Stockpiles and Comfort Levels

[Iggy aka IG]

At what point do you consider your stockpile (freezer, pantry, HBAs, paper products, whatever) to be in need of replenishing?  Do you ever panic when it gets down to a certain level?

[Blonde Granny]

I don't exactly have a stock pile, certainly according to some of the pics I've seen of women who take this way beyond seriously. I've never seen the need for 500 toothbrushes or 100 bottles of Dawn liquid. How ever there are some things I should buy by the case because we like them and use them year round. Example if the Campbells Healthy tomato basil soup.  But I never seem to get around to doing that either, and Sams doesn't carry that item in bulk or any other way.  Besides, how many cans are in a case anyway.

So to answer your question, no I don't panic, I suspect I will usually have more than 1 item on hand, then it gets put on the grocery list.

[vonna]

Nah, I don't panic, but I get annoyed if I have to make an extra trip to the store because I run out of an essential staple . . .

[Tiny]

I usually start looking to 'stock up' when I pull the second to last what not from the stock pile. That usually gives me plenty of time to watch for a sale. My 'stock pile' consists of stuff that has long shelf lives OR things that take me several weeks to use up - things like toothpaste, laundry detergent, deodorant, shampoo - you get the idea.

I'm kinda letting everything run down with the goal being needing to 'stock up' in August/September. And as it's July, I'm alittle "whoa! empty space! that's bad!" but it's not.

As for 'stocking up' I consider the time/effort/gas NOT used during the months (or year) while I'm using up what I've bought to be 'savings'. I try to catch a good sale when stocking up - but if I only catch a so-so sale it's ok too.

I'm single so I'm trying NOT to have such a big stock up of food. Somehow I've got 6 months or more of 'food' things I can make into dinners/lunches - and I keep buying (and EATING) more food. I need to re-evaluate what I'm doing.

[Blonde Granny]

Our freezer in the garage is getting more and more put into it. The Fresh Market keeps having these great deals so I'm doing some stocking up. I plan on make a full batch of potato casserole this week and getting it in  2 portion containers for the freezer. TFM has also been having delicious small pies that cut in half are perfect for us.....so I'm looking to get those into the freezer for this winter also.

I do need more Jif peanut butter so that is now on the grocery list.

[kittensaver]

I'm the odd one out, sorry  A stockpile does not contribute to my sense of security - okay I'm weird. A stockpile is a financial tool and a time-saving system - at least for me. It never causes me to panic.

[busymom]

Funny you should start this thread. We're trying to "eat through" the pantry, & the pantry is almost 1/2 empty. And, it's starting to bug me...

In the Fall, I totally get into stockpiling, as I'm planning for winter. (nothing worse than being stuck at home due to a blizzard).

[Blonde Granny]

My pantry is actually dwindling to a more manageable level. It could us a little organizing while it's dwindling too. I must admit, I'm keep it in better shape that I thought I would.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I currently have 70 rolls of paper towels and over 100 rolls of toilet paper ~ I'm good.

[marvholly]

I do not panic BUT I have a genetic aversion to paying shelf price for ANYTHING. I put things on my list to watch for combined sales & coupons when I get own to 1 or 2 of frequently used items.

[NoNamePerson]

The only thing I "watch" is TP. No Sears catalogue laying around anymore if you run out   And I hate to make a run just for TP!!

[resolution]

I have a small house, so I am more into simplicity than stockpiling. I will buy in large quantities when there is a great sale, but other than that I will only put something on the shopping list when I open up the last one in the pantry. I just have one full bag of rice right now, so when I open it, I will put rice on the shopping list.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I have a small stockpile of cat litter, and cat food, and Fiber One cereal, and Diet Mountain Dew, and organic corn cakes, and a certain brand of green bean that's hard to find, and sugar free gum, and ponzu sauce. And Color Catchers. But some of this is because you get better prices from Amazon if you buy a LOT.

I must say, it does add to my sense of comfort and peace in case of a freak global catastrophe involving fiber, diet soda, cat supplies and green beans.

(I already confessed my toilet paper and paper towel stash up thread)

[Blonde Granny]

molly....you actually buy food products from Amazon? Are you in a special delivery area or is this just a regular Amazon purchase?

[Sam_2.0]

I like to keep TP, laundry detergent, and diapers on-hand. Nothing worse than running out of those! I buy in bulk from Walmart online so when I open my last container then that item gets put on my list. It only takes 2-3 days to get the new shipment in. I hope to jump back into the couponing game in a bit, but for now we are still well stocked on HBA supplies. We've lived off that stockpile for nearly 3 years!

[Blonde Granny]

I keep putting things into the garage freezer but frankly it needs to be defrosted before I load much more into it. Not exactly sure how I'm going to accomplish this, as we only have one larger cooler and there is no room in the freezer in the house.

I think I'll turn this problem over to DH and let him think on it.

on edit: well, he thought about and decided it wasn't so bad, nothing needs to be done. So, I just emptied the freezer, I found 3 different packages of bacon (didn't know we had any), lots of frozen veggies of different varieties, lots of meat & chicken from The Fresh Market ...and darn if they aren't having another great sale on meat products today too. We will make that trip after lunch.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Jul 8, 2014 18:13:49 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

molly....you actually buy food products from Amazon? Are you in a special delivery area or is this just a regular Amazon purchase?

I don't buy perishables from Amazon, but I buy all sorts of other food items from them if I can't simply/easily get them here without driving all over. (I have Prime, so free shipping)

Last weekend, I visited three different grocery stores for Ponzu sauce. (I like it on my salads) No luck. So I popped onto Amazon.com and could get three for $7.96. (This is cheaper than one store, and roughly the same price as the other two stores and  ~ most importantly ~ they HAVE some!)

Locally, unless it's on sale, Fiber One is about $5 a box. I was able to order 6 boxes on Amazon for $20.94 cents. I eat a cup every day, so I can plow through 6 boxes in no time. When I do see it on sale locally, I REALLY stock up ... but I was down to my last few boxes from my last stock up.

We also just ordered Glad ForceFlex 13 gal. tall kitchen garbage bags ~ 75 count ~ for $13.76. That is significantly cheaper than the non-sale price locally. We use one a day for our kitchen trash can, so it was worth my while to buy this quantity.

I can buy a large bag of my cat's cat food (Taste of the Wild Grain Free) from Amazon for just $1.00 more than driving 30 minutes across town (one way) to the feed store to buy it from them. To save the hassle, time, and gas ... I am happy to let Amazon deliver it to my doorstep. I order their canned food online from Amazon, too (grain free Fussie Cat) because they are a few dollars cheaper than Pet Extreme (the only local store who carries it) ... saving me hassle, time, gas and money.

[Blonde Granny]

I checked the price of Campbells Heart Healtly tomato basil soup @ Amazon vs. Walmart, WMT was cheaper. I buy the 500ct Ruffies 13gal trash liners at WMT for about 7-$8. This darn WMT keeps being the least expensive no matter what I seem to price check.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jul 9, 2014 11:03:26 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I keep putting things into the garage freezer but frankly it needs to be defrosted before I load much more into it. Not exactly sure how I'm going to accomplish this, as we only have one larger cooler and there is no room in the freezer in the house.

I think I'll turn this problem over to DH and let him think on it.

on edit: well, he thought about and decided it wasn't so bad, nothing needs to be done. So, I just emptied the freezer, I found 3 different packages of bacon (didn't know we had any), lots of frozen veggies of different varieties, lots of meat & chicken from The Fresh Market ...and darn if they aren't having another great sale on meat products today too. We will make that trip after lunch.

My experience with The Fresh Market meat specials is that they cycle though them every 2-4 months. 

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Jul 9, 2014 11:56:07 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I checked the price of Campbells Heart Healtly tomato basil soup @ Amazon vs. Walmart, WMT was cheaper. I buy the 500ct Ruffies 13gal trash liners at WMT for about 7-$8. This darn WMT keeps being the least expensive no matter what I seem to price check.

I don't think we've shopped at a Walmart in 2+ years.  I don't like crowds or crime, and there's too much of both at our closest Walmart. (And it's not a Walmart with a full grocery store). So, I am price comparing with where we DO shop.

(And we tend to be weirdly picky about some brands ... my wonderful DH was very SPECIFIC when he told me what type of trash bags to purchase!)

That being said, I did just find a weird specialty food item from Walmart.com that I ordered (I had to order 6) ... even with $4.97 shipping, it was cheaper than I could find through Amazon.com.

I think the lesson to be learned is this: it can pay to shop around and compare prices. And then you can make the choice that works best for your situation.

[Blonde Granny]

The WMT home office is about 10 miles from us, so we tend to have really nice stores. They are building one about 1/4mi from our house and its' within walking distance. It is one of the largest stores they have ever built @ 180K SF. It opens Aug. 13.

[Iggy aka IG]

In January I had so much in the HBA stockpile, it was overflowing the master bedroom closet storage cube.  The pantry and freezer were the same earlier this year.  I purposefully have been depleting the latter two, and can actually name the few proteins we have left in the freezer we did such a good job.    Canned goods in the pantry have several empty rows, which tell me it's stock up time.  Same with the HBAs.  I'm down to using the last bottle of conditioner!

[Chocolate Lover]

Jul 9, 2014 11:03:26 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I keep putting things into the garage freezer but frankly it needs to be defrosted before I load much more into it. Not exactly sure how I'm going to accomplish this, as we only have one larger cooler and there is no room in the freezer in the house.

I think I'll turn this problem over to DH and let him think on it.

on edit: well, he thought about and decided it wasn't so bad, nothing needs to be done. So, I just emptied the freezer, I found 3 different packages of bacon (didn't know we had any), lots of frozen veggies of different varieties, lots of meat & chicken from The Fresh Market ...and darn if they aren't having another great sale on meat products today too. We will make that trip after lunch.

I know you already decided on the freezer thing, but just a thought for you... my great aunt fills her bathtub up with stuff out of the freezer when she defrosts. I'm pretty sure it survives the defrost time. Maybe larger things that would take longer to thaw out could go there instead of the cooler when you are ready.

[mmhmm]

Just ignore this post. Blonde Granny and I are playing tag! 
Blonde Granny, you done been tagged!

[Blonde Granny]

mmhmm

Tag, you're it.

[mmhmm]

Worked like a charm, Blonde Granny!  You win! 

[Blonde Granny]

Back to our regularly scheduled discussion.

[Chocolate Lover]

Darn, I wanted to play tag!   

[Blonde Granny]

Jul 9, 2014 13:32:21 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Jul 9, 2014 11:03:26 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I keep putting things into the garage freezer but frankly it needs to be defrosted before I load much more into it. Not exactly sure how I'm going to accomplish this, as we only have one larger cooler and there is no room in the freezer in the house.

I think I'll turn this problem over to DH and let him think on it.

on edit: well, he thought about and decided it wasn't so bad, nothing needs to be done. So, I just emptied the freezer, I found 3 different packages of bacon (didn't know we had any), lots of frozen veggies of different varieties, lots of meat & chicken from The Fresh Market ...and darn if they aren't having another great sale on meat products today too. We will make that trip after lunch.

I know you already decided on the freezer thing, but just a thought for you... my great aunt fills her bathtub up with stuff out of the freezer when she defrosts. I'm pretty sure it survives the defrost time. Maybe larger things that would take longer to thaw out could go there instead of the cooler when you are ready.

It was so warm in the garage it started melting off within minutes.  I don't think anything was out longer than 30 minutes.  Next time I'll watch it more carefully.

[Blonde Granny]

mmhmm was teaching me how to do it. I'm blonde and old, guess how long that takes...