I read the other stockpile thread and it got me thinking. Where do you begin? Do you just hit Aldi and fill your cart? I find it very hard to find good coupons and sales where we live, so I am not sure to start. I have a great place to store things, but othere than that I am at a loss. Any suggestions would be great.

My pantry is in the basement. Aldi's is the first place I would shop and buy what you use a lot of. Anytime you can combine coupons with a sale buy it. Keep track of expiration dates though. Nothing makes me more mad than throwing out food that is expired. You can also stockpile soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, etc.

If you have a nice pantry set up you know you'll always have a food source if you come upon hard times.

You have to start out slow and build it up. Get a flyer and look at it. Find all the B1G1 items and then get two coupons to match it ( one for each item). Buy those items only. Do this each week with very store in your area. IF you dont have a coupon to go with it skip it unless its something you really need.

What she said!!! Gotta find the sales!

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~~Ember~~
Mommy to Bailey 10/02, Brooke 9/04, & DJ 6/06

I stock up on Walgreen's frees and by checking B1G1 sale ads. My storage shelves aren't huge so I have to limit what I stock-up on. Therfore, I try and save my space for things I know we'll use before expirations (toothpaste, tp, canned goods, etc) I definitely check ads and try and get coupons for those items that are B1G1. The same things seem to go on sale repeatedly so if I don't have coupons I just wait for the next sale

Start slow and see what works for you!! Good luck!

Sales usually go on 12 week cycles. So when you get your circular look and see if there are any really good sales. For instance I have a personal rule to not buy any meat that cost over $2lb. that is a good price around here. So if there is a sale on chicken breast for $1.69 a lb. I buy enough to get me through 12wks till it's on sale again. I set up a rebate acct. online for Rite Aide they have rebates you can claim just buy using your reciept you don't have to mail anything in. When you get your circular or view the online ad check and see what is free with rebate. Alot of times I will have a coupon too, so that means they are paying me to buy it. I haven't paid for toothpast in ages. I started by using thegrocerygame.com and now I don't need it.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

I do alot of stockpiling. I try to match the stockpiling with coupons to make it free or nearly free.

2 weeks ago it was 10 for $10.00 All purpose flour, I bought 10 5lbs bags of flour and put them in the freezer.

Last week it was 10 for $10.00 Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines Cake Mixes or Brownie Mixes, I had 7 .35 off coupons for the brownies that doubled to 4.90 then I also had 3 1.00 off coupons for the cake mix and a icing combo so I actually paid 2.10 for 7 brownie mixes and 3 cake mixes, since it was a combo coupon I had to buy 3 icings too and I think they were 1.32 each making it a total spent of 6.06 for 7 brownie mixes, 3 cake mixes and 3 tubs of cream cheese icing.

I haven't looked at the paper this week yet but whatever is on sale this week I hope I have coupons for so I can stock it up. Mostly I match the loss leaders with coupons and thats how I stock up!!

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Momma to Colby 6 and Brady 2.

If you have a CVS in your area start there for h& B items. The month of APril they have buy 1 12 ounce softsoap cashmere body wash get the full amount back in ECB. ECB's are now printing at the register automaticly so you can go in and buy 1 and go back in and buy another right away. I know the ad's in the store say limit one -- but it is limit 5 per card. At lease here in Illinois and NY. It is a good way to stock up on soap and only have to pay tax.
Also free this month is Listeren Tooth Defense -- small bottles limit 5 on these as well and mine was 3.77 each. Just keep an eye out for deals like these or Walgreens Easy Saver Rebates and get the free items they offer each month.

mine is a spare walk in closet in my computer room...I have it lined in shelves.I am lucky though to also have a great store that has great sales and always doubles coupons.

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I do the stockpiling with things that don't really expire or have very long shelf life....toiletries, canned goods, pastas and boxed dinners, etc.

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