No matter if you are just learning Couponing for beginners or if you don’t coupon at all, everyone should know how to create their own emergency stockpile.
Creating a coupon stockpile is a basic skill all couponers learn. The way you save the most money couponing is by stocking up when prices are the lowest.
But what about when emergency situations occur? Whether it be natural disasters like hurricanes and snow storms, health issues like seasonal flu or the coronavirus or even times like loss of income it is important to know how and when to stockup for emergencies.
When to Create an Emergency Stockpile?
Creating an emergency stockpile isn’t just for “preppers”. And it doesn’t have to be done with hysteria either.
It would be best if you always have an emergency stockpile on hand. This is, of course, because we don’t ALWAYS know when an emergency will happen. Also, being prepared beforehand let’s you create your stockpile cheaper because you can do so while shopping sales and couponing.
If you aren’t sure, here’s how to start couponing.
Also, if you wait until an emergency is upon you, sometimes shelves are already cleared out!
However, if you aren’t able to have one on hand at all times, you should be ready to create one when necessary. This means any time you are likely to be without power, have limited travel options, limitations on the general supply of items or if you may be ill for an extended period of time.
How to Create an Emergency Stockpile
Creating an emergency stockpile is like creating your normal couponing stockpile in general. You will want to assess what items you will most need.
In addition to identifying what items you most need, you will also want to know how quickly you use items. As well as identifying how long you may be needing to live on your stockpile. For example, if a tube of toothpaste lasts you 6 weeks you probably don’t need 10 of them in your emergency stockpile.
From this information, you can then work out how many of each of your necessary items you will need to get you through your time of emergency. It is important to make a list of spreadsheet to track this information so that you can be as accurate as possible. You don’t want to leave out important necessities!
Important Items to Include
Everyone will have their own individual necessities, but there are some general items that everyone should think about.
Health Supplies
Medications, both prescription and over the counter. So, things like daily prescription meds – try to get a 3 month refill instead of a month. Over the counter meds like pain relievers and cold and flu relief.
Any vitamins and supplements you normally use.
Also make sure you have a stocked and non-expired first aid kit.
If you are stocking up for health related emergencies you may also want to have things like Gatorade or other electrolyte sources on hand.
Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies
Toothpaste
Hand soap
Body Wash
Shampoo and Conditioner
Feminine hygiene items
Laundry detergent
Dish Soap
General purpose cleaners like bleach, hand sanitizer, lysol wipes.
Food and Water
Depending on the type of emergency, this will dictate what types of food items you need to stock up on.
If you are looking at a natural disaster situation, you should focus on non-perishables and water. So things like:
Canned goods
Flour, wheat, and other shelf stable cooking supplies
Rice and Pasta
Gallons of Water
Peanut Butter or regular nuts
If you are looking at situations where you may be isolated due to health issues or loss of income (so you will still have power), you can look at non-perishables as well as perishables.
So, all the same things as for natural disasters, but also include:
Frozen items – protein sources like meat, veggies, fruits.
You likely don’t need bottled water for these situations if you still have power.
Additional Items
If you are likely to lose power, make sure to have backup power sources:
Candles
Batteries
Solar Chargers
Manual Can Opener
If you have young kids, make sure to have supplies for them:
Diapers
Wipes
Formula
Food and Supplies for your animals such as:
Dog and Cat food
Hay for goats, cows, horses
Chicken Feed
Medical supplies like dewormers and antibiotics
How Being Self-Sufficient Can Help
Being self-sufficient can really help for emergency situations. If you have backyard chickens then you get your own eggs without having to go to the store. If you raise dual purpose chickens then you have egg and meat potential without relying on the store or supply chain.
If you are raising dairy goat breeds then you will have your own milk as long as you know how to milk a goat.
If you are a gardener, then you should have a surplus of fruits and vegetables. Assuming a disaster such as a hurricane doesn’t wreck your garden. Just make sure you know how to preserve your food.
You can freeze most anything and stock it up for later such as:
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