I've found the most economical way to store food is buying it in bulk from COSTCO and storing it in a dark, cool place like my basement. It's important to read the "BEST BY" date and get the furthest out you can.... but also realize that canned goods are still good way beyond those dates. Rice, beans, pasta, and other dried foods can last a long, long time. Canned meat for protein and calories, canned veggies for a balanced diet. Also lay in basic medical supplies.
AND WATER!! I cannot emphasize the need for water enough. COSTCO has 1 and 2 gallon bottles in thick, safe plastic bottles that will last a long time... last I checked they were about $1 per bottle.... heavy in bulk, but worth it. You will need water for cooking, drinking, staying hydrated, and hygiene... so pack in as much as you can. You can augment your water supply by buying clean 55-gal drums and catching rainwater, but be sure to treat it and/or boil it before use.
And need I even say "ammo"? Patriots here should have already stored up a good supply.
Favorite canned meats are corned beef, corned beef hash, dried beef, chicken, tuna, and salmon. Walnuts contain the highest weight-to-calorie ratio of all the nuts available in bulk. Refrigerate them in large sealed baggies to extend their longevity.
Don't forget simple things like a couple of can openers, in case your electricity goes out. A water filter for when you have to rely on rainwater or creek water.
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. Oh.... if you're on medications or even OTC things like eyedrops and mouthwash... load up on it, because store shelves will be empty if a panic ensues. Propane stoves and propane bottles will allow you to cook and boil water when other heat sources are not available.
EDIT: Most important of all will be your attitude. If you think you're going to fail, you probably will. Develop a thick skin (emotionally) and don't let panic or fear to cloud good judgement, prudence, and energy. Tell yourself that no one is coming to help, that your survival is all on you. Be prepared to defend yourself and your family, even up to using lethal force if necessary. We are entering uncharted territory in America, and a time is coming when good men will have to do bad things. Prepare your mind for that eventuality. Don't seek a fight, but don't shrink one either if you're surrounded and have no other option.
Excellent hi-effort post. I would add a few things. A 20-lb bag of flour, kept in airtight container, and a few cans of baking powder and a few packages of lard, will make a lot of food - biscuits, pancakes, etc. with very little cost.
Rice+beans is a complete protein. Stock up on both (talking dried beans) they last forever. But be sure to stock up on chili powder and cumin to add some flavor to them in addition to salt and pepper.. If you have meat to add when preparing, so much the better, but they are fine with just the rice+beans and spices. Also canned tomatoes help with this - sliced, diced, crushed, paste, it doesn't matter. When you're really hungry, this will taste great.
Have some big cans of cooking oil, esp if you plan on frying anything, but also for baking recipes etc. When Stalin starved the people to death, I read about a survivor who said they had no oil for cooking things in pans, and had to use dried weeds to separate the food from the hot dry skillet.
I have three chest freezers for vegetables I grow all summer and for meats I buy a lot of on sale. Also lots of butter. A full chest freezer will keep food frozen for several days - even a week - without power. And in winter you can put the food outside if the elec goes out for so long that the food begins to thaw.
The last item is really insane, but I have a couple 50-lb bags of dry feed corn. You have to cook it in water forever, and it doesn't have much flavor, but it is a last resort if you are literally starving to death and it's cheap. Doubt it has much nutritional value but like I said - if you are actually starving ...
PS: we don't have Costco around here, so I don't know about them, but Sam's Club has the best deals on rice. I no longer belong, but when I did you could get 50-lb bags for something around $10 IIRC. Sure it's a bit more now, but I haven't found a better price anywhere. Walmart has 20-lb bags for $9 here.
I've found the most economical way to store food is buying it in bulk from COSTCO and storing it in a dark, cool place like my basement. It's important to read the "BEST BY" date and get the furthest out you can.... but also realize that canned goods are still good way beyond those dates. Rice, beans, pasta, and other dried foods can last a long, long time. Canned meat for protein and calories, canned veggies for a balanced diet. Also lay in basic medical supplies.
AND WATER!! I cannot emphasize the need for water enough. COSTCO has 1 and 2 gallon bottles in thick, safe plastic bottles that will last a long time... last I checked they were about $1 per bottle.... heavy in bulk, but worth it. You will need water for cooking, drinking, staying hydrated, and hygiene... so pack in as much as you can. You can augment your water supply by buying clean 55-gal drums and catching rainwater, but be sure to treat it and/or boil it before use.
And need I even say "ammo"? Patriots here should have already stored up a good supply.
Favorite canned meats are corned beef, corned beef hash, dried beef, chicken, tuna, and salmon. Walnuts contain the highest weight-to-calorie ratio of all the nuts available in bulk. Refrigerate them in large sealed baggies to extend their longevity.
Don't forget simple things like a couple of can openers, in case your electricity goes out. A water filter for when you have to rely on rainwater or creek water.
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. Oh.... if you're on medications or even OTC things like eyedrops and mouthwash... load up on it, because store shelves will be empty if a panic ensues. Propane stoves and propane bottles will allow you to cook and boil water when other heat sources are not available.
EDIT: Most important of all will be your attitude. If you think you're going to fail, you probably will. Develop a thick skin (emotionally) and don't let panic or fear to cloud good judgement, prudence, and energy. Tell yourself that no one is coming to help, that your survival is all on you. Be prepared to defend yourself and your family, even up to using lethal force if necessary. We are entering uncharted territory in America, and a time is coming when good men will have to do bad things. Prepare your mind for that eventuality. Don't seek a fight, but don't shrink one either if you're surrounded and have no other option.
Excellent hi-effort post. I would add a few things. A 20-lb bag of flour, kept in airtight container, and a few cans of baking powder and a few packages of lard, will make a lot of food - biscuits, pancakes, etc. with very little cost. Rice+beans is a complete protein. Stock up on both (talking dried beans) they last forever. But be sure to stock up on chili powder and cumin to add some flavor to them in addition to salt and pepper.. If you have meat to add when preparing, so much the better, but they are fine with just the rice+beans and spices. Also canned tomatoes help with this - sliced, diced, crushed, paste, it doesn't matter. When you're really hungry, this will taste great. Have some big cans of cooking oil, esp if you plan on frying anything, but also for baking recipes etc. When Stalin starved the people to death, I read about a survivor who said they had no oil for cooking things in pans, and had to use dried weeds to separate the food from the hot dry skillet. I have three chest freezers for vegetables I grow all summer and for meats I buy a lot of on sale. Also lots of butter. A full chest freezer will keep food frozen for several days - even a week - without power. And in winter you can put the food outside if the elec goes out for so long that the food begins to thaw. The last item is really insane, but I have a couple 50-lb bags of dry feed corn. You have to cook it in water forever, and it doesn't have much flavor, but it is a last resort if you are literally starving to death and it's cheap. Doubt it has much nutritional value but like I said - if you are actually starving ... PS: we don't have Costco around here, so I don't know about them, but Sam's Club has the best deals on rice. I no longer belong, but when I did you could get 50-lb bags for something around $10 IIRC. Sure it's a bit more now, but I haven't found a better price anywhere. Walmart has 20-lb bags for $9 here.
You could turn that feed corn sweeter and tastier with the proper enzymes that turn starch to sugar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtnboJ3Kxeo