This is a topic you should really consider taking seriously. If you have stumbled upon this post, then you most likely do. You should be aware of how important it is to become as self-sufficient as possible. This means having food and supplies on hand at all times in order to sustain yourself and your family. Those that are complacent in life are the ones left suffering in the end. No matter how you view the world, you should always be prepared for ANYTHING to happen. What would you do if one day the grocery stores closed, or the price of gas skyrocketed to where you could not afford to drive anywhere? What would you do? The average family keeps anywhere from three days to a week's worth of food in the house. This is just not enough. I am going to list out a few ideas that make it easy for anyone to stockpile supplies, no matter how much income they have coming in. I will also list out important items you should be buying.
Turn every shopping trip into a supply-buying opportunity
No matter where I am shopping, I am ALWAYS looking for useful items to stockpile. If I am at the grocery store, I will buy extra canned goods or dry foods. I always buy seasonings (you're going to want a variety in flavors - most are also medicinal too, but only if they are organic). If I am at Wal-mart or TJ Maxx, I am looking for clothes, tools, camping gear, organic skincare products, and anything else that may come in handy.
Try to make a supply run at least once a month
I love the dollar stores! They are great for accruing important items on a budget. When you visit these stores more often every month, you can easily begin to grow your inventory. Even if you are spending $10 and $20 each time, it makes a difference in the end. Each time you go, you get more of a feel for what is the most cost-effective. Wal-mart, Aldi, and Big Lots have great prices on canned goods while Dollar General and the Dollar Tree have the best priced first-aid supplies, rice, batteries, disposable utensils, plates, and napkins. Sprouts and Natural Grocers have good deals on supplements.
Keep an inventory
Once you begin to have large piles of items, you need to start thinking about organization in order to better keep track of what you have and what you still need more of. If you have a large amount of canned green beans, slow down on those for a bit and buy more tomato sauce or sliced carrots. You get the gist.
Go to the clearance aisles
Every single time you go to the store, you should be glancing at the clearance aisles or racks. You never know what you will find there. I have found banged up canned goods, supplements, baking goods, utensils, etc. If they are a price that cannot be beaten, I buy them all!
Rotate your supplies
Make sure you are keeping track of the dates on food items. We have started labeling our goods and placing the oldest towards the front. Once they get close to their use-by dates, we start incorporating them in the kitchen. Then, we go back and stock up on what we're getting low on. Do not let what you buy ever go to waste. Otherwise, you are just throwing away money. I had several cans of tomato items that were on their way out. In order to use them up, I made a large pot of tomato basil soup and froze half of it. You can also can large quantities of food for an even longer shelf-life.
Buy items for barter
When you are buying, consider accruing things that you may not necessarily use but will prove to be very valuable in the future. I have lots of shampoos and soaps that I've kept over the years. I will never use them myself, but I know they will be coveted by many others if something were to happen. At the dollar store, I purchase Ibuprofen, allergy medicine, pills for indigestion and headaches, and cold relief. People will be desperate for things like this when they do not have access to stores or prescription medications. My husband recently convinced me to start buying ramen noodles for barter. They are SUPER cheap and will feed a family in a pinch. Lastly, menstrual pads and tampons will be a hot commodity once women are not able to purchase them elsewhere. They are very affordable at the dollar stores.
Think about storage options
Shelving units or containers are great investments for storing your goods. I personally prefer the shelving units because you can see your inventory and keep it very organized. Make sure they are capable of holding the weight, though. Consider hiding places. If something were to happen, and people around you know that you prep, they may come knocking on your door or worse.
Hit up some garage sales and estate sales
Find garage sales on Facebook marketplace. Make it a family outing. I always find useful tools that I never would have expected. Estate sales and moving sales are the best. You never know what treasures are awaiting you. Especially the time-capsule homes. You know what I'm talking about. They for sure knew what was going on.
Check out some Gun Shows
There are most likely some gun shows going on in your area almost every week. There are usually several vendors that specialize in prepping. I got a great Army medical bag with A LOT of useful materials still inside. These things will come in handy if I ever come across a person in need. My knowledge of basic medical treatment makes me a valuable asset.
Don't forget about skills
This is one area often overlooked by stockpilers and preppers. Continuing on from my last point, having certain skillsets can be VERY valuable when bartering. Look at the state of Venezuela. They are enthralled in hyperinflation, which means their currency is worthless. Handymen, Carpentry, Auto Tech, HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical skills are all very great to have because you can trade these services for other valuable goods. Also, medical knowledge (mainly natural remedies), gardening and knowing how to forage will also prove to be extremely beneficial when there is no longer immediate access to medical facilities and food.
So here are some of the items you should consider investing in:
Camping gear (in case you need to leave your home)
Canned goods
Dry goods (i.e. rice, beans, lentils, quinoa, sugar, flour, etc.)
Freshwater ideas (filtration straws, tabs, drilling for groundwater, etc. Take the time to research this)
Boullion
Salt, Pepper, and Spices (not just for flavor, but also medicinal)
Apple Cider Vinegar (medicinal)
Baking Soda
Animal Food (also good for barter)
Disposable Plates, Utensils, Cups, Bowls, Napkins
First-Aid (i.e. Band-aids, gauze, medical tape, Neosporin, peroxide, alcohol, alcohol wipes, cotton balls, cotton pads, q-tips, face masks, vinyl gloves)
OTC medicines
All toiletries
Dish soap
Seeds and gardening supplies
Lighters/Matches
Candles
Helpful Tips:
Not to toot my own horn, but - LADIES, I am brilliant. Two words for you: Period Panties. I know it sounds gross, but seriously think about it. There are several companies that offer them. Instead of stocking up on loads of pads and tampons for yourself, buy a few for barter and have the period panties for personal use.
Save everything in your house that will be useful. Keep glass jars and bottles with lids. Save every seed that you can from fruits and vegetables you are eating. Keep seeds in small jewelry ziploc bags and label them. You can even lookup germination and harvest times for your area and write that information on each bag.
Another stroke of brilliance - instead of stocking up on toilet paper, buy paper napkins. I just bought a package of 150 napkins for $1! Granted, you won't be able to flush these, but I am thinking of a scenario where you won't have access to running water. A toilet will not be much help to you.
Be smart about the food you buy. You want these items to last for years. You can buy shortening or things like beef tallow to replace butter as it is shelf-stable. Really think about variety in flavor. You'll thank me later. Keep any rice in the freezer to keep bugs away if you can (or can or vacuum seal). Check dates on canned goods before buying them. Peanut butter has a long shelf life. Dried beans are a great investment. Think about supplies for breadmaking. There are TONS of posts on Pinterest (including for this site) on how to make all sorts of bread.
Look into foraging. This is such a valuable skill that no one can take away from you. Wildflowers and weeds will never run out. Explore wooded areas and even your own backyard for things that are both edible and medicinal. While you can, either download a foraging app on your phone or buy foraging books to help you identify plants and how they can be used. Let weeds pop up in an area on your property and see how you can implement them in your kitchen or medicine cabinet.
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