Staying Stocked Up During Quarantine: What to Get and Where to Get It

in Lifestyle

Did you know that 25-30% of the workforce is expected to work from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021?

Telecommuting has become commonplace due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s only one of the ways our lives have been affected. As we practice social distancing, it’s become difficult to comfortably shop for daily necessities.

Luckily, there are plenty of stores that offer curbside pickup and home delivery. But what items should you be prioritizing?

We’re here to fill you in. Keep reading below to learn how to stay stocked up on quarantine essentials!

Stay Stocked up on Non-Perishables

Since there’s no telling how the pandemic will affect farms during the fall and winter, it’s wise to stock up now in preparation for the colder months.

To best achieve this, your best bet is to purchase non-perishables. Non-perishables are items that have long shelf lives, such as canned goods and dry goods.

You can purchase non-perishables through your local grocery store. Many grocery stores have partnered with delivery services like Instacart to help high-risk individuals avoid entering the store for their weekly groceries.

While it can be tempting to simply stock up on pasta, you should try to keep a variety of non-perishables on hand. Canned fruits and vegetables should be a part of your collection.

If you have free time, you might even consider canning your own produce. This way, you’ll be certain that they aren’t chocked full of additives and sugary syrups. You can purchase mason jars in bulk through websites like Amazon or even through craft stores like Michael’s.

Keep a Supply of Household and Paper Goods

While we no longer have to scramble to buy toilet paper before it runs out, it’s still good to have a sizeable supply of paper goods on hand in case of emergencies.

Toilet paper and paper towels are the top two paper good essentials. It’s easiest to add these to your ongoing grocery order. However, if your grocery store is out, you can even order it from sellers like Staples!

You’ll want to keep other household essentials on hand, such as laundry detergent and fabric softener. If you use a dishwasher, stock up on soap pods, as well as traditional dish soap.

Antibacterial soap is one of the best ways to combat COVID-19, so don’t skip out on it when placing grocery orders. Sure, hand sanitizer is important if you’re running errands, but soap is more effective at scrubbing your hands free of the virus when you return home.

Stay up to Date With Your Medication

It’s important to stay up to date with your medication all the time, but it’s especially important under the threat of a pandemic. It’s critical that you keep your immune system in the best shape possible, so make sure you always have a well-stocked supply of your medication on hand.

If you’re concerned about entering a pharmacy to get your medication, check with your pharmacy to see if they offer curbside pickup or have a drive-through window. Some pharmacies like Canadian Pharmacy may even offer home delivery. You just have to order your medicine online from a Canadian pharmacy and the medicines will be delivered to your doorstep.

If you don’t mind paying for shipping, you can even order medication online. Many online pharmacies charge lower rates for prescription drugs, so it’s a wise idea for those who may have lost their health insurance due to the pandemic.

Along with prescription medications, make sure you have a supply of pain relievers and multi-vitamins as well. If you are immunocompromised and can’t leave the house often, a vitamin D supplement is recommended.

Store Pantry Essentials

Many people have taken advantage of quarantine to master the art of breadmaking. Now that grocery stores are no longer out of many common products, the need to make your own bread isn’t as prevalent.

However, it’s not a bad idea to have some yeast and flour on hand. It’s not as convenient as usual to drop by the supermarket for morning bagels or pizza dough, and you might find it’s cheaper to make your own products. Even homemade pasta is achievable with a little bit of flour and cooking oil!

You can easily buy pantry essentials from a grocery store or from a subscription-based meal service. However, there may be a local mill where you can source flour from. Additionally, larger producers, like King Arthur Flour, sell varieties of flour and other baking supplies in bulk and will ship it straight to your door.

Collect Masks and Sanitizing Materials

While it can be frustrating to wear a mask each time we leave the house, it’s essential to make sure we’re protecting both ourselves and others. Luckily, there are plenty of trendy masks available for purchase nowadays.

If you’re looking for basic masks, you can disposable ones at drugstores like Walgreens or CVS. You can find simple reusable ones on general websites like Amazon.

If you want a more unique mask, check out Etsy. There are hundreds of indie designers selling fashionable, one-of-a-kind reusable masks.

Along with masks, stay stocked up on alcohol and sanitizer. It’s still difficult to find these products in stores, but you can buy them online in bulk from Amazon and similar websites.

If you sanitize your groceries with alcohol, alcohol wipes are a great product to have on hand. Alternatively, you can fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol to sanitize sealed items as well.

Creating a Personalized List

As you and your family work to stay healthy, it’s important that you stay stocked up on everyday essentials. The guide above will help you as you develop your own personalized list of necessities.


Image Credits: Mick Haupt

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