Building a basic paranormal investigation kit from scratch - what do you actually need?

I'm about to do my first formal ghost hunt with a local group and I want to arrive with decent kit rather than just borrowing everything. I've got maybe £150-200 to spend and I want to build a solid basic kit that'll work for most investigations.

Rather than buying some expensive paranormal investigation 'package' (which seems like a con), I'd rather assemble individual pieces of equipment that actually do what they claim.

So: what would you include in an absolute basic but functional kit? And where would you prioritize spending money vs. saving it?

For £150-200, here's what I'd suggest: digital voice recorder (£30), basic EMF meter (£30), thermal camera (these are cheaper now, around £60-80), and a good torch (£20). That's the foundation. Everything else is supplement. Spend the money on the thermal camera because that's the one piece that genuinely shows stuff invisible to your eyes.

I'd add a notebook and pen to that list (sounds stupid but it's crucial), a mobile with a reliable recording app, and maybe a basic motion sensor (around £15 from Argos). You don't need fancy equipment - you need tools that help you observe systematically and document carefully.

thermal camera (these are cheaper now, around £60-80)

Don't bother with fancy temperature gauges or spirit boxes yet. Start with the basics above. Learn how to use those properly first. Too many people buy loads of equipment and don't actually understand what any of it does.

This is good advice. Also: decent boots, a rucksack, spare batteries (SO important), and a first aid kit. The non-technical stuff is just as important as the equipment. You'll be in the dark, outdoors, possibly on uneven ground. Safety first, investigation second.