How to Build a Stockpile Part 3

 

Building a stockpile is a personal thing. It needs to contain items that you use, otherwise it's just wasted money. There are all sorts of lists and suggestions around, and they are great to use as a starting point.

In my dreams I can just make a list, go shopping and buy everything we need for the next twelve months.

In reality I have a grocery budget that I need to stick to, so building the stockpile must fit into my  grocery budget, and if you want to build  your stockpile and save money, rather than go into debt, your buys will need to fit into your budget too.

Here's a list of what is in (or will be in) our stockpile for 2016 to see us through 2016. Remember as you read this that this is for my family of 5, you may or may not use/need/want some/any/all of these things - write your list to suit your needs. And remember, I wasn't starting from scratch, I already had a very good stockpile, at least three months of most things, six months of some others and a one year supply of cleaning supplies.

Groceries	No.
Baked Beans	104
Baking Paper	1
Cereal - Ricies	12
Cereal - Weet-bix -1.2kg	24
Cereal -All Bran	24
Cereal -Rolled Oats	10kg
Choc Bits/Melts	12
Clingwrap	1
Cocoa	2
Condiments - Coleslaw dressing	12
Condiments - Herbs
Condiments - Honey	6
Condiments - Jam
Condiments - Mayo	2
Condiments - Nutella	6
Condiments - Peanut butter	24
Condiments - Peppercorns	1
Condiments - Salt	5kg
Condiments - Spices
Condiments - Stock cubes	4
Condiments - Vegemite	2
Cornflour	3
Cream of Chicken Soup	24
Custard Powder	2
Dried Fruit - Cherries	1kg
Dried Fruit - Dates	6
Dried Fruit - Mixed Fruit	5kg
Dried Fruit - Sultanas	5kg
Drinks - Coffee, Instant	2kg
Drinks - Coffee, Pods	48pks
Drinks - Cordial	MOO
Drinks -  Tea bags - 100pk	4
Flour - Gluten	5kg
Flour - Plain	112kg
Flour - SR	60kg
Foil	1
Icing Sugar	12
Legumes - black beans (canned)	12
Legumes - soup mix	3kg
Legumes - split peas	3kg
Legumes - kidney beans	5kg
Molasses	1
Mustard - wholegrain	12
Nuts: almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts
Oil - Olive	12L
Oil - Vegetable	4L
Pasta - Noodles	12
Pasta - Spaghetti	26
Pineapple rings	12
Popping corn	1kg
Powdered Milk	12kg
Rice	20kg
Sauce - BBQ 250ml	6
Sauce - Soy	2
Sauce - Sweet Chilli	1
Sauce - Tomato 2L	4
Spaghetti - tinned	12
Sugar	48kg
Tinned fruit	24
Tomato Soup	104
Tuna	24
Yeast	2
Freezer:	No:
Butter	24kg
Casserole/Stewing Steak	15kg
Cheese - Tasty	24kg
Chicken - Drumsticks	15kg
Chicken - Fillets	52kg
Chicken - Wings	12kg
Chickens - Whole	26
Corned Beef	12
Fruit - oranges, strawberries,
apples, lemons, peaches
Legs of Lamb	13
Mince	40kg
Roasting Beef	13
Sausage mince	5kg
Sausages	12kg
Steak	12kg
Vegetables - carrots	20kg
Vegetables - celery, onion, eggplant, capsicum, beans, broccoli, cauliflower,  sweet potato, pumpkin, tomatoes	From garden
Vegetables - corn	12kg
Vegetables - Peas	12kg
Cleaning	No.
Bicarb soda	5kg
Borax	3
Bug Spray	4
Dishwasher powder	12
Dishwashing liquid	6
Eucalyptus oil	3
Laundry soap	3
Scrub buds	3
Washing soda	4
White vinegar	5L
Toiletries	No.
Bodywash	12
Conditioner	12
Deodorant	43
Hairspray	4
Handwash	12
Moisturiser	4
Mouthwash	6
Razors	4
Shampoo	18
Shaving foam	6
Soap	60
Toilet paper - 12pk	12
Toothbrush Heads	6
Toothbrushes	24
Toothpaste	30
First Aid	No.
Band Aids	2
Bandages	2
Betadine ointment & drops	1
Ginger tablets	1
Hydrogen Peroxide	1
Immodium	1
Isopropyl Alcohol	1
Nurofen	2
Paracetamol	2
Saline	1
Savlon cream	1
Zyrtec/Telfast/Claratyne	3

Boy we eat a lot! And that list doesn't include the produce from the garden that will be dried, bottled, pickled or frozen over the summer. 

When I look at that list I wonder where in our home I'll be able to store it all, but it all fits. So where to do I store all these groceries?

Grocery items are either in the pantry in the kitchen, in other cupboards (tea and coffee are above the kettle, spices and herbs are above the bench) or the shelving. Bulk dry goods are in labelled tubs in the laundry.

Cleaning supplies are under the laundry sink. Dishwashing liquid and dishwasher powder are under the kitchen sink.

Toiletries are in the bathroom cupboards. 

The first aid box lives on a shelf in the linen cupboard.

Frozen food is of course in the freezers, one in the laundry and I've "borrowed" freezer space at my mother's for the overflow.

I've found the hardest thing to store is the toilet paper, mainly because it is so bulky. At the moment it is in the garden shed and I bring in one pack a month as it's needed. 

I don’t have a lot of designated storage space in this house so I make do with what I have and sometimes I need to be a little creative and shuffle things around. 

As long as I remember to update the inventory when I move things nothing will get lost and I won't be tearing my hair out trying to find the peanut butter when I know we have it but it's not on the bottom shelf of the pantry!