You can’t put a price on the security of your family… but you can put a price on all of the prepping supplies you need to get secure!
Getting started with prepping can seem expensive. And I’m not going to lie; you will have to shell out some cash to prepare for disasters.
But there is no reason that prepping has to be expensive.
Here’s how to prep on a budget so every dollar counts.
Start with a Prepping List
Don’t buy any prepping supplies or gear until you’ve made a complete list of everything you need. Otherwise, you will buy duplicates of some items (like that prepper I know with 10 lbs of dried tomatoes but no grains) and missing important items.
All of the prepping supplies can be broken down into categories:
Break Your List Down by Priority
Now that you’ve got your prepping supplies list, you must identify the core items you need. Identify the things you need for your Bug Out Bag (see a list here).
These are the items you should get ASAP. Then work your way up to a 30 day supply. You can then focus on long-term prepper supplies, like food buckets.
Set Your Prepping Budget
If you want to make every single dollar count to the maximum, you’ve got to set a prepping budget.
You might think, “But I don’t have a prepping budget!” EVERYONE has a prepping budget.
If you have no money to spend, your prepping budget is zero. Zero is still a budget (yes, you can still prep with zero dollars to spare).
- If you have a sizeable prepping budget: Resist the urge to rush out and buy a lot of fancy gear and pricy security systems. Identify the core items you need and get these first. Do your research and invest in quality.
- If you have a small prepping budget: Divide your list into expensive and cheap items. Buy some cheap items every week. Set aside a certain amount of money each week to buy pricier items.
- If you have zero in your prepping budget: Learn how to make your own supplies from cheap and recycled items. Read more about DIY survival projects.
Tips for Stretching Your Prepping Budget
Again, I need to emphasize that the most important thing you can do when prepping on a budget is prep with a plan.
If you don’t have a plan of what items to buy, you will spend too much money on certain items or waste money when you throw things away.
Here are some tips for how to prep on a budget.
Rotate Your Stockpile
Let’s say you’ve built up a year’s supply of non-perishable foods like canned soups and pasta. Well, even “non-perishable” foods go bad!
Throwing away food is the same as throwing away money!
Once you surpass the 30 day food stockpile, you will need to develop a…