What to do with your first $100

You don't need a garage full of buckets to be prepared. If you have $100, you can cover the basics for about a week for a family of four.

Spend it in this order

1. Water. A case of gallon jugs, then fill your own containers from the tap for free.
2. Food your family already eats. Peanut butter, crackers, canned chicken and tuna, canned beans and fruit. Nothing that needs cooking.
3. Light. If you don't own a flashlight for every person, get them before more food.

My Store Shopping Lists break this down item by item for Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco and Dollar Tree. Pick the store you can get to and your budget, and buy what's on the list.

Then next payday, do a little more. That's how everyone builds a pantry.