Retirement stockpile

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.

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'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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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

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.

Phoenix,grannyknot - my excuse is that we are stuck on the flipping A1 and I'm bored! Though I should learn to proof read!

Since DH took over the kitchen and therefore the supermarket shopping he stockpiles all the time, he just doesn't realise he has done it! "They were a good price" seems to be his mantra but just how much instant coffee will we use when we mainly drink the real stuff? How many kitchen rolls can we get through in the next 5 years? I think we have more than that already. We have enough Fairly liquid for the whole town and we have a dishwasher! Oh well, it is a pleasant hobby for him and doesn't hurt anyone!

We live in the country and there is a supermarket about 3 km away but it is generally more expensive than the one 18 Km away and more importantly the goods are not so good. So we do a good stock up shop about every ten days ness we have visitors staying. I do like to always have a spare new bottle/packet of things such as toilet cleaner ( have to buy a special one as we have a fosse) and dishwasher tablets. But I try not to do it too often. I have now sort of bit into the rhythm of when the big shops here have the really good bargains - eg. I bought two very large bottles of Persil washing liquid for little more than the normal price of one - they will last most of a year till the next offer.
In the few years before my father retired my parents renewed anything they thought they needed - so they had new carpets and decorated the house - they also had new windows which cut down heating costs. They found the money well spent as it saved them a lot of disruption when they were older and sometimes not so well.

What I miss most is not having a pantry going to redo kitchen before the retirement (hopefully) but cant work out how to have a pantry. My grans pantry was always full of home-made goodies such as Jam + chutney. Mmm

Have you considered "down branding" if that's what it's called? I.e. changing from premium shop to lidl or aldi, or switching to own brands? It can save a lot of money and in many case you can't tell the difference. I am a bite sneaky and put lidl sweetners in a branded dispenser so OH doesn't know. He hasn't noticed.

I stockpile especially cleaning products, I refuse to pay full price for products that are going down the toilet and the plughole.
I usually have a six month supply of dishwasher tablets and washing powder and other products.
I took my hoarding into account when designing the kitchen, my cupboards go right up to the ceiling and the top ones are like plane lockers. The lockers hold only the things that are in storage for future use.
I had cupboards built in the bathrooms which hold six months supply of shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel and body lotion.
DH used to work away from home and often would turn up needing to repack and restock to be on a plane to the other side of the world. I began hoarding all the basics to ensure that he could be in and away without me dashing to the shops.

Downsizing has meant that I can't stockpile easily. I have a small cellar (was the coal cellar in a previous existence) which is a storage space for my junk rather than a store for the future. My DS2 (only 42) is a stockpiler when he sees special offers. So some men do it too. I can;t imagine him ourgrowing the habit.

I have stock piled for years and this started after I was admitted to hospital as an emergency in 2009 and I could not look after myself for many weeks afterwards. This has continued as I have had blips of being confined to my house for many reasons, the last being a nasty accident and ending up in in a POP. If I had not emptied M&S shelves of coffee (10 jars) what would I be drinking now, anything?

I do not store in my loft because when I moved here I vowed that would remain empty. I have a wall to wall fitted wardrobe in my bedroom and the top shelf is packed full of deodorants, floor cleaning stuff, shampoo, liquid soap and heaven knows what else.

In another bedroom, also wall to wall wardrobe but better fitted inside with separate shelving etc. It is totally taken over with my hoarding.

I do on line shopping and add to my stock when I see a bargain. I try not to pay full price. If I died tomorrow, whoever cleared out this house would have a shock and also a pleasant surprise, with so many freebies.

Before I retired I bought myself a greenhouse so I had an excuse to be out of the house . It worked but now can't get near it due to aches and pains , but I did enjoy my plants and no way could I have afforded it after retirement

I also have a stockpile of clothes! Could it be that I was a squirrel in a former life? [Grin].

Because I live out in the countyside it makes sense to stockpile a bit.
Long life milk, frozen bread etc, tins of soup etc.....
Candles in case of a power cut. Sensible stuff.
But, looking in my overcrowded wardrobe, I suddenly realised yesterday that I seriously need to get rid of a lot of old stuff. I think I've been stockpiling clothes! It's these darned bargains in charity shops.

I should say my home in general is extremely tidy with clear surfaces every where, just don't open any cupboard doors....

You know Stansgran, going around supermarkets I hear men asking their wives that question a lot, " what do we need that for?" It must be a man thing.We get round this problem by taking turns to do the weekly shop, and only very rarely shopping together( ie. A huge shop, for Christmas .)that gives us a peaceful life.

kitty funabces

I can't bear stockpiling, I just don't get it. There are always special offers on and things change all the time. Things that were "expensive" at one time, may drop in price a few years down the line. I prefer to live my life in the present!