Organizing stockpiles and pantries 101

I have written about stockpiling and how to keep everything organized before on my blog but thought a good refresher course would be good for me and my readers.  Organization is key to a good stockpile because even though many of the items will not expire for a year or more that year can fly by and then you are stuck with a bunch of expired food items that can't even be donated becoming a waste of your time, space and especially a waste of good food.

It has been a long while since I organized my stockpile, we have been using it up over the last six months and I just wanted to start fresh.  My husband even started making comments about how low everything was getting.  I also took about 4 months off couponing because I needed the break and November through February was crazy busy with everything BUT couponing. 

This is the state of my overflow pantry stockpile.  My 5 year old has the biggest closet in the house so I "borrow" two shelves in this closet.  As you can see the popcorn overflowed to another shelf also filled with all his pre-school papers and crafts.

1. First thing to do was pull all of it out, checks dates and organize into categories.

2. Wipe down all the shelves with cleaner
3.  Get a sharpie

4. Date everything

5. Number you items (Will explain this later)

 

Reshelf everything the easy way it works for you.

I put all cake mixes, brownie mixes, muffin mixes, canned icings, powdered sugar, brown sugar & chocolate coating candy, so when I am ready to bake I have those things all together.

Here is a break down cost of just a few of the items I have stockpiled right now:

20 boxes of Popcorn (3pks)  Free @ Schnucks after coupons. Sale price 10/10

14 Cake mixes / brownie mixes $10.86 (my cost) /  Regular price $21.00

Varies beans: $9.80 (my cost)  /  Regular cost $21.80

 

Dating all items is a MUST.  I also number them because I have a spreadsheet (cheap legal pad tacked to the wall)  That I can mark off when I use something.  That way I always know what I have, where it is and if I need to stock back up on the item.  There is nothing more frustrating than knowing you have an item but can't find it.  You end up wasting your time just hunting down that box of pasta rather than getting your meal started.  Keeping an eye on what you use most for your family is very important; that way when a coupon comes up for those items you can order multipules from a coupon clipping service or do like me and order them off of Ebay.  Most items will go on sale every three to six months.

Icing was 50% off after Easter purchase from Target

16 Krafts BBQ sauce FREE after in store promotion and peelie sticker on each bottle.

Hunt's canned tomato sauce, Hunts diced tomatoes: clearanced to .59 each  /   Regular price $1.09 each

Manwich sauce clearanced to .49 each   / Regular price $1.00

These canned goods were only clearanced out because the store had no more room on the regular shelf for these products and they had to put them out.   Yes, the same products, same expiration dates were on the can goods isle for regular price. So always, always check the clearance section of your store. 
 (This information came straight from the manager of my store.)

The pantry over our washer/dryer:

Purex Crystals Fabric softener: $.99 each

Target price $3.99- $1.00 (Target coupon) -$2.00 (Manu. coupon)=$0.99 a bottle

Shout Spray Target deal, last year:

Retail price: $1.99 -$1.00 Target Q-$0.55 Manu. Q = $0.44 each

And this, well this is the other important part of stockpile use:  When your husband opens something that you already have open and then there are two open bottles of detergent or pasta or cookies or MILK. 

I always mark what to use first!

My pasta is stored in clear resealable containers and not left in the cardboard boxes.  The Barilla pasta was all FREE after coupons.

I know many people can't not understand he purpose of stockpiling I couldn't for about the first 6 months of couponing.  We are always taught you only buy what you need right then not for 6 months to a year.  Considering I have read many articles and been told by the manger of our local grocery store that the prices of food products will be going up this month, I am purchasing what I can now at the lowest price possible with store sales and coupons.

Here is a little background on how I got started couponing & stockpiling:

From A Full Cup Website

This is the main website I find my deals at, there are many, many more couponing sites out there that offer the same information.  I have been a member a AFC since July 2007.

I started stockpiling Jan 2008.

I started couponing July 2007, I first started using coupons when we had our first child. The formula checks were a blessing and when we registered with all the diaper manu. and got those q I always used them. That was my first taste of couponing. My mom couponed when I was little but never on this level and we always shopped deals and sales; so it is in my blood.

My main reason for stockpiling is for my families needs. Before I would have bought what I needed at that moment NOT what I would need for a year. It did take me some time to understand the importance of stockpiling in today's economy. I thought if I just bought what I needed at that time and saved my money that was the way to go but then I would run out of something, it would be at the end of the week when all the money had gone to bills and there was $2.00 left in the account and we needed milk and bread.

The good news is we use to have to borrow money from my mom to buy groceries and baby needs (and she never minded) NOW I take her shopping and she gets to benefit from all my good deals. My way of paying her back.

I also give a lot to my family (those that will take it) I love sharing my good fortune with my family and my dear neighbors.

We have had some very rough years, loss of loved ones, lose of jobs, serious illnesses but with our stockpile and a well thought out budget, we are doing very well .