I tend to look at preparedness overly complex. Solar panels, inverters, walkie-talkies, 2M ham radio, HF ham radio, single-sideband CB, scanners, LED CREE flashlights with backup chargers, etc. Some of this stuff might be more expensive than complicated but you get my drift.
Preparedness really doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve been thinking about the saying – “beans, bullets, and band-aids”. That’s pretty simple. Stockpile extra food, buy a shotgun with some extra ammo and have medical supplies to handle general injuries. Not very complicated.
Some of my favorite preparedness items:
- Fresnel Lens – love these things. If the sun is out it is so easy to start a fire given the right flammable source. They are flexible, durable, and easily fit in any pack.
- Matches – so cheap and a lifetime supply can be put back in a plastic tote.
- Aluminum foil – so many uses and difficult to find any kind of substitute for. Available at the Dollar Store.
- Plastic sheeting – available at Wally World in the paint section. This can be used in a variety of ways including expedient shelter. There are different thicknesses. Don’t get too thin or it tears easily.
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste – another Dollar Store trip can get years worth of brushes and toothpaste for $20.00.
- Soda Bottles – soft drink containers can be rinsed out and reused to store water.
- 5-gallon buckets – there are entire books dedicated to bucket projects.
- Triple antibiotic ointment – yup…Dollar Store. Stuff works great.
- Pens/pencils
- Cord – doesn’t have to be paracord but any kind of cordage/line is extremely useful.
- Zip Ties – tons of uses and they are so cheap.
There’s a thousand more to add to the list. Come on – what do you think?
Rourke
There are many reasons why so many love their Kindle and Amazon Fire tablets. One huge advantage is you could literally go years without every buying a book to read as there are tons of free eBooks available. Don’t have a Kindle or Fire? No problem. There are apps that can be installed on most any cell phone or computer for free. No excuses!
Today’s Freebies
Survival Guide: A Beginner’s Guide to Help You Survive in the Forest
Safe House: Build and Manage Your Secure Survival Home
On the Cheap…..
NOTE: If you see a free preparedness eBook that you’re interested in get it now. Prices change often and there is no way to tell how long the book will remain free. Before purchasing a free Kindle book on Amazon make certain the book is still free by making sure the price is $0.00. If it lists a price or says “read for free” or has a price for prime members the book is not free anymore.
This is a good reminder. I have my tech supplies, and then the necessities. None of the tech is worth anything if you are starving.
Good point John. I enjoy my tech stuff but food, water, shelter – the are necessities.
I found this book free today
https://www.amazon.com/Paracord-Useful-Projects-Instructions-Bracelets-ebook/dp/B06XZ26GQ2/ref=pd_sim_351_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=REW0YXR3ENTHET0V3HRC
This year I started paying attention to supplies I might need to repair things around the property. Since being a little ‘longer-in-tooth’ I like to be self sufficient. Some basics: Penetrating oil to get rusty stuff loose – common screw, nut & bolt sizes – locks and lock repair kits – a good file set for sharpening saws – wire nuts and electrical tape – common nails. We also purchased a good quality collapsable clothes line with cover from G&G Industries in Iowa. Definitely recommend it. Tons more, but I’ll stop here. Have a good, safe weekend !
Cordage. Lots of cordage in all sizes. By the way, how come all the guys in the picture were left handed shooter?
Left-handers are the best shots. Didn’t you know that? 😉
Did you also notice in the picture that because they were left handed shooters their mask filters would be in the way of shooting their rifles? A concern I have as well being a leftie.
Nope – didn’t see that Myke. Good observation.
Cleaning supplies. WD40, duct tape, and soap.
Yes – good suggestions Capt. Michaels. Cleaning supplies is an area I used to be stocked way up and qty has dwindled. Need to stock back up.
Having recently gone through an infection where I used some of my supplies as a test, while I can fix it with a doc and still replace them. Things like antibiotics and simple decongestants and antiseptics, Imagine getting an easily corrected Upper GI or Lower GI issue and dying from pneumonia. It’s what happened to kids and elderly as well as they healthy up through the early part of the 20th century.I give blood one a week or more working on my place and that quick trip to the minor med could become one long bad ride without simple inexpensive meds.
GG58
Good points GG58.
All good points, but comms are still very important and a Technician (ham) license will just cost about $15, and a pretty good radio can be had for $60 or less
I wan’t discounting communications just pointing out that there are numerous simple preps out there that are very valuable. I often promote communications related to ham radio.
I try to buy stuff as cheaply as possible…. Goodwill, Clearance, Yard Sales, Facebook.
My wife knows nothing about back packs but buys me one at Goodwill.
Gets it home and it wasn’t empty.
For $14 dollars I ended up with the following….
JanSport 90L External Frame Backpack – $120
Wenger 0 degree sleeping bag – $100
Eureka 1 person tent – $80
100′ rope – $50
Child’s backpack – $20
Egg holder – $4
Bought 2 old manual crank screw drivers at a yard sale for $5.
Without being specific, got 2 big boy toys and a lower (all off the books) for very deep discount.
Great deals Jim! What a find!