Reddit mentions of M.V. Trading GS-1 Deluxe Butane Burner Stove with Free Case

First answer this - 'What are you prepping for?' Do you live in a hurricane/tornado prone area? Do you expect to be out of power/water for any length of time? Start by preparing for expected emergency like loss of power for a few days, and work your way up to the unexpected.

Prepping should also be about being frugal. There's no point in going out and buying stuff just to have it. It should be something you could/will use. Start off by picking several canned food items you normally eat and making note of how much they cost. Then, when they are on sale, buy several extra. Date them, and stash them away. Remember to rotate them into your pantry before buying more. If you do this, soon you'll have several days or weeks worth of food, for not much expense. Just be sure to check it like once a week and rotate/restock it. We were without power for 11 days during hurricane Ike, and having food handy (and a stove like this one ) REALLY made life much more comfortable.

Another biggie is water. Do you have a pool? You shouldn't drink it, but you could use that for washing and to flush the toilets. Storing water long term is a whole other topic, but do your homework and get several gallons. Same rule applies as the food - date and rotate.

Create a Zombie bag. And no, I don't mean in case of ACTUAL zombies (if you're worried about them, you have bigger issues). I mean a folder or bag with a copy of all your important docs (Driver license, credit cards - both sides, marriage/birth certs, SS, etc) Put 20-50 bucks in there each payday till you have enough to keep yourselves feed, hotel, gas, etc for several days. Also, you should have a copy of whatever account numbers with contact info, passwords, etc you might need to access bank accounts, etc while at a friends, hotel, or on the road. Of course, it should be somewhere SAFE!!!! but quickly accessible if you have to dash unexpectedly. Think what it would take to keep going or recreate your life if you lost everything in a fire. Don't assume you'll have your purse. Have a backup of everything.

Do you go camping? If not, try an overnight trip. Look at what you actually use, and what you bring and could do without. Surviving comfortable for a couple days will teach you a lot about what you should stock up on.

Don't know what you can pack yet this might help. I have several of them. Also look into camping cooking gear. It will be small, lightweight and easy to carry.

Go to a camping/outdoor store or a restaurant supply store and pick up a butane burner:

http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Butane-Burner-Stove-Free/dp/B000BVC4NY

It's what restaurants use for omelet stations. Works great.

Dude, you should get a propane hot plate so you can at least make some eggs or hotdogs and stuff like that.

I use a portable butane stove like this. Butane is not the best option (they make a propane version) especially at altitude but I have used it at 8500' and it still works. I use old pots and pans that I have had laying around.

These probably aren't BI4L, so flame away, but it's perfect for your situation:

http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Butane-Burner-Stove-Free/dp/B000BVC4NY

These are butane powered... You can find them local at restaurant supply places and oriental markets. They are very powerful but have good control to cook on. My office uses them in the cafe for making everything, and they look VERY well used. They are also apparently safe to use indoors without fancy ventilation, though I'm sure there are limits to far you'd want to take that.

Maybe not perfect for outdoor use since the flame isn't well protected, but it's cheap and will do the job you have at hand now very well.

I would buy local so you can test out the valve/igniter, the QC is iffy, some makes are better than others.