It is often handy to allocate money monthly toward supplies and equipment. Even $5 or $10 a month adds up.

To get started, the many times I have started over, it was always handier to start with something to carry it all in. It is the container that makes it a kit.

Laugh if you want but way back when started this dance I literally started with pillow case in which I stuffed an old army poncho, small flashlight, two army canteens of water and a couple of cans of cheap beef stew in cans, and a SAK.

I had most of that on hand so the initial cost was little more than the time it took to stuff the gear into the pillowcase and the cost of replacing the stew in my pantry. Once I had my foot in the door I started putting money toward something better than a pillowcase.

Point being you start with whatever you have, whatever level your at, whatever you can afford, and slowly work up from there over time.