Since most of the things you are storing will eventually go bad in some way– you need to use your supplies in your daily life and then periodically replenish them with fresh stock. You should have very few things in your supplies that you don’t already use in your daily life. Choose to stock things that you use and you will be way ahead of the game.
If you don’t eat rice, then don’t plan to survive on rice in an emergency and stock something else that you will eat (pasta, beans, flour, instant potatoes, wheat, etc.) Some survival supplies are freeze-dried and then canned and these will last for twenty or more years. These are also very expensive compared to “normal” food. There is a purpose for long shelf-life these items but stocking your 30 day survival pantry is NOT the proper use.
So, your 30 day supply should consist of things you use already, And you should use the items from your stock making sure to use the oldest items first and replenish with new items periodically, If course you might use some of these items much less frequently than you would in a survival situation and it might take you a year in your regular life to use up your whole thirty day supply. THis is fine– the key is that when disaster strikes you need to have 30 days worth of supplies that haven’t gone bad and become useless to you.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
This makes sense and really only involves a change in thinking and habits. People who adopt this will be better off in an emergency.
Steve Chambers
Business to Business Sales Training Expert
More good practical advice. This is a topic of the utmost importance.
Rob,
Your “Bugging In Blog” started me to think more about survival, I love this stuff.
Lynn Lane
http://www.Warriorofsuccess.com
I use to stoch more when the kids were groing up. Now I stock the bare minimum. I think I would be in trouble if an emergency arose. Especially for 30 days worth.
Vicki http://www.bridalthreadshq.com
There isn’t much I use that I could stock. I don’t like canned vegetables or dried anything. This will be tough. I like frozen things but I’m guessing in an emergency situation the freezer wouldn’t be working!
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitters and Nannies
I found an 18 year old bar of Kendal Mint Cake the other day, and ate a piece – just out of curiosity. It was OK – and I’m still alive!
[Kendal Mint Cake is a UK delicacy (not!) - basically a solid mint flavoured refined sugar bar!]
http://www.martin-wright.com
Great advice. I didn’t know freeze dried for could last 20 years.
Jose Escalante
http://www.JoseEscalante.com
I think I need to rotate some of the regular food in my kitchen cupboards…
Greg Dougall, Intellectual Property Pioneer
Good advice. I wouldn’t have thought of this without your post.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
The concept has brought a whole new thought process for me.
Robert Martin
http://www.carbuyinghq.com
Great post!
This is good support for what I am already doing.
Buying in bulk can be cheaper.
Not always how much you make, but how much you spend.
James
BusinessAndMarketingMakeover.com/blog
Hi Rob,
great points about emergency survivalism both for the short term and long term.
When you have the chance to address it, if possible, thoughts and ideas for apartment dwellers? (Short of moving, lol!)
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
Wise point! I used to stock canned meals – spaghetti, that stuff, but it would really have to be a disaster for me to eat like that so . . . what to do?
How do you plan for veggies? Everything in my house is perishable (10 days or less).
What do you recommend?
Healthy Living, Katie
Hi Rob, Thanks for the post. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for the budget concious among us? I know the Mormon church teaches stuff about food preservation, and being a church I imagine it is as cheap as possible.
Yeah, what do you do if you are dependent on fresh veggies? I’d be foraging for berries every day!
Pushing companies from good to great, Kate
Disagree a bit. Eating the same food lulls you into a complacent mindset.
Eating rice & beans is alarm bell you are not in Kansas any more.
Stock stuff you can trade as well.
Never put it all in one place neither! Rule of Three’s (again!!!)