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Affordable Tips for Building a Surplus of Food and Other Essential Items

9/8/2022

13 Comments

 
September is National Preparedness Month. With winter on the horizon and the status of the economy uncertain, it's a good idea to plan ahead. Creating a surplus of essential supplies is an important way to prepare for the unexpected. Having food and other needed items available can help ease you through any number of undesirable circumstances to include natural disasters, severe weather events, power outages, supply chain issues, or personal tragedies such as the loss of a job or an unexpected illness or injury. 

Building a surplus doesn't have to cost a lot of money. With careful planning and an organized approach, it's possible to stick to a budget while stocking up on needed items. The following tips have worked well for my family, and I hope you will find them useful as well. 
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Start with a Plan


Building a surplus starts with picking a time frame. At the minimum, it's important to have a 72-hour supply of food, water, medication, and other essentials in the event of a natural disaster, power outage, or severe weather event. Beyond that, I recommend starting small and building. over time 

Once you have a 72-hour reserve of necessities, focus on building a two-week supply. From there you might strive for one month, then three-months, then six-months or more. Your ultimate end goal will depend on your personal budget, needs, desires and available space. Whatever your end goal, having one in mind when you start will help provide a framework for an organized approach to building your surplus. 

To determine how much of a specific item you need in order to have a 1-month, 3-month, or 6-month supply, write the date on items when you open them. Use this information to figure out how long the item lasts in your household and then to estimate how many you will need to achieve your goal supply.

How Much is Too Much? 


The danger of building a surplus is buying more than you can actually use before the items expire. There are several factors to keep in mind when determining how much of a surplus you need. These include:
  • An assessment of your storage space - How much space do you have and how appropriate is it for storing food? Avoid storing food and other temperature sensitive items in garages, attics and other areas of your home where the temperature fluctuates throughout the year. 
  • An assessment of your habits and abilities - Do you tend to eat packaged, prepared foods or do you typically cook from scratch? 
  • An assessment of your life plan - When we were an active-duty military family, we stored about 3-months of food and then started using it up 3-6 months before our move. Now that we are settled, we can afford to have as much as a year's supply of certain items. 

Organize Your Existing Storage


Another important step in building a surplus is organizing your existing supply. Take some time to look through your pantry and other food storage spaces. Identify what you have on hand. Get rid of anything that is outdated or that you know you won't use and organize what's left. 

When organizing non-perishable food items, I recommend storing like items together so that it is easy to see how many of the same type of item you have on hand. Store the oldest items (those that will expire first) at the front to be used first and avoid unnecessary waste. 

Other Essentials


In addition to food, it's a good idea to stock up on other items you use regularly. This can include prescription and over-the-counter medications, toiletries and other personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, paper products, and other consumable items. 

Use One, Buy Two


You will be amazed how quickly, easily, and painlessly (budgetarily speaking) you can build a surplus by buying two replacement items for every one item you use. Use up a bottle of ketchup, buy two. Use up a bottle of shampoo, buy two. Use up a can of tuna, buy two. You get the idea. My husband and I began implementing this practice as newlywed college students, and we were impressed and pleased at how easy (and affordable) it was to stock our cupboards using this simple method. 

Shop Sales


This may seem like a no-brainer, but it takes effort and planning to get the best prices for the items you need. It means looking at weekly fliers (either on paper or electronically) and planning accordingly. 

You can decrease the amount you spend on building a surplus significantly by waiting for items to go on sale and stocking up on the brands and products you use when the price is right. 

Shop Seasonal


You probably know that certain items are on sale at certain times of the year. What you may not be aware of is the specifics of the annual cycle with regard to which items are on sale each month of the year. Knowing this can help you to plan ahead and stock up on specific items when they are at their lowest price of the year. 

Utilize Coupons, Rebates, and Savings Apps

These days saving on groceries and other essentials is easier than ever with the myriad of savings apps and rebate programs available. By spending a few minutes before and after you shop to see what special deals are available and then to scan your receipts can increase your savings significantly with coupons and rebates. 

Buy in Bulk


Often the larger the quantity, the lower the cost per unit. Admittedly, this is not always the case, but it is certainly the case much of the time and sometimes the savings are significant. Now that we are empty-nesters I sometimes choose to buy the smaller version of a product because the larger version won't get used before it spoils, but I've also discovered that in many cases larger quantities can be divided into smaller portions, thus preserving both the savings and the food item. Vacuum sealers are a great way to divide and preserve larger portions. 

Build in a System for Saving


Each month we take any leftover money in our food budget and roll it over into another budget category that we call Grocery Surplus. We then use this money to add to our surplus of food and other essential items. This is also where my grocery rebate money is stashed. After saving in this manner for a few months, I recently had enough money set aside to buy a supply of freeze-dried foods for long-term storage. On another occasion, I spent my savings on 5-gallon water storage containers. Other times I've used the money to stock my freezer.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. This just means that there are product suggestions included within the text. Should you click on one of the links and decide to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I only suggest products I love and have experience with that are directly related to the content in this post. You can view my Disclosure Statement for more information. Thank you for your support! ​

Where to Begin


It is not necessary or desirable to store a surplus of every item on your shopping list. With regard to food, I recommend that you begin by building a surplus of staple items that form the basis for much of your family's diet - things like flour, rice, oats, salt, sugar, vegetables and fruits (canned, frozen, or freeze-dried), meats (canned, frozen, or freeze-dried), etc. Next, focus on items your family uses regularly and/or in large quantities. 

Even if you have no interest in establishing long-term food storage, I recommend having at least one #10 can of powdered milk and powdered eggs because these will allow you to do a lot more with the food you have on hand in a situation where stores are closed, or perishable foods are difficult to obtain. I have tried a variety of freeze-dried foods, and the one thing I do not recommend is freeze-dried shredded cheese. It just doesn't reconstitute in a palatable fashion (in my opinion). 
Building a surplus of groceries and other essential items brings peace of mind both in emergencies and on a daily basis. Apply these tips to gradually and affordably increase your stockpile. ​
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13 Comments
Janet Barclay link
9/12/2022 08:57:14 am

It's not unrealistic that the power will go off here and if it does, not only can we not cook but we can't go down the elevator (walking down is an option, but walking back up is quite an ordeal) nor get our car out of the underground parking, so having a few days' worth of food on hand that we can eat without electricity would be a very good place to start.

Reply
Sheri Steed link
9/12/2022 03:07:20 pm

I agree! It's funny how we don't really think about how much things like electricity and running water impact our lives...until we are without. Then we suddenly find ourselves constantly flipping switches and turning on faucets with no result. When such a situation occurs, everyone rushes to the store. It's nice to be able to avoid the crowds and hunker down, knowing that you have what you need on hand.

Reply
Linda Samuels link
9/12/2022 04:32:17 pm

We could definitely do better with some stockpiling of food. I tend to keep some extras, but don't overbuy. In the past when I have to "prepare" for an emergency, I ended up with too much excess and food expired before it was used. I'm sure there is a way to figure out a healthy balance between being prepared and not overdoing it. Your suggestions are excellent.

Reply
Sheri Steed link
9/12/2022 06:10:26 pm

There is definitely a fine balance between buying what is needed and overbuying. One trick I like to use is writing the date on an item when I open it so that I can see how long it takes me to use it up. Then I can use this information to estimate how many of the item would be needed for a specific period of time.

Reply
Julie Bestry link
9/14/2022 01:46:00 am

At the beginning of the pandemic, I tried to lay in a stockpile of food so that I would not have to visit the grocery store for a long time. It was an unmitigated disaster. I never cook frozen foods, generally buying fresh ready-to-eat foods or ingredients because I'm not much for cooking. (I dump things into a bowl well enough to make salad, and I make a mean PB&J.) Nonetheless, this is stellar advice for anyone trying to prepare for an emergency...as long as they don't have the palate and cooking skills of 5yo! We apartment-dwelling singletons will never survive!

Reply
Sheri Steed link
9/14/2022 07:08:33 am

That is an excellent example. I think a lot of us felt that way during the early days of the pandemic and made similar efforts. Your story underscores the importance of evaluating your own lifestyle, habits, abilities, and tastes before making purchases. It doesn’t do a person any good to have a house full of food they won’t eat or don’t know how to prepare. Surpluses should be focused on your everyday staples - the things you personally eat regularly (and enjoy). An emergency is a bad time to experiment. 🤣 Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Julie Stobbe link
9/14/2022 04:45:26 am

This is very interesting reading. I have never intentionally planned for a disaster except for putting away a couple of days of water for drinking and cooking and filling the bathtub with water for flushing toilets and non-drinking needs. I would guess I have a week or two of food and supplies in my house at all times. Thanks for this thought provoking article.

Reply
Sheri Steed link
9/14/2022 07:16:33 am

Thanks Julie. I think most people don’t think about what they will need in a disaster (or even an inconvenience such as supply chain issues) until it is upon them, and that is obviously problematic. I think of the toilet paper shortage during the lockdown or the recent baby formula shortage. It can really be stressful not to be able to get something you or your family need. You don’t have to be an ene-of-days prepper to have a surplus, but it’s wise to be prepared for emergencies. I recommend starting small and focusing on your own needs and circumstances. Taking an organized approach is really helpful as well.

Reply
Seana Turner link
9/15/2022 08:30:37 am

Years ago I read a book with my elementary-aged daughter about the moon having shifted and the ensuing damage to the earth. Part of this book was the mother having the foresight to go to the grocery store as soon she heard and stock up on food. I was so impressed that I bought shelving for a basement closet and did the same. I really stocked up! Eventually we ate it down, but it was an interesting experiment. When COVID hit I was wishing I had that stash of food again!

Reply
Sheri Steed link
9/15/2022 09:03:36 am

I read that same book with my son when he was in middle school! While that is not what inspired me to store a surplus, I agree that it was insightful with regard to how to respond in an emergency. If I remember correctly, the grocery store in the story was total chaos, as you would expect. It's nice to be prepared in advance, but what I'm hearing from everyone is that knowing how much to buy is a challenge. Even if you only have one extra of the non-perishable things you use regularly on hand, it will make a big difference in an emergency or family crisis.

Reply
Nicolas Clark link
10/24/2022 09:52:28 pm

Though sure guess Mr save. Admit message within wonder poor door focus pretty.

Reply
Kitchen Cupboard Doors Online link
1/6/2025 08:46:00 am

This blog offers practical and budget-friendly tips for building a surplus of food and essentials—perfect for staying organized and prepared. Having well-planned storage solutions, like modern Kitchen Cupboard Doors Online, ensures your pantry stays neat and accessible. A great read for anyone looking to declutter and create a functional home space!

Reply
Wall Display Cabinets link
1/7/2025 04:26:11 am

This article provides practical and affordable tips for building a surplus of essential items, which is incredibly helpful for staying prepared. The focus on budget-friendly strategies makes it accessible to everyone. Additionally, organizing surplus items efficiently can be enhanced with Wall Display Cabinets, ensuring easy access and a neat appearance. It's inspiring to see such useful advice that encourages preparation without overspending. A well-organized home is a more secure home!

Reply



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