In the realm of the ever rising grocery prices, I’ve found that one thing that works really well for me is stocking up on the non-grocery items. When you have to buy all of your skincare products, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper and paper towels all in the same week that you need to restock the basics in your fridge and pantry, it adds up to one hefty total at the checkout. Even for someone living by themselves! So instead, I like to stock up.. hopefully the big sale on the toilet paper I like falls on the same week I have some wiggle room in my grocery budget. If not, I buy one or two packages on every trip until I have a good stock going. Then I don’t feel the pinch quite as badly on every single grocery shopping trip. I know I’m not the only one who does this… my friend Tina has a 6 month old baby girl, and when we went to lunch a couple weeks ago she said she probably has enough disposable diapers to last her until the kid is out of diapers entirely.

This paycheck is a tighter grocery budget week, so I won’t be able to stock up this time around, but I know it’s coming out of the next paycheck. I’ve got plenty of paper towels (been using hand towels more lately), but I’m running low on just about everything else. Do you stock up on the essentials, or do you just buy as things are needed?