Stocking Up / Preparing Lists
Preparedness is not about being fearful.
It’s about being ready and able to react in the right way when needed.
You probably already know that pain and/or illnesses usually come at the most inconvenient times, especially if you have children. Having supplies already on hand can be peace of mind knowing you will not have to run to the store at midnight just to get you through the rest of the night. 2020 opened my eyes to how fragile our world can be. We were spoiled by the convenience of things being there when we needed them. Stores were open 24 hours a day, and most of them had what we expected them to have. That has been a different story over the last few years. I previously always tried to have a few items on hand to get my children through the night if needed, but it was to a very small extent. When stores started to limit their hours in 2020, I knew that a possible midnight run would be harder to make and that I needed to expand what items I kept on hand. I wanted to ensure my family would have what they needed if pain or illness hit them when stores were not available or reliable.
That is when I started making a list of all the medications and supplies we use for comfort and healing for the most common symptoms we’ve encountered. I also made a list of any other supplies we regularly use, so I can ensure we will always have some on hand if for some reason we run out at the same time the stores are closed or run out as well. I do not want to waste gas going to several different stores just to find the supplies I need when I need them.
Below are the lists I use to help ensure my family is prepared when life happens. I hope they can help you to be better prepared as well. I use these lists on a 6-month rotation, so it will get us through the upcoming season. For my location that would be fall/winter=October-March and spring/summer=April-September. I will print out a copy of these spreadsheets in August to start working on ensuring I have supplies on hand to help get through the fall and winter seasons, and then again, I will print out a copy of these spreadsheets in February to ensure I have supplies on hand to help get through the spring and summer seasons.
These lists can be used for any period necessary, however, remember to rotate your stock-ups properly and check the expiration dates on your supplies to ensure they will get you through the needed time period.
Prepare for your needs, not against your fears.
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions and be sure to check out Lessons of 2020 page for more information on becoming better prepared.
Check out my Store for more worksheets that can help with building self-sufficiency, budgeting/wealth management, and cooking/meal planning.
