The fourth part of my Guide to Using Coupons is all about how to build a stockpile! This is something you’ll want to do, especially for products you go through a lot.
As a busy mother of 4, I am always trying to save an extra dime. I started couponing years ago to save money like lots of other people. When I first started clipping I would just grab a few coupons here and there from the Sunday Paper. I had seen the rare story of the person who spent pocket change for hundreds of dollars and thought, yeah right.
The, 3 years ago I really got into couponing. I started to use online printable coupon sites, then came All You Magazine, the best magazine to get coupons in. After that came Facebook, with all the glorious coupons and free samples that included coupons. Not only was I starting to get a steady stream of money saving coupons, but it was also fun!
Not long after that, TLC started their Extreme Couponing Series. I watched a few episodes and was shocked. Typically I would just buy one of each item on my list, maybe 3 if there was a sale.
The cupboards weren’t bare but they weren’t overflowing. On the show, people were buying 40, 70, 500 of things. They had whole rooms dedicated to stockpiling and things stacked in every nook and cranny.
Yes, that is definitely extreme stockpiling and not the way I recommend how to build a stockpile. Do you really need that much? It’s more of an obsession when you get to that point in my opinion, but to each their own.
It is extreme, just as the show title puts it, and in my eyes it isn’t reality to the casual, everyday, couponer. However, I have the show to thank for the stockpile I have started.
I started my stockpile as a “Casual Couponer”, not an “Extreme Couponer”. I don’t buy extra coupons online. I don’t use coupons unethically, or scam any store policies. I don’t clear shelves. I don’t cry when something is out of stock or treat cashiers or managers with disrespect.
The way I have built my stockpile is realistic and simple. I don’t have lots of time to shop and clip with 4 kids and a full time job.
How to Build a Stockpile
Here are the best tips I have on How to Build a Stockpile as a Casual, Everyday, Average Couponer. Hopefully these will help some of you build a little stockpile of your own.
I don’t do anything fancy or difficult. I simply check the ads, match-up my coupons with sales and rewards, and get to shopping. Find what works for your family and don’t be swayed to fill every cupboard, cabinet, or inch of your house to build your stockpile. All things in moderation I say.
Get Your Coupons and Prepare Your Deals
- Coupon Sources: Check out Part 1: How to Find Coupons for the best sources. I make sure to check these early in the morning on Sunday mornings for any new additions
- Find the Deals: In addition to looking at store circulars, I also check IHeartWags.com for Walgreens deals and IHeartCVS.com for CVS deals each week.
- Sunday Newspaper Coupons: I typically buy 3-5 Sunday Papers. We have two papers offered here and they both offer different inserts. Go Figure.
How to Build a Stockpile
Based on the sales each week, figure out what items you should stock up on. You want to look for things that are on sale AND have a great coupon to pair with it. Sometimes stores have a limit on how many you can purchase or how many of the same coupon you can use. Max out those limits on items you use a lot.
Items I stockpile include cereal, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, toilet paper, detergent, shaving cream and razors, dry noodles, and soups. As you begin to stockpile, you’ll figure out the best items for you to keep on hand.
I hoped this help you learn how to build a stockpile for you family! Don’t forget to check out our series of posts on Couponing to get more in-depth details. You can find these in my Guide to Using Coupons:
Part 1: How to Find Coupons
Part 2: Coupon Organization and Lingo
Part 3: How to Start a Coupon Train
Part 4: The post you are reading
