy every few weeks.
Other than being able to use it for hunting game, it can also be used for defense.
29. Don’t let Naysayers Bother You
As long as you follow all the tips aforementioned and you don't waste any of the items you purchased, then it isn’t a disorder. It’s just smart.
30. Know When to Stop
Knowing when to stop stocking up on a certain item or as a whole is a vital part of stockpiling. Learning how to say no to a certain deal or sale is equally important.
Of course, there may be one or more factors to consider in order to come up with this decision.
As long as you follow the tips mentioned above you will surely be able to save a few bucks on a daily basis. Before you know it, you will have saved a thousand dollars in a year on your grocery bill.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Feb 10, 2018 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
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S.L.
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Rod
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