Being Prepared: Simply.

You just never know when having a store of food will come in handy, so I'm sharing a plan I received from a friend that gives a good guideline for first time storers. It really is a simple thing to add to your life, yet will give you much peace of mind. Think about it--could you live off of your pantry if all of a sudden you were out of a job? Brandy at The Prudent Homemaker has written many wonderful posts about keeping her family fed when they were unemployed.

I received this handout many years ago, so, I'm sure the prices have gone up a bit. I think it should be about $8 now, maybe a little more. Anyhow, for those just starting, it is a good place to start.
However, realize that some weeks will be LESS than $5 (like the soup weeks, or tuna) so you save the left over amount and roll it over to the next week. You should use a total of $260/year, but it'll probably be a bit more since grain prices have gone up.

Week1: 6 lbs Salt
Week2: 5 cans cream of chicken soup
Week3: 20 lbs sugar
Week4: 50lbs of wheat (un-ground. I'll post some recipes for wheat without a grinder later)
Week5: 6lbs pasta
Week6: 20lbs sugar
Week7: 8 cans tomato soup.
Week8: 8 cans tuna
Week9: 6 lbs yeast
Week10: 50 lbs wheat
Week11: 8 cans tomatoes
Week12: 20 lbs sugar
Week13: 10 lbs powdered milk
Week14: 7 boxes mac n' cheese
Week 15: 50 lbs wheat
Week16: 5 cans cream of chicken soup
Week17: 1 bottle 500 count multi-vitamins
Week18: 10lbs powdered milk
Week19: 5 cans cream of mushroom soup
Week20: 50 lbs wheat
Week21: 8 cans tomato soup
Week22:20lbs of sugar
Week23: 8 cans tuna
Week24: 6 lbs shortening
Week25: 50lbs of wheat
Week26: 5 lbs honey
Week27: 10 lbs powdered milk
Week28: 20 lbs sugar
Week29: 5lbs peanut butter
Week30: 50 lbs of wheat
Week31: 7 boxes mac n'cheese
Week32: 10 lbs powdered milk
Week33: 1 bottle 500 count aspirin
Week34: 5 cans cream of mushroom soup
Week35: 50 lbs of wheat
Week36: 7 boxes mac n'cheese
Week37: 6 lbs salt
Week 38: 20 lbs sugar
Week39: 8 cans tomato soup
Week40: 50 lbs of wheat
Week41:5 cans cream of chicken soup
Week42: 20 lbs sugar
Week43: 1 500 count bottle vitamins
Week44: 8 cans tuna
Week45: 50 lbs wheat
Week46: 6 lbs pasta
Week47: 20 lbs sugar
Week48: 5 cans cream of mushroom soup
Week49: 5 pounds of honey
Week50: 20 lbs of sugar
Week51: 8 cans tomato soup
Week52: 50 lbs of wheat

You should end up with enough in storage to feed two people. Personally, I'd buy less wheat and add in some dry beans or lentils. Especially lentils because they are faster cooking. However, Whole wheat berries, when soaked and cooked are high in many of the vitamins needed to survive. I personally, would also buy canola oil rather than shortening, and some oats because they make a great fast breakfast (and who could live without oatmeal cookies in case of emergency? Not I!)

Also, it might be more cost effective in the long run to buy each item in larger quantities when on sale. For example, when I knew wheat was available for $0.35/lb, I went ahead and bought a full 600 lbs, rather than 50 pounds here and there. Of course, we use it regularly.
Good luck!