Make the Necessary Cuts in Your Budget
Take a moment to evaluate all the possessions you have by making a brief list. If someone else were to look at it, would they think you’re trying to match up with someone else’s possessions? Or, when it comes to your dining, leisure, and expenditure patterns, what kind of narrative would your financial dealings expose?
I wouldn’t be surprised if you obtain your daily morning caffeine fix from Starbucks’ drive-thru. To reduce your visits, you could wake up earlier and brew your own coffee. Perhaps, you could opt for one family vacation instead of two for several years, allowing you to save thousands of dollars for a more extensive prepping inventory.
Are your monthly expenses for cable, internet, and phone services causing a significant drain on your finances? Consider ditching cable and switching to a more affordable TV streaming option to potentially save hundreds of dollars. Additionally, contacting your internet and mobile phone providers to ask about cheaper plans or alternative providers may also help you cut costs.
Make Every Dollar Count
If you want to stretch your budget, think about purchasing a portion of your emergency supplies from a dollar store. It may seem surprising, but both Dollar Tree and Dollar General stores offer various prepping items that can help you check off necessary supplies from your list. Additionally, some of these items are even less than one dollar.
While I can’t assure that it’s possible to find every single one of these items at the dollar store, you can likely locate small emergency kits, rubbing alcohol, duct tape, batteries, flashlights, matches, lighters, Ziploc plastic bags, paper plates, plastic eating utensils, can openers, bungee cords, rain ponchos, toothpaste, toothbrushes, as well as soap and baby wipes.
There are socks that are suitable for stocking up on to maintain healthy feet and also hats and sunscreen that can provide overall protection from prolonged sun exposure.
It could be beneficial to team up with your fellow preppers to purchase items in bulk for a better price. Certain establishments offer discounts for larger orders, so it’s worth inquiring. It doesn’t hurt to ask. To be on the safe side, you may want to gather money from others beforehand.
Wait For Good Deals
As a prepper, waiting is inevitable even though no one enjoys it. I appreciate and admire your eagerness to be prepared for any possible catastrophe. However, it’s unnecessary to spend all your money at once to achieve your goals. My suggestion would be to approach prepping as you would your regular grocery shopping, seeking bargains and avoiding pricey items.
Failure to heed this advice in your prepping supplies purchases could result in a significant financial loss of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Preparation requires perseverance and repeated visits to familiar locations. To locate the majority of your prepping essentials at reasonable prices, consider the following options:
Here is My Series on Monthly Good Buys:
Garage Sales and Thrift Stores
It might come as a surprise, but you can come across excellent prepping materials at garage sales and thrift stores that are cheaply priced. The majority of these items are either slightly used or even still sealed in their original packaging. Considering that emergency preparation gear often gets used only a couple of times throughout a lifetime, there is no need for every item to be brand new. It’s as simple as that!
At these places, you will find a variety of items including camping tents, tarps, tools, weather radios, mini cooking stoves, cooking ware, fishing rods, blankets, sleeping bags, clothing, rain gear, winter gear, boots, and more. Although not everything you need may be available, you will definitely have an excellent foundation for any emergency.
It may be worth your while to check out Estate Sales that are being advertised. Our acquaintances used to make it a weekly activity to visit these sales on Saturdays and I was astounded by the incredible bargains they came across.
Shop Craigslist
Craigslist is another affordable option to consider for your prepping needs. You can easily search their website for any items that you still require. Additionally, you may stumble upon other useful items that you didn’t initially consider. The availability of items on Craigslist can fluctuate rapidly, meaning if you don’t find what you need one week, you may have better luck the next. Practicing patience is key.
Create a Saving Strategy
Although it is a great idea to save money on emergency supplies, it does not always mean that buying a cheaper option is the best choice. For example, if you find yourself in an emergency situation without power and the old generator you bought from a garage sale is not working properly, you will likely regret not investing more to purchase a newer and more reliable one.
To be able to purchase additional, more expensive prepping items, you should devise a savings plan in addition to your current efforts. It is important to exercise patience instead of making impulsive purchases. If you already save a portion of your weekly earnings, you could allocate a small percentage of that savings into a separate account solely for prepping purposes.
In a previous statement, I suggested reducing your expenses in specific categories. As time passes, these reductions will accumulate, enabling you to purchase high-end prepping items with cash.
Prepper Gear List
Regardless of the impact of S on TF, we must prioritize our meals. During unforeseen circumstances, obtaining food could be challenging. Therefore, stockpiling sufficient food supplies is essential to ensure your family’s proper nourishment. The listed items are crucial for your dietary and nutritional requirements:
It’s recommended to have at least a two-week supply of food available in case of emergencies, but having a month or more of food stocked up is even better. This food should be the same type that you eat regularly, and it’s your short-term food supply. In the event of a brief emergency, this food will suffice.
2. Long-Term Emergency Food
In addition to your normal food supply, you should also account for your requirements in the future. In case of a significant disturbance to society, you may require a stock of food to last for several months.
Your prepping supplies will be incomplete without a stock of emergency food buckets. These contain entire meals that only require hot water to be ready, and can be stored for up to 25 years without spoilage.
3. Sprouting Seeds
Having a stockpile of food, including emergency rations, can ensure that you consume nourishing meals. However, during emergencies, obtaining fresh food is challenging. Consequently, keeping sprouting seeds readily available would enable you to cultivate sprouts with minimal water. This is not related to cultivating a full-fledged agricultural plot; instead, it relates to having fresh leafy vegetables at one’s disposal every day. Suitable seeds for cultivating sprouts include lentils, sunflower seeds, mustard seeds, mung beans, and pumpkin seeds.
After only a few days of planting, you can enjoy freshly grown sprouts that are highly nutritious as long as you select non-GMO seeds. Avoid purchasing seeds from the grocery store as they are often irradiated and may not sprout as successfully.
4. Planting Seeds
It is important to have a stock of seeds that can be planted for prolonged food requirements as the stored food will eventually be depleted. Once the situation improves and you begin to rebuild your life, cultivating a garden will become possible. The recommended seeds for storage are:
- Radishes
- Onions
- Kale
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Corn
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Beans
- Peas
- Beets
- Carrots
Water is more crucial than food as you can manage up to three weeks without food, but only three days without water. It is important to have access to water and to know how to purify it in case you need to use the water you find in the environment.
5. Bottled Water
With any luck, you’ll be able to shelter in place for a lengthy period. Keeping bottled water in reserve will alleviate the difficulty when you are trying to establish a foothold during difficult circumstances. It’s recommended to have at least a two-week supply of bottled water, but it could be as much as a few months. Once more, if the crisis is brief, that provision will suffice.
6. WaterBOB
For any home, the waterBOB is the most convenient method to store emergency water and proves to be an essential tool when water supply is cut off or unusable, as long as there is prior warning. It is a disposable container that can store up to 100 gallons of water, providing 100 days’ worth of drinking water for a single person, considering the recommended daily intake of 1 gallon of water per person.
The waterBOB is created for use inside your bathtub, making it unnecessary to sterilize it beforehand when filled. Consequently, the water will remain pure and untainted for up to 16 weeks. In addition to this, the waterBOB is accompanied by a pump which can be used to extract the water for various activities like cooking, drinking, and cleaning. It is also a reasonably priced item, costing approximately $30 per piece.
7. Rain Barrel
In case of a long-term stay indoors, a water-collection system is necessary. The simplest option is a rain barrel, which you should have at least one or two on your property to gather rainwater. Even those living in apartments can use this method by placing a rain barrel on their balcony. However, make sure not to gather water from the roof as roofing tiles usually contain chemicals that may pollute the water.
8. Sawyer Mini Filtration System
With the ability to filter and purify all types of water, the Sawyer Mini Filtration System is ideal. It has a remarkable capacity to filter up to 100,000 gallons of water and eliminate 99.99999% of bacteria and protozoa, ensuring that almost any water source is drinkable.
With its compact and lightweight design, this filter includes a straw and a drinking pouch, making it a perfect item to have in your home kit or bug out bag. Even more appealing is its reasonable price tag of approximately $30 per unit.
9. Water Bottles
It’s always useful to bring a few extra water bottles when you’re on the move. This ensures that you’ll have enough water to last until you reach the next source. Opt for either Stainless steel or Nalgene bottles for optimal results.
10. First Aid Ki
It is essential to always have a first aid kit on hand. Even during stable conditions, it is necessary to have access to a first aid kit in case of minor emergencies. In disastrous circumstances, even minor medical issues can escalate into significant health risks. A seemingly insignificant cut can become life-threatening if it becomes infected.
It is imperative to possess a well-stocked first aid kit that is readily available in all locations, including your get home bag, bug out bag, vehicle, and household.
11. Oral Hygiene
A wide range of hygiene products are available to ensure personal cleanliness and odor control. However, in the event of a genuine survival scenario, one’s underarm scent becomes unimportant. Basic soap and water will suffice. Yet, maintaining optimal oral hygiene is crucial, and not only because of the possibility of halitosis.
It is imperative to prioritize oral hygiene as neglecting it may escalate dental problems, especially cavities, to severe stages. A tooth infection should be taken seriously, as it has the potential to be fatal. To prevent such circumstances, it is advised to include toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, or baking soda in your oral care set.
