Posted by: njs
Inexpensive kit - 10/04/10 03:33 PM
After seeing a thread for ideas to create a $5.00 kit for scouts, I was inspired to see what type of kit it would be possible to make cheaply and quickly. A trip to a Dollar Tree store and a Family Dollar store provided the following items:
ITEM___Price ___Qty/Kit___Cost/Kit___Notes
Family Chef brand pairing knife___1.00___1___1.00___ surprisingly sturdy but not very sharp
Dorcy LED clip light___1.00___1___1.00___bright, handy design, 3 watch batteries
Viva disposable lighter 3 pack___1.00___1___.33___ basic lighter
Favors whistles 8 pack___1.00___1___ .13___pea-less, loud, high pitched
Armour Vienna Sausages___ .50___1___.5___ survival food only in useful metal can
Family Chef mini storage box 8 pack___1.00___2___ .26___small water resistant box
Tool Bench brand 164' line reel___1.00__82'___ .50___ approx. 40# test
30 gallon trash bags 9 pack___1.00___2___.22 ___very thin material but strong
Halloween candy mix___1.00___2 ___.10___non melting candy
Strike on box matches 10 pack___1.00___1box___.10___thin wooden matches
Tape It brand duct tape 10yards___1.00___3yrds___.33___lightweight sticky tape
Liquid Skin 2 pack___1.00___1 tube___ .50___medical grade cyanoacrylate
Freezer Bags quart size 16 pack___1.00___2 bags___ .13___cheap bags
Cotton balls 100 count___1.00___8___.08___cotton balls
toilet paper small roll___n/a___1___ .00___2-ply from home supply
Petroleum jelly lip balm 2 pack___1.00___1 tube___ .50___small squeeze tube
Total (per kit) $5.68
The complete kit fits tightly into a one quart zipper bag and weighs less than one pound. The knife blade is covered with a tape and cardboard sheath and the duct tape and cord are wrapped around cardboard. The cardboard was salvaged from some of the packaging.
Nothing in the kit is of exceptional quality or ruggedness but all of the items are functional and could be used for short term survival; the basics of shelter, fire, food and signaling are covered.
The knife is a simple full tang stainless kitchen knife. It was used to cut all of the card board, cord and tape while packing the kit.
The best find was the liquid skin. It is like a generic brand Dermabond (medical skin glue) and I plan to add it into all of my first aid kits.
I don't have any plans to put this kit to the test but I think for around $6.00 it is a legitimate and serviceable emergency kit for use by people with basic skills and a tight budget. I think the biggest obstacle to creating a budget kit is the inconsistency of items carried at dollar type stores.
ITEM___Price ___Qty/Kit___Cost/Kit___Notes
Family Chef brand pairing knife___1.00___1___1.00___ surprisingly sturdy but not very sharp
Dorcy LED clip light___1.00___1___1.00___bright, handy design, 3 watch batteries
Viva disposable lighter 3 pack___1.00___1___.33___ basic lighter
Favors whistles 8 pack___1.00___1___ .13___pea-less, loud, high pitched
Armour Vienna Sausages___ .50___1___.5___ survival food only in useful metal can
Family Chef mini storage box 8 pack___1.00___2___ .26___small water resistant box
Tool Bench brand 164' line reel___1.00__82'___ .50___ approx. 40# test
30 gallon trash bags 9 pack___1.00___2___.22 ___very thin material but strong
Halloween candy mix___1.00___2 ___.10___non melting candy
Strike on box matches 10 pack___1.00___1box___.10___thin wooden matches
Tape It brand duct tape 10yards___1.00___3yrds___.33___lightweight sticky tape
Liquid Skin 2 pack___1.00___1 tube___ .50___medical grade cyanoacrylate
Freezer Bags quart size 16 pack___1.00___2 bags___ .13___cheap bags
Cotton balls 100 count___1.00___8___.08___cotton balls
toilet paper small roll___n/a___1___ .00___2-ply from home supply
Petroleum jelly lip balm 2 pack___1.00___1 tube___ .50___small squeeze tube
Total (per kit) $5.68
The complete kit fits tightly into a one quart zipper bag and weighs less than one pound. The knife blade is covered with a tape and cardboard sheath and the duct tape and cord are wrapped around cardboard. The cardboard was salvaged from some of the packaging.
Nothing in the kit is of exceptional quality or ruggedness but all of the items are functional and could be used for short term survival; the basics of shelter, fire, food and signaling are covered.
The knife is a simple full tang stainless kitchen knife. It was used to cut all of the card board, cord and tape while packing the kit.
The best find was the liquid skin. It is like a generic brand Dermabond (medical skin glue) and I plan to add it into all of my first aid kits.
I don't have any plans to put this kit to the test but I think for around $6.00 it is a legitimate and serviceable emergency kit for use by people with basic skills and a tight budget. I think the biggest obstacle to creating a budget kit is the inconsistency of items carried at dollar type stores.