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I've been trying to follow how all your girls do so well stockpiling. I don't. I do okay with sales and stuff, but find I'm buying WAY to much stuff and then when I need groceries I don't have the cash because I bought other stuff So I'm going to continue to watch sales and get what I need, but not buying just because it's on sale. I'm using up what I already have in the house and the basement too. I just do better to got to Bj's once a month and get what I need with coupons and sale coupons.
Also, not buying ahead for the kids like a used too. I got too burned on that. Plus I always am getting coupons for the children's place and kohls so just going to get what they need when thye need it. Just can't see looking for bargains an dthen finding out it's too small for them anyway. Thanks girls for all the advice. I guess we just need to do what works best for each of us.
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I understand where you are coming from. I have been stockpiling for about 1 1 /2 years and at first it was very hard. Now I just stockpile on the free items for instance last week was Skippy PB, pasta noodles, corn muffin mix, totinos pizza rolls, shampoo/conditioneer (herbal essence), and cattlemans BBQ sauce. Sure it is a wierd combo but if you get a few things free every week it adds up. Now I live in Illinois so I do have to pay tax on food but still the 180 jars of PB were only $0.01 a jar. Now before you ask NO I did not keep it all. I gave a bunch to friends and coworkers and the rest is being picked up this weekend by a food pantry in our community. I enjoy giving that stuff away and donating it to a good cause.
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Wow!! 180 jars of PB for a penny each?? How do you do it?? I thought I did okay, but WOWOW!!!!!
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I sont stockpile either, I have one item being used and one backup. I found i spent double the money my budget allowed grcery for, when I did coupons. Some items we never used, and theywere more expensive after the coupon deduction then the generic version. I stick to generic as much as possible, pare down snacks and sodas and processed foods and buy more veggies and fruits.
I dont use coupons, just buy a couple of items when they are one sale. I spend $400 a month on all grocery, babyfood, diapers ect.
for clothes I just buy on an asneed basis. I just went through the spring clothes and kids have so many pants and tops they can wear for fall. so just need to buy socks, underwear and shoes. that saves some pennies too.
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I'm findng that I'm kinda stockpiling, but not really. I just happen to find some great deals in addition to coupons so I just grab it. Like bar soap, or Jelly, stuff we NEED and will eventually use. I'm hoping to get to a point where I have enough for a couple extra months to a year, so I don't HAVE To to out shopping, other to just get bread and milk.
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Breakdown on Jewel deal:
Our Jewel last week had a Uniliver catalina that would print in the amount of $15 when you spend $40. The $40 went off the origional store price NOT the sale price. Skippy PB was $1 a jar in their ad last week and regular price was like $2.80(might be off a little here) so when you buy 15 the computer says you spent $42 which gave you the coupon on your next purchase.
However in reality you spent $15.15 including tax. After the $15 on your next purchase you spent $0.15. Yes you have to make the origional purchase to get the ball rolling but I do seperate orders (12 in fact - not all on the same visit) then after I have the # I want I use the last $15 coupon to buy normal groceries.
Hope that made sense.
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I love those catalina deals where they just roll, and roll, and roll...I do the same thing you do and get as many as I can and donate/give away what I can't use.
There was a deal like that on Kelloggs fruit snacks a few months ago and after coupons I ended up making $1 on every two boxes I took home for free! Needless to say I had hundreds of boxes around. I gave tons to people I know, sent about 200 to the food pantry, and still kept enough around for DH to take for the drive in to work.
We have a church two lots down and I always give bags of stuff to their food pantry.
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I only stockpile on free items or on items we use large amounts of. with 5 it goes faster than you think. I just donated 3 bags of groceries and you can't tell. it was mostly cleaning products and toileteries.
it is always about what works for your individual family.
allgirls
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I too am a major stockpiler. However, i usually only do it if it is free or super cheap and we will use it anyways. I figure if it is free then why not get it and donate it if I cant use it. Someone less fortunate can. It makes you feel good too. Like just the other day they animal shelter was standing in front of the store begging for donations and I just happened to have some FREE cat food coupons. SO why let the poor little kitties starve????
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How do you find the catalina deal? I just did a search on google, but I can't find any good sites. Which site do you use?