1. Learn how to coupon. I always resisted using coupons. Maybe it had something to do with growing up poor and being proud of the fact that I could now afford to buy whatever I wanted. Maybe it was the looks I got from the cashier and others behind me when they saw customers with stacks of coupons. I don't honestly know why it took me so long to figure out that none of that mattered. What mattered was not wasting money. So get in on the couponing action! There are lots of guides and websites out there to give you all the tips and tricks to do it like a pro.
2. Store your food properly so it lasts as long as possible. When I first started, I had a cabinet above my stove that I thought was perfect. I didn't use it for anything because I had to climb on a stool to get to it. What better place to store something I only needed in emergencies, right? Except that heat from the stove rises into that cupboard. And we didn't notice at first that the range hood vented into that cupboard (I know...who does that?!) I have since created space in my pantry. It's a good size area and once I actually got everything organized, I discovered I had more than enough room for an emergency food supply for the two of us.
3. Rotate your supplies regularly. Speaking of the pantry....another lesson I learned the hard way. Keep your supplies organized so you can rotate it regularly. The first time I had to do a major reorganization of our supplies gave me a rude awakening. If you don't keep up with your supplies, you soon lose track of what's in there. Things expire. They have to be discarded. Nothing lasts forever. Not even canned food. And nothing is more wasteful than buying food only to have to throw it away. So think of your emergency supply as a distant addition to your regular weekly grocery list. If you see cans of tuna on sale, for example, check your emergency supply. If you have some cans on hand that are older, buy the tuna that's on sale, place it in your emergency supply and take the older cans out to use for meals that week. I do this every week now and I haven't had to discard of any expired product in years.
4. Skip the emergency food sites. I'm not saying it's not good food. Most of it is. But it is also expensive. Learn how to buy things like beans, rice, pasta and other non-perishable foods and properly store them long-term yourself. I store rice and beans in empty soda bottles for example. Yes, it might be convenient in an emergency to grab that pouch of freeze-dried beef stew off the shelf and just add water. But you can learn to make very good meals yourself with everyday ingredients for a fraction of the cost of these prepackaged meals.
5. Which brings me to my next tip. Learn how to dry and can food yourself. It's easier than you think. There are wonderful books and websites that will teach you the skills you need. Just be careful to follow the instructions exactly and be sure the food has been properly prepared. Improperly canned food can be harmful if eaten.
6. Where do you get food to can and dry without paying extra? Learn to garden. If you have the space outside for a large garden, plant it! But even some containers on the porch or patio can provide enough product to supplement your emergency food supply. Or provide enough fresh food to offset your grocery budget so you can use the money saved to add to your emergency supplies. There are books and videos to help you learn and many County Extension Offices give gardening classes. Many areas also have gardening groups the help members learn the basic skills. What a great way for you and the family to enjoy some healthy outdoor time. And kids are much more likely to eat their veggies if they grow them themselves.
7. Only store what you eat. When the pandemic was at its height and grocery store shelves were pretty bare, my husband wanted me to buy a case of Vienna Sausages and a case of ramen noodles. I said no. He is the only one that eats those and even then it's very rarely. Chances are they would have sat in the pantry for years before we went through them all. That money and storage space was better devoted to something we both eat regularly. Just because something is available and "on sale" doesn't make it a good buy if you don't normally eat it.
Having an emergency food supply will give you a sense of security. You'll have greater peace of mind knowing that you don't have to worry about feeding your family in an emergency. These tips will help you save money while building your emergency food stash.
Do you have a favorite money-saving tip? Share it in the comments!
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