What Products Should I Stock Up On?

This post goes hand in hand with my Stockpiling Within Reason guest post over at Saving Cents with Sense today. Make sure you check it out too!

How do you decide what items to buy when there’s a good deal?

Hopefully you’re not buying everything that’s a “deal” just because it’s on sale and you have a coupon. You should be stocking up on the things you actually expect to use. What are those things for you?

Funny About Money’s Food Futures post has been stuck in the back of my mind since it was originally posted in February. I’ve now created my own list of things that I always want to have on hand and am thus always on the lookout for bargains on.

How much of each of those products should you stock up?

Over time I’m also trying to make some estimates of what my own 1 and 3 months supplies would look like. If I have less than a 1 month supply I should definitely be watching for a deal because I’m going to have to pay full price soon otherwise. If there’s a good deal and I have less than a 3 month supply then it’s time to buy. If there’s a good deal and I have more than a 3 month supply, I should pass, but if the item is free and on my list I’ll probably pick it up.

The List

Everyone’s list will be different and based on the products they use the most. My list is limited to non-perishables or items that can be frozen, these are all items that can be bought ahead of time when I can shop around for the best price. It needs to be supplemented with more freshness sensitive purchases of produce and dairy (some dairy like butter lasts a good long time though).

Food: Bacon, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Beans, Beef Bouillon, Brown Sugar, Butter, Canned Tomatoes, Chicken, Chicken Bouillon, Chili Powder, Chocolate Chips, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Coffee, Cornmeal, Cumin, Diet Coke, Dijon Mustard, Dried Fruit, Flour, Frozen Brussels Sprouts, Frozen Corn, Frozen Peas, Frozen Spinach, Ground Beef, Honey, Maple Syrup, Nuts, Olive Oil, Parmesan Cheese, Pasta, Pepper, Powdered Sugar, Rice, Salt, Soy Sauce, Tea, Vanilla, Vegetable Oil, Vinegar, White Sugar, Yeast

Personal Care: Body Lotion, Conditioner, Contact H2O2, Deodorant, Face Lotion, Hand Soap, Lipbalm, Mascara, Razors, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Soap/Body Wash, Toilet Paper, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste

Other: Cat Food, Cat Litter, Dish Soap, Dishwasher Detergent, Laundry Detergent

Further Reading

After I started this list, I also discovered a great blog called The Perfect Pantry which has a couple handy lists that are mostly in line with my own list: 23 Pantry Items You Absolutely, Positively Have to Have and 13 Pantry Items Every Baker Absolutely, Positively Has to Have.

What absolute essentials are on your stockpiling list?

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