Stockpiling Groceries and Other Necessities
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
United States
April 26, 2008 9:34am CST
I stockpile. There was a time in my early life on my own where I didn't have food to feed myself or my daughter. We lived on peanut butter, bread, and oranges for about two weeks. It was very scary. Many times I would go hungry for the sake of my daughter (she was one/two at the time). Needless to say after that I vowed never to be in that situation again. So, now I stockpile. My cupboards are full of canned and boxed goods. I can't stand to run out of anything, so when I take a bottle of ketchup out of the cupboard, I immediatly put it on the list. Our freezer is also well stocked. So save milk, butter, eggs, and fresh fruits and veggies, we really need very little if we had to survive for a month or so. I also do it with toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning products. There is always extra.
With the economy the way it is and rising gas/diesel prices at record highs,and other factors, our grocery prices are taking a hard hit as well. So, do you or are you going to stockpile the necessities? Read this article if you like, I found it very interesting.
http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/104914/Load-Up-the-Pantry
9 people like this
25 responses
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
27 Apr 08
I also had a time in my life where I was on my own with a child and there was also a time where for about 2 weeks we lived solely on beans on toast, I could get beans and bread really cheap and so it was what we had. I would not say that I stockpile, but I always have more in than I need to have.
2 people like this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Very good Gemini. I think those who have been through a rough period and know the pangs of hunger tend to be the ones that make sure their cupboards aren't bare. That is, if their financial situation has improved. Thank you very much for sharing your experience and thoughts. I appreciate it.
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
Like yourself,I always stock up on foods etc when they are on sale.Besides having enough food should a disaster happen,I also like to be able to help friends/family that for various reasons may need a help to make it thru the month.If forced to,I believe I have have enough food to last 3 months or so for a group of 4.I also have water,a propane stove,a few propane lanterns and a few tents(yes,I do camp).Food did seem in short supply when I grew up so like yourself,I decided not to get caught short for me or my loved ones.
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Wow, you really are prepared! :-) I like that. I need to do some of the things you have done, in case of a natural disaster. Goodness knows, from the response after Katrina, that we really can't rely on our goverment agencies to be in a hurry to respond. I am really glad you replied. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
27 Apr 08
I like to think of myself as a cheap SOB and buy when prices are low.IF anything major happened,prices would skyrocket and rioting would result.I am too old to want to fight and too cheap to pay high prices.
1 person likes this
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
27 Apr 08
ps...I just received note of "best response"....thank you very much!.
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Wow, two years. That is a lot. But from a practical standpoint, it is not an outrageous assumption if something tragic were to happen.Thank you for chiming in Lakota.
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
27 Apr 08
When we got some extra money a few months ago we went through and bought extra of things like laundry soap, toilet paper and food items. Things we knew wouldn't go bad or could be frozen. We figured while we had the extra put it away. This way when the months are hard or unexpected things happen we didn't have to worry as much. It makes life a bit easier.
Like you I hated at one time when we were going week to week and unsure of what we'd have food wise or how we'd deal with an emergency. When we had to borrow from family or go to food pantries just to get by, not to just help but to actually make it so we had something to eat. It is scary and not something I want to go through again.
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Thanks emeraldisle. It really does make a lot of sense in this day and time to stock up on essentials that won't go to waste. It's really helpful to me to know that I'm not the only one. I appreciate your replying.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
28 Apr 08
You're quite welcome and I know what you mean. Knowing that others do the same thing can make you feel better and also knowing that they have been in similar situations. It is sad though that we feel the need to do this let alone have to just in case something should happen.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I don't think i stockpile food. but i do like to make sure i buy things like toilet paper, paper towels, deodorant, toothpaste, and things like that in bulk. i don't mind running to the store to buy a bottle of ketup, but to be on the toilet and realize you don't have any more toilet paper is not a situation i like to be in
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
LOL!!! You are so right. I couldn't stand it if I ran out of toilet paper. My brother is worse when it comes to the paper products. He would go to Costco and buy them in bulk, but he would buy the "big" package and buy like five at a time. My neice and I used get such a kick out of it when we opened his hall closet and it was filled floor to ceiling with T.P. Thank you for your response and helping me remember such a humorous memory.
1 person likes this
@chrissieatu (1033)
• China
27 Apr 08
I did not stockpile before. Because I live on campus. I had my meal in the dining room. But now pricse is rising. My friends and I decided that we'd better stockpile some necessities when they are at sale. Everything just become more expensive than before and thus we use a lot more money than before. As a college student, we are not 100% financially independent. We have to do something to save money.
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
That's good though, that you are recognizing these things while you are still young and before you have families to care for. I wish I'd learned them prior to becoming a mom. I am proud of your intelligence and forethought in this matter. Thank you for your response. It's great to hear from a younger group.
@chrissieatu (1033)
• China
28 Apr 08
Well, I take your word as a compliment then:-)
I am the eldest daughter in my family. And it's really a heavy load for my parents to support our life. The tuition fee is expensive enough~(me in university while my 2 sisters in high school) As a result, I always have to consider more.
@timou87 (1638)
• Singapore
27 Apr 08
i think that stockpiling is essential and should even be encouraged especially since you never know when anything unfortunate might happen and you are cut off from supplies. however i think there is a difference between stockpiling for emergencies and hoarding food supplies. there are some who would keep stacks and stack of rice at home, not for emergencies since these supplies could last them for years, but to sell to the black market should there ever be an acute shortage of essential supplies
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Oh, I think it would be terrible for someone to sell as black market products if something were to happen. Hoarding is despicable. I never even thought of that as a possibility. I can't believe, yet I know that there are people out there that would do that. Thank you for opening up my eyes to another side of the situation. I really like your response.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
27 Apr 08
I do try to stock products as much as is practical. Like yourself I include toilet rolls and bleach as well as food products.
It is very convenient to have a good store of non perishable foods such as tins and packets, along with a fully stocked freezer. This is mainly useful to me because I can survive quite well without the need to travel to the shops if I require.
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
I agree with your thought pattern. Thank you very much for sharing. I appreciate the response.
@ESKARENA1 (18260)
•
27 Apr 08
i stockpile too, i guess anyone who has ever been short of money does, i always make sure i have enough dried produce in to make myself meals should the shops not be there in the morning, or indeed the banks
blessed be
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Wow, I never thought of dried produce. I like to keep frozen veggies in the freezer but they go bad (freezerburn) very quickly. Thanks for the great idea and for responding. I really appreciate your input.
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
27 Apr 08
I am not a stockpiler usually. I can see why you are though. We have also gone through periods where there was no extra money for food. The thought of that terrifies me now.
I am starting to stock on things slowly though because we will have two of my older children for the summer. They are used to constant eating and snacking at their dad's house. I want to stock up on foods that they like now so I don't have to worry about it later.
Especially with gas prices the way they are now!
We have to drive all the way to Mississippi and back to pick them up and drop them off. Looking at the the constant increase...I am starting to worry! We are using our tax stimulus money for this. It is coming just in time.
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Wow, that is going to really put a crunch on the budget. I know gas prices are so high, we aren't going anywhere right now. It is $3.46 a gallon right now here. I hope you will be able to instill in your kids that constant eating and snaking is not only hard on a budget, but also not healthy for them. I am so amazed at the obesity rate of kids today. So much of it has to do with eating and lack of actual outdoor exercise. Sorry for the rant. I will be rooting for you. Blessings.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I know what it's like to be hungry, too. I lived on peanut butter for a month once. One time all I had for three days was an apple and I ate it core and all!
I always keeps at least a month's supply of food and rotate it regularly.
What you're doing is just good sense. The Mormons teach their people to have a year's worth of food at all times and that's sensible. Everyone should be able to get along for at least a month without any services.
That was an interesting article, thanks!
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Thanks for that tidbit about the Mormon culture. I had no idea. I think it makes sense as well, not only because of prices, but also in case of emergency. Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it.
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
We have thought about buying a second freezer just for meat, because we buy in bulk and even cut our own steaks from a slab of meat. I prefer it that way, because we are able to portion it out, enough for two, instead of three or four. If we have company we just take out more packages. It's nice to see that others share my line of thinking. I am so glad you responded to this.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
26 Apr 08
We don't stockpile, we just buy stuff as we need it. My uncle stock piles though, he buys stuff for the fridge and freezes it until he wants to use it.
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
We do a lot of freezing. We buy our meat (steaks, chicken, fish, hamburger) in bulk, and cut and portion it ourselves. Then we freeze it. Thank you for replying. I appreciate your response.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
27 Apr 08
Do you find that it saves money buying things in bulk? The only bulk buying we do is when stuff is on offer, if we need 2 but you get 4 for the same price, we just buy it since it is saving money.
@Lambchoper (538)
• United States
27 Apr 08
I do the same thing for the same type of reason. As kids we were ALWAYS hungry. It took my husband and I a few years to be able to afford to stockpile but once we could I did and continue to do so to this day. I have cut back but there are many things that will never run low around here.
.
My pantry is bulging and it seems destine to stay that way.
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Thanks, it is sooo nice to know there are many others out there with similar experiences that do the same thing. (Now I can show hubby I'm not nuts, lol.) I'm glad you replied, thank you.
@spoiled311 (5500)
• Philippines
26 Apr 08
well, not exactly on food, but in the past, i would buy stuff that i need in big quantities. i am supposed to be saving money if i buy in bulk (or big sizes). but i noticed that i am not really saving money, because i tend to spend more. i dunno, it is the psychology of the thing i guess. i spend less and less in my groceries and i spend less in other things too. i dunno, i guess it is crazy. my earnings are erratic and so is my spending.
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
LOL. I like the last line of your response. Personally for my stocking up is usually cheaper as I tend to buy items when they are on sale as well. Thanks for your input. I apprecite it.
@mirage108 (3402)
• United States
24 Nov 08
I do stockpile as I can. I usually goto BJ's and get the stuff and stockpile from there
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
26 Apr 08
This triggered a memory. When I was younger, in my teens, I was left to take care of my siblings. I won't go into the details of the hows and why, I will only say that it happened once too often. I remember sending my brothers to "borrow" things so I could make them a meal. I guess this is why I now shop in excess. I never want to open my cupboard and find there is nothing to eat.
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
You are like I am then, only with different circumstances. It is quite the scary thing to "go hungry" or know that your family is going without. I do believe that most of my "over shopping" comes from my experience. However, I am really glad that I do it now with the rising prices at the grocery store. Thank you my good friend for responding.
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
26 Apr 08
With 5 teenagers the word "stockpile" is just obsolete here! LOL I'm lucky I can get through the week with enough groceries!!!!!!
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Holy Cow!!! Yeah, I can see where that would be a problem. I know when my kids were teens, they raided everything in the kitchen, several times a day, and I only had two. Thanks for your response. Happy posting.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I have always stockpiled non perishables. I always take advantage of sale prices, special 2 for 1 deals, etc., so I have quite a supply on hand.
1 person likes this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
That's how I do it. I probably have more than I stated in my original discussion. At least that is what hubby thinks. He thinks I am nuts to do it that way...but he never goes hungry or runs out of his favorite bbq sauce, lol. Thanks my friend for chiming in.
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Prices are expected to continue to rise as with fuel prices. It is really going to pay off to stockpile now, because one knows not how high the prices of staple food items will go. I am talking about items that have a long shelf life. I think it's great that you are walking to the store though. I used to do that. Thanks raydene for your reply. I appreciate it.
