While millions upon millions of Americans are throwing their money away on a bunch of useless garbage, smart preppers are using the season to become better prepared. For those looking to build their emergency stockpiles, this is one of the best times of the year to get started.
Most grocery stores are offering deep discounts on certain types of food this time of year; fortunately for preppers, many of these items store very well for long periods of time, making this the perfect opportunity to grow your emergency stockpiles.
The key to really being able to get the biggest bang for your buck:
- Start researching who is selling what and then going online to see if you can find coupons to further increase your savings. Websites like the Krazy Coupon Lady allow you to break it down by store and product.
- Search for local deals in your mail circulars, and keep track of deals when you’re out doing your normal shopping.
- Don’t forget to use sites like Amazon to search for holiday deals. The great thing about these sites is many local stores will now price match the items you find online.
While many of the products sold this time of year are geared towards the holidays, many of the products can be used throughout the year. For instance, every year right after Christmas I usually stock up on Candles. I can usually buy a couple hundred different candles for the price of one good emergency candle. Yes, they are usually holiday colored candles; but during a power outage or grid-down emergency, I doubt I’m going to care what color or what scent the candles are.
Holiday Foods that will be Good Year Round
Over the next month or so, most grocery stores are going to have deep discounts on seasonal foods, common baking and cooking ingredients, and even different types of meats. If you can afford it, you might want to invest in a large chest/deep freezer
Freezer Goods: Foods that freeze well that will be heavily discounted for the holidays
- Frozen Turkeys: This is the time of year to stock up on turkey. From stores giving away free ones if you spend a certain amount of money, to deeply discounted turkeys once the holidays pass, turkey is a good thing to stock up on. An unopened turkey can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 years, but for best taste it should be cooked within a year of being put into storage.
- Frozen Hams: As we get closer to Christmas, you should start to see deals on holiday hams. This is another item that freezes well, and will last at least until next season.
- Butter: If you find a deal on butter, stock up! Butter freezes very well without any loss in taste, quality, or texture. Frozen butter will keep up to one year.
Dry Goods: Foods that store almost indefinitely
- Canned Goods: Vegetables, Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin are all things that can be picked up at a fraction of the cost this time of year. Most canned goods will last for 2-5 years; look for cans with the furthest out expiration dates.
- Baking & Cooking Ingredients: Spices, sugar, yeast, flour, and cake mixes should all be deeply discounted. Most of these items will last for years, and certain flours could last for over a decade if stored properly.
- Check out our article on, Long-Term Survival Foods and Supplies from the Grocery Store, to get an idea of what products you should be looking for.
Other Items to Stock up on during the Holidays
- Alcohol: Even if you don’t drink, alcohol is an important preparedness item. From medicinal uses and cooking purposes to bartering products during a full-scale collapse, there are a number of reasons to stock up on liquor — not to mention the fact that most hard liquors will store indefinitely.
- Socks, Underwear & Blankets: Around Christmas time, these things are always deeply discounted and sometimes sold as door-buster items at below their cost. Remember, we are not wasting money; but instead stocking up on long-term consumables and items that we know we will need in the future.
Prepping doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg; the holidays can be a great time to stock up on everything you need to make it through the next year. While most people are out losing money this time of year, those who are smart use the season to save money and protect their future.
Nice article.
See this approach as the best way to encourage people to prepare. I never use the words prepper or survivalist. People are afraid of being stigmatized. And their fears are so great, they can Not confront danger or instability. But everybody likes a good deal. Smart shopper. Well stocked. These are easy concepts to pass on.
It’s turned into an annual deal for me … WalMart buys a crap load of boxes of candy canes – which never sell … I wait until they go 90% off – down to 9 cents for a 10 count of individually wrapped 6 inch canes …
Pack them into a food grade bucket – stores forever ….
Don’t forget to check early January for discounts on winter coats, long johns and leftover christmas pajamas – I regularly shop at the local Kmart for my kids winter coats, buying 2-3 sizes bigger and paying less than $5 per coat (early in the season they are $50+). We can usually get at least 3 coats per kid in the needed sizes.
We always shop the loss leaders… A couple of weeks ago that assorted canned vegetables on sale 3 for $1, so I spent $20. 60 cans are heavy. They also ran a special on butter at $2 a pound. The other one we use is the Dollar General $5 off coupon when you spend $25 or $30, plus they accept coupons. We like DG’s peanut butter. Large Jar for $4 less about 20% $3.25.
I guess the point is that if you get in the habit of shopping the sales and buying in quantity you will always have what you need on hand and never have to pay full price.
If I don’t want to recycle my food storage, like the peanut butter, is there a list of food that will store for up to ten years or more that can be ready to eat with minimal effort.