I've asked some of the same questions on here before. Canned stuff lasts "forever". The Spam website states it's shelf life is "indefinate". Some taste and color may deteriorate, and some nutritional value may lessen over time, but the food is still good. Go to Aldi's or Sam's Club. Spend a few hundred bucks on canned stuff and some totes to put it in. I like totes better than shelves because they help block out light, their contents aren't immediately obvious, and they are easy to move.