poor man's BOB contest? and the winner is . . .

[Browning 35]

AS far as I am concerned you deserve extra credit for posting so fast.

A good kit when you need it is better than a great kit later!

Thanks for the first entry.

You're welcome.

I edited the post to provide a list and to try and give prices as best I could remember them. This might more accurately be called a 'Scrounge BOB' rather than a 'Poor Man's BOB' as for many of the items I didn't pay anything at all. Where I put that I got the item for free I tried to put an estimated FMV of what I think that it's worth today. Many of the smaller items I bought at the Dollar Store where things don't cost near as much as they would at the regular supermarket (they work just as well though).

I'm also somewhat of a hoarder and a scrounger. If I see something for free (toothbrushes and toothpaste at the dentist office, utensil sets from KFC, bottled water from the EMS room at Baylor Hosp etc) that could possibly be used for my BOB/GHB/Preps I won't hesitate to grab a couple and I won't use them (that way I'm not being a dick and grabbing a whole bunch of them the way some people do just 'cause they're free).

The only thing I would have done differently is to put more food in there. I have three ways to cook things (four if you count the candles - fuel tabs and a small Swedish folding steel wing stove, sterno and the fire log) and only 4 cans of soup and a couple MRE's. Honestly though the bag was stuffed and I couldn't fit anymore in it anyway (one of the shortcomings of trying to do it on the cheap as I use a MUCH better Backpack for my regular BOB). However more food would have put the bag at a higher cost and it's also more meant as a '72 hour bag'. After that I should have reached my destination already.

I guess you could also view the firelog as a source of warmth during the winter months as opposed to a way of cooking food too though. I would have also included money and an inexpensive cellphone in there as well, but there's no way of doing that and staying within the budget (so I skipped that although I would always do it with a regular bug out/get home bag).

Edit : I forgot to include the granola bar on the list (saw it in the pictures and remembered that I included it), so add 0.50 to $1 for that.

[Red Cell]

Some good ideas in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTFfnT5g0ls

[2now]

So anyone else working on their entry?

[FanaticalModerate]

So anyone else working on their entry?

First item on my packing list is "procrastinate until after Christmas"

[cheech_sp]

So anyone else working on their entry?

I'm working on one. Do we need to consider the price of the actual bag for this BOB's budget? Even a $15 Walmart backpack can really cut into the budget.

[elkhills]

So anyone else working on their entry?

I'm coming in well over $100 in my rough drafts, so I may have to sit this one out. We'll see.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

So anyone else working on their entry?

I'm working on one. Do we need to consider the price of the actual bag for this BOB's budget? Even a $15 Walmart backpack can really cut into the budget.

im working on one as well. +1 to the wallmart bag eating up the budget as my bag was 20.00, and im 31.00 over budget, and i purchased everything new just for this project with the exception of the "common" freebee items. so its back to the drawing board for me. i hope to have mine posted before next week if i can trim enough fat out.

[shrimpwd]

I am working on one as well. I have most of the items already, but still need to pick up a pot, tarp and some aluminum foil, along with pain meds and benadryl. I know, I should already have benadryl on hand, but we cleaned out our medicine cabinet a few weeks ago and still haven't restocked. I hope to have my kit posted in the next week or so.

Backpack pricing is a bit rough for me as well. I bought a pack from Target 2 years ago during the 75% off back to school sale for $6.49. I know you can purchase older ones for less. (Can I just use that price at 20% increase for the 2 years?)

Oh, and how much is potable aqua now? I found a sealed container for $.25 at a yard sale...

[ogreboy]

I am working on mine as well. I have already received 2 items to go in my BOB in the mail already.

I just wanted clarification on 1 thing: if we have a item that comes in a package of more than one, and we only use one, then we only put the actual cost of the item not the cost of the whole package.

Good luck all.

[WhoShotJR]

.

I just wanted clarification on 1 thing: if we have a item that comes in a package of more than one, and we only use one, then we only put the actual cost of the item not the cost of the whole package.

I certainly hope so or would have to start over. I think if it's a common retail item like a three pack of socks and not a wholesale order of 10,000 units it should be fine.

[2now]

Yes, you must include the cost of a pack.

Thrift store/ surplus/ back to school discounts are all OK.
So yes add 10% per year to the price you actually paid. I just bought two decent packs at the local thrift store for $3, and $4.

These do not need to be new to generally reproducible.

Yes non wholesale lots of multiple units of the same item, just pay for the items you use in your BOB.
[1 pair of socks bought 3 pairs for $9 cost your entry only $3].

I would rather dock points from an overpriced entry than not see a $120 entry. That entry coudl still hold lots of good ideas.

But what if you HAD to set up your BOB [or help a friend] for $100.
What would you use for a pack?

[Browning 35]

Wow, I hope I'm not the only one.

C'mon guys, there was quite a bit of interest in this project to begin with and it doesn't really take that long to put it altogether.

I'm sure that there are quite a few people that could greatly improve on what little I managed to do.

[sheddi]

Wow, I hope I'm not the only one.

I've got a list o' stuff, but gtting it all together and taking photos is proving a bit trickier.

It's not that I don't own it, it's not even that I can't find it, it's that there isn't enough day left at the end of the chores.

[elkhills]

Okay, I was sent to the dollar store to get a cheap throwaway turkey pan, and I started wandering around. That place is awesome. 4 days worth of food and 2 turkey pans for $10! I'm back in this thing!

[Hachiman]

Just found the thread and have begun initial planning phase.

[Browning 35]

Okay, I was sent to the dollar store to get a cheap throwaway turkey pan, and I started wandering around. That place is awesome. 4 days worth of food and 2 turkey pans for $10! I'm back in this thing!

Told you....

[Hachiman]

Ok, my first stop was the salvation army.

The highest priced backpack was $6.99 and everything was 25% off today. So everyone needing a pack go to Salvation Army or Red Cross first, that way the money is going somewhere useful and not Walmart factories in Asia.

BTW, I picked up a Camelbak Mule for $2.99 before tax and a Swissgear Laptop shoulder bag for $4.99. Just to give you an idea of what was available.

[Jeffcee]

BTW, I picked up a Camelbak Mule for $2.99 before tax and a Swissgear Laptop shoulder bag for $4.99. Just to give you an idea of what was available.

What!! I was going to use a plastic grocery bag! You win.

[Hachiman]

BTW, I picked up a Camelbak Mule for $2.99 before tax and a Swissgear Laptop shoulder bag for $4.99. Just to give you an idea of what was available.

What!! I was going to use a plastic grocery bag! You win.

It didn't have a bladder (not that I would have used it) but the pack is more than serviceable. Get out there and look around!

Currently I still have a few items to pick up so I don't have to rob a different kit and have one item being shipped in from California. When it arrives I should be ready to post. Currently I'm up to $84.56 but I am going shopping for a multiplier and gloves this weekend. I'm trying to build a kit that I would feel confident handing off to someone and giving them a shot at 72hrs.

[2now]

Great find!

Now who was whining about how expensive bags are?

What else are you all getting stuck on?

[MrMendigo]

I'm in but let me get this right. If I can prove that I paid for it for this contest then I can use the price I paid right? So a goodwill back pack...ect...is counted at its available price, not the original MSRP + 10% per year right?

[Hachiman]

I'm in but let me get this right. If I can prove that I paid for it for this contest then I can use the price I paid right? So a goodwill back pack...ect...is counted at its available price, not the original MSRP + 10% per year right?

If I understood the rules correctly:

MSRP + 10% per year only applies to gear you already own.

Fair Market Value is applied to freebies or gifts you wish to incorporate.

New purchases are listed at what you actually paid for them before tax or shipping. If you think someone will question what you paid for it, get a receipt. I have the receipt for my $2.99 Camelbak and I will have a receipt for my multipliers if I can find a pair I like.

[2now]

Yes a goodwill backpack is counted as the price you paid.
However, If you bought it 3 years ago, you must at 30% to the price.

I consider Used items at a thrift store to be a repeatable item. Of course no one will find that exact item. But it is clear from these posts that a cash starved noob could have a pretty good chance of getting an OK BOB bag a goodwill for less than $10.

[WhoShotJR]

BTW, I picked up a Camelbak Mule for $2.99 before tax and a Swissgear Laptop shoulder bag for $4.99. Just to give you an idea of what was available.

What!! I was going to use a plastic grocery bag! You win.

It didn't have a bladder (not that I would have used it) but the pack is more than serviceable. Get out there and look around!

Currently I still have a few items to pick up so I don't have to rob a different kit and have one item being shipped in from California. When it arrives I should be ready to post. Currently I'm up to $84.56 but I am going shopping for a multiplier and gloves this weekend. I'm trying to build a kit that I would feel confident handing off to someone and giving them a shot at 72hrs.

You went from Just found the thread and have begun initial planning phase to an almost built BOB in 17 hours? You work fast, man.