COMMS... if you haven't looked at the Wendy DeWitt video, would suggest you do that first...I started vacuum bagging some long term staples with the food saver, and then storing in 5gal buckets, but after viewing her video have converted to vacuum canning in glass Ball/Mason jars, ... it is more expensive, but you can reseal them, repack in the box they came in, and it fits under the bed

I'm single, but if I were buying for a family, I think investing in one of the food racks with the in/out rail system would be worth while... I have a 5 shelve storage rack from Home Depot that I use for canned good storage... getting the cans out of the closed pantry made a difference... being able to see what I have and what I need.. it is not tight against the wall so I'm able to load it from the back, and use out of the front...

I'm noticing a change in my mind set... eg.. buying tomato paste with a 3 to 4 year use by date, and mixing with water instead of bulkier canned tomato sauce...I don't think I'll buy an heirloom $200 pressure canner, but can probably forsee a $60 canner and some 1/2 pint jars of ground beef and chicken being packed...