Instant Survival Tip: Tis the Season to Stock Up

Posted in: Featured, Food Storage, Instant Survival Tips

holiday food 224x300 Instant Survival Tip: Tis the Season to Stock Up

If you’re a bargain shopper, and all SurvivalMom’s are!, then you’ve noticed that the holiday food ads feature some pretty impressive sales at this time of year. Grocery store owners, and their marketing departments, know full well that ingredients like chicken broth, flour, sugar, and chocolate chips are in high demand, so they lure us into their stores with great bargains on those items and more.

Right now, I can buy a frozen pie for $3.99, canned veggies for 39 cents each, a pound of butter for $1.99, and five pounds of flour for 99 cents. There are also some great deals on turkeys and ham. Last year, I bought enough chicken and beef broth to last for most of the year, and that’s the point of this Instant Survival Tip. This season’s bargains are perfect for preppers and anyone motivated to have extra groceries on hand. Chrystalyn, our resident food storage expert, says she stocks up on white flour and sugar at this time of year, and stores it in sealed buckets with oxygen absorbers. She buys enough to last the year.

Now, this Instant Survival Tip isn’t just for the holidays. You may have noticed that around Memorial Day and Independence Day, the stores are flooded with bargains for condiments, soda, and hot dogs (for freezing). In August they know that parents will be shopping for food items to pack in their kids’ lunchboxes, so you’ll see some great bargains on things like juice boxes and snack packs of cookies and crackers. Just make sure you check expiration dates and rotate the groceries accordingly, but when you stock up on seasonal bargains, your dollar can really stretch!

(7) Readers Comments

seejanemom
November 21, 2009 at 2:49 am

I was the nut job at Wegman's today buying the loss leaders by the cartload.

Sugar—great for barter, and MOST ASSUREDLY NOTHING I CAN GROW. Evah>>>> $1.50 (5lbs)

And don't overlook evaporated milk, ladies—just a little added to a gallon container makes powdered milk actually DRINKABLE >>>> 65 cents a can

When my cart was dripping with the small milk cans, the lady behind me cast ***THAT LOOK*** at my cart and I shrugged and said…."Dontcha just looooove punkin' pie?."

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Food Costs Too Much
December 30, 2009 at 5:16 pm

Prices never got that low around here that I saw We have one grocery store chain and I think they enjoy the lack of competition.

M

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- TheSurvivalMom
  December 30, 2009 at 5:20 pm
  
  For now, at least, we do enjoy low grocery prices here, and as you saw from my example, it's my weakness. This fall I paid $1.39 for a gallon of whole milk! I expect to see prices rise, though, so I strongly believe that now is the time to stock up. Thanks for finding my blog! I enjoyed your comments.
  
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LizLong
January 10, 2010 at 3:36 am

Don't forget to check ethnic markets. They'll have different items on sale after their own holidays. We have a whole bunch of garbanzo beans, instant mashed potatoes, and pineapple chunks thanks to post-holiday sales at a local market like that. (My guess is they want to be more American and have mashed potatoes, but don't know how to make them, thus the large amount of instant 'taters – but that's just a guess.)

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- TheSurvivalMom
  January 11, 2010 at 10:32 pm
  
  That's an excellent idea! We go to an Asian market to stock up on things like soy sauce, rice, and my husband's favorite brand of saimin. The next time I go, I'll have to wear my prepper hat, so I look for things from a prepper's point of view.
  
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  - LizLong
    January 12, 2010 at 2:24 am
    
    I also bought a giant (1 lb maybe?) bag of ground red pepper (not flakes). It's not just a spice, it's a weapon! I wouldn't want it thrown in MY face, I know that!
    
    Reply
    - TheSurvivalMom
      January 12, 2010 at 3:16 pm
      
      Wow! I don't think I'd use that much red pepper in a lifetime. What recipes do you put it in?
      
      Reply