How $50 at Costco Can Stock a Week’s Worth of Emergency Food
Written by
Cynthia Measom
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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These days, a trip to the grocery store for a week’s worth or two of essentials can leave your wallet feeling strained. Having to stock a week’s worth of emergency food on top can add to the financial burden. That’s why shopping at Costco is smart, due to its selection of budget-friendly bulk foods that are priced lower per unit than what’s found at the grocery store. Although you might not think you can stock your pantry for seven days with only $50, it is possible.
Check out these four affordable, shelf-stable items from Costco that will serve you well in an emergency.
Libby’s Vienna Sausages
- Price: $14.99
Although Vienna sausages might not be even close to your first choice when you have your pick of proteins, they work well for emergency food needs and have a convenient pull top. These fully-cooked canned sausages are made with chicken, pork and beef and canned in chicken broth. The Costco pack contains 18 4.6-ounce cans, which is one serving. Over a week, that works out to 2.5 cans a day total, which can split however it makes sense.
Del Monte Canned Cut Green Beans
- Price: $12.99
While likely not preferable, commercially canned foods can be eaten out of the can without warming, according to Ready.gov. That’s what makes these Del Monte Blue Lake Green Beans with sea salt a good pick for emergency food storage. The Costco pack contains 12 14.5-ounce cans, which equals about 42 servings total — enough to last a family of four for seven days if each person eats no more than 1.5 servings per day. The only thing extra you may need is a can opener.
Kirkland Signature Organic Peanut Butter
- Price: $12.99
As long as no one is allergic, peanut butter is a great source of fat and protein. It also doesn’t require refrigeration, unless the label states otherwise. A two-pack of Kirkland Signature Organic Peanut Butter has two 28-ounce jars. Each jar of creamy peanut butter is made with 100% U.S. Valencia peanuts offers 50 two-tablespoon servings, which means you could eat about 14 servings per day over seven days.
Premium Saltine Crackers
- Price: $8.49
Premium Saltines are a basic cracker that’s filling and goes well with Vienna sausages or peanut butter. The Costco pack comes with 12 sleeves of the baked, salty squares, which equals 85 servings of five crackers each. If you’re worried about the shelf life of the crackers, they can last quite a while. According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, you can use unopened crackers for up to two years past the date marked on the package.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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