Prepping With $1 Bills
June 3, 2010
by Al Doyle
Limited funds or a lack of ready cash is one of the more prevalent reasons for not preparing and stocking up for what is rapidly becoming a very unstable future. While those with tight budgets aren't going to be able to take every precaution, many positive steps can be made by spending $1 to $10 at a time.
So what can be done a pocket full of singles (or even a few $5s if you're loaded with cash) and the right mindset? The obvious place to start is at local $1 stores.
[Warning: Just because you can buy something for a portrait of George Washington doesn't mean it's a good value. Dollar stores have too much made in China junk, and that even includes some of the food items. Read labels and be selective.]
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That still leaves a wide assortment of useful and inexpensive items. Soap (how about three bars of Ivory for a buck?), toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo and other personal care items need to be set aside. Don't forget aspirin, other non-prescription painkillers, bandages, cough drops and vitamins for a $1 bill. What you don't need tomorrow could be a desirable barter item.
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It wouldn't hurt to buy some extra AA and AAA batteries. Lighters and anything that can be used to start a fire are well worth stockpiling. Laundry detergent, bleach (also useful for water purification) and other cleaning supplies can be found at $1 stores. Even those who shun preparedness will admit that it's a good idea to keep plenty of toilet paper on hand.
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Swapping some $1s for storable food is never a bad move. Dollar Tree recently had two-pound bags of macaroni and jars of organic spaghetti sauce for $1 apiece. Rice, tomato paste (sometimes as low as 39cents a can), dry and canned beans, one-pound cardboard tubs of oatmeal, brown sugar, canned meat and fish fit nicely into a blue-collar survival stash. Don't skimp on spices, as they can make a blah meal special. Vinegar is useful for canning, seasoning and as a cleaning agent.
 
Sales at discount stores and national chain pharmacies such as Walgreen's are another source of low-priced items that could be scarce and extremely useful one day. Sometimes the small comforts can make a significant difference in how a person perceives their quality of life.
American troops in remote parts of Afghanistan sometimes find themselves with nothing but plain water to drink. Families often send powdered Gatorade and other drink mixes to military personnel who ask for "water enhancers" above anything else that can be shipped in a care package from home. Coffee and tea drinkers will want to stockpile their favorite beverages, as both products are grown thousands of miles away.
Since every family's needs are unique, there is no single prep list that can cover every situation. What is important is having the motivation and determination to do the best you can with whatever resources are available. Spend a few dollars a week for future needs, and you'll be amazed at how quickly your stockpiles grow.
  
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