Stockpiling

5 Stockpiling Pitfalls You Should Avoid This Year

Good morning, savvy savers! This past weekend has found me spending a lot of time both cleaning out and re-organizing my stockpile for the year ahead. From sorting boxes and bins to checking expiration dates, this weekend was incredibly busy. So in the spirit of stockpiling, for this weeks Savings On The Go, With A Cup of Joe, I wanted to post about the 5 Stockpiling Pitfalls You Should Avoid In 2015!

I have to admit, I’m a definite stockpiler with clutter tendencies! The problem is you don’t realize you have this issue until the stockpile is well established and taking over multiple places in your home. I started off with a small shelf about three and a half feet long, but now I have a pantry, a set of five shelves, designated basement space, built-in cabinets, two refrigerators, and a deep freezer! This is in addition to the personal hygiene items are hiding in the bathroom cabinets.

You may think that stockpiling is 100% beneficial because of the money you’ve saved, but this is only until you find yourself drowning in groceries and perishable items!

Here are a few tips to keep these pitfalls under control:

Not Having A Stockpile Limit: Your stockpile is out of control when it exceeds your storage space, period. If your stockpile is getting out of control, simply redesign your storage space. I looked at my available storage space and made a vow not to exceed my limits again. If you have a small space to work with for your stockpile, limit your goods by checking expiration dates, and anything that is set to expire in the next season, donate to a local charity, food pantry, or women’s shelter in your area.
Don’t Keep Items Past Their Expiration Date: Keeping your stockpile clear of expired foods will save space, money, and prevent you from eating stale, untasty foods. To prevent this, simply create a spread sheet or clipboard chart, and whenever you purchase a vast quantity of goods, write down their dates, and check your sheet seasonally. Also, be sure to rotate goods quarterly so you are consuming or utilizing set-to-expire goods sooner than later—this will also allow you to evaluate what you have, and how much you’re actually using, before you go out and buy more in-store.
Don’t Stockpile Goods You Won’t Use/Donate: Items being thrown away is always equivalent to throwing cash down the drain. To prevent this, simply remember that all sales are cyclical and are guaranteed to rear their heads again within 3-4 months time. Also, when you are able to score freebies with deals, rebates, and coupons in-store, consider only purchasing goods you will be able to use with 12 months, or will donate within 6 months.
Weatherize Your Stockpile: One of the pitfalls of stockpiling is the location of your storage. Certain foods have to be stored in specific temperatures or not exposed to excessive heat. Not storing items at the proper temperature can cause food to expire more quickly and go to waste. A rule of thumbs, foods that are susceptible to insects or heat, such as most baked supplies can be bagged and frozen. Also, please click here to read my post on which goods from you stockpile can be winterized this season, too!
Give Your Stockpile A Safety Inspection: The most important thing to remember, stockpiles serve families, and should be safely stored for all members of your family, human and fur-babies alike. If the stockpile is stacked so high that items could fall and hit you on the head—it’s not safe. If your stockpile blocks a path you would need to exit in case of a fire—it’s a fire hazard. If you have flammable products near a fireplace or gas stove—you guessed it, a hazard! Organize goods in a safe, usable, functional manner.

I hope these tips will help you keep your stockpile organized, usable, safe, and secure! And if you have any stockpile tips, I’d love to hear about them in a comment below!

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Saving To Go, With A Cup of Joe: Weatherizing Your Stockpile!

Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Saving To Go, With A Cup of Joe series post, I want to discuss ways to properly winterize your stockpile! Why is this necessary? Well, if your stockpile is anything like my own, than your stockpile is a large investment in both your home and family, and deserves the proper amount of planning and preparation. So, in hopes of being able to preserve your precious goods, and hard earned dollars, here are my suggestions for winterizing and weatherizing your stockpiled goods:

Canned goods: Canned goods cannot be allowed to freeze. When canned goods freeze, they stand the chance of cans bulging, which can cause the seam and lid failure, which can cause food-borne illnesses, not to mention to fail, changes in product texture, flavor, nutrient factors, and product color. Most canned goods are packed in a solution of salt or sugar, which lowers their freezing point, but canned goods should not be stored below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Before temperatures freeze this season, avoid storing foods where the temperatures will reach below freezing.
Insecticides: Products in foam-based product cans should be stored in warmer climates.
Soft Drinks, Coking Oils, and Cleaners: Freezing can have adverse effects on liquids such as soda, cooking oil, soap or detergent. Basements are a great place to store these goods. Frozen detergents and cooking oils can be brought back to room temperature by placing them in trash bags, at room temperature, and then storing accordingly.
Dried Foods: Foods that are dehydrated or freeze-dried will actually last longer in the cold since there is no water in them to freeze, or can be frozen in deep freezes! This also applied for flower and plant seeds.
Paper Products: Household goods, such as paper towels, plastic cups and utensils, razors, floss and toothbrushes, can be kept in cooler climates in your home.
Produce: Some produce such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and apples will actually keep longer stored in bins in cooler climates or sheds; be sure to check produce weekly, and any sign of age the produce should be composed, especially potatoes, which can emit deadly gases if left to rot over several months.

So, I hope these tips will help you keep your stockpile in tip top shape this winter!

Here’s to saving,

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Wednesday Ways To Save: Things I Freeze To Save Money!

Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Wednesday Ways To Save, I wanted to post about some of the items in my home, that I purchase in bulk and freeze, for savings down the road!

Here are few things here, that I freeze:

1) Cheese: Freeze blocks of cheese for up to a year; shredded cheese works well also, and you can prevent clumping by adding a dash of corn starch prior to freezing! Remember to let cheese thaw on counters before refrigerating, after freeing!

2) Pancakes: I make large batches bi-monthly and freeze servings in snack baggies, as needed; I save $30.00 annually by doing so for breakfast!

3) Bananas: I freeze banana, peeling on, and use for smoothies and bread; to use, microwave for 30 second, cut the peel tops, and squeeze out!

4) Rice: I cook monthly batches of rice in my rice cooker, and then freeze for quick night sides.

5) Pies: I always bake pies in multiples, then freeze covered in wax paper, then bagged in large gallon ziploc; these last up to a year.

6) Corn: I freeze corn, husks and silk intact. in gallon ziploc, and then pull out to grill when needed; fresh corn in the winter is amazing this way, when paired with 4/$1.00 summer pricing! Be sure to compost scraps!

7) Pasta: Whenever I cook pasta, I usually cook the entire box and then freeze portions as needed for nightly meals.

8) Flour: I store my flour, double bagged, in my freezer to prevent infestations in summer.

9) Mashed Potatoes: I always freeze unused mashed potato portions, in smaller snack bags, up up to two months in my freezer!

10) Stock: I always boil and use leftover bones to make stock. Once stock is made, let completely cool, strain, and then place in ice trays to freeze; I like to add herbs to mine and seasoning as well. To store, pop the cubes in snack baggies for up to a year!

11) Uncrustables: I make my own uncrustables by using biscuit cutters to cut sandwiches, crimp the edges with a fork, and freeze in lunch bags up to a year; I save $42.00 annually by doing so.

12) Potato Chips, Crackers and Pretzels: I keep my snacks in smaller bags, frozen for up to a year, and thaw for one hour before serving.

13) Milk: I buy milk on sale and freeze for up to a season; also note you should shake up milk before drinking after freezing!

14) Eggs: When eggs drop in price to $0.99 a dozen at Walgreens, I stock-up, crack eggs, and put portions in snack bags to freeze for recipes down the road!

15) Lemon/Lime Juice and Zest: I often freeze lemon juice from my potted citrus trees, in ice trays, then transport cubes to snack baggies for up to a year; as well as freeze the zest for homemade stove-top potpourri in winter!

16) Hamburger: I often cook extra ground beef and turkey, then freeze the extra seasoned amounts in snack baggies for recipes, especially in the crockpot for later on!

I hope these money-saving tips help you, as much as they help my family!

Here’s to saving!

Everything I Freeze To Save Money!

Good afternoon, savvy savers! For this weeks Tuesday Tutorials, I wanted to post about some of the items in my home, that I purchase in bulk and freeze, for savings down the road!