How to stockpile on a budget?

It will likely be easier on your budget if you spread out the items over several weeks or months . Consider adding a few extra dollars to your weekly shopping trip and buy just a few items each time you go to the store. Another important thing to remember is to keep an eye out for sales.

Should we start stockpiling food?

Every American should have at least a three-day supply of food and water stored in their home , with at least one gallon of water per person per day. If you have the space, experts recommend a week's supply of food and water. Choose foods that don't require refrigeration and are not high in salt.

How to start stockpiling food?

Start small . Don't stockpile too much food overnight. Each week, stockpile a small amount of food. For example, purchasing canned beans when they're on sale or you have coupons. As time passes, your stockpile will increase.

What to buy before a depression?

Stockpiling food items, first aid supplies, and other survival equipment is a fantastic place to start preparing for a potential economic depression, given likely grocery store shortages.

Should I stockpile water?

Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days for drinking and sanitation . Try to store a 2-week supply if possible. Consider storing more water than this for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets, or if living in a hot climate.

How much food and water should I stockpile?

The following should be included in your basic disaster supplies kit:  Three-day supply of nonperishable food and manual can opener.  Three-day supply of water ( one gallon of water per person, per day) .  Portable, battery-powered radio or television, and extra batteries.

What supplies should I stockpile for medical services?

First Aid Kit : A comprehensive first aid kit is the cornerstone of any medical stockpile. It should include adhesive bandages, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers, and disposable gloves. Additionally, include basic medications like pain relievers, antihistamines, and antacids.

Is stockpile trustworthy?

Securities are protected by APEX, a member of the FDIC and SIPC. What that means is cash, stocks, and ETFs held on Stockpile are insured up to $500,000 . Crypto holdings are protected by Bakkt Crypto Solutions LLC (Bakkt) and not insured by the FDIC or SIPC.

Does stocking up save money?

The idea is, if you stock up on what's on sale, in season, and cheaper in bulk, you won't need to buy those items again for a long time . As you transition into a system of always buying in bulk, in season, and on sale, you won't have to buy everything every time.

What are the limits on stockpile?

You can choose any whole dollar amount between $1 and $2000 (or $200 when using a debit card). If you would like to purchase stock in a dollar amount that is higher than $2,000, it will have to be broken up into separate transactions.

What is a 3 month food stockpile?

A 3-month pantry stockpile is a system you customize and implement by purchasing items your family regularly consumes in a week and multiplying them by 12 so that your family's storehouse is always full . The items you gather are rotated regularly into your menu by shopping in your pantry before heading to the store.

How much food to stockpile per person?

It has been recommended that every family keeps 3 days' worth of food per person like the 72-hour emergency kit in case of emergencies like hurricanes, tornados, or any other natural disaster.

How much cash should you stockpile?

That should include a little cash stashed in the house, enough to cover the monthly bills in a checking account, and enough to cover an emergency in a savings account. For the emergency stash, most financial experts set an ambitious goal at the equivalent of six months of income .

11 Items You Should Stockpile to Save $2,514 in a Year (2024)

I’ll say up front that total savings are 100% based on how much a family uses each of these products — maybe you don’t drink coffee or eat cereal. Even so, items you buy have stock-up prices too.

To actually find out how to get deals like the ones I talk about, download the KCL app, select the stores mentioned for each tip, and we will tell you where the coupons are and what steps to take when the deals show up.

If you’re totally overwhelmed at the idea of couponing, try our Quick Start Guide to Couponing — it’s for beginners and way doable.

Now, imagine what you could do with an extra $2,514 per year. . .

1. Save $936 per year on coffee K-Cups.

If you’re drinking two cups of coffee per person in your family per day, you’ll spend about $16 per week on K-Cups.

Assuming there are two coffee-drinking adults, that’s $1,664 in K-Cups every year.

Compare this total to buying K-Cups with coupons when you see a sale — you’ll pay $728 per year.

K-Cup deals are somewhat rare (maybe a few times per year?), and typically show up at CVS, so stock up for 6 months at a time when you see a hot price.

Dunkin’ Donuts K-Cups 10-ct. (regularly $10.99)

3 mo. stock-up price: $4.99
6 mo. stock-up price: $3.99

2. Save $647 per year on toilet paper.

A family of five uses around 55 rolls of toilet paper per month. Assuming you can get 49 sq. ft. out of each roll, that’s about $1.96/roll.

The total cost for this family is around $1,293 per year just to wipe rear ends. Why not cut costs in half and pay more like $647 per year on toilet paper?

Watch for toilet paper deals on Amazon and at Walmart about once a month.

Quilted Northern, Charmin or Cottonelle (regularly up to $0.04/sq. ft.)

3 mo. stock-up price: $0.02/sq. ft.
6 mo. stock-up price: $0.01/sq. ft.

3. Save $280 per year on diapers.

One baby will go through roughly 2,800 diapers in their first year, totaling up into the $560 range at $0.20 per diaper.

Calculating diaper prices can be tricky because each size is a different price. But assuming 50% savings with coupons, you can end your first year spending more like $280.

Look for Huggies deals at Target or drugstores like Rite Aid and CVS about once per month.

Huggies Jumbo Pack, Size 3 (regularly $8.99)

3 mo. stock-up price: $4.00/pack
6 mo. stock-up price: $3.00/pack

4. Save $175 per year on cereal.

The average person eats about 14 boxes of cereal per year, so looking at a family of five, that can run up to 70 boxes per year and total $245.

Use coupons and pay more like $70 per year on cereal.

Look for cereal deals multiple times per month at stores like Target, Walgreens, Walmart or CVS.

Kelloggs, General Mills or Post (regularly around $3.50)

3 mo. stock-up price: $1.00
6 mo. stock-up price: $0.50

5. Save $136 per year on paper towels.

A typical American family uses about 1.5 rolls of paper towels per week or roughly 87 sq. ft. per week.

Did you know you’ll probably pay a cool $181 per year on paper towels if you’re paying full price?

Compare this to buying your paper towels with coupons and you’ll spend at the most $45. Your total could be less if you’re able to find freebie deals every now and then.

Look for paper towel deals at Walmart about once a month.

Scott, Bounty or Brawny (regularly up to $0.04/sq. ft.)

3 mo. stock-up price: $0.01/sq. ft.
6 mo. stock-up price: Free

6. Save $104 per year on pasta sauce.
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If you make spaghetti once per week for a family of five like we do, you’ll pay around $208 per year for pasta sauce.

Use coupons and instead you can pay half that amount — $104 per year.

Watch for pasta sauce deals at Target or Walmart every other month or so.

Barilla, Ragu or Prego (regularly around $2.00/jar)

3 mo. stock-up price: $1.00/jar
6 mo. stock-up price: $0.50/jar

7. Save $95 per year on dishwasher tabs.

How many loads of dishes you do per week depends on how big your family is and how many dishes you have to use up before you need to wash them.

Assuming two loads of dishes a day, a family would easily spend $204 or more paying full price for dishwasher tabs.

Couponers who stock up when they see a hot deal pay more like $110 per year.

Expect dishwasher tabs deals to show up on Amazon or at Kroger about once a month.

Finish or Cascade (regularly up to $0.28/ea)

3 mo. stock-up price: $0.15/ea
6 mo. stock-up price: $0.12/ea

8. Save $47 per year on laundry detergent.

A family of five runs about six loads of laundry per week, which is 312 loads per year.

Paying full price for Tide Pods, you’ll pay $78 per year in laundry detergent.

But when you coupon, you can pay more like $30 per year.

Look for Tide deals about once a month at Target or CVS.

Tide Pods (regularly $0.25/ea.)

3 mo. stock-up price: $0.10/ea.
6 mo. stock-up price: $0.08/ea.

RELATED: How to Never Pay Full Price for Laundry Detergent

9. Save $64 per year on cartridge razors.

It’s generally accepted that you can get up to about 12 shaves out of your cartridge razor before you need to switch out the head.

If this is the case and you’re shaving every day, you can go through around 30 razor refills in one year, totaling around $83 per year.

Use coupons and load up when you see a stock-up worthy price and you’ll only spend $19 per year.

Look for razor deals at drugstores like Walgreens and CVS about once every month.

Schick or Gillette cartridge razor + 3 refills (regularly up to $11.00/pkg)

3 mo. stock-up price: $2.50/pkg
6 mo. stock-up price: $1.50/pkg

10. Save $24 per year on shampoo.

Assuming a family of five can make a bottle of shampoo stretch for a month, it’ll run you about $48 per year.

With coupons, you can stock up and pay more like $24 per year.

Look for Pantene deals multiple times per month at any of the main stores like Target, Walgreens, Walmart or CVS.

Pantene (regularly $4.00)

3 mo. stock-up price: $1.99
6 mo. stock-up price: $0.99

11. Save $6 per year on deodorant.

Adults who can make one stick of deodorant last two months will pay $30 per year when there are two adults in the family.

Families who stock up on deodorant with coupons when they see a sale will pay around $24 per year.

Watch for deodorant deals at drugstores like Rite Aid, Walgreens and CVS a few times per year.

Old Spice/Secret (regularly $2.50)

3 mo. stock-up price: $1.99
6 mo. stock-up price: $1.49