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How to Decide How Much to Stockpile - March 2020
Before I even start, I need to explain what a stockpile is.
It is not waiting until there is a crisis and then racing to the supermarket, tossing things willy nilly into the trolley, fighting other customers when they have what you want, then standing in a queue for an hour to buy it all with money you don't have.
That is panic buying. That is just plain stupid. And that is what thousands of Australians have been doing the last two weeks. That is not stockpiling.
Stockpiling is shopping with a plan in mind to get your pantry ahead for a pre-determined reason. That reason could be because, like me, you just don't like grocery shopping. Or it could be food security for the lean times. It could be so that every so often you can skip grocery shopping and use the money for something else, without affecting your family's needs. There a as many reasons for building a pantry stockpile as there are stockpiles.
When you stockpile, you have a list of what you need, with quantities and prices.
You buy the things on that list when they are on half-price sale, immediately building your stockpile for free. Really? Yes!
You would have bought the item at full price and just bought one. When you get two for the price of one (which is what a half-price sale is) you get your stockpile item free. You haven't spent any more money to get that extra item so your grocery budget is safe.
For beginner pantry builders, I suggest you aim to get one pay period ahead.
For instance if you get paid weekly, aim to get one week of shopping ahead; if you get paid fortnightly you're aiming to get a fortnight in front and if you get paid monthly - you got it - you're planning and shopping to get a month ahead.
For a beginner this is achievable, and usually quite quickly, within 3 - 4 pays.
To build a one week stockpile, you need to take a look at what is on your shopping list every week. It could be things like
Next to each item note how many of each thing you buy i.e. 7 cans cat food, 1 packet spaghetti etc.
Now that list is what you buy every single week, without fail. But what about the other things you buy occasionally? Things like:
Decide how many of each of these you buy when you shop, and add them to your list. Remember, you're just aiming to get 1 pay period ahead, so don't over-calculate.
Most branded things have a regular 4 or 6 week sale cycle. Each time you go shopping, check what items on your list are on half-price and make a note - you'll be buying two for the price of one. The next things to buy will be those that are heavily discounted, but not quite half-price. Things are often 25% or 30% off, so while the extra item won't be free, it will be cheaper.
Continue doing this until you have one full pay period of groceries as a pantry back-up.
When you've reached this stage, you get to decide whether to continue or perhaps you've realised what you have is enough for your needs.
How much is enough? Well that depends on you and your circumstances and this is when you decide how large to make your pantry stockpile.
Do you live in the city or the country? Are you close to shops or do you need to travel to get to a supermarket? Do you drive or use public transport? This determines how much you can carry. Or perhaps you prefer online shopping and getting it delivered. Are you confident in your financial situation (is your job secure? Do you get paid on time, every time, without fail)? Is there space to store your pantry stockpile?
If you decide to keep on building your pantry, keep going the same way. Or you may choose to just build on particular type of stockpile. In our home there is our kitchen stockpile, our laundry stockpile, our bathroom stockpile, our first aid stockpile, our garden stockpile and of course our gift stockpile (we call it the present box).
You may choose to just build your bathroom pantry and aim for a year of toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, hair colours, deodorant, soap, body wash, foaming hand wash etc. When all these things are bought on half-price or better, the stockpile grows quickly and you save a lot of money - toiletries and personal hygiene products are expensive!
Perhaps your first aid pantry needs stocking before anything else. You'll be looking at bandaids, bandages, slings, clips, antiseptic liquid and cream, Stingose, electrolyte powder or tablets, vitamins, sun block, burn cream, tweezers (ours always seem to disappear), paracetamol, cough syrup etc.
Your stockpile will be unique to you and your needs, and your budget.
There is no right or wrong stockpile when you build it with a plan and within your budget.
It is not waiting until there is a crisis and then racing to the supermarket, tossing things willy nilly into the trolley, fighting other customers when they have what you want, then standing in a queue for an hour to buy it all with money you don't have.
That is panic buying. That is just plain stupid. And that is what thousands of Australians have been doing the last two weeks. That is not stockpiling.
Stockpiling is shopping with a plan in mind to get your pantry ahead for a pre-determined reason. That reason could be because, like me, you just don't like grocery shopping. Or it could be food security for the lean times. It could be so that every so often you can skip grocery shopping and use the money for something else, without affecting your family's needs. There a as many reasons for building a pantry stockpile as there are stockpiles.
When you stockpile, you have a list of what you need, with quantities and prices.
You buy the things on that list when they are on half-price sale, immediately building your stockpile for free. Really? Yes!
You would have bought the item at full price and just bought one. When you get two for the price of one (which is what a half-price sale is) you get your stockpile item free. You haven't spent any more money to get that extra item so your grocery budget is safe.
For beginner pantry builders, I suggest you aim to get one pay period ahead.
For instance if you get paid weekly, aim to get one week of shopping ahead; if you get paid fortnightly you're aiming to get a fortnight in front and if you get paid monthly - you got it - you're planning and shopping to get a month ahead.
For a beginner this is achievable, and usually quite quickly, within 3 - 4 pays.
To build a one week stockpile, you need to take a look at what is on your shopping list every week. It could be things like
- Milk
- Bread
- Cereal
- Pet food
- Tea
- Coffee
- Cheese
- Cream
- Sour cream
- Ice-cream
- Frozen veggies
- Deli meats
- Fresh produce
- Meat and poultry
- Washing powder
- Pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Peanut butter
- Vegemite
- Or anything else that is on your list every single time you shop.
Next to each item note how many of each thing you buy i.e. 7 cans cat food, 1 packet spaghetti etc.
Now that list is what you buy every single week, without fail. But what about the other things you buy occasionally? Things like:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Herbs & spices
- Sauces
- Vinegar
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- And anything else you buy regularly, but not every shop.
Decide how many of each of these you buy when you shop, and add them to your list. Remember, you're just aiming to get 1 pay period ahead, so don't over-calculate.
Most branded things have a regular 4 or 6 week sale cycle. Each time you go shopping, check what items on your list are on half-price and make a note - you'll be buying two for the price of one. The next things to buy will be those that are heavily discounted, but not quite half-price. Things are often 25% or 30% off, so while the extra item won't be free, it will be cheaper.
Continue doing this until you have one full pay period of groceries as a pantry back-up.
When you've reached this stage, you get to decide whether to continue or perhaps you've realised what you have is enough for your needs.
How much is enough? Well that depends on you and your circumstances and this is when you decide how large to make your pantry stockpile.
Do you live in the city or the country? Are you close to shops or do you need to travel to get to a supermarket? Do you drive or use public transport? This determines how much you can carry. Or perhaps you prefer online shopping and getting it delivered. Are you confident in your financial situation (is your job secure? Do you get paid on time, every time, without fail)? Is there space to store your pantry stockpile?
If you decide to keep on building your pantry, keep going the same way. Or you may choose to just build on particular type of stockpile. In our home there is our kitchen stockpile, our laundry stockpile, our bathroom stockpile, our first aid stockpile, our garden stockpile and of course our gift stockpile (we call it the present box).
You may choose to just build your bathroom pantry and aim for a year of toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, hair colours, deodorant, soap, body wash, foaming hand wash etc. When all these things are bought on half-price or better, the stockpile grows quickly and you save a lot of money - toiletries and personal hygiene products are expensive!
Perhaps your first aid pantry needs stocking before anything else. You'll be looking at bandaids, bandages, slings, clips, antiseptic liquid and cream, Stingose, electrolyte powder or tablets, vitamins, sun block, burn cream, tweezers (ours always seem to disappear), paracetamol, cough syrup etc.
Your stockpile will be unique to you and your needs, and your budget.
There is no right or wrong stockpile when you build it with a plan and within your budget.