How Stock-Piling Saves MoneyStock-piling among other things includes purchasing items "counter seasonally". Clothing items for the winter are usually discounted by 75% in January. Summer clothes are similarly discounted in August and September. If your clothing budget for gifts is $1000 a year you can potentially save $750 by purchasing counter seasonally.
Make sure it is a real sale by knowing if the original tag price is legitimate. Use the internet to compare similar items. If you have a smart phone, there are applications which will let you check competing prices on the spot. Just have a search for these on iTunes or on the Android Market.
You buy many items on a weekly or monthly basis. Staples such as toilet paper, paper towels, soap, laundry detergent, and the like are commonly purchased multiple times during the course of the year. Bulk quantities of these items are always substantially less expensive than a single purchase. Many big-box stores sell these items in large quantities periodically at an even larger discount. If you become aware of what you normally pay for detergent that will last one week, you can easily determine your savings in buying a bulk quantity.
Most consumer items are already feeling the effects of inflation. Every one of these that you can fit into your stock-piling basket will relieve you of these effects. Every item you buy cheaper in bulk will also save you the sales tax for the more expensive purchase.
Storing Stock-Piled ItemsStock-piling only works for items that can be stored long-term. Most food items would not work. You should have a storage box marked for each bulk item for easy access. You would then, in your basement, garage, or shed have a box marked detergent. Have all of your stored goods in a designated area properly marked. Store your boxes with the ones on the bottom containing products that are impervious to water damage.
Strategies For Stock-PilingIn addition to buying seasonal items for your stock-piling collection, you should also utilize coupons when available. These coupons can be used even on top of the sales price. Warehouse clubs are a valuable source for your stock-piling. Some require a membership fee, and others do not. These clubs are usually the best place to find items for your collection. Most of these clubs additionally have periodic specials. You should discuss this process with friends and neighbors and see what opportunities exist for even better savings on a combined purchase for all of you.
There are many ways in which you can use stock-piling to save you thousands of dollars during the course of the year. We have covered a few of these, but there are many more, which an informed consumer can use to their benefit.
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By Anna J Waters