All of us have heard the complaints, "I can't afford to prep... it costs too much... I'm worried about losing my home and my car, how can I spend money on long term food storage."
Here's my answer. Most people are simply grasping for an excuse not to prepare. However, some of those who say this, may actually believe it. I contend that these same people buy frozen food, canned food, and packaged/prepared foods. If that is the case, then I have some good news for them.
I suggest that with the same food budget, they can eat better, healthier, and have food to put away. By buying DRY beans, rice, salt, sugar, and grains in bulk - they can save 50% - 70%. So maybe they can't buy a years supply of food in one fell swoop, but ANYONE can start this immediately, and gradually increase the degree.
For example:
Current low average cost per week, for family of four - $245.00 ($35 per day food budget)
With that same budget, they could buy 44 lbs of pancake mix, 110 oz of instant potatoes, 26 lbs of pinto beans, 12 lbs of quick oats, 27 lbs of rice, 55 lbs of wheat, and 20 lbs of flour. That's over a MONTHS worth of food, for the same cost! And that is packaged/partially prepared foods. The fact is that that in larger quantities, they can buy at an even lower cost. But, to prove my point. If they ONLY implemented this plan, within three months, they would have a year's supply of food on-hand, that will not spoil. With the savings, they can save up and when they have $500 cash (2 weeks) they can buy 1/2 a cow, and then have steaks, hamburgers, roasts, etc. in their freezer that will last them a year.
Two weeks after that, they can buy 1/2 a hog, giving them bacon, sausage, ham, pork chops, etc.
Two weeks later, they can buy 12 chickens, and all the material that they need to build a coop, fence, feed, etc, so that they can raise chickens.
If they are so inclined, they can then rake up the chicken droppings, straw, and mix with egg shell, grass trimmings, and food scraps to begin making their own compost/worm bed. In the spring, they can use this as the foundation for a garden to grow their own squash, mellon, herbs, lettuce, cabbage, bean, and tomatoes - which can all be canned, frozen, or put into a root cellar to last throughout the entire year! Not that they have significantly reduced their food costs, they can also budget for some fruit trees, and berry plants - which will yield fruit every year.
It IS that simple. The point is, anyone who really wants to get long term food storage only has to begin eating that food today, and they will find that their dollar will go MUCH further. It is a small price to pay, for the security that they will gain.
I urge them to begin this as soon as possible, as food costs are continuing to rise. What costs a dollar today, may cost $1.50 next year. Buying dry food in advance, is the best investment one can make. Food will never be cheaper than it is today. Use this plan as a long term plan. Once you have six months of food on hand, gradually begin buying seeds and preparing your compost system. Imaging the independence one would feel if they were growing 70% of their own food. Non-GMO, organically grown food! This means that not only are they saving money, but they are eating BETTER, and may even be getting healthier and stronger as a result.
So the next time you hear that complaint that someone can't afford to prep, send them to this post, or print it out and give it to them. And this Christmas, give the gift of LIFE. For $22.00, you can go to any LDS Family Home Storage Center and buy 4 lbs Pancake, 28 oz of Potato Pearls, 5.2 lb of Pinto beans, 2.4 lbs of Oats, 11 lbs of wheat, 5.4 lbs of rice, and 4 lbs of flour. For a few dollars more, you can buy them the book, "Cookin' With Home Storage", from Amazon. I just saw a used copy there for $4.83.
Now go out and create 100 new preppers!
