You’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?
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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.
Don’t forget to set aside extra food for your pets as well!
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?
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.
Great additions, Bobbi! Thanks!
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.
I don’t know about emergencies but when I travel on land a knife is really handy.
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.
Rmemeber that the food and water you purchase only has a 6-8 month shelf life! So don’t forget to change it!
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 (?)
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.