How Long I've been stockpiling
Most of my married life
Where I store it
In my basement and pantry – there is nothing but dishes in my kitchen cabinets. I don't like clutter, and I use lots of Tupperware items to store non-perishables in my pantry and to help organize.
What got me started
Since we farm we never have a regular income. Most people have a weekly/bi-weekly/monthly paycheck; we do not. At certain times of the year it's all going out. Our income comes in huge chunks at different times of the year. For that reason when the first of the year hits (or a large chunk of income comes in), it's time to stock up. I usually buy a year's supply, if it's something that will keep. We're 10 miles from the nearest store, and I don't like running to the store for one item to fix a meal. I like being able to get everything I need from the pantry and freezer. We buy milk and bread once or twice a week.
What I stockpile
I buy a years supply (Plus one or two extra depending on the item) of shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper and paper towels, deodarant, laundry detergent and softener, dishwashing detergent, vacuum sealer rolls, trash bags, vacuum cleaner bags etc., and other non parishables such as canned goods, and baking items.
I have a vacuum sealer and many items will keep up to five times longer when vacuum sealed. (Some meat is said to keep five years when vacuum sealed in the freezer ~ it's also good for baking supplies or you can place them in the freezer ~ if they're vacuum sealed they won't come out tasting like the freezer)
If it goes on sale sometime during the year, I may go ahead and buy enough for the next year even if I already have a years supply if the savings is significant.
We also butcher our own beef and pork so the freezer is usually full too. Pork only keeps about six months in the freezer so the vacuum sealer is very helpful in keeping it edible longer.
Clean and organize your freezer on a monthly or quarterly basis and check it against your inventory list. I keep a copy on the side of the freezer and one on my computer.
I use Excel and list each item in it's own box, then cross it out (or delete it on the computer) as I use the item. At a glance I can tell how many I have of each item. I also color code ~ red for meat, green for vegetables, etc. You could make a chart by hand if you don't have a program to do this. It's not fun to find packages of expensive steaks that are too old to cook and then end up feeding them to the cats or the dog, or worse, throwing them out because you don't even have a pet to feed them to. (It's not totally wasted if you have something to feed it to or a use for it)
I don't keep the cardboard boxes when I buy cases of items because they seem to harbor roaches ~ I dispose of the boxes immediately.
Tips & tricks
- Organize – you don't save a thing if you can't find it and go buy more or let items go bad because you forgot you have them. I store things simular to how they're placed in stores – on shelves where I can easily see what I have on hand, and know when I need more
- Things change – since I started using microfibre cloths for more of my cleaning, I now use fewer paper towels. When our son left home, use of other items dropped off as well
- Keep a detailed inventory – check it on a quarterly or monthly basis and make notes. Keep track so you know how many rolls of paper towels you use per year, etc.
