Budget Survival - Building a Dollar Store Survival Bag

Budget Survival - Building a Dollar Store Survival Bag

Chapter List:
0:00 - Intro
1:35 - Bag Contents:
15:58 - Upgrade Suggestions & Conclusion
18:07 - End Credits

[SusanLand]

My all time favorite dollar store survival item is one of those bubble wrap style, reflective car window shades. They provide a little bit of cushion and reflect body heat back at you. They can block wind, rain and sun and they weigh next to nothing.

[mrhalfstep]

Eric, you sort of giggled and poo-pooed your shelter item, but what most folks don't realize, because it's frequently glossed over in "survival" videos, is how much leaves and sticks and bark and other such stuff is required to make a debris shelter that is even marginally rain "resistant", even if it is the very small, one man, wickiup style. That sheet of .7 mil plastic is just the thing to lay over a stick framework before piling on the debris for insulation or camouflage and be guaranteed that the structure will repel water and not require all the work of gathering up to 2 feet of debris. I think that this is the best extended use for pocket sized Mylar "blankets" (nobody demonstrates this on the channels I follow), but the 108 square feet of that sheet makes it even better than Mylar, as far as coverage goes. It doesn't matter that it is thin or fairly fragile after it has been covered with the debris. It will be protected at that point. I didn't know that plastic sheeting that large could be bought in that lightweight version and I will be looking for those drop cloths to add to my kits. The plastic sheet, the paring knife, the dog collar light, combo manicure/sewing kit (maybe even add some fishing items from Walmart) were all items I'll look for. Did the bottles that you put the coffee in come from the Dollar Store? Very helpful video, good work!

[matthewbrown]

I think these video clips are brilliant as people can get started on a budget then slowly replace items for better quality pieces if they wish to. We have discount stores & the famous Reject Shop here in Australia. During flooding I made a couple of kits to give as Xmas gifts & on 1 trip away my colleague was stranded in her car with her hubby but had these kits to get through the long delay.

[edwardfletcher]

Easily the best Dollar Store Survival bag I've ever seen ! 👍

[adib]

Always good to have Disney themed expanding towels when you're bugging out. 😉😁

[danaanthereal]

Another thing you can do when you go to the Dollar tree is run through that crafting aisle. So many things there Hot glue sticks, unvarnished wood dowels or sticks for tinder, sometimes they have stainless steel travel tumblers there with lids for five bucks. Yes it's five bucks. But it's a nice option and especially if it's single wall because you can pull the lid off and boil your water in that. Also they usually have metal pet food bowls, and those could come in handy too.

[voraciousblackstn]

This kit is a good idea for having "spare" kits for family members. You can put them together fairly inexpensively and maybe upgrade items as you can afford it or as family members gain an interest in preparedness. It covers the basics for a short amount of time and can be supplemented with a vehicle kit if need be.

I typically call my preparedness gear "camping gear" since most of my family has little interest. Last couple years they have been showing a little more interest though.

[reginaschmid]

Great video! Some commented on adding those sun windshield reflectors to sleep on, and may I suggest to add a clear or whatever color shower curtain rather than the table cloths, which are very thin and tend to tear easily. Use the shower curtain as a lean-to shelter and the clear drop cloth as a super shelter to retain some heat. Just a thought…………😊

[danaanthereal]

To help with the bag situation, since you purchased a sewing kit, you can reinforce the places on the bag that are apt to rip or fail ahead of time. And you're not spending any extra dollars because you used your dollar store items. *on* the dollar store item, if that makes sense.

[behindthespotlight]

Some thoughts:
-stuff as many Cliff Bars & trail mix bags into every vacant space possible
-salt
-can opener (scavenging)
-a lot of dollar stores sell a decent 10-12” crowbar
-add a jacket that “you’re already wearing” along with thermal hat and a strong EDC & I do believe you’ll make it to your retreat 👍🏼

[Coid]

Unscented bleach would be another water purification option that one should be able to source from a dollar store. On a morale/caffeine front, they often have those little MiO-style bottles where they have flavor concentrate + caffeine available at dollar stores as well. Some of those little bottles can be taken apart and put back together to be reusable in some way, though I haven't yet figured out what a good use for them would be, but I think there is at least some promise there.

I'm feeling pretty vindicated seeing that you also noticed the promise of that little LED dog light, too. I was tickled pink the first time I noticed one of them and its possibilities.


The suture needle from the hair weave kit was a pretty sharp move, too.

[lorax]

Great job! I would add for water purification: small/travel size dropper bottle, bleach, latex balloons to stretch over top of bottle to prevent leaks.

[glenmo]

BTW .. Walmart now sells a Sawyer water bottle 32 oz with a sawyer filter inside..19.99..!! I have a regular Sawyer filter in my vehicle get home bag.. but I wanted the water bottle in filter for when I travel out of the country

[behindthespotlight]

At 6:05 that “stretch tape” is called Coban. It was borrowed from horse medicine. As a side note it is sold in multiple camo patterns on Amazon & provides for clean, zero- adhesive camouflaging of gear from stainless water bottles to rifles. As always great effort, Eric 👍🏼

[Boomhauer]

Definitely like what did here. Now me for a non dollar tree item I add. Is simply a Fiskars folding saw or cheap but good hatchet. Course like you said a better backpack and a water filter straw . Now for dollar store item I would add can opener and some diamond stick matches and fork and spoon.

[dougbotimer]

Comprehensive kit, and it will do for most people. Only thing I’d add is redundant ignition sources, matches, more lighters, etc. My dollar store has started carrying canned heat, very handy for quick heat…

[Olyphoto]

Great job Eric! Just a few suggestions swap out the plastic cup for a can of soup, the plastic cup will most likely crack and form leaks when hot water is poured in. Some dollar stores carry the reflective windshield inserts for blocking the Sun in the summer, they make a nice sleeping pad. Also for ground cover a table cloth would give you a dry spot. I agree with you about adding water filtration to the kit and since it’s winter adding a blanket from Goodwill (keeping with the affordable concept) the blanket could be used with the para cord to bundle up your gear.
Last but certainly not least, Happy New Year! I’m looking forward to another year of great content, the last few years have been fun and informative.

[d.roselester]

I will say that I am surprised that you didn’t get an emergency blanket or 2 and an emergency poncho. These items are available at the dollar tree that I go to along with a plastic coffee mug or tumbler

[ANoss]

I’d love if you hit up several stores, maybe still at budget. And maybe weird stores like Home Depot or lowes, or target/Walmart or grocery store, also like to see you use them on your camping trips, not necessarily as survival challenge or anything but take bag with you and film some situations and that bag.

[urbanhomesteadingchannel]

Also eye drops or saline solution in case of emergency. I understand this is for emergencies and to do it cheap but also don't forget to have travel sizes of any prescriptions you may require. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if they have sample sizes of your regular medication. Still overall a very good video. I'm writing down the items you suggested as we speak. Oh! And those portable ice packs. The ones you crack to activate. Heat packs for hands and feet can also be used for muscle strain etc.