Army rations are much more expensive than human food though.

I don't know why we treat large stock portfolios as if it's a convinient savings account in these talks.

My financial teachings were always emergency fund -> 3-6 months of savings immediately accessible -> consider stocks (hire a financial planner if you don't know stocks) -> consider asset management. your first foray into saving if you're barely spacing by isn't to rely on the S&P 500.