Six Month Supply

[JanH]

I have six months worth of expenses in my EF. Yay! I don't have six months worth of food. Maybe a couple of weeks to a month's worth. A 2007 goal is to work on that. Other things I have a six months supply of is perfume and lotion. Note to self: Don't Need More.
Have about four months worth of deoderant. When did that happen?
Have a month's worth of toilet paper and other paper goods.
Have a year's worth of cleaning supplies.
Setting a goal for 2007 of having six months supplies on hand bought frugally. Then when life gets crazy, I know that I've got supplies to hold me over.
What do you have six months of?

[genmed]

Great job! What a wonderful goal for the new year and something definately worth considering.
So far I have six months worth of personal care supplies (toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo, etc).

[pearlieq]

I prefer to run a just-in-time inventory. We can really do without just about everything if we had to.

I should probably put away a bit more food and water for emergencies, but I'm really not too worried about our disaster vulnerability.

In general I prefer to keep things simple, streamlined, and uncluttered. I do, however, have about 18 months worth of toothpaste, but that's because I found a great sale and matched it with coupons.

[Miz Pat]

I try to be a month ahead on anticipated bills in my checkbook. I have a savings account for those drastic emergencies involving unemployment or the house burning down. I have a stockpile of expensive type vitamins, and I try to keep an extra freezer full of cheap cuts of meat (i.e. stock up when the price is good and use when the prices are bad). I keep flashlights and candles around in case of extended power failures, and I have a crank up radio that shines a little light when you crank it and plays the radio off that. I try to keep dry type staples in my pantry (canned goods, spices, teas, beans, flour (within limitations). I keep old liter bottles filled with water in the bottom of the standup freezer to keep the freezer cold in the event of a power failure and they are wonderful to take along on long trips, because the water melts slow and is icy cold.

This is all good, but the worst thing that happens in finding mystery meat frozen and wondering if its any good. I really need to organize the freezer.

Pat

[PRICEPLUS]

JanH, sounds like you have things well in hand. I definitely have six months of food stocked. I don't have 6 month EF yet. It is more loke 3 months. I have ot work on that. We have toiletries for more than 6 months as we stock up on sales.

[dossin1]

The only thing I really stockpile is liquid laundry soap. Right now, we have five bottles downstairs. We go through quite a bit, but I'm trying to train dh and kids to use less

[ChimbleySweep]

I have six months worth of food on hand. I am a big 'buy it while it's on sale' type of person. It's the emergency fund I'm trying to get going on!

[Aleta]

Yes , but I think that you're off to a great start whether it be in goods or money. You're on your way and you realize the importance of saving. Good luck

[titi]

As far as food is concerned, I avoid purchasing ahead - mainly because of health considerations. However, I always have a packet or two of spaghetti, cornflakes, rice, etc.
One thing that I usually pay ahead is my Internet access. I usually pay for 3 months at once (the provider does not accept more) and then even if I don't have money, I know that I will be online.

Toilet paper needs a lot of space and I usually have no more than 10 rolls in stock. Soap, tooth paste, shampoos, detergents, medication, though generally durable, usually have an expiry date and I also don't think it is healthy to store them for long time.

[PrincessPerky]

err, I have a 6month long to do list..assuming nothing new gets added I should be done by may 2007..........

now what do you think the chances of nothing new comming along are?

[jimithy]

Originally Posted by titi

...medication, though generally durable, usually have an expiry date and I also don't think it is healthy to store them for long time.

Most medications have a long shelf life IF kept in a dry, dark place. (NOT your bathroom medicine cabinet.) You can ask your doctor or pharmacist about specific drugs.

It can definitely save you a lot of money to buy a 3 to 6 month supply of the prescription medications you will always need to take. The pharmacy adds a "fill cost" to any prescription filled. No matter how big the quantity it is the same.

Also, internet pharmacies can be much cheaper than local pharmacies and they require at least a 90 prescription.

The FDA suggests one way to find an internet pharmacy is to use The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) which is an independent association that works with others in developing, implementing, and enforcing uniform standards to protect public health. They have developed an internet pharmacy accreditation program called Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites(VIPPS).

[JanH]

It's good to know that they are trying to make sure people can find reputable internet pharmacies. That used to scare me.....