A Look Inside the Pantry
Frances | November 30, 2010
Thanks Reader P… for sending us a peek inside their pantry under a staircase. Reader P… has place expiration dates on all the products so that their family of two will know what to use first. What a fantastic idea to use the green labels, we love it!
Stockpiling is a sure fire way to save money on groceries. The value of the dollar decreases and the cost of groceries are going up, WEEKLY.
What is stockpiling? Stockpiling is building up a stock of products that are on sale that your family uses. For example, if your family eats Ragu spaghetti sauce ($4 a jar) a couple times a month and you found the jars on sale for $.34 a jar. It would not make sense to buy only one jar and pay full price next month.
Why? Stockpiling extend the sale of the items you buy and use every month. You are in complete control of what you pay for an item, not the retailers. You will no longer have to pay full price for items you use on a regular basis.
Disaster. Not only does stockpiling help you pay less for things you buy every month but you will be prepared for any natural disasters (hurricanes in our area) or unnatural disasters (job loss).
Basics of a stockpile. Here is a list of items that you should start stockpiling. There maybe others depending on what your family needs. You may want to add the not so basic things, for example Glade Air Freshers. If you use them and they go on sale, by all means add them to your stockpile.
- Paper Towels
- Paper Plates and Cups (these come in hand during a hurricane)
- Dishwasher Detergent
- Dish Soap
- Cleaning Products
- Razors
- Laundry Soap
- Hand Soap
- Shampoo, Conditioner, and Gel
- Toothpaste, Toothbrush and Mouthwash
- Frozen Foods
- Canned Goods (Tuna, Peanut Butter)
- Batteries
- Light Bulbs
- Candles and Matches
- Pet food
- Plastic and Aluminum wrap
- Trash and Storage bags (Ziploc)
- Diapers and wipes
- Formula and baby products
- Cereal
- Dressings and Condiments
- Cooking Oil
- Coffee and Tea
- Oatmeal
- Pasta and Rice
- Juice
- Frozen Foods (if you have an extra freezer)
There is no room. We hear this a lot, there is no room in my house. Well, for those of you who know us, if we can find room you can. 
You decide the size of your stockpile, it can be as big as your garage or the top shelf in your pantry. Look around your house, there is a top shelf in a clothing closet or in your kitchen that you are not using or can you move some kitchen appliances around to make room. If you are still not convinced send us a photo of your opened kitchen cabinets and we will work on it together. Think about this, what’s worth more, that shelf of shoes that you have not worn in 5 or more years or rolls of paper towels that you bought for a fraction of the cost?
Where to put it? Here are some ideas on where to put the stockpile.
- Under the bed in plastic containers
- Coat closet
- Take mixes out of their boxes and storing them in plastic shoe size containers (cut & tape the instructions to the bags).
- Laundry room (install a cabinet or wire shelf)
- Kids closet shelves
- Basement or Attic (paper towels and toilet paper)
- Garage (only items that do not need to be in the A/C)
Share with a friend. If you can’t consume everything you buy on sale, split it with friends. Swap finding deals and split the cost. You can trade not only groceries but coupons as well. This really works well if you have a small family or you are single.
Important things to keep in mind.
- Expiration dates – Watch the dates on the perishable items like cereals and juice.
- Rotate – Use the oldest items first in order to avoid waste.
- Storage and Organizing – Be careful how you store your items. Don’t store your liquid detergent above your cereals. There could be a leak. Make sure you organize the products in your home. Keep your chemicals away from the food items.
- Don’t Get Carried Away – Remember the 1st rule of shopping, only buy what you need or what you will use. Don’t get caught up in shopping fever of finding a great deal and buy things your family won’t use.
- Take your Time – There is no rush. Build your stockpile over time. Have fun with the hunt.
