It’s one of the biggest questions when building a stockpile, and it can feel overwhelming—trust me, we’ve all been there! But don’t worry, at Prep2Survive, we’re here to help you make sense of it all.
The truth is, every family’s stockpile will look different. Whether it’s due to food preferences, allergies, or the size of your household, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What we can do is break the process down into manageable steps. By taking things slow and steady, you’ll build a food reserve that can keep your family safe during emergencies—without the stress.
Here are 5 simple steps to help you get started on your stockpiling journey:
WATER
First things first, let’s tackle the most important! WATER! The bare minimum every household should aim for is 3 days’ worth of food and water. It might seem simple, but it’s an essential foundation to build on.
For water, aim for 1 gallon per person, per day—multiply that by 3 days to get your total. Don’t forget to include your pets in that calculation. You can store water in a variety of ways, from individual gallons to 5-gallon jugs.
Consider this – stacking cases of bottled water or large jugs that can easily be rotated, but they can get heavy. And the cost could get quite pricey, plus it’s just too easy to open a case of water, and grab one…..then all the sudden your stockpile is gone. Trust me, it happens!
The most cost-effective and convenient way to ensure your family has access to clean water is by grabbing this 55-gallon water drum and filtration kit right here. You can fill it with regular hose water—now, I know what you’re thinking, but here’s the game-changer: this kit comes with a water purifying system! Just like that, you’ve got 55 gallons of purified water from your own source, ready to go.
Let’s break it down:
For a family of four with one dog (because who only has one dog, right?), you’d typically turn to water bottles. But here’s the math:
– 1 gallon = 128 ounces
– 55 gallons = 7,040 ounces
– If your water bottles are the standard 16-ounce size, you’d need 440 bottles or about 18.33 cases to equal 55 gallons.
At $6.50 per case, that adds up to $120 just for bottled water! Plus, it’s not practical—you can’t clean, bathe, or refill from a bottle easily. Not to mention, that’s a lot of plastic to leave behind.
With this water filtration system, you’ll have a reliable, refillable water source right in your home. Once your main water supply is back on, just refill the drum for free. Did I just say FREE!
Final Verdict: Bottled water might seem cheaper in the short term, but with this system, you’ve got an endless supply of purified water, without the hassle or cost of constant restocking.
Now let’s talk food.
Food is just as important, so check your pantry. If you couldn’t leave your home for 3 days, could you feed your family? Focus on easy-to-prepare meals like pasta, canned soups, and cereals. It’s that simple. But, this supply needs to stay out of all the hands that live at your home. So store your food in a designation stockpile area, and tell all, HANDS OFF! Please let us know if you have good luck with that….that’s always the hardest part we think. And remember, don’t forget to grab extra pet food for your furry kids.
Pro Tip: If you’re feeling extra ambitious, aim for 3 to 7 days instead!
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Lastly, MEDICINE.
When building a stockpile, emergency medicine is just as crucial as food and water.
In a crisis, access to pharmacies may be limited, making it essential to have a 12-month supply of your perscription medication, and everyday medicines like pain relievers and allergy meds. A well-prepared stockpile ensures that your family stays healthy and protected, even when medical resources are scarce. Having basic first aid supplies and over-the-counter medications on hand can prevent minor issues from becoming major emergencies, giving you peace of mind during any situation.
Emergency Medications including life-saving medicines like ivermectin, antibiotics, and other critical treatments in your stockpile can make a vital difference in a medical emergency. These medications, often prescribed to fight infections, parasites, or other serious conditions, may not be readily available during a crisis or when healthcare systems are overwhelmed. Having a supply of antibiotics can prevent infections from worsening, and ivermectin has been widely discussed for various treatments. While it’s essential to use these medicines responsibly and with medical guidance, their presence in an emergency stockpile could be the key to saving lives when professional medical help is delayed or unavailable.
Once you’ve got 3 days down, increase your stockpile to 2 weeks. This is the recommended minimum from emergency resources, especially when it comes to water. A family of 4 would need 56 gallons of water stored—sounds like a lot, but it’s achievable!
Consider stacking cases of bottled water or large jugs that can easily be rotated. Or grab the water storage drum here. Fill it with your regular hose water…..I know….but just wait for it…..then grab the water purifying kit! BOOM! You have 55 gallons of water, FREE from your own source, with just a bit of purifying that is needed.
For food, you probably already have 2 weeks’ worth of meals in your pantry—if not, add shelf-stable items your family already enjoys.
Don’t forget: Stock what you eat, and eat what you stock. This might be the most important stockpiling rule of all. If you are not going to eat it, it doesn’t matter how good of a sale it is, don’t buy it! It will waste you money and take up precious storage space.
This is where you start to take a closer look at your stockpile habits. If your family eats certain meals regularly, calculate how much of each ingredient you’ll need to last 30 days. Are you using 4 rolls of toilet paper a week? Stock up accordingly. Remember the toilet paper heist of 2020. We certainly don’t want a repeat of that!
Keep track of how fast you go through food, toiletries, and even cleaning supplies by writing dates on packaging when you open something. By doing this, you’ll have a clear idea of how much your household consumes in a month.
After mastering a 1-month stockpile, it’s time to go for 3 months. Just take your 1-month list and multiply everything by three. It’s as easy as that! Remember, you’re not just stockpiling food—add essentials like diapers, toiletries, laundry detergent, and of course, toilet paper.
Keep an eye out for sales at your local grocery store or buy in bulk from warehouse stores like Costco or Sam’s Club.
Once you’ve got 3 months of supplies, you can start thinking about long-term storage. This is where you can explore options like freeze-dried foods with a shelf life of 25-30 years, bulk grains, and shelf-stable meats. Long-term storage is a big commitment, but it provides peace of mind knowing your family is prepared for anything.
Building a stockpile doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether it’s adding a few extra items to your grocery list each week or setting aside a small portion of your budget, these small efforts will pay off in the long run.
Remember: The key to prepping is starting small and staying consistent.
You’ve got this!
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These are ten items that anyone can stockpile.
