Based on stories/lessons learned from your colleagues and co-workers

Budget-Conscious Preparedness

End-of-summer sales offer budget-conscious preparedness shoppers many great opportunities...

Camping stores offer items such as tents, mosquito netting and light-weight, quick-dry clothes, often at deeply discounted prices. Look for end-of-summer sales, carry your preparedness supply lists and be ready to bargain your way to a well-stocked preparedness supply cache!

From firstvictims.org

Many large chains (Wal-Mart, Kmart, Dicks Sporting Goods, Eastern Mountain Sports) also carry the freeze-dried pouch packets of food - everything from "stew" to "ice-cream" - good to have on hand for emergencies as they're lightweight and take up very little space.