Pantry and Fuel Preps
Pereping your pantry full of foods your family likes to eat is a great start for anyone wanting to become more prepared. However, it's really important that you stock up on ways to cook and heat the food in your pantry. Here are a few suggestions to buy for your preps on this paycheck.
Food Preps
White rice in bulk quantities
Beans in bulk quantities
Wheat in bulk quantities
Oats in bulk quantities
Sugar in bulk quantities
Salt in bulk quantities
Bouillon granules in bulk quantities
Powdered milk in bulk quantities
2-gallons of cooking oil
You can buy a lot of these items at Costco, Sams club or Winco Foods. I recommend Winco as they seal everything you need for food storage including the food grade buckets and mylar bags. You can see a list of their bulk food items on their website.
Fuel Preps
Seasoned fire wood (ample supply)
Fuel of choice to run generators, appliances, provide electricity for 1-3 month duration (if legally allowed to do so)
Fuel for cooking (ample supply): This can be camp stoves, propane, wood, fuel pucks etc.
Propane (you should set a goal to have a few tanks on hand)
Long burning jarred candles (You can never have to many …maybe add a few candles to your Amazon Subscribe and save)
Extra wicks for candles (can be purchased on Amazon or Ebay)
Matches (Normal strike anywhere and Water Proof)
Always go back through your supplies and make sure you have extras of everything. Remember the old prepper saying that “Two is one and one is none…”
If you have only one way to filter water, one way to stay dry or only one type of fuel you are setting yourself up for failure. If you have a few extra bucks add a few redundancies to your preps every paycheck.
Prepper Projects:
Food Calculator: Calculate the amount of food your family will need for a month long disaster.
Food Storage: With the food storage items purchased on your last paycheck, begin assembling Mylar bags and storage containers and pour food contents in and seal for long-term storage. Have a print out on hand on the directions for packing food long term to ensure that you are storing food correctly. Don’t forget oxygen absorbers!!!
Ensure that food lids are sealed correctly!!!
Store sealed food containers in a cool, dark, and dry area of the home.
As a reminder, remember not to forget your pets in your long-term food storage plans and ensure that you have packed enough food away for your pets. Dog and cat food can also be stored in food grade plastic containers for long-term use. You can buy bulk at WINCO!!
Read about the different types of fuel and decide which fuel choice(s) are best for your family.
Find an appropriate area outside of the home where the fuel can be stored.
Ensure that you rotate your fuel regularly and check to make sure there are no signs on leaking.
Prepper's Pro Tip:
Need an excuse to dig or purchase a fire pit? Well your families back yard fire pit can become a great place to grill or cook in an off grid situation. Practice cooking on open flame as it's an art form and a little different than your BBQ. This is a great way to spend some time out doors with your family.
****Just remember if you’re in a truly off grid situation you may want to be careful cooking outside, as the smells can attract those that are hungry and unprepared. I bet a steak would smell great to someone that is starving!