Budget Prepping for A Buck

Gaye Levy, Contributor
Activist Post

This year tax day appears on April 17.  For most of you, your return is now filed and you are waiting for a modest refund.  For the not so lucky, you have just made another huge donation to the government or, as in my case, have filed an extension to delay the pain of filing (but alas, not the pain of payment.)

Traditionally, this time of year is crappy for retailers for all of the reasons above.  So, when it comes to adding to your preparedness supplies, well, all you may have is a buck or two.  That does not have to daunt you and, in many cases, may be just the inspiration you need to pick up a few inexpensive odds and ends to fill in until you can afford a bit more.

Are you ready to do some budget prepping?

Welcome to the Dollar Store Prepper Frenzy

I always recommend that you should purchase the very best you can afford.  I suppose this comes from my aversion to shopping.  Now lets face it: dollar store items will, for the most part, not have the highest quality goods.  That said, if you are on a tight budget, there is nothing wrong in purchasing average-quality items from the dollar store. You should purchase the very best you can afford and if all you can afford is a dollar, you should do it. The important thing is to start and to do the best you can.

Buying things from the dollar store – and I do so myself – simply makes good sense for some items. Besides, it is fun to shop there.

Ready to start shopping? Here is a list to get you started prepping on a budget.

HOME EMERGENCY SUPPLY CHECKLIST

FOOD
Bottled Water
Canned Meats
Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Canned Juice
Nuts and Crackers

HOUSEWARES
Garbage Bags
Paper Cups and Plates
Plastic Utensils
Plastic Table Covers
Non-Electric Can Opener
Paper Towels
Aluminum Foil

Plastic Storage Bags/Containers
Toilet Paper
Plastic Buckets
Sponges
Disinfectants
Chlorine Bleach
Flashlights
Batteries
Scissors

HARDWARE
Pliers
Duct Tape
Utility Knife
Plastic Sheeting

HEALTH/FIRST AID
Personal Hygiene Items
Vitamins
Sunscreen Lotion
Latex Gloves
Cleansing Agent/Soap
Antibacterial Towelettes
Antibacterial Ointment
Antiseptic Ointment
Adhesive Bandages
Tweezers
Petroleum Jelly
Aspirin/Non-Aspirin Pain Reliever
Cotton Balls
Baby Bottles
Baby Wipes

MISCELLANEOUS
Paper
Pencils/Pens
Whistle
Pet Food and Bowls
Leash and Collar
Emergency Ponchos

But What About Free?

Lest you think that the dollar store is your only option when the budget is stretched, what about free?  Misty Marsh, who is the food diva at Your Own Home Store and is one of our Backdoor Survival sponsors, offers up these 11 ways to prepare for free!

1. Take a video inventory of your home.
If you were to lose your home or items in your home for any reason, this type of inventory (in addition to a written one) will make the process of making an insurance claim much simpler. Make sure that you also keep a written inventory of any large ticket items (TVs, Pianos, etc) including brand, age etc. Keep a copy of the inventory somewhere else (a relative’s or friend’s home).

2. Create (and practice) a family evacuation plan.
Would you know what to do if told you had 30 minutes to evacuate? 10 minutes? Moments? You can read our family plan here.

3. Create (and practice) a family emergency plan
Sometimes you have warning of impending danger. Other times, such as with an earthquake, you don’t. Do you (and your children) know what to do in the immediate aftermath of such a situation? Where will you meet? How will you communicate? Do you know where everyone is at different times of the day? Where are each of your children and your spouse at 1 pm? 10 am? etc. Do you know what your children’s schools plan to do in the event of an emergency?

4. Store water in juice and soda bottles.
If you drink juice and soda, rinse them out when you are done with them and store water in them! Make sure they are the plastic (non refrigerated type) juice bottles, not the milk jug-like ones. If you don’ drink juice and soda, ask a neighbor or fried to save theirs for you (and offer to share your water if the need arose!).

5. Make a written list of all important phone numbers.
If you couldn’t access your cell phone to get the phone numbers, would you be able to reach your spouse? Parents? Doctor? Kid’s school? Etc?

6. Print 10+ recipes that you can make with 100% shelf-stable items.

I know I have a lot of my recipes stored online. If I couldn’t access my computer, I’d still want to be able to cook! Pick a few recipes that you can make with items you regularly keep on hand and print them out. You can find a whole list of 100% shelf stable recipes here.

7. Brush up your first aid skills
Do you know how to appropriately give CPR? The Heimlich? Stop Bleeding? Treat Shock? Treat Heat Stroke? The American Red Cross offers classes. Some are even free online courses!

8. Learn a few other basic skills.
Can you use a fire extinguisher? Change a tire? Start a fire? Shut off the gas to your home?

9. Teach your children some basic skills.
Do your children know your phone number and address? My 4 year olds are just getting old enough for this, but since they could speak I’ve worked with them to be able to know my full name, my husbands full name and where Daddy works. Do they know and have they practiced your family emergency plan? Do they know what to do during and earthquake? Fire? etc.? Have they climbed out of their window onto your rope ladder? Can they call 911? BeReady.gov has some fantastic information for kids complete with fun and games.

10. Understand and plan for your specific risks.
Call you local government emergency management and find out what things you should know about disasters specific to your area. What sort of warning systems are in place? Find out when you should stay where you are and when you should evacuate instead.

11. Organize your First Aid supplies.
Even if you don’t have an official “kit” it is likely you have some bandages, antibiotic cream, and meds floating around. Organize them so you can get to and use them quickly if needed.

Even though money is tight, you can still add filler items to your preps for just a dollar.  In addition, you can hone your skills or increase your knowledge for free.  There are so many things that you can do to get prepared – all you really need is to get off your bum and start!

Note: I was just getting reading to share my list of dollar store prepping items when Bernie, the Apartment Prepper diva, published an article on Prepping Supplies for 99 Cents.  But not being one to waste good copy, I decided to go ahead with my article. Be sure to check out her piece as well.

Read other articles by Gaye Levy here. 

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye Levy, the SurvivalWoman, grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, she started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. She has now abandoned city life and moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on an island in NW Washington State. She lives and teaches the principles of a sustainable, self-reliant and stylish lifestyle through emergency preparation and disaster planning through her website at BackdoorSurvival.com. SurvivalWoman speaks her mind and delivers her message with optimism and grace, regardless of mayhem swirling around us.