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Saturday, January 15, 2011

NOT having food storage is expensive

That title is not a typo.
This post will dissolve the myth that food storage is too expensive, so for those of you using that as an excuse: read on, if you dare.

Not Having Food Storage is Expensive

Food storage should be considered an investment, not a financial burden.  No matter what situation you find yourself in; be it a natural disaster, financial distress, or everyday life, one thing remains the same:
you have to have food to survive.

We all have to buy it.  Some just choose to pay much more than others.

Having a surplus of food in your home not only gives you peace of mind, but it saves you time, effort, and money.  For example:

Ever been in the middle of making dinner and realize you are missing just one thing?  Food storage can save you from making an unexpected trip to the store (and from continually borrowing from your neighbor).

Cooking from food storage (or from scratch) ALWAYS saves me at least 50% of what that item would cost if I were to buy it premade.  Not to mention the health benefits that accompany home-made cooking.

The more you go shopping, the more money you spend.  Every trip to the store to pick up "a few items" often results in unnecessary purchases.
Every time you need an item that you don't have at home, you are forced to pay full price when you could have purchased it on sale.  Every single item in the grocery store goes on sale at least 3-4 times per year.  Timing will vary depending on the season, the store, it's location and the item.  If you don’t know if what you’re paying is a good deal or not, it’s time to start paying attention. 

So… how do you maximize your dollar?

(And no, I am not going to tell you to clip coupons).
I am going to tell you to start building a “good buy for groceries” list. 

Having a list like this allows you to save money on all of your groceries; the catch is to buy enough to last you until the item(s) go on sale again.

The lists below have a dollar amount associated with each item.  This is what I PREFER TO NEVER PAY MORE THAN.  Often times I can find it for less than what is listed.  Rarely I will run out of an item and have to pay more.

If the item isn’t on my list (or the price isn’t included), I don’t buy it often enough to care if I am paying an extra dollar or two.
This is also a great place to document which brands you like, and those that you never want to buy again, as well as any notes that you might have.
 
CANNED / BOTTLED GOODS
Item
Price
Amount 
Brand
Location
Beans
Black
$0.50
14-15oz can
any
any
Chili con carne
$0.90
" "
Nalley
any
Garbanzo
$0.50
" "
not GV
any
Great Northern
$0.50
" "
any
any
Kidney
$0.50
" "
any
any
Pinto
$0.50
" "
any
any
Refried
$0.88
" "
Taco Bell
Macey's, Walmart






Fruit
Fruit Cocktail
$0.80
15oz can
any
any
Mandarin Oranges
$0.33
11oz can
any
any
Pineapple
$0.66
8oz can
Dole, GV
Walmart
Pineapple
$0.88
large can
any
any






Meat
Tuna Fish
$0.25
-
Chicken of Sea
Winco / Coupon






Soups & Broths
Beef Consume
$1.00
10.5 oz. can
Cam.
Macey's, Walmart
Broth, Beef
$0.50
14 oz. can
any
any
Broth, Chicken
$0.50
14 oz. can
any
any
Chicken Noodle
$0.50
10.5 oz. can
Cam.
Macey's
Cream of Chicken
$0.50
10.5 oz. can
WF, Cam.
Macey's
Cream of Mushroom
$0.50
10.5 oz. can
WF, Cam.
Macey's
Tomato Soup
$0.50
10.5 oz. can
WF, Cam.
Macey's






Tomato
Tomatoes, any
$0.50
14-15oz Can
any
any
Tomato Sauce
$0.24
8oz can
any
any
Tomato Paste
$0.40
6 oz. can
any
any
Spaghetti Sauce
$4.25
4 lbs. 3 oz.
Prego
Walmart, Winco





Vegetable
Corn 
$0.50
14-15oz Can
Name Brand
any
Corn, Creamed
$0.28
14-15oz Can
Green Giant
Winco  / coupon
Green Beans
$0.50
14-15oz Can
Name Brand
any
Roasted Red Peppers
$3.50
16oz
Mezzetta
any






Other
Evaporated Milk
$0.69
12 fl. oz can
any
any
Green Chilies
$0.50
4oz
any
any
Olives
$0.88
DR WT 6oz
any
Macey's

BASICS and PACKAGED FOODS
Item
Price
Amount
Brand
Location
Baking
Baking Powder
-
-
any
Walmart
Baking Soda
-
-
any
Walmart
Candy Chips
$1.50
bag
Name Brand
any
Chocolate Chips
$1.50
bag
Name Brand
any
Chocolate Chips
$1.00
bag
WF, Generic
any
Cocoa powder
$2.50
8 oz.
Hershey's
Walmart, Winco
Coconut
$1.00
14oz. bag
any
any
Cornstarch
-
-
any
Walmart, Winco
Flour
Flour, Lehi Roller Mills
$6.00
25 lbs.
Turkey
Costco
Salt
Salt, Kosher
$1.50
3 lbs. box
Morton
Walmart, Winco
Salt, Table
$0.33
tube
any
Walmart, Winco
Sugar
Sugar, brown
$1.00
2 lbs. bag
any
any
Sugar, granulated
$1.00
pound
any
any
Sugar, powdered
$1.00
2 lbs. bag
any
any
Yeast, Instant
$2.50
pound
Saf-Instant
Macey's






Fats/Oils
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
$17.00
1 gallon-metal
1st pressed
Parley's Hardware
Vegetable Oil

1 gallon
any
Macey's
Sesame Oil


Macey's
Macey's
Canola Oil


any
any
Lecithin, Liquid
-
-
-
Bosch, Macey's






Drinks
Apple Juice
$1.00
64 fl. Oz.
Langars
Smiths, Macey's
Orange Juice, frozen
$1.00
small can
Name Brand
any
Water Bottles
$2.00
24 pack
any
any






Other
Dried Herbs/Spices
-
-
bulk section
Winco
Honey 
$2.00
pound
Clover
Macey's - 10 lbs.
Honey, raw local
$2.00
pound
Alfalfa
UV Produce
Nuts and Seeds
-
-
bulk section
Winco






Packaged
Cereal
$2.00
box
Name Brands
any
"  "
$1.00
box
Generic Brands
any
Crackers
$2.00
box
Name Brands
any
"  "
$1.00
box
Generic Brands
any
Stuffing
$1.00
box
Stove Top
any
Cake Mix
$0.70
box
Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines
any
Chips
$2.00
bag
Name Brands
any
"  "
$1.00
bag
Generic Brands
any






Pasta
Pasta
$1.00
box
Barilla
Walmart, Smiths
Mac and Cheese
$0.50
box
Kraft
any
Raman
$0.10
each
-
any






Other
Salad Dressings
$1.50
reg size
Name Brands
any
Salad Dressings
$1.00
reg size
Generic Brands
any
Peanut Butter


Jif, Skippy
any
 
MEATS AND DAIRY
Item
Price
Amount
Brand
Location
Cheese
Bagged Shredded, any
$1.50
8oz. Bag
any
Macey's, Smiths
Colbyjack
$2.99
2 lbs.
any
any
Cottage Cheese
$1.00
16 oz.
any
any
Cream Cheese
$1.00
8 oz.
any
any
Medium Cheddar, brick
$3.99
2 lbs.
any
Macey's, Smiths
Mozzarella, brick
$3.99
2 lbs.
any
Macey's, Smiths
Parmesan
$3.50
8oz. Can
any
any
Parmesan, green
$4.00
pound
Kraft
any
Pepperjack
$3.99
2 lbs.
any
Macey's, Smiths
Ricotta
$2.00
15 oz.
Precious
any






Dairy
Butter
$2.50
box
any
any
Eggs
$0.99
dozen
any
any
Margarine
$0.69
box
Imperial
Macey's
Sour Cream
$0.88
16 oz.
any
any
Yogurt
$0.50
each
Yoplait
any






Meat
Chicken Breasts, B., S.
$1.69
pound
-
Macey's
Bacon, Turkey
$2.00
pound
Butterball
Winco, Macey's
Beef Roast, any
$1.99
pound
-
Macey's, Smith's
Chicken Drumsticks
$1.00
pound
-
Macey's, Smith's
Chicken Thighs, B., S.
$1.75
pound
-
Macey's, Smith's
Chicken Thighs, B.I.
$1.00
pound
-
Macey's, Smith's
Ground Beef, 85%+
$1.75
pound
-
Macey's
Ground Beef, 90%+
$1.99
pound
-
Macey's
Ground Chicken
$1.99
pound
-
Macey's, Smith's
Ground Turkey
$1.99
pound
-
Macey's, Walmart
London Broil
$1.88
pound
-
Macey's
Pork Chops, any
$1.69
pound
-
Macey's, Smith's
Pork Loin
$1.99
pound
-
Macey's, Smith's
Pork Roast
$1.99
pound
-
Macey's, Smith's
Sausage, Breakfast
$1.60
pound
-
Macey's

FOOD STORAGE ITEMS
Item
Price
Amount
Location
Notes:
#10 Cans
Apple Delight Drink Mix
$6.00
-
Macey's
Not the best, but kids like it - last priority
Apple Slices
-
-
Macey's
1 can = 1 year
Banana Chips
$7.00
-
Macey's
1 can = 1 year
Bell Peppers
$12.00
?
Macey's
1 can = 1 year
Butter Powder
?
-
Macey's
wish list
Buttermilk Powder
$9.00
-
Ridley's
wish list
Chocolate Milk Powder
$10.00

Macey's
Country Cream=Best Brand for Quantity/Taste
Egg Mix, Dried Product
$15.00

Macey's

Honey Powder
$9.00
7 cups
Macey's
Love for Baking!
Onions
?

Macey's
1 can = 1 year
Potato Gems
$10.00

Macey's
get 2 / 1 water to potato gem ratio
Potato Pearls
$6.00

Cannery
Still Available?
Potato Slices
$7.50
-
Maceys,Ridleys
purchased, haven't tried yet
Powdered Milk
$10.00

Macey's
Country Cream=Best Brand for Quantity/Taste
Sour Cream powder
-
-
Macey's
wish list
Whip Cream Powder
$5.00

Macey's
purchased, haven't tried yet






Bulk
Almonds, any
$3.60
pound
Winco
Bulk Section
Barley, Pearl
$13.00
25 lbs.
Mail Order

Oats, any
$19.00
50 lbs.
Macey's

Popcorn


Mail Order

Quinoa


Winco, Costco

Rice, Arborio


Winco

Rice, Brown - Long


Macey's

Rice, White


any

Salt
$3.00
25 lbs.
Costco

Spices
varies
pound
Winco
Almost always cheaper in Winco's bulk section
Wheat, any
$19.00
50 lbs.
Macey's







Poly Buckets
Poly Bucket, Empty
$2.50
-
Macey's

Wheat, any
$13.00
-
Macey's

Oats, any
$13.00
-
Macey's


As you can see not all of my items are filled in, so this is a continually updated list.
Personally, I have this printed out and included in my food storage binder, so it is always accessible.

There are also a lot of resources available that can help you stretch your buck in terms of food storage.  Here are some of my personal favorites:

Bountiful Baskets: is a local food co-op.  Every week you can purchase a 'basket' of fruits and vegetables (among other things) for a very discounted price.  Baskets are then distributed the following Saturday at the location you chose.  It is completely run off of volunteers, so occasional participation is expected, which includes unloading food from the truck and helping to distribute.  A basket costs $16.50 (with tax) and is 50% fruit and 50% vegetables (and contains a lot more than what you could get at the store for that price).  You never know what you are going to get each week, since the ordering is done by the location manager, but it is locally grown when possible and there is always a good variety.  Organic baskets are also available.

Grocery Smarts: is basically an online ad.  Select your state and the store you want to shop at.  It will come up with a list of items that is in that particular stores' ad for the week, and will use a star based system (the more stars the cheaper the product) to let you know how good of a deal it is.  This site also includes coupons to use (and where they are located) to get the most bang for your buck, including links to printable coupons.  I am not a coupon-er, but I still use this site regularly to determine which store is having the best deals.  
There are buttons at the top right of the page that allows you to 'start' making your grocery list.  After clicking this button, you can select the items that you want to put on your list.  When done, select the 'finish' button, and you have a printable grocery list.  Very handy.

 Utah Valley Produce was a site that was started to help local farmers find a way to offer their produce at discounted prices (knocking out the middle man).  This was very popular a few years ago and has become less and less so as the farmers have become better known and distribute their produce without the site, however they still offer a great deal on local honey.  This site is not operational at the moment because nothing is offered until Spring/Summer/Fall.  Check back again at that time.

Pleasant Grove Fruit was created after Utah Valley Produce, and lists local farmers contact information and what types of produce they offer.  They do have an email list that you can sign up for (next season) so you can be notified of when certain produce becomes available.  This site is not operational at the moment because nothing is offered until Spring/Summer/Fall.  Check back again at that time.

Alpine Food Storage is a home run business that offers a HUGE variety of bulk and packaged foods.  From spices to containers, they pretty much have it all.  Order forms can be downloaded from their site.  You simply email your order to them, they let you know when it arrives, and you pay them when you pick it up.  No shipping costs.  Great selection.  Located in Highland, UT.

I hope this helps!

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