Prepping on a budget? Did you make all the preparations?

What do you really need?

To tie in with the previous section, here is a little reminder to you: Only buy what you actually need.

Does it really have to be the most modern flashlight with integrated Morse code, which is equipped with a compass, digital clock and star map, but costs USD400?

If you actually only have a budget of USD1000, like in the example above, then certainly not.

Believe me, I can sing a song about how I would like to have numerous prepping tools that are constantly being released, but sometimes it just isn’t possible.

And don’t get distracted by any “gear junkies” who are constantly buying new equipment. you go your own way

So keep an eye on your budget and stick to the cheaper option, which may not have a compass or star map, but only costs USD20 and still comes with everything you need.

Sharpen your survival skills!

What will cost you very little or no money is honing your own survival skills.

Consider what skills you need when SHTF.

• Are you able to make a fire or cook without electricity?
• Can you treat wounds?
• Do you know which berries and herbs are safe to eat?

Practice tasks that technology is likely to do for you at this point in time. 

Find like-minded people!

Find people who have the same or similar goals, hopes and dreams as you. The group is always stronger than the individual, and it always helps to have people around you who you can rely on when things go wrong.

Ideally, you set up a small community, which over time collects more information, opens up new networks and calls other like-minded people onto the scene, who in turn support you with their knowledge.

In this way, you can acquire valuable tips and tricks, exchange experiences and learn new things.

Initiate those who are directly affected!

Both your family and close friends will usually know what you are doing and will be more or less directly affected. So let them know ahead of time, explain your intentions, and see if you can pique their interest.

You don’t have to fall right in with the door and reveal all your intentions. This is especially true when you know that not all of your views would be accepted.

So only reveal what you are sure will at least be accepted.

For example, when you do your weekly shopping, you can say that it would be better to buy the cheaper milk and buy several of them than just one pack of the expensive counterpart. Bring your ideas into everyday life, so your loved ones learn to accept your new way and implement it in everyday life.

No more wasting time or money!

Let’s start with wasting your most precious commodity: time!

How much time in your life have you spent playing video games, watching series after series, hanging out on social media, or doing other pointless things?

Probably more than enough – so it’s time that this also comes to an end.

There’s nothing wrong with taking some time out for the things you really enjoy and enjoy doing. Nevertheless, you should also invest the time you have in things that will get you ahead.

This is especially true when it comes to the top survival skills and prepping skills.

The situation is similar to your financial means. Keep in mind that these are not infinite either and you have to set priorities. Treat yourself to something from time to time, it’s mostly good for morale. However, focus on the important things that you really need.

As you can see, there are numerous ways to use your valuable resources sparingly without having to suffer any disadvantages.

Now let’s look at a few tips on how to get cheap equipment and emergency supplies.

Tips on how to get cheap equipment, food and water

Recycling

If you can reuse things, then you should do it as best you can.

Recycling can help you in many ways to save costs and invest your existing budget in essential things.

For preppers, recycling is even more important. In a long-term disaster scenario, recycling allows you to:

• • Manage the amount of waste you produce more easily

• • Reuse valuable resources to craft other important items

• • Turn organic matter and food waste into a way to grow plants

• • Keep your home and living spaces clean, even without access to modern sanitation facilities

Here are some examples:

• • Old canning jars: use them as containers, turn jars into plant pots, use glass as an alarm system

• • Plastic: Reuse as a container, craft a basket, use containers to collect water, craft fish traps, containers to grow plants

• • Paper: As a fire starter, use it for insulation, make papercrete, create seed pots

• • Metal: for animal traps, build a grill, build a gas hobo

Food costs

Find out how to get groceries that cost less. If you find offers, you can stock up and save money.

But make sure to store the items properly and use what you buy.

In particular, bulk rice is much cheaper than small bags from the supermarket. But that doesn’t make sense if you buy brown rice and it spoils before you’ve fully used it.

Grow foods such as fast-growing vegetables to reduce your vegetable costs. Work with a gardener to trade gardening time for vegetables. In return, you get experience AND food. If you don’t own land, look for community gardens.

Reduce the amount of money you spend eating out

In general, eating out is much cheaper than eating out. A fast food meal can cost €6 (€24 for four people). Or you buy potatoes or rice, beans and some fresh vegetables for €24 and eat for a week.

Here are some examples:

• • I generally get multiple meals out of a large roast chicken by eating one serving the first night, then using the remaining bones to make broth and the remaining meat to make soup or other dishes.

• • I do the same thing with broccoli. On the first day, we eat broccoli and on the second day, I make a soup from the broth I cooked the broccoli in.

• • I fillet fish and the bones and trimmings go into your pot for fish soup.

Avoid prepackaged foods

In general, prepackaged foods are 2 to 40 times more expensive than the basic ingredients. Cook from scratch instead.

Prepare large batches at once, wake up or store them to save time and prepare your own “fast food”.

First Aid Kit

Your first aid kit may consist of nothing but bandages and rubbing alcohol, scissors, and tape.

You don’t have to start buying tourniquets and advanced medical devices right away. Only get what you know how to use.

Buy items on sale (but not items you don’t need)

Write down the products you use daily and how much you use for a week or two. This will give you an idea of ​​how much to fill up.

Then, when you see these things on sale, stock up and buy in bulk. This includes products such as: groceries, toilet paper, shampoo, soap, hygiene products and clothing.

But don’t buy things you don’t need or that are bad for you just because they’re on sale.

If you’re struggling to control impulse purchases, get a shopping app to help you stay within your prepping budget.

Repair and reuse

Fix something instead of throwing it away. Reuse things when you can.

A worn-down t-shirt can be a rag, or cut into strips to tie veggies together, or, in a pinch, a firelighter in the form of charred cotton — or even usable for butt wiping.

Reduce your contract costs

If you pay for Netflix and Amazon and Disney, you’re paying a lot per month. Get rid of what you don’t need. Spend less time watching fiction and more time studying AND save that money to spend elsewhere.

If you have an expensive smartphone contract, switch to a cheap one. Use your old smartphone for longer and don’t immediately buy a new one.

Use rechargeable batteries

Once you can afford good gadgets and things that require batteries, get rechargeable batteries, a charger, and a small solar charger.

You can also use it when camping, charge it in an emergency and you won’t need any spare batteries for at least 5 years.

Buy used items

A thrift store is a great place to shop on a budget. But flea markets are also good places to go for tools, crockery, gardening equipment, etc. Often you can get very good used things for a LOT less money.

Buy more durable stuff

Although it’s more expensive initially, you won’t have to replace high-quality items as quickly, and they’re less likely to break in an SHTF situation. Start with a good pair of work shoes, gloves, heavy-duty pants, and a good jacket.

A Prepper saying is “cheap is expensive.” If a product is too cheap (breaks easily), it’s expensive because you have to pay for it repeatedly.

Start with food and water

Even after purchasing the finest survival gear or building a cute off-grid bunker, you won’t last long without the essentials of life like food and water.

In your budget plan, decide how much money you will spend on buying long-life foods. You can budget monthly or weekly, it really doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you have a budget and actually stick to it.

Water storage budget

Having a few water bottles, water jugs, and even two or three 30-litre jerry cans is definitely a good idea.

First, make sure you have a few packs of bottled water. You can get them cheaply at any discounter and you can drink them individually without any problems.

Then get some water canisters to fill with tap or other drinking water and clean them thoroughly. Store them in your garage or basement.

Water filter

Storing large amounts of water may be impractical for many. In this case, it would be a good idea to budget $5-10 per week so you can get yourself a water filter in 5-10 weeks.

A water filter is great because it filters down to 0.01 microns to remove viruses, bacteria and parasites and reduces most heavy metals, tastes and chemicals.

A water filter can be worth budgeting for, especially if you need to get out of town quickly and leave your water containers at home. Keep it in your bug out bag for quick and easy access.