Survivalist Pro
Photo by cottonbro studio Pexels Logo Photo: cottonbro studio

How much is a years supply of food?

If financing isn't an option, or if the thought of it makes you a little nervous, there's always good old-fashioned saving! Professionally crafted one-year supplies will cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.

What triggers instinct?
What triggers instinct?

instinct, an inborn impulse or motivation to action typically performed in response to specific external stimuli. Today instinct is generally...

Read More »
Does the IRS know when you deposit cash?
Does the IRS know when you deposit cash?

How Much Money Can You Deposit Before It Is Reported? Banks and financial institutions must report any cash deposit exceeding $10,000 to the IRS,...

Read More »

Want a year supply of food? Here are the top strategies our customers use to get there.

A while back we ran a survey to 100,000 of our customers, asking about their top emergency preparedness goals. The number one lesson we learned?

Just about everyone wants a one-year supply of emergency food (82 percent to be precise)—and very few have that. This is unfortunate, because after 30-plus years of helping people build their food storage, we’ve come to learn that anyone—and we mean anyone—can build up a year supply. All it takes is some patience and the right strategy. Here are some of the most effective ones we’ve seen customers use to store up their year of food.

Strategy 1: “Baby-Steps” Purchase Plan

Of all the strategies we’ve seen our customers employ, this is probably the most popular. The concept is simple: you break your savings and purchases into small, bite-sized chunks. It might be easier to explain through an example. In other words, spend a month saving for whatever you can afford quickly and buy it as soon as you can—a two-week kit, 30-day kit, etc. This will ensure that you have something in your supply, just in case. Then spend five months saving for a three-month supply and buy it. Spend six more months saving and buy another three-month supply…and so on. Pros: This plan gives you independence and flexibility to move at your own pace, with the added benefit of receiving emergency supplies as you go. Cons: This is more expensive than the “one-big-chunk-of-cash” plan. That’s because a “year food supply” product is less expensive than 12 “one-month food supply” products (or four “three-month food supplies). The extra cost isn’t super significant, but it’s enough to take into consideration in your planning.

Strategy 2: Financing

A great way to get much-needed emergency supplies into your home right away without having to take a big hit to your wallet is to “finance” your purchase. These days, online financing is easy and secure. At Emergency Essentials, we offer it through a major platform called Affirm. You can select the finance option at checkout—and depending on how you qualify, choose the payment schedule that works for you. As an example, a 1-year food supply at Emergency Essentials costs about $3,000. Using Affirm’s online calculator, a financing plan for someone with excellent credit might look something like this:*

How do you disarm a hostile person?
How do you disarm a hostile person?

How to Defuse Other People's Anger Listen First. ... Feed Back What You Hear. ... Change What the Person is Focused On. ... Make Empathetic...

Read More »
Does pineapple cleanse the colon?
Does pineapple cleanse the colon?

Pineapple and papaya are great fat burners which scrub and cleanse through the intestinal tract, he said. Jun 29, 2018

Read More »

*PLEASE NOTE! These numbers are only offered as an example of what some people pay and are not representative of what you may pay. Rates and payments can vary widely based upon a variety of factors. They can also change over time. To learn more about how Affirm works, click here. Pros: The big pro here is that you get your year supply right away. Lots of our customers choose to go the financing route for this reason alone. For them, having immediate access to life-saving food outweighs the cons. Besides getting your food right away, you’re also obviously spreading out costs and taking less of a hit to your wallet up front. If you’re working with a vendor you can trust, you’ll know exactly what you owe through the entire term, as well as when you’ll be done paying. Cons: As with all credit, chances are you’ll be paying interest—though at Emergency Essentials, our financing program charges simple rather than compound interest (with no fees). That means a lot more of your money will go directly to principle. On top of that, if you aren’t in a stable employment situation, there’s the chance you’ll be unable to make payments down the road. You’ll definitely want to take job stability into account when deciding whether to finance.

Strategy 3: Buy it All at Once Today, in Cash

Ok, so this isn’t exactly a strategy, but some of our customers—God bless them—are able to buy all at once in cash. If it sounds undo-able, consider this: tax season is upon us PLUS there’s likely another stimulus check coming in the near future. With such a windfall of cash, 2021 will be the year that thousands of prep-minded folks finally meet their goal of storing up a year supply of emergency food. Say what you will about the stimulus package, but it may be the best chance some of us get to buy that much emergency food all in one shot—no savings needed.

Strategy 4: “One-Big-Chunk-of-Cash” Savings Plan

Why did I Survived get Cancelled?
Why did I Survived get Cancelled?

After two series Survivors will not be returning.” Although it did not refer to the issue directly, it is clear that – as far as the BBC's drama...

Read More »
How do you filter rainwater in the wild?
How do you filter rainwater in the wild?

Finally, the most effective way to filter is to crush up charcoal, put it on your cloth and let the water run through it. Charcoal filters remove...

Read More »

If financing isn’t an option, or if the thought of it makes you a little nervous, there’s always good old-fashioned saving! Professionally crafted one-year supplies will cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. For most of us, putting together that much cash takes a little pain, budgeting, and whole bunch of patience. But, if you’re disciplined, it can get you to your end goal—albeit much further down the line. As an example, let’s revisit that $3,000 Emergency Essentials’ year supply. Here are a few different scenarios that show what putting that kind of money away would look like (these totals are all approximations). To recap: if you’re willing and able to patiently save for two to three years, you’ll have to part with about a cell-phone-bill-worth of cash every month (give or take). If you’re willing to wait longer, those monthly costs go down even more. Pros: This option gives you ultimate flexibility—you’re able to do exactly what you want without obligations to anyone but yourself. If you temporarily lose your income or hit an unexpected bump in the road, you can always pause your savings plan with no consequences. If you’re patient enough, it’s also the option that absolutely anyone can afford. Cons: The most obvious con here is how long it can take. If food security is a high priority in your life and you’re a super-disciplined saver, then this is the plan for you. But let’s be honest…not all of us are. If just looking at this chart causes you to pull your hair out, this path might not be for you. The other major con is that you won’t be getting your supply for months and possibly years. If a disaster were to hit before you’d finished saving, you’d be in bad shape.

But That’s Not All, Right?

These are some of top the strategies we’ve seen used with great success by our customers—but of course there are lots more. Have you saved up a year supply? How did you do it? Sound off in the comments below!

Why do athletes cheat to win?
Why do athletes cheat to win?

However, the fundamental reason why people cheat in sports isn't complex at all. Athletes want to win. At the highest levels of sports, the...

Read More »
What are the 10 rules associated with first aid?
What are the 10 rules associated with first aid?

The Top 10 Rules of First Aid Shout for help! ... Assess the situation and scout the territory. ... Determine if the accident warrants a visit to a...

Read More »
What is the 100 book series called?
What is the 100 book series called?

The 100 is a series of young adult science fiction novels by Kass Morgan. The first book in the series, The 100, was published on September 3,...

Read More »
Is there any purpose to life?
Is there any purpose to life?

All life forms share at least one essential purpose: survival. This is even more important than another key purpose for life, reproduction. Plenty...

Read More »