Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I'm stockpiling, not hoarding...

What started as a quest to learn the coupon game, has enabled me to begin a stockpile of food for very cheap.

This post is not meant to be political at all, so if you feel the need to attack my thoughts, then all I can say is I'm sorry you feel the need.
Watching the news has me worried. Not the kind of worry that keeps me up at night, but the kind of worry that makes me think. I am a mother of 4 and I feel as though I would not be doing my job if I didn't prepare for rough seas ahead....just in case.
By nature, I am very open minded. If I am speaking to a conservative, I like to throw out my liberal way of thinking and vise versa, I just like to make others think. Recently, at the request of my Mother, I Tiv0'd and watched an episode of Glenn B*eck. Not going to lie, he is not my favorite, but my husband took the message from her and just "had to record it to see how crazy it was", his words, not mine.

Since that time, we have watched it twice.
There were 2 very interesting points that helped me shift my thinking into more of a proactive way of thinking. Kind of like my mind frame was with bringing EG home. I planned for the worst, but hoped for the best. Needless to say, all my planning paid off because she was a hot mess.
Things in the world that I have chose to close my eyes to, because I just don't feel like thinking about it and honestly, I just have way to much going on in my life to care. However, the unsettled middle east, Egypt, L*bya, the financial collapse of America, the growing debt of America, the worthless American d0llar and the rising gas prices...The Perfect Storm. America no longer owns America. I decided to not live in fear, but to batten down my family's hatches and know that we are prepared in the event of a storm.
Above is one picture of my family's 'stockpile' of food. I have another pantry going for all cleaning supplies, paper products and other necessities. My kitchen pantry is completely stocked and I have 2 fridges & 3 freezers going. I am not a hoarder. We are a family of 6 and we do go through a lot of food on a normal basis, but in the event of something bigger, I want to be prepared. We can not predict the future, but we can prepare to the best of our abilities.
My point in saying all this is because I have managed to stockpile all this food while cutting my grocery bill completely in half. We eat very well on a normal basis and if you know me, then you know that I still buy a lot of organic and fresh produce. Using coupons is a game and I like a good challenge, so I made a commitment to figure it out this year and I'm so glad that I did. When I began, all my working friends told me they didn't have time. Now that I work full time, have kids in sports and y'all know I love my social schedule, I still manage to coupon every single week. I would never go back to paying full price for anything. I will never pay more than a $1.00 for a box of cereal, not even the Uncle Sam cereal. I bought 6 cartons of organic, lactose free milk this weekend for $2.00 each. Why pay more, when I know I can get it much cheaper buy using coupons?
I encourage you all to try it. It's like getting an extra pay check in the mail every month and that's just to good to just throw away if you ask me. Last month I saved over $700 combining coupons with BOGO's.
Hopefully the storm will not come and America will wake up to the world that is on fire around us, but for now, I hope to be able to continue to batten down the hatches and be able to be a shelter for others if the time ever comes.

16 comments:

Diana said...

OK..major guilt here as I went to the store today and not clipped coupons for a few weeks and spent around $7.50 for 2 boxes of cereal:( I only had 2 coupons that were attached to items that I bought..sad!! I need to be better as everything you said is so TRUE!! I do shop sales and am good about only buying sale items USUALLY but I need to clip those coupons!!!

Jules said...

Seriously impressed!!! and it is so organized:)

~Kristen said...

I am constantly in awe of you... you never cease to amaze me in your open-minded, worldly views of life. You are a do-er and that is a hard path to consistently follow... you make it look easy!!

Can I come live with you?? haha
XOXO

Glinda said...

Bra-VO!! on all points...my mother was very much a live and let live lady and I am all over that frame of mind.

Your post a few weeks? ago piqued my interest, and because I, like you, love a challenge, and I never do anything half-a**ed...there I went, full throttle into the coupon cuttin' chaos...love it. I am stockpilin' before my babe gets home; oh, the stuff I could have had if only I would have started soon, so many coupons, so little time.

P.S. Please enlighten me regarding the $2 lactose free and organics...
I have a dinky stockpile, but its building and I rule the world on Finish dishwasher auto thingys you put inside the dishwasher. :)

Jacquie said...

Ok Tracy, I hope you do a post someday (you know, 'cause ya got all that time) to help us wannabes get started. I tried. I really tried. But I just don't get it. I think I'm not doing something right. Got some tips for us?

Kathleen said...

Ok, you have inspired me and I would love to know how and where to start. I agree with Jacquie, can you do a post with tips and and tricks? Once we get back from China with our new baby girl, saving and stocking up are on the top of my list... could use your help!

Shari U said...

Yikes!! How did you get started couponing? I hear people talking about this and I'm intrigued, I'm just not sure where to begin. Looks like everyone else is asking for a blog post on this, too :)

Catherine said...

You're doing such a good thing for your family! I wish coupons were as effective in Canada. We just don't seem to get the same bargains that you do. Way to go!!

K said...

huh do you do online print coupons or newspaper coupons?? Inquiring minds want a coupons lesson. Help need to save save save but am overwhlemed on how to start with the huge coupon deals you get???? Kel

Sandra said...

That is amazing!!

Ani said...

Good for you! We live in hurricane alley, so I usually keep a stockpile of food and paper goods, bottled water, etc year round. Would love to learn the couponing game, any tips and ideas to get started? I love a good challenge :-)

Marsha said...

Ok, I'm inspired! I don't really feel like I have the time to coupon, but after reading several of your posts that reference it, I'm not sure I shouldn't FORCE THE TIME! Can you please post or email me with more details about the "how's and what's" of couponing? We're a family of seven and I know all too well the expense of feeding so many! Thanks!

Wanda said...

I'm with K and Marsha. Spill your secrets sister!

Very impressed.
=)

Unknown said...

My sister recently started couponing and calls me to brag about all the stuff she got and how much she spent. She gets a free weekly filled with coupons, plus has grocery stores that double and triple. Around here, we only have the Sunday paper and the stores don't do anything extra. I can't compete. At our most diligent, we were lucky to save $10.00 off a $200 shopping trip. It's frustrating because I want to coupon, too!

Kim said...

In the same boat as Magi here. A few coupons, but no one doubles and there are no BOGOs. I am seriously impressed with your stockpile! You have some kind of energy in you gal!

Unknown said...

Where do you get all of your coupons??? Inquiring minds want to know.

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