How To Do Food Storage on $50 a Month

This is a basic guide mainly to show that it is possible to make significant progress towards your family home storage goals on a minimal budget. The items listed are suggestions and should help to get you thinking of items that would make the most sense for your family. The three sources I use in this example are Costco, the LDS Canning Center and Emergency Essentials, but you will know better than I where to get the best deals locally. Most of the time, buying in bulk will get you the best price. Please note that I made this list two years ago for a class I was teaching, so these prices are not current. I feel it's still a good illustration of making a plan, and what you can do with a small amount, consistently over time.

**If you are starting from scratch on a limited budget, I highly recommend focusing on the basics: Wheat, Rice, Oats, Pasta & Other Grains. This basic food could keep you and your family alive if necessary. Once you have these basic staples, you can begin to have fun with all the other wonderful options out there!

Month #1:
50lbs. Blue Ribbon White Rice @ Costco, 2 @ $17.99 each $35.98
25lbs. Diamond Crystal Salt @ Costco, 1 @ $3.25 each $3.25
25lbs. All Purpose Flour @ Costco, 1 @ $6.99 each $6.99
Month #1 Total: $46.22

Month #2:
50lbs. Blue Ribbon White Rice @ Costco, 1 @ $17.99 each $17.99
25lbs. All Purpose Flour @ Costco, 1 @ $6.99 each $6.99
20lbs. Bulk Elbow Macaroni @ LDSCC, 1 @ $20.25 each $20.25
#10 can Quick Oats @ LDSCC, 2 @ $2.50 each $5.00
Month #2 Total: $50.23

Month #3:
50lbs. Blue Ribbon White Rice @ Costco, 1 @ $17.99 each $17.99
25lbs. All Purpose Flour @ Costco, 1 @ $6.99 each $6.99
6lbs. Busy Bee Honey @ Costco, 1 @ $13.99 each $13.99
#10 can Quick Oats @ LDSCC, 4 @ $2.50 each $10.00
Month #3 Total: $48.97

Month #4:
20lbs. Bulk Elbow Macaroni @ LDSCC, 2 @ $20.25 each $40.50
#10 can Dry Chopped Carrots @ LDSCC, 1 @ $8.30 each $8.30
Month #4 Total: $48.80

Month #5:
25lbs. Bulk Spaghetti @ LDSCC, 2 @ $23.85 each $47.70
Month #5 Total: $47.70

Month #6:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #6 Total: $51.50

Month #7:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #7 Total: $51.50

Month #8:
25lbs. Bulk Spaghetti @ LDSCC, 2 @ $23.85 each $47.70
Month #8 Total: $47.70

Month #9:
50lbs. Blue Ribbon White Rice @ Costco, 2 @ $17.99 each $35.98
25lbs. All Purpose Flour @ Costco, 1 @ $6.99 each $6.99
Month #9 Total: $46.22

Month #10:
20lbs. Bulk Elbow Macaroni @ LDSCC, 2 @ $20.25 each $40.50
#10 can Dry Chopped Carrots @ LDSCC, 1 @ $8.30 each $8.30
Month #10 Total: $48.80

Month #11:
25lbs. Bulk White Sugar@ LDSCC, 2 @ $21.15 each $42.30
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 1 @ $6.90 each $6.90
Month #11 Total: $49.20

Month #12:
20lbs. Bulk Elbow Macaroni @ LDSCC, 1 @ $20.25 each $20.25
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 1 @ $6.90 each $6.90
6lbs. Busy Bee Honey @ Costco 2 @ $13.99 each $27.98
Month #12 Total: $55.13

Month #13:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #13 Total: $51.50

Month #14:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #14 Total: $51.50

Month #15:
This month you invest in a basic wheat grinder!
Victorio Hand Grain Mill @ Emergency Essentials 1 @ $64.95 $64.95
Month #15 Total: $64.95

Month #16:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #16 Total: $51.50

Month #17:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #17 Total: $51.50

Month #18:
25lbs. Bulk White Sugar@ LDSCC, 2 @ $21.15 each $42.30
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 1 @ $6.90 each $6.90
Month #18 Total: $49.20

Month #19:
50lbs. Bulk Powdered Sugar @ Costco, 1 @ 34.25 each $34.25
23oz. Hershey’s Cocoa @ Costco, 3 @ $5.99 each $17.97
Month #19 Total: $52.22

Month #20:
25lbs. Bulk Black Beans @ LDSCC, 3 @ $16.80 each $50.40
Month #20 Total: $50.40

Month #21:
25lbs. Bulk Pinto Beans @ LDSCC, 2 @ $18.55 each $37.10
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 2 @ $6.90 each $13.80
Month #21 Total: $50.90

Month #22:
25lbs. Bulk White Beans @ LDSCC, 3 @ $16.00 each $48.00
Month #22 Total: $48.00

Month #23:
25lbs. Bulk Pinto Beans @ LDSCC, 2 @ $18.55 each $37.10
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 2 @ $6.90 each $13.80
Month #23 Total: $50.90

Month #24:
25lbs. Bulk Non-fat Dry Milk @ LDSCC, 1 @ $47.20 each $47.20
Month #24 Total: $47.20

Family of Four Recommended Monthly Basic Minimums:
100lbs. Wheat, Rice, Oats, Pasta & Other Grains
20lbs. Beans, Split Peas, Lentils & other Legumes

Take a look at what your family could have stored if you followed this plan for 24 months:

GRAINS
600lbs. Hard White Wheat – Storage life 30+ years
300lbs. White Rice – Storage life 30+ years
100lbs. All Purpose Flour – Storage life 10 years
100lbs. Spaghetti – Storage life 30 years
100lbs. Elbow Macaroni – Storage life 30 years
16lbs. Quick Oats – Storage life 30 years

LEGUMES
100lbs. Pinto Beans – Storage life 30 years
75lbs. Black Beans – Storage life 30 years
75lbs. White Beans – Storage life 30 years

DAIRY
25lbs. Non-fat Dry Milk – Storage life 30 years

SUGARS
100lbs. White Sugar – Storage life 30 years
50lbs. Powdered Sugar – Storage life 30 years
18lbs. Honey – Storage life 30 year

OTHER COOKING/BAKING
25lbs. Salt – Storage life 30 years
4.5lbs. Hershey’s Cocoa Powder
7 cans Chopped Onion – Storage life 30 years
2 cans Chopped Carrots – Storage life 25 years
6 cans Apple Slices – Storage life 30 years

Some Helpful Resources:
www.beprepared.com (Emergency Essentials)
www.augasonfarms.com (Food Storage with cheap shipping)
www.providentliving.org (LDS Temporal Preparedness website)