Stockpiling, or buying more of an item than you immediately need because it’s heavily discounted or at a great price point, is essential if you really want to slash your monthly grocery budget.
Back in the heyday of couponing, we could get so many pantry and drugstore staples for super cheap (or even free), which is where a lot of us “learned” to stockpile. While the couponing crazy has died WAY down and the deals just aren’t as prolific anymore, there are still ways to stockpile without blowing your grocery budget.
For some, it’s financially difficult to begin the stockpiling process as there may be little room in the budget to devote to purchasing extras. But stockpiling doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go out and BUY a huge quantity of food. It can be purchased in small quantities over time or it can even mean processing and freezing what you already have to make it last.
Here are some of our favorite resources:
Stockpiling on a budget
This post is a great place to start! It talks more about what stockpiling actually is and gives some really practical tips for doing it on a budget, including how to “find” extra money in your monthly budget.
Stocking pantry and freezer essentials
This is one our most popular posts! It gives you a rundown of basic items you can keep stocked in your pantry and freezer to make any combination of weeknight dinners, breakfasts or lunches.
By stocking these essentials (or creating your own list), you can buy at rock bottom prices because you know it will get eaten and you can always throw together a meal!
You can often find stock up prices on canned goods, cleaning supplies and other pantry items through the Amazon Prime Pantry service. No additional cost for Prime members! Check out our huge list of the best Pantry deals here.
Making vs buying
While we all know that homemade food is (at least most of the time) healthier than store-bought or eating out. But time is also a factor. This post covers when and why you might make your own pancakes, bread, salad dressing, ice cream and more. It also covers when it’s worth it to buy or grow your own produce.
Freezer friendly foods
Freezing is such an amazing way to stretch your grocery budget! This post covers foods that freeze well, allowing you to stock up when they’re heavily discounted or use up some irregular produce you found at the store without having it go to waste. Herbs, chicken stock, fresh veggies, even sandwiches!
When produce is in season in your local area, it tends to be far less expensive than paying for it to be trucked in from out of state. And local is ALWAYS fresher, especially when it’s just been picked or harvested. During these seasonal months, you can often find fantastic prices on fresh produce, either at the grocery store or your local farmer’s market.
- How to “flash” freeze berries at home
- How to freeze fruit to make summer last
- How to make and freeze applesauce
This is a great time to buy in bulk and freeze so you have “fresh” fruit to last you through the off-season months.
RELATED: How to save money on fresh produce
Canning fresh produce
None of the freezing techniques above require anything more than some baking sheets and Ziploc bags. No technical skill required. If you want to get a bit more fancy and stock the heck out of your pantry, consider canning! We have a great beginner’s guide here.
We’d love to hear from you! What is your favorite tip for building a stockpile on a budget?
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