No money to prep
- Thread starter Benjamin_Boyce
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True prepper there!
I don't really think money matters. I keep seeds on hand year after year. I not only collect them from the garden but when the stores sell out at the end of spring what they have left 5 for $1 I buy up about 40 packs. Even if it is stuff I don't like to eat I buy the seeds up I figure someone may want hot peppers or broccoli. Plus beggars can't be choosers.
The best advice I can give you is buy 1 extra every time you shop. Buy 1 extra salt, or 1 extra baking soda or whatever that you may need some day for food ( not one of everything all at once. Just 1 extra item per trip), cooking, baking, and so on. Use dollar stores for lots of things like batteries, and extra items you may need. I know that is what I do. I even have bought tools when they are on sale and just add them in the barn 1 every few months. They have come in so handy lately, when my husband up and took off he took all the tools with him, so now I am having to restock the shed and barn. I got me a new saw and a new drill/driver last month. I also have bought a new hammer, and loads of nails and screws.
I met a lady about 5 years ago that said keep an empty bucket in the kitchen and buy can goods that you normally use and dry goods that you normally use daily and fill the bucket little by little when it's full close it up and hide it in the closet. Repeat it again and before you know it you will have enough food stored away to last your family 3 to 6 months.
So far I have 2 family meal buckets put away, 1 bucket of rice, 1 macaroni, 1 beans, and another full of Ramen noodles. That is just the food. I then have 1 full of soap, shampoo, hand cream, and other things that will come in handy. When you pack that family meal bucket make sure to add in a bag of hard candies for the kids, and some granola bars for the adults. Fruit rolls also come in handy in the buckets.
The best advice I can give you is buy 1 extra every time you shop. Buy 1 extra salt, or 1 extra baking soda or whatever that you may need some day for food ( not one of everything all at once. Just 1 extra item per trip), cooking, baking, and so on. Use dollar stores for lots of things like batteries, and extra items you may need. I know that is what I do. I even have bought tools when they are on sale and just add them in the barn 1 every few months. They have come in so handy lately, when my husband up and took off he took all the tools with him, so now I am having to restock the shed and barn. I got me a new saw and a new drill/driver last month. I also have bought a new hammer, and loads of nails and screws.
I met a lady about 5 years ago that said keep an empty bucket in the kitchen and buy can goods that you normally use and dry goods that you normally use daily and fill the bucket little by little when it's full close it up and hide it in the closet. Repeat it again and before you know it you will have enough food stored away to last your family 3 to 6 months.
So far I have 2 family meal buckets put away, 1 bucket of rice, 1 macaroni, 1 beans, and another full of Ramen noodles. That is just the food. I then have 1 full of soap, shampoo, hand cream, and other things that will come in handy. When you pack that family meal bucket make sure to add in a bag of hard candies for the kids, and some granola bars for the adults. Fruit rolls also come in handy in the buckets.
Another mans junk is another mans treasure! I work at a recycling center and you would be amazed at the perfectly good items people throw away... Its those people who have more money than sense....You never miss what you have till its gone and one day that could very well happen. Live in the now but know none of our futures are guaranteed we are only here for a short time.
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People on the dole always seem to have money for booze, smokes, TV/computer and cell phones. They usually have a litter of snot nosed brats too.
this is true, usually got some kind of satellite tv package too with all the bells and whistles, probably got a mountain of debt too.
The US is the only place in the world where you get free money just for having lots of kids. I knew a guy that got more from his tax return than he made all year at his job. He also spent it in 3 or 4 weeks every time he got it, on nothing for his kids by the way.
don't you believe it, there are families here where no one has worked and will never work, the only "work" they do is pushing out their next brat so they can increase their welfare payments.
Yeah, as I was posting it I realized there's lots of countries as stupid as ours......
The best source of free stuff for prepping is Freecycle on Craig's List.
I've gotten a free, fully functional bicycle from Freecycle. Also a pressure cooker, camp stove, clothes, almost anything you need.
I know a woman who has a business where she gets things from Freecycle, restores them, and sells them at a substantial profit.
If you aren't too proud, freecycle is a great resource for almost anything.
I've gotten a free, fully functional bicycle from Freecycle. Also a pressure cooker, camp stove, clothes, almost anything you need.
I know a woman who has a business where she gets things from Freecycle, restores them, and sells them at a substantial profit.
If you aren't too proud, freecycle is a great resource for almost anything.
I hadn't heard of that yet, great idea.
Good advise. But everyone should always remember that what is needed first depends on the situation. A good rule of thumb is the 3 3s. 3 hours without shelter. 3 days without water and three weeks without food.
My advice would be to buy a little bit at a time. You can get canned food such as tuna and mackerel for pretty cheap. Water is another essential item that you should try your hardest to get. I'm not sure how low on cash you are, but for about $5-10 per week you could get a decent supply of food/water going.
it all depends on your priorities I guess, do you really need that new widescreen tv? or the cable subscription? or that annual holiday-or two- to expensive hot climates? can you give up smoking? or your nightly bottle of wine? there is usually something you can cut down on or cut out, if your serious about prepping you will find a way. if you aren't you wont.
You can still prep. First off knowledge is worth way more then the fancy gear. I am not a rich man at all, I built a bug out bag from things I found at yard sales, thrift shops, and dollar stores. And if you saw it you would think it was worth 200$ when in reality it probably cost me 20$ in total minus the nice bag I splurged on. Clip coupons, look for buy one get one canned items that you eat and rotate. Even the dollar store has cases of water. Look on Facebook for a buy/sell/trade page in your area. Sometimes people are giving stuff away for free if you pick it up. When low on cash, you have to get creative...
I have satellite TV and still have $ to prep not rich just work 60 hours a week . Gonna slow down in a few years though .
Yeah and after Katrina, I picked up so much stuff and refinished it for resale, I actually made good money after the storm.
Homemade fire starters are easy to made and super cheap to make. Just google different supplies you can make at home.
A great place to get canned food is at a scratch and dent place (usually a place that carries day-old bread).
Scratch and dent canned food is perfectly wholesome, so long as you avoid bulging and rusty cans.
Usually, these canned products are sold for less than 10 cents on the dollar. These foods are not even near the expiration date.
If you go this route, white masking tape and a sharpie marker to relabel cans if the labels are falling off. Put product and expiration date on the can, and anything else appropriate for your organization system.
Scratch and dent canned food is perfectly wholesome, so long as you avoid bulging and rusty cans.
Usually, these canned products are sold for less than 10 cents on the dollar. These foods are not even near the expiration date.
If you go this route, white masking tape and a sharpie marker to relabel cans if the labels are falling off. Put product and expiration date on the can, and anything else appropriate for your organization system.
Kind of like U G O united grocery outlet .
Want to cut the cable cord? This will free up some cash.
ONE: Get a digital antenna. These go for about $10 from Amazon. Seriously. Hook it up right where your cable comes into the house. You'll get around 50 digital channels including all major networks, for FREE each month. Any TV hooked up via cable, will access that antenna (and no, you don't ever need to move the antenna, like the old days, and yes, it is crystal clear digital TV).
TWO: Get a mobile hotspot from your cell provider. Typically about $20 a month, which is cheaper than other internet options, and works great. It's a separate unit, and portable, to provide wifi at home under your mobile plan.
THREE: If you really like all of the movies and premium shows, etc., get an Amazon Firestick (and then get the software to "jailbreak" it). Then, you'll have pretty much everything. It's a ONE time fee of around $80 or less.
Free up up to a couple of hundred every month this way (between cable, wifi, and channels).
ONE: Get a digital antenna. These go for about $10 from Amazon. Seriously. Hook it up right where your cable comes into the house. You'll get around 50 digital channels including all major networks, for FREE each month. Any TV hooked up via cable, will access that antenna (and no, you don't ever need to move the antenna, like the old days, and yes, it is crystal clear digital TV).
TWO: Get a mobile hotspot from your cell provider. Typically about $20 a month, which is cheaper than other internet options, and works great. It's a separate unit, and portable, to provide wifi at home under your mobile plan.
THREE: If you really like all of the movies and premium shows, etc., get an Amazon Firestick (and then get the software to "jailbreak" it). Then, you'll have pretty much everything. It's a ONE time fee of around $80 or less.
Free up up to a couple of hundred every month this way (between cable, wifi, and channels).
If you're wiggy about the firestick bit (it still is technically legal), you can still get a lot of shows subscribing to streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, etc. it still combines at less than cable. I STILL like the antenna though too, as I can just turn on the TV and not worry about streaming, when in the mood for it, and watch network shows. (and that it's free).
Have you made a budget yet? So you know exactly what you are spending, and how.
You are bound to be able to put together £5 each month. You could invest it in some canned food.
Another thought, if you have zero to spend, consider selling something?
You are obviously using internet to write this post, do you pay for home internet, or use your phone?
If you pay, consider cancelling it and using your cell phone to tether internet to your computer.
You are bound to be able to put together £5 each month. You could invest it in some canned food.
Another thought, if you have zero to spend, consider selling something?
You are obviously using internet to write this post, do you pay for home internet, or use your phone?
If you pay, consider cancelling it and using your cell phone to tether internet to your computer.
Just cutting out junk like buying sodas and snacks can save you a lot each month. It also helps make your waist line thinner while making your wallet fatter.
Sometimes, eating healthier is more expensive though. Why do you think more poor people are fat? It isn't that they eat a ton of food... It's that a value meal at McDonalds costs less money, time, and effort than a good healthy meal. Whether a case of water, or a case of soda, I'm paying about the same. (I can do tap water, but not the wife).
I have gotten good at doing meals for about $5 per person though.
I can always cook much cheaper than eating out, even the value meals. It does take time though, and it is just too convient and easy to pu fast food for most. Big pots of soups and stews are great to stretch your food budget, but they aren’t very good for taking with you on the road for lunch.
Prep the food at home, keep a single burner propane/butane stove and small pan in the vehicle.
Convenience and entertainment are the biggest money wasters, cutting back on those two would free up a good bit of money. I know a family down in town that always complains they don’t have enough money but between the both of them they spend over $400 a month on smokes and chew, yes they have it budgeted in as a monthly expense but during the winter months they struggle putting food on the table for them and the kids. I’m not coming down on smokers at all me being a pipe smoker but don’t complain about not having enough money, like most things in life it boils down to determination.
Convenience and entertainment are the biggest money wasters, cutting back on those two would free up a good bit of money. I know a family down in town that always complains they don’t have enough money but between the both of them they spend over $400 a month on smokes and chew, yes they have it budgeted in as a monthly expense but during the winter months they struggle putting food on the table for them and the kids. I’m not coming down on smokers at all me being a pipe smoker but don’t complain about not having enough money, like most things in life it boils down to determination.
Never could get poor folks who do those habits. They are simply FAR too expensive for indulging in. How much is a pack of cigs these days? Like $6 or more? And some smoke 2 packs a day? That's like eating lunch out every day money.
