Prices For Bulk Food Storage Items

These are the prices and ways I purchase dry goods in bulk for my $300/yr basic food storage (which I build on through canning, dehydrating, and buying medium and long term storage items) See my blog, How To Start A Food Storage (My Method aka The Best Method). I'm not saying these are bottom dollar prices, but they are what I can find locally. You'll also want to contact farmers markets, co-ops, any mills within 50-100 miles, etc.. When the difference is $1/lb and you need 200 lbs a  2 hr drive isn't so bad.

You can get a one year basic survival rations food storage for under $65 a month for two people. Will it be the best stuff ever? Nope. It'll be oatmeal, tortillas, rice, beans, salt, sugar, and oil... Daily. 

This is just the start anyone without allergies should be building from. A can of soup, a gravy mix, meat from hunting, veggies from gardening, canned fruits from water bathing, beef stew from pressure canning, boxed hamburger helper, etc... Can all be added to this base for a better food plan. 

Without essentials you'll be chasing calories and protein or spending $1000's too much on "freeze dried" systems. Please please learn to create a food storage yourself and mylar/oxygen absorber and maybe silica (click!) it.

RICE - Lasts 25 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 

• 120 lbs delivered, free shipping from Walmart for $53.88 
• Assumption is you're buying 6 bags. 
• You can of course mix and match.
• Comes to $.45/lb
• 25 lbs, store pickup pricing, PA/MD/DE stores, $12.09/bag
• Comes to $.48/lb
• 50 lbs, Costco order, $22.69/bag
• Comes to $.45/lb
• Only available in a few locations for delivery, but should be in most stores.
• 50 lbs, Sam's Club, $17.99/bag
• Comes to $.36/lb
• 20 lbs, Regular Grocery, $8.99-12.99
• $.45/lb to $.65/lb

OATS, PLAIN - Lasts 25 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 

• 25 lbs Steel Cut Oats, Sam's Club $32.98
• Comes to 1.32/lb
• 2.65 lbs (42oz) Great Value Oats Canister, Walmart, $3.18
• Comes to $1.20/lb

CORNMEAL - Lasts 10 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 

• 25 lbs, Sam's Club, $13.98
• Comes to $.56

FLOUR - Lasts 7 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 

• 25 lbs White All Purpose Flour Sams Club, $8.56
• Comes to $.34/lb
• 25 lbs All Purpose Flour, Walmart, $7.98
• Can buy 7 at once for $55.86 or mix/match with rice for instance. 
• $50 or higher = free shipping (and probably freshest product).
• Comes to $.32/lb

HARD WHEAT - Lasts 25 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 

• 50 lbs Dutch Valley Foods (pick up) must login as guest for prices, $33.04
• Comes to $.66/lb
• 40 lbs plus free bucket, Augason Farms, $38.98
• Comes to $.98/lb
• 33 lbs in 6 #10 Cans, LDS online store, $27.75 (white available)
• Comes to $.85/lb
• 25 lbs *LDS Cannery* $6-7/lb - $0.28 max/lb

DRY BEANS - Lasts 25 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 

• 5.2 lbs Pinto Beans in #10 Can *LDS Cannery* - $5.95 - $1.14/lb
• 25 lbs White Beans *LDS Cannery* $15.00 - $.60/lb
• 25 lbs Black Beans *LDS Cannery* $15.00 - $.60/lb
• 20 lbs Pinto Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $14.85 - $.74/lb
• 20 lbs Navy Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $19.80 - $.99/lb
• 20 lbs Northern Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $22.00 $1.10/lb
• 20 lbs Black Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $19.72 - $.99/lb
• 20 lbs Lentils, PA/MD/DE stores, $16.80 - $.84/lb
• 20 lbs Red Kidney Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $22.76 - $1.14/lb

OTHER GREAT PRICES

•  *LDS Cannery* #10 Can Dehydrated Apples - $9.75
• flavor oats, drop in smoothies. rehydrated makes a ton!
•  *LDS Cannery* Potato Flakes $4.50/#10 Can (1.8lbs - lasts 30 yrs)
• if you're looking for potato flakes basically no ingredients except potatoes and preservatives. Look at this LDS label and try to match it in bulk if mylaring.
•  *LDS Cannery* Nonfat Dry Milk - $5.40 for 1.8 lb - makes 4 gallons
• lasts 20 years if only ingredients are milk and vitamins a/d

Barter Item: Three Cent Cigarettes

Cigarettes ~ First know that tobacco is taxed based on how "fine" it is. Cigarette tobacco is thinner and taxed $30/lb on top of the tobacco cost. If you want that thin put pipe tobacco (same thing, just slightly larger cut) in a food processor or coffee grinder and pulse once or twice.

From reading posts I realized tobacco is not to be "dry" and needs no silica/desiccant and I'm seeing some posts against o2 absorbers. I'll talk storage options below.

• Buy 16oz bags of menthol and nonmenthol pipe tobacco at a cigarette shop at $12-15.
• Buy 3 cartons of 200ct tubes and filter boxes per bag of tobacco $2-3 each.
• At $15 + $9 ($3x3) you're looking at $8 a carton, $.80 a pack, or $0.04 each!
• At $12 + $6 ($2x3) you're looking at $6 a carton, $.60 a pack, or $0.03 each!
• Decide on either: 
• buying cheap cigarette makers you can give out/toss if they break $2.19 on ebay.
• tends to jam/break but priced well. 
• you wont cry if you break it, unless you only had on
• slow. i can make maybe 50-75 in a full hour.
• buy a more expensive manual cigarette making machine. 
• I suggest Powermatic I (not II) as it works with no electricity.
• You can find cheaper by $3 on ebay, but I pd $50 @ amazon bc of easy returns. 
• most likely won't break.
• fast. saw a guy make 100 in 20 minutes. thats 300 in an hour.
• can order a few replacement parts now for shtf.
• Now that you have your items you have two options. Roll at least 1 box at once (or all 3 to empty one bag of tobacco), or wait until SHTF. Both seem like fine options the only thing I'd say is wrap the boxes of tubes with more saran wrap and keep everything in a dry, cool, dark place. I've seen people do both without issue.
• My favorite storage options...
• Ask friends who smoke to save you their empty boxes. Once you have 15 boxes you have enough for one "carton" of tubes and filters, and 50 boxes should cover one "bag" of tobacco. In this case, if friends mainly smoke kings (shorter, 84mm) you should purchase kings tubes instead of 100s. Once you put the filled RYO cigarettes in packs (16-18 should fit okay), wrap the pack in saran wrap well. You can even do a layer of foil under the saran wrap if you like. You can place packs in a bin, put in a cabinet, try vac sealing (stop before crushed), or even place the wrapped packs in mylar, pushing as much air out as possible before sealing (use o2 absorbers at your own risk, i heard they dry out cigarettes).
• Open everything, roll everything, put filled cigarettes back in carton box, wrap in aluminum foil then saran wrap the box really well. You can place cartons in a bin, put in a cabinet, try vac sealing (stop before crushed), or even place the wrapped cartons in mylar, pushing as much air out as possible before sealing (use o2 absorbers at your own risk, i heard they dry out cigarettes).
• Mason Jar loose tobacco or cigarettes if you'd like to do so. I know pints hold cigarettes perfectly though I can't remember how many. I saw a woman on youtube who had 1000s of jars I guess, because she used about 100 for RYO cigarettes. She used the jar attachment to suck out air. I don't know if this dries everything out though, and I personally wouldn't give out mason jars in a shtf... I think these were for her personal use.

Bugging Out/Extended Camping Items

 <3 Join my new facebook group:Prepping Foods for tips and to post any questions!

Yes - you'll probably need a vehicle, cart, OR to cache some things at your BOL before SHTF. My blog on caches will help you (click!). I adore caches! Anyway, here's my list...

*Batteries - All Devices Same Size If Possible
*Collapsible Lantern
*Flashlight
*Headlamp
Air Freshener
Baby Items: Bottle, Pacifier, Sippy Cups, Skinny Spoon, Cloth Diapers, etc
Bar Soap Slivers
Bathroom/Kitchen Cleansers
Bear Spray (Multi Uses)
Bug Out Bag Foods
Camp Stove
Candles
Carabiners (Assorted)
Compass and Local Maps
Compression Sack(s)
Cookset
Crank Radio
Dental Floss
Duct Tape and Gorilla Glue
Esbit Fuel Tabs
Esbit Pocket Stove
Extra Socks (Wicking)
Extra Underwear (Wicking)
Fuels
Gallon Ziplock bags
Generators
Glow Sticks (asst - low light & long burn, high intensity, infared)
Gortex Sock Liners
Hand Sanitizer (Place Liquids In Gallon Ziplocks)
Hat, Bandana, Work Gloves, Sunglasses
Heirloom Seeds (light/small/lifesaving)
Hiking Shoes and Sandals For At Camp
If Needed, Climbing Gear
If Needed, Climbing Harness (under 1lb)
Individual First Aid Kit
Kerosene Lanterns
Knives - Multitool, etc
Light bulbs
Lightweight, Durable Bags - GHB, BOB, IFAK
Lightweight, Durable Towel
Lightweight, Durable Walking Stick
Long Handled Spork
Loud Hiking Whistle
Mini Fishing Kit
Money (For Personal SHTFs)
Non-leather Belt
Oil Lamps/fuel
Paracord Items
Poncho
Sawyer Mini
Sewing Kit/Safety Pins
Shelter of your choice
Sleeping Bag
Solar Charger (best you can fit/afford - battery bank = epic)
SOS Pads/Pot Scrubber
Spare Parts and Equipment
Swimsuit
Tarp (Ground Sheet)
Toilet Paper/Dried Baby Wipes
Trapping Wire
Trash Bags
Travel Size Bug Spray/Sunscreen
Travel Size Hygiene Kit
Two way radios
VAS Fire Kit / Extras
Water and Collapsible Water Jug/Bag
Water Bottle (fits Sawyer Mini)
Water Purification Tablets
Waterproof Watch
Zip Ties (several)

Idea Dump: Supplies

This is a list I made and never did anything with but if even one item is something you overlooked or have forgotten I feel I'd be remiss if not posting it. Sorry so sloppy! <3 Join my new facebook group:Prepping Foods for tips and to post any questions!

Books, Animal and human medicine
Books, Blacksmith/Welding/Construction
Books, Electrical/mechanical repairs
Books, farming/gardening/homesteading
Books, hunting/fishing/trapping
Books, weapons/security and self-defense
Bug in equipment, hour LED candles
bug out equipment, bug out bags
bug out equipment, climbing gear
bug out equipment, cookstoves
bug out equipment, glow sticks/ hour LED
bug out equipment, glow sticks/infrared
bug out equipment, glow sticks/ultrabright
bug out equipment, topography maps
Children, baby bottles/sippy cups/cleaning gear
Children, baby wipes/diaper rash cream
Children, cloth diapers and covers
Children, homeschooling supplies
Children, manual pump/food/formula
Children, waterproof mattress covers/pads
Clothing, baby and child
Clothing, belts/jeans/thermals/boots
Clothing, rain coat/wading gear/rain boots
Clothing, undershirts/underwear/socks
Family, board/card/dice/handheld/trivia/puzzles
Family, craft and sewing equipment
Family, musical instruments
Food storage, buckets and containers
Food storage, canning supplies
Food storage, Dog and cat food (never take out of orig bag!)
Food storage, mylar bags
Fuel, Coleman camp stove liquid
Fuel, diesel and equipment
Fuel, firewood and chopping equipment
Fuel, gas and equipment
Fuel, propane and equipment
Fuel, rechargeable batteries and equipment
Garden, assorted planters
Garden, equipment and tools
Garden, heirloom seeds
Garden, pesticides/compost starter
Garden, rain catchment systems
Garden, wagons and wheelbarrels
Kitchen equipment, 7+ day coolers
Kitchen equipment, aluminum trays
Kitchen equipment, cast-iron pots/pans
Kitchen equipment, Dutch oven
Kitchen equipment, hand operated kitchen tools
Kitchen equipment, heavy duty aluminum foil
Kitchen equipment, kitchenaid mixer w/ attachments
Kitchen equipment, meat slicer/grinder
Kitchen equipment, nonstick pots and pans
Kitchen equipment, paper plates and bowls
Kitchen equipment, paper towels and toilet paper
Kitchen equipment, plastic containers with lids
Kitchen equipment, plastic cups and utensils
Kitchen equipment, polaroid and digital cameras
Kitchen equipment, scrub sponges
Kitchen equipment, silicone liners
Kitchen equipment, solar dehydrator
Livestock, breeding equipment
Livestock, butchering tools
Livestock, Chicken feed/vitamins/meds
Livestock, goat feed/vitamins/meds
Livestock, goat pen and equipment
Livestock, hen houses and equipment
Livestock, rabbit feed/vitamins/meds
Livestock, rabbit hutches and equipment
Livestock, roosters/hens/goats/rabbits
Safety, CB and ham radios
Safety, CO/Fire Alarms and extinguisher
Skills, Building Supplies/Extra Parts/Manual Tools
Storage equipment, 55 gallon drums /5 gallon buckets
Storage equipment, HD plastic totes
Survival, bear/pepper spray
Survival, body armor/gas masks
Survival, firestarters and multitools
Survival, geiger counters
Survival, hazmat suit
Survival, hunting/trapping/fishing supplies
Survival, knives and machetes
Survival, sleeping bags and tarps
Survival, slingshots
Survival, tasers
Survival, tents
Survival, walkie-talkies
Survival, water filter
Survival, water tanks
Vehicles, bicycles and spare parts
Vehicles, four wheelers
Vehicles, motorcycles
Vehicles, wagons/carts
Waste (Shovel, etc)
Waste, Extra Gel/Poo Powder/Trashcan liners (mini)
Waste, Toilet, Bags, Poo Powder, Gel
Waste, Trashcans, Trashcan liners (xl)

Kitchen/Pantry/Linen Closet Items For Bugging In

I'm sure there's other items but this will help you think up things you've missed. PLEASE comment things I've missed - you might save my life <3 Join my new facebook group:Prepping Foods for tips and to post any questions!

KITCHEN/PANTRY IDEAS
*Baggies, Assorted
*Boxes Of Aluminum Foil
*Boxes Of Cling Wrap
*Boxes Of Long Kitchen Matches
*Boxes Of Parchment Paper
*Boxes Of Wax Paper
*Brooms and Extra Broom Heads
*Buckets and Shovels
*Can Opener
*Canned Bar Keeper Friend
*Cast Iron Cookware
*Clamp Base Food Processor w/Cones 
*Coffee Grinder
*Corers
*Cutting Boards
*Dish Bins
*Dish Clothes and Towels
*Dish Rags
*Dish Sponges
*Dishwashing Liquid
*French Press
*Garlic Press
*Glass Measuring Cups
*Hand Beater
*Hand Grain Mill
*Hand Meat Grinder
*HD Paper Bowls
*HD Paper Cups
*HD Paper Plates
*Heavy Duty Black Trash Bags
*Manual Graters
*Meat Tenderizing Mallet
*Metal Utensils
*Mop and Extra Mop Heads
*Napkins
*Open Flame Tripod
*Paper Towels
*Pest Control Products
*Plastic Utensils
*Professional Style Meat Saw
*Red Solo Cups
*Rolling Trash Cans
*Slicers
*Small Liners For Office Trashcans/Bucket Pottys
*Solar Oven
*Stackable Trash Cans & Lids
*Swiffers & Supplies
*Tea Kettle
*White Kitchen Trash Bags
*Wooden Rolling Pins


LINEN/BATHROOM CLOSET IDEAS

**Baby Wipes/Toilet Paper/Paper Towels
**Bars Of Dr. Bronners/Fels Naptha/Zote (acc to your detergent recipe)
**Body Lotions
**Body/Foot Powders
**Body Wash
**Bottles Of Ammonia
**Bottles Of Bleach
**Boxes Of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
**Boxes Of Essential Oils
**Conditioners
**Cotton Balls/Pads/Swabs
**Deodorant
**Facial Cleansers/Creams/Moisturizers
**Feminine Products
**Floss Picks
**Foot Powders/Sprays/Creams
**Hairbrushes and Combs
**Lip Balms
**Mouth Rinses
**Shampoos
**Soaps: Bar and Liquid
**Sunscreen
**Tiolet Paper
**Toothbrushes
**Toothpastes

NO Long-Term Storing Food In Buckets Without Mylar Bags

Join my new facebook group: Prepping Foods for tips and to post any questions!

Basically, if you're doing this you cannot expect moisture or oxygen to be kept out, even with *11* extra oxygen absorbers. BYU did a study (here). The conclusion is below.

Results and Discussion
Measurements were taken of food grade buckets (gasketed and not) of wheat for two and a half weeks on days 1, 5, 9, 13, and 17. The results for the control stayed near the expected 20.9% oxygen content.

Conclusion
The O2 levels in the buckets over time were inconsistent. It is evident that considerable O2 infiltrated the buckets. Those buckets containing 8 packets with a capacity to absorb more O2 than was sealed in the bucket both failed by day 9. Failure of buckets containing even more packets was sporadic and inconsistent. If permeation through the HDPE were the only means of O2 infiltration, the results of duplicate buckets would have been consistent. The failure of one bucket in each replicate indicates that the seals were imperfect. A second experiment was carried out with less expensive gasketed lids with even a higher rate of failure (data not shown).

These results indicate that it is possible to reduce the O2 level to < 1% and hold it for 12 days to accomplish disinfestation. It would require the use of 11 or more O2 absorber packets in each bucket. However, the frequency of failure was unacceptably high. It would be difficult for a consumer to know if conditions required for disinfestations had been achieved because of the unpredictability of the seals. Therefore, it is not recommend that consumers use O2 absorbing packets in 5-gal HDPE buckets to disinfest wheat or other grains. For the same reasons it is not recommended to store products sensitive to oxidation in 5-gal HDPE buckets unless the product is to be used before oxidative degradation occurs.

Now here is my mylar and oyxgen absorber and silica info preptips101.blogspot.com/2014/10/my-mylar-tutorial-why-i-recommend.html!

First Aid Ideas

I wrote a blog on first aid items you can get at Dollar Tree (here), and this blog goes above and beyond that list. It is of course incomplete, but you can always comment more ideas! Join my new facebook group: Prepping Foods for tips and to post any questions!


Firstly, I pack my IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) differently than a lot of people. Because I bought in bulk and gifted ifak starters to friends I was able to make my ifak almost a dream one. I not only carry gauze, sutures, iv items, and bandages singly, I also used a foodsaver to make “kits” so I have packets with a notecard facing out with like “ankle injury” on it and it holds ace bandages, antipseptic wipes, gauze, bandages, and other things, all in one easy to grab package. I have these for many types of illnesses and injuries and my ifak is in two large identical duffels one in car and one at home, I’m not bugging out and if I would I’d have to downsize.


You’ll also see I sort my preps. This is by compartment and level of triage.


MED, antibiotics/antiseptics/antivirals

MED, Bactricin/Monistat/Midol

MED, cold/flu/allergy/multvitamins/dramamine

MED, Sudafed/EpiPen/Insomnia

MED, hemorrhoidal/enemas/gas-x

MED, ibuprofen/tylenol/aleve/aspirin

MED, muscle relaxers/pain/numbing

MED, Pepto/Imodium AD/Laxitives/Rolaids

M-EMT, ace bandages

M-EMT, Band-Aids

M-EMT, gauze

M-EMT, liquid bandages

M-EMT, sutures

M-EMT, alcohol pads

M-EMT, antiseptic ointment

M-EMT, antiseptic spray/wipes

M-EMT, assorted gloves

M-EMT, blood pressure cuff/stethoscope

M-EMT, body warmers

M-EMT, burn gel

M-EMT, casts/splints

M-EMT, cold compress

M-EMT, CPR kit

M-EMT, emergency airway

M-EMT, eye pads

M-EMT, eye shields

M-EMT, glucose monitoring kit

M-EMT, hand sanitizer

M-EMT, hot compress

M-EMT, hydrocortisone

M-EMT, hydrocortisone cream

M-EMT, insect repellent

M-EMT, iodine pads

M-EMT, lidocaine

M-EMT, liquid bandages

M-EMT, new skin patches

M-EMT, nonstick gauze/tape

M-EMT, petroleum jelly

M-EMT, Q-tips

M-EMT, safety pins

M-EMT, saline

M-EMT, smelling salts

M-EMT, sunblock

M-EMT, toenail clippers

M-EMT, travel size iodine

M-EMT, travel size isopropyl alcohol

M-EMT, travel size peroxide

M-EMT, wet naps

M-EMT, whistles


MD-ER, bedsore wound dressings

MD-ER, birth control

MD-ER, condoms

MD-ER, CPR kit

MD-ER, disposable shoe covers

MD-ER, emergency airway

MD-ER, emergency contraception


MD-ER, glucose monitoring kit

MD-ER, IV Equipment & Meds

MD-ER, magnifying glasses

MD-ER, medical logs

MD-ER, neck stabilization kit

MD-ER, postmortem kit

MD-ER, scissors

MD-ER, splatter masks

MD-ER, stethoscope/BP cuff

MD-ER, suture removal kit

MD-ER, syringes

MD-ER, tool sterilization kit

MD-OR, biohazard bags

MD-OR, bloodsoak sheets

MD-OR, sterile scrub brushes

MD-OR, thoracotomy kit

MD/GYN, gynecological instruments/meds

Additions from comments
Christy Van Drunen:
Add Kerlix, Israeli bandages, tourniquet (unless I missed that), BP cuff is listed under EMT for triage, but the stethoscope is under ER. I'd keep them together. 
I'm always pretty specific about tape. Micropore and transpore suck in the field. Durapore is my favorite. Have it in varying sizes. 1-3" widths. A sharpie is nice...you can write on some tape put on the patient if you can't do paper.

William Beard:
One thing I would also do is get some medihoney gauze specifically for dealing with burns.