Budget Crisis Preparedness Checklist: The Minimum for Under €100

The €100 Constraint: What It Forces You to Prioritize

This checklist is built around a hard constraint: €100 total. This forces ruthless prioritization of what actually matters in common emergencies (power outages, regional flooding, supply disruption) versus what looks impressive but has marginal value.

The result: the 80% of preparedness that matters, at the lowest possible cost.

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Free Prerequisites (Do These First)

These cost nothing but are more important than any purchase:

• NINA app installed (weather warnings, civil defense alerts)
• Family emergency plan on paper (meeting point, contacts)
• Local risk profile researched (flood zone? industrial area?)
• Existing supplies inventoried (what do you already have?)

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The €100 Shopping List

Water storage: ~€15

• 4x 5-liter refillable water containers from outdoor store: ~€15
• Fill with tap water; seal; store in cool, dark place
• Total: ~12L for one person (3-day minimum), scale up

Food: ~€40

This is 5-7 days of simple but nutritious food for two people:

• 2kg rice: €1.50
• 6 cans chickpeas or white beans: €4.50
• 6 cans diced tomatoes: €4.50
• 500g pasta: €0.80
• 4 cans tuna: €5.00
• 1kg rolled oats: €1.50
• 1 jar peanut butter: €3.00
• Salt, cumin, paprika: €4
• 1L cooking oil: €2
• Crackers/crispbread: €3

Subtotal food: ~€30

Manual can opener: €3-5

• Manual can opener (you will need this)

Camping stove + fuel: ~€25

• Basic butane camp stove: €15 (discounters, eBay)
• 4 butane cartridges: €10
• Cooking capacity for 4-5 days of simple meals

Lighting: ~€15

• 2x LED torches with spare batteries: €10
• 1 pack glow sticks: €3-5

Running total: ~€90-95

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What This Covers

With €100 invested and the free prerequisites completed:

Risk	Coverage
Power outage (1-3 days)	Fully covered
Power outage (1 week)	Mostly covered, with management
Regional supply disruption (1 week)	Covered for food and water
Evacuation (72 hours)	Basics covered (grab the stove, food, and water)
Winter heating failure	Partially covered (need to add warm clothing/blankets from existing supplies)

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What This Does NOT Cover

• Extended outages (2+ weeks): need more water storage and food
• Medical equipment that requires power: needs specific backup solution
• Winter heating: need non-electric heat source
• Go-bags with organized evacuation kits: this is food and water only

These are next steps. But starting with €100 puts you dramatically ahead of no preparation.

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Building Beyond €100

If you can spend €50 more:

• 20,000 mAh power bank (€35-40): keep phones charged for 3+ days
• Additional water containers (€15): extend to 1-week supply

If you can spend another €50:

• Battery-powered radio with hand crank (~€35): critical for emergencies
• More food to extend to 2-week supply

The first €100 provides the most value per euro. Each subsequent €100 adds meaningful but diminishing returns.