Use Your Pantry to Pinch Pennies

3. Don't Buy Perishables

Stockpiling is not for foods like milk, eggs, fruit and bread that will go bad in a short period. It should be for non perishables that can be stored for six months to a year without going bad. It's never a good deal if it ends up going bad before you are able to consume it. Make sure to buy only food that you know you will use before it expires and get into the habit of rotating your stock so that the food that is going to expire soonest is used first. All food has limited lifespans and won't stay edible forever.

4. Avoid Unnecessary Purchases

It sounds obvious, but every year people in the U.S. already throw away hundreds of dollars of the food they purchase without ever eating. Food is not going to be disappearing from the stores anytime soon, so there is no need to panic and buy only what's available on your next visit. It's important to buy the foods you already know you like and will use.

Purchasing large amounts of canned food when you don't regularly eat canned food will likely mean that those cans will never be used, which is a waste of your money. Stick with what you know and like when filling your pantry so the food doesn't get wasted and thrown out.

5. Stockpile Daily Necessities

While food will usually spoil after a short period of time, daily necessities such as toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, shampoo and laundry detergent have a much longer shelf life. These can be purchased and stored for longer periods of time for huge savings when you come across a great deal. Again, follow the same rules as when stockpiling food to get the best returns out of these purchases as well.

In addition to getting a better return on your money than leaving it in short-term savings, stockpiling has the advantage of being a good way to prepare for possible emergencies that may arise. Combine both of these benefits, and starting a stockpile of all the things that you regularly consume should be at the top of your list of things to do.

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