Build your kit on a budget
An emergency kit doesn't have to be expensive, and you don't have to buy it all at once. Most of it is ordinary things you can pick up a little at a time.
Start with what you already have
Before you buy anything, look around your home. You probably already have:
- a torch, or a phone you can keep charged
- blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothes
- some tins and dried food in the cupboard
- toilet roll, wet wipes and bin bags
- a basic first aid kit or plasters
Tick these off on the checklist. You may find you are further along than you think.
Add one thing each time you shop
Pick one or two items from your list on each shopping trip. A pack of bottled water one week, a tin opener and some tins the next. Spread over a couple of months, the cost hardly shows.
Good first buys, because they matter most and cost little:
- Bottled water, or clean containers to fill from the tap
- A manual tin opener
- Tinned food you already eat
- Spare batteries for your torch and radio
Ways to save
- Use tap water. Clean, food-grade containers filled from the tap cost almost nothing. Replace the water every six months.
- Buy own-brand. Supermarket own-brand tins, cereal bars and long-life milk do the same job.
- Watch for offers. Multipacks of water and tins are often on offer, 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 camping stove. Agree who has what.
Rotate so nothing is wasted
Emergency food isn't money thrown away if you eat it. Every few months, use the oldest tins and bottles in your everyday meals, and buy fresh ones to replace them.
Check every six months
Set a reminder to check your kit twice a year, for example when the clocks change. Swap anything near its date, test your torch and radio, and recharge your power bank.
Keep a little cash
If card machines and cash points stop working, a small amount of cash in coins and notes can help you buy essentials. It doesn't have to be much.