When Stockpiling Doesn't Make Senseby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 24 Feb 2009 02:58 PM
Stockpiling food in a pantry can also ensure that there is always something that you can cook at home, eliminating the need to run out and buy and expensive restaurant or take out meal. But, there are some times when stockpiling just doesn't make sense. Here is a guide that you can compare against your own stockpiling habits to see if your stockpiling just might not make sense for you. When you have limited space While this may seem obvious, I can't tell you the number of times that I have seen homes where people just can't live because of their stockpiled stuff. Toilet paper in bathtub, cans of food piled in the living room, etc. Use some creative storage if you have a small space, but don't keep more than you have the room to store. When it crosses over to hoarding Having a six-month supply of shampoo might be alright if you have the space, but having a six-year supply of shampoo is a little ridiculous. If you can't stop buying soap even though you have enough to build a shed with it, then you might have a hoarding issue. When you don't use the products If you have a ton of expired goods that should be tossed or a stack of diapers when your baby is five, then it might be time to clear out an evaluate what you will use. Don't buy another bottle of lotion until you make a decision to use or lose what you already have. Some questions you can ask yourself: Is the stockpile costing you money (expired products, extra storage space) Is the stockpile negatively affecting your quality of living? Are you currently using the product? Are your items growing because the deals come back around before you use your stockpile? Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right. Favorite Deal Websites: Related Articles: Five Reasons to Stockpile Food Three Ways an Organized Pantry Saves Money Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments Oonie (65) 24 Feb 2009 04:12 PMHi Mary Ann, you are speaking my language today! I have been so excited to use coupons again, hit triple-coupon days, etc., after a few years "off" when it was too hard with my kids, that I went down to my pantry to unload my latest...only to realize I was losing my laundry folding space because my pantry supplies are so overloaded! We go through Life cereal at an alarming clip, so when it is on sale, I "invest" heavily. And now I need to fold laundry in the living room instead of the laundry room! It was hard to remind myself to *not* stock up at my favorite grocery store today, but first I need to make space! Hope you are well--  Mary Ann Romans (26876) 25 Feb 2009 04:49 AMI have a different laundry stockpile problem. I have some boxes of powdered laundry detergent. It isn't my favorite, so I have been just leaving it on the shelf and continuing to buy a different brand. Well, I decided to give some away and use up the rest. Cereal is a big thing in my family too. I try to have plenty of alternatives, since cereal is so expensive, but we still go through quite a bit of it.  gina00 (680) 25 Feb 2009 12:48 PMSince we moved about a year and a half ago, I told myself I could not buy any more lotion, shampoo & conditioner until I used up all my stockpile. Well, I still have plenty of conditioner & lotion to use up. Yikes-I had WAY too much. I've given some away, and continued to slowly use up all the products. We also had a huge stockpile of ziploc products from trips to costco. I haven't bought any ziploc products since we moved, and I still have more. It really makes you think. I'm going to try to inventory all the pantry products this week so I can get a better idea of what I need to buy, and what I need to USE UP! Mary Ann Romans (26876) 25 Feb 2009 04:28 PMShampoo, conditioner and lotion seems to be overstocked in my house too. I don't know if it is a good deal or if it is simply that we think we use it faster than we do. I've donated some of it to a shelter, and that was nice :) jquintua (5) 02 Mar 2009 04:48 PMHi Mary Ann! Love your article!! I hope you don't mind, but I reprinted it (with author bio and live links) on sisterlysavings.net. The post will go live on 3/6/09. I really enjoy your articles!! If you don't want me to republish it, please email me. I would love to have you as a weekly frugal guest blogger if interested!! Community Tags frugal living, frugal food, stockpiling, storage Discuss this article
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