Bargain Babe

Coupons, Freebies, and Tips to Save Money Every Day

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • Home
    • About
      • Freebie and Deal Email
      • Contact
      • Media Buzz
      • Blog Advertising
  • Freebies
    • Free Stuff
    • Giveaways
  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Restaurant Deals
    • Organic Savings
    • Cut Your Grocery Bill
  • Home + Garden
  • Health + Beauty
  • Money
    • Credit Cards
    • Debt
    • Living Frugally
    • Budget + Bills
    • Ethical Dilemmas
    • Wacky Experiments
    • Taxes
  • Save Money On
    • Gifts + Gift Cards
    • Gas + Cars
    • Things to Do
    • Family + Kids
    • Computers + Electronics
    • Travel
  • Seasonal Deals
    • Christmas
    • Back to School
    • Holidays + Occasions
    • Misc.
  • Blog

April 12, 2010 by: Bargain Babe

How to make an emergency kit for less than $22

disasterYou’ve probably heard that the rash of recent earthquakes is just a coincidence, according to experts. But the scary news motivated me to put together an emergency disaster kit, which you should have even if you don’t live in earthquake country! If you are in a natural disaster, stay calm.

This weekend I put together a disaster kit for less than $22 – and it has 49 items in it! I started by gathering items I had sitting around my house:

Clothing: extra pair of shoes, socks, t-shirt, light sweater, underwear, old towel, large wraparound cloth that can be used as a blanket or skirt, and a very sturdy reusable bag to hold everything.

Toiletries: extra toothbrush, tube of toothpaste, period supplies, chap stick, bar of soap, lotion, an elastic bandage, ear plugs, rubbing alcohol, and medicines I most often rely on (aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, an OTC sleep aid, generic Zyrtec, generic Excedrin).

Misc: gallon of water, a chocolate bar, three plastic bags, my old pair of eyeglasses and a Frisbee, which can be used as a plate, sunshield, and water collector. Would you believe a regulation Frisbee holds 60 fluid ounces?

I headed to the 99 Cents Only store to complete my kit for less than $22. I bought:

Medical supplies: a pack of five face masks (natural disasters often create bad air quality), antibiotic ointment, gauze rolls, medical tape, a mini-first aid kit, band aids, and a tube of hand sanitizer

Food: four cans of tuna, a peel-away tin of fish steaks, corn nuts, beef jerky, mini-100 Grand candy bars, and a can of peanuts

Misc: three bungee cords, a roll of tp, and matches

I also put $100 cash into an envelope, which makes my disaster kit $122! My emergency kit is missing a spare pair of pants, more water, additional first aid bandages, a flashlight and batteries, a whistle, copies of important documents and phone numbers, and a can opener. I will stash my emergency kit in my car, which is usually near me.

It’s better to have an emergency kit, even if you  buy it. Get 10% off at EmergencyCafe.com with coupon code VAL10. Expiration date unknown.

What do you have in your emergency kit?

Related Posts

  • 4th of July Snacks That Will Make You “Ooh” and “Aah”4th of July Snacks That Will Make You “Ooh” and “Aah”
  • Aloha! How to Host a Fun and Frugal LuauAloha! How to Host a Fun and Frugal Luau
  • My Crunchy Product Experiments: Which Work And Which Don’t? Part 2My Crunchy Product Experiments: Which Work And Which Don’t? Part 2
  • 5 Rip Offs You are Wasting Your Money On5 Rip Offs You are Wasting Your Money On
  • Emergency kit discount and tips to be preparedEmergency kit discount and tips to be prepared
  • Decorating Easter Eggs – Dyeing With or Without Vinegar?Decorating Easter Eggs – Dyeing With or Without Vinegar?
Practically free printer ink cartridges
Gamestop coupon for 25% off, Kodak 25% off, Crocs 10% off

Comments

  1. Cindy says

    April 12, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    Don’t forget to set aside extra food for your pets as well!

    Reply
  2. Karla says

    April 12, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Good for you! I was hoping the 99 cent store full page ad in the Daily News last week would inspire folks to be prepared – it featured a ton of items for your basic emergency kit. Get those other items pronto! If your community has a Safety Fair this spring or summer, you can also pick up free items for your kit (we got rubber gloves, flashlight, water bottles etc. from ours). Don’t you feel better with that kit in your car?

    Reply
  3. Bobbi says

    April 12, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    Wow. This is a great kit. Gave me some ideas of things I need to throw into my kit.

    You are missing a couple of items that I think are important:
    1. duct tape – don’t leave home without it
    2. sewing kit – when you need a needle, nothing else will do.

    Reply
    • bargainbabe says

      April 12, 2010 at 5:28 pm

      Great additions, Bobbi! Thanks!

      Reply
  4. E. McLaughlin says

    April 12, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Don’t forget a deck of cards and/or small toys for the kids (if you have them). Also make sure your cash is in small denominations – there probably will not be making change.

    Reply
  5. JUNIE says

    April 12, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    I don’t know about emergencies but when I travel on land a knife is really handy.

    Reply
  6. Jayne says

    April 12, 2010 at 7:23 pm

    Since your last posting of the Emergency Kit I printed off the list that comes with theres and got a lot of stuff at the 99 cent store, Big Lots, target (camping section) and then my husband went to a hardware store. We found glow sticks, poncho, sturdy gloves, eye protection, flashlight, extra batteries, wind up radio ( which we had i our house) Also we used duffle bags which we had tons of at home. Start at home first. I put one in all our cars and we work in so many different directions from the house and our cars aren’t in the garage.

    Reply
  7. Cari says

    April 13, 2010 at 10:41 am

    Rmemeber that the food and water you purchase only has a 6-8 month shelf life! So don’t forget to change it!

    Reply
  8. KMH says

    April 13, 2010 at 10:57 am

    BargainBabe, I’m afraid your Chocolate Bar is going to melt in the trunk of your car and create a mess … You may want to replace the Ch. B. with Power Bar. MIGHT hold better (?)

    Reply
  9. cori says

    April 15, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    Thanks for this post Julia! I was looking a few weeks ago at buying a pre-made emergency kit from Costco. The one I was looking at was around $75 and included a water filter that was so advanced it could filter water from your toliet bowl! It also had the solar radio/cell phone charger which I thought might be handy in a natural disaster. You’ve inspired me though and I will probably just buy those items seperately and make my own kit.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Reader Favorites

Reader Favorites

Archives

Start Your Spring Cleaning with a Declutter Month!

Minimalism Month: a 30 Day Pain-free Declutter Guide

Minimalism Month: a 30 Day Pain-free Declutter Guide

Freebies

Saturday Freebies – Free Pint of Sola Ice Cream at Harris Teeter Stores!

Saturday Freebies – Free Pint of Sola Ice Cream at Harris Teeter Stores!

About Bargain Babe

Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. Read More…

  • Freebies
  • Coupons
  • Food
  • Money
  • Save Money On
  • Seasonal Deals
  • About
  • Contact

© 2018 · Fun Genesis WordPress Theme by Pretty Darn Cute Design