How much you should set aside for prepping is a common question of new or returning preppers. Being smart with your money and getting the best deal is important, but to determine the right amount for you, consider these guidelines that may help you answer that question for your family.

1. Prioritize: You can do a lot of prepping with very little cost. Make emergency plans, educate yourself, research tips and tricks and stay in touch with current events or possible hazards. You can put together inexpensive first aid and survival kits at home and even garden. Choose food storage for the bulk of your budget, because when it comes to your survival, you will want high quality and great tasting food to last 25 years. A lot of costs can be cut, but don’t sacrifice the importance of a good meal in hard times.

2. Understand Why: Determine your own personal reasons for prepping, whether it’s for short term or long term, and the kind of scenarios you want to be ready for. Your needs will be different when preparing for a nuclear fallout versus a winter storm. Some choose to store just enough food to get through bad weather, while others fear survival scenarios like war, nuclear threats, and a bad economy.

Many choose the safer route, and aim to prepare for anything, with enough long-term food to outlast all possible disasters. No matter what your reasons are, we do encourage the security of always having more than you think you’ll need.

3. Set Goals: Not everyone has the budget to spend all the money upfront for a big supply. Set goals and either buy some each month or save money to work up to the supply you want and need. There are plenty of places to cut costs that can help you save up money that can go toward protecting your future. It is an investment in your survival, and a great way to get what you need without any buyer’s remorse. Only save and spend what you’re comfortable with, and set goals for the ideal food supply you want to work up to.

4. Save Money in the Long-Run: Food prices are constantly rising and the economy is far from stable. Buying short-term groceries to store may seem cheaper at first, but after yearly rotations and increased costs, you will end up losing tons of money. Purchasing food you know will last 25 years is like buying a year supply of food for the price you would have paid in1988. It is foolproof at saving you money in the long-run, and keeps you covered for years to come.

5. Worth Your Penny: Spending money on high quality freeze-dried food that tastes great and has a 25 year shelf life pays for itself. Mountain House foods are the gold standard in food storage, from a reliable and well-loved company that’s been freeze-drying for 50 years. Investing in a safeguard for your future is not one you will regret. At some point in the next 25 years, you will need it, and you’ll be happy to have it.

Stay smart with your money and follow these guidelines when budgeting for your long-term food supply.