Frugal Prepper - The 3 Rules of Frugal Prepping

Frugal prepping is the means to gather supplies by spending very little money. At some point in life, hardship happens to most people. Whether it is a job loss, natural disaster, medical problem, financial difficulties, or economic downturn – food, cash, or supplies can run short. Stashing survival supplies can be done a little at a time for little to no money.

Build a safety net of options!

Living on less is a skill. Like all skills, they must be practiced and perfected if you want them to be a source of joy. Did you know that less stuff can equal more happiness? Yes, many people have tried it and love it! Some studies support this idea. However, having NOTHING won’t make you happier. We can all agree that the right stuff can make life easier and more comfortable.

Do you have a savings account?
Do you have a reliable car that is paid off?
Do you have food storage?
Do you have camping gear?
Have you been stashing survival supplies?

If you can answer yes to these questions, then you have options. When hardship happens, and there is no money to pay the mortgage or rent, having resources can keep you from living on the street. As inflation rises, people opt to live in their cars.

Watch Dee’s story below about why she started living out of her car. She is like many survival preppers figuring out how to take care of herself. Please pay close attention to the supplies she uses.

This video was made by Bob at Cheap RV Living. Check out his other Youtube videos.

Strategically stash food, cash, and other supplies for unforeseen rainy days to provide a buffer for you through hard times. Gathering emergency supplies doesn’t have to be costly. In fact, below is a list of guidelines that can help you stash supplies using little to no money.

3 Frugal Guidelines for Stashing Survival Supplies:

1. Stick to the Basics –

Make a list of the basic emergency supplies you need and want. If you are unsure what basic supplies are, use Dee’s situation and the items she uses as a starting point. Prioritize your needs and wants. Pat yourself on the back when you check off the items as you gather them. Stick to your needs first!

One reason preppers go camping is to test out their survival gear. For example, does their sleeping bag keep them warm at night, or do they need an emergency heater. It also helps to provide awareness of the preparedness areas that need some attention.

Frugal Prepping

2. Organize – Dedicate an area for your emergency supplies stash. Keep the area organized. Go through your home and organize every room, closet, cupboard, and drawer. You’ll be amazed at how much stuff you already have.

3. Frugal Preppers never pay full price! Doing a little research can save you a lot of money – There are several ways to save money:

Bargain Hunting – Garage sales, Craigslist, eBay, couponing, bulk shopping, second-hand stores, dollar stores, auctions, etc.

Upcycling – Use trash to make something useful like this eco greenhouse. This project was created by Inverkip Primary School using trashed soda bottles and a bamboo frame.

Do It Yourself Projects (DIY) – Save hundreds of dollars by figuring out how to do projects yourself. For example, you can learn how to sharpen a knife on a belt instead of buying a knife sharpener.

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Now that we’ve covered the guidelines for stashing survival supplies… below are step-by-step examples of how I got emergency preparedness gear in multiple survival categories with these frugal prepping rules.

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Stashing Survival Supplies

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Frugal Lighting Preps

Below are three ideas for frugal light preps: Bargain Hunting, UpCycle, and a DIY Project.

UpCycle – Use Trash to Make Something Useful

Instead of throwing away broken over-used crayons, used birthday candles, and empty glass containers like spice bottles, upcycle them into a candle. The best part about this project is that it did not cost a penny! I upcycled a miniature ketchup bottle, about 12 full crayons, and two used birthday candles. You will also need a small bowl, a large bowl, some water, two kabob sticks, and a box knife. Be warned that this can be a messy project. Also, be careful about handling hot wax.

Directions:
Step 1 – Cut the paper off the crayons
Step 2 – Fill the large bowl up with about 1 inch of water, then place the smaller bowl in the water. The water should not get into the smaller bowl.
Step 3 – Break crayons into small pieces and place them in the small dry bowl.
Step 4 – Microwave the crayons for 3 to 4 minutes or until they are completely melted.
Step 5 – Pour the melted wax into an empty glass spice bottle (or whatever container you’ve chosen).
Step 6 – Place the kabob sticks in the center of the wax after the wax starts to harden (this step is to leave a hole for the birthday candles to be placed in).
Step 7 – Remove the kabob sticks after the wax hardens.
Step 8 – Place the birthday candle(s) in the hole the kabob sticks left.
Step 9 – Lite the birthday candle. The wax will melt, filling in any gaps.

Do It Yourself Project

Using a landscape solar charger is an affordable solution to expensive battery chargers. I used a Solar Landscaping Light that was purchased for a couple of bucks (check to make sure it uses a AA battery) and a Mini Cree LED Flashlight. Place the Solar Landscaping Light in direct sunlight and let the sun charge the battery throughout the day. Then whenever I need the battery, I remove it from the landscaping light and place it in the flashlight. I’ve added several Solar Landscaping Lights and a pack of rechargeable batteries to my emergency supplies.

Bargain Hunting

The first step to bargain hunting is to look through the junk drawers or anywhere in your home where stuff tends to get stashed. The MagLite shown in the picture was found in my garage. It was a wedding present that I had forgotten about.

Second, do some coupon hunting. I picked up the two small flashlights and the headlamp pictured above for free by using coupons from a local hardware store (click here for the coupon you see in the picture). One of the best places to look for coupons is on Money Saving Mom. The picture below is a screenshot of their site. It’s so easy! Find the Search Box (it’s circled). Enter the item you are searching for, like a flashlight. Then a list of coupons comes up.

Third, set aside some time to do some garage sale shopping. That’s where I found one pillar candle for $1. I found the other candle at a thrift store for only $1. So the total for everything you see in the picture above is $2.

Finding creative ways to save money is not only fun, but it can help you move towards relying more on yourself and less on financial institutions and government services, especially in times of disaster. In the event of a disaster, it’s important to have options available. I’m constantly looking for projects that teach self-sufficiency, frugal spending, and/or turning trash into something useful.

If you would like to share a frugal prepping idea, please share it in the comments below.

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