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Monthly budget for a food stockpile
Price a mix of rice, lentils, oats, oil, and milk powder for the days you want, then see how many months your budget takes and what to buy this month.
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How the month is split
The calorie total is people, times days, times calories per person. That total is split the same way as the family calculator: 40 percent white rice, 25 percent lentils, 15 percent oats, 15 percent oil, and 5 percent skim milk powder.
Each food has a price per kilogram. The defaults are examples in whatever currency you are thinking in. Change them to your shop or the tool is pricing someone else’s aisle.
The full-store cost is the sum. Divide by the monthly budget to get the number of months. This month’s list is that budget’s share of every food, so you buy a little of each rather than all the rice first and no oil until next year.
How to start a monthly buy
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Step 1
Set the size of the store
Two people and 90 days at 2,200 kcal is the start. Shrink the days if the cost is more than you will spend.
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Step 2
Replace the example prices
Per kilogram, in your currency. The symbol is omitted so the numbers stay yours.
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Step 3
Buy the “this month” column
Repeat until the months figure is behind you. Then rotate what you stored.
Budget questions
Why buy all five foods every month?
A cupboard of only rice is a calorie store with a protein and fat gap. Small amounts of each keep the mix honest while you are still saving.
What if I already have the rice?
Lower the days, or lower the rice price to zero if it is already paid for, and let the budget fall on the foods you still need.
Does this include water and fuel?
No. It is the staple food only. Water, salt, and backup power have their own tools.
Related
A budget works if the food you bought is written down.