Editor’s Note: This post is another entry in the Prepper Writing Contest from T-Man.
I want to first thank The Prepper Journal for putting on this writing contest to write your own article, for anyone to submit to it, not too shabby huh?
Meanwhile, I’m here trying to gather my prepper supplies to create my Bug Out Bag as cheaply as possible because mainly we live paycheck to paycheck. As it turned out I already had a shelter element in my garage, a tarp, to which I have no idea of size other than to say it is pretty large. So step one I added it to my free fire service advertising back pack (pretty darn durable at that). That’s when I started looking online for the best prepper/ survival stuff at the lowest price I could get it at.
I did buy a stainless steel cup in order to boil water when needed, but then my wife somehow won a water bottle of the same material as my cup, bonus, so of course that was added. Then came the item I wanted to buy for a few measly dollars, a survival bracelet with a Ferrocerium rod and striker, add some cotton balls, and bingo, I have a way to make fire, (depended on me learning how), but that was accomplished by a parks and rec. class for survival, a challenge type game. Took us a bit to try the fire starter rod, thankfully they had cotton balls and the fire roared to life, never felt so excited in my life, I made fire without a lighter. I know from online articles it will be harder in harsher climates to get fire, I did also read about using petroleum jelly to extend the burning of a cotton ball, more knowledge!
Putting my bug out bag together
Cordage was my next item needed and it was a good thing I have some utility rope lying around, not quite paracord but alas, my daughter has about 10 feet of craft paracord(I know I know it’s not mil-spec but will work in a pinch). Another good thing – a friend had a garage sale, her husband had some used military surplus, to which I relieved them of.
I had purchased 10 MREs for next to nothing, picked up a brand spanking new pair of combat boots, a little pricey, but better than the $240.00 price that they go for on some sites. Picked up a few more miscellaneous items, one of which I’m not real sure what I’d use it for, a slender military bag around 6inches wide and about maybe 10-12 inches long. Sat there with it for a while, and eureka, my new place for a tarp, rope, paracord, plus got to use the MOLLE straps to secure it to my free back pack, with a cheap little carabiner clip to hold it tight.
Gerber LMF II – Affordable and tough survival knife.
I started looking around the house for other things to re-purpose. Have some bandanas in my Bug Out Bag for various things I’d read about – making char cloth (not yet attempted) filtering debris out of water, making a sling for an injured arm, bleeding etc. I also placed some old skull caps in there as well, not too sure what other things they might be good for, besides covering my head, but I got them. Fishing? Well there are a number of safety pins, to use for the normal uses for, plus, I can use the loops I found out for eyelets for a pole, wow imagine that?
Other important items
Did I mention that I have a knife sharpener? I do but at the time all I had was a cheap pocket knife. What I needed now was a genuine Bushcraft survival knife, and wow had no idea they were that expensive. Some were a couple hundred bucks. Back to the trusty Internet, to search for the cheapest knife, while maintaining ruggedness. What a chore that was, i came across a nice knife, not to pricey, about $60 and the reviews were good, by far the most expensive part of my gear now.
A year or so ago we had a friend give us a vacuum food sealer, never thought much about it, but now, I have used it a lot. I sealed up some dried 15 bean soup beans and seasoning (my first food pile) after which I took regular dried pinto beans, sealed them up too. Placed some salt and pepper in the tub with both beans, used a straw and learned you can seal one end with a pair of pliers and a lighter. This makes an excellent seasoning pouch for food storage. Threw in some protein bars as well, sealed them too.
Military Lensatic Sighting Compass with Pouch – $10
For my water storage, I was able to obtain at the fair price of $2 each, some food grade 5 gallon buckets, So what if they reeked of pickles for a month or so LOL. After airing them out and a good cleaning with soap and water, a little sterilizing with water and bleach, I now have 30 gallons of potable water stored up.
Well what else should I get, hmm oh I could use a good compass, but the dilemma on price again. Compasses range from a few bucks to well over $30-$40. Are the more expensive ones better? Do they read north more accurately? That I don’t know. All I guess I’m going to try to do is get a cheap one for around $3, hope it works well.
As you can guess I do try to make out as cheaply as possible, sometimes, it does make me wonder if all my prepping/survival will be enough. But I still plan on reviewing items online and if for some strange reason I get lots of money then I could buy one of these prefab kits, well maybe not, I’ll just go for the more quality gear. Any way you look at it, from the readings I have done, they “Say prep for your environment” so I do have more needs, living in a snow belt. I will need layered winter outfits for my wife and kids, as well as me. Winter gear has many selections, depending on what type of coat for everyone; do I try to find cheap winter gear at one of the thrift shops? Only time will tell.
Well that’s it in a hand basket, what I’ve gathered for my BOB as well as the start of prepping, I’ll just keep adding bit by bit till I feel I’ve gathered enough for my family to survive on.
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