The air is turning cooler here in Utah, and it’s time to post this month’s list of items to stock up on for your food storage, 72-hour kits and emergency supplies. I am excited to tell you out-of-staters coming for General Conference that there ARE some case lot sales going on! So leave some space in your van for a few cases. Go to GrocerySmarts.com and enter the Utah state link to see prices ahead of time. Stores with case lot sales – Allens, Bowmans, Crisps, Lees, Wansgards. Maceys has Augason Farms Hard White or Red Wheat, 50 lb. bag on sale for $13.99! That’s .28 cents a pound! (Lower than LDS Home Storage.) Another store you might want to check out is Emergency Essentials for food storage and emergency supplies. Prices are cheaper in Utah than online.
This month’s focus is beans and potatoes. Perfect items to stock up on for the fall and winter. Even though you can make stew and chili from scratch, put aside some prepared cans too, just in case. Yesterday, our neighboring ward brought a trailer of potatoes from Idaho. I happened to drive up the street just in time to buy a 50 lb. bag of potatoes for $10! They will be in my fruit cellar all winter.
The October List (click for printable copy)
STEP 1: 3-Month FOOD STORAGE SUPPLY – Beans and Potatoes
(Suggested amounts are for 1 adult)
CL = case lot sale, WM = Super Walmart, LDS = available at LDS Home Storage centers
HM CL = Harmon’s case lot, SM CL= Smith’s case lot, Costco = CC, Sam’s Club = SC, Bowmans = BM
LT 30 YR= Long-Term shelf life if stored properly. Consider storing a year’s supply.
1. Decide on a monthly food storage budget
2. Choose a few items from the list that you want to focus on
3. Multiply list amounts by # of family members. Adjust amounts and items for younger children
4. Each week look at your grocery store ads for items on sale that match your goals
5. Carry your list with you, or put it on your cell phone notepad
FOOD ITEMS (suggested stores and prices in brackets)
(Food is about $25 per adult.)
Beans, black, kidney, white, refried, etc. 10×15 oz. cans [$5.80 BM]
Stew, 2×24 oz. cans[$4.25 WM or $5.00 BM]
Chili w/beans, 4×15 oz. cans [$3.52 BM or WM]
Potato Flakes carton 1×3.5 lbs. [$5.50 SC or $6.50 CC 1 Y shelf life]
or Potato Flakes 2 x #10 [$6.50 LDS 30 Y shelf life]
Potatoes, dehy. sliced 1 box [$1.00 WM]
Note: Dry Beans are listed in January, however you could purchase them now too.
NON-FOOD ITEMS (per family)
Trash bags
Storage bags
72-HOUR KIT (per person)
Whistle on neck cord
Light/glow stick (Halloween sale)
Blanket
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES (per family)
Batteries, various
Hatchet
Whet stone
Multi-function army knife
Fire escape ladder
Gas shutoff key
AUTO EMERGENCY KIT (per auto)
Whistle on neck cord
Duct tape
Blanket
STEP 2: DRINKING WATER
Store a 2-Week Supply of drinking water, which is about 14 gallons per person. If you’ve already started this, continue to add to your supply. For drinking, that is about 4×24 ct. cases of 16.9 oz. bottles per person. You may need more for hygiene and cooking which you can store in other containers. Always keep stocked up on water. You can’t live without it.
STEP 3: FINANCIAL RESERVE
Each week add some money to an emergency fund. Decide on a do-able amount and set up weekly transfers from checking to savings. Or put aside your loose change in a jar. Whichever way you choose to save, use it only for emergencies.
PREPAREDNESS GOALS
1. Brace large furniture and bookcases to wall
2. Strap water heater to wall
3. Test fire extinguisher