Dollar Store Prepper Items
The term “prepper” has been gaining attention in recent years. Those who consider themselves preppers are individuals who take extra steps to prepare for potential emergencies and disaster situations. Whether it be natural disasters like Hurricanes or other disaster scenarios, preppers aim to have the necessary supplies they need to survive and protect their family should a crisis arise. Check out these Dollar Store prepper items everyone needs to start stocking up on!
Please keep in mind, I’m not a Doomsday Prepper who is expecting imminent Armageddon, just giving you the heads up before you read today’s article. I’m a wife, mom, grandmother, neighbor, and concerned citizen who wants to help others be prepared for unexpected events that can put individuals and families in harm’s way.
Dollar Store Prepper Items
While it may be recommended that those interested in serious prepping venture out to purchase specialized supplies, there are many items you can find right at your local dollar store that can prove invaluable during an emergency situation. This list will outline some of the most useful items found at the dollar store that all preppers should have on hand, from food storage containers to essential tools and more.
Food Storage Containers
One of the most important items for any prepper is having a way of storing food; this is especially true for times of hardship when it may be difficult (or impossible) to access grocery stores. Food storage containers offer a great solution as they are affordable, lightweight, and come in a variety of sizes. If the price is right, these could be perfect for stocking up on various foods in preparation for tough times ahead. Look for items like plastic buckets and airtight storage containers, both ideal for safekeeping food inside while keeping pests out!
Tools & Safety Gear
Other must-have items available at the dollar store are tools and safety gear such as first-aid kits, flashlights, extra batteries, a rain poncho, duct tape, rope, and more which can serve multiple purposes in an emergency situation. Be sure to check that the quality of these tools is good before purchasing them; looking around online sources and reviews can help determine this prior to buying.
Non-Perishable Foods
Of course, no pantry or stockpile would be complete without non-perishable foods such as canned goods and dry snacks like nuts or rice cakes – these will come in handy when fresh produce isn’t available! Check for expiration dates on the packaging too; nothing beats being prepared with tasty snacks that won’t go bad!
Under the canned goods category, be sure to get a variety of items that might include soups, vegetables, fruit, and meat items like tuna, canned chicken, and beef products. You need to consider the health and well-being of those whole be eating these foods in a survival situation. Also, consider things like salt, pepper, and spices so you can make those foods even more enjoyable and taste as expected.
Hygiene Supplies & Toiletries
Hygiene products might not be top-of-mind when stocking up on these kinds of supplies, but they should still be featured high on your list, especially if the water supply runs low during difficult times! Items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, bar soap, deodorant, toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, tissues, and shampoo can easily be picked up from the dollar store (in economical sizes!) making it easier than ever before to stay clean and sanitary! Keeping yourself hygienic is an important step regardless of whether you’re in an emergency situation or not.
- 35 Essential Personal Hygiene Products You Need to Stock
- 10 Hygiene and Sanitation Tips for a Disaster
- Hygiene Tips for an End-of-the-World Scenario
What Do Doomsday Preppers Stock?
Doomsday preppers are people who prepare for potential catastrophes, natural disasters, and other apocalyptic scenarios by stockpiling items such as food, water, protective gear, medical supplies, and even money. While every prepper’s inventory varies based on individual needs, some of the most commonly stocked items include:
Disclaimer: Not all of these items will be found at the Dollar Store, instead this is just a general idea of what most Doomsday Preppers stock up on!
Food and Water
Food and water are essential for sustenance during emergency situations. Doomsday preppers usually store a variety of canned foods such as soups, beans, tuna fish, vegetables, fruits, and more. Water is also stocked in large quantities in the form of bottled or boxed water as well as gallon jugs. To ensure that these goods don’t spoil or expire too soon before they can be used, many preppers invest in specialized off-grid refrigeration units to keep food fresh.
- Tips On Storing Food Storage Safely
- Storing Water-How To Be Prepared For The Unexpected
- Creative Water Storage Solutions for Emergencies
Home Defense Items
Home defense is another important priority for doomsday preppers. Defense tools that may be stored away include pepper spray/mace, stun g*ns, or tasers for self-defense purposes. There are various defensive items like batons or collapsible shields that can serve multiple functions within a home environment.
Protective Gear & First Aid Kits
Protective gear such as gas masks may be included in the supply cache along with full-body radiation suits in case of a nuclear disaster. This may also include heavier-duty items like Kevlar vests, if available, to better defend against outside threats specifically during chaotic times after disasters. On top of this, it would behoove preppers to also stock medical kits. These would contain antibiotic ointment and pills to fight off any potential illnesses, latex gloves, hydrogen peroxide, sunscreen, and DEET-based insect repellant. that might occur during crisis periods when traditional medicine isn’t available. First aid supplies are one of the top Dollar store prepper items.
- First Aid Kits-What You Need To Survive
- What’s In Your First Aid Kit?
- Uncommon First Aid Items We Should All Have
Other Supplies
In addition to all the mentioned items above there are certainly other materials that can make life much easier while living through the chaos.
- Solar-powered devices so you can stay connected even when electricity is down.
- High-quality tents/blankets for sheltering.
- Night vision goggles; lightweight stoves
- Rain collecting systems for producing clean drinking water
- and many others depending on specific situations at hand or personal preferences!
Prepping isn’t an exact science. So, stocking up could take months if not years, depending on your lifestyle habits and the preparedness level desired. But having a wide variety of all these tools stockpiled allows one relief from worry due to knowing they have something readily available.
More Dollar Store Prepper Items
The Dollar Tree and Dollar General are great places to find items that can be used for prepping. It’s a good idea to head to your local Dollar General or Dollar Tree and see what important survival items you can buy! Here’s the list!
Foods and Water
Make sure you pay attention to the types of nonperishable foods available!
- Canned goods such as soup, beans, vegetables, and fruits that have a long shelf life
- Boxed or canned pasta
- Crackers and cereals
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Powdered milk
- Candy bars for energy boosts
- Water bottles (purified water and spring water)
First Aid Supplies & Emergency Supplies
There are a lot of great options for first aid supplies and emergency supplies at the local dollar store. It’s important to be prepared for medical emergencies!
- Bandaids and medical tape
- Alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer
- Gauze pads and wound cleansers
- Tweezers and safety pins
- Cotton balls
- Heavy duty gloves
- Pain relief like aspirin or Tylenol
Survival Kit Miscellaneous Items
- AA & AAA batteries in bulk packs
- Flashlights with extra bulbs
- Disposable lighters or waterproof matches
- Pocket knife or multi-tool set or utility knives/ utility knife
- Blankets for sheltering/warmth
- Small ponchos (for rainy/sleeting days)
- Trash bags or garbage bags
- Glow sticks
- Paper plates and other paper products
- Personal hygiene items
- Fire starters
- Sewing kits
- Lots of great Ziploc baggies
- Pet food
- Bungee cords
- Plastic sheeting for shelter and ground cover (consider using shower curtains)
- Aluminum foil to cook food and store it before and after food prep
- Sponges and soap to clean tables, chairs, and toilets
- Baby wipes
- Candles
Don’t forget the kids!
In an emergency situation, families, including kids, are often left to entertain themselves until the situation is dealt with. Having things like pens, pencils, paper, crayons, toys, super glue, playing cards, and more can make the time go by faster and keep them occupied. Don’t forget that the young ones can be fearful and afraid of what’s going on and what’s ahead. These items can be good for their mental state as serious things are going on around them.
Final Word
While this list doesn’t cover every prepper item you could buy from a dollar store (the possibilities really are endless!). It does provide some invaluable advice and things to consider having stored or included in their bug out bags that people should look into when doing their shopping at their local store! Remember, always plan ahead if you want to truly ensure your readiness in case disaster strikes! We don’t need to prepare at the level many doomsday preppers do, but having a plan and following through with it could save a lot of trouble in tough times. May God Bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Dollar Bills Currency AdobeStock_233955874 By Yadali
I have bought food at Dollar General and Dollar Tree before. They’re good. Just check to expiration dates. Be sure if you buy the shelf stable milk to check that it has t been opened. I bought several cartons that had been opened. Since I live over 20 miles away, I didn’t take them back. Not counting that it’d been weeks since I’d bought them. I do buy powdered milk instead.
HI Deborah, they were opened??? Oh my gosh, that’s terrible!! Thanks for the heads up to not only check the dates but now we need to make sure they are not OPEN!!! Thanks for sharing, Linda
While I do occasionally shop at the dollar (and a quarter) store, I am mostly looking for “temporary” things. That said, the dollar store nearest to me sells “Betty Crocker brand” food storage containers. I like to keep a few of these on hand in the larger sizes to use when I go to potlucks or other gatherings where I take prepared food. That way, if I don’t happen to bring the container back home, I am not out much in the way of $. I have had a few of these containers for a few years and they are still holding up very well. I like to purchase condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise) there as well BECAUSE they are smaller quantities – however, I only purchase them if they are a name brand (I tend to stick with name brands on several food items!!).
Many things, like duct tape, bungee cords, paracord, I have found that they are not the quality or size that I want in an emergency situation. That said, I would purchase those things at the dollar store if I needed to save size and money. But something like zip ties that I want to just hold things together with, I buy at the dollar store. The may not be the highest quality but they are sufficient to do the job.
As for food, I always check the Best By dates even at my regular grocery store!! I know that food items are good way past the Best By date but still, my money needs to be spent on things that will last a good long time!
Hi Leanne, I’m with you we do have to be picky about what we buy there. Some are good buys and some are mediocre even at $1.25! I prefer name brands as well. Linda
I do shop dollar stores (even though one near me has put up their prices!)–but an additional word of caution. Food isn’t always the best buy there, although it may be convenient. Check the price per ounce or whatever unit. Often, dollar store packages are not the standard weight as you’d find in the grocery store–the price may be less, but the amount in the package is also less, sometimes considerably so. (This, in addition to some quality issues, as others have noted!) And–at least as long as I can afford to do so–I try very hard not to buy things manufactured in Red China. *Definitely* never food from that source, too risky.
HI Rhonda, I totally agree I will not buy food from China, nope, nada. I’m glad you mentioned the size of the packages, great tip! Linda
I have bought some lighting sources at Dollar Tree, especially things that my kids would like (when they were younger) and now I would add some cute shaped lighting sources for my granddaughter. I don’t buy a lot there because I want to make sure I get items that will work reliably.
I bought a box of rice a roni and when I got it home, it had worms in it. I haven’t bought food there since.
One of my best deals was when someone opened a $5 store where they bought containers with returned Amazon items and Amazon overruns and sold everything for $5. We got nice day packs, solar powered flashlights and other things. They were there in business for about 6 months until the local school district took over half the closed mall to set up a middle school.
Hi Topaz, yikes, I wouldn’t buy food in a box there either! That would have been really nice to have that $5.00 store to get Amazon returns, it’s to bad it’s gone. Linda
HELLO!!! It’s been a while since I’ve “talked” to you. I have enjoyed the things you’ve emailed me and have also written down a lot of info. Thank you, I’m grateful you’re out there! First, let me tell you, that after 2 years in this apartment, I’m finally moving to a places that has 6 steps to the front door and 3 at the back door, not the 14 or more that I’ve had to deal with since my hip surgery. I’m looking forward to moving in. I read this article and have been able to get to the closest Dollar Tree to me, I love shopping there. I find that the storage containers they sell aren’t as good as the ones they used to sell; going from Betty Crocker to McCormack; just an FYI though: the duct tape they sell is good tape, but the spools only have a little bit on them and I find that for myself, it pays to buy for somewhere else for quantity. I also have started watching videos of those who shop there a lot and update on what they have in stock, it does help some. I wanted to send you a note here letting you know that I’m still around and that I look forward to your help and ideas. Sure wish there were another way to contact you besides this way. Got 11 days before I move and am going crazy packing.
I know that the weather where you live has been a little on the ugly side, and though I’m happy someone is getting snow, albeit a lot, we’ve only gotten scant snow here In DC but it has been cold just the same. Have a wonderful spring, grow a lot of food and enjoy both.
HI Pamela, I love hearing you are moving to a house with fewer steps! I can’t do a lot of steps anymore either. I hope your hip surgery went well, that’s rough. Yes, we have had a lot of snow, I’m afraid it will bring floods, the city is filling sand bags to be prepared before it starts. LInda
Oh my, I never thought about the flooding from runoff. Take care then, and hope y’all fare well. The hip is fine, unfortunately the fall on my tailbone has given me more mobility problems, but I’m coping.
Take care!
HI Pamela, not the tailbone, oh no!!!!! Take it easy girl! Linda