When the power goes out during a winter storm or a summer hurricane, the costs start piling up immediately.
The food in your refrigerator starts rotting after just 4 hours ($100+ in wasted groceries). Your phone battery dies, cutting you off from emergency updates. If the blackout lasts days, you might be forced to check into an expensive hotel, costing you $150 a night.
Extreme weather is becoming the new normal, but buying a loud, gas-guzzling generator isn’t the only option. Here are 3 smart ways to survive a blackout without draining your bank account:
1. The Fridge Time-Trial A full freezer can hold its temperature for about 48 hours if the door stays closed. A half-full freezer only lasts 24 hours. The fridge compartment? Only 4 hours.
- The Free Hack: The second the power goes out, pack your most important fridge items (milk, meat, cheese) into the freezer. Then, stuff any empty spaces in the freezer with crumpled newspaper or towels to reduce air circulation. Do not open the door to check on it. Every time you peek, you let cold air out and speed up the rotting process.
2. Stop Buying Candles and AA Batteries When the lights go out, people rush to buy expensive scented candles and packs of D-cell batteries for flashlights. This is an ongoing, recurring expense that provides very little light.
- The Fix: Invest in a few high-quality solar-powered lanterns or rechargeable LED bulbs. You charge them once when the power is on, and they provide bright, safe light for 12+ hours when the grid goes down. No fire hazard, no batteries to buy.
3. Ditch the Gas Generator, Buy a Power Station Traditional gas generators are loud, heavy, require storing dangerous gasoline, and emit deadly carbon monoxide (meaning they must stay outside in the rain).
- The Smart Move: A Portable Power Station is essentially a giant, quiet battery. You charge it in the wall before the storm, and when the power dies, you plug your fridge, phones, or medical devices directly into it indoors. No gas, no noise, no toxic fumes. It’s the safest, most modern way to keep your essentials running without spending $500+ on a gas generator. (If you want to see which power stations have enough juice to keep a fridge cold, check out our review of the best portable power stations for home emergencies!)
The Bottom Line Don’t let a blackout eat your groceries or force you into an expensive hotel. Prepare smartly, keep the fridge closed, and invest in a battery backup to ride out the storm in comfort.