I know of people who shop every day for that night's meal. I also know of people who only keep a couple of week's worth of groceries and they always seem to be running out of the basics. This is no way to live your life. Think of all the stress and extra trips to the supermarket. Think of all the petrol being used. Here are some scenarios to think about -
What if you got sick ?
What if the car breaks down ?
What if family drops in unexpectedly for a holiday ?
What if your teenagers bring home a bunch of friends and expect a meal for all ?
What if your spouse invites some friends home for a meal without a prior arrangement ?
What if a natural disaster happens and it wipes out crops ?
What if you are stranded in your home due to floods ?
How would you cope if any of these things happened ? Yes they could easily happen although I really hope they don't. Do you go into a panic and order takeaway ? That would be so easy but then your food budget would blow out. A better way is to have a good supply of basic ingredients.
Stockpiling is as easy as 1 2 3 .
1. Write out a list of basic ingredients that you would like to stockpile. Toiletries such as toilet paper, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, shavers, makeup all keep well for many years. In the pantry - flour, sugar, pasta, rice, tinned veggies and fruit, herbs and spices, baking ingredients, spreads, powdered milk, sauces etc all keep well.
In the fridge - cheese and butter can be stockpiled as well as frozen. Even eggs keep well in the fridge for a few months. In the freezer you can stockpile veggies, meat, leftovers, ready made meals ( homemade of course ) berries and other fruits.
2. Work out the quantities of these items you use per month. Then multiply it by the amount of months you want to have as a stockpile.
3 . Add some of these EXTRA items and quantities to your shopping list each week / fortnight / month you go shopping. Remember, these are extra quantities on top of what you usually buy. Once you have finished stockpiling all you need to do is just replace the items you use. Also, do not forget to rotate your stock by putting new items to the back of the pantry, fridge and freezer and the older items get pushed to the front.
Finding extra grocery money for stockpiling can be a challenge if you are on a tight budget. Please keep in mind that basic groceries like flour, sugar and pasta etc don't cost that much. Here are some ideas for finding extra grocery money -
* Use leftover holiday spending money. This is how I started my food slush fund.
* Make your own takeaway and the money saved could start your stockpile.
* Revise your shopping list and cross off ready made / processed food.
* Cook cheaper meals to stretch your $$$
* Save your spare coins in a tin. At the end of the month that money can be used to buy a few extra basics.
Do you have a stockpile and if so, how long would it feed your family ?
If you haven't started a stockpile, is this something you'll do shortly ?
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| My spare tins of food. |
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| An organised pantry |
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| My spares. I love things stacked neatly |
Hi Wendy, this is a great topic. I learnt the importance of a stockpile when we had flooding a few years ago in regional NSW. Our town had a big levee, but there was so much water in it they feared it would burst. So in the middle of the night, we had the SES people telling everybody to evacuate to higher ground ASAP. No shops were open and all surrounding towns were flooded. It was scary! Luckily I had a stockpile of tinned food, bread, longlife milk, toilet paper, toothpaste etc to last at least a few days. I packed as much as I could in my car (and as quickly as I could) and got out of there. I was very grateful that I had friends that lived in an area that was higher ground and they let me stay there. They shopped day to day and there was hardly ANYTHING in their fridge or pantry and there was a big uncertainty as to when this was all going to end. Luckily my stockpile saved the day and fed us all. We were blessed that the levee held the water and saved the town. We were able to go back home in 2-3 days. You just never know what will happen!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Gosh, what a scary situation to be faced. Thankfully you had toiletries and food to grab on the run.
DeleteI have always had a stockpile ever since. One thing I noticed after we were allowed home is that I still needed to use my stockpile, when the shops re-opened the shelves were cleared by people who desperately needed supplies (it was apparently crazy). I also remember being grateful that I had a full tank of petrol, the town ran out and it took a few days before fuel trucks could come back into the town.
DeleteYes having a full tank of petrol is important too. I try not to let mine get too low.
DeleteHi Wendy!
ReplyDeleteI love stockpiling it is one of the best things we can do! Factoring in things like weather and job loss my original goal was to have enough to last a year. I have met that goal on many things and am so glad that I did.
XOXO
Vicky
Good on you for stockpiling so much Vicky.
DeleteDear Wendy, You know I love this subject and you helped me with this by encouraging me to use my cellar. (which is not full!) Many people just go into crisis if any of the scenarios you mentioned happen and hope someone will rescue them. However in a significant crisis there is no one to rescue you.
ReplyDeleteSome countries take it seriously and advise each family to have emergency preparedness... and also I believe QLD here do but I am not aware of other states. QLD have a week by week programme to get each family reasonably prepared.
I think a stockpile is better than money in the bank. By miles. I work at it every week.
I hope you help get many more people working on their pantry and stockpile. Love Annabel.xxx
Come storm season we have advertisements that say that it's the storm season and you need to have enough of everything to keep you and your family going for a minimum of three days.
DeleteAnnabel, I couldn't live without a stockpile.
DeleteI have a rather large stockpile here at home and I have our family shop from it when they need something. It is security for all of us.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I'm sure the family loves having a shop at home.
DeleteHi Wendy
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic that is really at the forefront of my mind a lot. Living so far away from shops and with the risk of flooding in our area (not often but happened around Easter) and roads being cut well I like to be well prepared.
I not only prepare my pantry but my medications as well and in case of no power. We always have plenty of gas also.
I have plenty of tins foods such as corn and creamed corn to be able to make chicken and corn soup, tinned tomatoes for stews and casseroles, flour for making breads and basic biscuits.
There is the great possibility that is we were stuck I would have enough to feed our family for at least a week and a half to 2 weeks but more than likely 2 weeks as if we were stuck then DP would be stuck at work so it would just be DD6 and I to feed.
Your pantry looks a lot neater than mine though.
Aly xxx
Aly, having tinned foods is a wonderful way to stockpile.
DeleteI'm a bit of a neat freak especially when it comes to my pantry. A place for everything and everything in it's place. When I had the channel nine news team here in May the cameraman was quite shocked to see a neat pantry. I'm sure he's seen all sorts of pantries over the years.
The motivation to stockpile for me is being able to reach out and get what I need 24/7 without having to go out of the house, also knowing that I have got it for the very best price available.
ReplyDeletePhil, I couldn't have said it better. Why pay full price when you can get it for half price ?
DeleteStockpiling has been on my mind for a while, my biggest problem is space to stockpile in my very small home. I have however decided that we definitely need to clear out some cupboards, take the unused items to the Salvos and use those cupboards for our stockpile. Thanks for the reminder Wendy.
ReplyDeleteSue, I think I'll do a blog post on finding more room.
DeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and Cath, I have a stockpile. Prior to reading both your blogs, I just bought what I needed. So BIG hugs to you both, xxx Maureen
I'm glad you've seen the light Maureen xoxo
DeleteWendy, as you know this concept is what my blog is all about. It is something that needs to be taken seriously by everyone and you've given some good advice. Great post!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike Patsy.
DeleteHi Sonia
ReplyDeleteI worked in Pharmacy for many years and am shocked at how many pharmacies do not ask if the customer would like a "generic or cheaper brand"
Always ask the assistant if they do not ask you to mark it on your script or attach a note asking for the cheaper brands...this can often save you heaps. There are only few times cheaper brands can not be give....
1. if the Dr has ticked the box not to give cheaper brands
2. Epileptic medications if you have been taking a certain brand for a long period of time.
The other one just wont come to me at the moment but I will try to think of it.
Even when you are purchasing over the counter medications ask if there is a cheaper brand cause you will be surprised
Aly
I have been doing an inventory of the pantry, thanks Patsi, and have found there are a few areas of deficit. These are areas to be worked on as a few extra dollars can be found and as products identified come on special. One area that I hadn't thought of, but Bluey did, was petrol for the gen sets. We both drive diesels so need to get another jerry to fill with petrol just for the gennies. The current petrol jerry gets used for the mower and is currently up in the shed empty. Will be following this up tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Jane.
DeleteThis makes us preppers folks. In the USA there are people with root cellars full of the basic staples that would last them at least a year. I too stock pile because it saves me in the long run. I get things on special and then when it's next on special I find that I am only just about to run out. Some weeks I only buy bread and milk.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same Janine. My shopping list can look quite scant at times because I don't need much.
DeleteSonia, having spares of some items is far better than having none. The key is to stack things neatly and to fill up containers when you can. Good on you for doing your best.
ReplyDeleteI cleaned out my linen cupboard and devoted a shelf to my stockpile when I first started doing this. Now, I have lots of items in there, many purchased on special or in bulk. My freezer has lots of ready made meals, snacks like biscuits, and frozen berries. It really makes a difference!
ReplyDeleteThe linen cupboard is a great idea. Who said a stockpile needs to be in the pantry ? Wherever it fits I say.
DeleteYes we have a stockpile. Often there are weeks where I dont need to buy much groceries other than egg, milk and cheese so I spend the rest of the money on food for our stockpile. I've recently started stocking up on paracetamol and our medications on scripts as well. I plan on rotating these so we still have a supply in an emergency but making sure they never go past the use buy date. So many times I have been grateful for stockpiling!
ReplyDeleteHaving a small stockpile of medicines is important too No one should go out to buy them when they are sick.
Delete