Stockpiling Responsibly
Stockpiling is buying more than you immediately need of an item. Normally people do this when the price has dropped, and they anticipate it going back up. Or when they think the item is going to become scarce. Or they're trying to save on transportation costs by reducing the need for trips to the store.
To a degree, it's very smart and thrifty to do a little stockpiling. How much is determined by a few factors. The first is space. The more space you have, the more you can comfortably store. Watch an episode of Hoarders or Clean House, for a good picture of what excessive stockpiling can do to your life and home.
Rate of consumption is another factor. The longer it takes you to use up a product, the less need you have to stockpile it. For instance, I'm finally getting close to finishing off that tube of 3D White toothpaste I bought in May of 2010. (I've been switching out with free mini tubes from the dentist.) Toothpaste has a good shelf life, but it will expire eventually, so for me to stockpile more than one additional tube would be excessive, regardless of how good the sale may be. On the other hand, my family probably consumes a box of Cheerios every 1 to 3 weeks. So if we found a really good bargain and bought 5 boxes, this would not be excessive.
For some items, it doesn't make sense to stockpile at all. For instance I bought a large bookshelf from Ikea for my room. While it's entirely possible that it will get broken at some point, it's also entirely possible it will out live me. I could have spent another $300 dollars to buy a second one and keep it stored down in my parents' basement just in case, but I think most of us would agree there are better ways to invest that money.
While I'm sure some of you are thinking "that obvious", I'm not sure it is. Stockpiling is a very natural reaction. Particularly for anyone who's been through periods of want, it's a deeply held survival instinct. But we often have to step back and temper instinct with reason. Eating is good for you. Excessive eating isn't. Stockpiling is good for you. Excessive stockpiling isn't.
This is on my mind because they've had a lot of markdown and free items due to a Grand Reopening at the local Krogers this week. So I have stocked up on some items like conditioner and chocolate chips. But in the same week, I watched my sister throw out a lot of food that she had bought at great prices but never took the time to eat. I myself realized I'd forgotten about some cereal I'd bought on markdown. It's still good, but I need to learn the lesson before I waste what I found.
To a degree, it's very smart and thrifty to do a little stockpiling. How much is determined by a few factors. The first is space. The more space you have, the more you can comfortably store. Watch an episode of Hoarders or Clean House, for a good picture of what excessive stockpiling can do to your life and home.
Rate of consumption is another factor. The longer it takes you to use up a product, the less need you have to stockpile it. For instance, I'm finally getting close to finishing off that tube of 3D White toothpaste I bought in May of 2010. (I've been switching out with free mini tubes from the dentist.) Toothpaste has a good shelf life, but it will expire eventually, so for me to stockpile more than one additional tube would be excessive, regardless of how good the sale may be. On the other hand, my family probably consumes a box of Cheerios every 1 to 3 weeks. So if we found a really good bargain and bought 5 boxes, this would not be excessive.
For some items, it doesn't make sense to stockpile at all. For instance I bought a large bookshelf from Ikea for my room. While it's entirely possible that it will get broken at some point, it's also entirely possible it will out live me. I could have spent another $300 dollars to buy a second one and keep it stored down in my parents' basement just in case, but I think most of us would agree there are better ways to invest that money.
While I'm sure some of you are thinking "that obvious", I'm not sure it is. Stockpiling is a very natural reaction. Particularly for anyone who's been through periods of want, it's a deeply held survival instinct. But we often have to step back and temper instinct with reason. Eating is good for you. Excessive eating isn't. Stockpiling is good for you. Excessive stockpiling isn't.
This is on my mind because they've had a lot of markdown and free items due to a Grand Reopening at the local Krogers this week. So I have stocked up on some items like conditioner and chocolate chips. But in the same week, I watched my sister throw out a lot of food that she had bought at great prices but never took the time to eat. I myself realized I'd forgotten about some cereal I'd bought on markdown. It's still good, but I need to learn the lesson before I waste what I found.