The idea of acquiring an entire year’s worth of food might sound overwhelming. There’s a trick to it, and Dirk Puckett breaks it down here for you.
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Just like all good things, making a good food storage plan takes a little bit of work. However, it’s not hard at all. You can even do it on a budget by simply buying a little each time you shop. In time, you’ll have all the foods you need for your long-term food storage plan. And, if you follow the seven simple steps below, you can do it without breaking the bank:
- Make a List of Foods You Normally Eat
Can you imagine going into your food stash to find there’s nothing in it that you actually want to eat? Even after a disaster, you’ll want your food storage to consist of foods you and your family normally eat. Write up a list of the various meals you eat regularly. Then, list all of the ingredients needed to prepare these meals.
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Determine the Amounts You Need
So, you know what you need. Now, it’s time to decide how much you need. Here’s a good method for figuring out the amounts you need to stock up on:
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Let’s say that your family decides they’ll want to eat spaghetti once monthly, for a year.
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Add up all of the ingredients needed for 12 spaghetti meals.
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Now, do the same for all of the other meals on your list.
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The Trick to Doing It for Only $10 Per Month
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At first, the whole idea of acquiring an entire year’s worth of food might sound overwhelming. But, there’s a trick to it. Just buy a little at a time.
Every time you hit the grocery store, pick up a few items from your list. Here’s a few good tips to get it done on a tight budget:
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Be sure to check to see if your items are on sale.
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Check local papers and websites for coupons.
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Roll over all of the spare change to the next week, no matter how many pennies.
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Date Your Perishables
When it comes to food storage, always remember this rule of thumb: first in, first out. This is the most efficient way to ensure that you get the longest shelf life possible from each item.
Simply use a black Sharpie, or other permanent marker, to note the date of purchase on your foods. The date should be readily visible. That way, you never have to wonder exactly how long each item has been in your stockpile.
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Incorporate Freeze Dried Foods into Your Storage Plan
The three most common types of non-perishable foods are: canned foods, dehydrated foods and freeze-dried foods. During your weekly shopping, you’ll end up picking up canned foods regardless. Most preppers do. You’ll probably also end up with some dehydrated products, such as raisins, beef jerky, dried fruit and various types of dried seasonings.
Now, all you have to do is incorporate freeze-dried food into your plan. This will add more variety to the types of non-perishables in your stockpile. Freeze dried foods taste great, and they last for 25 years. So, they make the perfect addition to any good long-term food storage plan.
What is the best meal prep bag? The answer is right here!
Photo: Robert Benner Sr./Flickr