So, you have decided that it’s time to start storing food. You’ve made a great decision. Having a food storage pantry is a huge money saver and you get the peace of mind knowing that you and your family are prepared and secure.

When stocking your food storage pantry it is important to shop for the best bargains. The big warehouse clubs have good prices, and shopping them exclusively will save you money. Often times if you are a more savvy shopper you can get a better price elsewhere. In my area the warehouse store sells canned veggies by the case for $.79 a can, but the local grocer sells their name brand for $.59 a can. When they have a sale or coupon the savings is ever better. Your best bet is to check your local grocers weekly ads and coupons, as well as manufacturer’s coupons. You can get great savings relying on sales alone, and other times you may need to use coupons. However, these can be used to reap the best savings, when they can be combined. This kind of bargain hunting can really save you a lot of money especially when making the large purchases that are often necessary to stock your pantry. Another good idea is to keep a price log or journal, so that you have a record of prices that you have paid for items. By doing this you will know what the best price for an item is and you can buy more at the lowest price. Here’s another great tip: The grocers often run some of the best sales and coupons during big “meal holidays” like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Be prepared and shop early, they sometimes run out of common items.

Follow this advice and in time you will really start to see a reduction in your food costs and before you know it you will have first class food storage.