How to Save Money Using the Art of "Stockpiling"

Recently my husband had been out of work due to an injury on the job. While we are receiving compensation ( his partial paycheck) I needed a way to "stretch" our dollars until he could return to work. Someone hooked me up with a technique called "Stockpiling".

Stockpiling is simply stocking up on items that you use every week, but doing it wisely and with as little expense to your budget as possible. Products that are non-perishable and that can be store on a shelf or in a pantry closet for a length of time before you use them are products that can be "stockpiled".

If you find yourself in this same situation-no matter what the reason, Here are some tips to help you get through the tough times and can be continued after the tough times have passed.

Each week my local grocery store mails out their sale flyer to households in the area that I live. I sit down with the flyer and make out my grocery list based on their flyer. Recently they have had items that I use frequently, on sale, at the price of 10 products for $10.00. If you use their store advantage card or customer card you can obtain that price for the duration of the sale flyer. ( Usually 1 week)

By the way, for those who do not know this, if you use your store card, customer card or advantage card, you DO NOT have to purchase all 10 of the products to get the sale price of $1.00 for each product purchased. You can purchase any amount up to 10 for $1.00 each.

So let's get to the "stockpiling" and increasing your dollar's buying power.

Each Sunday the local newspaper has coupon inserts and I clip out the coupons for products that I ALWAYS purchase and store them in a coupon file/folder until I need them for sales such as indicated above. I collect extra coupon inserts from my neighbors and sometimes I get extra copies at the local corner store.

Armed with my local grocery store flyer, my grocery list and my coupons-I go shopping. Here is an example of items that I purchased using the "Stockpiling" Technique.
Incidentally, my store will double cents off coupons up to and including $.99 coupons.

Examples of "Stockpiling"

Betty Crocker boxed or pouch potatoes are in the sale flyer 10 for $10 = $10.00 original cost
I have 10/ $.35 cents off coupons which doubled at the checkout = ($7.00)
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MY FINAL COST FOR 10 PRODUCTS $3.00 ( I paid 30 cents per box)

Since there is no tax on food purchases -this WAS my actual cost per box.

Soft Soap Body Wash had a 2 pack of 18 oz bottles for $3.96 on sale ( regular price for one is $3.99)

The price for 10 of these 2 pack bottles (20 bottles total) would be $36.96 plus applicable tax

I have 20 coupons for $.75 off 1 product purchase and doubled to $1.50 x 20 = $30.00

$36.96 sale price
($30.00) 75 cent coupons doubled to $1.50 per product purchase
2.21 sales tax cost
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final cost $9.17 for 20 bottles of body wash or $.4585 CENTS rounded to whole numbers = $.46 cents each 18oz bottle

Both of the examples above are products that can be stored in a pantry or bathroom closet for later use. These are just 2 examples of "STOCKPILING"

I can tell you that I DO NOT like to pay full price for products that I purchase on a regular basis and even tho my husband has recovered from his injury and has returned to work-I still use this technique each week when I shop. I can also tell you that using this technique of "Stockpiling", during his down time from work, we saved over $700 plus on our grocery bill which we used to help contribute to our other household bills.

I have taught this technique to several friends and neighbors and because so many people wanted to know how I saved so much money, that I now hold monthly classes teaching the ART OF STOCKPILING. Each person attending pays a fee of $5.00 per 2 hour class. Each person brings his or her unwanted and unused coupons to share with others who are attending. Each person goes home with the knowledge and ability to apply this technique to their own shopping list and they are armed with coupons that others shared with them. We always have a great time at the classes, as each month several people are asked to stand up and relate their "savings" story using their new found knowledge.

I am considering contacting the corporate office of the chain store that I shop at and consult with them as to holding the classes in a conference room in our local grocery store. The conference room can accommodate up to 30 people at one time easily.