Personal Stockpiling

Not my pantry-I can do a little better.

Finally, Friday evening was spent in the grocery store (we're exciting that way), doing a proper big shop for the month. I added up,starting with DH's run last Sunday, to all my little stops last and this week  and the February grocery tally is at $168, leaving a targeted balance of $132. For household/personal, I've bought nothing but necessities as I was fairly well supplied going into the month. I anticipate needing dog food, dishwasher detergent, toothpaste,and toilet paper, before months end. I said I was doing well, but then DH went to the store on my behalf, and $40 later, I'm now within $2 of my target, without the things we need purchased yet. Well, make that $11, as $9.00 of his was spent on a massive bag of Hershey's treasure chocolates. DH is a candy fiend some weeks and his wild chocolate spending isn't going to be counted.To be fair, I had forgotten we needed glass stove top cleaner and the specific Dove soap he uses, which also is his shaving cream, and he picked up toothpaste. I could nickle and dime the household and grocery lines, but that would be more expensive in the long run. I don't have a stock pile of items. I'm neither a savvy enough shopper nor have the storage space-yet, but I hate running out of essentials and paying more than I should if I had just bought a larger quality to begin with.

I ran into Walgreen's for a prescription and passed the small section of outer wear and hosiery. On sale were leggings at $3.99 a pair, over half off. I can't buy cheapo tights for that so thought I would give them a try, bought two pairs. I was actually quite impressed. I worried they wouldn't be long enough and stretchy enough in the waste, but fit perfectly. We have a lot of winter cold left, plus are good for keeping in my lake bag when it gets colder at night to switch into to with a sweat shirt. I'm constantly misplacing leggings, then they turn up, so having a few extras is helpful, I wear with very long sweaters and under dresses with boots or flats. In a rare twist, all they had left was my size, not smaller sizes for my daughters or I would go back and grab some for them. I might still for me, and just tuck away for future use. 

This is my version of stockpiling, keeping enough on hand so I don't have to do an overly expensive dash to the store for an essential. I don't always plan so well, but most of the time I do. I like to have no less than a weeks extra supply of t.p. beyond the spare roll in the bathrooms, an extra shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, spare tooth brushes and toothpaste, but I don't have shelves of these things. In my underclothes drawer, I almost always have a few new items, just in case, but for the most part, I replace clothing as it is needed. While I'd like to do better at scoring items at ridiculously low prices, I need a storage system that can better accommodate, so for now, my little bit extra plan works well for us. Perhaps this spring when I take a week off, just to work around the house, I'll complete my projects, including the office, turning the closet into my gift and stockpile storage. How do you stock up ahead for your family or personal use? Do you have any unconventional storage tips to help those of us that would like to do better, but don't have the space. How do you manage your use? 

Ahh, this would be bliss.