Why You Should Stock Up for the Coronavirus Pandemic

During this time of uncertainty we wanted to share items you should stock up with the Coronavirus knocking on our door.

We are providing this list, not to add to the panic, but to allow you peace of mind and control of your wallet.

Why You Need a Stockpile

While many of you already have a great stockpile there may be some of you that are new to the benefits of stocking up on the items that are important to you and your family. Building and maintaining a stockpile can benefit you enormously as you can see from the Zero to Stockpile challenge I did a couple of years ago. It’s amazing how much money you really can save just by stocking up on items you use often when they are their lowest prices. This alone is a reason you should have a great stockpile regardless of the Coronavirus.

Also, with the Coronavirus at our heels, there is that chance that you may be contained to your home for an extended period of time. That could be self containment in case you find yourself feeling sick or, worse, do get the virus. Or it could be a forced containment similar to Italy. Either way, you would want to have a good supply of food and household products for you and other family members.

Why the Coronavirus Can Impact Your Consumer Products

As factories in other countries are closing temporarily, there will most likely be an impact on consumer product production in the US.  We are already hearing about the possible impact on pharmaceutical supplies. While the products you buy may be produced in the US, they may contain ingredients or packaging that is purchased outside the US. For instance the pasta you buy, while produced in the US, may get the flour from another country whose factories are not currently operating or maybe just the packaging is purchased abroad. These supply disruptions could have an impact on pricing of US consumer products as companies try to source new suppliers to continue producing their products. This could be a temporary increase in pricing on products or, if they switch to 100% US made going forward, could become more expensive for the longer haul. Having a stockpile can give you, the consumer, time to adjust to the possibility of increased prices regardless of if it is temporary or long term.

How Much To Stock Up On

The amount you stock up on depends on how much you can currently afford and store in your home. If you are on a budget, I would recommend, cutting costs on other items and focusing a little bit more of your cash on slowly building this stockpile.

If you live in a small space, I would recommend getting a little creative and find spaces under a bed, in a closet. Get rid of stuff you haven’t used in a while and use that space for your stockpile.

Again, this is not meant to scare anyone. A stockpile is just a good idea even without the issues surrounding all of us right now. There is no reason to stock up on a years supply of toilet paper or Lysol wipes. Just a nice supply of products to get you through a month or even a few months at most.

Items You Should Consider Stocking Up On

Below is a list of items we recommend for your stockpile. Remember, stock up on items you use. If you don’t eat canned salmon, for instance, don’t stock up on that. Also, be sure to use our Grocery Price Comparison tool to check for the best deals (if available) on the items you plan to stock up on.

Vegetables

• Frozen vegetables
• Canned Vegetables including canned tomatoes and sauces)
• Vegetable broth

Fruit

• Canned fruit (including applesauce)
• Frozen fruit
• Dried fruit

Meats and other Proteins

• Poultry including chicken and turkey fresh (to be frozen if you have the space)
• Beef and Pork fresh (to be frozen if you have the space)
• Canned chicken
• Seafood fresh (to be frozen if you have the space)
• Canned seafood such as tuna or salmon
• Legumes such as lentils, beans (canned or raw)
• Nuts and Nut butters

Protein

• Tuna or salmon, canned or in a pouch
• Chicken or turkey, canned or in a pouch
• Frozen fish, such as shrimp or individually portioned pieces of salmon
• Shelf-stable silken tofu
• Lentils, canned or vacuum-sealed
• Eggs and egg beaters
• Nut/seed butter
• Nuts and seeds
• Trail mix
• Dry or canned beans
• Broths: Beef or Chicken

Grains

Dairy

• Powdered Milk
• Shelf stable milk or regular milk which can be frozen
• Nut milks that have longer expiration dates such as Almond or Oat Milk
• Butter (to be frozen if you have the space)
• Cheeses (to be frozen if you have the space)

Misc

• Oils including olive and vegetable oil
• Vinegars including wine, white (good for cleaning too) and balsamic

Beauty Products:

• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Soap
• Hand Soap
• Lotions

Household

• White Vinegar (for homemade cleaners)
• Castille Soap (for homemade cleaners)
• Dawn dish soap (for dishes and homemade cleaners)
• Disinfecting cleaners
• Paper products including toilet paper

Baby Products:

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Cleansers
• Formula

Health Products

• Pain Medicine
• Cold Medicine
• Vitamins

Also, be sure to keep on eye on our online deals as we focus more on the essentials you need to build your stockpile.