Having a stockpile of food and household goods that you purchase on sale makes good sense, especially now when the prices on things keep going up and up. For example, I purchased an extra bulk box of laundry detergent for $20. The price today is $30 for the same box. That is a 50% increase! The bulk organic flour I purchased cost me $25 for 25 pounds. Today the price is $50, a 100 percent increase! I purchased cans of pizza sauce on sale for 59 cents. The price today is 99 cents. You see what I mean.
But one thing I want to emphasize is that it is important to actively manage your stockpile or you may wind up with a lot of food that goes to waste. You may wind up throwing out boxes of stale cereal, cans of expired food, etc. That does not save money.
Managing a stockpile doesn’t have to take a lot of time or energy, just some routine and commitment. Here are some strategies that you can use to manage your stockpile.
Separate out bulk containers and freeze your excess. For example, I buy cheese in bulk and just keep enough out to use on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. when I need more, I reach into the freezer for the next container and move that one to the refrigerator.
Do a weekly “look-see” to see what you have. This will help you really understand the food that is at your disposal. You can check for items that may be nearing their expiration date and use them up. it will also prevent you from buying three more jars of peanut butter when you already have enough at home.
Check back again tomorrow when I will share some more ideas for managing your stockpile, including some recipe secrets.
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
Three Ways an Organized Pantry Saves Money
Five Reasons to Stockpile Food
Ideas for Cooking from Your Stockpile
Getting Creative with Almost-Expired Food
Hidden Storage for Stockpiling
More Creative Ideas for Stockpile Cooking
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