Getting Home In One Easy Step
A couple of months ago I wrote an article on how to live a minimalist life by being frugal with purchases and saving money at the same time. At that time I wrote about my first minimalist purse, a canvas backpack, and tips to save money on everything you buy. In this article I will cover some more ways to save money on things you use everyday.
A couple of years ago I purchased a cheap leatherman folding knife for my daughter’s camping needs. I figured that a $4 item would at least get her started, but she was impressed with the quality of the knife. So I decided to buy her a second knife to try out and found that she actually likes to carry her knife everywhere. I would recommend that you buy your girl a single multi-purpose knife like this one:
Carry the knife in your back pack. You should always have at least one knife in your backpack. The reason is simple. If you have to call your kid’s doctor complaining about a cut finger or scrape, your kid is probably going to have a worse day than you if she has to use the first aid kit in your backpack to treat the first aid problem. If you are going on an extended road trip, consider having two knives (or other multi-purpose tools) with you in your car to be prepared for roadside emergencies. One tool is sufficient for most road accidents, but two is better so that you can treat the wounds while the ambulance arrives.
Have at least one survival knife with you at all times, even if it’s a cheap one. It can come in handy if you find yourself stranded in a wilderness area with no way to get to a doctor. The survival knife is a good investment because it will allow you to save your life rather than having to use a paper bag filled with gauze and bandages. There are other ways to ensure you have the best of first aid kit available to you, however, and one of those ways is to carry a minimalist get home bag contents policy along with the knife.
Carry a water filter. A water filter is not necessarily considered a survival item, but it is better to be safe than sorry when you’re hiking through terrain that may have snakes. A water filter can help purify your drinking water, as well as keep water from running out too quickly. This is especially important when you encounter a situation where food may be scarce. A water filter is also a good investment if you want to be prepared for situations like this where you’ll have to stay hydrated by either boiling your own water or taking a drink from a stream or lake.
The last thing you need is another piece of equipment that weighs you down. A lot of heavier backpacks include an extra bottle pocket. This is fine if you only need one bottle in a survival situation, but a lightweight backpack allows you to carry the same amount of water and supplies in a lighter weight package that you’d carry in a heavier pack. A lightweight backpack has a number of compartments, so there’s plenty of room for your essentials, including the knife.
Don’t carry around town tools and supplies. You don’t need any fancy tools and supplies when you’re hiking through terrain that’s at least as challenging as city streets. It’s also a good idea to bring some of your own gear with you on your getaway – if possible, bring some of your camping gear along as well.
Don’t over-stuff your bag. Your minimalist pack needs to be light weight enough to carry, but it should also pack away neatly. The best backpackers pack in all the necessities and leave some space for other things, like phone, wallet, makeup, cell phone charger, flashlight, extra clothes, bug spray, toiletries, hiking shoes or boots, a first aid kit, etc. Don’t just get a huge bag, take everything you’ll need. If you’re a minimalist, you’ll find that a minimalist get home bag can be just as functional as any other bag – it just needs to be light weight and compact.
