I'm not a well-off man by any means, but I'm trying to get myself prepared for any zombie apocalypse that heads my way, a few dollars at a time. In my search for low-cost items for emergency situations, I have found that the local Dollar Stores, Family Dollar and even the Good-Will type shops are amazing places to go shop for budget FAK, BOB and camping supplies. While these might not be first rate, they are better than nothing until I can afford something better. My plan is to get my entire set-up going, then start replacing items with higher-priced, better quality item as I can, while back-stocking at the same time.

Would any body happen to have any respectable links to such frugally-minded sites or reviews that might come in handy here?

Truckergut

Hate to point out the obvious but E-Bay! Anything that you want and can pick and choose quality, price and it has an everchanging stock of items.

I commend you on your thought process. Better to have something then nothing. You can also hit pawn shops for a whole HOOP of stuff at lower the new prices. Garage sales are another place. Military surplus stores, Craigs list, neighbors, the list goes on and on. Used does not mean un-usable. Creativity goes a long way.

One of the most useful things to get that is ussually free and you will never find at a store is knowledge and a plan. Good luck to ya.

I agree on the pawn shop thing. I work at one. Everyday, I'm in "hunter-gatherer" mode most of the day. I have made some incredible deals in that place. My boss has no problem with us buying stuff from people that we want that he wouldn't ordinarily take as long as we let it sit the required time, then pay a 10% charge on it when it falls out. That way, it's bought legally, the law gets a chance to look over the inventory, and I'm not buying "hot off the street" and can't get in trouble for it.

Some things I've gotten:

USMC KABAR (found it in the bottom of a rusty tool box)
2 burner Coleman stove (ugly as all get out, but works fine) $5
After Rita, all the darn blue tarps I could ever use, at 2$ apiece
Case after case of MRE's (minus the sweet foods) at $10 a case

It goes on from there, but you get the general idea. As far as being at the right place at the right time, I have the best job you can imagine.

On ordering from online, that has to wait. I recently had my fill of banks' bs and shut down both my savings and checking accounts, so I'm out of the internet market for awhile.


Truckergut

Some good things at the Dollar store, like 4 packs of "bic" lighters, etc.

But beware tools and knifes. I bought their "Army Knife" to see if it was worth buying several to stash here and there. It wasn't. I threw it out lest I grabbed it by accident and depended on it. It wasn't so much that the blades were dull: I could sharpen them. But all of the other tools were dull and rounded also. They simply didn't work. So try it out before you depend on it. Maybe YMMV (and be better then mine.)

BTW, your approach is right in line with mine--see my signature tag line. . .

I don't make much money. I probably make the least of anyone on this board (an assumption based on some of the conversations I've read here). So I understand the temptation to buy cheap gear. But being cheap doesn't necessarily mean the best value. You actually end up spending more money replacing items than if you had just paid for good quality to begin with.

It took me a year, buying one thing at a time, to put together everything that's in my BOB today. In total, it has cost me over $4,000. But I didn't just buy gear. I bought peace of mind. I know that if I'm ever forced to bug out, I have the best gear to keep me alive. And that's what we're talking about here... your life. How much money is your life worth?

This book has saved us a small fortune:Complete Tightwad Gazette

On the otherhand I had to stop going to garage sales because I was dragging home to much "useful stuff".

-Blast

You need to keep in mind that a lot of the stuff in "dollar stores" is factory seconds, or thirds, or whatever. I once bought a box of "bandaids" in one of those, they would not stick to anything...

In Arizona, Big Lots is another place to find good EDC or preparedness items for extremely low prices.

$4000.00? for a BOB? Crikey, what are you taking with you?

I don't have that much invested in my BOB, my car kit and my PSK combined. Not even close to that much.

John E

My first aid kit is worth about $1,000. I started with a pre-packaged kit that cost me a few hundred. Then I added more stuff to it. The epipens really ran up the cost fast.

My handgun cost me $600.

My shotgun cost me $400. This, of course, doesn't actually fit inside my BOB. But I keep it next to my BOB and will be taking both out the door. I'll also be taking an air rifle ($200) for shooting squirrels and birds.

The ammunition for these guns cost me about another $300. No crap loads for me. I want to make sure that what I shoot dies.

My knife cost me $100.

My multitool cost me $100.

My water filter cost me $100.

My tent cost me $400.

My clothing cost me about $600.

And I haven't even started listing all the other miscellanious stuff like fishing gear, cookware, fire kit, paracord, snare wire, etc, etc, etc.