Published March 22, 2021
Prepare for Emergencies at Any Budget
Recent winter storms hitting a large portion of the country have left many people with a strong desire to be more prepared in the future. Many of us simply aren’t prepared for a mid-level emergency, let along a massive disaster.
If you’ve considered upping your family’s preparedness, it can feel overwhelming. The internet is full of preppers who could survive off of their stockpiles for a year or longer. It can be easy to throw up your hands and feel like it’s impossible to plan for the worst.
This post is intended to show you ways to prep ranging from penny pincher all the way up to big spender. Take stock of your own family’s current preparedness and see if any of these items could be added to your home.
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Penny Pincher
This is the type of preparedness that the CDC recommends as a bare minimum for families. For starters, it’s a good idea to find an inexpensive first aid kit ,along with three days of drinking water, and a three day supply of non-perishable foods. This video features great ideas for making a kit of other items with supplies from the Dollar Tree for those on the tightest of budgets.
Frugal Finder
If you already have the basics from other list, it’s a great idea to start adding some more things to your family’s emergency kit. A 72 hour bag can be on the ready for you to grab if there’s an emergency that forces you out of your home. This contains survival gear for three days for your family members. Bulking up your food supply with other non-perishable items to last for a full seven days is a great idea if your budget allows it. This camp stove is small but could prove a life saving measure to boil water or cook foods in an emergency without power. Life Straws are helpful if you’re in an area where the water may be unsafe and you’re unable to boil it.
Mid-level Maven
Once you’ve covered the items on the other two lists, it’s a great time to consider adding in some other measures for your family’s safety. A small generator, like this solar powered one, is a great investment to charge cell phones and other useful items during a power outage. This larger filtration bag takes up very little space and is a great way to filter water for multiple people at once. Adding in even more food to your stockpile is something that many preparedness experts recommend. This 60 serving bucket of dehydrated food could be a great addition. You can also keep a well-stocked kitchen pantry with several extra items for emergencies. This propane heater is small and could be useful in a winter storm or emergency.
Intentional Investor
If you’re truly looking to be prepared for anything, there are a number of ways to get started beyond the basics. A 3 month supply of non-perishable foods is the ultimate way to truly find yourself prepared. Many pros achieve this by rotating in canned and dry food items in a first in, first out order in a garage or basement. This gas or propane generator can give you lots of much-needed power to keep important electronics running. This water collection barrel can provide great water for toilet flushing and other essentials during an emergency situation.
These tips are a great place to start, no matter your budget. How do you keep your family prepared?
