Stockpiling is by no means a new concept, but with the current economic situation in South Africa, it’s one that could certainly help save you some hard-earned rands. The pandemic has left many with enormous pay cuts or no income at all, and by learning how to be a bit more thrifty with your purchases, you can enjoy a great level of financial freedom and flexibility.
It bears emphasising that stockpiling in this context does not constitute panic buying – which is what we saw taking place at the beginning of South Africa’s hard lockdown.
- When thinking of starting a stockpile, always opt for items that have a long shelf life, like kitchen cleaning products and pantry staples such as pasta, rice, pap, tinned food, tea and coffee, oil, dried beans, and grains.
- Check the expiry dates of items to ensure you’re buying them with enough time to keep – this will be determined by you and your family’s own unique needs and requirements.
- Examine every “on sale” or discount sign in a supermarket scrupulously (as you may not always be getting much of a deal). In addition, you should start to become more familiar with general pricing structures and the cost of items. This will give you the ability to spot great deals quickly.
- Space is a factor to consider, so if there’s a room or an area of shelving that isn’t functional, perhaps start creating a special “stockpiling” spot where you can keep all the items you don’t currently need but will use sometime in the future.
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