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555K views 1.2K replies 768 participants last post by  Potawatomi II  
#1 · (Edited)
After reading scores of threads of people asking how to get started prepping, having to "sneak" prepping from their spouse or "don't have the money" to prep, I thought I would put together a thread that would cover each.

The goal of this thread is to demonstrate that prepping can be done on the cheap for about $ 5.00 per week. I do not think that I know anyone who could not spare five bucks per week to invest in the ability to feed yourself and your family in the event of being affected by some form of disaster.

For just $ 5.00 +/- you can buy the following storable things:

FOOD ITEMS

  • Five packages of Idahoan instant potatoes (flavored)
  • A case of ramen noodles (20 pkgs)
  • five cans of sardines
  • five gallons of purified water
  • nearly two cases of bottled water
  • four cans of peaches, pears or fruit cockatail
  • 2 jars of mandarin oranges
  • five pounds of rice
  • three to four pounds of spaghetti
  • Two cans of spaghetti sauce
  • three bags of egg noodles
  • eight packages of gravy mix
  • four cans of whole or sliced new potatos
  • four cans of green beans or at least three cans of carrots, greens, peas or mixed veggies
  • Two cans of Yams
  • six cans of pork and beans
  • one 40 ounce can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew
  • Two 12 ounce cans of chicken, tuna or roast beef
  • One 1lb canned ham
  • three cans of refried beans
  • three 12 oz cans of raviolis or spaghetti O's.
  • Two 12.5 ounce cans of Salmon
  • Five pounds of Oatmeal
  • Four packages Dinty Moore heat and eat meals
  • five packages of corn bread mix
  • Four pounds of Sugar
  • Five pound of Flour
  • 1.5 quarts of cooking oil
  • three one pound bags of dry beans
  • two cans of apple juice
  • a jar of peanut butter
  • two boxes of yeast
  • two bags of generic breakfast cereal
  • 10 8 oz cans of tomato paste/tomato sauce
  • four cans of soup
  • four cans of Chunky soup
  • 8-10 pounds of Iodized salt
  • two bottles of garlic powder or other spices
  • Two boxes of kool aid
  • A can of coffee
  • 2 bottles of powdered coffee creamer


Non-Food Items

  • one manual can opener
  • two bottles of camp stove fuel
  • 100 rounds of .22lr ammo
  • 25 rounds of 12 ga birdshot or small game loads
  • 20 rounds of Monarch 7.62x39 ammo
  • a spool of 12lb test monofilament fishing line
  • 2 packages of hooks and some sinkers or corks.
  • artificial lure
  • two packages of soft plastic worms
  • three Bic Lighters or two big boxes of matches
  • A package of tea lights
  • 50 ft of para cord
  • a roll of duct tape
  • a box of nails or other fasteners
  • a flashlight
  • two D-batteries, four AA or AAA batteries or two 9v batteries
  • a toothbrush and tooth paste
  • a bag of disposable razors
  • eight bars of ivory soap (it floats)
  • a box or tampons or bag of pads for the ladies
  • two gallons of bleach
  • needles and thread
  • a ball of yarn

OTC Medications (at Dollar General)

  • 2 bottles 1000 count 500 mg generic Tylenol (acetometaphin)
  • 2 bottles 500 count 200 mg generic advil (ibuprofen)
  • 2 boxes 24 cound 25 mg generic Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCI)--also available at walgreens under "sleep aids."
  • 4 bottles 500 count 325 mg aspirin
  • 2 boxes of generic sudafed
  • 4 bottles of alcohol
  • a box of bandages (4x4)

Please feel to add to the list. Some of the items above will go for less than five bucks, some may go for slightly more. You get the drift...
 
#1,047 ·
Speaking from South Africa where many of us are frantically preparing for what seems to be the worst, there were some excellent suggestions there (for someone on a small budget) but some of the things are frightfully expensive. For example,
  • notwithstanding that our currency has just weakened in the past couple of weeks, one of our Rand(we usually don't pluralise it) should be a tenth of a dollar, in rule-of-thumb terms. Thus $5 would be fifty Rand, or less.
  • but 20kgs of Ramen noodles would cost us ~R1000! i.e. $100 at 35c (U.S.) to 45c per 75gm packet.
Unbelievable.
 
#8 ·
If you watch the sales, you can often get even more; local stores regularly have 10 for $10 sales, or have stuff even cheaper, and if you buy the store brands rather than the national brands, you are usually getting the same quality anyway - I buy Safeway's pickle relish and have purchased a name brand; the name brand has pimento, which I don't like, Safeway's doesn't, is cheaper, and they come in the exact same jar. Drug stores are another good one; I regularly get things there cheaper than even on sale at the grocery store.
 
#11 ·
I am SOOO blessed !!
About a mile from home, there are 3 cool stores with great sales, each on their own corner of the same intersection ! hehe. :upsidedown:
Gotta LOVE the spirit of competition between 'em !
Walgreen's (drug store.. great sales on meds, waters, canned meats, and LP tank refills), Dollar General (totally discounted goodies), and a Braum's store that started out selling ice cream and fast food. They now have their own little 'grocery', and really good prices on dairy (and their 'day old bakery' rack.. hehe.) I just vac-sealed a couple of dozen yummy cookes ($1/doz!) .. will see how that works, and for how long. First attempt..we'll see.
Once in awhile I'll get something home before checking the dates. :rolleyes:
Sooo.. anything I discover that's sort of short on time, become dinners fairly soon, then I'll can leftovers for longer shelf-life, I hope.. hehe.
Hubby came with me to TomThumb this weekend, where Folger's coffee is $5.99 for 33oz plastic cans, both reg and decaf (with store card). He knew we were totally out, so I grabbed one of reg and one of decaf (we drink it 50/50), when he said: aren't you getting a couple for the prep pantry ??
Um, yeah, sure I am !! ;) We saved around $10 on those 4 cans.. yay !

Great list !! Super-encouraging !! :thumb:
:)
 
#17 ·
Nice list.

I always have to look at people in wonder when they say I'm strange because I'm prepared. I just look at them and think to myself 5 days...maybe 10 if they are lucky.

If you have to hide being prepared from your spouse ask her how to get potable water without opening a bottle or turning a tap. That should get a nice little discussion going as to why you have a box labeled "Just in case" in the garage.
 
#404 ·
I tried to suggest to my family about prepping and they think I am a nut so now I keep quiet to ALL.
I think if they know you have prepared that they will just come and live off you when the time comes. I couldn't watch my family die but it would sure pill me to know that I put in all the hard work when they just scoffed at my being a "nut" !
 
#23 ·
that is one nice list! give yourself a pat on the back.
i am new to this survival thing, and until recently, i was all about the defensive "s.h.t.f." only. after reading all these post from you guys, i am changing my ways. i too want to add to your list. next time i go to the store, i will make a list of things i too can add to this.

great job!
 
#25 ·
I just found my Dollar General receipt from Friday, and then cross-checked against Highlander's list ...

$5 would also buy:

* 2 tubs (well sealed) baby wipes (hey, hubby loves 'em !! ;))
* 2 boxes, 6ct Nature's Valley Trail Mix bars
* 3 (3qt) jugs of bleach
* 5 Nissin Chow Mein meals

Those are just a few more things to add to the '$5 club'. :)
 
#249 ·
Hey, Those Nature Valley Trail mix bars are great!!!! Good energy for a Bug Out Bag, or Emergency Rations to keep in the vehicle. Also, the baby wipes are great for hygiene when you can shower. I drove an 18 wheeler for about a year driving cross country. Sometimes you can't get to a truck stop for a shower in the desert or the snow. But I like the "Wet Ones Big Ones" they aren't much more expensive, and are great for temporary bath. Hygiene will be important to your health after TSHTF.
 
#30 ·
Well, in my area, NONE of those things are under $5. More like $8-$12.

Also, in my experience, getting gear 'on the cheap' generally means that it'll break (and usually in a spectacular, violent manner too) the VERY FIRST time you really need it. Again, your milage may vary (and it hopefully does from mine!) but in my personal experience, if it's not top-dollar shizz or military surplus equipment, it won't last even a year, much less the five-to-ten that most of us are wanting to get out of our gear.

Not to be the naysayer, and I'm definitely passing this along to relatives, but where I'm at, this isn't of much use. :(
 
#34 ·
the list on this thread is not directed gear, i absolutely agree with you about gear though, I prefer the top dollar stuff, usually it ends up being economical anyway because it lasts so long and you won't need a new one case in point LM charge

for $5 you're mostly going to be getting food and medical supplies maybe other supplies, definitely not tools though or most gear