Sunday, October 14, 2018

Dollar Store Preparedness

It's only been five days but many people impacted by Hurricane Michael are already desperate for food and water.  On the one hand, I understand that many of these people are elderly and poor, but on the other hand, only a couple of dollars a week at the dollar store can buy you a lot of preparedness items!  Here is a list of items you can pick up at your local Dollar Store, Dollar Tree, or 99 Cent store to see you through a variety of emergencies...
  1. Tarp
  2. Duct tape
  3. Para cord
  4. Matches
  5. Candles
  6. Flashlight
  7. Batteries
  8. AM/FM radio
  9. Aspirin
  10. Tylenol (or other pain reliever)
  11. Bandaids
  12. Antibiotic ointment
  13. Antihistamine tablets
  14. Other first aid items: Ace bandage, medical tape, gauze, etc.
  15. Instant ice packs
  16. Instant hand warmers
  17. Bleach (unscented)
  18. Bar soap
  19. Hygiene items: mirror, comb
  20. Rubbing alcohol
  21. Sharpies
  22. Scissors
  23. Utility knife
  24. Repair items: safety pins, paper clips, nails, wire, etc.
  25. Super Glue
  26. Glow In The Dark Bracelets
  27. Ear plugs
  28. Paper plates
  29. Paper/plastic cups
  30. Napkins
  31. Plastic utensils
  32. Ziploc bags
  33. Plastic food containers (with lids)
  34. Gardening gloves
  35. Toothbrushes
  36. Toothpaste
  37. WD40
  38. Lighters
  39. Whistle
  40. Hand sanitizer
  41. Tissue
  42. Rain poncho
  43. Emergency blanket
  44. Sewing kit
  45. Razors
  46. Magnifying glass
  47. Paper towels
  48. Plastic bucket
  49. Scrub brush
  50. Ammonia
  51. Latex gloves
  52. Steel wool pads
  53. Coffee filters
  54. Safety glasses
  55. Disposable filter masks
  56. Trash bags
  57. Nail clippers
  58. Dental floss
  59. Vitamins
  60. Vaseline
  61. Aluminum foil
  62. Cookware: baking pans, spatula, knife
  63. Can opener
  64. Sheet plastic: plastic table covers, shower curtains, etc.
  65. Latex balloons
  66. Safety flasher
  67. Fluorescent vest
  68. Basic tools (screwdriver, pliers, hammer, saw)
  69. Notebook
  70. Pens
  71. Pencils
  72. Padlock
  73. Bicycle lock
  74. Tool box
  75. Bungee cords
  76. Bandana 
  77. Sun glasses
  78. Laser pointer
  79. Solar yard light
  80. Clotheline/clothes pins
  81. Emergency cell charger
  82. Zipties
  83. Alcohol wipes
  84. Wet wipes
  85. Playing cards
  86. Kid's entertainment (games, puzzles, crayons, etc)
  87. Disinfectant cleaner
  88. Wire coat hangers
  89. Tote bags/daypack
  90. Plastic storage containers
  91. Bug spray
  92. Suntan lotion
  93. Food: spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc)
  94. Food: nuts and dried fruit
  95. Food: candy (chocolate, hard candy)
  96. Food: trail mix, jerky, nutrition bars
  97. Food: instant carbs (oatmeal, instant noodle soup, pasta)
  98. Food: canned goods (soup, spaghetti sauce, canned fish, canned meat, beans)
  99. Food: baking items (yeast, sugar, flour, oil, baking soda, baking powder)
  100. Beverages: tea, coffee, drink mixes, bottled water and juice
  101. Specials that rarely show up but that you should grab when they do: Pedialite, Thera Flu, Sterno
And a few caveats: most dollar store stuff is crap so if you can only afford a $1 knife get one but as soon as possible, upgrade.  Pay attention to sales at other stores as you can sometimes beat dollar store prices on many items (ie: baking soda for 59 cents, 69 cent canned goods, etc).  Pay attention to labels (I've found things at the dollar store that are expired, other things that are mismarked such as an ibuprofen pain reliever marked as aspirin--there's a difference.  And I am pretty particular about buying items, particularly food items, which are made in the US instead of China.

2 comments:

  1. I do not purchase any item from China. The foil from these places is so flimsy that it is useless. Save your money and buy foil from elsewhere and a brand name.

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    Replies
    1. I definitely love my giant box of Costco foil which lasts for years and years. I never buy food or makeup items from China--eeekkk.

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