In the spirit of easing the financial strain of Christmas in any way possible, I try to stock up with non-perishables through the year. I collect them in boxes which are stored in the loft, garage or office for the purpose of being brought out and used over the Christmas and winter period. With this in mind, I thought it would be useful to share a list of non-perishables to stock up on through the year.
What do I mean by non-perishables? Household items you can add to your grocery shop which don’t expire or have a ‘best before’ date. These are non-food items – we’ll be talking about long-date food and drink items you can stock up on through the year in another blog post.
I’ve listed the non-perishables I try and build up into a collection before December hits below, sorted by category/area of the house. I hope you find it useful!
List Of Non-Perishables You Can Collect Through The Year
Kitchen Items
- Washing up liquid (we prefer Fairy as it lasts the longest; I’ve found cheaper brands are a false economy)
- Dishwasher tablets, salt and rinse aid
- Kitchen roll
- Laundry powder or liquid
- Fabric conditioner
- Calgon tablets (or water softening tablets/powder of your choice)
- Packs of napkins
- Bin liners
- Foil
- Cling film
- Food storage bags / freezer bags
Cleaning Items
- Bleach
- Toilet cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Multi-purpose cleaner
- Furniture polish
- Dusters
- Dishcloths, scourers, Brillo pads
- J Cloths
- Rubber gloves
Bathroom Items
- Loo roll
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Shower gels
- Hand wash or soaps
- Bubble bath
- Sanitary products (towels/tampons/whatever you use)
- Face wash
- Make-up remover wipes or liquid
- Facial moisturiser
- Body moisturiser
- Additional hair products (dye, spray, leave-in conditioner)
- Ear buds
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
Family-Specific Items
- Nappies
- Wet wipes
- Nappy bags
- Any specific toothpaste, bubble bath, hand wash, toilet wipes (& any other specific products your children require)
- Pet supplies: litter, grooming items, toys
Miscellaneous Household Items
- Batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, cell batteries, any other types you’ll need)
- Scented candles / incense / wax melts
- Air fresheners
- Pop-up tissue boxes
Seasonal Celebratory Items
- Balloons
- Party poppers
- Party cannons
- Wall banners (Merry Christmas & Happy New Year styles)
- Wrapping supplies: scissors, sellotape, wrapping paper
- Christmas cards
- Christmas crackers
- Christmas decorations
Perhaps you don’t use all the above items; I’ve listed the non-perishable things we use on a regular basis as a family, as well as a few seasonal-specific goods. Add one or two items to your shopping list each week through the year (or more when you can afford it) and by December you’ll have a fab reserve built up.
Hopefully this list of non-perishables has been a useful checklist for items you can add to your weekly shopping list. By stocking up on non-perishables through the year you will lower the cost of your groceries during the typically expensive months of November and December -and maybe even into January- as you can concentrate on buying those last-minute, perishable goods only. We’ll discuss exactly what those last minute items might be in another post!
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