Daily Essentials to Stock Up On

If there is one thing that the majority of us will remember about the pandemic it is the great toilet paper shortage of 2020. People were buying up any that they saw at the store and stashing it at home. It was chaos. Thankfully we never ran out but there were times when we had to borrow some from family to get by until we found a store that had some. Now, you’ll never see our house without some extra toilet paper on hand. That is just one of the many lessons that we learned throughout those crazy pandemic years. We learned to stock up on just about everything because the supply chain can break easily. As part of that, I created a list of daily essentials to stock up on in- just in case there are emergencies. 

The Methods

My list might not look like your list. This might be a start but there are other items you use daily too. For this reason, I’m going to give you the method that I used to create our list and it’s honestly super easy. First step is to get a pad of paper and a pen. You can also use the notes in your phone but I prefer to have something sitting next to me to have a reminder. Each time you use something write it down. For example, when you’re brushing your teeth you are using a toothbrush and toothpaste. Write those down on your list.

The other way is to go from room to room and write it all down. Go to your bathroom- what do you see? Do you use it daily, weekly, or monthly? Write it down. Go to your bedroom- what do you see? Write down the things that you use regularly that you can stock up on. 

I don’t list out quantities because, again, this will vary from person to person. I know I want at least one stick of deodorant per month per person. It’s something I don’t want to run out of (but ultimately we could live without). Honestly, the 1 per month per person works out pretty well for us. 1 bottle of supplements per person per month (these are generally a month’s supply per bottle anyways). 1 tube of toothpaste per month per person. This might be a bit much but it’s a cheaper item and better than running out. 1 bar of soap per person per month. Works out pretty well. This is what we feel comfortable with but if you feel like you need more or you can’t afford that many the list is open for you to decide how many you need.

List of Daily Essentials to Stock Up On

• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• QTips
• Hairbrush
• Hair Ties
• Face Wash
• Deodorant
• Body Soap/ Body Wash
• Razors (would opt for disposable vs. battery powered)
• Toilet Paper
• Period Products (There are a lot of options in the post about period products!)
• Prescription Medication
• Vitamins and Supplements
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Cotton Balls/Cotton Rounds
• Contacts
• Contact Solution

Optional (Not Needed For Survival)

I also have a list of things that I prefer to keep on hand. These aren’t necessary for our survival. If an emergency happened we would, no doubt, survive without them. However, they would make life a little easier and possibly a little better during these times. Plus, if it came to a worse case scenario we may be able to trade them for other goods. Another thing to remember- you may be able to barter with your neighbors so you want to have enough on hand to be able to do that. 

• Essential Oils
• Dry Shampoo
• Makeup
• Lotion/Moisturizer
• Hairspray/Mousse/Gel
• Baby Wipes (in case of no water or power)
• Mouthwash (in case of no water or power)
• Floss
• Hats (my husband wears one daily and it may become needed in hot weather)
• Headbands or Bandanas 
• Shaving Cream
• Glasses (in case of no contacts)
• Condoms 

Quantity vs. Quality

Just one more note here. Some of our preps are not non-toxic or holistic options. We have Irish Spring soap in our preps and I’m sure it’s got ingredients we wouldn’t normally use. That is totally okay. In an emergency we aren’t going to be worrying about what is in our soap. We’re going to be thankful that we have soap today. Most of these items can be found inexpensively at the dollar store. It’s a great way to get a lot for a little amount of money. They probably won’t be the best ingredients but if push comes to shove you may be thankful that you have them on hand. 

In Summary: Daily Essentials to Stock Up On

This list is, by no means, comprehensive. It’s a list that we use in our own home. We are two adults. Your list is going to look different if you have babies or teenagers at home. Your list may look different if you are a little older or a little younger than we are. It’s always an option to use the list of daily essentials to stock up on and add your own items too. This could just be a base option for you to work off of and that is totally fine. It’s important to do what works for your family and what makes you feel like you’re prepared. Stay alert, stay safe, stay prepared. God Bless, friends.