As an Arctic blast heads toward Houston, many families are rushing to stores to prepare for the possibility of freezing temperatures and power outages without overspending.
This week, KPRC 2 is focused on helping you and your family get ready for the hard freeze. With groceries at the top of many shopping lists, we wanted to know what essential items you can buy on a budget.
KPRC 2 Reporter Re’Chelle Turner stopped by Aldi and Dollar Tree in Southwest Houston to see how far $40 can go.
Turner shopped for basic necessities and was able to purchase enough food for multiple meals, along with snacks, water, and canned goods.
While shopping, she also ran into several Houstonians preparing for the freeze.
“I just think people don’t prepare before,” said Wanda Turner, a shopper at Aldi. “They know it’s coming, so I think you should have generators, propane, grills that’s what we got like a propane grill so you can cook on it,” Wanda Turner said.
Instead of heading to a big box store, Turner focused on affordable essentials that don’t require much preparation.
Some of the key items included:
• Bread for sandwiches and easy meals
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Trail mix and snacks that don’t need cooking
• Red beans and rice mixes that can be made ahead of time
• Bottled water, priced under $4
“You can never go wrong with bread,” Turner explained. “You can make ham and cheese sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, or peanut butter and jelly.”
Turner also shared ideas for simple, affordable meals that can feed a family of four or five even if the power goes out.
One option: a chicken pot pie made with canned chicken, cream of chicken soup, frozen vegetables, and biscuits. The meal can be prepared ahead of time and cooked on a stove or grill.
Another shopper, Debbie, said she feels fortunate to have both gas and electric appliances at home.
“So I still am gonna be able to cook some if the power goes out and keep one section of the house warm,” she said. “I’ve got bread for sandwiches, and I’m going to bake up my pork loin and some vegetables just staying prepared the best I can,” she said.
Turner also stopped by Dollar Tree to pick up non-food essentials that are easy to overlook but important during cold weather emergencies, including:
• Disposable wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Batteries for radios and flashlights
“It’s very important to get batteries and make sure your power banks are charged,” Turner said. “These are simple things that can make a big difference.”
Turner says preparing for a hard freeze doesn’t have to mean splurging.
“It’s very easy to get everything you and your family need without breaking the bank,” she said.