Prepping on a budget (100$)
Posted by Independent-Chef-374@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 44 comments
Hello r/preppers
If you had to start over and today only $100 to spend on preparedness, what would you buy?
Independent-Chef-374@reddit (OP)
I've got below list, would you change anything out?
Reduntu@reddit
I'd switch out the fire starter kit for a $5 pack of bic lighters.
WeightOwn4267@reddit
Yup. Bic or zippo style lighters are ideal. Not only are they simple to use, even when they run out of fuel, they can still make a decent spark.
WeekSecret3391@reddit
Get a couple of bic lighter, a ferro rod is the ultimate back-up, but should never be the main source.
20$ for a multitool is straight up low, but if you have a blade, a can opener and a saw you should be good. It would be worth investing a bit more to have at least pliere, a flat head screwdriver, philips screwdriver, an awl and a file. Honestly, you would want a leatherman with the bit kit and the ratchet, but if you will find something reasonable both in price and performance with a Swiss Army Knife.
Filters is half the process, you need to purify your water too either chemicaly or by boiling it. It's all risk management though, if you're reasonably out of a city you might not need it. I would still recommend it.
Milar blankets are great, but I would switch them with a single layered stainless bottle. You could boil your water in it, make a hot beverage to keep you warm (which btw heats up a lot faster than a fire can), gives a mean to cook your ramen and allows you to carry some water.
You will get by just fine with a cheap headlamp, you might regret a cheap flashlight though. Why? Because the headlamp stays safely on your head and is meant to illuminate right before you, so you will be fine with low lumens. A flashlight is meant to light around you, which require more lumen and you risk dropping it so you need a tougher construction.
Canned food because of its weight is for home only. For your home, don't focus on store long term food only. Store what you eat and eat what you store. If that's canned food, by all mean store them, but don't focus only on that.
Ramen are light and easy to transport, but they do take a quite a bit of space for their caloric value. You might want to look up some ready to eat and compact snack instead, like raisin, peanuts, jerky and stuff like that.
PrepperBoi@reddit
Id swap the blankets and canned food/ramen for 50lbs of rice. That’s 86k calories.
CTSwampyankee@reddit
Canadian prepper has an old vid on YouTube regarding how much food can be stored for $100.
Food provides some time to work out your options. No food leaves you with decreasing capabilities and hasty decisions.
OnTheEdgeOfFreedom@reddit
Depends, what are you preparing for?
If you don't know, start with water, then food and a way to cook it.
CaptainParrothead@reddit
First figure out what you’re prepping for. While “everything” is usually the answer, it’s not realistic. My plan is for no power. So flashlights, batteries, candles, small stove, is top on my list. Get the Boy Scout Fieldbook. A good multi tool, paracord. Hit the thrift stores for backpacks, and tools. Good luck.
Dtwn92@reddit
A good prepper book, knowledge is free. Hit the library for that.
Fire starters, water purifiers, talk to your neighbors and store up some long term food (rice, beans and can goods).
tastemycookies@reddit
What are some good prepper books to lookout for?
croque4@reddit
croque4@reddit
The info and details this book has is insane. From the specific directions to the pictures. It even tells you how much each project may cost. Where to buy it. It’s legit
ContextualBargain@reddit
“Knowledge is free, buy a prepper book” lol
Row30@reddit
Last time I checked, the library didn’t sell books.
“A good prepper book, knowledge is free. Hit the library for that.”
orleans_reinette@reddit
Of course lbraries sell books 🤦♀️ where do you think the books not checked out frequently enough go? Recycling?
ContextualBargain@reddit
It’s just a cheap shot nw
yrunsyndylyfu@reddit
PerfectAd2903@reddit
Another option is to buy $100 worth of toilet paper, and then start bartering when people don’t have any. 😂
PerfectAd2903@reddit
20lb bag of rice $20 in original packaging from Walmart kept inside of Home Depot 5 gallon bucket with lid $8 (could be used as macro water filtration later). 3 pack bic lighter $8, duct tape$8, roll of painters plastic$15, multitool $20, vegetable shortening $7(candle), and pool shock to make bleach for water purifier $15.
attitude_boi@reddit
Hiking boots, bike, poncho, backpack, multi-tool, powerbank, hammock.
Straight_Expert829@reddit
50 lbs beans, 50 lbs Rice and a way to cook it without power.
EverVigilant1@reddit
Food, water, lighters, batteries, candles, blankets
Additional-Stay-4355@reddit
Water, beer, food and wet wipes. I'd buy a 55 gallon blue food grade barrel and fill it with water. The food would all be canned so, wouldn't require water for cooking. The beer is self explanatory. The wet wipes are for sponge baths and emergency butt wiping.
JethroGourd@reddit
Get a 5 back of bics, some food (rice was a good suggestion), grab a decent flash light with a hat clip (olight t5i), water filter
Tasty-Window@reddit
A cheap gun and some ammo
Punk-moth@reddit
There are those premade bug out bags but Id be very careful about my selection. You could stock a decent amount of canned foods and water, a small supply of propane and one of those propane heater/cookers. If my budget was just $100 bucks, I would focus on food, water and heat.
Grand-Corner1030@reddit
What other assets do you have?
$100 is just leverage to help you with your other assets.
It also depends what kind of disaster you think you need to prepare for. Personally, I worry about winter storms (3-5 day event) and other things. So I plan according to what I think I'll need. If you live in the tropics, I doubt you buy a lot of winter gear.
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
Go to Libby and check out books adjacent to prepping like camping, survivalism, cooking from scratch, sewing, solar and such
Go to archive.org and do the same
Go to the survival library and put them in a thumb drive to read later.
I would concentrate on the basics. Safe shelter, heat for the cold, lights for safety, a first aid kit and the ability to cook. You didn't need to cook for a 24 hour power outage unless there are medical circumstances.
Some things you can get. But since you didn't mention the weather where you live, I'll hit the basics and you can mix and match as you have funds.
Fire alarm/CO detector Black Friday will usually have sales on these.
fire extinguisher
Fire blanket for the kitchen
A $5 headlamp. In a power outage, most injuries are caused by not having enough light and emergencies can cause clumsiness. Later add a whole room light so you can move around a kitchen and not have to swivel your head to see.
A $20 propane camping stove from a yard sale or one cheaper. Mine was a used 2 burner fire king for $18 when someone was downsizing. A good single burner is fine for emergencies but if you have a family, a double burner is so much more useful. Great for cooking outside, tailgating, camping and emergencies. They can also be used to do canning on. But a new double burner would be worth saving up for.
A $30 wool blanket (Amazon) or a used 3 or 4 season sleeping bag. I have also found several in garbage cans that were high quality.
If it does get cold where you are located if the power goes out, a propane heater. It could be as cheap as a $20 black Friday sale at Menards or one of the larger Me. Buddy. Last year Menards Black Friday sale they had tank top propane heaters for $18. The small ones only heat one room but they are easily portable.
If gets cold where you live, a pair of long johns
A water filter. The HydroBlu Versa Flo kit can run $30 but the kit comes with 2 water bladders. It is cheaper without the water bladders.I camp so I got the kit with water bladders
If you practice deep pantry and have a way to cook, fancy freeze dried foods are not needed. You just have to have the water available and a way to cook.
ExtraplanetJanet@reddit
If you’re starting fresh, I’d go with the classic 72-hour natural disaster prep. Three days of food, water and meds for every person and animal in your household. An inexpensive power bank to charge phones, a couple small lanterns with extra batteries. Printouts or a USB stick of important documents. A weather radio will probably use up the last of the prepping money.
The thing about prepping is that you can go as in-depth as you want, in as many different theoretical directions as your brain can dream up. There are a million cool and useful gadgets and kits out there that might be worth spending some money on, if you’ve got it. But at the end of the day, everybody ought to start with the idea of a relatively small and commonplace disaster and make sure they are ready to get through that.
hikerforlife@reddit
3 days of food and water and a power source is how I started prepping over a decade ago. Still easy to do for under $100.
New_Internet_3350@reddit
A good water filter-$20 Big bag of rice -$20 Beans-$20 Oil-$20 Variety of heritage seeds-$20
Book at the library are free. And build on that $100 as much as you can.
infinitum3d@reddit
Preparedness
Fitness and Knowledge are free, weightless, always with you and can’t be stolen from your bag.
Focus on getting healthy/strong. Walk. Climb stairs. Build endurance. Stretch. Eat right. Quit soda pop and choose water.
Make yourself valuable to a society.
Learn CPR, first aid, and basic life support. Maybe take a lifeguard course.
Learn what wild edibles you can forage. Every region has them. Get a local Field Guide to Wild Edibles and see what is near you.
Get a bike. If you have to travel, a bike is far easier and faster than walking. Learn how to maintain it and repair it when something breaks.
Get a partner, friend, buddy who has a skill you don’t. Then learn a skill that they don’t have. One person alone can’t do everything.
Don’t stress.
You got this.
Hefty-Squirrel-6800@reddit
Canned Food and water first. The canned goods would be high-calorie meals in a can that can be eaten without heating or from the can. One serving per can. Once opened, you don't want to deal with leftovers and no means of refrigeration.
TheAncientMadness@reddit
r/preppersales
also, local grocery/costco deals
Accurate-Mess-2592@reddit
When you're on a budget sometimes this is the best place to start: figure the most essential things for survival: water, warmth/ protection from the elements, and food. Start here and work back to the "wants" after the "needs" are met.
IGetNakedAtParties@reddit
I'd invest the 100 in whatever might give me the highest returns. Training or education for a better paid position. Investing in starting a side hustle in something you're already good at. Investing in financial assets which are at your personal risk tolerance.
TotalRecallsABitch@reddit
Candle Wax. Duct tape. Medicine. Aluminum foil. yeast packets. Sugar.
Cherimoose@reddit
I'd get supplies that fit my needs, which may be different than yours. If you're unsure what to get, read through the wiki.
Mean_Aerie_8204@reddit
Crystal light flavor for water ... you will drink lots of water to compensate for lack of food ... use old 20 Oz plastic Gatorade container as everyday mix bottle
Roman noodles
Beans
Tuna fish
... then three books to study ... about the Bahai Faith ...
The Hidden Words
The Book of Certitude
The Most Holy Book
.... if you are right with God, then it doesn't matter what happens to your body .... God will either make you a trustee of the All Merciful ... or... take your soul to be with Him in heaven
Wishing you the best
Good luck
Mean_Aerie_8204@reddit
Actually breakfast bars, granola bars, not Tuna fish. More nutrients in breakfast bars.
themoosboos@reddit
Water, lighters, matches, candles , flashlights, batteries, canned goods, protein or snack bars, hand warmers, blankets — prepping for winter
gilbert2gilbert@reddit
I'd do free research for my YouTube channel....no wait that's not me
WeightOwn4267@reddit
Walmart fanny pack with water bottles Lighter Cheap Walmart fixed blade Emergency poncho Emergency tent Walmart stainless cup Small led flashlight A few cliff bars
That's probably close to $100 and it's a cheap, light get home bag
Doyouseenowwait_what@reddit
Knowledge, water, fire, shelter, food, community