How To Prepare For An Emergency On A Budget
In the event of an emergency, it's critical to have a stock of supplies that you can fall back on to ensure your survival, health, and safety.
Especially, if you have loved ones to look after.
This requires collecting and maintaining a decent amount of those supplies even though you may never need them.
Like with insurance, it’s better to have it just in case there’s an accident.
Unfortunately, these supplies - including food and water stockpiles, first aid supplies, and even the most basic survival kits, can add up quickly.
With the proper planning, you can begin building up your own emergency supplies, even if you’re strapped for cash.
Today, I’m going to teach you how to prepare for an emergency on a budget.
Let’s do this…
Do Your Research
If you are starting from scratch, do some research on emergency preparedness. Look to websites such as The American Red Cross and CDC Emergency Preparedness for lists and ideas of what you need to build a survival “kit” and items to stockpile for emergencies.
Related Article: What To Put In A Survival Kit
You can also search your local area for survivor training and tips.
Once you have ideas of certain items you need, research those too. Some items, like food and water, are foolproof necessities.
However, other items such as shelter-building supplies, weather clothing and gear, and first aid supplies, are not created equal.
Knowing what to look for can save you money while also guaranteeing that you have the best products on hand.
Make a List
Before you go out and buy everything you need, make a detailed list of what items you need for your emergency preparedness or survival kit.
Break the list up into sections based on their categories such as sustenance, shelter, first aid, and more.
Also, have an idea of how much everything on that list costs as well.
For home stockpiles, most experts recommend that you have a minimum of three days' worth of supplies, but at least two weeks' worth is preferred.
Build Up to It
Especially, if you are starting from scratch, buying all of the items you need at once might not be very budget-friendly.
You might have to get one or two items at a time and build up to the full number of items needed.
Prioritize
To know what items to purchase first, prioritize the list you made based on items that are the most important and most useful.
The top three items to prioritize are:
1)) Water:
Having enough water stockpiling is one of the most important survival tips.
Keep bottled water both in your car and your home.
For your home stockpile, the best rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water per person per day.
2)) First aid
A good emergency first aid kit and basic first aid knowledge are other items to prioritize.
The American Red Cross has a detailed list of items that should be in any first aid kit.
You will need to add or make changes to that list based on your family size and specific medical needs.
3)) Food
The most likely disaster situation involves a severe weather event where you could be stuck in your home for days or more without electricity or water.
Having a decent stockpile of non-perishable foods to keep you and your family nourished is very important.
Keep an Eye Out
As you are building up your emergency preparedness supplies, keep an eye out for good deals, coupons, and sales.
Maintenance
Some basic maintenance will help save you money and keep your survival supplies up to date.
Keep your food and water stores rotating as they come near their expiration dates. That way things can be used rather than thrown out and stores kept fresh in case of an emergency.
Proper maintenance of any tools and other equipment will keep them from needing to be replaced, which will also save you money.
Conclusion
You just received a brief lesson on How To Prepare For An Emergency On A Budget!
Emergency preparedness is a responsible and potentially lifesaving skill but being ready for anything isn't always cheap.
There’s a lot more to emergency preparedness than what you learned in this article.
However, these tips provide you with a solid foundation on which you can build to help ensure the safety of your family without breaking the bank.
The best time to prepare for an emergency is today!