How To Be Prepared With Little/No Money

With unemployment at an all time high due to COVID, people still want to be prepared, but their investment capitol may be limited.

Even if you were able to have some savings, it’s most likely going towards bills and food to keep your lifestyle sustained. It most cases, having disposable income to get prepared when you’re unemployed or disabled, is not always possible.

There have been many times in my life where I’ve been unemployed or barely employed making ends meet off of odd jobs, living on $300 a month, barely getting by. Being broke all the time certainly taught me hard lessons about life and preparedness.

There are always ways to be prepared with little to no money. Your preparedness journey is no one else’s. Get prepared how you’re able to and just do the very best that you can.

Here’s how to be prepared with little or no money:

1. Shop sale cycles. Sale cycles are when certain things go on sale during the year. For instance, sunscreen goes on sale after summer, holiday items go on sale the day after the holiday, etc. Take advantage of these cycles and get those deals. Think of the future. You’ll need sunscreen next summer, yeah? Also, many holiday items can be used everyday. I get holiday candles, canned foods and soaps for 50% off or more after the holiday.
2. Shop thrift stores and dollar stores. Great deals can always be found at thrift stores, dollar stores, garage sales, free section of craigslist, etc. They may take a bit of searching to find specific things, but there’s usually some good deals to be had if you search regularly.
3. Practice skills. Practicing skills generally costs nothing. Take a look at my posts about prepper skills.
4. Learn knowledge. There’s a lot to learn, that’s for sure. Read books, read blogs, watch YouTube videos, etc. You can rent books from libraries, find books at Goodwill and so on. If you have access to the internet, you have a ton of information at your fingertips. While there might be some small investments involved, they’re still worth it.
5. Take advantage of community. Look into community events like a community garden, food bank, church support and so on. There are many services available that may be able to assist you with your needs.
6. Clip coupons and shop off brand. Ever since extreme couponing came to light, many companies aren’t doing coupons as much anymore or they have tons of restrictions. However, there still are coupons and many can be found online. Your local grocery store could also have regular coupons/deals. And of course, off brands are usually the exact same, but half the price.
7. Ask. If you need something, just ask. Want to see if that deli has any extra 5 gallon buckets? Ask. Want to see if that store is getting rid of any pallets? Ask. It doesn’t hurt. If they say no, then no harm done and move on. I once asked Walmart for an empty box and they gave it to me.
8. Make lists. Lists can help us focus in on our needs. Make lists of your food needs, gear needs, educational needs, physical and mental needs, etc. Make lists for everything!
9. Run drills. After you’ve made your emergency disaster plans, it’s time to run some mock drills and put those plans into action. Run blackout drills, bug out drills, fire drills, etc.
10. Take care of your physical and mental wellness. Exercising your mind and body shouldn’t cost anything. Meditate, walk around the block, jog with your bug out bag on, learn to control stress and emotions, etc.
11. Cook at home. When COVID hit, everyone seemed to struggled with cooking and everyone suddenly had the itch to bake. Cooking at home saves a ton of money and you’re able to portion control a lot easier. Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. I’m a very simple cook and love one pot meals, using a crock pot, instant pot, etc. Don’t get fancy, but also make good stuff. Explore recipes online.
12. Grow your own food. Speaking of food, seeds are fairly cheap. If you have some containers, or a jar for sprouts or a tin for microgreens, even a window sill for an herb garden, growing your own food is smart. Not only do you save money, but you’re eating fresher and adding a little bit of nutrients to your regular diet.
13. Budget gear is still good gear. We’re all on a certain type of ‘budget’. Saying the word ‘budget’ to people can turn them off because it makes it sound cheap. This is far from the truth. It’s all in the eye of the beholder. For some, a $20 knife is expensive, when I think that’s cheap. Again, don’t think it’s garbage just because it’s ‘cheap’. Find the piece of gear that you want. While I don’t think everything expensive is good, I also think that some things need to have some extra investment into it. But it all depends on your needs and available budget for a specific item. Do what works best for you.
14. Repurpose and reuse. Many things can have alternative purposes. Also, many things can be used more than once, like zipper bags, unless they’re torn, they can be washed and reused. Old tires can be used in the garden. Almost any container, even plastic bottles, can be used for planting. Before throwing something away, ask yourself if you can reuse or repurpose it. Hit the internet for ideas if you’re having trouble.
15. DIY. Make kits, make clothes, make paracord bracelets, make baskets, DIY everything! There are so many great DIY projects online to try out for yourself. They won’t all be winners and some may require a little investment of supplies, but in general, it’s good to know what you can do yourself. Building skills and confidence all while getting prepared.

Preparedness is certainly an investment of not just money, but also time. When you don’t have a lot of disposable income, it becomes more about an investment of time rather than money. Regardless, there are plenty of ways to be prepared that involve little to no money.

The name of the game is baby steps. Take it slow, do a little at a time and just do the best that you can.