Monthly Food Storage Purchasing Calendar (12)
Compiled by Andrea Chapman
If you are just starting out, this calendar can be used any year. Just start with the current month’s items.
We have tried to keep the costs down to between $25 and $65 per week. This might seem rather costly,
but if you want to build a good food storage in only one year, it will cost you more each week than
if you spread out acquiring it over several years. Be certain to buy only items your family will use,
and rotate and use the items in your storage throughout the year. Milk is an expensive item and
prices keep soaring, so you might need to invest in a bit higher food storage bill to buy it right now.*
The items in the first few months are basic essentials and are the most important to purchase and store.
It is vital to get WATER - STORAGE. If you don’t have water, you will not be able to use many
of the foods you have that are dehydrated or require water to cook INCLUDING RICE AND BEANS.
Many times in natural disasters, the electricity goes down and you will not be able to access your water.
Sometimes the water is contaminated from flooding and cross-contamination from sewage.
You will need water, at very least, you will need 1 gallon per day per person.
___________________________________________________________________ January
Week #1 =1 case canned fruit
2 #10 cans or boxes instant potatoes
Week #2
3 #10 cans or boxes dry milk
Week #3
3 #10 cans or boxes dry milk
Week #4
4 pounds yeast
Week #5
Anything you have missed from above
___________________________________________________________________ February
Week #1
Water Storage Containers-buy either 55 gallon drums, 5 gallon water containers
(available at all emergency preparedness stores and some super markets) and spigot
(Northern Tool), or start to save water in pop bottles and plastic juice containers.
Also purchase100 lbs. hard white rice and plastic storage buckets with tight fitting lids.
Check out the local Sams Club for prices on rice or the Asian market near you.
Buckets with lids are found at Home Depot.
Week #2
25 lbs of sugar or 10 jars of honey
5 lbs salt per person - bucket opener
Week #3
4 - 48 oz bottles Extra Virgin oil
2 #10 cans of dry instant milk
Week #4
2 case canned beans (like refried pinto, black, kidney, white, pink etc.) or 25 lbs
dry beans (preferable) and bucket to store them in.
50 lbs dried popcorn. (Can be ground into cornmeal as well as for popcorn.)