10 Essential Survival Items for Under $20

When the word “prepping” comes up, most people picture $5,000 solar arrays and underground bunkers packed with 20 years of freeze-dried military rations.

If you live in a city apartment, the truth is you don’t have the space or the budget for that. And frankly, you likely don’t need it.

Here are 10 extremely budget-friendly essentials you can buy today to dramatically increase your apartment’s resilience during a disaster.

1. Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Cost: ~$19.99

This tiny filter fits in the palm of your hand, attaches to standard disposable water bottles, and filters up to 100,000 gallons of water. If a water main breaks or a “boil water” advisory hits your city, this is your first line of defense.

2. Silcock Key (4-Way Water Key)

Cost: ~$8.00

If the water stops flowing to your apartment, where do you get more? Commercial buildings and apartment complexes have exterior water spigots, but they don’t have handles—they require a Silcock Key to open. This $8 piece of metal can give you endless running water during urban emergencies.

3. Emergency Mylar Blankets (4-Pack)

Cost: ~$7.00

If the power grid fails during winter (like the historic Texas freeze), your apartment will lose heat fast. Mylar blankets reflect 90% of your body heat back to you. Use them to block drafts on windows or cocoon yourself to stay warm without electricity.

The $50 Challenge

Try to buy at least one of these items a week. By the end of your second month, you’ll be fully equipped to handle 90% of local emergencies—without missing rent.