How much of a stockpile would you like to have?

[DawnM]

I am watching Extreme Couponing again. 1,000 tubes of toothpaste of course is way too much, but I do wonder, what stockpile would you LIKE to have if:

1. Space were no obstacle
2. You had a typical family of 4 (just to keep the poll even.)

This is a question about all items, assuming they would have the shelf life of up to 5 years (randomly picked number to keep with a control number.)

 

[DawnM]

Oh shoot. I meant to put an option of "I wouldn't stockpile period" on there.....I can't figure out how to amend the poll.

Dawn

 

[scrapquitler]

I picked "up to 6 months" because that was the closest to the right answer for me. Really I don't stockpile much of anything. At most I keep one or two extra packages of things like cleaning supplies/toothpaste, etc. As far as pantry items, I try to buy another once I open the one in the cabinet unless they are things I use a lot of (like pasta, I might keep 3 or 4 boxes of it). I don't stockpile more than that most of the time.

 

[DawnM]

Is that all that you would like to have though? I really wanted to know what you would like to have if you could, not what you do have.

Dawn

I picked "up to 6 months" because that was the closest to the right answer for me. Really I don't stockpile much of anything. At most I keep one or two extra packages of things like cleaning supplies/toothpaste, etc. As far as pantry items, I try to buy another once I open the one in the cabinet unless they are things I use a lot of (like pasta, I might keep 3 or 4 boxes of it). I don't stockpile more than that most of the time.

 

[disneychrista]

I choose up to 6 months, because that was the closest to what I would have.

I would have upto 3 months of all non-parrishables & tolietries.

 

[Carina]

I would have up to 3 months of all non-parrishables & tolietries.

Ditto

 

[punkin]

Even if storage wasn't an issue, you still have to clean. If you had 5 years worth of stuff you would have to move it every 3 months or so to clean around it and under it (even just dust). I'd rather buy everything new at around 3 months.

 

[mhsjax]

Even if I had unlimited room, the only think I would stock pile is toilet paper and paper towels and cleaning supplies. I have a weird thing about eating food that has been sitting around, and yes I know it sits in ware houses, but I don't see it everyday.

 

[cvjw]

I picked the 6 month option, but in reality, it would be less than that. I don't like to have clutter around. I don't like running out of paper towels when I need one, but don't want to have 1400 rolls lying around either. I would prefer to have 1 or 2 extra of items that we use frequently around the house. It's not like we live in olden times and can't run out to Kroger if I need toothpaste!

 

[DawnM]

I would like to have 12 months of some items if I could. Like several mentioned....toiletries, including paper goods, soap, shampoo and cleaning supplies/laundry.

Food items, I agree, up to 1 year's worth of canned items/shelf items. Not much more as I don't like even getting close to expiration dates.

I do have 2 large shelving units from Costco in the basement pantry. I also have an extra stand up freezer and a 2nd fridge. They are not full.

Dawn

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I chose 6 months. If you asked my husband, he would have answered a year or more.

He has been bugging me to stockpile in the wake of that happened in Japan. He asks if a disaster stikes here & food is unavailable, how are we (family of five) going to eat.

Also with the economy, the dollar is worth less & less everyday. Gold & silver are high, but you can't eat gold & silver.

My biggest issue with stockpiling is the organization...rotating items so that they are used before they expire. Neith my husband nor I are the most organized of people. However much he would feel more comfortable with a big stockpile, the burden of organizing it will fall to me.

I can't understand why the guy last night didn't just donate his 1000 tubes of free toothpaste, and keep the quantity he bought last night for his family....its not like it will never go onsale again.

I also noticed that he did not separate his order at all. I wonder what store he is shopping at that has a policy of allowing that many like coupons to double in one purchase....don't most stores limit?

 

[DawnM]

My "guess" with the toothpaste is that he kept it for effect and will donate a large portion. I can't imagine he would keep it as even he knows he can't use all that.

What store was he stopping at? Did anyone catch that? I would say the store bent the rules for the effect of the show, but then when I look at his crazy stockpile I have to wonder if maybe that isn't he case for him.

Didn't they say it is 70,000 dollars worth of products in his basement?

DH commented that we are NOT turning our basement into THAT! I have no intention of that at all anyway.

And what in the world was with the ladies stockpiling diapers when they don't even have kids and no plans in the near future?

I refuse to waste my time or even a dime on stuff I won't use or that I can't donate IMMEDIATELY. I don't want it sitting around and taking up my valuable shelf space at all.

Dawn

I chose 6 months. If you asked my husband, he would have answered a year or more.

He has been bugging me to stockpile in the wake of that happened in Japan. He asks if a disaster stikes here & food is unavailable, how are we (family of five) going to eat.

Also with the economy, the dollar is worth less & less everyday. Gold & silver are high, but you can't eat gold & silver.

My biggest issue with stockpiling is the organization...rotating items so that they are used before they expire. Neith my husband nor I are the most organized of people. However much he would feel more comfortable with a big stockpile, the burden of organizing it will fall to me.

I can't understand why the guy last night didn't just donate his 1000 tubes of free toothpaste, and keep the quantity he bought last night for his family....its not like it will never go onsale again.

I also noticed that he did not separate his order at all. I wonder what store he is shopping at that has a policy of allowing that many like coupons to double in one purchase....don't most stores limit?

 

[figment3258]

I would like to have about a months supplies

 

[mjbaby]

I think about six months is right for me. Not six months of everything we eat or use (I enjoy keeping some party-type snacks on hand for drop-in entertaining, for example, but that's not a necessity), but the basics: flour and sugar (and basic baking supplies), dried and canned beans, canned veggies, pastas, rice and so on. Then vinegar, baking soda (can double up with baking things), essential oils, toothpaste, soap, shampoos, feminine needs and...I'm missing something. Oh! Laundry needs.

I understand the desire to want to really, really stock up and prepare for every eventuality. I think it's human nature. THe thing is, while one gets so focused on the price of gold or earthquakes or whatever, you fail to notice the zombie apocalypse starting, you know? I don't think it's possible to prepare for every single potential issue we could face but trying could present a significant opportunity cost.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

around 3 to 6 months for emergencies - power outages, etc or, hopefully never, financial. Mainly canned goods and non-perishables.

I can never get a stock pile of paper products going, we just go through them too fast and I am not willing to lay out the $ to get enough at one time. If I could I would have much more paper products and toiletries.

We do have a couple shelves in the basement (but too little cupboard/storage space in the kitchen). We also have a second fridge/freezer in the basement - there is never enough freezer space so too hard to really stock up there.

I am usually closer to 3 than 6 at any point. I don't hoard - I just buy a few instead of 1 on sale or buy at the warehouse even though there is only three of us.

It is really nice to have the extra when it is time to donate to food drives - I have plenty to pull from!!!!

 

[TinknBellesMom]

I voted for about a years supply, but in reality we aim for about 6-12 mos supply of items we use. We buy half of a grass fed, free range, etc. cow each year and that will last us for a little over that year. I try to keep about 30 pounds of different pastas (dried and some in the freezer) and that lasts us 8 or 9 months. For flour, sugar, yeast, other baking supplies, rice, I aim for a 6 month supply. Paper products, toiletries and cleaners, 12 months or more.

I don't extreme coupon shop though and everything (including the freezer) fits nicely in the laundry room downstairs. It's actually doesn't take that much space.

We own our own business and sometimes we can only take a paycheck that will cover our mortgage and our other monthly bills. So, it's nice to know that when those lean months happen, I can still feed everyone healthy food and not have to worry about running out of TP.

 

[mombrontrent]

Even if I had unlimited room, the only think I would stock pile is toilet paper and paper towels and cleaning supplies. I have a weird thing about eating food that has been sitting around, and yes I know it sits in ware houses, but I don't see it everyday.

Yes this! If there is a REALLY great deal on paper products or cleaning supplies I will buy a 3-6 months supply, I even bought a years worth of dishwasher tabs once when there was a great deal because they hardly take up any space unlike toilet paper and paper towles. I have a whole unused cold storage area but I refuse to stock that much stuff. If it doesn't fit in my kitchen pantry I won't buy it. If it's just a regular sale I will only buy a couple weeks worth or less because sales happen ALL THE TIME. I usually make my own pasta sauce but sometimes if pressed for time I will use this one brand at Costco, it went on sale so my DH came home with a whole case (12 samll jars) and I freaked out! I would have probably bought 2-4. Even at the sale price it still worked out to $3 for a small jar, but it's the only jar sauce I like.

 

[marmalade]

I do have to admit, I am kind of envious of some of those stockpiles. I would love the peace of mind knowing that I had something when I needed it. I don't think I could be as extreme as the ones on the show, I would be happy with 25% of what they had.

 

[Marionnette]

I'll admit that I have 6-12 mos. of most items stockpiled either in kitchen cabinets, pantry or freezer. Certain items only go on sale every 6 months or so. Stuff like flour, sugar, butter, ham, turkeys go on sale around Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. April to November is a long time to wait in between the sales so I definitely have closer to 8 months of those on hand.

Toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies seem to follow a 3-month cycle, so there's only a 6-month supply of those (or less). The same goes for shampoos, body washes, toothpaste and deodorants.

Canned goods are twice a year and I have a 6+ month supply of those. Pastas and cereals are pretty much monthly. I have *maybe* a 6-week supply of those.

My freezer is always full because it's cheaper to run a full freezer than it is to run one that is half-empty. It's mostly frozen veggies and meat but there's some bread, butter and nuts in there as well. I just baked up 2 dozen Pillsbury biscuits and frozen them because there wasn't enough room in my two refrigerators for all 6 cans I bought.

For those that think that it's difficult to keep it all clean, you have to remember that I'm using that stuff everyday. It's not like I'm piling on top of what is there. Everything gets moved when I restock an item and the shelf and cans get cleaned when I do it. I'm not buying everything all at once, so I don't have to completely empty all my cabinets and shelves at one time.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I would easily stockpile 1000 tubes of toothpaste if it meant I'd have the privilege of giving them away to homeless shelters or families in need.