Retirement stockpile

We haven't the room to stockpile and to be honest it never occurred to me to do so prior to retirement. I use £1 shops or 99p shops for toiletries etc (they all sell branded items these days). I do have a pantry. It was in the house when we moved in over 30 years ago and we kept it. It's quite handy as we only have a tiny kitchen.

It's very easy to overestimate the quantity of 'stock' that you're going to need. I think my pile of Vanish powder will outlast me

Having read the thread I think I would stockpile men ... who are not allowed to dictate how I live or move into my home. Actually I may already be doing that

I agree that once retired you tend to cut your coat according to the cloth you have managed to gather so I would not generally stockpile but I do now grow fruit - no time when I was working - so it is worth making sure you have reasonable freezer space - even a second one in the garage for all you future clever buys (and the fruit).

I would also count my hand steamer - it came free with a floor one and is worth far more as I use very little in the way of cleaning products because of it and water, it's main consumable, is free (ish).

I also agree with Stansgran. If you have a hobby stash the ingredients needed for that. I stashed books and asked for a reader (Amazon Fire as it turned out) so I do not have to pay so much to read. I also stashed crafting "stuff" mainly sewing and would not apologise to anyone for the fact that it will outlive me.

Replacing white goods, towels, bedding etc can dig deep into the savings/piggy bank, so if you have anything on its last legs like the washing machine, pillows, duvet etc, now might be the time to be looking at possible replacements.
I regret throwing away many perfectly good items of clothing while I was still working just because I was bored with them but find I need different clothes these days , the smart jackets rarely get an airing, likewise the heels!
Silly little hint, but if you stock up on first and second class stamps, the C ... card chore is a lot less expensive too.
I also tend to keep a stock of suitable little presents for friends, neighbours etc when I see things like candles, notelets etc reduced in the garden centre.
I always buy laundry or dishwasher tabs and loo paper when these are offer anyway as you don't use more just because you have them!
I have so many clever money saving tips, I don't understand why I feel permanently broke!!

I carried on working well past retirement age but drew my state pension and I stockpiled some of the things I'd never be able to afford once I did retire. I replaced old appliances, bought good-quality clothes, bags and shoes which would last for years, had decorating and home maintenance jobs done. I felt quite well-off for a few years and was able to help out family with small loans and fertility treatment.
I now have a very small income and have to watch every pound. Nothing which breaks down now can be replaced so I am proud of my forethought ten years ago.

My DH usually takes charge of the shopping, I call him 'the hunter gatherer' , as he seems to make it his mission to keeps things stocked up. He certainly stockpiles certain things, particularly cleaning products and toiletries like toothpaste and mouthwash. He buys them on special offer and then starts to look around again when down to the last few. Works for us because we tend to stick to the same items anyway...creatures of habit. I suppose it must save in the long run and but the expense sort of evens out. We do live away from town so another reason to keep stocked up.

Stop buying summer clothes? I stopped buying any a few years ago - seem to manage without buying any more - can't think why.

Forget the groceries and stock up on things that you like to have but might not be able to afford later. I'm thinking of stuff for hobbies (wool, fabric, paints, brushes etc), cosmetics, books, perfume, perhaps a winter coat? As someone above says, the supermarkets are always full of special offers on household stuff, so no real need to stockpile that. By the way, are you near a Lidl or an Aldi? I've found you really can save money there. (Oh dear, does that count as advertising?)

Stansgran - I had to laugh at your DH 'taking over the shopping' as my DH has turned out just the same and, like yours, queries many a purchase. You do see an awful lot of older couples falling out over the supermarket shopping, I've noticed. DH is particularly fussy about buying fruit and has a worrying habit of loudly comparing prices with other supermarkets to the detriment of the supermarket we are currently standing in. He has not quite yet taken to telling other customers where you can buy bananas more cheaply but I can see it coming.

I've started to buy things for changing things around a bit once my son leaves next year, like all the bathroom stuff, as my money will go somewhat when he leaves and I want to change it from what it is now to a very girly bathroom for myself. So other things might get bought too. It's quite exciting planning for a new era in my life.

I do also have two big bottles of shampoo in the airing cupboard which were on special offer. And bubble baths. I use them for the handwash and shower gel too, save buying those as well. It's all the same stuff, it all washes you. And I even dilute it down a bit with water, they are too thick sometimes. Then it gives me more money to play auction games on ebay!

Sometimes/often in boxed gift sets there are bath bubbles and bath wash. Like rubylady I decant this into hand wash and shower wash containers. Otherwise it would never be used.

I used to stockpile in the garage but have purposely run it down. I had15 bleach, 20 fairy liquid, hundreds of dishwasher tablets etc. I was starting to feel therein lies madness .........now keep it to just a couple of spares.

I have always had a 'stock' cupboard. Not sure I'd call it stockpiling, though I do buy cleaning materials, soaps, shampoos etc in multiples when on offer. Just seems like common sense to buy when cheaper rather than waiting till I've run out and there may not be an offer.

I hate shopping and DH is much better at it than me. We go together and I'm the one asking 'why do we want that?'. Couldn't let him go on his own - we'd end up with a trolley full of packet/convenience food.

I'm on a mission to use up the stockpile of frozen food in the garage freezer. I also have a built in 3-drawer freezer in the kitchen and have vowed to use only that once I have emptied (and defrosted) the large garage freezer. I shall then sell the garage freezer or I know that I will fall into the temptation to fill it again. Surely two of us can manage with the small freezer and tall fridge? We are going to try.

Gagagran I would suggest you don't rush to sell your garage freezer! My husband and I ( very royal don't you think) have a fridge freezer which sounds about the same size as yours. However we have also bought a second fridge freezer which we stock up with slow cooker cooked food and bulk purchased meat, chicken and fish when a good offer.
Yes, we do both still work (ages me 65 next month and he 64 just turned) and no plans to stop because we do enjoy our jobs, but it helps to do batch cooking - he, not me, then you don't have to think too much about food if you plan your meals for the week. I appreciate that if you aren't working you may feel that you have the time and inclination to do the cooking daily, but so many people I know who have retired are so busy doing other things that they wonder how they found time to work!

not quite stockpiling but last year Christmas my elder dd put toegther a hamper..not food hamper but household hamper containg...Shampoo, conditioner, soap, toilet rolls, washing up liquid, wash liquid and softerner, hand cream, bathroom kitchen sprays, just about everything you could think of, and I have not bougt any of these items this year as still got lots left, (apart from toilet rolls)!! having to watch my pennies very carefull now they were all very welcome.
The year before when dh was here, my other dd made us up a big food hamper with lost of treats in,dhs eyes lit up it, they were such good and practical presents.

Gaga, I hate using stuff out of the freezer as I feel we might need it in an emergency!

Who remembers the great shortages in the seventies? The shops ran out of toilet rolls and sugar because my late MiL had them all stockpiled in her pantry.

I noticed when I retired that the best special offers were during the week. When I was working full time I only had time to shop on Saturday + I didn't have time to look for offers or calculate if they were really offers. Now I have time and yes I stock pile.

I stockpile, its gotten so bad that neighbors often pop in to see if I have what they need, It must be something to do with where we live, one of our bedrooms has been called "the indoor shed" by friends.
I have boxes, tins, jars, packets, bulbs just in case. As I am on a diet I keep nagging OH to eat more, so I can get this years venison in one of the freezers, what doesn't help either is I buy food, toiletries and cleaning stuff in bulk from amazon.
If I go to the mainland I stock up on clothes and shoes, 3, 7ft built in wardrobes are full of "I might need someday" things. I think I must be concerned about running out!!. The trouble is I am starting to forget what I have

rubysong
I nearly spilled my drink!

I dont stockpile as I am not at all loyal to brands, so buy the item that is on special offer the week I want to buy whatever. Dishwasher tablets is the only thing I make sure I buy when on special offer as one brand works better than the others in my machine when I have a full dirty load.

I wouldnt mind recommendations for goodish quality toilet paper though that I could slightly stockpile.

In retirement I try to shop only once a week. I have a fairly standard shopping list which includes topping up my store cupboard reserves, from one shop Aldi. However I keep a list of local shops and items not available in Aldi such as Sherry, or sourdough bread etc which DH or I pick up when we are out an about. DH likes Waitrose bargains!!! I have to check what he has brought back and cook and freeze if necessary. If I am giving a family party I check on the internet, prices at all the larger supermarkets, say for desserts at £2 for six slices. Then I shop accordingly. I have many ways of dealing with left overs.

I have a mobile hairdresser who only charges me £10 every 6 weeks. When I go out, I wash and set my own hair under a Pifco home hair dryer with a hood, which I have had for more than 50 years!!!

Since 1994 I have purchased items for my wardrobe according to my 'colours' - summer. This means that all new pieces fit in with existing outfits. I do not go for short selves any more so my friend from Zimbabwe has shipped them out to her aunt.

I am planning next year to learn how to sell on ebay as this seems to be the way to get rid of spare items and make a bit of cash.

When I retired I spent my lump sum on a new bathroom and fitted wardrobes. DH is decorating one room each winter. He is vry proud that we will 'never' need a new kitchen because he made it though we have had to replace cooker, fridge etc.

We live in the country side and still have a car each so I feel most fortunate. In another 10 years this is unlikely to be the case. I belong to the University of the third age which is not expensive. I feel that as we both have a pension we are very fortunate.

@ Stansgran:

My DH has just retired and entertains himself by going out for petrol or a newspaper and returning with bags of shopping we don't need or want.
Ideas please for keeping a new retiree out of my hair!!

Hi Apricot - you say you helped out with 'fertility treatment'. So have I. I hope it was successful. My DS and DIL are still trying ... I'm happy to help. ��

My problem is, kitty that all my freezer stores were intended for an emergency like being snowed in for days or visitors descending without warning when all the shops were shut. I have now accepted that living on the south coast we will never be snowed in for days and the shops only shut on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday so we will cope anyway!

Another problem is that I forget what I have stashed away and by the time I get an indeterminate packet out and defrosted, it is either past its use-by date or is not what I thought/hoped it was! Also, I hate going into the garage which FULL of Mr Gaga's crap important things which will prove useful one day. (hmm!)

So I am going to manage with the 3-drawer one in the kitchen and my days of bulk cooking and freezing are now in the past Helene! As a retiree I have time to cook as and when I feel like it, and that urge is getting less and less as time goes by!

I have been wondering recently how little I could spend on food shopping without getting bored with my food and with eating healthily. I'm also curious #deadnoseyreally about how much people do spend on food weekly. I find it hard to keep track cause the S.O. stays at weekends and provides the food, letting me know how much I owe him every now and again. I'm not much of an eater anyway and could probably live on cheese sandwiches if I had to, but I do try to avoid bread as much as possible. I did buy some soap powder a couple of years ago when it was massively reduced but it went clumpy even though it wasn't in a damp room. I am currently trying to work my way through various cosmetics that I've bought 3 for two and shampoo/conditioner that I've bought thinking it would improve my hair.