Storing as a single lady

GUEST BLOGGER: TASHA KILLIAN, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

​Hey there! It’s me, your resident family finance for one expert. I call myself that because if you’ve been reading these blogs faithfully, you’ll know that I am not a Utah Money Mom, but rather, I am experienced in adapting family finance principles to life as a single lady. This blog’s post will serve as just that, an adaptation of food storage principles to those of us who are the only one in our household. If being in the middle of a pandemic has taught me anything, it is the importance of being prepared, as well as the lack of current information on how to prepare when your family consists of just one person. To do that, I will be giving three tips based on research and my own experience to help you as you build your long and short-term food storage for one. 

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Tip number 1 – Here a little and there a little. It can be hard to try and buy and store an entire supply of food storage for anyone, let alone for a single person who may be more transient and taking in less income. The solution to that is to build your supply here a little and there a little. For me, this looks like adding two bags of rice to my monthly shopping list instead of just one. It could look like buying a little extra to stock your supply when you get a little extra money for working overtime. Whatever it may be, it is much easier to build and keep a supply when you go buy here a little and there a little.

Tip number 2 – Keeping track helps you stay on track. How many times have you gotten back from the store, put your food in your pantry and realized you now have 3 packages of vanilla, but absolutely no flour? This used to happen to me all the time. Then I realized a quick and easy solution – find a tracking method. For me, excel works best, but there are apps and another programs – even just a pen and paper to help you track. This is helpful because you want to be a) buying the right things that you need and b) knowing when you need to buy more and use close to expiring food, etc. Keep track of basics and foods you regularly eat as well as what you want to keep in your supply.

Tip number 3 – Make it fun and make it yours! Building a food storage supply can be a big task to take on. It takes planning, time and effort. However, it can also be fun. Don’t just buy foods that will be easy to use or what you’ve been told you need; rather find things you like. It’s okay to put your favorite protein bars in, to pick out easily made meals you enjoy cooking, and to store it in a fun backpack or bin that you enjoy.
Storing food as a single person can be difficult. As a more transient time in people’s lives, it is usually hard to budget for and find a place to store your supply. But, if you do it here a little and there a little, keep track to stay on track and make it fun and make it yours, you’ll be able to feel prepared for whatever emergency may come your way during this time of life.
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To learn more about building a food storage supply and how to properly store food, visit: https://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage/

Tasha is an Assistant Professor in Juab county teaching about family tech use, mental health, and life skills. She is a self-proclaimed arcade connoisseur with a passion for Diet Mountain Dew and country music.