You guys, I can’t believe it’s January already!
Time for an update on my December Pennies for Prepping selections. I’m also ready to give a short yearly overview so you can see what I was able to buy on my “spare change” budget in 2013—so look for that tomorrow.
In December I was able to save up some extra money because I got some cash for Christmas, plus I got some great preparedness-related gifts, so the total cost for this month is a little more than usual.
December Pennies for Prepping Purchases (and Gifts):
I bought a
Mobile Washer so I can do laundry if my water or electricity goes out in an emergency. It would also be great for a long-term camping trip so you don’t have to wash your clothes in the river and send suds downstream to the next camp.
The Mobile Washer works really well with one of our
4-6 gallon buckets and features a special agitation motion that pushes and pulls water through your clothes to get them really clean. It’s just $14.95—so it’s a great and
affordable way to do laundry when your washing machine or a Laundromat isn’t an option. (You can see the
Mobile Washer in action on our YouTube page.)
I also bought the Organic Sprouting Seed Combo and Sprouting Lid. I love salad, you guys. In an emergency where fresh produce isn’t an option, salad is one of the first things I would miss. I’m getting creative and planning to use sprouts as a lettuce substitute on sandwiches and burgers, in tacos… you get the idea. Sure, the texture is different, but you still get the crisp freshness you Replace with lettuce—and a hefty dose of nutrients, too.
The combo is just $16.99 (lucky you, it’s on sale this month!) and includes a lid that fits any standard wide-mouth jar. You can also buy the components separately if you’ve already got some of the items on hand.
If you followed my Pennies for Prepping series in 2013, you know I’m working on building out my
everyday carry. One thing I added to that in December (thanks to “Santa”) was the Gerber Shard multi-tool. It’s a great little tool to keep on a keychain for everyday issues that may come up where you need a screwdriver, mini pry-bar, bottle opener, or wire stripper. $4.79 will do it. Easy peasy.
Santa also brought me a couple of
Sparkie Fire Starters. Now
this is my idea of what a fire starter should be. It’s not only easy to use, but it’s easy to use
one-handed, so you can block the wind, keep your tinder in place, or make other adjustments with your free hand. (Santa obviously knows my skill level.) Each Sparkie is just $7.95 and can start up to 100 fires.
I bit the bullet and bought a
Teton Scout Backpack in December, too. I don’t say “bit the bullet” because of the cost—it was only $59.99. It $62.95 in January, which is still a total steal for an internal frame backpack of this quality (totally adjustable with lumbar support, compression straps, and a built-in rain fly).
I say “bit the bullet” because I’m not a backpacker. I don’t really even camp. But I’m committing to in 2014, because I think hiking, camping, and backpacking are great ways to learn about preparedness, get comfortable in the outdoors, and learn what skills I need to add to my arsenal in case I get stuck outside without a bunch of gear. Practice is the name of the game in 2014 for this Urban Girl.
Warmth is also the name of the game, though. I am not winter’s biggest fan, but I realize that by being prepared and dressing properly for the winter weather, I can enjoy it more. So that’s where my last December purchase comes in: I bought 5 each of the Adhesive Toe Warmers (1.25 each) and the Insole Warmers ($2.50 each). Because getting cold feet is the
worst. With my little piggies all toasty warm in my boots, I’ll be ready to face the weather.
So, the total you would spend this month on those items (since some of them are no longer on sale) is about $130 (if you bought 5 of each warmer and two Sparkie fire starters). Not bad, my friends.
What did you get in December? Did you splurge on something for yourself? Get any good prepping-related gifts?
Check back tomorrow for my 2013 recap, showing exactly what I got and how much I spent in 2013.
