How to Build a Stockpile

No matter your budget, you can build a stockpile for your family. To get started, here are some helpful tips on how to build a Stockpile.

When many people think of a stockpile, they think of extreme couponers or preppers. What many families do not realize is that any family can benefit from the buffer a stockpile provides. Your family could face a major need after a job loss or a major storm. Having a stockpile will help you provide for your family during difficult times.

How to Build a Stockpile

Stockpiling is a great way to save money by allowing you to shop the sales cycles rather than paying full price for the items you use regularly. No matter what your budget you can build a stockpile for your family. To get started, here are some helpful tips for building a stockpile.

Reframe Your Idea of Stockpiling:

You may have an idea that stockpiling is something that only preppers do. Or you may think that when it comes to building a stockpile you may find yourself thinking well this won’t work for me because I don’t eat canned foods. Or maybe you are thinking but, what about ground beef and other meats that are not shelf stable? I am not encouraging you to buy stuff you don’t eat or won’t use and hide it in your basement.

Stockpiling is just buying extra of something that you use, so you have it on hand when you need it. If you buy those items strategically when they are on sale, it will save you money. It can also make life easier when you are snowed in during the winter or sheltering in place during a hurricane or after an earthquake. Stockpiling can also help you over a rough spot when the electric bill is more than you expected or you have an unexpected medical expense.

Finding a Budget for a Stockpile:

The first step to building a stockpile is to find room in your budget. While it may feel like you have no room for this you will be surprised how easy it is. Start with a simple $5 budget if that is all you can squeeze in. Find an item your family uses often at a rock bottom price and buy as much of it as your budget allows. Next time you shop you can add the amount you save on buying that item to your budget.

To build a stockpile for less start gathering coupons for items your family uses. If your grocery store has coupons on their app that can be used with sales, get the app.  You can also email your favorite brands for valuable coupons that will help you build up your stock.

Pair coupons with store sales. Look for rock bottom prices on items that will not spoil easily. When you can pair sales with coupons you will find the best deals to help you save money and stretch your stockpile budget. when you find a particularly great deal take the time to buy extra for your stockpile.

Familiarize Yourself with Best Prices:

Most of us can’t keep a running tally of the best prices for the things we buy in our head. I keep a notebook in my purse and right down best prices, but you can do it in notes on your phone.

To stockpile on a budget, you need to limit yourself to buying extra items when they are at their rock bottom price. If the usual lowest price for the peanut butter you buy is at Walmart, but you are in grocery store and see that it is on sale and there is a coupon in the store app that give you an extra $1.00 off per package. You calculate and the store sale plus in app coupon brings it to $2.49 less than Walmart, you buy it and add it to your stockpile. If you are allowed to use the in-app coupon multiple times AND you have room in your budget to do so, buy several containers of peanut butter to get you through until the next time it is at a rock bottom price.

What Food Should You Stockpile?

First, only stockpile what you will eat and only buy as much as you can eat before it will expire. What you stock up on depends on what you and your family regularly eat. Think about what foods you often use for cooking or snacking. If you make spaghetti 2-3 times a month, and you find a great deal on pasta or tomato sauce, you know you can easily buy 5-8 extra and safely use it before it expires. If you eat tacos, rice, and beans 2-4 times a month, you can do the same and buy 5-8 extra of if you find refried beans or rice on sale. Do you take a granola bar each day in your lunch Buy lots when the boxes of granola bars go on sale for $2.50 a box, but then hide them out of site, so consumption doesn’t rise to meet supply. Does only 1 person in your house like jam on their toast? Then only buy 2- 3 jars when it goes on sale. Here are some items I stockpile:

• canned diced tomatoes
• tomato sauce
• Basmati rice
• dried beans, lentils, and black-eyed peas
• pasta
• boxes of crunchy corn tortillas
• dry baking ingredients (flours, cacao powder, baking powder, corn starch, etc.)
• spices
• peanut butter
• fruit spread
• tortilla chips
• granola bars
• teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, etc.
• avocado oil and olive oil
• vinegars and cooking wine
• honey
• tea

What About Meat?

If you have freezer space, you can stock up on meat. You can freeze meat for up to 6 months. Think about what cuts of meat you regularly cook and how much freezer space you have. I have a large standing freezer and we eat meat at most dinners. I usually cook with ground beef twice a week, chicken thighs twice a week, a roast once a week in the winter and steaks once a week spring through fall, and fish once a week. So if I find a great deal on ground beef or chicken thighs, I can buy 8-10 packages and know that they will be used long before freezer burn can set in. Note: When I am buying a large quantity of meat, I always approach the butcher and ask if they have extra so I don’t clean out the shelves.

Maximize Your Freezer!

Your freezer can be used for more than meat and ice-cream. You can freeze nuts, coffee, and butter, cream cheese, fruits, vegetables and more. So if you have space in your freezer, use it to your advantage. When butter and cream cheese are on sale, I stock up and put them in the freezer. Here is how to freeze cream cheese. When berries are on sale, you can buy them in bulk and freeze them. Here are tips for freezing berries. Coffee keeps better in the freezer, so stock up when it is on sale. I travel to New Hampshire each summer and buy a year’s worth of maple syrup from a local sugar house and you guessed it, I freeze they jugs of syrup until I need them.  Here is a list of foods that can be freeze well.

But I Life Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

While they can’t be stored for as long, there are many fruits and vegetables that keep well for a few weeks, especially if you have a cool place to store them. Apples and oranges will keep for weeks if cooled. If you have room in your refrigerator, you can store your apples and citrus there. Root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, beets, turnips, onions, and garlic also keep for several weeks to months if kept in a cool, dark place. Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts also keep well in the refrigerator for a couple weeks. And even some squash such as spaghetti squash, pumpkin, acorn squash, and butternut squash keep for weeks sitting on the counter. If you don’t have room in the refrigerator for your apples and root vegetables, you can keep them in another cool place that stays above freezing such as a basement, porch, or garage.

I buy fresh eggs, milk, and cheese from a local farmer, so if I stockpile the basics, load my freezer, and stock up on produce that keeps well, I can easily stay out of the grocery store for a couple weeks.

Think Beyond the Food for your Stockpile:

When building your stockpile you will need to consider non-food items your family uses often, such as diaper wipes, toilet paper, medicines, toothpaste, floss, first aid items, household cleaners, and laundry detergent just to name a few. Buying nonfood items on sale and stocking them will save you a large amount of money through the year. Many of these items can be found in a large variety of brands so don’t let brand loyalty stop you from building a great stockpile.

Finding Room for Your Stockpile:

One thing that turns families off from starting a stockpile is because they simply do not have storage available. This is where stockpiling can get a bit tricky. While you can store several months of laundry detergent in the laundry room what about all of the toilet paper, canned and boxed goods and well just about everything. With a little creativity, you can find storage for your stockpile.

Large storage bins are great for filling with items critters may go looking for. An air tight seal can go a long way and these bins can be stored nearly anywhere. Look for places that you may not normally consider for storage. Kids can not shove toys under the bed if the area is filled with under the bed storage bins. Look for unused places items can be stored out of site.

Rotate Your Stock:

If you don’t use your stockpile, you will have wasted your money. When you buy new items, move the older items to the front, and put the new purchases behind them. I have a shelf in the basement where I put the new purchases. As I need food, I “shop” from my basement shelf and put it in the kitchen cupboard. Periodically double check your dates, especially if you or one of your children have stopped eating something that was once a favorite. If you accidentally buy too much and realize you can’t consume it before the expiration date, donate it to a food pantry.

More Tips on Building a Stockpile:

How to Create a Stockpile

How to Build an Emergency Food Stockpile on a Budget

The Most Important Thing You Can Do for Your Stockpile