Prepping & Supplies for SHTF

I'm on a tight budget also and can get things here and there. When I buy food...I try to buy high caloric food,canned, eat it cold...no cooking. Smells draw attention. Really trying to stock up on feminin hygiene stuff. Powdered milk...it's pricey. Water,water,water...try to get some at every shopping excursion. You sound like you're on your way, though. Good start...better than no start. Now you can build on it a little at a time. Cheap vitamins. I've been wandering about those canisters of protein supplements that body builders use to gain weight. Something you just add water to. Don't care about flavor as much as I do the fuel. Oh yeah...lamp and lamp oil maybe. Boy I'm gonna stop now....I'm jumping all over the place and got my prepping juices flowing. About to go to bed to stare at the ceiling, running scenarios. Sorry for the babbling.

Thank you!

The best part was at the checkout counter. Lady looked at my cart, looked at me, and said "Is there something happening out there, because I just moved and don't have a TV so I don't get the news." I just shook my head and smiled.

That's an awesome list. Congrats on really putting some thought into it!

One thing, I see a lot of people include magnesium sticks (fire starters), steel wool and matches. Those are all great things to pack of course, but you might want to consider simply buying a few packs of Bic lighters and call it good. They are cheap, last a long time and take up little room :)

Also, the handheld rope saw...well, you may want to look into something else. I've used them before and there are neither quick or efficient. A good, solid hatchet will obviously take up more room, but its way more versatile and much quicker than a rope saw.

Speaking of "rope", you may want to toss some in your kit. With some rope, your plastic sheeting and a couple of trees, you'd have a pretty quick and efficient tent :)

I hope that you never need these items! But, good job!

You have to think of all the things you wished you would have if the SHTF. A simple one for many would be, do you have enough contacts or a second pair of eye glasses. You are a little light on food but each week you could build up as I hope we have more weeks to do it. Survival sites have many many dry food packages such as eggs, butter, pancake mix, soups, dinners etc. these dried foods last a long time. However, going to the grocery store and buying items does not hurt.
Try getting some sugar as that could always come in handy.
Brown rice stores longer than white rice.
Add a big bag of dried beans as Beans and rice make a complete protein and dried beans are cheap.
Buy a large jar of peanut butter and a big box of crackers.
Crisco could always come in handy for cooking.
Get some yeast and a large bag of brown flour. Then you could make bread.
Get a large bag of salt. Always useful for cooking and flavoring and making jersey or drying meat.
Spam is always good and stores for a long time.
Water, get more all the time, water is always needed, then get more.
Get bouillon cubes, helpful in making soups.
Get spices, they always work good to hid flavored when you are eating things that just are not that good.
Pack a bag of candy bars. They will be needed and respected.
Kool aid too is great to flavor water and makes things a little better than without.

On other items, make sure you have plenty of matches. Get some quick starter materials such as steel wool too.
Storage container for more water.
Also, a second can opener for when the first breaks.
Get a good set of knives capable of being sued to cut meat and break bones if butchering.
A small gas stove and some gas canisters.
Extra extra candles for dark nights.
A small radio to see if the world still exists.
A good gun and ammo.
Seeds for planting a garden if you survive winter. Extra seeds for trading.
Wool hats and gloves.
Plenty of toilet paper.

This is all just a start.

I drop a lot of ,only today and had many stares. I thought to myself, suckers, go ahead and act ignorant but who is going to take care of you when times go bad.

I then bought 400 feet of nylon cord. Very useful for many things and especially for sending a canister down the well to get clean water if no electricity. The cashier and others looked and the cashier said, you do a lot of mapping or climbing? I said both and merely said there are many things you can do with this rope. Deep in my mind, I felt bad for others as the news is not very promising as to what we could face.

The oils in brown rice breaks down rather quickly, causing the rice to go rancid.I had this happen to my brown rice.You can not eat it once its rancid no matter what you do to it.For long term storage only get white rice.

I've never considered myself a prepper, but with all the potential doom happening in the world, I'm trying to start. At least get something useful put together. I know its kinda late in the game to start a collective project like this, but I'm on a small budget, so looking to see what type of items would be the utmost essential. I literally bought all of the below tonight, and plan to make another trip tomorrow to get other items, just not sure what else. Only managed to spend $98 on the supplies and $60 on the food which didn't seem too bad.

I know I'll still need a bottle of bleach, antiseptic & burn ointment, and some protein bars....but I'm just thinking off the top of my head here.

What items should I add to what I already have?

Current supplies

Tools & Medical
Large toolbox, which contains the following:
20'x50' plastic sheeting (for sealing doors & windows)
Large roll of Duct Tape
4 bottles of water purification tablets
50' black nylon paracord
3 boxes sterile gauze pads
2 boxes Bandaids
2 boxes Alcohol pads
3 ace bandage wraps
Bottle of rubbing alcohol
Bottle of hydrogen peroxide
1 large pack of fine texture steel wool (for starting fires)
4 boxes waterproof matches
Large magnesium fire starter

Serious hiking shoes/boots. Break em in good.
If if it floods-floation device
High visability vest-for rescue

Great information. I knew it was one over the other. Good thing I have both.

Add

4 lifestraws

Last Edited by Ujurak on 08/26/2013 12:18 AM

You did great, and I see you have some good responses. Someone else said herbs and spices, I would second that, and tea. Vitamins too.

It's been good for me buying herbs and spices and tea in bulk by the pound at San Francisco Herb Co. [link to www.sfherb.com] I recommend them highly for quality, service and price.

My first round of establishing a pantry I got potato flakes too. I found they did not keep very well so maybe plan to use them and rotate them.

Other useful thing would be a 24 pack of protein shakes or two, make sure high calorie. You could survive pretty well in the short term consuming one of these shakes a day and then just skimping on the rest of the caloric intake.

Thread: poor man food storage

This guy is right on don't worry bout buy in the freeze stayed food on TV also nobody will know u have this best thread ever right here and on glp

Don't forget some inedible gold and silver!

Also, alcohol is a good trade item.

stock up on cheap booze, also good to clean wounds if necessary

fish antibiotics

^^^^THIS^^^^ Person is on the right track....

You have a great list going, but remember to include multi-use items. Feminine napkins make GREAT bandages for large wounds.
Water is hard to carry (If you want to be mobile) so purifications systems are preferred.

Also, Have you actually tried to utilize some of those things in your B.O.B.? (Like the saw or Magnesium fire starter, Etc....)

Nothing worse than trying something new under stress... Seriously. If you can afford it, buy extra of some of the things you have not tried and play with them a bit. Get comfortable with them... Go collect water from a mud puddle some night, purify it and cook dinner with it. Try to light a fire with your firestarters...

You have a great list going, but you should make sure that you practice using some of the esoteric things that you have collected in situations where it doesn't count as much as it would for real.

Just my two cents.

Haha...yeah there are a few unopened bottles of wine, brandy, tequila, rum & vodka in the kitchen. Saved them for a New Years party but it fell through, and I never felt like drinking them. :)

Clean Water is the most important.....always remember that.

Rule #1. If you can't carry it with you, it's getting left behind.
People tend to go overboard and build a kit that ends up weighing 300 lbs. You're not going far with that.

Rule #2: If it doesn't serve more than one purpose, it doesn't belong in the bag, unless that purpose is REALLY important.

Some pro tips:

Forget the car. The freeways will be jammed and unusable, and even if you could use them, they will be a target and filled with government agents. Lighten the load by getting rid of the car-related objects like jumper cables and jack.

You don't need 5 changes of clothing. What you need is a good sturdy set, think hunting style clothing or military style, field jacket, work gloves, some good boots (not sneakers), and a few changes of underwear & socks.

The rest of your list looks pretty good, but keep in mind, things like Kleenix and hairbrushes are luxury items. You do not need them to survive.

Get yourself a clean dry coffee can (plastic is fine too) and fill it with dryer lint. This will make starting fire with your magnesium starter much easier.

Get a quality knife. This should be #1 on your list. Not the Rambo style ones with all the crap tucked inside, fish hooks, compass, matches, etc... you want a solid combat knife like SOG.

Get a handful of carabiners. These things are a lifesaver when you need one.

Zip ties. Also a lifesaver.

Poncho. Being wet sucks.

Hand crank radio. You can get hand crank flashlights now that have a radio built in.

That's pretty much the basics... adjust as necessary.

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food
grade if for drinking.
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
100 Items to Disappear First [link to www.thepowerhour.com]
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42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
100 Items to Disappear First [link to www.thepowerhour.com]
2 of 3 6/28/2009 22:18
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens

Good two cents.

I should note, my bugout is my home. I have the luxury of being in a rural area but close to a city. My concern is protecting my inventory and family as the city dwellers come in zombie mode my direction hoping to get food and shelter away from others. If others already are at their bugout place, it is wise to make your home look like it was already trashed when the shot hits the fan. Burned vehicle in front, items Tossed onto the lawn, b
Wood over windows, scary paint, already looted next one will be shot etc. it could stop someone from targeting your home. Also, get a neighborhood posse together. The more to assist one another the better!

I guess you will want some plasma, a refrigerator and solar or a generator, maybe a silk lined coffin.

Friend...you did not even mention potable water. This IS so important.

I didn't mention water because water is heavy. You can't carry more than a canteen with you. You need Lifestraws, or you start a fire where you are and boil it.

It sounds like you're planning to 'shelter in place'. My advice is to really pay attention to the things you use everyday, right now, and think about what you would need if those conveniences disappeared...water on tap, electricity, sewage/trash, gas for cooking, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations.....you get the idea. Now, bugging out is a whole other ball park.

Flip the main power breaker to your house and stay home for a week. You'll come up with a pretty good list of items.

Start with a Bug Out Bag, but prepare for many scenarios....cuz its all dependent on the kind of S that HTF....you may have to "stay and play" or "load and go"....

For instance, I have a BOB and supplies to stay and play at my city home for 4 months....cuz I don't think a city is sustainable any longer than that....and a 2 years plan at my country home for a REAL NO BS scenario....

I unfortunately do not have that "Luxury" as you so succinctly put it.... I don't live in a Big city per-se, but big enough and pretty close to big ones. So, my plan hinges off a 2-3 week window of opportunity after a major event (CBRNE, Carrington, "Mega-Quake", Etc...)

As fucked as it is, I have no illusions about protecting my homestead and standing my ground in the eventuality of the zombie-hordes who will come looking for re-supplies and food. There is nothing here to defend or protect. No fresh water source, no renewable resources, no farms or produce. Therefore I have secured land and peoples to band together with, (as many of my true friends are in similar situations)

Each person's situation is unique and has it's own obstacles. There is no "All inclusive list" to go by. What I have taught in my classes is truly a "personal preparedness" approach. (Understand the needs of your situation. Do you have a family or are you alone, What skills do you possess to keep yourself or your family alive) and what plans are in place to make that a reality.

You have GREAT ideas about making yourself an unattractive target. I would only suggest that you have a plan-B (And, maybe you already have one... Pardon my presumption) A lot of "preppers" don't go this far.