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Stockpiling is not new for Canadians, although it’s becoming far more critical than ever.
With the rise in grocery prices and job loss, Canadians want to save money wherever possible.
The grocery store is one of the easiest places to slim the budget, but that takes planning.
Today, we will explore stockpiling tips to help shoppers get the best bang for their buck.
There’s More To Stockpiling Than Savings
Every couponer knows that building a successful stockpile of everyday essentials is key to long-term savings.
Having a variety of items on hand that you paid rock-bottom prices for helps eliminate those last-minute, unplanned trips to the grocery store.
It also allows you to have emergency products on hand if something happens in your life or Canada.
Stockpiling Difficulties
Stockpiling is not as difficult as it seems and isn’t as intimidating as seen on TV shows such as The Learning Channel.
We can’t stockpile with coupons to the mass extent they do in the USA, but stockpiling in Canada can be done.
Related: Til Death Do Us Coupon- Do you use coupons?
When you don’t stockpile everyday products, this is where you might end up paying full price.
Paying full price for a product you could have stocked up hurts and takes potential savings away from your budget.
The other difficulty you may encounter is uneducated cashiers and managers who don’t understand couponing or how to interpret a coupon.
Coupons are relatively easy to understand, but not everyone understands them equally.
The only issue we’ve ever had is when a coupon states, “One coupon per purchase.”
What this means is that every item you purchase must have a coupon.
We’ve had cashiers interpret that as you can only use one coupon for one item and no more.
That is not the case at all.
You can buy as many products as possible unless it states a limit, and you must have one coupon for each product.
Pretty simple.
Canadian Coupon Groups Help With Stockpiling
You might also consider joining groups such as Smart Canucks, where you can trade coupons with other Canadians for products you want.
Every province gets different coupons, so it’s exciting to see coupons that will help you save even more money.
Below I’ve compiled some tips using my expert coupon skills to help you start and maintain a functional stockpile in your home.
No word of a lie, but we have about 10 shelves filled with toilet paper (over 1000 rolls), laundry soap, 100 jugs, soap, razors, shampoo, conditioner, and mountain cleaning supplies.
Our food stockpile isn’t as massive, but if I counted the cereal boxes, I’m sure I’d hit over 30.
Stockpiling Tip #1 Plan Before You Shop
When considering stockpiling products, the first thing to do is to plan what you would like to stock and how long you would like it to last.
Not all expiry dates are created equally, so keep that in your head during the planning stages.
A good stockpile will go a long way if you plan out your shops.
For example, if you would like to stockpile laundry detergent enough to last six months, there are a few things to consider before purchasing.
For example, you will want to look at how much laundry your family does in a typical week.
You may also want to figure out how many bottles or boxes of laundry soap you need to get through that time.
This is why planning is critical because overbuying leads to consumer loss.
Stockpiling Tip #2 Designate A Storage Place
The last thing you want is to end up with a fantastic stockpiling plan that won’t fit in your pantry.
Be aware of space restrictions, and shop accordingly so you don’t end up with everything in cardboard boxes.
There is no need to become one of those people you see on TV storing BBQ sauce under their child’s bed.
Stockpiling Tip #3 Create A Grocery Price List
Compile a grocery price list of items you would like to stockpile and record the absolute lowest price you see it at.
This way, you have a point of reference to know if you should stock an item at the current price or if you know it will eventually get cheaper.
After a while, you’ll know the prices of the products you usually purchase for your household.
Stockpiling is all about playing a pricing game with the manufacturer and grocery stores, so knowing your prices is the absolute most crucial tip.
Stockpiling Tip #4 Keep A Stockpile Inventory List
Letting something expire without being used because you forgot you had it is throwing away money.
Consumers who buy more than needed or forget they have specific products get pushed to the back of the pile.
Continuously rotate stock to keep the products fresh and eliminate food waste.
Losing money on products you worked hard to save on would be counterproductive.
This is where a little bit of work goes a long way, plus it helps you to see how much food you are going through.
Keep an inventory list of what you have, how many, and the expiry dates to avoid food waste.
Use your inventory listing to write a menu plan, so you know everything will be used in time.
Stockpiling Tip #5 Invest In A Freezer
This is optional, but for a truly successful stockpile, storing freezable items (meat, fruits, veggies, etc.) is extremely beneficial.
When stockpiling, you only grow your inventory to suit your plans.
If you purchase a larger freezer than necessary, you will use the money you save on groceries to pay an unnecessarily large hydro bill.
Related: A list of foods we freeze to save money
Summary For Becoming A Stockpile Expert
Beginning a stockpile for your home takes some time, and you will go through a learning curve.
Don’t get intimidated by cashiers, managers, or people who make you feel that what you are doing is weird.
It’s far from weird and all about money-saving to pay off debt and become debt-free sooner.
Always keep the Scanning Code of Practice in mind, especially when you shop to add more stock to your stash.
- Plan your grocery shop with Canadian coupons, rebates, and rewards apps.
- Keep an inventory of what you have, including expiry dates
- Eat what you have so you don’t waste food
- Work on a grocery price book so you know the best prices
- Invest in a freezer which you can always find second-hand for cheap
Related: Is the Checkout51 app taking over paper coupons?
Stockpiling is more than saving money. It’s about having emergency foods and products on hand if something happens.
For more Grocery Saving Tips in Canada, please visit my Ultimate Guide For Grocery Shopping, with over 300 tips and tricks to help you stick to your grocery budget.
Related: Here’s why people are stockpiling and panic buying toilet paper to cope with coronavirus fears.
Follow these tips, and you will be well on your way to saving through stockpiling.
Discussion: Do you stockpile, and what other tips can you add to help someone new to using coupons and coupon apps in Canada?
Please leave your comments below.
Thanks for stopping by to read,
Mr. CBB
OK, the question I have to ask!!! COSTCO???
Is it heaven on earth for the you, or the devil’s spawn?
I visit Costco, weekly. As you know, most grocery items are packaged in “multiples”, perfect for stockpiling. My problem, is that even then, it is too much. End up, eventually discarding some. Although the price per item is less, I wonder how much I saved in the long run.
Finally, in addition to the has of product, the question the develops into, is the $40 membership worth it?
For a little conversation 😉
Hi,
I actually don’t shop at Costco so I wouldn’t be able to give you any of those answers. Maybe some of the readers can help out with an answer. Let’s see.. Mr.CBB Thanks for your post.
You need to know your prices when you shop at costco. Some things are cheaper but some are not when you factor in sales and coupons.
I’ve just discovered this blog (much later than this original post), but I figured it couldn’t hurt to add my two cents on this topic.
My husband and I buy our produce at Costco as it’s often cheaper to buy produce in bulk there than at our local grocery stores (unless the food item is available at a great sale, which happens less often than we’d like.) Our trick involves a very specific buying pattern — we choose two fruit options, two green options (i.e. asparagus, brussels spouts, broccoli, etc.), one salad green, one red/orange option (i.e. carrots, peppers, tomatoes, etc.) and one starch (usually white or sweet potatoes). This usually lasts us two weeks and we use everything up with no waste. We find the key is buying produce in predetermined groups (i.e. cucumbers & peppers, or brussels sprouts & carrots) which allow us to use each of the produce items in multiple recipes throughout the week. Varying the type of cuisine (i.e. Italian, Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, Canadian, etc.) takes away from the feeling of eating the same produce night after night during the week. If there’s anything leftover at the end of our buying cycle we usually prep it for the freezer or puree it for adding to soups or other foods. We waste very little using this system, which took quite a while to perfect. I hope this helps someone. Cheers!
I haven’t been in Costco for a few years, ever since I became an empty nester, However I always over spent my spending budget when I went in there. I would go in with $100 to spend and ended up spending 3X that amount. I believe if your not throwing away any of it it’s a good deal…
Hi, Thanks for your comment. Sure if you know you will use the items you purchase at Costco and you know it’s the best deal around, go for it. We stock up on items when they go on sale especially one’s that don’t have coupons or aren’t on sale often. This actually blows our budget but that’s ok because 1- we have the emergency money and 2- we will be buying it now on sale or later at full price and we choose on sale. Thanks again for reading and commenting at Canadian Budget Binder! Mr.CBB
Good tips….still struggling with whether to stockpile or not.
It’s a personal choice. We don’t really stockpile food per say, some items yes but yes we do stock pile Health and Beauty and Laundry/cleaning Supplies. I’m not going to turn down Laundry soap at $9.97 on sale for $3.99- $3.00 coupon and .50 overage from free toothpaste paying Oop $0.50 for a huge jug of laundry soap ( plus tax) but still, yes that’s worth it. You have to know what is right for your family to stockpile. Cheers and thanks for your comment. Mr.CBB
It was about this time last year that I was informed of the peanut shortage and that peanut butter would skyrocket. I therefore stockpiled this item as it has a long shelf life and my family goes through ALOT of peanut butter. It was called the wall of peanut butter! I still have some left and at $2/1kg jar of Kraft vs the $6.49 regular cost that it is now. Yes last week it was on sale for $3.33 and I saw people going crazy for that price!
A classic case of if you know your family will use it and it’s on sale then grab it. I saw a family with a people carrier (minivan) the other day at no frills and it was stocked to the max.. with items on sale .. I had never seen anything like it. I assume they know a good deal and stockpile the foods their family enjoy. I heard that about the PB and we keep a few jars on hand for the exchange students to try as we don’t really eat it much ourselves. The price did go up significantly.. Cheers Mr.CBB
Great stockpiling tips! Thanks!
Great stockpiling tips thanks!
We do stockpile food. I try to have enough that we could get by for three months. (Three months of healthy eating, not three months of fancy eating.) I can and freeze fruit, vegetables, seafood and game when they are in season. I can protein on an on going basis, I stock our pantry with dry goods and our freezer with meats, cheese and dairy products. There are some tricks to managing this well: Know what you have. Keep and inventory. Use your stocks in rotation and replenish them as you go. Be aware of the costs involved and budget for them on an ongoing basis. Don’t put by what you wouldn’t normally eat.
The last part, “don’t buy what you wouldn’t normally eat” was what we did and why we had so much waste or had to give it away. We were using coupons to buy food, new food to try out.. and you know we never got through it. We are not box type food eaters.. so we stopped. It’s been much easier ever since.
I like to stockpile stuff for my husband – his tastes don’t change, so buying boxes of cereal for under $2 (and often enough, more like $1.25-1.50), big blocks of cheese for under $3, apple juice, shampoo, toilet paper, etc., is worth it. If I can provide my husband with a breakfast for under $1 every morning (cereal with milk, and apple juice – not to mention his daily vitamin that costs less than $0.05 a day if anything at all), I’m pleased. When I realize I’m low on something finally, it shocks me and I refuse to buy it again until it is on sale and hopefully with a coupon.
Yes we can get the same way only because 1- we know coupons will be out eventually or 2- it WILL go on sale. Good for you Erin! Happy Saving mate!
A freezer was my first investment! Meat on sale for a $1.99 tastes better than 4.99 a pound.
That’s so true.. a freezer can go a long way when it comes to savings.
I got an upright freezer last summer just for this reason. My Grandma and mom always had chest freezers, but I think you have better access to things in an upright.
About the same time, I started doing orders from Flashfoods and I noticed savings right away. I also check the clearance sections in the food side of Walmart, usually meat and produce. the saving are great if you keep on top of what you have.
Right now, my freezer is mostly full of meat; bagels and bread; a few desserts and frozen 4 litre bags of chocolate milk. I designate different shelves for each food group to keep an eye on what I have. Most of what is in my freezer I got at rock bottom prices. I am so glad I have not paid full price for groceries for a while. Food is getting mighty expensive.
Hi Alexandra,
It’s great to hear you are working the magic at the grocery store and using the available apps. I think some people fear discounted foods for fear of being bad or going off too soon. I’ve never had that problem, although I have burst the odd milk bag while defrosted. The upright freezer is the best.