With prepping becoming more and more popular since Y2K, the question of whether or not to prep comes up constantly. After all, newspapers and television news did a lot of features on people who decided to pre-emptively fall off the grid and move into cabins in the woods sleeping on water beds they could later drink. When nothing bad came from Y2K, the obvious follow-up question was “Is prepping a waste of time?”

Prepping is not a waste of time. Taking action to be prepared for any situation is worthwhile – especially if you do it to the appropriate degree. By that I mean it’s best to have a reasonable stock of everyday items you will use regardless of extreme situations. This is especially true of items that don’t expire or perishables that have a long shelf life.

Remember March of 2020

If you don’t believe that, just ask anyone who ran out of toilet paper after the first week of the pandemic in 2020. The average person in the US goes through about 7 to 8 rolls per month. If you had just one extra 24-pack, you could easily get through the initial shortage and restock when limited supplies once again became available (even with rationing). A prepper likely would likely typically buy in bulk and have a 24-pack as their regular purchase as well as several more, purchased over time and stacked in a secondary storage area where temperature did not matter.

Prepping is Not “Panic Buying”

Some people mistakenly think that prepping means to go out and buy up all they can the minute they hear a whisper of potential shortage. That is known as “panic buying” and “hoarding.” It is the opposite of careful prepping, which involves planning gradual purchases of items well in advance of needing them.

Panic buying decreases availability, which creates scarcity. Scarcity drives perceived value and cost. This is how a $0.75 roll of toilet paper becomes worth $3 overnight. Panic buying is also one of the things that leads to the need for rationing of everyday essentials.

Smart Prepping

Smart prepping is like turning your home into a giant piggy bank. But instead of tossing in your loose change, you slowly fill it with items you rely on for everyday living. The things that make this type of prepping smart are as follow:

• You stock up on brands you like and are happy to use.
• Purchases are made slowly so you never put a dent in your wallet. This might be a few extra cans of soup when grocery shopping or fifty extra rounds of ammo when at the range or gun shop.
• When using perishables, you rotate through your stock based on expiration or “best by” dates.
• You can wait for the best deals and take advantage of coupons.

Smarter Prepping

There are also ways to go above and beyond the basics of smart prepping as follow:

• Get a membership to a big box store where bulk purchases are the norm. You can either buy an extra case of an item occasionally or just put a few items from each case in reserve each time you make a purchase. This is the same concept as putting all your change in a large bottle every day and then finding you have enough cash saved to take a vacation when you finally empty it.
• Subdivide and repackage bundles of dry goods. Equipment such as low-cost kitchen leftover vacuum sealers can be used to divide large discount bags of rice, beans, and grains into much smaller usable packs that can last 20 years in your pantry.
• Map your living space into zones for storage. Most shelf-stable food items, such as canned goods, need to be stored in places whose conditions are cool and dark with low humidity. This is usually a pantry in the home or a basement. But you do not want to put these items in exposed areas subject to extreme heat and cold such as garages and attics. Garages and attics however can be the perfect place for long-term storage of paper products and other non-perishables.

Preparing for Comfort

One of the first things people realize after a power outage is that it’s far better to have one comfortable pace to hunker down in the house than a lot of space that is all uncomfortable. That said, it makes sense to designate one part of your home as a comfort zone in times of emergency.

This should be an area that can be easily isolated for heating and cooling as well as have immediate access to a bathroom. Most people with one or two small children might choose their master bedroom if it has an attached bath. It’s easy enough to use a small generator to power the lights and a portable ac unit or space heater for an area of about 500 square feet or less, just by running an approved extension cord.

Upgrade to Comfort and Convenience

Having a generator running outside your bedroom window can be less than relaxing. If you have a bit more cash available, consider investing in a transfer switch or an Interlock Kit with a power inlet box. In short, these are two options to connect a portable small to mid-size generator to your home’s breaker box without risking back feed (or a surge back) to the utility lines.

The big benefit to these types of systems is you can get reliable backup power to any parts of the house you wish without have a whole house backup generator system. I’ll let a professional share the details.

Generator Selection

Finding the right generator to suit your needs can involve a lot of research and time spent determining typical power needs, fuel requirements, noise considerations, motor efficiency, safety features and more. After performing that research for myself I found the following video that compared my top two picks without bias.

This does not mean either unit is the best solution for your needs, but the review and comparison should provide enough general information to help point you in the right direction. Beyond that, your next step should be reading reviews and speaking with a reputable sales rep that has no personal stake in your selection.

Next Steps

We have answered the question “Is prepping a waste of time?” and even how to prep smarter and improve comfort and convenience. Next, let’s consider the best prepper foods to stock up on with a quick post on this very site. In addition to the post is a downloadable spreadsheet detailing the top 100 prepper food items as well as sample brands with nutritional information for each. This will help you plan months of meals to maximize dietary value and enjoy variety of tastes.

SPAM has a unique backstory that makes it rise to the top of most prepper food lists. Back in the early 1940’s SPAM was a regular MRE food (Meals, Ready to Eat) along with the typical C-Rations of the time. Thanks to the Pearl Harbor Naval Base there was an abundance of the canned meat in Hawaii. Once the Island was bombed by the Japanese Empire in December 1941, Hawaiian transplant Japanese citizens’ movements were greatly restricted and there was no more daily fishing. With that main source of protein gone, the little blue cans of meat became a new staple food, and for good reason…

SPAM is a very good prepper food for several reasons. It is shelf-stable for years and a ready to eat source of fats, protein, and calories right from the can with no special prep. It is also low cost, easy to transport, and many people find it tasty fried, broiled, baked and even cold. While the 85-year-old recipe for SPAM “Classic” is still a fan favorite, you can also get SPAM Lite, Reduced Sodium SPAM, Oven-Baked Turkey SPAM and a half-dozen other varieties.

SPAM: A Prepping Favorite

As Hawaiian Islanders in the late 1940’s and 1950’s learned, SPAM (now called SPAM Classic) from early 1940’s military rations were still not only edible but quite tasty years after the “best by” date stamped on the cans. With a per serving nutritional value of 180 calories, 16 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein, and just 1 carb, SPAM is a shelf-stable prepper staple food with 1,080 calories per 6-serving can.

Throw in some leafy greens and two cans of SPAM per day can keep a full grown active adult well fed and loaded with enough caloric energy to not only survive but thrive in many conditions.

Best Served Cold? Not Really…

As a military food ration, SPAM was often eaten cold from the can by sailors. The locals, however, discovered hundreds of ways to prepare it hot and that made it an affordable meat alternative in a land where most beef is imported from 3,500 miles away. It’s thanks to the hundreds of recipes available that help make SPAM such a great prepper food. This ensures variety with nearly any combination of other long-term prepper foods such as kidney beans, white rice, lima beans, instant potatoes, cheese, various sauces and gravies, pasta, and Ramen noodles.

A Low-Salt SPAM Hack

Try this if you want to get rid of some salt from classic SPAM. Remove the SPAM from the can and slice it into whatever thicknesses you wish. Now rinse it in cool or cold water before heating to eliminate much of the surface salt and reduce the salty taste. Using a running tap works best, but if that is not an option, just change the water in the bowl with each rinse.

To remove the sodium packed deep within the meat, boil it in water for five to ten minutes. Finally, to remove even more salt, do the same rinsing and boiling while adding one half of a potato to the boiling water. This will help draw out excess salt.

To finish preparing your SPAM, frying or grilling work extremely well. The higher fat content can lead to an excellent char that really brings out the taste.

SPAM by Any Other Name

Most people don’t realize that the letters SPAM stand for Special Processed American Meat. In a non-coincidence the name is meant to signify SPiced hAM to the consumer. But SPAM is not the only game in town. Walmart’s Great Value brand makes a similar product called Original Luncheon Meat that costs about one-quarter less than the classic version of the name brand SPAM.

What’s in the Can?

We’ve talked about nutrition, but what is the great mystery meat made from? It’s simpler than you might think. There are just six simple ingredients in SPAM: pork with ham meat added, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite. That simple recipe has been around for about eighty-five years and it’s about as wholesome, for a shelf-stable meat, as you’re likely to find in a world full of chemical cocktail preservatives.

Just keep in mind, there is a lot of salt (three servings of Classic SPAM provides about a full day’s worth of recommended sodium intake) and that sodium nitrate is a preservative. In other words, if you already have high sodium, SPAM is not likely to bring those levels down. Then again, “25% Less Sodium SPAM” or “SPAM Lite” might be good alternatives.

SPAM Cost & Options

While prices will always vary by region and rise and fall with the economy, the following prices are accurate for the central eastern United States as of April 2022.

Product	Price per Ounce
Great Value Original Luncheon Meat	$0.19
SPAM Reduced Sodium	$0.24
SPAM Classic	$0.28
SPAM Lite	$0.28
SPAM Hickory Smoke	$0.30
SPAM Oven Roasted Turkey	$0.56
SPAM with Bacon	$0.71

It’s not just the prices that vary. Oven Roasted Turkey SPAM has a per serving nutritional value of 80 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, one carb, and 9 grams of protein. That’s incredible!

What’s Next?

Now that you have more insight into the arguably the most popular prepper canned meat, why not get the shelf life and nutritional information on ninety-nine of the other top one hundred shelf-stable foods ideal for prepping? All that information, including a downloadable spreadsheet, is available right here on PrepperPirate.com’s Prepper Pantry page.

What does prepping mean? When it comes to survival, prepping refers to the preparation you make before an emergency situation happens. It’s crucial to be as prepared as possible so that you and your family are ready when disaster strikes. People who don’t prep in advance often find themselves at a loss during crises. Preppers, on the other hand, are typically far better equipped to handle whatever life may throw at them because they are proactive about preparing their supplies and honing needed skills beforehand.

Prepping means to take steps to be prepared to deal with a (typically) undesirable situation such as a natural disaster or economic hardship. Just think of the Boy Scout’s motto “Be Prepared” and realize it means to take steps to be ready to handle anything you can anticipate.

Today, we’re going to go over what prepping really means and how you can start getting ready right now!

Prepping for Any Occasion

Whether prepping for a storm followed by a likely power outage or getting ready for a potential cataclysmic event, there are steps you can take right away. Chances are, you are already a prepper and just don’t realize it. For example, here in the US…

If you live on the east coast, you probably know enough to stock up on batteries, candles, extra gasoline, and possibly have a power generator ready for the next tropical storm or hurricane or snowstorm. On the west coast it’s common to anchor furniture from falling, run family earthquake drills and have go-bags ready for everyone including the family pets. In the mid-west people know where the closest tornado shelters are and make sure they have basements and cellars stocked with plenty of canned goods.

Unfortunately, most people stop there. They know the importance of prepping for the most common things they’ve seen their whole lives, but they just can’t imagine anything bigger. Hopefully you can and are ready to take the next step.

But before we get into that, please don’t assume you have to spend a fortune and stock up on 1,000 of freeze-dried food or buy a machine that will turn urine into drinking water. Prepping can be as mild or extreme as you feel necessary. The best way to ease in is to stock up on essentials you know you can use even if the apocalypse does not happen.

Blast From the Not-So Past

Who else remembers April of 2020? There were near riots over toilet paper, masks, and disinfectant wipes. Talk about a crash course in prepping! How about today with the supply chain problems keeping goods rotting on freighters off the coast while we can’t get the things that we’ve grown accustomed to in stores. It’s not Armageddon, but it’s certainly worth stocking up on the items you want and need while you can still get them.

Important Items for Prepping

To ensure you have enough supplies to last you through any impending disaster or unexpected emergency situation, we highly recommend stocking up on 30 days’ worth of essential items as a start.  

• Drinking water (1 gallon per day/per adult)
• Canned food; mix of carbs, fats, and proteins is my choice (2,000 calories per day/per adult). And don’t forget pet food!
• A good first aid kit (containing antiseptic, bandages, ibuprofen, tweezers, gauze, and butterfly stitches)
• Potassium Iodide Tablets – Potassium iodide is used to block radioactive iodine from being absorbed by your thyroid gland and prevent hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid).
• Cash in small bills
• Some type of defensive weapon (just in case)

Obviously, you want more than one month’s worth to live on, but that’s a great start. If a month’s worth is too much to commit to, for any reason, how about one week?

Know Your Area

It’s a good idea to keep tabs on whether your home is in an area that could potentially be struck by natural disasters. If it is located in an area where a catastrophic event could occur, make sure you’re prepared for it with as many of these essentials as possible. After any serious injury it is important to stay calm, clean and move very carefully in order to avoid worsening your injuries.

Think Safety

In addition to personal hygiene products, disposable nitrile gloves are also great for first aid kits because they are non-allergenic and offer better protection against contamination than latex. Make sure to pick up home safety items, such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors. In addition, paper towels are great for clearing out small messes like grease fires and are easy to throw away when they become soiled.

Urban And Rural Preppers

People who live in urban areas-whether it’s a big city or a smaller town-are more inclined to prepare for potential emergencies. Rural residents typically have access to a land base that may have resources, such as hunting and farming; however, these methods of preparation are risky during extreme weather.

If you live in an urban area, there are many ways you can prep for emergencies. For example, if you have pets at home, consider boarding them at your local vet before evacuating, so they’ll get cared for in case of emergency.

In case you live near public transportation, think about how evacuation routes will be affected and develop backup plans in case travel becomes impossible during a disaster. Besides protecting your loved ones from harm, prepping could help keep communities together and safe after natural disasters strike.

Do You Need to Be a Prepper?

There are all kinds of preppers-from food to shelter, from money to self-defense, and all kinds of things in between. If you think it might be time for you to prep, take a moment to think about your own individual needs and situation. Maybe it’s time for you to buy a few supplies and make sure you’re prepared for any potential disasters that might come your way. But potentially prepping isn’t something you want or require right now.

Instead, maybe you should start with learning what prepping means. We’ve put together a quick guide on everything you need to know. Keep reading to learn more about what does prepping means, how do I get started as a prepper, and why you might even consider becoming one.

How To Be a Successful Prepper

Being a prepper is an enormous responsibility. This means you need to put lots of effort into learning about prepping and how it can benefit you and your family. Once you’ve learned everything, then make sure that you practice prepping every day, so that it becomes second nature to you.

If something happens, then you’ll know exactly what to do. If not, no worries – at least you’re one step closer to becoming a successful prepper! We don’t suggest that you stock up on tons of food and water because, in reality, you probably won’t use them all. Instead, we recommend starting small with just enough for a few days; then add more as time goes on. Keep It Relevant There is always something new to learn in prepping, which makes sense because situations change over time too.

Final Word!

Although preppers will agree that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to preparing for uncertain times, some basic guidelines have emerged. The number of people who are getting prepared is growing. As time goes on, it seems more and more of us are interested in at least supplementing our emergency supply with a few extra essentials. It’s not just survivalists who are concerned about SHTF scenarios anymore.

This isn’t hype; you really see more preppers out there now than ever before. Whether they admit it, even diehard non-preppers know something bad could happen someday, so they want to be ready if/when that day comes. In fact, some surveys suggest that up to 50% of Americans believe we may live through or headed toward an economic collapse right now-or soon-and many others believe terrorism or natural disasters could strike their neighborhood soon.

Easily the most common question we get asked is “How do I start prepping?” That’s an excellent question, so it makes sense it would be the most frequently asked. The answer will vary by your circumstances, but there is an answer here for you – I promise.

The best way to start prepping is by first creating a quick win with a 72-hour crash kit. This means ensuring shelter, then storing three days’ worth of: shelf-safe food (2,000 calories per adult per day), safe drinking water (1 gallon per adult per day), and a good first aid kit (alcohol wipes, ibuprofen, bandages, and tweezers at minimum). And don’t forget pet food for your furry friends! Aside from those items, have at least a week’s worth of any prescription medicines, clean clothing, warm blankets, and three day’s pay in cash.

Again, this is a minimal start to get you through the first three days, which are typically the most critical. Consider it your small safety net to give you breathing room while you begin your prepper’s journey. Obviously, the more you are prepared, the better. That first three days of necessity are just to not get caught with your pants down. With this 72-hour safety buffer in place, it’s time to start a longer-term prepping plan. You are already ahead of most people.

An Easy to Follow Prepping Plan

Planning is easy once you have that 3-day safety net in place. Knowing you have at least a few days already banked provides some peace of mind to plan logically. It’s like going to the grocery store when you’re not hungry. Your choices in groceries tend to be much better.

Here is a simple plan that should be easy to stick to:

Prep Step 1: Designate Storage Space

Locate one or more areas of your home where you can store your prepped items. These spaces should be temperature controlled (or naturally cool), out of prolonged direct light, and in a dry vermin-free environment (add some silica moisture traps in areas that might get humid).

Prep Step 2: Obtain Storage Containers Right for the Job

Get long-term storage containers that fit the true needs of whatever you are storing. You would not believe the deals you can get on high quality plastic- wear storage containers at Dollar General or Walmart. And don’t forget about 1 gallon zip-type plastic bags. I buy one-quart mason jars (with lids) at Walmart at $10.97 per dozen. That’s just $0.92 each. One of those jars can hold three days’ worth of dry rice or 800 rounds of ammo for my Ruger. Plain old cardboard boxes, milk crates, and wooden crates work well too depending on what is being stored.

Prepper Storage Tip

You can purchase a kitchen countertop vacuum sealer for $40 to $200, to save a ton of cash on individual “Tupperware” type airtight storage items for dry good foods. There are plenty of hacks that will show you how to use “Ziploc” style plastic bags if the cost or availability of specialized vacuum sealer bags is ever a concern.

When you get around the $60 mark, you find units that offer sealing settings for different types including dry, moist, and even marinade. These also often come with vacuum hoses for canning, jarring, and bottling. Here is one unit I like that goes for about $63 on Amazon, but shop around. There are plenty to choose from today.

IMPORTANT: Vacuum sealers are not just great for food. I use mine for anything I want to keep free of air and moisture such as ammo (400 to 500 rounds at a time), spare bands for my high-powered slingshots, even matches, tinder material, and first aid items for my bug-out bags.

Prep Step 3: Budget & Buy

Set aside a bi-weekly prepping budget (or as often as you get paid). It does not have to be a lot. At the time of this writing (2/3/22) Nine dollars will buy 20 lbs. of Great Value White rice at Walmart. Eleven dollars will buy 100 rounds of Winchester .22 caliber LR ammunition at Bass Pro. There are plenty of deals and you don’t have to buy everything at once.

Some people suggest simply stockpiling money and spending all at once when the SHTF. But if you think about it, the dollar you saved in February 2021 is only worth 91 cents in February 2022. By November 2022, it will be worth even less (probably about 88 cents). And when everyday items start increasing in cost like gasoline did in early 2022, your 2022 dollar will have the buying power of about 45 cents. Yes. This time last year I was paying $1.78 per gallon of gas. Today I am paying $3.96 – for the cheap stuff!

Do you remember the cost and scarcity of toilet paper, paper towels, alcohol wipes, and hand sanitizer from mid-2020 to mid-2021? Why not stock up on these things while they are plentiful and affordable?

Money Prep Tip

Spend some savings on non-perishable items that you will use regardless of whether it is every day or an emergency situation and keep the remainder as a cash reserve. Focus on items that you know from experience will be hard to get in an emergency. These include paper products, hygiene products, disinfectants and ammunition.

When it comes to food, consider getting some canned meat and fruit that will last for at least a few years. Get brands that you like. Just keep in mind the meat rationing most of us in the U.S. experienced in 2020 and focus on those types. Beef was hardest to get in my part of the Easter United States for six months. Shopping for groceries became an adventure nobody enjoyed.

Speaking of grocery shopping…

Prepper’s Pantry: Food

Stock up on items that will stay shelf-stable with the highest nutritional value. The main trick here is to focus on items whose shelf life can be enhanced by packaging them in an airtight container and keeping them in a cool, dry pantry out of constant direct light. While canned meats and vegetables are a standard, I recommend focusing on items easily stored in glass airtight mason jars as well. These include dry beans, rice, and similar items typically purchased by the sack.

To make your life a bit easier here is an article with a list of the top 100 shelf stable foods along with typical shelf life and nutritional information (per serving). Always confirm the actual numbers with the exact product, but certainly feel free use this as a guide to get you started.

Here are the top 100 prepper foods that you absolutely need to know about when preparing for the long haul. Following this list are some tips to prolong shelf life. Please note that you can sort and filter the table below. or scroll to the button below the table to download the complete spreadsheet loaded with serving information, brands and nutritional data.

Disclaimer: PrepperPirate.com, it’s authors and publisher are not nutrition experts and offer no health advice. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We cannot be held liable for incidents resulting from its use. Always refer to the manufacturer for final information.

Category	Shelf Stable Item (unopened cans & jars)	Typical Shelf Life HIGH*
Dry Goods	Black Beans (dry)	20 years
Dry Goods	Boxed Pasta (Rotini)	2 years
Dry Goods	Boxed Pasta (Penne)	2 years
Dry Goods	Boxed Pasta (Fettuccine)	2 years
Dry Goods	Boxed Pasta (Spaghetti)	2 years
Dry Goods	Chick Peas/Garbanzo Beans (dry)	5 years
Dry Goods	Red Kidney Beans (dry)	20 years
Dry Goods	Lima Beans (dry)	20 years
Dry Goods	Pinto Beans (dry)	20 years
Dry Goods	White Rice (dry)	20 years
Dry Goods	Instant Freeze Dried Coffee	10 years
Dry Goods	Roast Coffee	1 year
Dry Goods	Instant Mashed Potatoes	15 years
Dry Goods	Instant Powdered Drink Mixes	3 years
Dry Goods	Instant Ramen Noodles (dry)	2 years
Dry Goods	Lentils (dry)	20 years
Dry Goods	Pancake/Biscuit Mix	1.5 years
Dry Goods	Popping Corn (vacuum sealed; jarred)	10 years
Dry Goods	Powdered Eggs (Whole Egg Powder)	10 years
Dry Goods	Powdered Milk	10 years
Dry Goods	Steel Cut Oats/Oatmeal (dry)	10 years
Dry Goods	Tea (black)	5 years
Dry Ingredients	Granulated White Sugar	10 years
Dry Ingredients	Baking Powder	2 years
Dry Ingredients	Baking Soda	3 years
Dry Ingredients	Brown Sugar	10 years
Dry Ingredients	White Flour (bleached)	10 years
Dry Ingredients	Yeast (dry)	2 years
Seasoning	Herbs (powdered)	4 years
Seasoning	Ground Black Pepper	4 years
Seasoning	Salt (iodized)	10 years
Seasoning	Spices (powdered)	4 years
Sauce Mixes	Brown Gravy Mix	3 years
Sauce Mixes	Chicken Gravy Mix	3 years
Fats & Oils	Bottled Extra Virgin Olive Oil	1.5 years
Fats & Oils	Bottled Vegetable Oil	2.5 years
Fats & Oils	Canned Cooking Spay	2.5 years
Fats & Oils	Lard	3 years
Fats & Oils	Coconut Oil (solid)	2 years
Misc.	Powdered Coffee Creamer	3 years
Misc.	Pancake Syrup	2 years
Misc.	Honey	25 years
Misc.	Molasses	10 years
Fish	Canned Anchovies	5 years
Fish	Canned Crabmeat	5 years
Fish	Canned Mackeral	5 years
Fish	Canned Salmon	5 years
Fish	Canned Sardines	5 years
Fish	Canned Tuna (in water)	5 years
Fruits	Canned Fruit Salad	3 years
Fruits	Canned Peaches	3 years
Fruits	Canned Pears	3 years
Full Meals	Canned Beef Stew	5 years
Full Meals	Canned Brunswick Stew with Chicken	5 years
Full Meals	Canned Chili	5 years
Full Meals	Canned Hash	5 years
Full Meals	Canned Ravioli (beef)	2 years
Meats	Canned Chicken	5 years
Meats	Canned Corn Beef	5 years
Meats	Canned Ham (shelf stable type)	2 years
Meats	Canned Roast Beef	5 years
Meats	Canned Spam	5 years
Ready to Eat	Canned Spray Cheese	2 years
Ready to Eat	Almonds (vacuum sealed; jarred)	2 years
Ready to Eat	Beef Jerky (vacuum sealed)	1.5 years
Ready to Eat	Crackers (Saltines)	9 months
Ready to Eat	Dark Chocolate	2 years
Ready to Eat	Peanut Butter	2 years
Ready to Eat	Dry Roasted Peanuts (vacuum sealed; jarred)	2 years
Ready to Eat	Toaster Pastries	1 year
Ready to Eat	Granola Bars	8 months
Ready to Eat	Sunflower Seeds (vacuum sealed; jarred)	2 years
Soups	Beef Broth Bouillon (dry cubes)	1.5 years
Soups	Canned Beef Broth	5 years
Soups	Canned Vegetable Beef Soup	5 years
Soups	Canned Chicken Broth	5 years
Soups	Canned Vegetable Soup	5 years
Soups	Canned Tomato Soup	2 years
Vegetables	Canned Baked Beans	3 years
Vegetables	Canned Beets	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Black Beans	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Red Kidney Beans	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Pinto Beans	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Lentils	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Chick Pease	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Corn (golden sweet whole kernel)	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Green Beans	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Sweet Green Peas	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Lima Beans	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Potatoes	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Spinach	5 years
Vegetables	Canned Tomatoes	2 years
Jar/Can Sauces	Tomato Sauce (jarred)	2 years
Jar/Can Sauces	Canned Beef Gravy	5 years
Jar/Can Sauces	Canned Chicken Gravy	3 years
Jar/Can Sauces	Canned Cranberry Sauce	2 years
For Pets	Canned Cat Food	2 years
For Pets	Dry Cat Food (kibble)	1.5 years
For Pets	Canned Dog Food	2 years
For Pets	Dry Dog Food (kibble)	1.5 years

* Indicates typical shelf life across brands based on grocery store purchased items. HIGH shelf life typically involves repackaging, refrigerating or taking additional steps to prolong usable life.

Prepper Food Storage Tips

The shelf life shown in the below table assumes maximum freshness when stored in an airtight package in a cool, dark place. I like to vacuum seal in thick plastic then combine weeks or months’ worth of food into airtight pails or buckets for easy access.

If you can spend $40 to $100 on a vacuum food sealer and bags, it’s well worth it. If not, glass mason jars and food-rated plastic containers with an airtight seal also work great for long term food storage.

You can download the fully detailed prepper food spreadsheet at this link. It contains sample brands, more shelf life information and all available national data for each item. You can use this to easily plan out the health benefits of the best food combos and prep accordingly!

To be effective as a prepper, you need to have the right supplies on hand to get through an emergency or disaster situation. Once you have that, you need to be able to protect those supplies, yourself and loved ones. This means some sort of defensive weapons with a firearm of some type being top of the list.

When considering how much ammo a prepper needs there are a few main considerations. First, what are you defending and from what? Second, how long do you need the ammunition to last? And third, where do you live? Thinking in terms of stocking up for a long-term emergency when ammo is scarce, living in a suburban situation, I use the following: 50 pistol and 100 rifle rounds per month stockpile (or 600 pistol/1,200 rifle rounds per year available).

If ammo ever becomes scarce, you obviously won’t blow it all on target practice – but imagine having enough in reserve that you could. That would be like having a mattress stuffed with money when the Great Depression hit! In terms of prepping wealth, you would be rich.

Buying Ammo Based on Local Infrastructure

It’s all about first-world problems versus third world problems. I live in the United States, a first world nation with a fantastic infrastructure – for now at least. But what if the SHTF? Any major power can experience pockets of chaos when things go wrong in a big way. That’s when your little slice of heaven can become “second world” or even third world as compared to what you are used to.

It’s not a good idea to run out and buy a huge amount of ammo in one fell-swoop if you can avoid it. That causes a run that drives up the cost due to increased scarcity. Anyone who remembers 2013’s ammo shortage knows what I mean. Even 22 LR rimfire, which is about the cheapest ammo you can get, went up by as much as 6x in price!

If you can afford to buy in bulk occasionally, that is best (BUT don’t clean out the shelves). For most ammo types (9mm, .357,.38 wadcutter, 22 LR and .22 Magnum) I use an online supplier with free shipping whenever possible. But if you don’t have the cash, consider buying two to three months’ worth, each month while you build your stockpile. This way, in four to six months you have a year’s worth of ammo. It’s basically building an ammo piggy bank.

If you carry a pistol for self-defense the hope is that you never need it for more than target practice – but with 600 rounds per year (50 rounds x 12 months) you are well prepared if you do. For rifle ammo my disaster survival budget is 100 rounds per month between target practice and regular hunting. If you live in a densely populated city, you might rely more heavily on your pistol and not have options for hunting. In rural areas your rifle probably gets more use.

Ammunition for Barter

You will notice in this post I focus a lot on 22 LR ammo. I’m in no way suggesting the 22 is the best possible prepper caliber, but I am saying it is the most common caliber weapon in the United States. Most of us learned to shoot with a .22 and I don’t know anyone who has a rifle that does not have at least one .22 “squirrel gun” somewhere in the house. Even the famous AR-15 style assault file has a .22 option with the Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport.

Having ammunition for the the most universal firearm is always a good idea. Even if you don’t personally think you will rely heavily on a .22, consider having at least one .22 rifle and plenty of ammo. It’s a great primary shooter for small game and an excellent backup weapon for home defense. That said, 22 LR rimfire ammo will always be in demand. Any you don’t shoot yourself can be used to give to those who need it or to trade for something you need.

Having an Ammunition Baseline

When I first thought about serious prepping some years back, the original ammo purchase I made was for 400 rounds of 22 LR rimfire for the Ruger 10/22 carbine (my only gun at the time). I bought the Ruger years before for cheap target practice when 22 LR rounds were about five cents each (I miss those days!). I didn’t have much money, so I left the ammo in its original box, threw in a couple silica bags, and wrapped the cheap cardstock box in brown paper grocery bag paper taped like crazy. I just priced that same 400 rounds of “Browning BPR Performance 22 Long Rifle 36 Grain Hollow Point Rimfire Ammunition.” It was $32.99 at OpticsPlanet.com (with free shipping for purchases over $50).

So, let’s say you buy 800 rounds for $66 to get the free shipping. At 100 rounds fired per month between target and bagging small to medium size game, you would have eight months of ammunition reserve. That’s just $8 per month to help you survive a SHTF situation!

A .22 is not the top choice for a SHTF situation however the same rules apply with 9mm or .357 or any ammo. If possible, consider buying a pistol and rifle that can shoot the same ammunition. It makes stocking and budgeting ammo usage so much simpler. There are plenty of rifles made for traditional handgun ammo today. If you have regional restrictions on semi-automatic rifles, I would suggest looking into a level-action repeater. Henry makes a model that shoots .357 and .38 just like a S&W wheel gun.

My ammo baseline was just that 400 rounds back in 2006. I kept adding to it each month, always being certain to use my oldest ammo first for target practice.

Tip: Mark the date of receipt on the ammo carton when you get it. Now use your oldest rounds first when working in your ammo rotation for actual use.

Tracking Ammo Cost

The cost of ammunition fluctuates like the stock market. Although you can always find a price variance between vendors, it’s also a good idea to track the general average cost by using a site like AmmoPricesNow.com. The below chart is a screenshot for .22 LR ammunition but they have it for a lot more. Just click the image to visit the site and then find the ammo type of interest to you.

Here are three of today’s top online sources for getting the best deals on ammunition of every caliber, whether buying in boxes of 50, bricks of 500, or buckets of 2,500:

OpticsPlanet.com (They specialize in scopes but have dirt cheap ammo and free shipping over $50)

BulkCheapAmmo.com

CheapAmmos.com

Pro Tip: Always check the CPR price when comparing. That stands for Cost Per Round. It’s the simplest way to find the best deals without doing a bunch of mental math given the volume of some ammo packs.

Ammo Care and Degradation

Don’t let your old ammunition degrade. This is one of those things where it’s better to be safe than sorry. A lot of people overlook proper storage for their ammo, but that can be a costly mistake if you get stuck with weak or dud rounds. And as you know, when it comes to prepping, being cheap is not an option. For example, say you buy that $33 box of 400 rounds of .22 long rifle (LR) ammo and want it to last thirty years.

It might be fine just with all rounds loose in the cardboard packaging it came in. But why risk letting moisture in if you can buy a decent air-tight mason jar for about a dollar and store it there? Just always be sure to store it in a cool, dry, and dark place as much as possible. Placing mason jars in brown paper lunch bags or cardboard boxes it a cheap and easy way to keep them out of direct light (and NEVER leave ammo in a glass jar if in direct sunlight – that jar can quickly become a magnifying glass and extreme heat and bullets do not mix!).

Magazines and Speed Loaders

It’s a good idea to prepare with some additional and up-to-date ammo clips or speed loaders. If the SHTF and you are loading your semi-auto one round at a time your troubles might be over sooner than expected – in a permanent way. Having sufficient ready-to-fire ammo can help you handle issues professionally when a disaster occurs! And that means ready to pop in the chamber – not ready and waiting in your pocket.

Looking at the most common rifle out there – the Ruger 10/22 uses a 10-round rotary clip that sits flush when inserted into the rifle. I still have mine along with two backup rotary clips that can be pre-loaded as well as two 25-round banana clips. That’s eighty rounds of easily accessible ammo when needed. It’s not my first choice for repelling an invading hoard, but it’s a lot better than poking them with a sharp stick.

For a typical 9mm semi-auto pistol you usually have about fifteen to eighteen rounds in a standard clip for a full-size handgun (not a pocket mini that typically fits 10 to 12 in the clip).

For example, the…

• Glock 17, houses 17 in the mag plus one in the chamber (17 + 1 for 18 total)
• Glock 19 (most popular 9mm is the US) hoses 15 in the mag and 1 in the chamber.
• Sig Sauer P226 holds 15 in the mag and 1 in the pipe for a total of 16 rounds ready to fire.
• Berretta M9 also accommodates 15 in the magazine and 1 in the chamber for 16 total.
• Ruger SR9c is a smaller weapon ideal for conceal carry that also takes 17 in the mag and 1 in the chamber.

How to Save Ammo Cost for Target Shooting

In a perfect world you want to do much of your target practice using the weapon and round you will rely on most – but that’s not always necessary. If you are trying to get your breathing down and learn to make simple adjustments such as shooting from standing, kneeling, and prone positions – use the same or a similar weapon with more readily available ammunition.

Same Gun – Different Ammo

I learned to shoot handguns using a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver at age sixteen. True 357 rounds were expensive. I was earning minimum wage of $3.35/hour in an after-school job so I shot mostly with .38 special rounds (about 40% of the cost of .357) for general target practice. I’d also do a couple runs of .357 to stay familiar with the kick. Practicing the basics with lower cost ammo allowed me to shoot twice as much – but I still made certain to always throw in some .357 rounds since the power is basically doubled.

Guns vs Firearms

If you want some super-cheap training on safety, weapon handling, and target acquisition, consider training with a gun that is not an actual firearm (depending on the state you live in).

I’ve shot recoil-spring break-barrel .22 caliber pellet guns that are the same weight and have more kick than most 22 rifles. Pellet rifles can be perfect for practicing the fundamentals without having to go to the range (if your backyard will accommodate it). This is not a weapon of choice for hunting or defense, but can be fantastic for learning the basics of shooting.

As far as cost of pellets go, a single “milk carton” of 1,260 Crosman pointed hunting pointed pellets can be had for $16.99. That’s about one and one-third pennies per shot. If you want to go super cheap go with BBs. That same brand of Crosman Copperhead 4.5mm Copper Coated BBs is $9.99 for 6,000. That’s just one penny for six shots! Of course, you would not hunt any small game with these – but they are good for developing short-range shooting basics (except feeling recoil).

What’s Next?

Now that you have a better idea of the quantities of ammo you will need, let’s take a look at the guns themselves with this post – Prepper Guns on a Budget.