Prepping on a Budget- Part 2, by The Newbie

 Print This Post Email This Post Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit Google LinkedIn LinkedIn

Costco Membership

Costco’s price for organic flour and bulk quality foods is unbeatable. However, the other things listed below are much less expensive at the regular warehouse. The Business Center carries both the higher gluten organic flour that is better for breads (red wheat) and the lower gluten/protein flour that is better for cakes muffins and pastries (soft winter wheat). I would buy these in addition to storing whole grains. It helps with your overall budget. Depending on how much you spend, it may benefit you to get an Executive Membership. If you have the money, it behooves you to do this regardless. If your rebate doesn’t come to what you invest in it, they will refund the difference. The membership prices are increasing by $20 in June. If you don’t have one now, it would be beneficial to invest in membership this month.

Costco Coupons

Costco runs coupons every month, so it is good to check. Once you buy a membership they send you the monthly coupons. It isn’t necessary to present them at the checkout. They are automatically deducted, unless it is a coupon code you have specifically for Google Express. If you already have a membership, you should have received a 25% off coupon up to $30 off of your first order when you join Google Express. These are just a few examples of the prices. There is no difference in the Costco prices online and in the warehouse, but the Business Center is a different story. They have to pay for diesel and pay the delivery fees, et cetera. It doesn’t look like there is hardly a markup at all, so this is understandable. They carry a lot of food items that aren’t available in the regular Costco.

Some items are available in much bigger portions, like rice and raw honey. I almost passed out when I walked into the Business Center and saw how much less items cost. I was fully prepared to pay the online prices because they were still way better than anything I’ve seen after extensive researching. The impression was that I was getting the best prices on sugar and a few other things by buying the 25-pound bag in the regular Costco. But after actually going to a Business Center a couple of days ago, I found I was wrong. Some of the items are available through Google Express at the same price as the warehouse, like toilet paper. If you have a business and order through the Business Center, just know to compare prices before hand to get the best prices.

Comparing Warehouse and Business Center Prices Online and In Store

Toilet paper is a good example. It costs $3 more to order through the Business Center than to order through Google Express. The Business Center caters to espresso stands and restaurants, so there are a lot of other things on a preppers list that make it well worth the trip or ordering online, depending on where you live and if you know someone you trust who owns a business where it can be delivered. We’ve lived close enough to a Business center for years and didn’t know about it but wish I would have. I hope this article is helpful. I would have loved to have known sooner. These are a few examples of their prices:

Costco Business Center Prices:

  • Shepherds Organic Flour High Gluten 50 pounds- $25.19 online, $18.99 in store
  • Shepherds Organic Flour Lower Gluten 50 pounds- $21.99 online, $15.99 in store
  • Mothers Molasses 1 Gallon- $13.39 online, $10.99 in store
  • Small Red Beans 25 pounds- $23.29 online, $19.99 in store
  • 4 Monks Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 gallon, $5.49 online, $3.99 in store
  • Basmati Rice 50 pounds- $ N/A online, $20.49 in store
  • Karo Syrup 1 gallon- $12.29 online, $9.99 in store.
  • Clabber Girl Corn Starch 3.5 pounds- $4.09 online, $2.99 in store
  • Rice’s Raw Honey 5 pounds- $22.69 online, $18.99 in store

Costco Warehouse / Google Express

  • Pinto Beans 25 pounds- $14.49
  • Garbanzo Beans 25 pounds- $17.79
  • Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 13.5 pounds- $6.59
  • Basmati Premium Rice 20 pounds- $14.99
  • Quaker Oats 10 pounds- $8.89
  • Nestle Chocolate Chips 4 pounds- $8.89
  • 4 Monks White Distilled Vinegar 2 gallons- $4.29
  • C&H Brown Sugar 7.5 pounds- $4.99
  • C&H Brown Sugar 25 pounds- $15.49
  • White Sugar 25 pounds- $11.99
  • Kirkland Toilet Paper 30 rolls- $15.99
  • Ocean Spray Craisins 64 ounces- $8.99
  • Kirkland Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/2 gallon- $14.99
  • 700 Coffee Filters- $2.99
  • McCormick Ground Ginger- $8.99
  • McCormick Chili Powder- $5.49
  • Red Star Active yeast 2 pounds- $4.49
  • Kirkland Raw Almonds 3 pounds- $12.99
  • Raw Walnuts 3 pounds- $11.69
  • Kirkland Raw Pecans 2 pounds- $14.79
  • Kirkland Chocolate covered Almonds- $11.99
  • Organic Chia Seeds 2 pounds- $7.49

Chia Seeds

On the list, I left chia seeds for last. I haven’t seen much about them on preparedness websites. This is surprising to me because of their light weight, super nutritional content longevity, and versatility. The fact that you can grow them yourself makes this all the more surprising. A serving is just 2.5 tablespoons, and the nutritional punch is a “wow”! They are filling too, especially if you can let them soak for an hour or so. Chia seeds hold 15 times their weight in water. They have a gel-like consistency after you soak them, so you can add a lot of different flavors or spices.

These may not taste as good as salmon. However, they have five times the amount of Omega 3’s and five times the amount of calcium as milk. Chia seeds are extremely inexpensive for the nutrition. Weighing next to nothing makes them ideal for bug out bags. Plus, they take up very little space in your food stores.

A serving has 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbohydrate, 11 grams of dietary fiber, and 5 grams of protein. Additionally, they are salt- and sugar-free. There is a plethora of things you can use to add flavor, or just toss them in other recipes for the nutritional content alone.

Tea Infuser for In The Field

Another thing I haven’t seen on a peppers list that would be fantastic in the field is a tea infuser for making herbal teas from foraging or for a small makeshift strainer in a pinch. They are tiny, light weight, and reusable.

If you do happen to have a Dollar Tree close to you and just $20, you can get started purchasing some of the supplies for a quick bug out bag. Most of us newer to preparedness don’t have thousands of dollars laying around to buy all the things the pros have had for their entire lives. We were too busy buying designer clothes and going to the MAC counter. My priorities have shifted. It isn’t easy for someone who is used to spending money on being pretty and fashionable to change. I’m getting used to my darkish strawberry blonde hair having a few gray hairs instead of the $250 foils. Speaking of foil, the dollar store has a box of Reynold’s sheets. These are versatile for your bug out bag.

Making a Faraday Cage for Your AA Batteries

You can take out the center roll of toilet paper and fill it with 14 AA batteries. Then, cut out cardboard circles from an old shoe box to put on the ends and cut a chunk of duct tape to hold them. Wrap these with foil. Now, you have a little Faraday cage. I was proud of that one, because I haven’t seen it mentioned at all. I’ve come up with all kinds of inventive ways to make these all over my house ever since I learned what they were from this website. Who knew?

Sharing Skills

I wish Mr. Rawles would break his social media rule so more people like me would be exposed to the skills and necessity to start preparing for the coming collapse. This is going to hit so many people by surprise. It will put everyone in more danger if the food supply chains break or, God forbid, something worse happens. Please take this seriously, because by the time the dollar is worthless, you won’t have much access to your bank accounts.

I am above average with social media when I did it for a wounded warrior. If anyone else is interested, maybe we can come up with something to get people to prepare without scaring the bejeebees out of them. The amount of food alone you need for one person for a year is staggering! I read in another article that the very least you need per person per year is to have the equivalent of a quarter loaf of bread and 3/4 cups of beans. This would be no where near all of the calories you will need if working without modern conveniences.Furthermore, I don’t think people realize. I certainly didn’t. This is the bare minimum per person per year. This doesn’t include any extras, like fruits, vegetables, extra nutritional fats, and proteins.

Gardening

Amazon has some great containers if you have limited space for a garden. Even the watering systems are great! Rain water containers are a fantastic idea. And there are some with planters on top for extra herbs or greens. I have found a $4 water meter can be critical when container gardening. Even if you only have room for a few containers, you will see how important this is. I never in a million years thought I’d consider having chickens or even homesteading. Now it is all I think about.

When you see this list, I think if you are newer to preparedness you will see gardening is a critical skill to stock pile. It is part of all that you will need, even if you aren’t new to preparedness and stock piling. Gardening goes right along with canning and just being a “prepared” housewife with budget in mind. My niece has done this for years. Yet, she had a hard time believing that she’d need 1,750 pounds of just grains to feed a family of five for a year. It is truly astounding when you see it written out and see a picture of the tiny portion this really is for one year’s food requirements.

Further Reading:

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

This has been Part two of a three Part entry for Round 70 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value), and

Round 70 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.


18 Comments

  1. Faraday cage made from cardboard toilet paper rolls? I don’t recomend trusting cardboard to protect anything from an electromagnetic pulse. Also, batteries are not something that needs Faraday cage protection. For an item to be damaged by an emp there needs to be an antenna to focus the pulse.

    1. The author is making it a Faraday cage by wrapping it in foil and then covering that in duct tape for physical protection. It is debatable on whether that is necessary for small things like batteries. I suspect if you are close enough to a blast to have your batteries cooked by an EMP, you probably have bigger issues on your hands. It doesn’t hurt anything though.

      2. I wrote this and I had edited that part to include my son laughing at me every time he looked at me for an hour. I put that I basically had useless little faraday cages then realized I could put the small tactical flashlights in them so they weren’t useless after all. . I will call you what I did my son. Smarty pants. I’m new to this. I sat through a fifteen minute lecture about what will be fried. I asked him if anything protected and he doesn’t. It can’t hurt especially if they are in something bigger. If you really want to laugh at me, I will tell you I made it backwards. I put the bubble wrap on the wrong side of the foil. I spent a couple hours making sure the measurements were right and wasted a lot of aluminum tape because I had to take it part and do it over. I hope it even works I lined a small wooden chest with a lid and then wrapped the few solar lights and weather radio again. The whole thing is lined with no gaps. My family is already getting quite annoyed with me so I can just imagine what they would think if I had an obvious one not to mention there are a lot of them so I need to balance OPSEC with love for my extended family. I’m feeling a little like Lucy preparing. I had quite a few changes to this after buying Office along with another one I hope will help the men with suburbanite “girly girl” wives and families. I lost the entire thing before stupid word just stopped and haven’t had time to type it all out again. You all would be rolling on the floor laughing at some of the things I’ve done. That was just one of them. My son asked me if I was becoming a “prepper” Then laughed for the rest of the day at the thought of me shooting a shot gun. I’m pretty small. He asked if he can watch me get knocked on my butt which will probably happen. I’m already a little intimidated but still determined to learn and get land in the Redoubt by the end of next year. I had a place picked where the man will carry the contract but there are no trees and it is right off a 2 lane highway. Good neighbors and we could block the road. if it got too bad. Hugh we really shouldn’t be hasty, right??

        1. When I married Mrs. Latimer, she was a city girl through and through. She’d never shot a firearm, never taken care of animals (beyond a pet dog) and never gardened. Now she’s a pro, butchering chickens, managing a garden that produces about 60% of our produce and I have to slow her down at times on the prepping because I can’t put it up fast enough. She learned! When the realization hits, it really changes a person.

        2. My point was not to ridicule you, Newbie. It was to point out that if you need a working Faraday cage, you REALLY need one. That is not the time to find out if it works. Any sort of metal container, galvanised trash cans, empty 55 gallon barrels with removeable tops, etc., will work. Keep at it, you are getting most of the basics right.

      3. I wrote this and I had edited that part to include my son laughing at me every time he looked at me for an hour. I put that I basically had useless little faraday cages then realized I could put the small tactical flashlights in them so they weren’t useless after all. . I will call you what I did my son. Smarty pants. I’m new to this. I sat through a fifteen minute lecture about what will be fried. I asked him if anything protected and he doesn’t. It can’t hurt especially if they are in something bigger. If you really want to laugh at me, I will tell you I made it backwards. I put the bubble wrap on the wrong side of the foil. I spent a couple hours making sure the measurements were right and wasted a lot of aluminum tape because I had to take it part and do it over. I hope it even works I lined a small wooden chest with a lid and then wrapped the few solar lights and weather radio again. The whole thing is lined with no gaps. My family is already getting quite annoyed with me so I can just imagine what they would think if I had an obvious one not to mention there are a lot of them so I need to balance OPSEC with love for my extended family. I’m feeling a little like Lucy preparing. I had quite a few changes to this after buying Office along with another one I hope will help the men with suburbanite “girly girl” wives and families. I lost the entire thing before stupid word just stopped and haven’t had time to type it all out again. You all would be rolling on the floor laughing at some of the things I’ve done. That was just one of them. My son asked me if I was becoming a “prepper” Then laughed for the rest of the day at the thought of me shooting a shot gun. I’m pretty small. He asked if he can watch me get knocked on my butt which will probably happen. I’m already a little intimidated but still determined to learn and get land in the Redoubt by the end of next year. I had a place picked where the man will carry the contract but there are no trees and it is right off a 2 lane highway. Good neighbors and we could block the road. if it got too bad. It is flat with irrigation rights and already farmland and 10 minutes from a tiny town as the crow flies. I’ve just since read articles on here that are making question. Hugh we really shouldn’t be hasty, right??

  2. With respect to social media, I disagree with the author and support the policy of JWR and HJL, please DO NOT ADD SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS to this forum.

    RE chia seeds, I had no idea that they were good nutrition, Thanks for the info.

    Finally, using any online purchase option will create an electronic trail back to you. Brick and mortar stores are the preppers friend in this regard. Not to mention the higher prices for online order delivery.

    Overall, a good article and I encourage the author to tell us more.

    1. Sadly, SEO is pretty much going to require SurvivalBlog to have a social media presence. JWR is certainly allergic to it and has apoplectic fits every time it’s mentioned so it will probably fall on me to make it happen. I’m the lowest in the pecking order, so to speak.

      1. Hugh

        Ugh, I understand why, but that’s disappointing. I DESPISE social media and have absolutely refused to participate. It’s not so much that it’s an OPSEC killer, but the arrogance required to believe that the world wants to know each and every time you go to the gym or a bday party is nauseating.

        1. And to top that, sometimes you reach the point where you find that you are nearly irrelevant if you don’t have a presence. I still use primarily email and I get some interesting looks when I tell people that I don’t do facebook and they’ll have to email me. I’m not sure I have ever gotten a mailed letter from my kids.

  3. Jim/Hugh – Seriously!? How did this article make it through the review board and end up being published? $250 for a foil frosting job? My wife suggests making a trip to the Dollar Tree, buying a roll of foil for a buck, buying a hair coloring kit for a buck and put the $248 saved into junk silver.

    1. The author is making the point that it is foolish to spend that kind of money on frivolous things. Yes, people do spend that much on hair appointments. If you think that’s bad, you should see what people are willing to spend on weddings! I have no idea how long a $250 hair foil lasts, but for 12 of them I could have a brand new PVS-14 3rd gen.

  7. This is not true at least in Austin. There is no legal 30.06 or 30.07 signs posted. So you can conceal or open carry. FYI IKEA does have the signs up. I never shop there any more.

Comments are closed.