Monday, June 3, 2013

Stocking Up & Preparing for the Worst

I went out today and spent 3/4 of the $425 June grocery budget stocking up on essentials and will use the last 1/4 filling in the blanks.  Hopefully this will work without blowing the budget .  I shop at 4-6 stores per month to get their loss leaders and to ensure I pay lowest prices.  Fortunately everything is quite close together in our town so it only takes time, and not too much gas.  

It is hubby's 51st Birthday today and we are celebrating quietly at home.  I plan on BBQing up a wild salmon with cilantro rice, salad and a store bought cherry pie which was his requested desert.   I could have made one and saved about $2 but was busy so decided this time I would go for the convenience.  We could have gone out to dinner but he wanted to stay in as we have eaten out twice last week, once taking business clients who were in town out for dinner and once when our neighbors took us to dinner as a thank you for some lending some yard equipment and childcare.  It was completely unexpected but really nice. 

I started on an Emergency Preparedness kit today buying 8 liters of distilled water.  According to this Emergency Preparedness Kit checklist they suggest you have 4 liters of water per person per day for a minimum 3 days in your home kit so I will have to buy more on the next shopping trip.  Reading the list makes you realize that you should make kits for home, in your car and at work.  You should also prepare a bag/backpack if you were evacuated.  You can buy pre-made kits but I prefer to make our own as it is less expensive. 

Do you have an emergency preparedness kit and if so what is in it?



11 comments:

  1. We have our "Tornado" box, just in case we get stuck in our basement. In the winter, we stock up on food and essentials in case there is a blizzard that keeps us home for a few days. We have a battery operated radio and candles, etc. No generator but maybe we'll invest in one when we move out to the country. Good idea to be prepared!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was always a little worried in Alberta about the tornadoes but fortunately never was in one beyond the terrible large hail that comes with them. We have never owned a generator. Our natural gas heat works without electricity as well as the natural gas outlet to the barbeque. If that gas line got jeopardized our neighbors have a trailer with propane and he is a policeman so would have access to the latest news that way.

      Delete
  2. Way back when VP Gore told us to buy plastic and duct tape, we made an emergency kit in the basement. It's got blankets,
    wipes, plastic bags, paper towels & plates, candles, a can opener, plastic utensils, a radio, underwear..stuff like that. I had kept food in it for a while (peanut butter, crackers, applesauce), but it all expired because I forgot about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Instead of stockpiling food separately for an emergency I am just going to make sure that my main groceries I always have a good supply of these items. That way nothing will have to be garbaged.

      Delete
  3. Seems like a good thing to do, just in case. I hope your hubby had a nice Birthday! Sounds like he did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We did have a nice day and topped it off with a nice long walk around the neighborhood as it was nice and sunny. Cheers!

      Delete
  4. We keep meaning to do this,but keep forgetting.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You might want to include some bear repellent in yours lol

      Delete
  5. Where we are, it is more likely that we will be instructed to stay where we are rather than evacuate. I gave up on emergency stockpiling after 20+ years here of never needing a kit and stuff going bad. But... I used to keep and regularly use an emergency doggy first aid kit as our last dog was accident prone. In the five years we have had Teddy, we hadn't needed it once but last week at camp, our guest got a stye in her eye and don't you know we had saline solution and an eyewash kit in the doggy first aid kit. So I guess you never know!

    Happy 51 to your fella -- I can attest that it doesn't suck to actually be "in your 50's"!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hubby had a huge first aid kit as was always terrified one of the kids would damage themself on his weekend - the remains of that we brought home from our Alberta house when it sold so I need to go through it and see what we need to buy. We live 2k away from a major hospital though.

      Delete
  6. Great reminder. I need to do this.

    ReplyDelete