The smallest of items becomes the most important one if you don't have it. I am on a self imposed lockdown due to H1N1 deaths in this county, so I am living on stored food. I made tuna salad yesterday evening and there was no pickle relish in the fridge. I thought there was some in the pantry, but no, there was not. I looked everywhere, no relish, then went back to the pantry and unloaded items until I could see every can and bottle - there was one smallish size sweet pickle relish. Aha! now, I could have tuna salad.
But, that one bottle won't last long at all. How did I miss not getting bottles of that?
The point is, whatever you don't have and you want, will be the most important item to have and that will happen over and over.
In an emergency situation, I couldn't turn gold into relish but that is not why it's good to have some silver and gold - anything you have will be useful at some time. I agree with Kart, one needs to have shelter, water, food, light, medicine, safety and other major needs before one stores silver and gold unless one has so much money, all can be done at the same time. Nothing is either, or. Do both if you can but be sure to have the basics of life.
Right now, I'd give $5 for a bottle of sweet pickle relish so I wouldn't have to leave my house. Once the remainder of that bottle I have is used, I have no pickle relish. Darn.
/johnny
I love backups.
But you are right, what you want is what you will not have which is why doing test runs is vital. Hydrocortisone cream and gold bond powder are now part of my kit because of such a test run.
Order some from Walmart.com? You can probably buy a whole case.
Do you by any chance have some pickles, or even pickled green beans? Even canned green beans could be minced and combined with the appropriate seasonings to make a sweet pickled bean relish to use as a substitue.
Stay safe, and stay indoors.