One of my wife’s favorite cosmetic products was recently discontinued. For years she’s used a certain facial cleanser from Avon, so when Avon stopped selling it, Kris was frustrated. She’s tried similar products from other companies, but prefers the one from Avon.
It occurred to Kris that maybe she could find the product online. She tracked down a seller on eBay and ordered a two-year supply for $50 (plus shipping). This is double what she had been paying, but she decided it was worth the cost.
For the next couple of years at least, Kris will be able to enjoy one of her favorite products. She’s stocked up.
This is just one example of a dilemma I’ve faced lately. When does it make sense to stock up on a product you like and use regularly? I’ve learned that when I find a wine I love, I should buy a case. This makes sense. But it doesn’t make sense to stock up on laptop computers when I find a great one. This would be an expensive habit, and the technology would quickly become obsolete.
But many items fall somewhere between a case of wine and a lifetime supply of computers. Lately I’ve wondered when it makes sense to stock up on products I’m passionate about. (And does it make a difference whether these products are consumable or non-consumable?)
Timberland Chocurua
I’m not usually the kind of guy who notices brands or model numbers. I wear my clothes and use my appliances without much thought. I can’t tell you which company manufactured my cordless drill or who made the shirt I’m wearing. They all seem to work fine, and that’s what matters.
Before our trip to London and Dublin, I bought a pair of hiking boots. I didn’t pay much attention to the brand; I just went into the local sporting goods store and bought the pair that felt right. As it turns out, I love these boots. They’re amazing. They’re functional and comfortable. If Kris would let me, I would wear them for every occasion. (“You are not wearing those tonight,” she once told me as we were leaving for a nice dinner with friends. I’d been wearing them for days on end, and she decided to put her foot down.)
The store that sold me these boots is going out of business. It occurred to me last weekend that maybe I should see if they still had these boots in stock. Maybe I could buy a pair for cheap. The store didn’t have these boots, but Amazon does. Now I face a dilemma. Should I order a pair or two to keep on hand for when these wear out?
iPod Shuffle
On a less utilitarian note, I was a little alarmed to learn that Apple has discontinued (well, “re-configured”) one of my favorite products. I’m a huge fan of the little clip-on iPod Shuffle. I use mine constantly.
Last week I had a chance to look at the new iPod Shuffle. I don’t like it. I don’t want to own one. My Shuffle is showing no signs of failure, but I began to wonder: What would I do when it does die? (Or, as is more likely the case, when I lose it?) I’m not willing to purchase a new model. I want the old one.
Then I thought: What if I stocked up? What if I found a source for the old iPod Shuffles and bought two or three or four just to keep on hand? Assuming I could afford this, is it a smart thing to do?
Does stocking up make sense?
My previous bad habits have made me wary. Whenever I want to spend, I question myself. That’s true in this case, as well. I cannot decide: Are these impulses foolish? They don’t feel foolish, but sometimes I’m not as smart as I should be about these decisions. Would buying these extra iPods or boots just be a sort of hoarding? Would I be bringing more clutter into the house? I don’t know. All I know is that I don’t feel guilty for considering these options — so long as I can afford them.
We already stock up on paper products like kleenex and toilet paper by buying in bulk. Kris has boxes of empty canning jars in the garage, donated by friends, for when she needs them. But we’re not devoted to a particular kind of jar or picky about a style of tissue. Is it different when I’m merely anticipating that something I like will be unattainable later? Am I merely postponing the inevitable? I don’t know the answers to these questions.
What about you? Have you ever stocked up on a product you like? Do you think that you might do so in the future? Why or why not?
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You won’t want to stock up on the shuffle. Apple knows their new shuffle is a flop and you’ll see a new one in another year or two. Electronics are always bad options for stock ups because technology improvements will almost always make the next model better. Sometimes companies get it wrong, like the new shuffle, but for the most part they get it right.
I stock up on deoderant when it’s cheap. Combined with a manufactorer’s coupon I usually get them for about have the price you might find in Wal-Mart for my preferred brand.
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I stocked up on my favorite eyeshadow when the woman at the Clinique cosmetic counter told me that the color I wanted was discontinued. When she found they still had three containers in stock, I bought all of them. Having your favorite lipstick or eyeshadow or moisturizer or body lotion discontinued isn’t the end of the world, but it sure is disappointing after finding something that really works for you.
Of couse, I’m talking about products that cost less than $20 each. I doubt I would snap up extra iPods or other expensive items. What I will do, however, is buy multiples the first time. Just two weeks ago I found very flattering pants and shorts at Talbots. I bought them both in two colors each. I’ve done the same thing with T-shirts or tops. Sometimes when I couldn’t decide between two pairs of shoes, I bought them both. As long as I’m going to wear them both in the same season I’m happy. I don’t wait to wear the second until after the first wears out.
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I agree…don’t stock up on the shuffle. Chances are that by the time you need another one they will have come out with something completely different than the current one.
I actually don’t generally pay that much attention to shoes but I LOVE my Keen Bali flip flops. I could go into a million reasons why I am willing to pay $50+ for this particular pair of flip flops but I won’t bore you with it (although I will say that I tried them originally because I got them 90% off). I discovered last fall that they were changing them in a way that I was completely unhappy about. I considered buying several pairs of the older version but decided against it for various reasons. I did ask for some for Christmas and my sister bought me a pair. I am still wearing the older pair daily but having the new pair in my closet makes me feel a lot better about the fact that the old ones are starting to look bad.
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If I find an item I love at a killer price I usually buy a few to stock up. This mainly applies to food, beauty products and household goods. For instance, regularly a favorite family brand of bread goes on sale for half-price at our local grocery store, so I always buy about two month’s worth. Sometimes if I can afford it I’ll buy a few of a shirt or pair of pants I really like, because it’s just so difficult for me to find clothes that I love wearing – but I have to make sure I’ll really wear it first.
I don’t suppose I would ever stock up on electronics because they depreciate so quickly and warranties are only valid for a year, typically. Plus, I could never afford it!
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J.D. Buy the boots if you can find them. I also buy a 2nd or 3rd pair of shoes if I find some I really like but only after I have worn the shoes for several months. It will nice to reach up and grab a new pair of your boots in 2 years when you need them
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I wouldn’t stock up on anything like the shuffle or hiking boots, as technological advances over the years may bring improvements that you want. For example, I loved my first pair of hiking boots, but when I went to replace them, advances had created a lighter weight material. My new boots are incredibly light, so they are more comfortable on long walks than my old boots were. Right now you don’t like the newest shuffle, but you may find yourself liking the next version more than the one you currently own.
I also would be cautious about products that degrade over time. Food products that are stocked up need to be rotated regularly so that you aren’t throwing out a case or two of expired goods, and other goods need to be able to be stored in the right conditions. Our only space for stocking large materials is our basement, and it tends to be musty, so we only store enough paper products for a month or two down the line.
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I stock up on all kinds of grocery type items, but only when I get them for free or at a great price. Anything that you are confident you could resell at the same price you paid (or more) is worth stocking up on. Anything else, I say don’t do it because something better might come along and/or you might find the discontinued product cheaper later, like at a discount store where discontinued products get sent.
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To me, stocking up is more for consumable items. So foods and personal care items, yes. Electronics, no.
I’m debating on the shoes myself though… I am an avid runner and in all the searching of shoe shops, I’ve only ever found one shoe that fits my foot perfectly and eliminates my shin splints. The company has brought in a new shoe that is similar but not quite right for me, and I am concerned that they may discontinue my shoe. Should I stock up? Maybe, but not too much. Shoes, believe it or not, also have a limited shelf life and their support begins to degrade after a year or two even if they’re not being used.
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I highly recommend that if you really love a shoe and find that your are wearing them on days on end, that you buy more than one pair and alternate wearing them. This can extend the life of both shoes, and not in the sense you have a longer time before you need to buy two more. Shoes tend to last longer and retain its shape when you give them time to dry out.
I am not 100% if this applies to daily wear shoes, but I practice this with running shoes and I find it does keep my shoes from getting squishy as quick.
This way if the product is discontinued without your knowledge you will have twice the life of shoe, plus a little bit more.
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Contrarian view: I would buy an extra old-version iPod shuffle or two while they are still available. Yeah, you *might* like a newer version better, but you might not.
I did just this recently with my beloved Archos Jukebox 20 Recorder, technology which is at least five years old. Mine finally gave up the ghost. I was able to salvage the hard drive so I didn’t lose my music and transferred everything to a new Archos 605. I *hated* it. I don’t do video and I wanted back the ease and versatility of the Jukebox! So I found a guy selling his, almost unused, through craigslist and bought it for $50. I’m happy again. I’m out of step and behind the times and left behind by the techno wave, but eventually I will be retro and cool so I couldn’t care less.
I’m a confirmed stocker-upper. I do rotate my food stores and I don’t buy a huge lot of perishables at a time, but it makes me feel secure to know I could feed my family for a week or two without shopping if I had to.
Is it frugal? One example: I have a favorite soup that is regularly priced at $2.39 per can (one serving). When it goes on sale, about four times a year, I buy a case of it at $1.25 per can. This lasts me until the next sale, so I am saving 48% on each and every can.
Yeah, stocking up is frugal.
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This completely reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine went and bought out a case of contraceptive ‘sponges’ because they were discontinuing them. I guess the question you have to ask before deciding to stock up on something is whether or not it’s spongeworthy!
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if it’s something I know I’ll definitely use again with in a defined period, and it’s on sale I would stock up.
i found a nice pair of shoes on sale, so I bought two pairs. I knew I would need the extra pair when the first pair wore out, (and no matter how much I looked after them, they would wear out with use) I would then have the second pair.
However on the ipod. Electronics prices are always going down, so it makes no sense to buy a shuffle now when the same item would be cheaper in the future. Also, there is no guarantee that you will lose your original shuffle, and if it does break in 3 or 4 years, maybe there will be a better product on the line. Imagine if you’d stocked up on Walkmans (or should that be Walkmen) 10 years ago.
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Interesting question… just as your asking/exploring, sometimes it does make sense to stock-up but it is largely a function of the product and it’s costs. For example, I don’t think I’d go into debt to stock up but if the cash/product availability window were open at the same time I might consider it. I’d be weary of stocking items that would likely become outdated. The shuffle is an interesting item relative to that development… you may not like this new generation but love the next one… hmm, perhaps I buy another cheap shuffle to keep in the car but I don’t truly stock up so to speak.
Very interesting topic and discussion.
Dave
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I think stocking up on family favorites (food) is really critical to frugal living. After awhile of ahaving kids, you learn what everyone is happy eating (whatever that is for your family). If you know that the food will be eaten in a given amount of time, it makes no sense to leave it on the shelf, when in 2-3 weeks time, you’ll want to buy it again.
I did this when my family lived overseas. I found a great Birkenstock website, and bought 6 pair of sale shoes, 2 pair for my girls, and 4 pair for me. I’ve worn Birks for years, and am not likely to drastically change my fashion, and they had my favorite styles on sale! This was in 2003, and I bought 1 pair in each color (black, brown, blue, and a fun pattern). They’ve lasted this long (I wear them based on my wardrobe of the day, rotating). My black and fun pattern’s sole started wearing out, and I took them to a local Birk shoe repair, and it’s like I have new shoes again. I spent money on these shoes, and I never have to think about buying new shoes for spring-fall. I guess if you know your style, go ahead and buy several of your favorites…you won’t regret it!
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Target recently clearanced out the diapers that we like. Since my son will be in diapers for a while, I bought all 13 boxes! Saved $41. I saw more last night marked down even more and was tempted to buy them but resisted.
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Money Beagle: Hahah. I just click the comment link to say the same thing!
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I agree with Lesley on stocking up consumables. As fas ar Electronics are concerned, I am not a US citizen and, particularly whenever I go to my home country people just love the cool electronic gadgets and equipments.
So upto some extent it makes sense to stock-up electronics (and other “worth-a-gift” non-consummable) items for special occasions, events (birthday, anniversary, …), etc.
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As a rule I only ever stock up on daily products such as tissues, etc and only when they are on offer. The only time I can think of that I stocked up on an item which wasn’t what I would term a daily item is when I purchased a bulk lot of light bulbs, purely because that wattage was being discontinued.
For me I wouldn’t consider stocking up on either the boots or the shuffle for one reason. Although you may think they are the best now, when it comes to replacing them you are just as likely to find something which you like just as much even if it’s not from the same brand such as the ipod shuffle. These replacements may end up being cheaper than stocking up on goods now.
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I only stock up on food or household items. Basically anything that is consumed fast or breaks easily. I wouldn’t bother with electronics, because the price always goes down and the power always goes up. Shoes? Maybe. But I don’t really have the space to keep a supply of shoes, nor do I wear out shoes so fast that it makes sense to keep a stock on hand.
My solution to apple suckifying the iPod shuffle will be to buy a different brand of mp3 player when my shuffle breaks. Overall, I like Apple products, but there is so much competition out there in the mp3 player world that I don’t have to stick to just one brand.
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I know a lot of people who stock up on shoes they like! Especially if they are a good price. Cheaper shoes are usually lower quality so it makes sense that they would wear out faster and you’d want a backup pair.
If the shoes are expensive, I would personally not buy another pair because by the time they wear out you might be ready to try something new. Or the price may have gone down!
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I have the same debate when I find a certain item of clothing that I love (and that won’t go out of style rapidly) on sale – to stock up or not…
I think you’d be able to find the version of the shuffle that you prefer online, even after newer versions come out – like in the case of comment 10.
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Great comments so far. I especially like the “sponge-worthy” Seinfeld reference. I’d forgotten about that episode, but it’s exactly the sort of thing I’m talking about.
I understand that future products may be as good (or better) than the ones I like now, but that’s not always the case. In the past, I’ve seen things I love discontinued and wished that I had stocked up. One of the reasons I mentioned laptop computers is that I thought the Apple 12″ Powerbook G4 was a brilliant little computer, and was very sad when my machine for work died. Apple had discontinued its 12″ computers by then.
There are other examples, too — I just can’t think of them right now.
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I don’t like the new Shuffle either. To me, it’s an innovative solution in search of a non-existent problem. I’d much prefer if they would push the iTouch into the widescreen HD video/full-featured internet tablet space, but that’s a different subject matter.
The older Shuffle is a design that competitors can and have easily copied. Personally, I’ve gotten out of the Apple ecosystem entirely, because I’m largely a Linux guy who can not use iTunes and don’t want the DRM restrictions anyway. I also believe I save more money in the long run that way too. For example, my Sansa clip costed me $30 at Walmart, and it includes voice recording as well as FM radio, at a similar (albeit uglier) form factor than the Shuffle.
And for the record, I’m not an Apple-hater. I do have an iTouch as well. I just buy what makes the most sense to me.
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I had the same dilemma for body wash for my girlfriend. I just bought out the only store that carried it. Now, a year later she still has plenty left and it still smells good.
When it comes to shoes or clothes, I tend to buy two of something I really like. I had my feet evaluated at a workshop once and they recommended a certain brand of shoe. Since then, I will buy a few pairs of this brand whenever I notice a big sale.
I will do this as well with food with no expiry. However, with the average food waste of 25%, I tend to avoid stockpiling any perishables.
In terms of electronics, I think your shuffle situation is unique. I had the same concern when my favorite pair of sunglasses was going to be discontinued. I bought an extra pair on eBay, and I am glad I did. Now they are so rare, they are almost double the price.
But when it comes to computers or electronics, never stockpile. Technology changes so fast, that in 6 months you are better off purchasing a new product. This is also why I believe extended warranties are a bad idea for electronics.
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I would get the boots, but not the iPod. I would be leery of stocking up on something electronic, as hardware and software changes constantly.
I think it’s good to stock up if you find a good deal on something that won’t expire or go bad before you can use it, or something that you use the heck out of and will soon be discontinued.
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item amount
ipod = none
why: technology goes bad too fast, imagine someone stocking up on VCRs
comestics = 2 or 3 items at a time
why: After a couple of years its good to freshen up your look or if you’re like me you stop using in before its all gone
non perishables foods = stock up when on sale
why: you will eat it eventually, and if not you can give it away
clothes = buy 2 at one time
why: never fails that something spills and ruins your favorite pair of jeans or shirt, having an extra reduces the mental anguish. Also they wear out after about a year, which is just in time for the new styles to come out
shoes = usually best to just buy one type of shoe at a time
Why: you may find out that the shoes pinch your feet, are uncomfortable, or in the case of heavy boots, last forever
dishes = buy three sets at a time
why: they are bound to break and you need to make sure you have enough spares to replace the broken ones.
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I like to stock up on paper towels, toilet paper, deodorant, toothpaste, and shampoos when they’re on sale. First of all it saves me inopportune trips to the store just to grab a stick of deodorant. These things are relatively inexpensive but when you pay more over time, they can add up together. If there was a way to stock up on gas, I would have. Everytime I go home back to PA (I’m currently up near Niagra Falls, I try to make sure i fill up my tank, even if it means topping it off. Gas up here is $.30 more expensive/gallon mostly because of taxes go figure.
In my toothpaste example, I really like natural products without fillers etc, and so when I find these things for a relaly good deal I like to stock up. I save a percentage of every dollar into investing account so that I never see it again and never psychologically feel like i had it in the first place (this is what they do with taxes anyway). When I save $.50 here and there on everyday products that I use, it can really add up and help.
Every dollar is some 52 dollars in retirement if invested and reinvested for 40 years at 10% interest, tax deferred, so stocking up can pay off in both dollars and cents, but in convenience as well.
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I stock up on skin products because I have sensitive skin and need specific things so that I don’t break out. I stock up so that I can always have an extra in a carryon bag in case I have to stay over at a friend or something.
I also stock up on my favorite cereal because the stores in my area do not sell it.
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For my wife and I, the stock-up decision has a couple guidelines: if it doesn’t depreciate/degrade over time, stocking up can make sense (tissue paper, cleaning supplies, dress shoes, etc). If it does depreciate/degrade (laptops, ricotta cheese, bread), we stock up only so much as we’re likely to use for its lifetime (2 weeks worth of bread at most, for example).
Some items can change categories too (for example, clothes “expire” if you’re changing sizes due to growth, weight gain, or weight loss).
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Should I order a pair or two to keep on hand for when these wear out?
No, because those boots are hideous and you need to keep searching until you find a pair that both look amazing and feel amazing.
I would also pass on stocking up on the iPod, as, just like you said, technology changes and something better will come along.
I usually stock up on consumables like toiletries or cologne. I tend to do this when there is a sale like BOGO. In fact, my favourite cologne has been discontinued and I need to hunt around to stock up on that. If you truly like the shoes, only buy one more pair. Then be prepared to find different shoes when they wear out. Technology in shoes changes, too.
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talk about sponge worthy: my preferred brand of tampon was very hard to find at local stores, so a few years back I would order cases over the internet. For some reason I ordered 3 or 4 cases before I had run out. I think I noticed that they were becoming even harder to find.
Now a few years later they are not available anywhere anymore and I have a huge stockpile of my hygiene product of choice. I am far less likely to just toss them in a purse or hand them out to my friends since I have a limited supply.
I know that they may start to degrade at some point but so far so good.
Also I bought 2 identical pairs of sneakers yesterday, one for my gym locker and one for home wear, I figured if I liked them may as well have the same pair in both locations and by buying two I got BOGO.
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While your money is tied up in tangible goods it can’t be doing other things for you. The opportunity cost is one of the expenses of hoarding. The other expense is the possibility of spoilage or loss; I know someone who stocked up on his favorite razor-blade and then the razor handle broke and he couldn’t get another head to fit the blades. If you become a refugee for any number of reasonable reasons you can’t easily transport the goods with you and may have to abandon them.
These risks are essentially the cost you’re paying for insurance to make sure you’ll have that product in the future.
With that in mind, it’s probably a good idea to get the insurance if it’s something you’d be in serious trouble if you didn’t have. We have enough food on hand to manage three months without a grocery store trip for pandemic flu planning purposes, for example. We also have a spare pair of boots in case we become refugees.
But there is no reason to insure we’ll be as delighted in consumer goods in the future as we are with them now.
Stocking up is for critical life-support issues, in my opinion.
It also makes sense to stock up on items when you find them on sale and you’ll know you’ll use them. But, again, be careful. I’ve got incandescent lightbulbs my mother hoarded. (“They won’t spoil!” she said.)
A word about “hoarding”: it’s pretty perjorative when you are referring to people who start AFTER a crisis – but it’s really about emergency preparedness and quite ethical and provident if you do it BEFORE a crisis. After all, if I’ve got food in my larder I won’t be one of the people standing in line trying to share the meager emergency rations after an emergency. More for the ones that didn’t prepare. (And, obviously, I’d share with my selected friends, also removing THEM from the line of people that need to be taken care of.) Everyone is better off if people DO prepare for emergencies. So be careful when you refer to hoarders perjoratively, okay?
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How old is your iShuffle? If it’s older than 18 months then buy a new one of the style you like. Unless you have the skill to replace the battery yourself, then at two years you’re on borrowed time with battery life on shuffles. I have a first gen shuffle who’s second battery has far outlasted the original.
As for the boots, if they are showing signs of wear then sure buy a new pair. If they are still going strong wait. Depending on the cost of the original, it may also be beneficial to have them resoled when the soles wear out.
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I stock up when:
1) My favorite items are on sale, AND
2) I’m sure I’ll use the quantity I buy in 1-2 years.
So, for shoes I’d buy one extra pair on sale if I wear them a lot (which you do); I wouldn’t buy an extra iPod b/c they ought to last 2+ years.
I pick “1-2 years” as a date cutoff because I’d be fine using 1-2 year old things EVEN IF a better, cheaper new thing comes up. I can cheerfully accept that for 1-2 years.
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Definately stock up on hiking boots you love. I’m an avid hiker, and LOVE Montrail’s Sandia Peak boot for women. Unfortunately, they discontinued this boot. Several years ago, I looked on-line and purchased 3 pairs. I’m down to my last pair–they’ve been re-soled but the leather is still good. I’ll be really bummed when the leather finally gives out, because I’ll never be able to get another pair. And they fit me perfectly.
Last year, when Polaroid announced that they would no longer produce film, I stocked up on 669 film. I’m a fine-art photographer and use 669 film for image transfers. As soon as the announcement was made, I looked on-line and purchased as much film as I could afford. So much film, that my credit card company called to make sure the purchases were legit. I also needed to purchase a small refrigerator just to store it, because I didn’t have any room for food in my regular refrigerator. I probably have a 2-3 year supply.
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It makes sense to stock up on daily necessities like water, flour, coffee, toilet paper. Sometimes, it makes sense to stock up on items that you know will be discontinued and that you could possible re-sell in future online to people who are looking for the same discontinued item. For example, I stocked up on the last of a certain ceiling fan light fixture that takes regular socket light bulbs. However, due to fire hazard with bulbs greater than 60W, some bozo in DC decided to ban them for ceiling light fixtures and instead mandate use of the smaller socket candelabra type bulb, which is more expensive as well! I have more than I need for my house’s ceiling fans, so I can sell the rest later when I need the money.
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I stock up on things that I like, like clothing and shoes. If I find a pair of running shoes I love, I usually wait a few months and check on-line. I can usually find them at a discount since newer models are coming out. I usually buy a few pairs to last a year or two and I save big bucks in the long run since I’m not buying new $100 shoes every 6-8 months.
I agree with you on the Shuffle, I love my little clip on shuffle and I was so sad when I heard they were changing it. We already have 2 (one of each of us when we run) so I doubt I’ll be buying more, but I’ll admit I was tempted!
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I might suggest as a general rule is to stock up on “consumables” when it is a good deal.
Electronics could not be considered a consumable, but more a depreciable asset. (Is that a word?)
By consumables, I would say more like food items. When you can get that 6-pack of soda for 2 dollars, get all the limit will allow. When you find a good wine on sale, buy a case. When you find a can of beans for 0.20$, buy 10.. If you’re already buying a shirt for 50% off, then maybe buy as many as you’d expect to wear out until you need to buy them again..
Shoes I find I cannot leave one in the box while I wear out another. Usually I wear my shoes (being a guy) simultaneously, so even tho I wear the same shoes less often, thus lasting longer, it doesn’t mean I’ll wear one out and move on to the next.
With electronics, there will always be something better tomorrow.. Makes no sense to stock up.. And most likely you’ll still be able to find a refurb or an unsold device later in life. You can still get 386 processors!
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With 7 behinds to wipe, my mom bought a huge case of toilet paper and stored it in the basement. A great idea until a big rainstorm flooded the basement! Toilet paper is really absorbent.
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I’m a fan of the stock-up, but I’ve gotten burned in the past. The iPod shuffle would tempt me though, especially because you can find them refurbished on Apple’s website for $39. That just is not a steep price to know you have the product you love once yours dies (or gets lost).
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I don’t think it’s worth it, except for food/consumables that you know you will use up pretty quickly. Of course, I live in an apartment so we don’t have a lot of storage space… and I definitely try to keep from owning multiple pairs of shoes, gadgets, etc. because they’re a pain to move and store.
But try to keep in mind that the Internet has pretty much eliminated scarcity. Even if your old Shuffle does break somewhere along the line, and IF you can’t get Apple to repair or refurbish it, and IF Apple is not selling anything you like at that time, it’s a pretty safe bet there’ll still be dozens of them for sale on eBay.
And in the grand scheme of things, electronics are pretty much the worst thing to stock up on, since the technology is continually improving and coming down in price. If something costs $800 new, in a few months the next model will come out and you can get the same one for $600, or get the much better one for the same price. So you’d be sinking your money into basically the fastest-depreciating thing out there.
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Stocking up makes sense but it depends upon the item. Electronics change so quickly that your backup item will most likely be sooo out dated by the time the first one breaks that it will be useless. Buying a second pair of favorite shoes, jeans, makeup, etc (especially if there is a great sale) is worth it. It’s an item you already use and love. You would buy another once the first one is worn out. So getting a second isn’t going to be a waste of money. It’s also a waste of money if you buy too much of an item. If the item can go bad before you’ve used them all up then you have too many. 1-2 years worth of your favorite cream would be good. 10 years worth means that most it of went bad before you get to use it.
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I definitely stock up on consumables when they can be had for a good price.
I’ve also stocked up on running shoes before – buying another pair when they went on sale. That way, whey my current ones died, I had a new pair already and didn’t have to shop around or pay full price.
I’ve also ‘stocked up’ on clothing – buying a 2nd of an item when on sale. This is nice when I find something I like but has backfired when I didn’t like the item (and the return shipping cost makes it a bad idea to return).
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“I highly recommend that if you really love a shoe and find that your are wearing them on days on end, that you buy more than one pair and alternate wearing them. This can extend the life of both shoes, and not in the sense you have a longer time before you need to buy two more. Shoes tend to last longer and retain its shape when you give them time to dry out.”
I’ve heard this multiple times, and can attest to it at least in terms of running shoes. My husband also follows this practice for his work boots, and swears by it. So I would say, yes, buy another pair of the boots!
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I hate to say this…but Kris should use those facial products up asap. I tried stocking up on both Neutrogena and Mary Kay moisturizers, but after a year, both had a funny off-smell. They still worked ok, though. Something in that mix must have degraded over time.
I’d say buy at least one extra pair of the hiking boots, though! We also stock up on underwear (if it’s on sale – rare)and stuff like barbecue sauce…Sweet Baby Ray’s is my weakness, and only comes on sale once in a blue moon. I’ve also had success with perfume via Ebay — logic says it should change in chemical makeup, but my purchases of “To A Wild Rose” (Avon, and one of their most wonderful) have been just fine.
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I love your posts!
I wouldn’t stock up on the Shuffle either. The old versions are always around and MUCH cheaper if you buy later on ebay or something.
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I probably wouldn’t buy more than a year or two in advance. Most things will start degrading after longer than that (food, shoes, ad makeup). In the case of electronics, they won’t degrade, but will become obsolete. If Apple doesn’t fix the shuffle, I’m sure one of their competitors will come out with a clone of the last decent one that will work just fine, have more storage, be slightly smaller, etc.
When I moved to Seattle from the East Coast, I couldn’t find a place that stocked my favorite condiment. So next time I was home for the holidays I bought a year’s supply and flew it back west with me. But even then, I only got a one year supply; if I got any more it would have started to go bad before I could use it.
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You’re lucky that you’ve had your clip on iPod for so long. I’ve gone through two in the past couple years. They keep crapping out on me. The first one I was able to replace for free because I had it for under a year. The replacement one was under warranty for 90 days and I think it stopped working about 95 day after I received it. If you stock up on them – you may get lemons. Electronics are flukey. You are better off researching some non-Apple products. Yes – there is a life outside of Macs.
As for cosmetics – you have to be careful with those as well. Some of that stuff can go bad. Oils become rancid, creams will thicken up and start smelling weird. No reason to not buy a couple extras if the price is good – but remember about the accumulation of stuff:-)
My BF decided to corner the market on those little propane tanks. They are hard to come by and expensive after a hurricane and it IS a good idea to stock up. On the other hand, I’m tripping over them. As always – balance is a good thing:-)
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I occasionally stock up on items that I like- eg two pairs of jeans that fit; or comfy shoes in brown and black.
However if you are stocking up on something that is being discontinued be aware that you are just delaying the inevitable.
At some point you will have to go looking for your new “perfect” boots and Kris will have to spend time (and money) testing cleansers; until she finds a suitable replacement.
If I were you I would take this time to try new styles of boots that weren’t about when you bought yours and see if your new perfect boot isn’t already available; before you spend the money on an identical pair.
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As mentioned above. My wife often stocks up on our running shoes when they get marked down. After a few hundred miles or so it is nice to put on pair that you know that you like and few comfortable in.
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