For things that expire, only buy enough to use before the expiration date comes around, and rotate your stock (put the new purchases in back so that you’re using up the oldest products first).

pasta

paper products (toilet paper, plates, paper towels)

cereal (check expiration dates)

milk (enough for a couple of months only)

bread (freezes for a month or two)

meat (freezes for up to 6 months if wrapped well)

plastic bags (storage, trash)

dental products (toothbrushes, toothpaste)

canned goods (check expiration dates)

snacks (chips, granola bars, crackers… check expiration dates)

personal care (soap, shaving cream, razors, deodorant, shampoo)

first aid (band-aids, dressings, tape)

over the counter medicines (check expiration dates carefully!)

picture frames

office supplies (pens, tape, staples, paper clips, printer paper, printer ink)

school supplies (glue sticks, erasers, notebooks, pencils, crayons) – best deals during back-to-school sales in August generally

batteries

cookbooks (from thrift stores or used book stores – to help you cook all of your stockpiled foods!)

reusable bags (very few sales on these, but you will get money back – $0.05 to $0.10 – at some stores for each bag you use. Both Target and Whole Foods give money back, I’m sure others do as well. And, with all the shopping you’ll be doing, that can add up!) – don’t pay more than a dollar each for them. Ask what the store is doing with its leftover seasonal bags – sometimes you can get these at a discount.

beans (dried or canned)

rice

sugar (in an airtight container)

large storage boxes (Tupperware, Rubbermaid, or the like. To store all of your loose bulk purchases – like your sugar)

children’s clothes (in larger sizes than they currently wear)