Building a Stockpile With Only $5 Per Week! Creating a Stockpile (2024)

Buying in Bulk

ByMerissa

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Want to build a stockpile but don’t have much money on your grocery budget to spare? Here are some tips on how to create a stockpile with just $5 per week!

Building a Stockpile With Only $5 Per Week! Creating a Stockpile (1)

Table of Contents

How to Create a Stockpile with $5 Per Week

One of the questions I seem to get asked most often is…. “I want to build a stockpile but how do I find the money to do it?”

Can you spare $5 a week? If not…what can you cut out of your week to find $5 to help build your stockpile? Just how important is having a stockpile to you? Can you make it a priority over something else in your life that costs $5 a week?

Let’s chat for a minute about having a stockpile…..

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–Learn Everything About Buying in Bulk Here!

I’m no zombie prepper. I’m not prepping for the end of the world. I’m not prepping because I think aliens are going to attack the earth and we might have to hide in bunkers until they are gone. I’m prepping to be prepared.

What if we lost our availability to go to town for groceries?

What if the prices were raised temporarily so we couldn’t afford to get the basic things we normally get?

What if our co-op truck can’t make it here and we have to go without ordering our groceries for a few months?

What would happen in the event of a job loss where we would need to save as much money as possible to pay other bills?

In the event of any of those situations, having a small stockpile on hand is a good idea.

Can you imagine having only a few days worth of food in your home at a time? I just can’t picture that! In rural South Dakota where we live we have a pretty good chance of being snowed in or stuck at home for much longer than 3 days, so having less than 3 days worth of food would just be unsafe for us.

Ok, back to building a stockpile with that $5 a week….Before you start this challenge, keep this in mind. Be realistic about your stockpile. Don’t stock up on things that your family can’t or won’t be able to eat. If there is a week where you aren’t going to buy what’s planned, just buy double of something that you definitely can use from another week.

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Building a Stockpile Weekly Buying Guide

Make sure to spend no more than $5 per week buying the item listed. Before you buy, also make sure you have proper food storage containers for everything.

Week 1 – Spend $5 on Rice
Week 2 – Spend $5 on Beans
Week 3 – Spend $5 on Sugar
Week 4 – Spend $5 on Salt
Week 5 – Spend $5 on Baking Soda
Week 6 – Spend $5 on Milk Powder
Week 7 – Spend $5 on Dried Onion
Week 8 – Spend $5 on Dried Garlic
Week 9 – Spend $5 on Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Week 10 – Spend $5 on Baking Powder or Yeast
Week 11 – Spend $5 on a Whole Grain
Week 12 – Spend $5 on anything else

Now comes the real challenge….just how much of each of these items can you get for just $5 a week? Do your very best to make that amount stretch as far as possible!

Are you ready to join me on this challenge? By the end of 12 weeks, you aren’t going to have the biggest, most impressive stockpile there ever was, but you will have a nice amount of basics set aside for an emergency time. Of course, a full stocked stockpile will have more items than this (hopefully you will be able to preserve some meats, fruits, and veggies too!) but this list will build a great basic foods stockpile.

To help keep you motivated, here is a fun chart that you can print out and keep in your pantry or in your kitchen to keep track of your progress.

Building Your Stockpile (free printable checklist)

Not sure where to store your stockpile? Make sure to check out these Small Space Storage Ideas.

This blog post on How to Create a Stockpile was originally posted on Little House Living in March 2014. It has been updated as of April 2020.

Building a Stockpile With Only $5 Per Week! Creating a Stockpile (2024)

FAQs

Building a Stockpile With Only $5 Per Week! Creating a Stockpile? ›

That's why having an emergency preparedness stockpile is important. All Americans should have at least a three-day supply of food and water stored in their homes, with at least one gallon of water per person per day. If you have the space, experts recommend a week's supply of food and water.

How much of a stockpile do you need? ›

That's why having an emergency preparedness stockpile is important. All Americans should have at least a three-day supply of food and water stored in their homes, with at least one gallon of water per person per day. If you have the space, experts recommend a week's supply of food and water.

How to stockpile on a budget? ›

It will likely be easier on your budget if you spread out the items over several weeks or months. Consider adding a few extra dollars to your weekly shopping trip and buy just a few items each time you go to the store. Another important thing to remember is to keep an eye out for sales.

How to build a stockpile? ›

The first thing you should do is determine how much of each item your family uses within a month or year. Focus on one or two items you will stockpile each time you go shopping. Start small, and guide yourself by the sales. If paper towels are on sale this week, buy enough now to last you until the next sale.

What is the best food to stockpile? ›

  • Meats & Beans. Canned meat, chicken, turkey, seafood. and other protein-rich foods, such as. ...
  • Vegetables. Canned vegetables and vegetable juices. ...
  • Fruits. Canned fruits and fruit juices. ...
  • Milk. Canned, boxed or dried milk and shelf- ...
  • Grains. Ready-to-eat cereal, crackers, pretzels, ...
  • Water. Enough for 1 gallon per day.

How do you calculate stockpile quantity? ›

The basic volume formulas are given in Figure 1-3. Example: the volume of 50-ft. high cone shaped stockpile with a base radius of 70 ft. would be: V = 1.0472 r² H = 1.0472 x 702 × 50 = 256,564 cu.

What are the limits on stockpile? ›

Is there a dollar limit? You can choose any whole dollar amount between $1 and $2000 (or $200 when using a debit card). If you would like to purchase stock in a dollar amount that is higher than $2,000, it will have to be broken up into separate transactions.

What is the cheapest food to stockpile? ›

  • Canned tuna and/or salmon - buy 15 cans assorted, according to your preference.
  • Canned meats - buy 3 dozen cans 10-12 oz. ...
  • Canned vegetables - buy 25 cans assorted beans, corn, peas.
  • Canned fruit - buy 25 cans assorted.
  • Canned soups - buy 25 cans assorted.
  • Jams - buy 4 jars of your favourites.

What is the cheapest long-lasting food? ›

10 Cheap (and Healthy) Foods that Last a Long Time
  • Dried Beans and Lentils. Average Price: Under $2 for a 1-pound bag. ...
  • Brown Rice and Other Whole Grains. Average Price: About $2 (depending on where you purchase) for a 1-pound bag. ...
  • Frozen Vegetables. ...
  • Peanut Butter. ...
  • Canned Tuna. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Whey Protein. ...
  • Apples.

How much cash should you stockpile? ›

While you're working, we recommend you set aside at least $1,000 for emergencies to start and then build up to an amount that can cover three to six months of expenses. When you've retired, consider a cash reserve that might help cover one to two years of spending needs.

What is basic stockpiling? ›

Stockpiling is a necessary part of civil engineering and mining operations. Stockpiling involves removing the topsoil (the A and B horizon of the soil). The topsoil is usually removed with heavy equipment and then piled in large, deep piles for the duration of the civil engineering or mining project.

What goods should I stockpile? ›

Emergency Supplies
  • Flashlight and batteries.
  • Manual can opener.
  • Battery-operated radio (and batteries) or hand-cranked radio.
  • Matches in waterproof container.
  • Utility knife.
  • Paper and pencil.
  • Cash, traveler's checks and coins.
  • Paper cups, plates, plastic utensils, paper towels.

Is stockpile good for beginners? ›

Stockpile offers a little bit of educational content to users. It's enough to get someone started, but for in-depth research and advanced trading strategy, consider a full-service brokerage.

What two foods can you survive on? ›

Grains and legumes constitute the cornerstone of any survival diet. They are essential for providing sustainable energy and nutrients in challenging situations. They are packed with essential nutrients and can be stored for long periods, making them ideal for survival food storage.

What single food can you survive on the longest? ›

The only food which comes close to being something you could survive on long term as a sole ingredient is the potato. The fact that the potato has Vitamin C means that scurvy is not a risk like it would be with almost any other food source lacking in this nutrient.

How much food and water should I stockpile? ›

The following should be included in your basic disaster supplies kit:  Three-day supply of nonperishable food and manual can opener.  Three-day supply of water (one gallon of water per person, per day).  Portable, battery-powered radio or television, and extra batteries.

What is a good amount of ammo to have stockpiled? ›

Basic Preparedness: 1000 Rounds

Plus, it provides a solid backup for any surprises or emergencies, ensuring you have ammo even if it's hard to find. Having 1000 rounds offers peace of mind for both casual shooters and those focused on safety.

How high should a stockpile be? ›

For a conical stockpile, it must proceed around the toe. with powered equipment, the working face should be sloped at the angle of repose, or the vertical height of the working face should not be more than 1.5 m (5 ft) above the maximum reach of the equipment.

How much food should a prepper have? ›

A good rule of thumb when prepping is to always have at least one week's worth of food stored somewhere cool and dry in the home, like a basem*nt or crawlspace. This can just be normal food you'd eat everyday.

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