“How Am I Going to Afford All This Stuff?”
Survival planning isn’t exactly cheap. You need to buy a ton of resources that won’t be of immediate use to you. These survival items will be placed in storage and they include storage containers, clothing for all seasons, gardening equipment, camping equipment, water filters, first aid kits, preserved food, and more. All of these items will definitely cost a fortune, but that doesn’t mean they’re unattainable.
The first step is to go slowly. You don’t have to purchase everything in one go. Stockpile the essentials so that you won’t leave a gaping hole in your savings. Start by purchasing the priority survivalist items, and then gradually accumulate your resources over time. At the very least, you’ll be more prepared in the next months and you’ll increase your chances of surviving a catastrophe.
The first thing you need to accomplish is your bug out bag (BOB). This waterproof bag contains all the essentials you’ll need to survive for three days to a week. There should be one bug out bag for each member of the family. This is the bag that you’ll bring with you in case of an emergency.
Stop Wasteful Spending
One way to completely budget everything is to eliminate wasteful spending. Refraining to buy the little things will add up in the long run. You can cut down on your cable subscription, movie rental fees, and other luxurious items that you can live without. You can also move to a smaller place so that you can afford it in the long run.
Establish A Household Budget
Having a budget is a very important part of saving up for survival essentials. Make sure to pay off all your debt as soon as possible. Unpaid debt accumulates interest which will rack up over time. Refrain from using your credit unless absolutely necessary.
Having a budget allows you to account for every cent. Compute for the essentials and only purchase them. Include an allotment for emergency funds and savings to cover your bases. You can purchase your essentials on sale or by using coupons.
Shop Wisely
Purchase canned goods as part of your survival stash. Canned goods last longer than whole or fresh foods. Buy your stocks in bulk so that you can save through special discounts. You may catch canned goods on sale but it’s very likely that they’re nearing their expiration date. Make sure to label all of your canned goods so that you can eat and replenish them before they expire.
Buy Secondhand
One way to save money is by purchasing secondhand equipment. These survival items include water storage containers, secondhand clothing, or camping equipment. Brand-new items cost a lot at full-price. You can save a ton if you opt for used yet functional items.
You can look at garage sales or online auctions for used survival items. Just make sure to double-check if they’re fully functional. It’s counter-intuitive to buy at a cheaper price point if you’ll just replace them after a few uses.
Go To Estate Sales
Estate sales are gold mines when it comes to good deals for survival equipment. Estate sales have great deals for so many items as they’re trying to clear out everything. You can look for estate sales by looking at the classified ads section in your local newspaper. You can search for camping equipment and other survival items during these sales. You can also purchase canned food at a lower price. Just be aware of the “best by” dates so that you won’t ingest spoiled food.
