Building an emergency stash doesn’t have to mean spending hundreds of dollars at once. Dollar Tree can be a useful place to pick up inexpensive basics little by little, especially supplies that can help during power outages, severe weather or a few days when getting to the store isn’t easy.
The goal isn’t to fill a closet with things you’ll never use. Focus on practical supplies your household already relies on, compare package sizes and prices, and add a few extras whenever the price makes sense.
First Aid Supplies
Bandages, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic wipes and other basic first aid supplies are useful to have ready for minor cuts and scrapes. Check expiration dates where applicable and periodically replace anything that has been used or is past its date.
19 Survival Items You Should Stockpile from Dollar Tree
Candles, Matches and Lighters
Candles, matches and lighters provide backup options when the power goes out, although battery-powered lighting should generally be your first choice. Keep fire-starting supplies dry and secure, and never leave a burning candle unattended.
Over-the-Counter Medicine
Pain relievers, allergy medicine and other over-the-counter products your household regularly uses are easier to stock before bad weather or another disruption keeps you home. Check active ingredients, dosages, and expiration dates rather than buying unfamiliar medicine simply because it’s inexpensive.
Canned Protein
Canned tuna, chicken, sardines and similar foods can provide shelf-stable protein without requiring refrigeration or much preparation. Choose varieties your household will actually eat and keep a manual can opener with your emergency food if the cans don’t have pull tabs.
Canned Meats With a Long Shelf Life to Stock in an Emergency Pantry
Canned Vegetables
Canned corn, peas, carrots, green beans and mixed vegetables can add variety to simple emergency meals built around rice, pasta or other pantry staples. Most are already cooked and can be eaten without heating if you’re dealing with an extended power outage.
Shelf-Stable Snacks
Crackers, granola bars, nuts, dried fruit and other ready-to-eat foods are useful when you don’t have the time or equipment to prepare a full meal. Stock foods your household already enjoys so you can rotate them into regular snacks before they go stale or expire.
Soap and Personal Hygiene Supplies
Bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, and other everyday essentials are easy to overlook when you’re thinking about emergency preparedness. A small backup supply can make a few days at home much more comfortable when stores are closed, shelves are picked over or traveling isn’t practical.
Flashlights
Keeping inexpensive flashlights in several easy-to-reach places means you won’t have to search a dark house for the only one you own. Put them in predictable locations such as bedrooms and the kitchen, then test them periodically to make sure they still work.
Batteries
Stock extra batteries only if they match the sizes your flashlights, radios, and other emergency equipment require. Check your devices before shopping and store the correct batteries together somewhere cool and dry.
Garbage Bags
A roll of garbage bags can handle much more than ordinary household trash during an emergency. They can separate wet or dirty clothing, contain messy cleanup materials and help protect certain belongings from dirt and moisture.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is useful for temporary fixes when you can’t make a proper repair right away. It can secure loose materials, patch certain tears or help hold something in place until you have the tools and supplies for a permanent solution.
Paper Products
Toilet paper and paper towels are ordinary household supplies that become much more noticeable when you suddenly run out. Keeping a reasonable backup gives you toilet paper for everyday needs and disposable towels for spills and cleanup when doing laundry may be more difficult.
Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foil can cover food, wrap leftovers and line certain cooking surfaces when your usual kitchen routine is disrupted. It’s inexpensive, compact, and easy to tuck alongside other emergency cooking and food-storage supplies.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Supplies
Sponges, scrub brushes, disinfecting products, and plain household bleach can help with cleanup and sanitation after storms, outages, and other disruptions. Follow product labels carefully, never mix bleach with other cleaners, and remember that bleach loses strength over time and may need replacing.
