absolute cheapskate survival tips

I like to pack those tiny Tabasco bottles that come in MRE's. I've made some firestarting candles out of the little paper cups used for ketchup at fast food joints. I have some cheapo DIY projects in the works. I'll post them in a seperate thread.
 
This tip is an old one, but since I can't use the search function here to find it.

If you are looking for a cheap and compact way to carry a canteen and a cup for cooking/boiling/hot beverages, you can use a couple of easy and common items to do so. You know those cheap, blue Coleman camping mugs you keep that are too heavy to bother carrying? Well a medium-sized peanut butter jar fits perfectly inside those. You can also boil and cook in those little coleman cups.

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Handy to have stashed in a little hip pack, BOB, or day pack.
 
Good tip spooky :thumbup:. I was wondering if I could fit something inside of my cup. It's actually right here next to me with ice cold root beer :D. Since I'm in an apartment it's the only cup that I have that I don't throw away. I always attatch it with a caribeaner to the outside of my packs. Sounds like a cowbell after walking for a few minutes :o.
 
Here's one.
Old guitar strings for snares.
Really strong and they already have an eye attached too.
You could also use one to give yourself a jailhouse tatoo with charcoal as ink.

I'd also like to add that chlorine bleach is pretty safe for disinfecting water. In my water treatment class we were told that the upper limit for palatability was well below that for health. I have a pretty low threshold for it myself, can't stand most of the municipal tapwater I have tasted. If you have time to wait the chlorine will evaporate, speeded up by heating if possible.
 
blazink said:
Here's one.
Old guitar strings for snares.
Really strong and they already have an eye attached too.
You could also use one to give yourself a jailhouse tatoo with charcoal as ink.
Click to expand...

Perfect.

I was looking at making some snares. I have a buddy that is sure to have tons of old strings if he hasn't tossed them.
 
Just make sure the lint is from materials (preferably cotton) that do NOT have fire-retardant characteristics. Many kids clothes especially are designed this way, and what keep your clothes from burning when you have them on will also keep your tinder from lighting in a survival situation. Especially when conditions suck!

Also, make sure the cotton balls are 100% and not a hybrid with synthetics.
 
Briggz said:
Grab a bunch of the plastic grocery bags you have in your kitchen and stask them in a BOB. Will work to carry stuff (oh duh) emergency rain cap, waterproof bandage cover, and I am sure there are other things they can be used for.
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I've used these as oversocks to "winterize" running shoes in a pinch. Some people say to put them under your socks (vapor-barrier style), but I have put them over the socks, then put on the shoes.

Sure, you walk through them pretty fast, but they really seem to add warmth and keep your socks less wet.

During my long thru-hikes, I've found that a handful of plastic grocery sacks in a stuff sack make a decently-insulating pillow, sleeping pad supplement, or foot pad (with a 3/4 length sleeping pad).
 
tradja said:
I've used these as oversocks to "winterize" running shoes in a pinch. Some people say to put them under your socks (vapor-barrier style), but I have put them over the socks, then put on the shoes.

Sure, you walk through them pretty fast, but they really seem to add warmth and keep your socks less wet.
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Both. The bag inside the socks keeps sweat outta' da sock. The bag over the socks keeps outside moisture out. Feet get clammy, but stay warm. However, skin softened by moisture is more prone to blisters.

Watch out for "safety" bags that have holes to prevent suffocation.


Some carryout food comes is surprisingly sturdy plastic dishes. They last several weekends. Very light. Those with smoother interiors are easier to get the last taste of food where it belongs.

Lots of goods come in plastic coverings that burn like crazy.
 
Pack a coffee filter. Easy to find where they make the coffee at work, at home, etc.
Fold flat , light weight, easy to carry.

Pre-filter your H2o with a bandana, T-shirt, or even a sock, then use the coffee filter as the final filter. They can be rinsed out an re-used. Probably the best filtering material out there for the pennies.

A paper towel also does a respectable job of filtering sediment, as does newspaper.

None of this means it kills the germs, use your chlorine or boil as usual. Even when boiled, we would rather not drink murky, dirty water.


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In the film vial, with the PJ cotton balls, place a small chunk of firesteel and piece of hacksaw blade. Doesn't need to be much, but is nice to have the sparker packed with the tinder.

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A wooden pencil. It's a compact stick of dry tinder, ready to be wittled off when needed.
 
Wadded up plastic grocery bags act as great insulation. Stuff them in your jacket or just use them to make your pockets warmer for your hands.

Nice to see ya around, Skunkwerx.

-- FLIX
 
FLIX said:
Wadded up plastic grocery bags act as great insulation. Stuff them in your jacket or just use them to make your pockets warmer for your hands.

Nice to see ya around, Skunkwerx.

-- FLIX
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If you dunna' get it wet, newspaper is a great insulation layer inside your windbreaking layer. Several sheets offset slightly trap lots of "dead" air betwixt the layers. People may look atcha' funny due to crinkling noises as you move, but the heck with them. (Kept me alive until the first paycheck after the move/cum car breakdown from Cal to OH.)

I suppose scrounged BubblePak would work too.

Cardboard?
 
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