Posted on 04/05/2012 4:52:18 PM PDT by Kartographer
I keep hearing statements about how expensive it is to prep. Although it is not cheap it doesn’t have to be that expensive either. You do not need to stock 20 years worth of food to be properly prepared. As a matter of fact I would advise against it. Stockpiling a large food and water supply means you have to stay put and defend it. That may not be your best option in a lot of scenarios which means you would lose that investment. Do you think you really have enough ammo to defend a 20 year food supply for 20 years? The cost of that alone would be staggering.
One big mistake in prepping that most people make including me is waste when you first start out. Either buying the wrong things (toys and gimmicks) or finding out later as you become more experienced that a lot of the things you bought in the beginning you really do not need.
(Excerpt) Read more at preparednessblogs.com ...
” DOOMSDAY PREPPING – PLAN FIRST, BUY LATER “
One recurring problem I see in many of these threads is that many people mistake ‘event’ planning/prepping for DOOMSDAY planning/prepping...
Event planning concentrates on a specific event, ie. hurricane, tornado, earthquake, economic trouble, civil unrest, nuclear/biological threat (man-caused disaster or natural/accidental occurence) and other, more exotic and less probable events - and reflect ‘normalcy bias’, in that regardless of the event, order will be, in due course, restored and all will be as before...
DOOMDAY planning recognizes that all events have certain consequences in common, and assumes that those consequences will hold sway indefinitely..
DOOMSDAY preppers carry into our planning the vision of a world without ‘essential’ aspects that we have taken for granted - such as, electric power, motorized transportation, food deliveries, government activities (especially including effective law enforcement and firefighting), and long-distance communications.. (an admittedly partial list, but it covers some basics..)
It’s only after we have that vision firmly fixed in mind that we can start to do real planning and prepping, which, we soon find, means that food/fuel/essential goods storage, while a good first step, is only the beginning, and the next step is to identify the skills* (and the attitudes) we will need to acquire or hone in order to thrive in an essentially 18th century world....
Extreme?? Hopefully so - but if we’re prepped for the *real* end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it, then the ‘events’ will be pretty much taken in stride....
* A partial list of skills that should be useful —
-gardening/farming/hunting & fishing/animal husbandry (with emphasis on nutrition principles)...
-food preparation (including butchering meat animals) and preservation (using only wood for fuel and no refrigeration)
-water procurement and treatment
-basic carpentry, plumbing, and metalworking (with emphasis on hand tools and adapting materials at hand/scrounged/scavenged)
-first aid, herbal medicine, and home remedies
(and, as a sop to the Keyboard Kommandos)
-self-defense and weapons training.. (Actually a short-term prep, because in a true collapse, either the predators will be dead, or we will, in pretty short order..)
Do any of you Preppers dip your canned food in paraffin for storage? I just threw out a Costco case of tomato paste because I opened three cans and each one exploded as I cut into the lid. Wondering if paraffin would have helped. They were stored indoors in a controlled environment (my pantry).
From the time I was 7 until I was 14, I raised and slaughtered rabbits for money. Just don't ever name them. Because you eventually even eat the breeders.
Did it again about 10 years ago with New Zealands. Bought 2nd at show at the Ft. Worth Fat Stock Show for a breeding doe, and paid a price for it.
She had some great babies. 6 weeks from birth to pan.
A bad spot in the fence and a dog pack wiped that out.
/johnny
Hopefully one or two of them are still able to use a shovel. Once they get finished with disposing of their dead then we gonna have us Q&A session. Then those of us who were defending will have a fair trial. And those who were attacking will be found guilty and either exiled or hung/shot. (That is if we are truly in a SHTF all government gone type situation.)
That's when a good knife comes in handy...it saves on ammo. Once they've been questioned they are dispatched. No compassion...No remorse.
Good site, great info, K. Thanks!
Should one decide to choose option number one, ammo can be cheaper and quieter at that stage of the conflict.
Sig and others offer 22LR slide conversions for some of their .3x - .4x caliber semi auto handguns, enabling a quick change of caliber.
"Why not?"
"We never give something a name that we're going to eat later."
(Imagine my big-eyed look.) That conversation has always stuck with me.
LOL, well K, I'm really not sure about this issue -- just how much ammo would it take to defend a food supply for 20 years?
?” I just threw out a Costco case of tomato paste because I opened three cans and each one exploded as I cut into the lid “
I’ve had the same experience with tomato paste, and also tomato sauce and other canned tomato products.. Best I’ve been able to figure is that highly acidic canned products don’t store well, and I stay away from them...
If anyone has better information, I’m sure willing to listen and learn... ;)
You guys are heartless. All this talk about burying hundreds of bodies.
I mean really, what the heck are the zombies gonna eat if you go burying the bodies.
What would you do?
Give him a Band-Aid and say “Here, have some free healthcare. Courtesy of Obama.”
Its a good question. However if things are that bad I certainly won’t be bringing the enemy into my home, nor expending priceless materials to save them.
Perhaps you give them a trial on the spot and sentence them accordingly.
If someone approaches peacefully they get peace. If they approach in a hostile manner they’ll get a piece of lead going real fast.
Just do what I do when I shop.
I buy one or two extra of things or something extra I think might help.
Salt. Dirt cheap and not more than .50 cents per.
Seasonings. Again, Dirt Cheap and found at the dollar store.
Baking Soda. Way dirt cheap. Walmart sells big ole boxes of the sruff, and I mean big for $2.
canned meats, veggies, suops beans etc. Dollar store. Stock up.
I ate from my stash 3 times this week because I just didn’t feel like going to a restaurant.
Razors. I buy an extra box whenever I buy em and I have at least two years worth of razors just in the house. At the office maybe more.
Same thing with shaving cream and after shave skin balm. I use Neutreugena because it doesn’t have odors, works really well and the after shave balm has spf 30. I got tons of this stuff.
Qtip. Cheap, Cheap, Cheap and I have years worth.
bar soap. Love Dial and the dollar store sells em cheap. Maybe two years worth.
Shampoo. Neutragena again. I use Tgel shampoo and the conditioner. couple of years again.
Alcohol and H2O@. Cheap and I just pick up a little extra every once in a while.
Hint for H2O2. There aren’t many things that actually go bad on the “Use by Date” but h202 does, even if you store in a cool dark place.
I mark each bottle in permananent marker for the day I got it and then 3 years from that date.
I’ve tested H202 for efficacy for stuff I knew was three years old and sure enough, no fizz.
No fizz, no good.
Sunblock. Got such a good deal on Nuetragena Sport spf 50 a few years ago I probably have enough for 5 years if I used it during snowboard season and in the summer.
Then again, I am always buying the stuff so who knows how much I have.
Deodorant? I just buy two whenever I buy them and I don’t think I need any for at least two years. I use Dry Idea(sensitive underarms) and Rock Crystals.
Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Diarrheal and other medications? Same habit of buying. More than enough for years...If I used them every day, which I don’t.
Aloe Vera. I go to Whole Foods for this. I use some rather expensive stuff that can be used for hair gel, skin issues, etc. It is literally the best and it’s by “Aloe Life”. I think I have enough for two years but will get some more next week and again, I buy in two’s. This stuff ain’t cheap but in my opinion is the best. $15 for 8 ounces.
I also have several other bottles of Aloe Vera, so I’m good for a long time.
Got tons of Icy Hot, Tiger Balm, DMSO and Veterinary Strength Absorbine. Bought em all in two’s and I won’t need more if the STHTF.
Betadine? Check.
Iodine? Check.
The ability to purify, not filter but, purify water? Check and check.
I have two Lifesaver bottles with backup filters and prefilters for each. I can make pure water out of 6,000 gallons of yucky Katrina water.
I also have two Katadyns but they are mostly for hiking.
I chose the Lifesaver system because of it’s portability. It’s the size of a thermos and delivers pure water as fast I’m going to require for four people.
Of course, I’ll be using one at a time but if I need Pure H20 faster I can use two at a time.
Batteries. I have enough batteries to run my various LED Flashlights for months even with continuous use. I also have more rechargeable battire than I’ll ever need. So they will always be available.
I can charge 16 batteries at a time so I can keep up with just about anything and they are all charged.
I also understand when you need light and how much so I won’t just run the lights at full power in the event of an emergency, if I think it’s long term. At the lowest setting, just about any of my lights can run over 100 hours of continuous use. At the highest they run about 2 hours.
The output on any of them ranges from 120 lumens to 820 lumens. Most use the same battries AA so I don’t have to fuss with looking for batteries.
I have several that run AA and more than enough battries for them as well.
Knives? Got a jillion of them and my fav is just about anything by CRKT. I have 15-20 sharpeners and 5 or six stone systems.
Rope. Couple of thousand feet of rope. Maybe 1,000 feet of climbing rope and 3 climbing systems. 1,500 feet of paracord(only $34.95 for 1,000) from a company that is certified to deliver to DOD.
Carabiners? I have more than I need on three backpacks and I don’t know how many of those Nite Eyes carabiners I have but dang they come in handy when I need them.
Axes? Don’t axe me. I just picked up another two weeks ago and realized I already had two of the same one and some others.
Saws? Dunno? I thought I had two and wanted another for my other GOTO, that I THOUGHT, didn’t have one and another for my car.
BTW, they are SVENN Saws and a total must have. They are very, very, durable and realiable. Cut most anything and can be used by one person. I gues I have six of them after that buying mistake. I don’t do returns.
Food? Got plenty at home. Got more at the office and more in two different storages I would have anyway.
Ammo? Haven’t a clue. I just buy stuff and even for calibers I don’t shoot. Never know.
Gun cleaning kits> I just pick a little here and a little there. I have enough for a hunting party to clean everyone’s guns.
First Aid triage type? I have six GSW/Chest Wound kits of the type our guys use in the ME and the Secret Service carries. Made them myself for I think 1/2 what they usually cost pre-made. Made two for my brother as well.
Burn Kits? Maybe four? Lucky you if I happen to have one with me. I did save a person from 2nd if not 3rd degree burns with one of my kits a few years ago.
SAM Splints. 11. There was a sale on something I think I hit the wrong button. If you break something around me I can probably stabilize it.
Space pens. I don’t have any idea. Seems like every time I go to REI I get another one or two. Same with the write anywhere paper.
Compasses? I must have 15 or so. I always carry two on my bags and they are lanyarded to my shoulder strap. Nothing like getting lost because you can’t do even dead reckoning.
Coleman Shower bags? No clue but for $10 they carry 5 gallons and the footprint is perfect. The also have a handle.
Inner tubes for bikes and repair kits? Just a bunch of repair kits and 3 sets of inner tubes that have that seal a flat goo already in them.
I didn’t acquire all this overnight and I have always had the habit of buying two of most things. It took years and now takes nothing to keep replenishing.
Point is: It doesn’t have to break your bank account to prepare for life’s eventualities. Who knows? Maybe it will never happen to you but I have had enough things happen to me I just expect they will.
Another way of thinking about all this is maybe not prepping but rather Contingency Planning.
Having a contingent plan demonstrates you recognize stuff happens and happens all the time but, that you are prepared and understand you are responsible for you and your loved ones.
The 1st responder is always you.
If you are snowed in so is everyone else.
If you are in danger of a forest/brush fire so is everyone else.
If you in danger of a flood so is everyone else.
If you are in danger of an earthquake so is everyone else.
If you are in danger of a riot so is everyone else.
The point is “Why wouldn’t you set your life up so you are not in further danger by mobs who are in the same predicament?”
Why would you want to go to the grocery store when desperate people are there?
It takes just so very little to get yourself in a decent position to not interact with Golden Hordes.
Just buy a little extra here and a little extra there.
It's not like I'm big on volunteering for a burial detail. I have better things to be doing.
/johnny
I’m really curious how this would be dealt with. In most of the movies the attackers are all conveniently dead.
Leaving your defensive position would be a tactically poor decision to put down the remaining live ones do not waste valuable bullets on the soon to be dead. Forget rendering aid they came to kill you and your family let them bleed out where they lie. If they are attracting to much attention because of noise send a single executioner out under cover of snipers to bayonet them into silence. If any are still alive enough to get up and retreat use your high powered scoped rifle and make sure they never leave the battlefield lest they go back and recruit more "zombies" (the PC term I have grown fond of)to come back for retribution; make no mistake not a single enemy can leave the battlefield alive. When the shit goes down there will be only two types of people remaining those who have/will kill to survive, be that cold blooded or not and those who will be killed by the first group.
Not sure. If they ain’t to loud while they are lying there dying I’d probably let em be.
It theys noisy, it’d probably get on nerves real quick and by unsettling to my luv’d ones. Then I might pray for them, put them out of everyone’s misery and pray for them again.
Of course, unlike the movies, I’d round up anything they mightuh left behind.
Knives, guns ammo, whiskey(any alcohol) ropes, whatever.
Tomatoes and tomato sauce are high in acid which is in turn hard on the cans. Not sure dipping them would have done any good as the damage most likely was from the inside.
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