They are buying gear and buying books. I can only hope they buy time to practice what they read, and get some hands on training for at least their first aid skills.

As for building kits, I've built a few for people. I"ve started off from scratch in most cases, or from the PSP or SOL, and it has been small enough that there was no bill- it was a gift. A few people have come to me wanting to build serious kits, and I sit with them, work out a shopping list for the big stuff, and tell them I will expect the following things from them:
1, don't try to pay me past the occasional meal.
2, learn how to use this stuff as best you can, even it means you go camping in the swamp with me.
3, if you die becuase you didn't have it or because you didn't maintain it, I will go into the afterlife and kick you butt up around your ears.

Obviously, these are all people I like.