Budget "Get Home Bag"

A friend of mine started a job that requires a 90-mile commute (each way). His car--though in good condition and designed to last for a long time--is older. He's a resourceful and resilient guy, so I am certain he'd have no problems without an emergency kit. But I decided to put together a basic Get Home Bag (GHB) for him as a little gift.

I wanted to do this on a budget because, well, I'm on a budget right now. Here are the things I put in it that I already had lying around the house:

• A black backpack
• Safety pins
• Rubber bands
• A small tube of sunscreen
• Gallon Ziplock baggies
• A plastic water bottle
• A hand-crank flashlight/cell phone charger
• A battery operated LED flashlight
• A roll of duck tape
• A roll of toilet paper
• A contractor-grade black trashbag
• A few individually wrapped antibacterial towelettes
• A couple of MREs
• A plastic fork and knife
• Matches
• Nylon cord
• Rubber gloves
• N-95 Masks
• Ibuprofen and daytime cold medicine
• Hand and body warmers
• Nylon string
  

To complete his GHB, I had to purchase:

• A space blanket
• A light disposable poncho
• Emergency food bars (enough for 3 days)
  
• Small first aid kit
• Insect repellent towelettes
• Pouches of water
• Lightsticks

Total cost: $28

If you're already a prepper, you probably have the same things I did in your home. And since items like N-95 masks and contractor trash bags usually come in packs, it's easy to spare a few to make a Car Kit or a GHB. Most people give me a very strange look when I give these as gifts, but at least I know my loved ones are prepared. And who knows? Maybe someday it'll save a life.