By eating what we actually prep and buying in bulk and on sale, we also aggressively ad coupon match we have over the long run certainly paid for the prepping items we have and the costs of accumulating them. I see pallets of emergency food for sale at prepper sites and think: have you read the fine print and what is actually contained? Each year around mid January canned hams go on sale. Bulk is one approach and then coupons are another, it has to be "legitimately on sale" as an example a lead loss item, where the store is willing to loose on that item to draw you into the store. Bristol Ham when you see it on sale dollar general and with a discount coupon can be had for $2.50. Keep and eye out for canned pineapple for sale as well. So much of the prepper market and survival markets miss the point of "sufficiency" and "sustainability" as if we are nothing more than thoughtless consumers. Can you do a quick dinner of ham, instant mashed potatoes, pineapple, and a canned green bean? Yep.. We of course prefer to grow and freeze our beans.. but again if the store is genuinely putting the item on sale, then buy it. So many sales aren't really sales and are marketing instead. Plan ahead.. simple common sense. Finally know your pantry and rotate, if something is getting close to out-of-date then donate that item and itemize it along with expiration date to a charity, pick a reasonable price that passes the blush test, and if you genuinely bought on sale you do fine. Donate at Thanksgiving and the Holidays when the food bank is in need, and then replenish in Jan/Feb. But our whole purpose was the eat better, eat more nutritious, and as we have to eat, enjoy cooking, canning, and saving some money while at it. I picked up cans at $2.00 of ham last year, got ten of them for $20. It is as much as knowing the market timing and minimal effort as it is anything. Bristol canned ham dollar general.. watch for the sale in Jan/Feb like clockwork.
Put an ad on craigslist asking for them, you will be amazed at people who have a box and no clue whatsoever.. make sure you pay well below new jar $ or barter something. Yard sales etc.. good luck.. they are out there and available
