Cheap stockpiling: How to be prepared on a budget
When money is tight, adding extra items to your shopping list can be hard. However, with a bit
of planning, there are lots of ways to build your emergency preparedness supplies on a budget.
Start with the supplies you already have
Your first step should be to look at an emergency stockpile checklist. This
will help you get an idea of the different things that should go in an emergency
preparedness kit and help you come up with a plan for building your own kit.
Though the list may seem daunting at first, you’ll likely find that you already own
a lot of the items you’ll want to include in your kit. Start the process by pulling
together items that you have on hand at home. For example, you may have enough canned goods to start your food stockpile or extra bandages that can go into your emergency first aid kit. Once you’ve pulled together the items you have, check them off the list and start making a plan for the others.
Save on space by storing your supplies in containers you already have. That plastic bin that held your children’s toys when they were young or a laundry basket that is no longer used can become the perfect organizer.
Build your kit a little bit at a time
As you build your preparedness kit, don’t feel like you have to do it all in
one day. It will likely be easier on your budget if you spread out the items over
several weeks or months.
Consider adding a few extra dollars to your weekly shopping trip and buy just a few items each time you go to the store. Another important thing to remember is to keep an eye out for sales. Carry your checklist with you so you’ll know what you still need when you find a good deal. Take a lesson from families that save on groceries regularly by shopping at stores that offer double coupons and by buying generic. Canned foods are often less expensive to stockpile than other ready-to-eat shelf food, but watch out for high sodium. You don’t want foods in your stockpile that will make you thirsty, as clean water supplies may be limited during an emergency or disaster situation.
Save more with these Get Ready stockpiling tips
Make sure and stock the right batteries
Don’t stockpile rechargeable batteries in your emergency supplies, emergency experts advise.
While rechargeable batteries are an economical choice for items you use every day, they can lose their charge when left unused for long periods in storage.
To make sure that your emergency flashlights and other supplies are ready to go
when you need them, stockpile only regular batteries.
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