I know as a frugal person and a couponer I keep a stockpile of items in the house at all times. Sitting back and watching the news these past few days makes me ever more grateful that I had one. Some people think of a stockpile as someone hoarding groceries and non-perishables. However, that it not the way it always is.
Take a minute and think about what your family goes through on a daily basis. Do you keep enough of each item in your house to keep your family in those items if a natural disaster would happen? If you could not make it to the store for a week would you be able to survive on what is in your house right now? If you cannot live on what is in your house, it is time to start thinking ahead.
I have a gas stove, so if we lose power, I can still cook. People with an electric stove need to think outside the box when it comes to stockpiling food. I always keep my propane tank I am using and an extra full one handy at all times (I hate to run out of propane in the middle of a cookout). By my having propane I can use my grill to cook. It may not be fun to sit outside after an ice storm to cook, but it is better than the alternative. So, before you stockpile, think of how would you cook each item.
Non-perishable foods are the easiest to stockpile. There are many healthy foods now that are prepackaged and suitable for building an emergency stockpile. Remember that also stockpiling water, toilet paper, diapers, wipes, etc is a sensible thing. It does not necessarily mean you need to have a room full of food, but you need to be prepared.
Another important reason I like my stockpile is the fact that, after this natural disaster, the prices of food are going to jump due to roads and cities being closed. Since I already have a stockpile of food for my family, I can use up some of my stockpile and wait for the prices to stabilize again. That way, I don’t have to worry if the store is temporarily out of some of items.
Remember that I am not saying to hoard items. However, when you are at the store and see an item on sale, you may grab an extra one—just in case. Remember this is Oklahoma and we run the risk of ice storms every winter. Having extra food means you are not risking your life on the roads to feed your family.
Be prepared, start a stockpile.
