Preparedness on a budget by Crashdive

[cowgirlup]

I know that many of us are gear heads. Sometimes shiney things make us happy. In todays though economy sometimes the cool stuff has to wait. I was challenged a while back to put together a list of supplies that could help to get you by in a pinch.

OK – Here’s the approach I took on this one. I went to Walmart. Most of the items are in the camping/sporting goods area. The first aid kit came from the pharmacy area. Now admittedly this is not the best kit you can put together. I wanted to see if you could put together “something” to help you in a pinch within the parameter of spending $100. Right now I am fortunate enough to be in a position that if I needed $100 worth of gear I could go out and buy it. It has not always been that way in my life though. So, after I priced everything at Walmart I decided to see where I could save even more money, or improve the quality of some of the items.

Ozark Trail Hooded Poncho $0.88
Portable Aqua Plus $5.88
Hatchet $7.88
Water Resistant Stuff Bag $3.96
Laker – 75 Piece Hook/Swivel/Sinker Kit $1.76
OmniFlex 12lb Fishing Line (980 ft) $2.50
Coleman King Size 20* Sleeping Bag $21.88
Winchester Woody Fine Fixed Blade $14.88
Duck (yes Duck) Tape – 10 yards $1.00
Husky .7 Mil 9X12 Drop Cloth $1.38
Ozark Trail 6X8 All Purpose Tarp $4.68
2 Pack 7 ounce Sterno $3.86
18 oz Enamel Cup $2.88
Bic Lighter $1.00
Ozark Magnesium/Flint Bar $6.88
Ozark Light Sticks (2 Pack) $2.00
Ozark Compass/Whistle/Magnifier/Thermometer Combo $3.88
2 Pack Emergency Candles $2.28
Ray-O-Vac LED Key Chain $2.00
Ray-O-Vac Value Bright Flashlight (2- AA) $1.00
Cliff Bar Oatmeal Raisin Walnut (2) $1.96
First Aid Kit $5.64
30 adhesive bandages 3/8 X 1-1/2
20 adhesive bandages ¾ X 3
5 butterfly closures
10 cotton swabs
4 finger splints
4 sterile gauze pads 2 X 2
2 sterile gauze pads 4 X 4
1 roll adhesive tape ½ X 2.5 yards
2 exam gloves
1 instant cold compress
2 antibiotic ointment packets
12 alcohol prep pads
1 instructions

Total Cost $100.06

First item – emergency poncho. If you have nothing else, they will work about as well as a large (yard) trash bag. Replace poncho with a couple of trash bags that you have around. Savings .88

Aqua – well I suppose boiling and filtering the water could save a few bucks if needed. Throw some coffee filters or an old t-shirt for removing the big chunks before boiling. Savings - $5.88

Hatchet. Might be able to find one cheaper at a garage sale. Do I really need it. I know I want it. How about fashioning a chopper out of an old lawn mower blade? Savings - $7.88

Water resistant stuff bag – The purpose of this was to hold all of the “stuff” look around the house. There is probably something that can be used. An old pack, a suitcase, plastic tote. Replace the bag with something on hand. Savings $3.96.

The fishing gear. There are a lot of fishermen (and women) out there. I’ve got a small tackle box with those items in it. Around where I live a lot of fishing takes place from the bridges and jetties. Gear is getting snagged all the time. You can’t walk on the shore near one of those structures and not find any gear. Replace fishing gear with items on hand. Savings - $4.26.

The sleeping bag – Look in your closets. Got any extra blankets, quilts or comforters. Depending on your climate these can substitute. Savings - $21.88

Knife -look around the house. Got any kitchen or utility knives that aren’t being used? Check yard sales you may be able to find pretty good quality at a big savings. There are several threads on here about making your own from old files or scrap metal. Try it. Savings - $14.88.

Duck Tape (it really is Duck brand) – Got any extra laying around in the garage? If you do – Savings - $1.00

Painters tarp – replace with several more lawn bags. Savings - $1.38

The tarp – check around the garage, I’ll bet you have one already Replace with one on hand. Savings $4.68

2 pack of Sterno – Read the threads on pepsi can stoves – make one (they are really easy to make). Now take a look in your medicine chest. Grab that bottle of isopropyl alcohol. Grab a coat hanger (wire) to make a pot stand. Replace Sterno – Savings - $3.86

Enamel coated cups are good to boil water or cook food. Look in the kitchen cabinets. I’m sure there is a pot or two that aren’t being used. A used coffee can with a wire handle makes a great billy can. A small veggie can (use one without the plastic liner) makes a serviceable cup. Replace cup with items on hand. Savings - $2.88.

Bic Lighter – if you don’t have one laying around the house – head out to the smoking area at work and ask for one. Another option – walk into your local watering hole – they always have books of matches in bowls. Grab a handful. I don’t particularly care for them, but better than nothing. Savings - $1.00.

mag bar – Is there any natural flint in your area? Some natural fling, a steel bar (you can always find some scrap) and a bit of char cloth. Savings - $6.88. Admittedly, I made this list a while ago - before I got my firesteels - you get the picture though.

Whistle/compass/magnifier combo – you may be able to find something cheaper – I’ll keep this for now.

Emergency candles – rummage through those kitchen drawers or go to a local restaurant that has those glass bowls with a candle in them (you know the ones – they’re usually red with plastic netting. Talk to the manager – ask for the ones that they are getting ready to toss, take em home and melt the wax to make your own. Either way – Savings $2.88.

The two lights – pretty good price on those, but…….is there a job fair or trade show in town? The vendors love to attract people by giving away free things. One popular give away is LED lights. Grab a handful. I went to the Jaguars / Colts game tonight (Jags lost) they gave away flashing light sticks that would certainly draw more attention than the chem. Lights. I’ll bet if you look around the house you’ll find an extra light someplace. Use it. Savings - $3.00.

Cliff bars – grab anything in the kitchen that will keep. Peanut butter, sardines, Raman noodles, crackers, cereal, pop tarts. Savings - $1.96.

The first aid kit – most households have some basic first aid supplies on hand. It’ll probably surprise you what you find in the back of the medicine chest. Savings - $5.64.

OK – If I were to find replacements for everything I listed, I would be down to $3.88 because I kept my cheap whistle and compass. You may only replace a few items. I’m missing some useful gear with my list. No cordage other than the fishing line. Maybe there’s some around the house that I can use. No signal mirror – grab an old CD. My intention with the exercise wasn’t to make a complete – “I’m going into the woods for a year kit”, but rather illustrate that we can put together some items that will help us out in a jam, and do it on a budget. With what you save by using items that are already at your disposal you will have the extra $$$ to purchase the items that are not.

[cowgirlup]

By Celticwarrior:

Crash, that was an amazing exercise. Definitely keeps things in perspective. A lot of people look at the whole "it's too expensive to start a kit" aspect and get deterred. I think you proved quite well that you can do anything you want without breaking the bank. We've discussed doing garage/yard sales and dollar stores in other threads to stock up on a lot of those items cheaper than the standard stores, and your list of substitutes shows you can usually get by with what is around the house already.

Food and water are the only additions, and we have discussed a lot of ways to obtain and store those as well. Empty pop bottles work as canteens and storage containers. Bakeries have empty 5 gallon sealable buckets. If I am going on a long hike and want to pare down my food to the bare minimum, I usually just take a small jar of peanut butter (oils, calories and protein), a couple bags of jerky (protein), and a few boxes of various cereal, granola, breakfast and "treat" bars in individual wrappers (you know the kind, Special K bars, Honey Oat Crunch bars, fig newtons, Rice krispie treats, Nutrisystem bars, Quaker Oat Bars (chocolate chip or chunk! MMmmmm!). I will often toss in a baggie of gummi bears or Tootsie Rolls for quick energy as well. Usually I don't feel much like cooking on long solos, so the most I will do is bring packets of dry soup mixes or boullion powder/cubes and a small bag of either orzo pasta or cous-cous, and just add boiling water. Coffee or Tea bags, packets of hot cocoa, and pre-sweetened Koolaid can all liven up a basic water diet as well, and all of these can be gotten pretty cheap in the dollar or grocery store. It will be monotonous but filling and nutritious. Get a dollar store bottle of multivitamins too. It will make up for things you won't get from that diet, until you can properly forage some fresh foods.

Thanks again, Crash, that was a great job and a heck of a service to those just starting out.

[cowgirlup]

TR


Good post Crashdive. The bottom line is most people probably already have most of what they "need" to survive. It juts needs to be collected and packed into a BOB. And the necessary items they don't have do not need to cost an arm and a leg.

From my experience the expense comes when you read about a neat gadget on this forum (or elsewhere) and rush out to get you one without allowing a few days for your enthusiasm to die down. The result of buying based on this emotion instead of using logic is you end up with an expensive Molle pouch full of higher priced "cool stuff" instead of just a bag of necessary "stuff".

I reckon that's what makes me a "gear head". I like my "cool stuff". I also drink beer from green bottles if that tells you anything.

[cajunlady87]

WoW! Glad you saved this one too Cowgirl.