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Being prepared for the unexpected doesn’t need to cost much.
So we set ourselves a challenge to put together a BugOut bag, BOB on a budget of just £10!
For this challenge we are using items found in our local Poundland in the UK other cheaper shops like Walmart or target in the USA and Europe could be used, or even better would be finding some of these items around your home for free.
To make this simple to follow we will consider what are the basics for a BOB?
1. First Aid
2. Shelter
3. Fire
4. Water
5. Food
6. Tools
7. Personal Protection and hygiene
8. Clothing
9. Lighting and batteries
10. Extras needed to make life easier
What we found.
• First Aid was simple with a 24 piece kit for a pound (well this only covers minor injuries it is a good base to build on)
• Shelter, depending what time of the year you are shopping a few options are available. Space blankets pack of 2 for a pound (very useful for retaining body heat) and a plastic Poncho are both found in the spring/summer camping area. Well in the winter times we found large plastic dust sheets and thicker tarpaulin located in the DIY area of the shop.
• Fire was next on our list, and we were lucky to find boxes of matches in packs of 3 for a pound as well as gas clipper lighters and bbq firelighters.
• Water was a tricky one as we need to think about the Purification of our water as well as storage.
However, we found plastic water bottles and in the summertime they have metal ones that you can boil water indirectly to purify it.
• Food is next on the list and will there is lots to choose from such as pasta, protein bars tins etc we will just cover something to cook in. This was a set of 2x camping mess tins (summer only) or a small metal saucepan
• Tools is an area that we can all spend more money on than needed so we set ourselves to find just 2x items a knife and a multi-tool, again summertime was easier as they have a great cheap copy of the classic Swiss army knife and a multi-tool with 20 different tools in. Other choices are small kitchen knifes and Stanley blade craft knifes both of which can be used at a pinch.
• Personal Protection options were found in the form of dust masks and disposable gloves bottles of TCP and other antiseptic cleaning products. Also thick work gloves and a disposable over-suit used for decorating are ideal for areas with a higher contamination risk.
• Clothing Items vary depending on price so simply put the only item from this was a pack of 2x thick work socks as keeping your feet warm and dry in an emergency situation could be the difference between life and death.
• Lighting options were easy as we found many led torches from small travel types to a larger spotlight one with a magnetic base to clip onto a vehicle. And they stocked batteries for all your needs.
• Everything else well here are some great items to add should you have funds left.
Cordage they had a cheaper version of paracord ideal for making Shelter and securing things in base camp
Pain killers and other medicines also very important to add to your first aid kit.
Pocket sewing kit and shoes cleaning accessories both needed to maintain your equipment and clothing.
What we picked.
• Small first aid kit (£1)
• Pack of 2x space blankets (£1)
• Pack of 3 bic gas lighters (£2)
• Small led torch (£1)
• Pack of 6x AAA batteries for the torch (£1)
• Small kitchen knife in plastic sheath (£2)
• Metal Water Bottle (£1)
• Metal mess tin 2x (bargain at £1)
Well this is definitely not going to cover every disaster scenario you may come across, it is a great cheap way to start building your personal BOB and emergency preparedness equipment
For more information on Bugout bags and vehicles follow our blog on the link below
https://chasereality.co/category/security/
Stay safe and plan for the worst and hope for the best.