Budget estimator
How much does it cost to get prepared? Calculate how much to invest in your preparedness. Start with the basics and expand according to your needs and budget.
Basic
Intermediate
Advanced
Basic total budget
€80 - €150
72-hour preparedness, family of 4
Water in large bottles (4x 5L)
€8 - €15
Non-perishable food (canned goods, pasta, rice, biscuits)
€25 - €40
LED torch + AA/AAA batteries (pack)
€8 - €15
Candles (pack of 20-30) + matchbox
€3 - €5
Basic first aid kit
€10 - €20
Battery-powered FM/AM radio
€10 - €20
Power bank 10,000mAh
€12 - €20
Emergency thermal blankets (pack of 4)
€4 - €8
Emergency whistle + 10m rope
€3 - €5
Intermediate total budget
€300 - €600
1-2 week preparedness, extended autonomy
Everything from the basic level
€80 - €150
Portable power station 300-500Wh (Bluetti, EcoFlow, Jackery)
€200 - €400
Portable gas stove + 6 butane refills
€25 - €40
Portable water filter (LifeStraw, Sawyer)
€25 - €40
2-week food reserve
€60 - €100
Complete first aid kit + prescription medications
€30 - €50
Carbon monoxide detector
€20 - €30
Surge protector strips (2-3 units)
€15 - €30
Advanced total budget
€1200 - €3000+
1 month+ preparedness, full autonomy
Everything from the intermediate level
€300 - €600
Inverter generator 2200-3500W (Honda, Hyundai, Briggs)
€500 - €1200
Portable solar panel 100-200W
€150 - €300
Fuel (20-30L) + stabiliser
€40 - €60
1-month food reserve (4 people)
€150 - €250
CB radio or PMR446 (2 units)
€40 - €80
Chainsaw/tools (tree removal, repairs)
€100 - €250
Family tent + sleeping bags (if home is uninhabitable)
€80 - €150
Tip: buy gradually
You don't need to buy everything at once. Spread your purchases over 2-3 months:
- Month 1: Water, food, torches, batteries, radio (€40-60)
- Month 2: First aid kit, power bank, candles, blankets (€30-50)
- Month 3: Power station or generator, portable stove, extras (€200-500)
Prioritise: water → food → light → communication → power.
Shopping list by store
Organise your purchases by store to save time and trips.
Supermarket
Continente, Pingo Doce, Auchan, Lidl, Intermarche
- Water in 5L bottles
- Canned goods (tuna, beans, chickpeas, tomatoes)
- Pasta, rice, biscuits
- UHT milk, coffee, sugar
- AA/AAA batteries
- Candles, matches
- Heavy-duty bin bags
- Toilet paper, wet wipes
- Detergent, bleach
Decathlon
- Backpack 40-60L (€30-80)
- Sleeping bag (€20-60)
- Portable gas stove + refills (€20-40)
- Camping kit (cutlery, plates, pots)
- Head torch (€10-25)
- Portable water filter (€25-40)
- Emergency thermal blanket (€2-5)
- Emergency whistle (€2-5)
- Rope/paracord (€5-15)
- Family tent (€60-200)
Leroy Merlin / AKI
- Inverter generator (€500-1200)
- Extension leads 10-20m (€10-30)
- Surge protector strips (€15-30)
- Carbon monoxide detector (€20-30)
- Smoke detector (€8-15)
- 2kg dry powder fire extinguisher (€15-25)
- Fire blanket (€10-15)
- LED torches (€8-20)
- Fuel cans 10-20L (€15-30)
- Sandbags (€2-5)
Pharmacy
- First aid kit (€15-30)
- Prescription medications (1-month stock)
- Paracetamol, ibuprofen
- Anti-diarrhoeal medication, oral rehydration salts
- Antiseptic, gauze pads
- Bandages, plasters
- Scissors, tweezers
- Thermometer
- Sunscreen, insect repellent
Worten / Media Markt
- Power bank 10-20,000mAh (€15-40)
- Battery-powered radio (€10-30)
- Rechargeable torches (€15-40)
- Rechargeable batteries + charger (€20-40)
- Extra USB cables (€5-15)
- Small solar charger (€20-50)
Online (Amazon.es)
- Portable power station 300-1000Wh (€200-800)
- Portable solar panel 100-200W (€150-300)
- Multi-function dynamo radio (€25-50)
- LifeStraw/Sawyer water filter (€25-40)
- PMR446 radio (€20-80/pair)
- CB 27MHz radio (€40-150)
- Tactical backpack (€40-100)
- Multi-tool kit (€30-80)
Take advantage of sales
Many of these products go on sale regularly:
- Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Electronics, power banks, power stations
- January/July sales: Backpacks, sleeping bags, thermal clothing (Decathlon)
- Weekly flyers: Water, canned goods, batteries (Lidl, Auchan)
- Amazon Prime Day: Generators, solar panels, water filters