Tag Archives: stockpiling

Boston Bombings and a New Reason to Stockpile Frugally

The Boston bombings have taught us many things. Some we already knew, such as the resilience of the human spirit, how easily ordinary people become heroes, and the strength of a community all working together. It also has taught us some other, more practical lessons, such as to always be aware in crowds, to report suspicious activity, and to be prepared for the unthinkable. One of the many photos of that time that sticks in my head from the Boston bombings is the image of a police officer delivering two gallons of milk to a young family who couldn’t leave … Continue reading →

Organize Your Stockpile by Becoming a Shelf Life Expert

I’m always on the look out for good stock up opportunities. When something goes on sale, can be “purchased” for free with coupons, or is on a deep clearance, I instantly calculate how much of that item should come home with me. It is important to know how much, logically, you should stockpile of a particular item or category of items. For example: how many jars of peanut butter should be in your pantry  right now until the next great low price? How many boxes of pasta, packages of toilet paper or bottles of shampoo? it all depends on the … Continue reading →

Use It or Lose It: Health and Beauty Products

Now that we know that cooking from the pantry can save us money, by using up food items that might otherwise expire, we are ahead of the savings game. Let us take the strategy to the next level by discovering other things in our home that we can use to save money. Samples and Individual Sizes Why are you saving up all of those tiny samples of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, etc? If you are holding them for your next vacation, don’t bother. Most hotels, motels and other places to stay come with their own complementary bottles of the stuff. … Continue reading →

Grocery Stock Up Sales

Need to replenish your stockpile? Now is the time. Many stores are offering grocery stock up sales and promotions on pantry foods. Grab your grocery store flyers, make your list and get shopping. Step 1: Clean Out Your Pantry Before you head out to one of the many grocery stock up sales out there, first take the time to see what you already have. You can discard anything that is expired or hasn’t been used in a year. Donate anything that is still good and toss the rest. I like to take everything out and dust the shelves, too, but … Continue reading →

If I Had My Life to Live Over

I believe in stockpiling. I really do, but what happens when saving something for someday means that you never get to enjoy it? Erma Bombeck was a well-known humor writer who succumbed to illness. When she found out she was dying, she wrote a poem called “If I Had My Life to Live Over.” One of the lines of the poem was “I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.” Isn’t it so true? How many of us save stuff for someday? Someday comes in many forms: someday when there is scarcity … Continue reading →

Saving Up Winter’s Bounty

We don’t often think of winter and bounty in the same thought, but there is plenty of winter bounty, if you know where to look. Make sure you gather and store your extra blessings now to help you get through the rest of the year. Gift Cards A bounty of gift cards may fall in your lap as presents from friends and family, as well as promotions and thank you gifts from local businesses. It is also true that gift cards are easy to misplace or forget about. Keep all of your gift cards together (I used a small box … Continue reading →