Even More Ways to Save
Zero to Stockpile
My Zero to Stockpile Challenge is underway. It’s a very strange feeling not having my stockpile to fall back on. It’s actually a little uncomfortable for all of us as a family. My husband just said to me that he had to get a roll of toilet paper from one bathroom and put it in another. Yikes! But I’m up for this challenge of building it back up…including my toilet paper!
The one thing I have found, while talking to a lot of you through my Instagram account or in our new Zero to Stockpile facebook group, is that so many of you don’t completely understand the importance of a stockpile and how to build a stockpile that will actually benefit your family.
One of the reasons I started this, Zero to Stockpile Challenge, was because I had found that so many people just wanted to see that big haul and copy it. Those types of posts have flooded social media sites and people are just so intrigued by it thinking that is what they have to do to save. But, what really happens is you end up buying so much of what you really DON’T need and are left wondering why you are still spending so much money on your groceries.
I’m here to tell you that if you stock up on the things that are important to you and your family, you will see, after a couple of months, that your grocery bill will go down and down and down.
Starting From Zero
So, here I am, with a completely empty freezer and stockpile shelves having to start from zero, just like I did 10 years ago.
That means, my $75 a week budget has to be increased to $200 a week. Right now, I’m having to buy what I need for my family to eat right now and, while I’m doing that, I also need to start building my stockpile with the best deals I can find on the items that are important to us.
I anticipate it staying at around $200 for the next 4 week until I can really get items stocked up. This week I was able to really stock up on the following:
- Boneless Chicken Breast
- Boneless Pork
- Cereal
- Laundry Detergent
- Tea
For these items, I don’t need to worry about buying them now unless they go on sale for even lower than what I already bought them for. And, for most of those items above, they were already free.
On Sunday, I shopped at ShopRite, Aldi, CVS and my local market, Best Market. I know 4 stores sounds like a lot but, remember, I don’t have any stockpile. I’ve got work to do so it’s going to be a little bit more of a hustle right now as I get the things I need at the best prices.
However, truth be told, I could have just stuck with ShopRite and Best Market and called it a day. I do like to plan my stores on where I’m driving so Aldi and CVS where just me looping around to the other stores so it wasn’t really any extra driving.
Remember, you can stock up by just sticking to one store. You can do it by shopping online if you want to. You can even do it by not using coupons. Whatever you choose, just be sure you are getting the best prices on that product before you stock up.
Here is what I bought and how much I spent. You can see my progress by viewing the following documents:
If you are unsure, why I increased my budget or why I donated my entire stockpile, you can read more about that here.
Sunday Shopping Trip
Pictures of My Current Stockpile
The picture on the left is where all my paper goods are stored. The picture in the middle was for my Beauty products (left side) and cleaning products and health products (right side). The picture on the far right is for all our food.
Tips to Follow My Journey
- Follow me on my Instagram account where I post, via my IG Stories, all my day to day!
- Join our Zero to Stockpile Facebook Group.
- Sign up for the Zero to Stockpile Newsletter
Challenges You May Have Missed
- Challenge #1 – Finding Space for Your Stockpile
- Challenge #2 – Getting Ready For Your Coupons {or not?!}
- Challenge #3 – Preparing Your Grocery Budget & Goals
- Challenge #4 – Prepare Your List Early
