When planning a food storage we often ask ourselves, “Where do I get the money for food storage?” But maybe a better question to ask would be, “Can I afford not to have a food storage?” What would you do if there was an emergency? What if you couldn’t acquire food for several weeks, a few months, maybe even a year? How long would your food supply, for you and your family, last?
When we have a greater perspective of the importance of food storage it makes it easier to find the money we need. Being frugal and wise with our money are important steps in being able to afford a food storage.
Food Storage Money Tips
Here are some great tips and ideas to help us budget our finances and households as we build up our family’s food storage.
Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone gave seven suggestions on how to build up your food storage, three of them are:
- When you desire new clothes, don’t buy them. Repair and mend and make your present wardrobe last a few months longer. Use that money for the food basics.
- Cut the amount of money you spend on recreation by 50 percent. Do fun things that do not require money outlay but make more lasting impressions on your children.
- Watch advertised specials in the grocery stores and pick up extra supplies of those items that are of exceptional value
Frugal Food Storage
- Store any storable food that comes from an unexpected source. For example, if friends or family invite you to dinner or bring in a meal to you, store the canned or packaged food items you would have used for that meal.
- Set aside a small amount of money each week to buy staples such as pasta, baking ingredients, and paper products. You may be surprised at how quickly you can build up a supply of these staples for only a few dollars a week.
- Learn how to bottle, freeze, and dry fresh foods. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can preserve small amounts of fresh fruits or vegetables when they are on sale at the grocery store.
- Set goals for your food storage supply. Work toward a one-month supply, then a three-month supply, and so on. Be realistic.
Try new ideas until you find the ones that work for you. The important thing is to start now; don’t wait until you have more money, or you may never start. Next family home evening, go through your cupboards and set some of your food aside for your food storage. You can have a food storage program, even on a modest income.
Five Principles of Economic Constancy
To help us plan for a food storage we should follow the five principles of economic constancy, which are:
- Pay an honest tithe
- Live frugally
- Distinguish needs and wants
- Budget wisely, and
- Be honest
Building up your food storage is a process that takes time, but if you break it up into manageable goals you can do it!
By Rachel Bruner from lds.about.com