How to Stockpile Food on a Budget: A Comprehensive Guide (2024)

FAQs

How to Stockpile Food on a Budget: A Comprehensive Guide? ›

Take the amount of food you'd typically need to purchase to feed your family for a day, multiply by seven, and you've got a one-week supply. Each week (or month if you're low on funds), try to buy one extra week's worth of food. Gradually expand and build up to a one month stock, then a three-month supply, etc.

Build up your everyday stock of canned goods until you have a two-week to one-month surplus. Rotate it periodically to maintain a supply of common foods that will not require special preparation, water or cooking. From a sporting or camping equipment store, buy commercially packaged, freeze-dried or air-dried foods.

Dried produce

Most dried fruits can be stored for up to a year, and vegetables can last about half that. They can be packed in serving-size portions for each recipe for quick and easy meals and maximize the freshness of the food. For these reasons, dried foods are an essential item in any stockpile.

All Americans should have at least a three-day supply of food and water stored in their homes, with at least one gallon of water per person per day. If you have the space, experts recommend a week's supply of food and water. Choose foods that don't require refrigeration and are not high in salt.

Here are 7 foods with long shelf lives.

Due to their inherent properties that deter bacterial growth, both sugar and salt can be stored for extended periods without spoilage. Liquors like gin, whiskey, and tequila, when unopened, can last indefinitely, courtesy of their high alcohol content.

You should stock up on beans, vegetables, meat and fruit. Make sure to diversify your canned food selection — there's no telling how long you'll be relying on these options as sources of nutrition, and you'll need to prioritize a balanced diet to maintain your strength.

If you could only select five foods to survive on, potatoes, kale, trail mix, grains, and beans would get you pretty far.

The best diet for longevity is one that includes plenty of fruits, nuts and legumes, vegetables, and whole grains.

What is the cheapest way of preserving food? ›

Canning usually is a more economical method of preserving food in the home than freezing. The canning operation varies from household to household — as to what foods are canned, how they are processed, the kinds of containers or equipment used and the amounts canned at a given time.

The Best Place To Store Your Oats

This could apply to several places in your kitchen, like in a closed cupboard or pantry. If the oats are in an airtight container, you can also put them in the refrigerator or freezer for longer storage.

To create a food budget, start by looking at your income and expenses. Determine how much money you have available for groceries each week – or, month. Then, make a list of the items you need to buy and their approximate costs. This will give you a good idea of how much you can afford to spend on groceries.

Before a collapse, you should stockpile a weak supply of food, water, a flashlight, a radio, a can opener, and a contact list.

Buy Items With a Long-Shelf Life – We recommend starting with items that have a long shelf life (a year or more), are inexpensive, and are easy to store, such as beans and rice. It's not our recommendation to start with something that needs to be canned/preserved to make it shelf-stable.

It has been recommended that every family keeps 3 days' worth of food per person like the 72-hour emergency kit in case of emergencies like hurricanes, tornados, or any other natural disaster.