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October 16, 2024 • 12 mins

Imagine being ready for life's curveballs without draining your wallet. That's the promise we explore today as we unravel the secrets to stockpiling essentials on a budget. Through personal stories like managing the saline shortage as a surgical assistant, we delve into the power of preparation. Learn how to gradually accumulate a six-month supply of necessities by simply adding a few extra items during your routine grocery trips. This episode introduces you to our practical stockpile workbook, offers tips for those who'd rather not be bogged down by spreadsheets, and provides creative ways to ensure your pantry is always ready for anything from a natural disaster to a supply chain hiccup.

But that's not all. The journey to financial peace of mind doesn't stop at stockpiling. We tackle the broader topic of maximizing your resources, emphasizing time management as the key to financial success. Join our vibrant community on Facebook to keep the conversation going, and don't forget to check out our website for additional resources and show notes. Whether you're planning for retirement or just starting to think about your future, let's explore how to craft a prosperous and joyful journey without breaking the bank, all while keeping things light and informative.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today we're breaking down how to stockpile the
essentials on a budget.
I'm going to share how you canbuild up to a six-month supply
of necessities without needing asecond mortgage.
And don't worry, I'll throw ina few laughs along the way to
keep things light.
Plus, I've got a downloadableresource to help you calculate
and track your stockpile, so youknow exactly what you have and
what you need.

(00:20):
Stick around, I promise thisone's going to be both fun and
super helpful.
Need Stick around, I promisethis one's going to be both fun
and super helpful.
Welcome to Low Income Rich Life,the podcast that helps you
prepare for a secure andfulfilling retirement, even on a
limited income.
Each week, we will explorepractical tips and strategies
for getting out of debt,lowering expenses, living a

(00:41):
simpler life and finding truecontentment, whether you're
nearing retirement or juststarting to plan.
Join us as we navigate thejourney to a brighter future.
Let's dive in and discover howto make the most of your golden
years without breaking the bank.
Hey, everyone, welcome back toanother episode of Low Income

(01:02):
Rich Life.
Today we're diving intosomething a little different but
super important preparing forthe unexpected.
Yep, we're talking stockpilingessentials, and no, I don't mean
building an underground bunkerin your backyard or hoarding
toilet paper.
I'm looking at you 2020.
What I'm talking about issensible, budget-friendly
preparation.
Think of it as future-proofingyour life.

(01:24):
You don't need a six-figureincome to be prepared for
whatever life throws your way,whether it's a natural disaster,
a job loss or, in my caserecently, the old saline
shortage Yep, the shortage thatcould have affected my work
hours, which was a pretty wildrealization.
More on that in a bit.
Look, life's unpredictable.
One minute you're bingewatching Netflix, the next

(01:45):
you're hunting for bottled waterlike it's Black Friday.
We've all seen what happenswhen hurricanes or blizzards hit
or, in my case, when somethingas small as a saline shortage
due to factory damage from ahurricane messes with your work
life.
It's those everyday disruptionsthat remind us how important it
is to have a little extrastashed away for a rainy day or
a very, very stormy day.

(02:06):
So let's talk about whystockpiling even matters in the
first place.
Now, I'm not suggesting we allturn into doomsday preppers,
though I admit I do go through alittle phase after watching too
many episodes of the WalkingDead, but that's a story for
another time.
Stockpiling isn't just aboutprepping for the apocalypse.
It's about being ready foranother time.
Stockpiling isn't just aboutprepping for the apocalypse,
it's about being ready foreveryday emergencies.

(02:27):
If you've been paying attention, you'll know we've had
hurricanes recently that leftparts of the country with severe
shortages in well everythingfrom gas to groceries.
Let's take that saline shortageI mentioned earlier.
Turns out, a hurricanedevastated a major factory and
bam, suddenly hospitals arescrambling to get saline, you
know like the stuff used for IVdrips, and this doesn't just

(02:48):
affect hospitals, it tricklesdown into all kinds of supply
chains.
You may not know this about me,but my day job is a surgical
assistant.
I work in surgery and we've hadto adjust the type of elective
surgeries that we can scheduledue to this shortage.
For me, it could mean fewerhours at work.
Now, think about that.
A shortage in saline could messwith my paycheck, obviously.

(03:11):
This is just one example thataffects me personally, but
there's so many things that canhappen in this crazy world and
really none of us have a hundredpercent guarantee that our jobs
will be there tomorrow.
I try to stay positive and notbe a doomsayer, but being
prepared just makes plain goodsense.
One way we can prepare is tostockpile essentials, and that
means you're ready for stufflike this, so you're not left

(03:33):
worrying when things go sideways.
Remember back in the good olddays when the biggest disruption
was a surprise snow day?
Well, now we've got hurricanes,supply chain breakdowns and
toilet paper shortages.
I mean, what's next?
Are we going to run out ofcoffee?
Oh gosh, I don't even want tothink about that.
Okay, now let's get down tobusiness.
How do you start stockpilingwithout burning through your

(03:55):
entire budget?
First of all, don't panic.
We're not going full-on bunkermode.
You don't need to stockpileeverything overnight, and you
definitely don't need to spend afortune doing it.
The key is to build slowly overtime, just like I did with that
one Lego set that took me sixmonths to finish.
First things first, set yourselfa budget.
Maybe it's $5, $10, or even $20a week.

(04:17):
You don't need to go big, justgo consistent.
Pick up an extra item here andthere when you do your normal
grocery shopping.
Before you know it, you'll havea decent stash of the
essentials.
This is where my stockpileworkbook can come in handy.
It'll help you calculate howmuch of each item you need in
order to have, say, a six-monthsupply.
Then I like to shoot for buyinga little extra each time I go

(04:38):
to the store, I enter it into myinventory and that way I
eventually have a full stockpile.
Now if you're not anorganization nut like I am and
don't think a good time iscreating or keeping track of
spreadsheets, then I have asecond suggestion for you.
You can still use my stockpileworkbook to get an idea of what
items you should stockpile, aswell as figuring out how much of

(04:59):
each item you need.
But instead of keeping ameticulous inventory, you can
just find a storage spot forthat item and create a visual
queue that tells you that yourinventory is full or low.
For instance, above our washerand dryer we have a shelf that
will fit six bottles of laundrydetergent.
When we need a new bottle, wejust reach up and grab one and
bring it down to the washingmachine.

(05:19):
Next time I'm at the store, Ipick up a new bottle and I stick
it to the back of that shelfand pull the older bottles
forward.
This way, I just buy a newbottle of laundry detergent as I
use one, but I always have asix-month supply.
This way, I just buy a newbottle of laundry detergent as I
use one, but I always have asix-month supply.
Oh, and here's a littlestockpiling hack for you Sales.

(05:42):
You know those buy one, get onefree deals or those coupons
that you can snag.
Use them.
Keep an eye out for discountsand watch the weekly ad flyers.
You want to stock up whenprices are low.
Your future self will thank youwhen you're not paying full
price for toilet paper during apanic buying frenzy.
Next, let's talk about focusingon high-impact essentials.
What I mean by this is startwith the stuff that's going to

(06:05):
make the biggest difference inan emergency.
We're talking food, water, meds, hygiene products.
You know the basics.
Don't go splurging on gourmetpopcorn or fancy scented candles
just yet, though, hey, nojudgment.
If you love a good snack whileyou weather a storm, all right.
Let's break down whatessentials you should be
stockpiling.
Remember we're aiming for asix-month supply, but don't let

(06:26):
that number freak you out.
Start small and build over timeFood and water out.
Start small and build over timeFood and water.
Start with food that has a longshelf life, stuff like canned
vegetables, beans, rice, pastaand grains.
You don't need to live offramen noodles, I mean.
Less ramen noodles is yourthing, but think hearty,
nutritious stuff that'll keepyou full and give you energy.

(06:47):
And when it comes to water,here's a pro tip Aim for at
least one gallon of water perperson per day for three days
and then work your way up tomore.
When it comes to medications andhygiene products, stock up on
things like over-the-countermeds and first aid supplies if
possible.
Just make sure you keep trackof the expiration dates.
As far as prescription meds go,you can ask your doctor to
write you a prescription for a90-day supply if your insurance

(07:10):
allows it, and a lot ofinsurance companies actually
prefer that you get 90-daysupplies, especially if you do
it through a mail order.
Now, I personally keep aone-year supply of my
prescription meds on hand.
I'm on let's see a cholesterolmedicine and a couple of blood
pressure medications and havebeen on the same dose for
several years.
I consult with my doctorregularly about my prescription

(07:30):
and make sure that I'm stilltaking the appropriate dose
according to my blood work andlabs, but the service I use for
getting a year's worth ofmedication is called Jace
Medical.
I actually saved a lot of moneyby buying a year's supply.
I was paying roughly $30 permonth after my insurance, which
was around $360 a year out ofpocket, and I was able to get a

(07:50):
year's supply through JaceMedical and only paid a little
under $170.
So I saved almost $200 thatfirst year.
It's also convenient not tohave to call in my prescription
and find time to go by thepharmacy every month.
I'll leave a link to JaceMedical in the show notes for
you.
All right, let's not forget thehygiene products Shampoo, soap,

(08:11):
toothpaste, deodorant.
Trust me, you don't want to runout of deodorant in an
emergency.
I treat these items the same asthe rest.
I try to keep six months ofeach in my stockpile.
You can also think aboutbatteries, flashlights, candles
and the infamous toilet paper.
Again, we all learned this thehard way in 2020.
Cleaning supplies are also amust Bleach, sanitizers, that
kind of stuff.
Oh, and don't forget blanketsand cold weather gear if you

(08:32):
live somewhere with crazywinters.
Now for the pet parents.
If you've got fur babies, likeI do, don't forget pet food,
medications and other essentialsfor your pets.
They got to eat too and, trustme, no one wants a hangry cat
during a crisis.
Okay, so now that you've gotall this stuff, where do you put
it?
I'm glad you asked.
Organizing your stockpile is keyto making sure nothing goes to

(08:53):
waste.
First off, use shelves, bins orstorage containers to keep
everything neat and easy toaccess.
Label stuff with expirationdates so you can keep track of
what needs to be used first.
First in and first out.
That's the golden rule ofstockpiling right.
When you buy new stuff, rotateit so the older items get used
up first.
You'll be surprised how quicklythings get used up.

(09:14):
So keep a close eye on whatneeds replacing.
Now one thing I want to touch onis stockpiling without waste.
It can be tempting to gooverboard, but remember you
don't want your stockpile toturn into a landfill.
Be practical about what yourfamily actually uses.
I know that there's a trendamong preppers to stockpile
stuff like freeze-dried foodsand expensive specially prepared
food.
I personally do not believe inthat.

(09:36):
I mean, I guess if you have themoney to burn and can afford it
, then go ahead, knock yourselfout.
But I have a hard enough timejust buying regular groceries to
eat day-to-day without paying apremium for something that has
been marketed for preppers.
I feel like you should simplybuy the things that your family
already eats on a day-to-daybasis.
For example, I checked pricingon Walmartcom for some

(09:59):
freeze-dried food in thepre-packed buckets and found the
prices were between $0.75 and$3 per ounce.
You can easily buy rice andbeans for around $0.05 an ounce.
Canned green beans are anamazing $0.04 an ounce.
And here's a trick I use Iincorporate the stuff that I'm
stockpiling into my regularmeals.
That way, nothing goes bad andyou get used to having a little
extra on hand.

(10:20):
Plus, it keeps your stockpilefresh and ready for when you
really need it.
I mean, my family eats greenbeans and rice all the time.
I can't say that I've ever hadany freeze-dried savory
stroganoff.
I guess it might be really good, but not at $3 an ounce.
Now for those of you looking togo a little further.
Maybe you want to prep forbigger disruptions like natural
disasters or long-term supplyshortages.

(10:41):
Let's talk about what thatlooks like.
Think about picking up extragear like solar chargers, water
filters or emergency radios.
And hey, a portable phonecharger isn't a bad idea either.
I know I get anxious when myphone battery dips below 20%.
All right, folks, let's wrapthis up.
The key takeaway here is thisStart small, focus on the
essentials and build yourstockpile over time.

(11:03):
It doesn't matter whetheryou're financially comfortable
or on a low income.
Everyone can start preparingfor life's unexpected moments.
And don't forget, I've puttogether a handy spreadsheet to
help you track your stockpileand calculate what you need.
You can download it for freeand the link should be in the
show notes on this episode Nextweek.
We're talking about how tostick to your financial goals

(11:23):
even when life gets in the way.
So hit that subscribe button ifyou haven't already, and I'll
see you next time.
And I'll see you next time.
Thank you for joining us on thisepisode of Low Income Rich Life
.
I hope you found today's tipsand strategies helpful.
If you enjoyed the show, pleasesubscribe, rate and leave us a

(11:44):
review on your favorite podcastplatform.
Your feedback helps us reachmore listeners and improve the
content we bring to you.
Don't forget to visit ourwebsite at lowincomerichlifecom
for additional resources, shownotes and links to everything we
discussed today.
You can also join theconversation in our Facebook
group at facebookcom slash groupslash lowincomerichlife.

(12:05):
Remember, a truly rich life isnot about how you spend your
money, but how you spend yourtime.
I'm Kevin Bass, wishing you aprosperous and joyful retirement
journey.
Stay well and stay inspired.
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