Couponing for Survival

[frugalmom2]

I was wondering if anyone is couponing to build up an emergency stash?

This was't really something I thought about until two events: 1) a contractor had an accident on our roof and we could not enter our living space so all we could retrieve and live on for two weeks was the clothes in the laundry room and my stockpile items and 2) our entire family got hit by the flu over a weekend and I had 1 inch of milk in the jug, two bread crusts, no bananas, no applesauce, no electrolight drinks, and no pedialite. It was pretty much a disaster.

This has lead me to think more about stockpiling not so much to have an excess of H&B items and laundry detergent but to actually put away items that my family would need in an emergency situation.

Is there anyone else thinking of stock piling for emergencies? What do you have on hand? Where should I start?

[Darth Penguin]

Have you thought about emergancy power?

[lshortt]

I was always told one should have a stockpile of at least two to three months supply of food whether it is canned or frozen in case of job loss etc....I also make my own bread in a bread maker and this saves money too you get so many more loaves of bread out of a bag of flour for the $10.00 for the big bags than spending $2.00 every other day for a loaf of bread....the other thing I had read/saw on tv was that we always have lots to eat in our cupboards than we realize and that if money is tight search the cupboards and come up with a meal plan so you can save your money for other things like bills to pay or gas for the car...

[GeorgiaK]

I would think stockpiling powdered milk, water and stuff that are absolute necessities for a body to survive would be a good idea.

[frugalmom2]

To answer Darth Penguin - I have not really addressed alternate power yet. Seems to me that i need two things 1) an alternate form of heat (wood stove in the winter) and 2) alternate source of power (generator to keep freezer going in the summer). Seems pricey but necessary.

shortt - that is an excellent idea. I am very tied to going to the store to get bread. And actually bread is very easy to make. I definately need to look into a breadmaker that way i'd at least have a supply of flour on hand in an emergency and could make bread. Grilling on te BBQ would cook it. Hey...pizza on the BBQ. That sounds awesome!

Georgiak - how long does powdered milk last? I don't use it in my cooking and baking so never have in on hand. Actually if the kids had to drink it I am not sure they would. Definately food for thought. Maybe i'd better start getting some dehydrated foods and introduce them to our diet so we are used to the taste.

Definately body wash and Advil are not going to do me any good in an emergncy! I am inspired to look into two month food storage. Thank you all for your suggestions.

[Gamerfaith]

I stock pile for emergencies both food and other stuff. I can't really plan for the power going out cause I live in an apartment building but if I were to lose my job, I do try to stockpile food like cereal, pasta, etc.
I've lived before on government hand out and I refuse to be caught unprepared again.

[NuCoupon]

Not sure I'd want to live off only my stockpile for weeks but I probably could if I had to. I have lots of pasta, sauce, frozen veggies, a decent amount of rice, some meat, two dozen frozen bagels. I would only need milk, maybe some fresh fruit (but veggies would probably suffice) If challenged I could probably do it for a while in an emergency financial situation (buying only milk). Mostly I stockpile so I can buy foods on sale and use them during weeks they are not on sale. The money saved helps to prepare me for unseen situations.

[Ciel]

http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/knw/kt/kt-eng.aspx
Lists to help with thinking of making your kits.

It might be worth discussing at home what is valuable to you and not replaceable (old family photos, certificates, memorabilia or things from friends/family with meaning) that could be stored in arm's reach if you ever had to leave with one bag each in an emergency. Heard this topic a few years ago on radio and while it was thought family photos were precious, they usually are not nearby if you have leave under emergency scenario.
I think that was mentioned too-each family member have a bag/knapsack ready in their rooms containing change of clothing and toiletries/mementoes they can use in such a case.

[grannyg]

Have you thought about emergancy power?

My husband rigged up a power supply (generator) that' is linked to the powerbox,,, furance, freezer and stove/fridge..pump for the water. are on this in case of emergency due to power black out. Living in NS this happens quite a bit in the winter..
Food, water, and other ness. propane tank, etc are stocked in two different places In case we can't get to one or the other...
We also used the bbq at times,

[GeorgiaK]

I have done a bit of searching and the unopened package usually lasts about 1 to 1.5 years. There is a bit of a difference in the taste between re-hydrated milk and fresh milk, but it is great to use in gravies, baked goods, yogurt, etc.

[Poirot]

If no one in your family is allergic how about peanut butter.

[abbasgirl]

You could also store canned evaporated milk instead of powdered. You just need to add water. I forget the amount to get the consistency of milk, but I think Carnation has that info on their website. It may be a little more convenient to store because you don't have to worry about it going bad and there are lots of recipes that you can use it up with (you do taste the difference when you bake with powdered milk).
I don't specifically stockpile for emergencies, but I tend to cook everything from scratch, so I do have enough cereal grains, baking ingredients, canned meat, etc, to last for quite awhile in an emergency. The one thing that I really should add to my stockpile is some bottled water. I just hate paying for water. But it's the one thing you would need the most if there were a real emergency.

[Shwa Girl]

if I were to lose my job, I do try to stockpile food like cereal, pasta, etc.
I've lived before on government hand out and I refuse to be caught unprepared again.

We are trying to have build an emergency fund so that if we lose our job we have money until our unemployment money comes in.

We also try to update our resumes and keep our networks current, so that we have people to go to for temporary or permanent jobs.

[roseofblack25]

we always have enough food in the pantry to feed an army...and when I get out on my own I plan on stocking up on canned goods whenever there is a sale because I probably won't be able to afford groceries at regular price since everything seems to keep getting higher and higher price wise. My plan is to buy with coupons and sales and stockpile when there are sales on things that will keep. That way I might only need to buy fresh veggies and fruit once a week since those are rarely on sale and there are no coupons for fresh produce.

[coupon girl]

same as roseofblack -i am trying to rebuild my stockpile on using only coupons on sale items-slowely building up my pile