I often think about grocery store deals. Those odd times when they have chicken breasts for 79c/lb, or when they put canned tomatoes for 40c. Thankfully, I am limited by my storage/freezer space and can't buy much. But if space wasn't an issue? Where do you draw the line? Do you buy every single item they have out, or maybe just enough to get you through a few months, or just buy a little and hope they go on sale again soon?Case in point, a friend of mine, who is a middle-school teacher, has been running low on dry-erase markers for school, since the subsidy that they give teachers isn't enough to cover for all materials during a school year.
Normally, Expo markers are about $1.75/ea in single color or variety packs. You can get them on sales for $1.30 most commonly, and I've seen them go as low as $0.90/ea. That was one of those crazy rock-bottom sales with coupons. But this time, the deal was even better, at $1.25 for a pack of 4 assorted colors, or $0.31c/ea. I had to get them. The store only had "about" 37 packs left. I am so glad I was doing cash-only, because a quick browsing to my cash reserve revealed I only had $30. I bought 22 packs for less than $30. Stuff like that made me feel like a million bucks. 88 markers for 33c/ea after tax. I wished that I could've bought more, since my part-time job also uses them and we are always running out, but my funds didn't allow it. This mirrors when I'm at the store looking at amazing deals and knowing that I can't get as much as I wish I could because of space or money.
I will be shipping most of the markers out to my friend, and dropping off the rest at my part time job. No, I'm not charging my friend for the markers... not only because they are the ones that have hosted me (for free) at their house for 3 of my last 4 vacations, even when I insisted on paying for meals, but because they're very dear friends of mine. And yes, I'm aware many people won't be thrilled about this... but I see it not much different than buying things for ones' kids and spouses, neither of which I have. I'm getting things they need for people I like more than my own family members.
So, awesome prices, not so awesome times. Do you borrow from somewhere to take the most advantage of the sale, go strictly with what you need, or play it by ear?
What a sweet thing you are doing for your friend! I like to stockpile when things go on sale. Most of the grocery stores run their sales at around the same time every year, so I know when the next sale is going to be. And when meat goes really cheap, I buy as much as I can afford. Which sometimes means that I have to "borrow" from the other budget category that we have but not often. Mostly, I try to balance and see what we already have on hand. But I have a nice size pantry and deep freezer, so it's easier to stock up. And a garage for non-food items (that's where I hide gifts from kids :)
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the idea of deep freezers... oh, the stuff that could go in there!
DeleteI think that was a wonderful thing you did! What a great friend you are! Stockpiling - well we don't have a ton of storage space so I am very limited as to how much I can buy. I do buy lots of school supplies after school has started, because for some crazy reason the stores clearance that stuff out at insanely low prices, as if supplies aren't going to need to be replenished throughout the year! So silly! I tend to buy after-holiday things like candy, cake mixes - this year Target had lots of "autumn" stuff like spiced cider & Spice Hot Chocolate & pumpkin cookie mix - had to buy it! Unfortunately I always use my Target debit card there - never cash - because of the 5% off - so I probably buy more than I should. Target is evil.
ReplyDeleteI normally also try to stock up on soups right before winter and right after. I'm not too proud to be eating hot soup when the weather's warm or hot.
DeleteStockpiling is good if done in moderation. Only buy what you'll use and what you have the money(cash)to get and the space to put it. As a single person, be very careful about going overboard....not that it's easier for a single to be overwhelmed with it but a single needs so much less than a family would.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to food stockpiling some folks earmark a small amount of their food budget for stocking up or use any funds leftover from the last month's food kitty to stock up if a great deal comes around. And here's the important thing....no matter how good a deal is, another will come around! You don't have to get every. single. deal. Missing a great deal doesn't make you a frugal failure.
The store sales cycle every 6-8 weeks from the lowest prices to the highest on items. Add in those items that go on great discount seasonally and you have a basic idea of when to buy. When the price is lowest you buy enough to get you through to the next cycle when it is at the lowest price again. IE-peanut butter goes to it's lowest price every 7 weeks. In 7 weeks you eat an average of 3 jars, so buy 3(or maybe 4 to hedge your bets). Then when it goes on lowest price sale again in 7 weeks, you buy 7 more weeks worth. You can do this with any canned/boxed/frozen/shredded cheeses/meat(that you freeze) items. You can do this with bread products as well if you have freezer space to hold it so it doesn't go bad.
It's very easy to let the deals overwhelm you.....getting the "high" from a great deal and not being able to stop yourself, even though it's something you don't use or such a quantity that you can't use it all. That when being OCD or having an addictive personality is a bad thing. When I first started deal hunting big time years ago I teetered on the edge of that cliff.....the thrill of getting lots of stuff for free drove me to want to get even more, even though it was too much. I had to pull myself back. I was like those crazies on that Xtreme coupon show. But I got myself under control thankfully. I discovered food bank donating too, so I could still experience the thrill of larger deals sometimes but have a place to give most of the stuff(because we couldn't possibly use it all). I get my jollies and the community got additional food resources.
The last 2 years have cured me of trying to get massive deals anymore. The 'game' has tightened up so much little is rarely free anymore and supplying the old adrenaline rush.
I can only dream of getting free stuff, but for right now, low prices work for me. I'll have to try to catch the stores on their cycles... because mine don't seem to play that game that often. Last year I learned that, while I was trying to collect boxed/canned goods for donations, and it seems their "rock bottom" prices only happened once or twice (like getting cereal boxes for $0.30).
DeleteI never thought about earmarking part of the budget to stockpile... I need so little and buy so little that it seems a bit of an overkill.
I have a small stockpiling budget and I keep 3-6 months supply of staples now. It has definitely saved us money and was great when I got sick before Xmas and was on bedrest for almost a month.
ReplyDeleteMost things I only buy on special now except for fresh fruit and veggies, almost everything else is bought when it's on special