What to Stockpile During the Holidays

In order to maintain an adequate grocery stockpile, you need to know when you will find the best prices on certain grocery items.  At the beginning of the summer, prices on condiments are at their lowest.  The time between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July is best to assess your need for mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, and salad dressings.  Most of these items have a shelf life of around six months.  When these items go on sale and you can buy them for less than $1, plan to stock up for the next six months.

The same principle applies during November and December when items such as canned vegetables, soup, broth, gravy, hot chocolate, stuffing, and baking goods are typically on sale.  Take some time to figure out what you will need for holiday dinners and baking and buy enough to cover these events.  Additionally, be sure to purchase enough to carry you through another few months.

Our family enjoys soup and sandwiches on a regular basis during the winter months.  We also like to have some soup on hand throughout the year.  We have a shelf in the basement dedicated to soups, broths and tomatoes.  By the end of October, this shelf tends to be just about empty.  My goal is to fill this shelf with what we will need for the next 6-9 months so I am not faced with having to pay full price in the middle of the summer.

By budgeting for and knowing when you’ll find the best prices for stockpile items, you can avoid ever having to pay full price.