By M.L. Lewis

The dollar store is an amazing place for the beginning prepper. The aisles are filled with amazing, cheap products, and everything is only a dollar. These are good places to fill your kits with the little things and help a friend get started with the basics. These are my top five you got buy items at every dollar store from my own personal experience.

Bleach

Bleach is pretty important in your kit. You can use it for cleaning, water purification, and to barter with. The bleach at the dollar store is usually small so they’re good for your go and car kits. Most likely it is name brand stuff so you’ll already know its good quality. Just remember, when buying bleach don’t buy any with special cleaners or scents in it.

Can Opener

Food is important in a disaster. The human body can only survive three weeks without nutrition. Just because it’s a dollar doesn’t mean you should scoff at it. I have one and I use it more than my electric can opener because of how sturdy it is.

The average can opener in a big box store is eight to ten dollars, why spend that on one when you can get eight or ten and use the extras to trade with. When the apocalypse occurs, canned food will be the new currency among the surviving groups, so you’ll need the tools to open them.

Puzzle Books

You’re going to need something quiet to do to pass the time while waiting out a passing horde. Next time you’re at your dollar store check out the stationary aisle and look through their huge selection of puzzle books.

My local store has six types of word search books. That’s not including the crosswords, sudokus, and coloring books also available in this aisle. Some even have decent novels if you’re interested in reading.

Medicine

I know I was skeptical too when I bought cold medicine for a dollar, but it was worth it. From aspirin to antibiotic ointment your dollar store’s health aisle has a wide selection of first aid products and medication.

The aspirin is very powerful and can relieve migraines. The band-aids are sturdy and great for those with sensitive skins. All my first aid kits are stocked with dollar store brand products, some even hold sales around back to school time where if you buy so many first aid products they’ll give you a free bag to put them.

Tools

Yes, most dollar stores now have a hardware and automotive aisle that contain an assortment of tools. I feel that their tools are just as good as anything you’ll buy at a hardware store.

The hammers and screwdriver are strong and durable. The crowbars are sturdy and definitely do their jobs well. The zip ties are great and helped hold up my tent during a rainstorm.

Recently I noticed my dollar store started carrying jumper cables for the car and if anyone is brave enough to buy and use them I would love to hear about your experience with them.