also come in handy in the event of a job loss or to help out financially strapped family and friends. Here are five tips to help you build a food storage stockpile on any budget.1. Determine How Much You Need
The most important step in any food storage plan is to decide how much food you need to store. Determine the length of time you would like your supplies to last, and consider that adults require approximately 2000 to 2500 calories per day. The daily caloric requirements of children are somewhat less and based on their age. It is best to store foods that you and your family already enjoy.
2. Buy in Bulk
Whether you are storing items purchased from the grocery store or ordered from a food storage company, buying in bulk saves money. If you are having items shipped, placing one large order instead of several smaller orders will usually save on shipping costs.
3. Find Extra Space
Find space to store your food items in closets, under beds, or behind doors. Make sure the space is clean and dry. Important items should be stored where they can be easily accessed, but some nonperishable items might be kept in an off-site storage unit, like Poughkeepsie NY self storage. If you really have no available space, you might want to consider moving non-critical household items to a storage unit to create space for essential food items at home.
4. Learn to Preserve Your Own Foods
Canning and drying foods for long-term storage are lost arts that should be revived. The greatest savings come from growing your own foods and then preserving them yourself. However, items purchased from a produce stand or supermarket can also be canned or dried using a dehydrator. Bulk containers of such foods as pasta sauce and vegetables can be canned into smaller containers. Grains, rice, and pasta can be packed in mylar bags inside of sealable buckets.
5. Use and Replace
Be sure that you never waste anything by labeling and dating your stored food items and then using them as part of your everyday meals. Even the best packaged foods have a limited shelf life and won’t last forever. Using and replacing your stockpile ensures that your food storage items will be fresh when you really need them.
Author Bio
This article was written by Dixie Somers on behalf of extraspace.com.