Prepping On A Budget With A Lunch At McDonald's
By Preston I.
Preparedness expert with over 40 years of survival experience in Scouting, military service, survival training, and community leadership.
We’re excited to have Preston back for another insightful guest contribution! Below, you’ll find one of the best budget prepping guides for 2025.
You don’t need to spend a lot on dehydrated or packaged foods to build a substantial food supply. In fact, if you are wondering how to start prepping on a budget, the key is investing a bit more time and planning instead of money.
Plus, everything you need for a complete food storage program can be found at your local grocer, other local businesses, and discount warehouses.
Start With a Plan In Mind
Before spending a dime, sit down with paper and pen, or your favorite spreadsheet, and ask yourself a few key questions. First, think about what your household actually eats and uses:
- Why are you storing food? Think about the kinds of emergencies that could disrupt your supply chain—storms, job loss, illness, or larger disruptions.
- How long do you want to prepare for? A week? Three months? A year?
- Who are you storing for? Adults and children have different calorie needs. Experts recommend about 2,200 calories per day for men, 2,000 for women, and 1,800 for children.
Ideally, everyone who will rely on the food storage should be part of this conversation. Getting family or household members involved not only spreads responsibility but also ensures that preferences, allergies, and dietary needs are accounted for. If that’s not possible, one responsible person can manage the planning, but collaboration builds buy-in and motivation.
Motivation matters. Having a clear “why” behind your food storage helps you stay consistent and focused.
Figure Out How You'll Pay For It
One of the biggest hurdles people face when starting food storage is cost. In fact, it can feel overwhelming to think about buying a year’s worth of supplies all at once. That’s why I use what I call the “Lunch at McDonald’s” method.
Instead of dropping hundreds of dollars upfront, a practical way to start prepping on a budget is you simply set aside $20 each week—about the price of lunch for two at a fast-food restaurant. Treat this $20 like a bill you owe yourself: put it in a jar, cup, or separate account before paying anything else.
By doing this consistently, you make preparedness a priority without needing to justify whether you can “afford it”. As a result, the process feels more manageable and sustainable over time.
Here’s how it works:
- Each week, take $20 and buy the specific items outlined in the plan.
- Some weeks won’t use the full $20—set the extra aside.
- Other weeks will cost more than $20—use your savings from lighter weeks to cover the difference.
- A few weeks may not require purchases at all. Still set the money aside; it will come in handy for future bulk buys.
How Seasoned Preppers Do It
Let’s examine what some diehard Preppers recommend. To be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), it is highly recommended that each member have a minimum of three months’ storage and up to a year’s “put away” for each family member.
Let’s look at LDS recommendations for one year for one person:
This truly is a minimalistic diet with little variety but it is considered their lowest option for a year. The purchases I suggest below offer a diverse range.
The LDS Preparation Manual offers practical prepping advice alongside its religious content. Although I’m not a member, I respect their approach to food storage.
They also sell #10 cans of dehydrated bulk food at reasonable prices. In fact, I have many of them myself. Below is review of 15 of their bulk foods.
An Unexpected Source for Affordable Bulk Staples
LDS operates Home Storage Centers in multiple states, offering a variety of bulk foods at stated prices. As non-profit organizations, their price mark-ups are typically lower than traditional stores, which often use a keystone markup principle of 50%.
This link provides information about their locations, prices, and online store. This is what a Home Storage Center typically looks like:
Make the $20 Plan Work For You
In general, the plan is designed for two people; however, you can add another $20 per week for each additional pair. Shop sales whenever possible and adjust purchases as needed. Some weeks will cost less; save the extra. In other weeks, costs may be higher—use your savings or treat it like a flexible petty cash account.
Also, don’t forget water. Aim to purchase a five-gallon carboy regularly for each person, which most grocery stores carry.
To stretch your budget further, look for sales and BOGO promotions, and consider discount retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club, Dollar Tree, or Family Dollar. Along with food, set aside space for essential non-food items like soap, vitamins, and basic hygiene products. Candles and other extras can be added separately. Rice can also be swapped in for part of the wheat supply.
Weekly Plan for One Year
1. Week 1: 2 cans tuna, 2 containers salt, 1 pound of yeast
2. Week 2: 5 boxes macaroni and cheese, 4 cans greens
3. Week 3: 3 cans mushroom soup, 2 pounds of peanut butter, 5 cans beans
4. Week 4: 1 bottle multi-vitamins (the ones for adults), 5 cans beans
5. Week 5: 4 cans tomato soup, 6 pounds powdered milk
6. Week 6: 1 bottle aspirin (500 tablets), 3 bars of soap, 5 cans beans
7. Week 7: 100 pounds wheat/rice (LDS has reasonable prices)-borrow
8. Week 8: 5 pounds powdered milk, 3 bars of soap
9. Week 9: 5 pounds honey
Week 10: 4 cans tuna, 4 boxes macaroni and cheese, 1 pound yeast, 2 cans of Spam
11. Week 11: 10 pounds sugar, 2 containers salt
12. Week 12: 4 cans mushroom soup, 2 pounds shortening (Crisco has a longer shelf life)
13. Week 13: 1 bottle multi-vitamins (the ones for adults), 5 cans of Spam
14. Week 14: 100 pounds wheat/rice (LDS has reasonable prices)-borrow
15. Week 15: 1 box macaroni and cheese, 1 pound of yeast, 3 cans of Spam
16. Week 16: 5 pounds honey
17. Week 17: 2 cans tuna, 4 cans tomato soup, 3 bottles dish detergent
18. Week 18: 6 cans of Spam
19. Week 19: 100 pounds wheat/rice (LDS has reasonable prices)-borrow
Week 20: 20 pounds sugar
21. Week 21: 6 pounds powdered milk
22. Week 22: 1 can mushroom soup, 10 pounds sugar
23. Week 23: 1 can tuna, 4 cans tomato soup, 10 pounds sugar
24. Week 24: 10 pounds sugar, 4 cans Spam
25. Week 25: 2 can tuna, 2 cans mushroom soup, 2 pounds shortening
26. Week 26: 100 pounds wheat/rice (LDS has reasonable prices)-borrow
27. Week 27: 10 pounds sugar, 1 pound yeast
28. Week 28: 100 pounds wheat/rice (LDS has reasonable prices)-borrow
29. Week 29: 10 pounds powdered milk
30. Week 30: 20 pounds sugar
31. Week 31: 1 can tuna, 3 cans mushroom soup, 4 cans Spam
32. Week 32: 1 can tuna, 4 cans tomato soup, 2 pounds shortening
Week 33: Replenish funds—make up borrow amounts
34. Week 34: 2 cans tuna, 1 container salt, 2 jars coconut oil (stores better than other oils)
35. Week 35: 6 pounds powdered milk, 4 cans beans
36. Week 36: 20 pounds sugar
37. Week 37: 4 cans tomato soup, 2 jars coconut oil
38. Week 38: 2 cans tomato soup, 4 cans mushroom sou, 3 cans Spam
39. Week 39: 100 pounds wheat/rice (LDS has reasonable prices)-borrow
Week 40: 10 pounds powdered milk
41. Week 41: 5 cans beans, 4 cans Spam
42. Week 42: 100 pounds wheat/rice (LDS has reasonable prices)-borrow
43. Week 43: 4 pounds Tang
44. Week 44: : 5 cans greens, 4 cans Spam
45. Week 45: 100 pounds wheat/rice (LDS has reasonable prices)-borrow
46. Week 46: 4 cans tomato soup, 5 cans greens
47. Week 47: 2 cans tuna, 4 cans tomato soup, 3 bottles dish detergent
48. Week 48: 4 cans mushroom soup, 4 cans greens
49. Week 49: 4 pounds Tang
50. Week 50: 7 cans mushroom soup, 4 bars soap
51. Week 51: 5 cans beans, 4 cans Spam
Week 52: Replenish funds—make up borrow amounts
Storage & Personalization
You can adjust your supplies as needed. For example, I mainly store dehydrated foods for their long shelf life, but rotating any food works well too. In general, canned goods are often safe past their expiration date, although they may lose some of their nutritional value and flavour.
In my case, my storeroom is a spare bedroom where I control temperature and humidity. Temperature and humidity have a direct impact on how your stores age.
Final Thoughts
Preparedness doesn’t have to be complicated, or expensive. By setting aside just $20 a week, you can gradually build a reliable food storage plan that will sustain your household through a wide range of challenges.
The key is consistency: treat your $20 contribution as non-negotiable, and let small, steady actions add up over time.
Remember that your plan should reflect the needs and preferences of the people who will rely on it. Rotate items, shop smart, and adjust based on sales or substitutions like rice for wheat. Also, don’t forget the basics beyond food such as water, vitamins, and hygiene items are equally critical to comfort and health.
Happy prepping, and here’s to building peace of mind one $20 week at a time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You can start prepping on a budget by making small, consistent purchases over time. Setting aside even $20 per week can gradually build a reliable supply of food and essentials without needing a large upfront investment.
The $20 a week method is a simple approach where you treat preparedness like a recurring bill. Each week you set aside about $20 and use it to buy shelf-stable foods, hygiene items, or emergency supplies. Over time, those small purchases build a meaningful supply of resources.
No. Most basic preparedness supplies can be purchased at regular grocery stores or discount retailers. Building food storage with everyday items like rice, beans, canned goods, and cooking staples is often more affordable than buying specialty emergency food kits.
The amount depends on your goals and household size. Many people start with a few days or weeks of food and gradually build toward longer-term storage. Calorie needs vary, but a rough guideline is about 2,000–2,200 calories per adult per day. See our guide on food storage for more information.
Emergency food should be stored in a cool, dry place with stable temperatures. Spare rooms, closets, or pantry areas that avoid heat and humidity help extend the shelf life of stored food.
Affordable staples like rice, beans, canned vegetables, soups, powdered milk, sugar, and cooking oils are commonly used in budget food storage plans. These items are inexpensive, widely available, and store well for extended periods.
No. Preparedness helps with many everyday disruptions like storms, power outages, supply shortages, illness, or job loss. Small preparations can make these situations much easier to manage.
