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The Investing World In 10 Objects
What do an old German bank note, a current $100 bill, and an apple all have in common? The answer, according to ConvergEx's Nick Colas, is that these simple objects can tell us much about the current investment scene, ranging from Europe’s economic challenges to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s attempts to reduce unemployment. Colas takes an “object-ive” approach to analyzing the current investment landscape by describing 10 common items and how they shape our perceptions of reality. The other objects on our list: a hazmat suit, a house in Orlando, a barrel of oil, a Rolex watch, a butterfly, a heating radiator in Berlin, and a smartphone.
Via ConvergEx's Nick Colas,
Imagine a radio program about the 100 most significant pieces in the British Museum. At first blush, this would seem to be a stupendously bad idea. Art is visual, after all, and radio is about the least visual medium out there. Still, the BBC did such a series a few years ago and the overwhelming success of the program led to a book titled, predictably enough “The History of the World in 100 Objects” that went on to be a New York Times bestseller.
The idea works, even in radio format, because it simplifies large swaths of human history into identifiable works created by real people down through time. You might know very little about the situation in China 1000 years ago, but a statue or painting from the period allows you to relate to a community of actual human beings who lived, loved, worshipped and died there. Not just the world, but history itself, gets smaller and more approachable when viewed through this lens.
We can do the same with the world of investing and economic analysis, distilling many complex topics to their essential core. For the sake of brevity, let’s take 10 – rather than the 100 from the BBC series and book – and see how far we get. Here’s our take on a list:
1. A Hazmat suit. Certainly the object-du-jour with worries over Ebola, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs in the health care trade) is actually several layers of gear designed to eliminate the chance of disease transmission. They are hot to work in and require extensive training to use properly. The suits need to be donned in a certain way and fully decontaminated afterwards. Any slip up in the process means potential exposure.
To investors and anyone else watching the news, the appearance of an individual in a hazmat suite symbolizes risk and fear of the unknown. The fact that healthcare workers in Dallas contracted Ebola despite their use also highlights the failings of the U.S. health care system in addressing the disease. Reporting on Ebola in the last few days has become more reassuring about the small chances of a large scale epidemic, but the fear remains.
2. A House in Orlando. There have been boom-bust cycles in Florida residential real estate since the 1920s, but the housing bubble of the mid 2000s certainly touched the greatest number of people. In July 2006, the average house in the Florida city went for $236,000, according to Zillow. By December 2010, that number was $95,000. Anyone who had put the standard 20% down at the peak was in the hole by over $100,000 on their equity. Values have now risen to $134,000 for the typical Orlando house, but are obviously well below their peak and not even back to the $154,000 average from 2004.
The U.S. housing bubble of the mid 2000s casts a number of shadows beyond consumer spending in America. First, it made investors and regulators acutely aware than such speculative excess can be obvious – and avoidable – even when it is still in full force. Whether they learn anything from that is another matter. It also made investors keenly aware of “Bubbles” as a construct and there is an active cottage industry in calling them out wherever they may (or may not) exist. Lastly, the U.S. housing bubble was just the latest proof that even in a technology-enabled 21st century world, human nature hasn’t changed a drop since tulip bulbs were the next “Big Thing”.
3. An apple. The Fall of 1930 in America brought two things: a full dose of the Great Depression and a bumper crop of Washington State apples. Those two features of the landscape joined forces in New York City, where unemployed men sold cheap surplus apples at 5 cents apiece as a means of making ends meet. The image is one of the most durable symbols of the hardships of the age.
This period in American history has cast a long shadow on economic policy. You can trace the Federal Reserve’s extraordinary bond buying programs directly to the humble apple through Ben Bernanke’s acknowledgement – in 2002 – that the Federal Reserve had been wrong to contract the supply of money during the Great Depression. That observation assured that when the time came, the Fed would go in the other direction with ultra-low interest rates and quantitative easing.
4. A German banknote from the early 1920s. If the apple is a powerful symbol in America of the ravages of the Great Depression, then the German Papiermark – the nation’s currency from 1914 to 1924 – holds the same position for that country. Germany was saddled with essentially impossible reparations payments after World War I, and tried to print their way out of the problem in the early 1920s. This led to hyperinflation, economic collapse, and – at least tangentially – the rise of National Socialism.
This national history with rampant inflation informs the German perspective on monetary policy to this day. In the decades before the adoption of the euro, the German Bundesbank was a famously tight-fisted operation, leading to a post-War economic revival unparalleled on the Continent. Now, its history with hyperinflation (horrible) and cautious monetary policy (excellent) informs its approach to solving the threat of deflation in Europe. In short, it will be very hard to convince Germany that a U.S. – style large-scale bond buying program is a good idea.
5. A barrel of oil. There are 42 gallons in a barrel of oil, a figure that originally dates back to 1860s America and the first wells in Pennsylvania. Producers took a standard 40 gallon whiskey barrel, a common container of the age and region, and added 2 gallons to inspire confidence in buyers that they were getting their money’s worth. Fast forward to today, and according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration the world currently consumes 92 million barrels per day.
Prices for crude oil have been falling precipitously, from $104 in late May to $83 on Friday. Market watchers view that decline with alarm for two reasons. The first is that oil demand is a good proxy for global economic growth, given the commodity’s ubiquity in both energy, chemical and plastics production. The second is that the drop creates concerns over global deflation. While lower energy prices may create a tailwind for consumers’ wallets going into the Holiday shopping season, their decline also stokes concerns over a recession in Europe, a cooling Chinese economy, and the durability of the recovery in America. Those old whiskey barrels mean a lot…
6. A Rolex watch. A new Rolex Submariner, made famous by movie icon Steve McQueen, will set you back about $7,000. A Timex Ironman (Presidents Bush and Clinton wore them, for what its worth) will set you back about $35 on Amazon, and keep better time than the Rolex with far less maintenance.
Why would you spend more for a product that does less? Because you can, and you want everyone to know that. That makes the Rolex a convenient hook upon which to hang one of the decades most discussed topics: income inequality. This is far from a fringe topic, as Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s Friday speech highlights. How her perspective – sympathetic to the problem but troubled by what practical solutions exist – might inform Fed policy in coming years is hard to know, but it clearly weighs on her mind.
7. A butterfly. American mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz once famous asked, “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” It was an elegant example of a basic notion: in an interconnected world, small changes can have outsized – and unpredictable - effects.
The Financial Crisis probably started with a late mortgage payment on a house in Phoenix or Las Vegas – the butterfly flapping its wings that eventually caused the tornado on Wall Street and beyond. We now live in the aftermath of that storm, and struggle to make the global financial system more robust. Banks must have more reserve capital now. Money market funds now have liquidity fees and redemption gates for institutional shareholders. Financial institutions need “Living wills”. Does the butterfly care? Probably not.
8. A U.S. $100 bill. Think the world is going exclusively online when it comes to payment systems? Think again. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, part of the Treasury Department, launched a new $100 bill last October and it has been a runaway success. To date in Fiscal 2014, the BEP has printed over 600 million notes, worth +$60 billion. In the two prior fiscal years, Treasury printed over 7 billion $100 bills, worth +$700 billion. According to the Federal Reserve, most of these bills circulate overseas.
The humble “Benjamin” is a good touchstone for the concept of a “Reserve currency” – a globally accepted means of exchange. Since the end of World War II, that has been the U.S. dollar. If you wanted to buy gold or oil, you generally needed dollars. This is changing now, as different countries try to reduce their dependence on the greenback. China is trading with EU countries directly, with newly established euro/yuan convertibility. Russia sells oil and gas to China, taking yuan rather than dollars. How this will change global demand for U.S. Treasuries or the dollar itself, it is too early to tell. One point worth mentioning, however: the largest Chinese banknote is 100 yuan. Worth about $16.
9. A heating radiator in Berlin. According to a recent article in Deutsche Welle, Germany’s national media company, more than 70% of the country’s energy supply depends on imports. Russia alone accounts for a quarter of the country’s coal, oil and gas imports.
The key question is, of course, how will this shape Germany – and therefore Europe’s – response to the Ukraine crisis? While ISIS and Ebola have dominated the headlines in recent weeks, Russia’s involvement in the Ukrainian civil war is an important and unresolved issue. Winter is coming, and with the cold Russia’s political leverage increases exponentially. Germany is already teetering on recession without an energy crisis. How this conflict shapes headlines in the coming months could do much to either roil – or calm – capital markets.
10. A smartphone. We will finish on an upbeat note – the role of technology in society. Since the dawn of the Internet, users needed a personal computer to go online. Various efforts to bring low-cost PCs to the emerging market never really caught on, leaving most countries seriously behind the adoption curve. Now, Gartner Group expects 71% of all global phone shipments to be Internet-enabled smartphone. The affordable PC is finally here, and it makes phone calls too.
The implications for personal freedom, commerce and social advancement are profound. Communication is cheaper with free services like WhatsApp, the texting service recently acquired by Facebook. Online price discovery and shopping bring information and choice to billions of consumers and small businesses. Myriad chat services enable everything from social connection to political dissent. The smartphone is certainly the one object that will make the most difference over the next decade to the greatest number of the world’s population.
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160 acres of Missouri Farmland.....
ENDURING value.
Listen.
Americans have to "ENDURE" freedom until Greater Israel is built. Then time to discard the sheep.
GO!
Listen.
The truth is hard to swallow. You will find out soon enough.
The extra 2 gallons in a barrel were because certain fractions of the oil actually evaporated during transit and this was to ensure at least 40 gallons made it to the destination.
Regards,
Cooter
Good catch, Cooter.
The bargain in that list is a fake rolex. It will get you as much pussy as a Mercede Benz, with hardly any maintenance.
LISTEN...
i usually dont JUNK
but in your case, i wish i had TYLER's 'ATOMIC JUNK BUTTON" on my keyboard, because i'd FUKASHEMA your ass right now!
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS!
Those thumbs up for you BE are an indication the Zionist Shills are indeed a lurking force, here at ZH.
slightly off topic - but who can give a good, concise summary of why the US entered WW One?
Seems to me that there has never been a satisfactory answer, given Wilson's campaign platform and the mood of the American public, nor has there been an answer as to why Germany [which did not start the war] was so saddled with insane "reparations" and territorial loss guaranteed, like the arbitrary mapping of Africa and the ME, to cause later strife.
Who can do better than wiki? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_entry_into_World_War_I
Maybe if we had had a president other than a college professor the Lusitania would not have been enough of a spark. Threats with U-boats could also be considered enough. However, you pose a good question. Banking no doubt had a lot to do with it. Did the Rothschilds have a friend in Rockefeller? Probably.
Cultural confusion? Propaganda?
Odd though, since the U.S. had been invaded by Britain 100 years before. Culturally though, England was still the homeland. Support of France because they had helped us in the War of Independence. Those of U.K. descent wanting to support the homeland (Irish included). German immigrants probably afraid to argue and not show allegiance to their new homeland the U.S., and perhaps the same reaction from other Europeans.
The industrialists stood to profit and were in control of a lot of money and power, so if they started a propaganda campaign to "Stop the Hun" one would have appeared "un-patriotic" to not join the bandwagon (eg. - current "war on terror"). The same dynamic persisted into WWII, and although there were many that resisted - once Japan hit Pearl Harbor the war drums won out - the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915 an equivalent event.
By the start of WW1 the majority of the US populace was of German descent, not English.
You kids need to read more.
Both WW's were about breaking the American people from their cultural homelands. Wars are 100% physchological.
+1 further, the British invasion of 1812 had a little reason behind it: the US wanted to grab... Canada. And the Pommies burnt the White House to give a little message. I presume this is not the way it's explained to kids in school, in the US, but yes, in a nutshell, this is what it was about. Again, wiki has a good article on that:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812#American_expansionism
read between the lines, and pause and reflect for a moment on this sentence:
"Annexation was supported by American businessmen who wanted to gain control of Great Lakes trade."
Unrestricted u-boat warfare plus the intercepted communication between Germany and Mexico is the official story, but we were supplying Germany's enemies with war materials. You know that in a global conflagration today, we'd sure as shit go after enemy shipping, even if it was from a neutral party. With or without US involvement, that whole fucking war was stupid.
zimmerman telegram. lusitania were the gobble up the propaganda answers on the test. along with the mutual defense treaties that dominoed all of europe into it.
Woodrow Wilson was a tool of the bankers (16th Amendment, 17th Amendment , Federal Reserve Act).
Bankers make a lot of money on war, especially when they control the currency.
The New York Bankers funded the Soviet Revolution and pillaged Russia.
All common sense tells you that they had to have a heavy hand in getting us mixed up in WWI.
Ask and ye shall receive:
World War I as Fulfillment: Power and the Intellectuals* by Murray Rothbard <--PDF FILE
"Investment bankers profit by encouraging debt. Rothbard maintains that investment bankers are especially likely to form alliances with the government; hence their activities must be viewed with the greatest suspicion.
'Investment bankers do much of their business underwriting
government bonds, in the United States and abroad. Therefore,
they have a vested interest in promoting deficits and in
forcing taxpayers to redeem government debt. Both sets of
bankers [i.e., commercial and investment], then, tend to be
tied in with government policy, and try to influence and control
government actions in domestic and foreign affairs.'
He applies this thesis to interpret American foreign policy:
'The great turning point of American foreign policy came in
the early 1890s, during the second Cleveland Administration.
It was then that the U.S. turned sharply and permanently
from a foreign policy of peace and non-intervention to an
aggressive program of economic and political expansion
abroad.'
The turn came at the behest of the House of Morgan, which had already obtained the controlling influence on American foreign policy it was to retain until the onset of the New Deal. Under the new activist policy, the United States vigorously sought to wrest control of the Latin American market from Great Britain. In spite of the later partnership between the Morgan interests and Britain, the United States was very far indeed from alliance with Britain during most of the 1890s. But a British-American partnership was not long in coming, and Rothbard finds in the close ties between the House of Morgan and British financial interests an underlying cause of American entry into World War I. Because of Morgan investments in allied war bonds and in the export of war munitions, 'J.P. Morgan and his associates did everything they possibly could to push the supposedly neutral United States into the war on the side of England and France.' Further, 'Benjamin Strong obligingly doubled the money supply to finance America’s role in the war effort.'"
Read the book, Wilson's War, or just a review. Excellent piece of work.
Actually, a dumb phone would be a better symbol.
A symbol about discarding new technology and going back to old technology to increase your freedom.
The smartphone is symbolic of the dumbing down of the populace: no keyboard (just thumbs), small screen, brief short non-intimate bits of communication, perpetual distraction (while piloting a 3,000 lbs. vehicle too), 1-day battery life, ignoring people around you, source of constant interruption, illusion of being "connected" while actually being tethered and dis-connected, and eminently disposable yet perceived as indispensable.
Excellent piece. I have PM's but I'm also building up a supply for barter. Value many times comes down to whether your hungry and cold, all the gold in the world is meaningless if your starving and nobody wants it. My survival plans start with being part of a small viable community based on basic trade and mutual survival. I hope it never reaches that point but my philosophy is the power of positive pessimism...if you are ready for the worst and are prepared to take advantage of opportunity, your survival chances increase greatly.
Small items of gold and silver jewelry might come in handy for barter. Even in the worst of times, people want something nice, some little luxury. Someone unwilling to part with goods for a coin might be tempted if the metal was in the form of a pretty ring or bracelet...something nice for the depressed wife at home. As long as you're making small purchases, a seller could be tempted by a nice piece more so than yet another handful of Mercury dimes.
Little pleasures become more important in a world where survival takes so much of one's time. Which reminds me...
All 'preppers'...do yourselves a favor, and add a case of Tampax tampons to your stash. Trust me on this one...Those things are gonna be like cigarettes in prison should store shelves start emptying, and you will become very popular.
Toilet paper is good though bulky and booze is always in demand. As for luxury items, I've een to third world countries where a nice piece of meat qualifies. Look around the house at all the little things you can't make yourself and apply a value to them. If things go down the toilet a TV will have a low value while basic medical supplies could be the difference between life and death.
It's the little things...:-)
You have to try and think outside the box. If things do get bad, then there will be plenty of folks with coins, guns, cigarettes, MRE's and such. But how many will have a satchel full of Tampax, lip balm, or small tubes of toothpaste? Even toothbrushes, deodorant, floss, or flavored chewing gums?
You spend a few weeks roughing it, and brushing your teeth with your index finger and a tin cup of water, and you'd be surprised at how good that travel tube of Crest and a plastic-sheathed toothbrush would look.
And any prepper with a wife and teenage daughters may just kiss you on the mouth if you show up with Tampax. (He was so busy stashing MRE's that he forgot about that little detail, and the past few months have not been fun.)
Most preppers take care of the big, obvious things. But most also overlook the little things, and only realize how important they can be when you don't have them anymore.
In such a world, I intend to be a "Mr. Haney", coming soon to a town near you, my cart filled with merchandise from the far corners of the known world. Mysterious objects from exotic locales...why that necklace once graced the bosom of the Empress of Frankistan, and she'd hide her face in shame if she saw how lovely it looks on YOU...
"How much for the little girl?...
Your daughters, the little girl, I want to buy them... Sell me your children!"
Joliet Jake Blues
(doing some bartering at the Ches' Paul where the soup is fokking $10)
Bookmark us and come back to visit sometime... Things That Preppers Are Buying 21 THINGS FOR PANDEMIC SURVIVAL 55 Preparedness Items July 31, 2013, by Ken Jorgustin 2K+
There are countless survival preparedness items (preps) that you can store ahead of time (before potential disaster) for use during and after the emergency, disaster, or a SHTF collapse.
This list of 55 preparedness items (or categories) purposely avoids some of the preps that you might expect to see and is not intended to be a list of essentials or to be all-inclusive in any way. In fact, the list is intended to get you thinking ‘outside-the-box’ about your own needs for preps – to think of things beyond that of just rice-and-beans, bullets and band-aids.
In no particular order…
1. Toilet Paper, and other sanitation items such as feminine hygiene products, diapers for infants, etc. These are items that should be mass stored if possible.
2. Paper Towels. Too many uses to mention, store as many as you can.
3. Coffee Filters. For those drinkers of coffee of course, but these are excellent filters for many other purposes.
4. Trash Bags. All sizes. You can also store many free plastic grocery bags from the store every time you get them after shopping. Important for bagging up refuse and preventing disease.
5. Ziploc type Freezer Bags. Lot of uses, including keeping things dry.
6. Coolers. Various sizes for varying circumstances. Obviously to keep things cool – or protected from temperature extremes (even with no ice). Also will maintain warmth of an object for awhile (cooked food, etc..).
7. Shovels. All sizes – from small garden type to various sizes and shapes used for digging, etc.
8. Soaps and Cleansers. Sponges and other scratchy pads. You are likely not going to have a dishwasher after a disaster and you have to have some means of cleaning pots, pans, dishes.
9. Cotton Rounds. First aid uses, Excellent Fire-starter (mixed with Vaseline).
10. Paper to write on. This includes ordinary paper, note pads, index cards, sticky notes, etc.
11. Pens and Pencils. Writing, messaging, noting, marking, sketching, drawing, etc..
12. Cable Zip Ties. Quick tying or lashing together of nearly anything.
13. Tape. All kinds from duct, masking, electric, to scotch. Many uses.
14. Sewing Kits. Threads, needles, buttons, zippers, you are going to need them.
15. Matches. Keep dry and store lots of them. Lighters, magnesium fire-starters too.
16. Salt. Not only will food in general be in high demand after SHTF, but especially items such as salt – many practical uses – food preservation, flavoring additive to food staples.
17. Aluminum Foil Wrap. Good for cooking and many other uses.
18. Candles. All sizes. Not only for light at night, but can be used to heat small items up in small cookware.
19. Can Opener. Without these you will have a hard time opening your canned food.
20. Basic Tools. This includes hammers, screwdrivers, saws, axes, utility knives, scissors. Anything extra that you can store from your
tool chest.
21. Handyman’s Hardware Assortment. Assortment of screws, nuts and bolts, wire, nails, etc. Store in clear jars with lids or in original packages.
22. 5-Gallon Gas Can Containers. Provides fuel storage for vehicles, generators, etc., until the fuel runs out.
23. Round Magnifying Glass. Use to see small items (optical glass is best), or to start a fire if matches are wet or you’re out of them.
24. Envelopes. All sizes for storage of small things. Example: Great for seed storage too (heirloom varieties are self-sustaining).
25. Boxes. Storage of all sorts of things. Also useful for sudden evacuation or bug-out to quickly pack things. Many stores will give you boxes for free after their deliveries. Also large plastic boxes-containers with lids.
26. Shoe Laces. Extra sets for your various shoes and boots. Shoe laces are also good for tying off material with other purposes.
27. Paper plates, plastic eating utensils, disposable drinking cups. Great for short-term needs and simply disposable without the need for traditional dishes which need washing with soap and water.
28. Blankets, sheets, pillows, pillow cases. Just because you are in emergency does not mean you have to live like a refugee.
29. Towels. All sizes from hand to bath. You will be very grateful to be able to dry yourself off with something you are use to.
30. Fishing line and string. Lots of uses. Cordage. Paracord. Etc.
31. Nylon rope, cord, clothes lines. Do not be without.
32. Toothbrushes, dental needs, dental floss. Even without toothpaste you can still keep your teeth healthy.
33. Q-tips / Cotton Swabs. Not only personal use, but uses for fine detailed work.
34. Honey. Indefinite shelf life. Good sweetener for many foods. Health benefits too.
35. Trigger spray bottles. So many uses; garden, home, with homemade mixtures, etc.
36. First Aid Kit. Most items such as bandages, gauze, tweezers, nail clippers, scissors, wrapping tape, etc. can be stored without rotating. Keep more first aid supplies than you think, because they can get used up very quickly (extra gauze – 4×4’s, 2×2’s for changing dressings).
37. Firestarters or newspapers. Old newspapers for starting fires, wrapping delicate items, insulation. Keep dry and preferably in sealed boxes.
38. Safety Pins. Fastening of almost anything that has broken. Bobby pins also good.
39. Sunglasses. You will really need to protect your eyes after an emergency, glare is something that people forget about if they have to be outdoors for extended periods of time.
40. Hats. One size fits all baseball type caps, scarfs, ski caps. A lot of heat is lost through an uncovered head, also sunburn.
41. Gloves. So important, from keeping hands warm to protecting your hands from hazards such as broken glass and much more.
42. Extra Clothes. Especially well-made rugged pants and other clothes that will wear well. Don’t forget the extra comfortable shoes, socks, underwear, warm jackets.
43. Small handheld Mirror. For signaling, but also for personal grooming.
44. Cloth grocery tote bags. Reusable. A very good way of collecting things and supplies such as food from the wild.
45. Stapler with plenty of staples. Also paper clips to seal off small items and fastening paper. Your package of survival seeds as for example.
46. Extension cords. You may actually still have electricity from some source such as a generator or solar panel system. Routing power to other appliances or tools can only be accomplished with an extension cord. Can be used as a substitute for light duty style rope also.
47. Brushes. From nail, paint, to hair brushes. One good use for a hair brush is removal of ticks, fleas, burrs, from clothing.
48. Tape Measure. Measurement tools, rulers, very important to know distances and measurements for building, etc.
49. Games. Boredom is awful, and a simple deck of cards, boardgames, something to take up time if confined after an emergency. Great for the kids too.
50. Survival Books. Anything that will give you information and instructions on survival, cooking, plant identification, map books. Your bookcase may not be around after a disaster, store information you will need someday.
51. Wind up clock. Your battery operated clocks and watches or other time telling instruments are someday not going to work. A wind up clock is better than using a sundial.
52. Plastic storage containers. Ziploc, Tupperware, Rubbermaid, anything that can air seal something. All sizes.
53. Self Defense. Security will be a major issue. Consider all things preventative and defensive as well as tactical and offensive. Pepper spray, bow and arrows (they’re quiet), all other weapons and ammo.
54. Safe for your cash. Cash money may be the only way to buy anything immediately after a disaster. Good for holding silver and gold coins too.
55. Heavy duty tarps. Many sizes and inexpensive. Cannot emphasize how many uses these have, and can be folded up and stored in smaller spaces. Be sure to look for heavy duty.
Note: Again, this prep list is NOT intended to resemble a list of essential items. Instead it will hopefully get you thinking about your own readiness and supplies beyond the ordinary – to expand your thinking.
When doing your own list, one way to think about it is by categories. That’s mostly how I do it. For example, think of a general area such as ‘kitchen’ and then list priorities in that category. Other general categories included shelter, clothing, food and water, tools, sanitation, security, transportation, etc… think ‘categories’ and then narrow it down within each category. If you are just starting – then start with food and water!
Other articles you might like: Getting Started With Survival Preparedness – Skills, Categories Four ‘Unique’ Survival Items Top 50 Things To Disappear Medical Supplies – Stock Up!
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MSB
ModernSurvivalBlog.com is powered by a philosophy of preparedness for life. The content on Modern Survival Blog is provided only as general information. The ideas expressed are solely the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions of sponsors affiliated with the author(s). The author may or may not have a financial interest in any company or advertiser referenced. Any action taken as a result of information, analysis, or advertisement on this site is ultimately the responsibility of the reader.Interesting that surplus apple story..
5c each, with most buying 2 for the kids using a mercury dime..
Thats $2.50 an apple today, what a rip-off....
Fine Silver was selling at $0.25 per ounce in 1933. It was so cheap, and Dollars were so scarce, that they were giving it away.
That means that you could take the 1/5th ounce of Silver in a US Quarter Dollar and purchase 1 ounce of Fine Silver.
The Silver Purchase Act of 1934 created a demand and stopped the price decline.
Silver does terrible in Deflationary Depressions. Gold, on the other hand, seems to be stable or even appreciate during Depressionary Depressions.
Of course, during a Hyperinflationary Inferno, the price gains realized by Silver will exceed that of the price gains of Gold and thus I hold Silver, in a variety of forms, as a speculative investment.
Just a Heads Up. Diversify your PM holdings.
If I had a need for a Rolex Submariner I would buy a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.
Disregard all that nonsense and just buy more AAPL.
U got no idea about a Rolex, really no idea! I do not need a watch to know what time it is, u can check it on ur phone. A Rolex will last longer than a timex ever knew what a whrist watch stands for.
In a few years you should use the Kilo gold bullion bar. It signifies the changing market especially china.... With the US losing its gold to china.
Tools and the knowledge to use them.
Whether the tool be a hammer, handgun, can opener, water filter, or skinning knife and reloader.
Unlike the "tools" in power and the "fools" who keep putting them there.
Actually, it was the Rolex Explorer 2 "1655" that was the "original" Stever McQueen Rolex. That changed over time, as pictures proved, he really wore the Submariner "1522".
Still though, a decent "1655", which sold for around $900 in 1981, can sell for starting around $10k and head upwards to $50K and it continues to be called the Steve McQueen Rolex.



















Two items that should be on most lists, as there are few families these days who are not affected, are prescription medicines and extra prescription eyeglasses. I always tell everyone who wears glasses to bring a spare pair on wilderness trips, as things happen and there are no optometrists around after you have been dumped off by a float plane for two weeks in ‘the bush’. Now picture a true SHTF situation of a global or regional nature. A couple of pair of extra glasses are a good investment. You can get by for years with an old prescription in most instances, but you can’t get by with no glasses at all.
I know many of you on here will shout buy USA, but most eyeglass stores are royally screwing people with 200 and 300 % markups. My wife and I just had our eyes checked and bought new pairs via the internet with titanium frames………. delivered………… for $40 a pair. Sorry, but $40 versus $300 for the same thing at the closest store I have to spend $100 in fuel to drive to…………. well the ‘local’ business can go to hell. There is a limit as to how severe a screwing I am willing to take to shop ‘local’.
The other things that needs to be addressed is stocking up on prescriptions. This is something that needs to be addressed way ahead of time and perhaps even start to rotate your supply based on expiry dates………. but get a stock pile in, because most people will be out of their prescriptions within a month of a disaster.
A lot of people will find that some of their conditions go away when a new life style forces eating in moderation and lots of exercise, but there are many life threatening illnesses that are not going to go away and a stock pile of medication with an extended stale date may get them through to better times.
I very much agree regarding extra pairs of your prescription glasses (and the high cost of purchasing through your local optometrist). Would be curious to discover the website you use or recommend for online purchase.
http://www.zennioptical.com/
I agree with Zenni optical. Great pair of computer glasses (single vision)for $28 delivered with Stainless steel frames.
I have purchased 3 pairs of eyeglasses through http://www.eyebuydirect.com/ and have been happy with the prices and convenience of not having to order through your eye doctor who marks up the price (save lots of money).
My experience with on line optical was horrible. First they switched right and left eye. Returned them and they sent back week later. This time lens scratched. Returned again one more week, lens loose, falling out. A couple of weeks no glasses. I payed more last year at local doctor’s office, but I had my glasses next day.
Ken……… the company we have dealt with is Zenni Optical. So far we have ordered a half dozen pairs of prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses. Zero problems and really fast delivery.
http://www.zennioptical.com/
Why hasn’t any one mention a compass ??? How about Binoculars or high powered scope for a high powered rifle !
A compass, binoculars, high-powered scope, firearms, all are excellent additions to one’s survival preps.
Keep the ideas coming!
“This list of 55 preparedness items (or categories) purposely avoids some of the preps that you might expect to see and is not intended to be a list of essentials or to be all-inclusive in any way. In fact, the list is intended to get you thinking ‘outside-the-box’ about your own needs for preps – to think of things beyond that of just rice-and-beans, bullets and band-aids.”
I have been thinking for a while to buy bows including cross bows and lots of extra arrows. They are lethal to animals both for food and protection from predatory animals…and people as well that would do you harm. We would all most likely learn to eat wild game in a crisis. Bows also a very quiet to protect your location. Many times arrows are reusable as well. Someone or several in the group also need to become proficient at using them. Just one of my thoughts…….
Lou, That is a very good suggestion. I have a crossbow, partly for that very set of reasons. Thanks for the comment.
@Lou; Great thoughts. However, if you want stealth, you’ll need recurved bows instead of cammed compound bows. Compound bows (standard and cross) make a significant amount of noise, although certainly not on par with a firearm. Also, recurved bows are much simpler to maintain, needing only a new bowstring every so often. If anything other than the string needs replacement on the compound bows, unless you have the specific parts to replace it you’re SOL. I am only a bow hunter because I can use a cross bow and that’s what I have for SHTF situations along with spare strings and a few select parts. For the none-dedicated bow hunters in a SHTF scenario I would recommend the cross bows over the “long” bows as they shoot more like a rifle and you don’t have to be such an “ardent archer” and dedicate a lot of time to leaning a completely new skill. Survive well. Enjoy.
I would recommend bracers if you use a bow. The string leaves a heck of a mark.
Also I would recommend learning to make your on bolts. I was part of the local SCA (sca.org) they are the medieval people who dress up and fight. That is only part of it, they are also a historical society which goes to great research lengths to recreate old methods of doing everyday stuff. I used to teach a class on cooking feasts for 200+ over camp fires AND using nothing modern except cast iron pots.
I also am a seamstress. I taught sewing, embroidery & quilting classes using ancient methods w/out knots.
Survival should never mean you may have to kill other individuals. If that is one’s primary philosophy of survival, we’re all going to end up killing each other because of suspicions. People helping people is how groups will survive. If one wants to live by the sword, they shall die by the sword.
IMO, deadly force is reserved for War and/or when one’s life or body is threatened in one way or another and/or in a SHTF situation when one is stealing your life-sustaining supplies/property.
I agree that people helping people is how groups will ultimately survive, although with tussles and battles in-between.
Live by the sword, die by the sword? This might be true, but if someone has a gun and you have a sword, guess who will live longer. It may be harsh, even considered a sin, then again, the will to survive (and protect ones family) should be a top priority. Remember: Having the proper supplies to survive is only as good as your ability to defend them. When the dust is settled, hopefully I will be there to sweep it off my boots, with the help from my loved ones.
While I agree with your thoughts on survival I am not naive enough to believe that others will feel the same. At the end of the day we are still animals and people will do whatever they need to to survive. Some people are closer to the animal state than others. The reason we have people killing each other and have police departments is due to this fact. Do you really think that in a SHTF situation everyone is going to hold hands and try to help each other? It will get very very bad for a long time and unless you are willing to protect yourself,your family and your supplies you are going to die. After that maybe we can get the survivors together to form communities and all help each other.
While I understand I disagree w/your views. Being on the recipient end of several robberies, I carry. Not accepting that there may be a time you need to protect yourself and your loved ones, is naive and could result in you ending up wounded and/or dead.
I now carry and was robbed once at knife point, when i went for my wallet (I’m a bartender so I leave w/cash) I brought out my little friend. I haven’t had a problem since.
Survival means you hopefully will not have to kill people.
But if they who come for me or my family live by the sword, then they shall die by the sword. MINE
If you just need reading glasses, the optician told me the $2 readers from discount stores are just as good as expensive prescription readers, but you need to buy the correct strength.
Yes, we have a Dollar Tree, everything a dollar–the cheap reading glasses don’t last a lifetime, so buy several.
If you have or know your prescription there are several places you can get cheap glasses made such as Walmart. You won’t get custom frames ect but then you are trying to see not make a fashion statement. Hard plastic frames will be better that thin wire ones in a shtf situation anyway.
I totally agree that if you are on medications, you need to stockpile in case the SHTF; HOWEVER, how do you do that when the pharmacists will only fill 6 month or 1 year prescriptions as they are needed. Unless you start skipping meds, how else would you stockpile? Canada?
@Kay; Canadia would be a problem as they count every pill. I have managed over two or three years to accumulate a years worth extra of pills. If your issues are endocrine related (i.e. type II diabetes or HT) or weight related, they will subside in a more austere environment. As your weight decreases and your daily exercise increases your BP and TIID will go away. You will feel better and live longer due to the exercise and restricted diet. Now if you have some other condition like bipolar disorder, you’ll have to use homeopathic remedies, such as St. Johns Wort, which you can grow yourself. If you have a sure enough medical disorder that needs constant medical attention (dialysis, chemo, etc.) that isn’t simple, then you’re screwed. The only adjunct that I would store would be aspirin and a multivitamin and a multi-mineral. If you can grow normal vegetables you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need for most of the year and can store the rest in pills for a few years. Survive well. Enjoy.
I’ve been stocking up on generic prescription medications from India. Yes, I also try to buy USA whenever possible, but with no insurance for medications -and no way to save any up even if I had prescription coverage- it’s become not only much easier to order them from India, but also MUCH cheaper! I pay the same amount for almost a year’s worth of blood pressure meds in twice the strength (so, technically, a 2 year supply) for the same price a ONE MONTH refill would cost at Wal-Mart. Not everything is available, but so far everything I’ve needed has been :0) I’ve even got my 90-year-old Mom getting some of her prescription meds this way, as the Medicare ‘donut hole’ just about bankrupts her every year.
My neighbor,far from being a prepper, just told me her doctor advised her to go to Canada for their prescriptions.Wow!
How did you find the place in India that will give Rx medicines without a prescription. I have googled all sorts of places & all seem to want the doctors script which I don’t have. My doctor quit b/c of taxes & new rules.
I go to another pharmacist. I’ve even gotten them when out of town on vaca by calling doc to phone a prescrip w/”oops I forgot my prescrip….”
#19……..can opener……..buy Swing-a-way brand. The china-mart can opener won’t hold up to opening up your #10 cans. I’ve already broked 2. ……And I’m a petite female. The Swing Away can be found at some hardware stores and online.
We have several ‘swing-away’ type can openers. MUCH better than the very cheap openers.
Amco Swing-A-Way 407WH Portable Can Opener, White
A family will need a Portable water purifier..you can purify water at any creek, or stream, or puddle if needed.
People need a ” flint and striker”..it will outlast matches…people need a gun and bullets…if you cant get food ..you might have to eat the four legged kind..it always good to have a house pet..a dog ..but even a cat can keep rodents away from food sources..believe it or not…they are sensitive to noise and will react before a human can if people are out to take from you.. A fold up bike or mountain bike and patch kit would help also to scout and move quickly down roads.
Money ?..who will need money and a safe in a national disaster ?.thats ridiculous….
Cash will be King in a short-term crisis. No doubt about that. However, in a longer lasting disaster or SHTF event, it won’t take long for money to become valueless as a crisis continues. Then it’s all about supplies and barter for items and services.
@Ken; Yes, I agree. You will need (should have) as many FRNs as necessary for an EMP/Solar flare event. If you can make change the stop-and-robs will have to start taking money manually, cash of course. A couple of grand in ONES, fives and some tens PLUS 3 or 4 rounds of change (a round varies but is usually 3Qs, 3Ds, 2N, 2P). If ever you needed a safe it would be when TSHTF. Also I’m a firm believer in having precious metals. People say that you can’t eat them but you can’t eat FRNs, ammunition or guns either. If you are properly prepared for SHTF and have stuff for barter or sale then you can come out on top if you have the ability to make commerce happen with REAL money to participate in barter and trade. Survive well. Enjoy.
In a complete SHTF situation you are right you won’t need money. But in a situation where there is a power outage for days or weeks or some other LOCAL problem it is important. I was at a grocery outlet just last week and their computer went down. Everyone paying with debit,check,credit card was asked to get out of the checkout line because they could only take cash.
Remember if/when the SHTF EVERYONE will be looking at those 4-legged food so it’s a good to have stuff prepared/stored and non-GMO (which is heirloom not F1 or hybrid) seeds!
I have also purchased several color picture books on wild foraging. VERY necessary and useful!
Tin snips work really well to open cans. I carry these when camping as they work for other task also.
swiss army knife “victorinox” has a good can opener on many of their models. i like the “huntsman”.
re: pens & pencils:
– I would argue that you need both mechanical & regular pencils. Mechanical will work fast but only until you run out of lead (the last of which almost always falls out before complete). A regular pencil doesn’t necessarily need a sharpener (although HIGHLY recommended). If your survival kit involves a knife or two it will work just as well and probably last much longer than a mechanical one. I work at an animation studio & many of the artists still using paper actually prefer to hand sharpen their pencils by knife rather than use a sharpener as they can control the angle, etc. Also they told me if you rotate the pencil as you write/draw (would apply to mechanical as well) then it “sharpens itself” by maintaining the point & makes it less likely to break. I’ve been doing this for a few years now & it makes the pencils last MUCH longer!
– I’d also be sure to include a Sharpie/permanent marker or two. Then you can write if need be on virtually anything -even yourself (name, blood type, etc if paperwork is lost).
What would people need a pen for ?..there would be no post man nor postal service…you need a radio and batteries..I could see if your leaving a message if you are leaving your camp..but who would leave their camp unattended or unguarded ?
@Jerry, A pen, a pencil, a writing instrument or marker – is used for writing things on paper, etc. Drawing up plans, tracking inventory, leaving messages for others, Ad nauseam.
@Jerry; Simply because that’s how civilized people communicate. If you can’t write a journal for later generations when everything is done or civilization comes back, how are they supposed to know what happened and why? If you can’t draw, how you want the compound defended, how will it work and be properly communicated? Pen/pencils and paper are essential items. No, you can’t eat them, they are far more important than that. They communicate ideas and thoughts which is how we communicate, whether person to person or century to century. Pen/pencil and paper are more important to history than anything else. You seem somewhat short sighted about the pen and paper! IMHO. Survive well. Enjoy.
You can also rub a pencil against any rough surface to sharpen it though I can’t fathom a world where I would have a pencil and not a knife.
I purchased an old school hand pencil sharpener, LOVE IT!
Also, a sharpie will dry out in about 2 years. I use a china pencil or grease pencil. Awesome stuff!
There’s a shelf life on soap? Ever bar? That’s good to know… do you know about how long? May have to go through my pile of hotel soaps again…
Soap is primarily oil and it can go bad, primarily affecting the smell. A good quality bar soap that is kept cool and dry can have a shelf life of many many years and still work well. A sterile liquid soap such as Amway LOC that has no perfume will stay good for years if unopened and up to a year opened. I am not a big fan of liquid soap as most have additives that keep the solution suspended which ‘stick’ to the skin and often cause irritation. LOC is an exception.
Soap doesn’t go bad. What it does is dry out and last longer. We discovered that when my grandfather died and cleaned out his house. He had bars of soap from the 60’s in 5-pk cello packs.
They were like bricks and actually lasted longer! They smelled like rose, but that was grandma’s favorite scent.
He was ex-IRA and lived on 80 acres w/o electricity and used a honey pot! Taught us how to shoot and load buck shot as kids!
Brita Water pitcher and filters!
Actually Brita isn’t good for pouring creek or rain water. They are only a food for faucet water. Here is a copy directly from their website:
In a Brita® Faucet filter, there is a two-step process. When you turn on your tap, water first passes through a non-woven screen around the filter to trap sediment. Then, the water then flows through a compressed block of carbon and zeolite, reducing chlorine (for taste and odor) and lead.
It is NOT good for long term usages. I would go with Berkey.
You could probably minimize and make more efficient most of the things on this list. For example, just use regular pencils and sharpen them with a knife, it is cheaper and simpler. Tape, learn how to use duct tape for everything. You don’t need thread, dental floss is much sturdier. I have been sewing with it for years, and find most regular thread is vastly inferior. I wouldn’t bother with matches, get a few Bics and a couple firesteels.
I think the key to survivalism is being able to improvise, more than anything else.
Instead of dental floss, keep fishing line handy. You can sew anything with it plus have the added benefit of using it to fish. Also works as twine or in place of rubber bands.
To go a step further all you need is para cord. It will work for rope up to 550 lbs hence the name and unraveled you would have both fishing line and thread.
Be careful with fishing line. It melts. I had a quilt melt and had to redo all the end seams.
You can get good quality cotton thread on ebay in Maxi-Loc cones which are much cheaper than spools. They also last quite awhile.
As for salt. A good place to get large amounts cheap is at a local farm store. Salt blocks for livestock are about $5.00 / 50lb block. Smaller blocks are available cheaper.
Are you sure salt blocks are OK for us on 2 legs?
25lb bags of salt at either costco or sams 5.00
Those salt blocks are not for human consumption. They contain impurities and bits of foreign matter.
Table salt is bad for you while sea salt adds minerals to your system. The iodine in it isn’t good for quite a few also.
guns and knives and ammo
I agree, defensive weapons are a must.
Current maps (local & regional especially), and a GOOD compass (‘Silva’ is a highly recommended brand – from experience). Many times disasters cause grid lock, or outright destruction of the major roadways. Familiarity with local secondary roads could be a life saver.
Anonymous mentioned “guns, knives and ammo. i don’t know if i’d put my guns away with the rest of my emergency stores, but it would be a good idea to have at least one good all-purpose knife included. with most things on that list, if you run out of something or forgot to stock it, you can make do with something else. if you don’t have a knife when you need one, you WILL regret it. I pretty much always have a knife of some kind with me at all times, and i find lots of uses for it. but in my survival stuff i keep two cheap Big 5 “survival” type knives that i bought specifically because they were cheap. they are the skeletonized kind with the cord wrapped handle. i got them because i can use them for things i wouldnt want to use my good knives for, and if they get lost or ruined, it’s no big loss. i wanted the skeleton handle because, if it became necessary, you can lash the knife to a broom handle, tree limb or whatever, and you have a pretty decent spear. in survival, multitasking takes on a new meaning.
the list is great, gets folks to thinking. as someone who loves nothing better than to live out of my car in the ‘bush’ or woods for extended lengths of time, i would like to point out that some confusion might come in with this list depending on where people envision they will be utilizing the stuff. the key is to make a list ‘A’ in case you’re stuck in your house, then realize that if you’re driven from your house and are on the road living in your car, you can’t take list ‘A’ with you and you would have different needs anyway, so make a ‘B’ list for the car, & be sure to pack it all up & make sure it fits in the car with your people- this will force you to think very carefully, prioritize, multitask, & be really ready to roll on a moments notice! then make a ‘C’ list for being without house & car- what you can carry. (that’s why tarp, duct tape, & cord go to the top of my list.)
my 2 cents on a car (portable) list: make a rule of thumb: try to make everything you take ~not~ disposable, & then take as much as you can of what ~is~ disposable. like skip paper & plastic plates, cups, bowls, & tableware- they take up way too much space & they run out- get a good shallow pot with cover, fry pan, collapsable bowl with cover (cover is your plate), cold cup & a hot travel mug, & grab some silverware from your drawer. tarp & duct tape & nylon cord go to the top of the list- add some stakes & you can shelter you & your supplies. add bungies & a few carbiners. add a propane camp stove & fuel canisters (heat & cooking/drying food). be sure the salt is iodized. skip the stapler & envelopes, you can use any paper & duct tape. skip the comforter, take a 0 degree sleeping bag. add lantern. add batteries, lots. empty boxes don’t seem to be of any use i can think of- if you’re at home you don’t need them & if you’re forced out they would take up too much space. put clothing in the cloth grocery bags or the plastic buckets, & pack for climates other than your own- i.e. extreme hot/cold weather. have everything packed ahead of time for a quick & organized exit- if something actually happens to force you to hit the road, you’ll be too freaked out to think of everything. my stuff is by the door, but is dual purpose i guess… packed for camping but ready for all hell to break loose!
Remember to rotate any food & water in car BOB. Food gets kinda nasty in the heat of the trunk while bottled water leaches BPA into the water when heated. It has that ‘plastic’ taste.
plastic zip ties and disposable lighters for additions to survival supplies.
LOL I didn’t think of zip ties at all. I have about every other thing on that list and a lot more but that one slipped by me. Thanks
Whenever I buy food/drug store items, I put the item’s information in a spreadsheet – item, product size, expiration date, and the number of items on hand. I can sort by expiration date and see when something is about to go “not as fresh”. I’ll use that first and it will be the next thing to replace. I can keep an eye on my entire stash with little effort.
In addition to matches, you should have alternative methods for starting a fire. I highly recommend magnesium fire starters and magnifying glasses.
We also make mini starters. Empty tuna cans, cut strips of cardboard to fit in coils, pack with dryer lint; add a piece of embroidery thread for a wick then pour in melted pieces of wax till full. I put one under a campfire and it keeps burning and starts that fire right up!
And the most important besides food? How to books and start with the How thing works, and than advance to the basic survival books, how to make soap, how to filter unclean water, how to bake bread, how to get en electric engine to work, how to weave, how to pickle and conserve et, etc… the basics that our gran parents knew… that we buy from Wallmrt now
Like it!
Not so many ‘How to’ books. I think it is important to learn now how to do what might be necessary to survive.
I was raised on a farm so many things I learned when young never thinking it might come in handy. Like growing & harvesting a garden, raising chicken,cows, goats, pigs and how to butcher them. I am practing now how to preserve food by dehydrating using older methods. Taking classes for what I don’t know ie use of a gun, bow or identify edible wild plants.
several gallons of liquid bleach are useful for disinfection and water purification…empty jugs handy and not to heavy for transport.
Better to have calcium hypochlorite from a pool company–bleach gets old–CH lasts ‘forever’.
In a small bag so great for storage.
Great list. I would just like to comment on No. 4 Trash Bags and plastic shopping bags. I’m not sure how hey are in the US, but here in the UK many plastic bags are bio degradable and would probably be in shreds at the time you may need it. I also have been collecting the fabric/canvas bags to add to them. Also No. 14 Sewing Kit. I do a lot of sewing, so I know I have enough kit and know what i need to replace or add to. I have seen people buy the cheap kits in the budget shops and to be honest, much of it is rubbish. I would reccommend putting the kit together yourself and making sure everything won’t fall to bits whilst you’re trying to make do and mend. Gold plated needles are also available… They don’t rust and tarnish over the years. A little more expensive than your ordinary needles, but personally I think they’re worth it. I haven’t been prepping very long, but would like to say thanks for all the help in getting me through to this point… You’ve changed my way of thinking…
VERY few rubbish bags in the US are NOT disposable. Unfortunately.
I made two quickie sewing kits out of fishing tackle boxes. One is kept in the car and I rotate the thread as the heat breaks down the fibers and the other is kept in storage with camping gear so it’s a quickie grab.
I have two large tackle boxes in home one with quilting and one w/sewing which contain more involved items for heavy sewers!
Hard candy. Stressed out people want comfort and familiarity. Oral hygiene is very important to avoid a need for field dentistry (ouch!).
Get a hefty supply of salt while it is still cheap. The Romans used to pay their soldiers with salt for a reason. It has thousands of uses.
If you are enjoying some of your candy, oral hygiene can be accomplished with salt:
Soak toothbrushes in salt water before your first use; they’ll last longer.
Use one part fine salt to two parts baking soda — dip your toothbrush in the mix and brush as usual. You can also use the same mix dissolved in water for orthodontic appliances.
Mix equal parts salt and baking soda in water for a fresh and deodorizing mouth rinse.
For cankers, abscesses, and other mouth sores, rinse your mouth with a weak solution of warm saltwater several times a day.
Relieve bee-sting pain. Immediately dampen area and pack on a small pile of salt to reduce pain and swelling.
Treat poison ivy.
Ease throat pain – mix salt and warm water, gargle to relieve a sore throat.
Deter ants – sprinkle salt at doorways, window sills, and anywhere else ants sneak into your house. Ants don’t like to walk on salt.
I’ve used whole cloves to combat pain for an abscessed tooth. Just put a few in the area of pain for as long as needed.
I also keep tobacco for bee stings.
I for one cannot use baking soda as toothpaste. I cant even consume COLD items my teeth are horrendously sensitive I have to use a prescription strength toothpaste.
Anonymous, you have just reminded me about the salt for your mouth. My grandmother was 100years old earlier this year, and up until they got a gas fire, she always cleaned her teeth with salt and “chimney soot!”. She still has quite a few of her teeth, which were impeccable until about a decade ago.
Now, I understand how salt cleans, bit if anyone has any ideas about how the chemicals in soot work on the teeth I’d be really interested.
You never know… If we run out of toothpaste and salt and we are back to burning fuel that gives us the chimney soot, then it might be something to fall back on if needed…
@Damkina; It’s probably the salt and not the soot. I can’t imagine that “boot black” is good for your teeth (bucky balls and all). The salt is an anti-microbial as well as modestly abrasive, both of which offer significant protection to teeth and mouth health in general. I think hydro-carbon by-products should be avoided. A compound made of salt and baking soda works quite well. I use plain baking soda and an electric toothbrush. Haven’t had any problems since using this along with floss forks. Only have two cavities in 60 years. Survive well. Enjoy
My mum cuts lengths of embroidery floss (she had periodontal surgery) unravels to 3 strands and uses that as dental floss. Cotton also breaks down in compost piles eventually.
@TripodXL, lol she probably needed all the salt, then to counteract the damage done by the soot, hence the really good daily mouth and teeth scrub. I’ve tried it myself… Wasn’t impressed.. It was like getting a gob-full of sea water. But I supposed needs must if it came to the crunch!
@Damkina; I would stick with the baking soda and salt. You can also add a little (that’s a little) lemon juice once in a great while to make sure all is perfectly clean and germ free. The floss forks are the biggest thing. I like them as they let you get into all the cracks and crevices. It is the stuff between the teeth that really mess you up. Survive well. Enjoy.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM TO HAVE IS A GUN AND AMMO!!!! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO PROTECT YOURSELF, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE YOUR SURVIVAL “STUFF”????? NOT LONG!!!!
Great to get (keep) the mind rolling. As far as books, I highly recommend the late Carla Emery’s Encyclopedia of Country Living. It was meant to be a guide to help homesteaders, but is a great book full of old-time skills. As far as add-ons to the lists, I’m all for trying to add a “production” manual machine whenever one can afford it. A hand grain mill, a reloader, corn sheller, hand drill, beer/wine making equipment, distilling equipment, hot bath canning equipment , jars and lids, pressure canner, etc. I farm a little with horses, so I’m always looking for horse drawn equipment of all kinds. In addition, there a lots of old dairy production equipment that doesn’t need electricity, from hand cream separators to older pasteurizing equipment. I would also add a few good, large crocks for pickling and kraut. I could go on and on. Its sites like these that plant the seeds in folks minds, so that when at a garage sale or flea market and run across this stuff, a little voice tells us to buy it, its cheap and might be really useful in the not too distant future. Thanks to everyone for all the great ideas.
My recommendation (as i’m sure others have made) is to purchase a firearm. This is a hotly debated topic on whether to keep a firearm in the house, especially if there are children present. If you are strongly opposed to owning a firearm, please stop reading here. This isn’t open for debate and i’m not an advocate for any pro-gun organization.
A weapon can be safely kept in the house and under lock and key. The fact of the matter is that there are many “takers” in this world who are only kept in check by law enforcement agencies. After a crisis, where law enforcement will be stretched to the limit, we are basically left to defend ourselves. The best weapon for home defense is a 12 gauge shotgun with a short barrel (legal min. length is 18.5 inches). Longer barrels are okay but are more geared for hunting and can be cumbersome in tight quarters. If you would rather have a handgun, I would recommend a revolver for those that don’t have any experience with handguns. Semi-automatics can be less dependable and sometimes jam. You don’t want that to happen in a life or death situation.
I’m by no means an authority on firearms. If you choose to purchase one, any REPUTABLE gun dealer can advise you of the proper weapon for you’re needs. Make sure you educated yourself on how to SAFELY use it and keep it clean. Fire a variety of ammo through it and stock up when you determine which is best for you and your weapon. If anyone else can add to my comments, please do so. Thoughts of being unable to protect my family in a crisis situation keep me up at night. Hopefully I will never have to use a firearm on another human being. Good luck all!!
@Josh; On your shotgun, I would suggest a Mossberg 500, 8 shot, 12 gauge (currently around $210 at gun shows). It has a 20? barrel and it can be taken to a competent gunsmith and threaded for screw-in chokes and not affect the performance as a “riot gun” and give you the option of hunting (with a tighter choke) small game. Should cost about $100-135 less chokes. (FYI, the gunsmith will question why you want this done as it would be very “untraditional” and tell you it shouldn’t be done, but stick to your guns, LOL, as it is not unsafe to do) Would recommend getting “cylinder” (for riot gun/defense use) and “modified” (hunting) choke tubes. I do not often recommend customizing survival firearms but this is an exception as it allows more versatility without having to purchase another shotgun or barrel. Survive well. Enjoy.
You get your best Bang for your Buck with a shotgun, with the variety of shells you can hunt anything from small game to very large game. I like the Remington but chose the Mossberg as I felt it was the best for the price plus I like the safety on the top where I can see it.
I love the 500 and have it in an 18 1/4 barrel as a riot gun for home defense but it would be easier to just get a longer barrel than to modify the one you have. That also gets rid of the questions in the gunsmith’s mind.
Thanks all for advice. Enough of me talking of guns. I’m always thinking about what else I might need that would be of value for preparedness. Will post on here when I think of more.
How about a basic list of food to have in your home before the unthinkable happens. I know water, salt, sugar, clorox, plastic bags….
Store what you eat and eat what you store. Initial basic survival food storage consists of simply storing more of what you normally consume. Once you get beyond those basics, then start to consider things like food staples, shelf life, preservation methods, balanced nutrition beyond just rice and beans, costs, the space that we have to work with, weight, portability, variety, mechanisms of cooking the foods, etc..
Nice long sturdy zip ties (the things that can be used to fasten stereo/computer wires together. Get the nice long ones. Very useful for a number of things, including subduing someone who is up to no good, if you don’t think a death sentence is warranted.
When my camp chair’s plastic holder broke on the back, hubby used two zip ties to jury-rig a back holder. Now we get another season out of that chair!
We added a camping stove, cooking utensils and small bottles of propane to our kit. We also have added several cans of sterno for cooking.
I am amazed to find this site. Thank you for all the suggestions. Actually, we have been preparing for many years and the lists describe contents of our home and outbldgs. One tip, we have found many books at library book sales which tell how to do the things our personal grandparents did every day to live.I also learned to make “buddy burners” in scouts using shallow cans like tuna cans. Leave the lid attached by an inch and then fold its sides to make a handle. Cover handle with duct tape to prevent cuts. Roll up corrugated cardboard like a cinnamon roll and insert in the can.Pour melted wax all in the cardboard. The result is a little fire source which you can use for light or to cook over.
Exactly where are we supposed to store all this stuff?
Simply use your imagination. Shelves, closets, basement, shed, bins, under your bed, spare room, etc. It can become a challenge if you’re living in a small place.
We use old luggage as a grab & go emergency bag, and store them under the bed. We are in the country, but are planning for a fall back to a more rural area int he event of a social breakdown, so depending on the emergency we have plan A stored on a $10 6? wooden shelf from Ikea, our fall back/run pack under the bed.
You have to customize the list to yourself. For example you don’t use prescriptions then of course you don’t need them. One of you? only get one emergency blanket (actually two is better) Get a backpack at a yard sale to start, a good one that is comfortable. My dad had us doing this as kids in the 70’s. Wrapping batteries in plastic along with a spare radio. No doomsday planning just common sense. In case of a disaster then you need a grab and go bag. Need one in a hurry? start with stuff you already have, (peanuts, a windbreaker, piece of rope or clothesline, pocket knife) and then build from there. This is a common sense stuff because believe you me if doomsday comes then supplies won’t be saving anyone. War yeah but doomsday means we all die. This is about a natural disaster. I live in Texas and the weather man said “sunny sky” back in 98 and we go TWENTY-TWO inches of rain that day. Stuff happens.
Baby wipes already moistened……dry after use – use for firestarter. All your family’s medicines and One A Day vitamins.
If I’m repeating someone else’s suggestion, sorry. A baggy with change in it – Banks will be closed probably so access to money could be limited. We have several backpacks set up with toothbrushes& paste, matches in ziplock bags, batteries & flashlights, plastic ponchos(come in little bags) bag of q-tips, bandaids & triple antibiotic cream. Also zip lock bags of seed packages. If you have access to 5 gal buckets w/lids they are handy for storing things in and have multiple uses. Also have a plan for your family as to how they will get in touch with each other in case of an emergency.
I want to know about Vinegar, always with the grand parents and elders. Vinegar was a must for hygiene for women and teeth as well as cleaning wounds ? There was never a home without it, they even made their own.
Buy The Vinegar Anniversary Book at amazon (kindle too). Tells you everything you ever wanted to know about that miracle liquid.
Donna, I bit for the books, should be getting them soon. Great site, ideas all over the place ! thank you !
In an earthquake, flood, tornado or hurricane buildings fall and power goes out. I suggest keeping a,
(1) small gas generator
(2) extension cord
(3) power tools to cut into houses and get people out. Battery powered tool work for a short time but you may need some real power for extended hours. Not sure what tools but a skill saw is one.
(4) Perhaps a chain saw. Expensive to get but if you already have them at least keep them in an easily assessable spot.
(5) Hand tools to cut fire wood
(6) Gassifier (TLUD) that burn biomass
(7) (rocket) style stoves that burn short sticks for heat and cooking. These can be made from tin cans or purchased.
stock up on hydrogen peroxide.
Purell hand sanitizer is good fuel for starting a fire.
Little bottles of vodka, it’s a universal barter item.
Women’s maxi pads make great first aide bandages, so long as you have tape.
Bulk spices of anything you can get your hands on.
Powdered Gatorade, and tang are good drink mixes, they have electrolytes, to prevent dehydration, and something your heart needs I order to keep you alive.
Dried soups mixes, beans and rice or pasta will go a long ways. Marie calendars cornbread mixes from Costco, powdered instant potatoes.
Rechargeable batteries with solar charger, but only works if you have sun.
Oh yes and hydrogen peroxide, and if you find a compounding pharmacy, get the food grade, worth the price. I paid $22 for a quart, and use it for sanitiziing everything, vinegar also is a anti microbial, apple cider vinegar is an excellent nutrient rich system flush, helps get rid of water weight, and with lemon, very refreshing hot summer day drink.
Braggs amino acids is an excellent alternative to soy sauce.
I just found out that a steel garbage can works great for a faraday box for electronics.
Stock up on as many heirloom seeds for your region as possible, great for your own garden, or barter later. even if you don’t smoke, cigarettes, matches, lighters, fluid.
Cast iron cooking pans, and Dutch ovens.
Oh my, I could keep on and on.
One more thing. Baking soda, a tsp in 2oz. Water is guaranteed fix for heartburn.
Greetings, Read the label before using baking soda for indigestion.
One Half tsp., and make sure it is fully dissolved. Admittedly, I have used it since childhood, with age the often repeated use, as per label instructions will cause water retention, edema, and slow the detoxification process our bodies use water for.
“add one-half teaspoon to 4 fluid oz. of water every two hours” this goes on to say if over 60 no more than 1.5 teaspoons within a 24 hour period… One half teaspoon contains 616 mg. sodium. That is a lot of sodium… Survive-All…
In your bug out bag.
9v batteries and fine steel wool as a fire starter. Pull the steel wool apart and touch it to the electrodes of the Battery.
Baby wipes for hygiene and bathing non-scented
Two knives a pocket knife and a larger fighting knife if you will.
A water filtration kit (many available)and a camelback type hydration unit in your pack.
Flash light with red filter w/ batteries
First aid kit.
Any meds you may need.
FYI
The list had a lot of things on it that I did not think of, but I think there was atleast one crucial item you forgot. Bottled drinking WATER!!!!! Kinda important…. You think?
Definitely water, yes. A #1 priority for beginning your preps! The list was purposed on other types of items – things to get you thinking beyond the basics…
Do not forget that you have 40 plus gallons of fresh water stored in your hot water heater.
I learned recently that – given a small bit of advance warning – you can duct tape the drain & overflow on bathtubs and fill them up as an in-home water reservoir; assuming, of course, that the water is still coming from tap. That said, we still have stored water – bottled and 5-gallon cans.
keep up the good work
If you store gasoline be sure to use Sta-Bil in any gas appliances and in the stored gas. It will ensure easy starting of your appliance and save a bunch of headaches. My generator is 20+ years old and still starts within 3 or maybe 4 pulls.Save your energy for other things.
Great list, but something that occurred to me is that you are most likely not going to be able to carry all of this great stuff on your back if you have to “bug out” or “go hide in the woods somewhere.” Got a shorter list for survival on the run? Yes, I do see that as a possibility. We don’t think of this kind of stuff happening on American soil, but it happens elsewhere and we are not exempted from social and national horrors just because we live in the United States.
Oh, yes – and cigarettes and small bottles of liquor make great barter items.
Sorry – I hit “send” faster than I complete my thoughts. If you can get your hands on a food vacuum sealer, then seal cigarettes in them to keep them fresh. Singly and in packs. Matches, too, can be kept in vacuum sealing. Of course you keep some matches out to use.
My list is comfortable for 15 days, even for surviving 30 days:
– 5 kg of pasta
– 1 kg or rice
– 10 packs of instant noodles
– dehydrated salted fish
– powder milk
– 4 cans of peanut butter
– 10 cans of beans
– 4 heads of garlic (to use as spice, painkiller and antibiotic)
– lots of energy bars (50) (can be also a big bag with walnuts)
– breakfast cereals, oats (5 kg)
– 6 x 5 L water
– fire starter (can be lighter or matches)
– thick warm and waterproof jacket
– knife
This is the very basic.
Seeds for your vegetable garden, lots of them at least a 3 year supply kept in a cool dry location.
Are we adding items to the list? Old fashion can opener or p38, fire starter sticks (only use an 1.5?of piece, save the rest), cooking utencils, spicies & herbs, seven(7) dust, specially beet & turnip seeds, snares, gill net, kerosene & extra wick, sharpening stone & a bastard file.
The above comments are great, but I ponder/worry about the “what if” I were forced to leave, what I would be able to take and how could I take it , say, given an hours notice. I could save my life with a BOB, but I could not survive without the tools that I have acummulated for the long haul. To process food: manual juicer, colander, kraut slicer, meat grinder w/attachemnts, grain mill, pressure cooker. shelter: outback tent, sheep herders stove, bucksaw, one man timber saw w/ files & gauges, extra chains for the stihl chainsaw, carpenter tools, assortment of nails, tie wire,. Gardening: push plow w/cultivator, tiller, seeds, assortment of roots. This list just keeps growing and growing. I didn’t even come close to mentioning spinnng & weaving, weapons, small livestock, or supplies to carry us through. This list will never be complete. Its called a cottage industry, surviving! (homesteading)
An industry where the creation of products and services is home-based, rather than factory-based. While products and services created by cottage industry are often unique and distinctive given the fact that they are usually not mass-produced, according to wiki.
Wow, great list. great list of lists. I have been pondering this for a while but am feeling the rise of urgency. Not because we should be paranoid, but as several have said, it is wisdom to prepare for what could happen in the near future. I believe in Morphy’s law: Prepare for those things which could happen and there is a less likely chance they will happen. The less prepared you are for something to happen, the more likely it will.
Thanks for all the new ideas you all have mentioned. I am a newly single man with 5 kids living with me, ages 7 up to 20. I have been talking with them lately and we think we should be getting ready for the something to happen. Thinking to prepare for 30 day food supply, do we run (to where) or stay put? and have defenses in place, with all kids getting gun lessons. who know if the poppa gets hurt, the 7 year old could possible save them both. I think it sounds crazy, but so is this world in which we live!
Shalom and Cheers!
I would think the first item on the list would be bottled water….
Yes, water would be #1 if this was a list of essentials and/or basics. Instead, it’s simply a list for getting people to think about supplies beyond the obvious – some of which may not be on typical lists.
One thing a lot of people forget about is light. Gonna need some sort of light when/if the power goes out. I have some lanterns and oil stored but that would run out in a matter of days/weeks. So I got to thinking. My am/fm/ssb radio, my clocks and portable players all run on batteries. So I bought two solar chargers and a bunch of Sony rechargable batteries. They claim to be rechargable 1500 times. I have two good size LED lights that operate on batteries which will fit into the solar charger. I plan to buy a lot of small LED flashlights that will run on AA batteries. I live in an apartment so a large 12 volt solar charger just wouldn’t work. I believe this is gonna work for me in my situation.
I bought two boxes of outdoor solar lights for around our house; in an emergency, we can charge them outside during the day ( when the sun shines ) and bring them in a night and place them wherever needed. Also, I really stock up on batteries ( all sizes ) whenever they are on sale at Costco. I have large bottles of lamp oil & several oil lamps, tons of candles; hubby has several head lamps. We also have many LED flashlights, one of which is a Maxcraft that has a hook for hanging that collapses flat into the back & has a magnetic – the face has 24 LED’s for a lot of light & the end has 3 LED’s to use like a flashlight; I bought some for our vehicles & for inside use. We also have several camping lights.
I live in the Sierra Nevada mountains and we lose power at least a couple of times each winter. The LED stick-up lights are on the walls in my bathrooms and bedrooms. They take AAA batteries and while they don’t put out a huge amount of light it is nice to be able to walk into a room and push them on as opposed to carrying a flashlight everywhere. Also as a guy try “aiming” in the bathroom while holding a flashlight in one hand LOL
You’ll need a way to protect you and yours…interpret that how you want. Also replacement Rx..some have OTC replacements (not exact but maybe old school like Primatene for asthma).
Rechargeable batteries / portable inverter / good solar kit for power. Use vehicle 12v batteries to run 110v accessories (like a recharge battery station/laptop/radio/etc. with an inverter).
There are differences in rechargeable batteries and what devices may like or dislike. Read your device specs then buy some rechargeable batteries in the power range needed and a buy the inverter and solar charger that works at that power range as well. Then test the combo’s to see what works and what does not.
Use LED based camp lights / flashlights /etc that use AA batteries if possible.
Get a good survival mirror- keep it on rope around neck -use it to for normal duties / signalling / blinding / look around obstacles / etc.
Personal water filter for true survival immediate on the run needs.
A few throwing rocks (create diversions / tie points on tarps / etc.).
Pennies or copper strips to replace blown fuses.
Lock picking tools, hammer, prybar, fire ax, anything mechanical that will help you grip, open, apply force will be useful as well.
Good gloves, thick socks, sturdy belt (prefer holes all the way around), sturdy shoes, 550 paracord (bundles), walking staff (many options), large cloth for head/neck use, tiny pliers to use instead of flimsy tweezers, razor blades, get a book on edible plants/nuts/fish (identify local sources of salt / Vit C / Magnesium / Aspirin / Potassium).
Two wheel dolly/wagon with run flat tires to move stuff, manual air pump, funnel, siphon, catch pan that can be sealed.
Quinoa \ Raw local honey as food sources.
Portable radio/headphones (AM / FM / FRS / GMRS / Ham – all run on rechargeable batteries).
Dice / card games / memory games / photos – to help keep everyone sane…And any of the vices for bartering with (drugs / alcohol / books (of all types) / cigs / tobacco / rolling papers / gambling stuff / bar games / etc.
Sanitation will be a HUGE problem.
Positive state of mind will be primary tool, but get what you can now, practice with it, find what you can really tolerate (or not willing to live without) and do your best to be prepared.
Great site! Saw items have not thought of. One item i would recommend is a good camp axe. Not as big as a full axe so it can be transported easier and it has more uses than a small hand axe. A hand axe is great but its more difficult to split larger pieces of wood. My personal favorite is the Gerber Camp Axe.
One other item i wish to comment on is the cigarettes. I agree they make a great barter item however to those that actually use them keep in mind that if you are in a situation trying to avoid being detected cigarette smoke or just the smell of cigarettes has given away the location of many an individual or group. If your trying to hunt for food forget it if you are smoking! Animals can smell you a mile away and will be long gone! On the flip side though they also give away users that may be intent on trying to sneak up and cause an individual trouble. Im speaking from personal experience on this as I was ready for an individual before they were able to cause me harm because i smelled the cigarettes on them well before they got to me!
@highlandwolf, I too have the Gerber Axe, and is the best axe I’ve owned for this general purpose. I highly recommend it to anyone who does not yet have one. Just remember… take care of your tools and they will take care of you.
Gerber Camp Axe With Sheath
Buy a compact book for interpretation. English to Spanish/French/whatever and a chalk board w/chalk – any color (preferably glow in the dark stuff) for sign language (entertainment tool too). Something small and basic. Hand the book to who ever you’re trying to communicate with and let them find the words that fit the situation. Also, a bible, Swiss army knife kit w/LED flashlight, large pack of chewing gum or tobacco, large sturdy whistle, large bottle of water or canteen and mace or pepper spray.
One idea, courtesy of someone who has lived through one too many hurricanes:
For perishable items (which you would normally use), keep them in a plastic box, with a date on the top. After a year, recycle the contents of the perishable items box into your “use every day” items into your home, and replenish the storage box. This way, the contents of your emergency box are not stale.
Also, I’d probably add a solar battery charger and a shaker flashlight.
I think it’s also important to arm yourself with skills/knowledge that can be bartered, whether you’re talking about a hurricane situation for a few weeks or something more long term. Knowing how to build a shelter, cut hair, speak the basics of a few languages, tie good knots, etc. Although there is growing interest in preparedness, lots of people are either still unaware or they’re buying extra food and plan/hope to learn as they go.
For the person above who asked where we’re supposed to store stuff, where there’s a will there’s a way. I know a lot of people who wash their dishes by hand so they can use their dishwasher as storage. You can put things in your freezer that don’t get damaged from freezing (candles are said to actually burn longer if you freeze them). Put yourself an extra coat rack on your wall, and you can use it to hang a variety of tape/twine/light items in bags. If you have any kind of a balcony or patio, practice growing at least one vegetable in a pool or terra cotta pot. Growing veggies is harder than you think and it pays to have tried it at least once.
Absolute essential item to have: a few extra nail clippers. One or two bloody hangnails when you’re in a hurry, and you’re going to start going through the bandaids.
One more quick point about prescriptions. If you are uncomfortable about getting medicine from online, you can build a supply over time by using your regular pharmacy. Although we usually only get a 30 or 90 day supply at a time, they don’t literally make you wait until you’re out of pills. They do allow a few days of leeway. Take advantage of that window. Start getting a 30 day supply every 27 days, and you’ll get a whole month’s worth in less than a year. Just remember though like they mentioned above, a lot of prescriptions really do lose their effectiveness after a few years, so that would not be a long-term solution, it would give you a few months of free pills while you figured out what to do next.
Thank You, I have gleaned such good information, that I would like to share some thoughts:
(A) Purchase a china marker. A China Marker is the cross between a sharpie and pencil. A China Marker does not require a pencil sharpener or knife and will not dry out. The china marker is self sharpening- by peeling off the paper at the bottom of the china marker for a sharper point.
(B)Build your knowledge by attending classes at your your local Cooperative Extension Office. Recently, our local Extension office offered a class on how to butcher a chicken and how to extend your garden’s growing season.
(C)Keep chickens,grow a garden and barter with others.
(D)In your planning and gathering include enough for an elderly or widowed neighbor, friend or family member.
(E)Follow your God leading instincts – a witness, a knowing, as to when something feels right or wrong.
(F)And start your day giving thanks to the great “I Am” and seeking wisdom from his word the Bible.
Peace To You
The one thing I have never noticed on any list anywhere is “How to Guides”. You can spend all your money purchasing items, but once they run out…then what? Guides to teach you how to filter/purify water when you don’t have fancy store bought filters, how to make shelters, how to make gun power, how to treat wounds, guides to educate you on important things like how to skin a deer/elk, what plants are good to eat and which are poisonous. Education is the key.
GUNS & AMMO
None of that stuff is worth it if you can’t protect it.
Animal Traps
When that other stuff runs out you get your own food.
Now you can continue with toilet paper, tin foil and toothbrushes, etc…!!
Animal traps will only be useful for a short time. Look what happened to the deer population during the depression.
Yeah guns,ammo and traps will be important but so will hygiene so soap,toothbrushes ect are just as important. Let a little scrape get infected and you will die just the same as if you starve.There will be alot of dead body’s rotting on the ground in large population areas and that breeds desiese. Try doing some research on death in the middle ages to see if trying to keep clean is important. Oh yeah posting the way you did IMHO makes you seem like a fool and I wouldn’t pay much attention to you due to that. Not saying you are one, just that style of post makes you look like one. If you want people to take you serous then post that way. Again JMHO.
I have had a P-38 can opener on my key ring for thirty years now and use it from time to time not only to open cans, but turn screws and pry open lids. I bought a true military one and it has been worth its weight in gold.
Foot powder and athletes foot powders will also be quite valuable. Here in Florida, the moisture will rot your foot right off of your leg if you neglect your tootsies. Anti fungal powder for general purpose fungus is also a must.
A bible.
Lot of info here. I started prepping for Y2K and quit after things settled down a bit. We live in the mountains in Colorado so we naturally have 3 or 4 months worth of food stored at any given time. I wanted to have something in case we needed to quickly vacate. I started with a small backpack. That quickly got too small so I went with full size 65 liter packs. There is three of us so we all have one. They are loaded. We could last two weeks in winter with no outside food source. We also wanted something in case of forest fires so we bought a 7’X 10? cargo trailer to store everything in. We have the packs all hanging in the front where we could grab and run. In the middle over the axle, we have 800 pounds of beans, rice, dried veggies, spices, you name it. Two years worth at minimum. these are in 5 gal buckets. These are covered by a piece of plywood which has 4, 5? thick firm foam long twin size mattresses. Bedding is piled on top of this. In the back, there is room for a couple of Honda Trail 90’s or mountain bikes or both. We have wood stoves, propane stoves, chain saws, hand saws, axes, hatchets, snow shoes, tarps and more tarps, ammo, seeds, shovels, water purification, propane liquid valves and hose in case you want to capitalize on the contents of abandoned propane tanks. There is too much stuff to remember, let alone list. I think of something I need to add almost everyday. First aid supplies. Several hundred bottles of essential oils. On and on and on. Two way radios. Batteries of all kinds. Solar panels for recharging. Tire repair stuff. Extra inner tubes for the bicycles. Stabilized fuel.
With all this talk about seeds, how about two cheap truck loads of topsoil?
Landscaping timbers and spikes.
Rabbit wire and netting.
Pesticides.
Cooking oil, nobody seems to have mentioned oil. Olive/peanut/vegetable
It’s pretty difficult to talk about defending a modern home without some way to keep any old rifle from coming right through the siding and on out the other side of the house. Building materials being what they are today, if you are behind a wall you are in concealment, not cover.
A truckload or two of sand and 500 sand bags. With some scrap wood, you can close off un-defendable doors and windows and harden the areas you use to go in and out. You can create safe areas for your family and gear. You can even lay them out and create raised beds around your house if you have the top soil, or level areas to farm on hill faces. Lots of fun those sandbags. Don’t forget the hand truck, those things are heavy.
My grandfather was a recyclist from the git go. He would find a cheap french door, cover each side w/plywood and molding…viola instant door! He would put two HUGE closed eye hooks into the STUDS on either side of the door at foot level.
He would measure where the average man would kick IN the door and run a metal pipe through the eye hooks.
Wood will splinter and break, metal won’t given in!
I’m curious, what will you do with all the rubbish? Everyone keeps talking about disposable this and disposable that….
What will you do with all the rubbish you will make from your stores? Have you prepared to set aside a portion of your land as a dump?
Remember cats and dogs. They’re carnivores (well, dogs are omnivores) and their feces cannot be put into a compost pile so you will need that rubbish dump to keep their stuff!
Great Grandma used to put a tin can around fruit trees to keep critter from chewing AND for the metal to rust into the ground for fertilizer. Today’s cans aren’t made with the same stuff and are coated. What will you do with all that stuff you’ve saved?!
What about glass bottles, broken glass, plastic itesm, maxi-pads, disposable diapers, etc?
When those orange liquid laundry detergent jugs empty(the ones with the dispenser spout that hold a few gallons), I rinse them well and store water in them.They make great water dispensers on a sink. I have one for each sink in the house.I keep them covered in plastic ready to go in the cellar.I’ve used them multiple times in power failures since we have well water & electric pump. Generators are great but only as long as gasoline is available and you have it hooked up to your well pump…a good idea to do in advance. Also, I store 2 liter soda bottles filled with water under sinks and on shelves in the basement & cover them with plastic to keep the outside clean. Also, gasoline was hard to come by last year in Jersey for 2 weeks or so. Many had to travel out of state . Having several gas jugs on hand is a good idea.
Zip ties, great handcuffs, Hacksaw blades, for locks, tree saw for firewood, wire for snares,my knifes are box cutters with repl. blades, string for several needs ie: tripwires sewing etc. good firearm shotgun, pistol and .22lr rifle, slingshot, air rifle, water filter pump and water filter straw, purifier pills, tarp for shelter better than tent. Also may want 2 wheel carrier (fold-up type for car).
As for “mirrors”, we all have dozens, or maybe hundreds of them. Try your old CDs, and DVDs. Heck, they already have a hole in them for signalling. Not a perfect mirror for shaving or anything, but acceptable.
Oh, just one more thing:
For those of you who would have trouble pulling the trigger, I suggest you buy a laser/pointer. ($3 to $12 or so) When that red beam flashes across the window, or on somebody’s chest, he just KNOWS you’ve “got a gun on him”. Chances are, he’ll be gone in a second, off to find an easier target.
Be careful with that light, it might draw fire and that’s the last thing you may want, but with saying that, its not a bad idea.