What To Stock Up On for COVID-19

You cannot escape it. The media’s 24/7 coverage of every detail of it is obsessive. We are in the midst of a pandemic, or so it would seem. Everywhere you go, you see bare shelves. People are buying massive amounts of products, but how do we know what to stock up on for COVID-19?

I went to WinCo this afternoon after work. I just needed a gallon of milk, some cheese, and a bag of flour. I wanted to make some homemade bread this weekend, and some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. I knew the store would be busy … but … I. HAD. NO. IDEA.

The place was packed, none of the grocery carts lined up for shoppers (we had to scrounge for them in the parking lot as people left), and bare shelves everywhere. Can you believe a store with every bag of flour gone? I should have taken a photo, but I was too shocked. I’ve never seen anything like it … and I’ve been around for a little while. Been through several “scares” and epidemics. For some reason, this is different.

Anyway, I got to wondering – just what did people think they were stocking up for? Where they buying the right things? Did they know whether they were buying the right things or not? How do we know what to stock up on for COVID-19? Why should we stock up on things for COVID-19?

The reason to create a stockpile of sorts for COVID-19 is simple – we will probably be contained in our homes more than usual for awhile. Maybe you’re feeling sick and don’t want to infect others. Maybe you are nervous about you and your family being out among other people who may be getting sick. Either way, you’ll need to have a supply of products laid up at home to help you through this time.

How much do you stock up? We’ve all heard of people who are packing TP and water out of the stores like they are stocking up for Armageddon. Do we really have to go that far? How much you stockpile depends on several factors; how many people are in your family, how much room you have, and how much money you have to spend on your “stocking up.”

Just to be clear: a stockpile of items is a good idea, regardless of what’s going on. Even without the stress and hysteria of our current situation, it’s always good to have a month’s (or even a few months’) supply of items. You never know when they will come in handy.

I am a firm believer in having a small stockpile of things like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap, pantry items, etc. I’ve tried to keep a supply of items stored up for “just I case.” I’m not talking about a year’s supply of toilet paper (why do I always come back to toilet paper?) or garage shelves full of shampoos, conditioners, ketchup, diapers, etc. I’ve seen it on some Extreme Couponing shows, and the mindset behind it scares me a little. No, I’m talking about stuff like having an extra bottle of ketchup and a couple cans of beans in the pantry, a couple bottles of shampoo under the bathroom sink, and a couple extra 12-packs of TP in the linen closet. These are all do-able and easy to store.

And that’s exactly why I wasn’t one of those clearing the shelves of Costco in a panic.

The best way to create a small stockpile is to buy products when they are on sale and you have coupons to match with the sale. You can learn all about it on a great website I go to often, Living Rich With Coupons. This site offers lists of great deals from stores like Rite Aid, Shoprite, Target, Walmart, Walgreen’s etc. Sale items are matched with current coupons, and the deals are spelled out for you – so it makes it very easy to save money on items you need, and can stock up on for your family. There’s even a section to walk you through creating a stockpile for your family. Neat, huh!

So here is a list of the basic things to have on hand in your cupboards and pantry. This list will help you get through the shortages, and the missed trips to the store. Because no matter where you live right now, things are changing. Events have been cancelled. Probably school has been cancelled for awhile. People have totally changed the way they live their lives. And trips to the grocery store are becoming more scarce. People are choosing a type of “self-imposed quarantine” over risking possible exposure to COVID-19.

We need to know what to stock up on for COVID-19 so we can best take care of our family.

And here’s a hint – it’s not a forklift-load of TP! Toilet paper is great to have on hand and all, but you’ll need more than TP to get through this scare comfortably. And may I add – don’t be selfish! Before you clear the shelves at your local store and haul off a truckload of items, stop for a moment and think about those who are most at risk during this time. Think about your older family members, or elderly neighbors. Do they have what THEY need? Because face it – the majority of us are not at the greatest risk for CONVID-19. It’s the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. They are the most in danger – so let’s look out for them, and make sure they are taken care of as well. In other words – don’t be a hog! If you are taking more than you can reasonably use, STOP IT. Just because you have the money to clear the shelves doesn’t mean you should. Think of others who need to buy supplies and stock up on things, too.

So, on to the list

First of all, check the staples in your cupboards and pantry. I mean do you have shelf-stable foods for creating meals quickly? Do you have cleaning products to help disinfect the surfaces of your home to wipe out germs? Do you have a variety of healthy foods to create balances meals for your family? Do you have pain relievers and medicines your family will need, so you don’t have to run to the pharmacy anytime soon?

Here’s a list to get you started:

Fruits and Vegetables –

• Frozen vegetables
• Canned vegetables
• Vegetable broth
• Frozen fruit
• Canned fruit
• Dried fruit

Meat and Protein –

• Poultry; chicken or turkey, either fresh to be portioned and frozen, or already frozen
• Beef and pork, fresh to be frozen if you have space
• Canned chicken
• Canned fish, like tuna or salmon
• Beans (canned or dry), lentils, split peas
• Nuts and nut butters
• Beef or chicken broth

Grains –

• Rice
• Oatmeal
• Bread, to be frozen if you have space
• Cereal
• Pasta

Dairy –

• Powdered milk
• Regular milk, to be frozen if you have space
• Cheese, to be frozen if you have space
• Butter, to be frozen if you have space
• Almond milk or other nut milks, if you have space

Beauty/personal products

• toothpaste
• shampoo
• conditioner
• hand soap
• body wash or bar soap

Household products –

• sanitizing wipes and disinfecting cleaners
• toilet paper
• paper towels and other paper products

It’s also a good idea to have some extra pain relievers, cold medicines, and vitamins on hand as well. You may not be able to get to the store to pick these up, and you may not want to stand in line at the pharmacy to get them – because there may be lots of sick folks waiting in that line, too. Just a work to the wise.

Start stocking up on these items when you have a chance, and build a stockpile slowly. Having items like these on hand is a great idea anytime. And it’s especially helpful to know what to stock up on for COVID-19 these days as well. You and your family can rest easier knowing you are prepared, and have what you need to ride this out with a minimum of stress and discomfort.

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