How many emergency kits do you stock? My family follows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines that suggest households stock a kit at home, in their vehicles and at work. These kits ensure you always have access to important supplies during natural disasters or evacuations.
But water, batteries and medicines don’t last forever. They expire and need to be replaced at least every six months, which can be expensive. I’ve found a few easy ways to save money while ensuring our kits remain ready at all times.
Waterproof Container
A porous bin won’t work for your basement emergency kit. You can’t afford to have the supplies ruined by moisture or pests, so invest in a quality container. I use a bin from the local army surplus store. My mom uses a food-grade container she found on Craigslist. As long as it’s watertight, it will work.
Medicines
Find everything from bandages to antacids on sale throughout the year. I look for buy-one-get-one-free deals at local pharmacies like CVS, and my local grocery store offers similar deals every quarter. I use these sales to stock up on the first-aid items my emergency kits need, including:
- Anti-bacterial ointments
- Medical tape
- Pain reliever
- Cough medicine
- Allergy medicine
- Updated copies of prescriptions
I also check my pharmacy receipts for coupons. I can sometimes combine buy-one-get-one deals with a coupon for huge savings.
You can also stock up at Costco. My neighbors share the bulk packages, which makes stocking an emergency kit affordable. Another friend donates a portion of her bulk purchases to a local church’s preschool. She gets to stock her emergency kit without spending a fortune, and she receives a tax deduction for her charitable donation.
Water
National and store brands taste the same and include the same purity levels, so I always buy the store brand when it’s on sale at the grocery or drug store.
Small bottles fit best in portable backpacks, but I prefer gallon jugs for the emergency kits stored in our basement and cars. They cost less per ounce.
While bottled water doesn’t spoil, I try to refresh the supply once a year. That way, I always have fresh water ready at a moment’s notice.
Food
Granola, peanut butter and tuna make great food for an emergency kit, and I especially like individual packages. They cost more than bulk packages, though, so I buy big packages and repackage them into individual servings.
This is where my club membership pays for itself. I can stock everything I need without spending a fortune, and I save even more when I use manufacturer or store coupons.
Batteries
The flashlights and emergency radio require batteries. Those batteries don’t last forever, though. I always replace my emergency kit batteries when I change the batteries in my smoke detectors.
Emergency kits could save your life. Outdated supplies won’t sustain your life, though. Keep your supplies fresh without spending a fortune when you look for bargains. If you don’t have an emergency kit in your home and car, stock one today!
By Jen T. Today’s Free Stuff Contributor
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