Are there Long Term Food Storage Options that you can purchase with your SNAP/EBT Card?

 Its Disaster Preparation Month! Food costs are soaring. Go through the grocery store where you usually shop and write down the prices and amount in the packages of ten things your family eats regularly this week. Think back on where those prices were in 2018, then in February of 2020, then this time last year, and compare it to the cost now. Two months from now, look at where those prices are again.

Prices of food are rising and the amount of food in packages shrinking not just due to scarcity, transportation costs, labor costs and inflation. Costs are also going up due to greed and retailers testing what the market can bear.

I got a DM about planning for those not just on a strict budget, but for those on government food assistance. Just because you don't pay by cash or credit/debit cards, does not mean you should not also prepare for upcoming food shortages and price increases.



There are now EBT/SNAP eligible Long Term Food Storage options online at Amazon. In addition, Costco now sells some items that can be bought with your SNAP benefits. In addition, there are some food chains (like Lidl, Aldi's and Trader Joe's, all under the same corporation) that have very good frozen food options that hold up good when re-heated, and bulk foods that are reasonable for buying.

                                    

Think ahead, what happens when the Pandemic level aid that has increased the amount of your EBT/SNAP benefits ceases? You should be storing dry goods, canned food versions of food you normally eat and frozen foods as a hedge against when that day comes. 

Water is increasing in price. Start using $20.00 per month and buy water for long term storage for you to use when water systems are tainted or fail. 

We will talk food storage next week. Don't forget, DON'T buy the kits or buckets that are advertised, you don’t normally eat most of those things. Don’t get in the habit of storing foods you don't eat, unless you plan on trading/bartering with them with others. Chances are if you don’t eat them, they won’t either.

Here is a link to an Amazon List I have put together for some EBT/SNAP Eligible long term food storage solutions. You can view my list, and I add to it regularly. 

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1HVXEE8MIQFCW?ref_=wl_share

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Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink

 You can't live without it, but we take it for granted. We think, "Water will always be here, all I have to do is turn on the tap." But what if what is coming out of the tap is tainted? Or the water supplier's system goes down? Recently, E-Coli has been found in the Baltimore, Maryland Water system, Polio has been found in New York's water system and Jackson, Mississippi's water treatment system was damaged by flood waters.

Baltimore Water System infected with EColi

After a major catastrophe, the cost of water in the area you live will skyrocket. We aren't in a crisis mode where I live, and the price of a 24 pack of bottled water has risen from 3.50 pre-pandemic, to over $5.00. One thing we know about the new pricing of food products is it has no basis in reality. It's not a combination of factors such as transportation costs, labor, or even the rising prices of commodities that are making prices go up. It's simply greed. And the issue with greed driving prices is man's greed has tended to be without limits in our long history.

Storing stacks and stacks of 24 bottle packs isn't feasible for most people. But having something on hand is a necessity now. Part of your improved pantry has to be stored water. I recommend that you start to store both 5 gallon bottles and long term storage water. These larger bottles can be found at hardware stores, Walmart and big box discount stores like Sam's Club, Costco and BJ's. 

You'll need two pump options, one manual and one electric. The manual is a the backup in case power is lost. If you find one that runs on battery power, that is a good choice. Always have two options. You can get a manual pump for about the same as an electric pump. Get your family used to using them now, so it's not such a big transition. You can find them at Amazon, Hardware Stores and Big Box retailer's. Look at the reviews, as some don't come with good directions.

Also, know your family usage of water. If you buy larger bottles and find lots of them sitting half full at the end of the day, then you need to buy the smaller bottles for them to use. Monitor their water usage, they should be drinking adequate amounts of water to stay hydrated. In the event of a pending storm, you could always clean your tub really, really well and store water there. You can also use the manual pump to move water from the tub to bottles in an emergency, it will take a little ingenuity on your part, but assess the situation and act quickly.

How much water should you be drinking?

Adults should be drinking 6 to 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water per day. Children should take in half of that amount. If you need to flavor your kids water so they drink it, try to use a flavoring choice that is low in sugar. Get children used to the taste of Agave Syrup early. It's much better than artificial sweeteners, and can even be used with people who have to watch their sugar intake due to medical issues. 

Also, watch the color of your urine and that of your children during emergency, drought and times of high temperature. Depending on color, you may need to take immediate action to hydrate a loved one.

Don't forget to put your water into a rotation pattern also. Try to buy purified water instead of Spring or Alkalinized water. The vast majority of people's PH is adequate. If you find there is a brand you prefer, then budget out how to have some of it on hand. 

You can't live without water. Make a plan now to have stored water on hand so you won't be a victim of price gouging. Also, if you can drive away from your local area where there is a water issue, you may find water cheaper at another location. Calculate the cost in gas and time before you do this, however. And set a limit on how much you want to pay for scarce items in your mind, then determine the cost of storing it at its current price now. It's time to start keeping track of pricing so you can prepare ahead of rising costs if at all possible.

Time to put up a new pantry!

 It's time to put up a new pantry. What are the rules? They are listed in Month Three of the Shopping Lists Books. They come in two formats, one that is purely shopping lists, the other with shopping lists and scriptural references.

Things have changed since Covid first began, what we thought was going to be a skirmish has turned into a protracted war with numerous attacks dropping from the sky without warning.

So, let's pivot to focus on long term hedges we can employ now against our newest attacker: INFLATION.

Focusing on Long Term Food Storage will help keep your food costs down over the long term. Winter is coming, which means fuel costs will go up, delivery chains will continue to degrade and prices will continue to rise.

Now is the time to go to your nearest LDS Home Storage Center and start putting up some Long Term Storage foods. I would urge you to start here for two reasons: First, they sell number 10 cans by the can. You don't have to end up with 6 #10 cans of Dehydrated Onions. Second, their prices are reasonable, on par with what you would pay at today's prices for groceries.

As per my instructions in 'Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators', make sure you don't buy things you don't normally eat, don't overbuy in panic mode, and make sure you have space to store AND take items with you in case of an evacuation order. Hurricane Season is here.

Go to this website and find the nearest center to your location. Call ahead for days they are open and to find out where you come exactly for access. You do not have to be a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints (I am not), to buy from their facilities. They only take Credit Cards, check what the payment policy at your facility is.

I started with number 10 cans of Flour ($5.38), Quick Oats ($5.03), Onions ($8.36), Spaghetti ($4.75), Elbow Macaroni ($4.88) and Hot Chocolate ($5.32). You decide what is best for your family.

I don't want to purchase a grain mill to grind flour, even though the 25 pound bags are good choices. I intend to open my cans and put smaller measures into Mylar bags with Oxygen Absorbers, properly labeled and stored in my other 5 gallon buckets.

Make a plan! Next, we will cover how to order long term storage food off of Amazon with SNAP/EBT. Everyone, absolutely EVERYONE, needs to start putting up a pantry as a hedge against inflation. It's time to start looking at expiration dates, then stocking up on what you and your family eats.

https://providentliving.churchofjesuschrist.org/.../home...

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Time to get busy!

I haven't posted in a while, but inflation, weather, and food prices are all showing signs of not just rising, but being the new normal. Coupled with the ever changing factors of war, man made disaster and uncontrolled viral outbreaks, it's time to pivot again. 

How prepared were you in December of 2019? Let's not make that mistake again, if you procrastinate, you're in the right spot!