I have lost track of the number of times I get asked about prepping on a budget.

I get it!

Many Americans don’t have a lot of extra money to spend right now.

However, we shouldn’t view purchasing emergency preparedness food and gear as something “extra.”

If we want to protect ourselves and our families, prepping is a must.

When the next natural disaster hits, or the grid goes down, everyone will wish they had stocked up on emergency preparedness food and gear.

Instead of waiting until you have more money to buy what you need in case of an emergency, use these ten tips for prepping on a budget.

#1 Make a List of What You Need

There’s a lot of cool survival gear available, but it isn’t all needed.

If you are prepping on a budget, you don't need fancy survival gear with all the bells and whistles.

Focus on the survival gear you will actually need—and use—should SHTF.

Think in terms of the basics:

• Food
• Water
• Power

What would you need to survive if the grid went down for more than a week?

Make a list of what you need to add to your survival stash. 

#2 Calculate the Costs

Take your list of needs and calculate the cost of each item.

Visit My Patriot Supply and price out different items.

For example, My Patriot Supply offers various power and fire survival gear at different prices.

Start with the basics.

If you want to build up to a year’s worth of emergency food, simply start with a one-week food supply.

Add up how much money you will need to get all the survival essentials you need to start with.

#3 Create a Prepping Budget

Once you have an idea of the cost of purchasing the prepping essentials, calculate how much you need to budget monthly to meet your goal.

Add emergency gear savings to your budget along with budgeting for your regular expenses.

With a clear budget, it is easy to see how you can move money around to increase emergency gear savings.

[Related Read: How to Stock Up Survival Supplies without Breaking the Bank]

#4 Buy in the Right Order

When prepping on a budget, buying what you need at the right time is critical.

Buy what you need the most before you buy things you want.

For instance, while you may eventually want to buy a solar generator, make sure you have a solar-powered weather radio and flashlight first. 

Buy the basics first. 

Before you buy a year's worth of food, make sure you have enough just to survive a week without power.

If you can’t afford a water filtration system, buy an Alexapure water filtration pitcher. 

#5 Make Cuts and Prioritize Prepping

Buying emergency food and gear should be a priority.

Treat it as such.

Do you need five streaming services or solar-powered tools for when the power goes out?

Do you need new clothes or a stocked first aid kit?

Focus on what really matters: your family’s survival.

#6 Think Like an Everyday Prepper

When prepping on a budget, it is essential to think like an everyday prepper.

This means living your life as self-sufficiently as possible.

Purchase seeds so you can garden.

If you learn how to grow your own food today, you won’t have to worry about getting food during an emergency.

Before buying appliances, consider how they will work in an emergency.

For instance, if you are looking for outdoor kitchen supplies, invest in an Ember Off-Grid Biomass Oven that you can use anywhere. 

#7 Look for Sales

Many emergency food suppliers offer sales or discounts throughout the year—especially around different holidays.

After you meet your initial goal of acquiring the emergency preparedness basics, wait to purchase bigger items, such as the Grid Doctor 3300 Solar Generator System, until the company offers a discount or holds a sale.

Helpful tip: Sign up for company emails to get alerts about sales.

#8 Add Survival Tools to Your Wish List

Some survival tools will be more expensive than others, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get them.

It means you may have to add these pricier items to your wish list.

When it is gift-giving time, ask friends and family to consider getting items off your wish list.

When sales are offered, this is when you get items off your wish list.

#9 Use Extra Money to Buy Essentials

Until you have all the emergency gear and food you need, use any extra money to meet your goal.

If you receive a tax refund, a bonus, or a financial gift, use this money to buy items that have been missing from your preparedness stash.

#10 Consider Financing 

While it isn’t the right choice for everyone, another option is financing.

If you don’t have the money now, but you know you will have the money later—after budgeting and saving—consider financing.

My Patriot Supply offers simple financing for emergency preparedness. There are no credit checks, applications, interest, or hidden fees. Simply spread out your payment over a span of up to five months from the date of purchase. It's that easy!

Prioritize purchasing preparedness gear, friends. 

 

In liberty,

Elizabeth Anderson

Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply