When we think about expiration dates we all think about our food storage, you might have even thought that this article was going to be all about food expiration dates. While food might have the lowest expiration date, and it is important, there are a few more supplies we need to pay attention to, including our own expiration date.

The reason I titles this post “Betting Old Sux! And Managing Expiration Dates” is because no matter how hard we try to be completely prepared, supplies expire, our family makeup changes, our health changes as we get older and life seems to throw us the unexpected at the worst possible times.

Managing expiration dates and changing plans is all part of the game. Whether you are talking about disaster planning, or fixing a broken window, if we can’t get that stuff figured out now while times are good, we have no hope when help is not on the way.

Expiration is inevitable, even the sun and earth will expire someday. Expiration is a fact of life, and a part of prepping we just have to deal with.

This double edged sward leaves you with 2 options, the first is to wait as long as you can before you buy something, hoping nothing happens before you get to it. The second choice (and smart one) is to purchase these supplies, and pay close attention to rotation and inventory.

This week in the show Lisa and I talked about everything from food storage to medical supplies, and how to maximize their shelf lives.

SPP133 Getting Old Sux! Managing Expiration Dates

Food Storage: Everyone has their own method of inventory and rotation, but I can tell you from experience that the more food you store the harder it is to keep track of. This is especially true for canned goods because they tend to hide in the back corners of your cabinets.

This article has an inventory worksheet you can download, and this article explains the different types of food storage and techniques, from canned food to long term food storage.

How you Store Your Supplies: When we think of expiration dates we tend to think about food, but proper storage also plays a role in how long our other supplies last. Temperature, humidity and time are all enemies of our supplies, make sure they are cleaned after use, and stored properly to extend their lifespan.

Fuel and Cars: Hopefully you know about how important fuel storage is, if you don’t this article will explain everything about rotation and fuel additives. It’s not just important to store extra fuel, it’s important to do regular maintenance on our vehicles because you don’t want it to break down when you need it most.

Home Maintenance: There might come a day when the handyman will be gone and fixing something is not just a phone call away. Learning how to do some of these tasks yourself will not only help in a SHTF situation, you might even save a few bucks along the way. There are also other DIY prepping projects you can do to learn new skills and save some money.