How to accumulate that mass of food, especially when the budget is tight.

A year’s supply of food isn’t easy to accumulate for most people. There are many different ways it can be done. I’ve read in many different articles that it’s actually better to start out with a smaller food storage, as doing this really is a learning curve. You will learn what to store without having to break your budget on things you may not eat.
· Start out with laying aside 1 month supply. This way it doesn’t see as
daunting as trying to amass a full year’s worth of supplies.
· Buy a month’s supply of rice and/or beans, shortening, tuna, flour and sugar
· Shop at discount food or bulk food stores
· Grow your own and can it for later use
· Set aside a certain percentage of your budget, if you can, specifically for
food storage.
· Buy when foods are on sale. Can fresh meats, fruits and vegetables for long
term storage.
· Look at the price per ounce. Sometimes food store chains lure folks into
traps by stating that their bulk items are less expensive per ounce than
their competitor’s small packages. It’s not always true. Don’t be lured into
a trap.
· Cut back on other items. ex. Cut back on your clothing allowance by 50%,
your recreational activities, going to a movie or taking a vacation at a
fancy resort. Mend the clothes you have, rent a movie or better yet, do
activities such as going on a picnic or fishing or going on a hike. Use that
money to buy food storage items.

A question was posed on a group that I belong to. What are foods that are “kid friendly” or need no cooking?
The following, based on your child’s preferences are a few examples of foods that kids seem to enjoy.
· Peanut butter and crackers or bread (Need no cooking)
· Jams, jellies, spreads (Need no cooking)
· Cheese (Need no cooking)
· Luncheon meats(Need no cooking)
· Canned or cooked pasta
· Canned meats such as tuna, chicken, (Need no cooking)
· Canned or fresh fruits if you have them in stock (need no cooking)
· Juices, fruit or vegetable (V-8 and Tang are wonderful and nutritious)