Stocking up on food storage and emergency essentials can be pricey. Not everyone has thousands of dollars to drop on fancy military-grade gear. Kids can be very picky about what they will and won't eat. This makes feeding a family out of a root cellar a huge challenge. Here are a few tips and tricks to prepare for an emergency on a shoestring budget. Gardening Gardening is a great way to feed a family on a budget. You can grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in your own backyard. Corn, peas, pumpkins, squash, and peppers are fairly hearty and will do well in most climates.  If you're short on space try square foot gardening. Divide up your garden space and plant just a few seeds to get started. This is a wonderful way to spend time together as a family and learn a valuable life skill. Shop Local and in Season  If you don't have much of a green thumb you can still enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. Many cities have a Farmers Market on Saturday during the summer. Shopping at your locally can save you money and help support your neighbors and the local economy. The food will be fresh and in season. Get to know the people in your community and enjoy some yummy food at the same time. Canning Persevere the food you grew in your own backyard or from the local farmers market with canning. The art of canning is being lost by millennials. Check your local library for books on canning. Canning for yourself can be a great way to save money. Thrift stores and yard sales often have mason jars perfect for canning. Home canned foods have a greater risk of spoilage to make sure you're doing it properly. Recycle Storing enough water for your whole family can get expensive. Instead of buying tons of bottles of water why not recycle the bottle you already have. 2 littler soda bottles work great for water storage. You'll want to wash out the soda bottles really well. Make sure  you rotate the water storage regularly to keep the supply fresh. Store the bottles in a cool dark space for a longer shelf life. Shop Sales  Look for Ready Store promos and coupons regularly. Sign up HERE for info on how to save money as you build your food storage. Also, work with your budget to create a monthly ReadyQueue to strategically build your storage. Some groceries stores of case lot sales from time to time. Watch for these and stock up on canned goods. Foods with low-fat content will last longer than higher fat foods becaue oils and fats go rancid.  This is a great way to save on the brands your family knows and loves. Watch for sales at Sporting good stores to stock up on survival and camping gear. Off Brand  Name brand goods can get pricey quickly! Dollar store and other discount retailers are great for saving a bundle on medical supplies. Stock up on cough syrup, gauze, bandages, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol. You can do a bulk order on Dollar Tree goods and have them shipped directly to your house.   References http://www.clearwaterhomesutah.com/saturday-farmers-market-in-downtown-salt-lake-city http://www.fortcollinsfm.com/canning-101/ http://prepforshtf.com/water-storage-and-procurement/ http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/smiths-food-storage-case-lot-sale-deals.html