Sometimes you just have to stop and think about what you will really need and stop worrying about all the expensive stuff other preppers have. That's my thought on it anyway.
Food, water,shelter,medical,protection,clothing, gold,silver, land, the list goes on forever and not everyone (myself included) has cash for all that. Here are a few ideas on ways to come up with extra cash or cheap supplies (feel free to add to the list with your comments!)
My first tip.
Make every purchase meaningful. Will you really use that item or do you need it just in case?
Put the "just in case" on a separate list for now and get to it once you have the basics started before you wind up with a house full of stuff that wont necessarily help you survive.
This might not be for everyone, But what about metal detecting in your spare time?
You can find old metal detectors for pretty cheap to start with. It might not look fancy and new, but if it detects stuff that you can re-sell then its doing the job. You can find new and old coins, jewelry, gold, silver, relics, scrap metal. all worth money.
Speaking of scrap metal, Do you crush and save all your soda cans? pile them up and cash em in!
Take a look around on garbage night for brass,copper,aluminum, rolls of wire, BBQ grill housings, there are tons of things you can take to the scrap yard and get paid per pound. See if there is a used appliance store around your area. They will often pay $50 and up for old stoves,washers,dryers etc because they repair them for re-sale. Garbage night is a great way to make cash. Check your local laws first before taking curb side treasures.
Yard sales and thrift shops are and endless cache for prepping supplies,
My last yard sale score was 3 shoe boxes of bandages, alcohol wipes, tonge depressors (great finger splints btw) sterile gauze, and tape for $3.00. And a Colman folding propane camping stove for $4.00.
I have found pill bottles and piggy banks with old silver coins, Cheap items to list on ebay and plenty of other items for prepping that would have cost me way more had i bought them in the store.
Have your own yard sale. Take the cash from that and use it for supplies.
The dollar store is a great place to start putting together your stock of medical stuff. I go to the dollar tree and they carry a pretty decent selection like ointments,creams,eye care, burn spray, scar gel, sprain wraps, pill cutters,vitamins, asprin, peroxide,antiseptic, etc. Dollartree has online shopping now but most items come in bundle packs of 2 or more.
Shop off season.
Most Wal-marts K-marts, Targets etc will start to clear out their spring and summer seeds, camping and gardening items by September to make room for the holiday stuff. Always check those clearance isles!
Select a few chosen people to prep with you. It would be your new SHTF family so choose wisely.
You could combine preps or purchase land together as a group.
Did you know:
1) you can purchase vegetable and herb seeds with your EBT / Food stamp card?
2) Most stores that accept coupons allow you to use 1 manufacturer coupon and one store coupon for the same item? Example: Yummy bread is $3.00 you have a coupon for 50c off from the Sunday paper but you also have $1.00 from the stores weekly flyer. use both on the Yummy bread and now its $1.50.
If your lucky enough to live in an area where the stores double manufacturer coupons, That Yummy bread would olny be $1.00 ! Double coupons alone can save you thousands of dollars a year. AND help add food to your stockpile.
(
Near top right corner, They are also running a contest to win a free month supply of food with news letter sign up)
they offer free and flat rate shipping options based on what you buy. That alone saves money.