GoBagged

Build your kit on a budget

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An emergency kit doesn't have to be expensive, and you don't have to buy it all at once. The Government of Canada suggests building it over time, using things you already have at home.

Start with what you already have

Before you buy anything, look around. You probably already have:

  • a flashlight, or a phone you can keep charged
  • blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothes
  • some cans and dry food in the cupboard
  • toilet paper, wet wipes and garbage bags
  • a basic first aid kit or some bandages

Check these off on the checklist. You may be further along than you think.

Add one thing each time you shop

Pick one or two items from your list on each grocery run. A case of water one week, a can opener and some cans the next. Spread over a couple of months, the cost hardly shows.

Good first buys, because they matter most and cost little:

  1. Bottled water, or clean containers to fill from the tap
  2. A manual can opener
  3. Canned food you already eat
  4. Extra batteries for your flashlight and radio

Ways to save

  • Use tap water. Clean, food-grade containers filled from the tap cost almost nothing. Replace the water regularly.
  • Buy store brands. Store-brand cans, granola bars and shelf-stable milk do the same job.
  • Watch for sales. Cases of water and cans are often on sale, and they keep for a long time.
  • Skip what you don't need. Mark items as "Not needed" on the checklist if they don't apply to you, such as baby items or a car kit.
  • Share with neighbours. Not everyone needs their own camp stove. Agree who has what.

Rotate so nothing is wasted

Emergency food isn't money wasted if you eat it. Use the oldest cans and bottles in your everyday meals, and buy fresh ones to replace them.

Check twice a year

Use the time change in the spring and fall as your reminder. Swap anything near its date, test your flashlight and radio, recharge your power bank, and switch seasonal items: warm layers and hand warmers for winter, sunscreen and bug spray for summer.

Keep a little cash

If debit machines and ATMs stop working, a small amount of cash in small bills and coins can help you buy essentials. It doesn't have to be much.

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