This blog post is copied from a post I wrote in another forum. I am interested in your thoughts.
Is stockpiling a saving or ‘dead money’?
I do not stockpile to save money as such but I do have enough basic foods and essentials such as toothpaste and toilet paper to see us through a minimum of 4 weeks and in most instances, much longer. I am very confident that I could feed us for 3 months. There might be some odd meals but we would be fed.
Why? It is generally acknowledged that supermarkets carry 3 days worth of stock and rely on ‘just in time’ deliveries. As we endure more severe and frequent weather events it is prudent to consider being independently responsible for your wellbeing during and immediately after these events. You will never find me queuing for fuel, buying bread or filling gas bottles as a cyclone approaches. It is already done as part of our day to day routine.
It can be something as simple as being unwell or busy at work and you can feed yourselves from what you have on hand. Some years ago I was snowed under at work and barely had time to do the basics so each week I would grab some fruit and veg and everything else came from the freezer or pantry. I did this for 7 consecutive weeks!
By having enough on hand you will be less likely to pop into the shop and grab unnecessary items while you are there = savings.
Remember the mantra – “eat what you store and store what you eat”. In other words, do not store ‘special stuff’ for your stockpile. Do not keep 100 tins of baked beans if your family do not eat baked beans.
Whatever stock you have should be rotated. I keep 2 large tins of tuna in my pantry. When I use one I buy another. I always place the new can on the bottom of the pile.
Consider using a permanent marker to write the purchase date and month on bottles and cans eg: 10.16 for October 2016. This means that you can see at a glance what needs to be used first.
Keep track of what you have by doing a regular stocktake.
Make sure you have suitable storage containers and conditions. Food which deteriorates is a waste of money.
My recommendation is to try to store enough food to feed your family for 2 weeks beyond your normal shopping cycle. Start small and add an extra can or packet as you can afford.
Stockpiling may save you a little money but in the long run, I think the time and sanity savings are far greater as well as the peace of mind of not being totally dependent on the vagaries of the supply chain.
organised castle 
I grew up in a rural area which was frequently snowed in during some periods of winter, and both my parents had been raised on farms. We always preserved produce when it was in season. Also, the nearest big town was far enough away that our ‘regular’ grocery shopping was only done monthly. So ‘stockpiling’ was normal behaviour. Fast forward a few decades, and I still think the same way, but try not to overdo it. 🙂