This week I am going to talk about one of my favorite topics, stockpiling. As a frugal blogger I talk a lot about stockpiling groceries, cleaning products, laundry detergent, and personal care. But, as a soon to be new mommy I have been stockpiling diapers and baby care items as well, and you can too! When we found out we would be adding a new member to our household I began my stockpile. There are lots of things you can stockpile ahead of time. Obviously a baby is going to go through a lot of diapers and diapers are one of the most costly items you will purchase – ongoing! So, if you plan to use disposable diapers then you can definitely start your stockpile early. Other items that are safe to stockpile early are wipes, baby body wash, lotion, as well as other “bath” items. Some things I don’t recommend stockpiling too early are baby formula and food. These items have a shorter shelf life, so starting your stockpile on these items before the baby is actually here is not recommended.
The one thing I wasn’t sure about when I started my stockpile is what size diaper I should be stockpiling. What I have done is just bought several different sizes and then when I put them away in the closet I stack them up by like size. Really, you can’t go wrong because you can always exchange an unopened package for a different size later, that is IF you have extras!
If you are new to the idea of stockpiling it is really very simple. The idea behind it is that you purchase items that you need or will use while they are at rock bottom prices. Even better is when you can purchase these items while they are at rock bottom prices AND you can match it with a money-saving coupon!
How can you find out when these things are at rock bottom prices? One way is to start your own price book. Keep track of what items you saw, where you saw it, and what its price was. Once you have done this once a week for a month or so you will have a good idea of what a “good” price is. Amy at MomAdvice has a great price book page that you can use to keep track with HERE.
An easier way to know when prices are at their best is to follow a few blogs that will give you the updates on your favorite stores. There are a ton of money saving blogs out there. One blog I like to watch that keeps me updated on when diapers are cheap is BabyCheapskate. You can also check out my other blog, The “Cent”sible Sawyer; I keep my readers updated on where the deals can be had along with which coupons can be used to get products super cheap! I try to include pictures and detailed info so that others can duplicate my savings.
I will warn you though, saving money can be addictive! Once you start scoring great deals you might not be able to stop!
Stockpiling Images
