[charito]

Some folks never even thought of prepping........until now.
Having to do it suddenly, and with limited cash (due to the current economic situation), can be very daunting, and scary - when we feel the pressure to prepare for what might come after the election. Don't fret.
Depending on your budget, aim to prep that would be good for a week or two, and if you can - even for a month.

You don't aim to do everything all at once!
It took years for me (and others), to get the hang of it and get to where we are today as far as preparation is concerned.
And, though I can say we're prepared - in our household, it is still far from perfect!

This thread is devoted to help with ideas on how to do a "crash" prepping on a very low budget.

First, stop throwing your coke, juice and water bottles in the recycle bin. Clean/sanitize them out now, and start filling them with water!
Just in case our drinking water gets compromised in a situation - you've got to have safe drinking water. Think of water for cooking, too.
So it doesn't hurt to have as much water as you possibly can.

Aiming for 2 weeks or so supply, I would start with these (as much as you can afford).
Remember, the idea is to keep us off the streets when it isn't safe to be out there.
Also to keep in mind that there might be disruptions in food production/deliveries and stores could get empty.

eggs (2 dozen)
peanut butter (1 large tub)
bread (if you can buy at least 3, put them in freezer so they will last - just make sure you use them up first whenever you buy a fresh loaf.
First in-first out.)
Oatmeal (you might need sugar to go with it)

Canned soup
Pancake mix (complete - just add water) note: pancakes can become substitute for breads.
Cup noodles and/or minute ramen noodles and/or Kraft Dinner
Pasta sauce
Pasta

Baby food and needs - diapers, wipes, rash ointment (if applicable)

Flu meds
your special meds

Pet food (if you have pets)

Toilet Paper

 

[Annie]

If I had to start from scratch right now I go for the stuff below:

rice
canned beans
cooking oil
bouillon cubes
As Charito said, refill drinking bottles. Best choice might be seltzer bottles.
Soap
Prescription meds
Flashlight and batteries
If you're in an area that's going to have cold weather, that's a whole other consideration.

 

[1skrewsloose]

Found this recently--https://1776patriotusa.com/new-first-100-things-disappear-shtf/

I don't agree with the order if they're supposed to be in order of importance, hope the list doesn't overwhelm.

Lots of these items can be had at the Dollar store.

 

[Slippy]

Organize a surprise night raid of your mormon neighbor...:vs_blush:

 

[jimcosta]

I agree with Annie's list to start with.
On your second shopping spree:

I would add a bottle of non-scented bleach for water purification.
Then add some canned tomatoes (or spaghetti sauce) and pasta.

Then throw in some nutrients like cans of corn, green beans and mixed vegetables.

When you can afford it, add some canned spam, chicken or tuna for an occasional meat treat, though unneeded.

On the medical side, pick up some canned peaches. The stress may cause your food to "back up" so to say.

 

[jimcosta]

On your third shopping spree, add the heavy equipment:

Toilet Paper Replacement: Pump Sprayer ($15)

Bag of cheap bars of soap. They can be shaved and used for hands, clothes and dish washing.

Make a rocket stove out of concrete blocks ($5),
Or one out of tin cans (Free).

 

[SOCOM42]

If I had to start from scratch right now I go for the stuff below:

rice
canned beans
cooking oil
bouillon cubes
As Charito said, refill drinking bottles. Best choice might be seltzer bottles.
Soap
Prescription meds
Flashlight and batteries
If you're in an area that's going to have cold weather, that's a whole other consideration.

This is a good list, have every one of these covered.

Rice, 350 pounds, good for a year of consumption here.

Canned beans around 150 cans of great northern and navy beans plus 50 pounds of dried navy, this is "ready" food not LTS stuff..

Cooking oil, four gallons, have to watch expiry dates on them.

Bullion cubes, have two large club containers of 75 large soft cubes in each, just one with beef, mostly use Chinese spices.

Water, not a problem here, town water, a well and a river/lake on two sides of me, can treat with several methods if needed.

I have gallons of distilled water piled into unusable closet and under counter space, the distilled has less probability of bacterial contamination,

plus all the unwanted particles are removed in the process, it is available at Wally World for around 88 cents a gallon.

I did a Methylene blue stain on some, there was nothing in it that was not dissolved, inspection done with a 1K power lens in my microscope.

Plenty of meds for years.

Plenty of flashlights, batteries and chargers, every room has a minimum of two,

at least one is in a wall mounted charger in each room, all are Streamlights,

Kitchen has one wall mounted one right beside the door and one under the kitchen cabinets near the stove.

Winter is almost here, it was 37F overnight, a thousand gallons of heating oil is being delivered on Monday.

These are key items to have, at least start on an inventory of each item, then expand it, it won't take long to build it up.

For those with needed heating, a Big Buddy with 20# propane tanks can be a lifesaver, select one room to live in and close it off

with blankets nailed up if needed, sleeping bags and cots if needed.

 

[Prepared One]

Start with the basics, you can't afford to do it all at once. If you have the basics covered your probably better off the 60 or 70% of the population. I would add protection as a most basic need. Without a means to protect your shit, it will be someone else shit before long.

 

[Real Old Man]

Stay away from places like patiot supply and mountain house. you can get similar non freeze dried items (sure they won't last 30 years) canned goods anywhere from 4 to 8 times as much for the same price (from places like walmart. Getting the same from sam's club gets you even more. Plus in a pinch (like GI's used to do) you can eat them right out of the can cold.

 

[paulag1955]

Organize a surprise night raid of your mormon neighbor...:vs_blush:

I LOLed.

 

[inceptor]

Organize a surprise night raid of your mormon neighbor...:vs_blush:

What I have found there is that the majority of them do not prep. They don't have time. Things to do, places to go and things to buy. Some have told others that when things get bad, they will be coming to visit.

 

[inceptor]

What I did and still do is buy a little extra of what you normally eat and rotate it. By adding a little each time you will be surprised how soon you have enough to last quite a while.

Once I had that built up then it was on to bulk beans and rice along with freeze dried food. I've even recently learned to can. Not bad for a city boy.

Just make sure you add everyday stuff like soap, cleaning supplies, etc.

 

[Slippy]

I LOLed.

Thank You very much for laughing!

Mrs Slippy often says; "Slippy, you think you're funny but you're SNOT!"

Cracks me up every time...:vs_laugh:

 

[stowlin]

Be aware of their intro specials that are nicely discounted. I personally have never bought into these companies goods but I do take advantage of their starter packs when available as they are loss leaders to get you in. They are light weight and take up little space which is important to mariners.

Stay away from places like patiot supply and mountain house. you can get similar non freeze dried items (sure they won't last 30 years) canned goods anywhere from 4 to 8 times as much for the same price (from places like walmart. Getting the same from sam's club gets you even more. Plus in a pinch (like GI's used to do) you can eat them right out of the can cold.

 

[stowlin]

Get down to a sporting good store, Walmart in many states, and buy a Maverick shotgun for $225 and $75 might still get you 300 rounds of bird shot. Maybe $25 more for some essential 04 / 00 bucks. It is far better than nothing.

 

[inceptor]

Be aware of their intro specials that are nicely discounted. I personally have never bought into these companies goods but I do take advantage of their starter packs when available as they are loss leaders to get you in. They are light weight and take up little space which is important to mariners.

When they are available the LDS store has a decent starter pack that's reasonable. That was one of the first one's I bought.

 

[JustAnotherNut]

Don't be afraid of shopping the markdown or clearance sections of any store, you'd be surprised at the deals you can find. Not just grocery stores with discontinued items or dented cans (as long as the ends aren't bulging or leaking), even cans without labels are all marked down cheap as well as meat, freezer or even some dairy.

If you do any canning or dehydrating....check produce stands or farmers markets (especially toward the end of the day) for any 'uglies' or whatever they may call it, (sometimes is also known as pig or chicken feed) but is essentially bruised or tired produce than can be had for cheap often by the box full. Just have to pick thru it, then process.

If you have a dehydrator.....save those little bits that are leftover (depending on what it is, of course). Be sure to wash off any fats or oils, till water runs clear, then dry it. Got some tired veggies or salad or greens that aren't so appetizing, but hate to throw it out? Pick it over for any slimy or bad spots, rinse it well & dehydrate.

Same with atleast some cooked meats. Trim off any fat and/or skin, rinse under hot water to get all the fat or oils off.....then slice & dry.

Don't have a dehydrator??? Use your oven....turn on lowest temperature setting, put rack on highest shelf and leave the door propped open for air flow. Just be sure to check it often and turn or stir up the food. Things like spinach or thin leafy greens can dry just fine if left out on the counter spread out on a rack. Those leafies are then best ground to a powder to add to other recipes the same as you would a seasoning. It's not perfect, but it can be done.

Hardware stores may also have a section of miscuts or bowed lumber that is also marked down or even free and can be used for many building or repair projects.

 

[Annie]

This is a good list, have every one of these covered.

Rice, 350 pounds, good for a year of consumption here.

Canned beans around 150 cans of great northern and navy beans plus 50 pounds of dried navy, this is "ready" food not LTS stuff..

Cooking oil, four gallons, have to watch expiry dates on them.

Bullion cubes, have two large club containers of 75 large soft cubes in each, just one with beef, mostly use Chinese spices.

Was at the Chinese supermarket yesterday. Picked me up a bunch of sauces. Thought of you. :tango_face_wink:

Winter is almost here, it was 37F overnight, a thousand gallons of heating oil is being delivered on Monday.

These are key items to have, at least start on an inventory of each item, then expand it, it won't take long to build it up.

For those with needed heating, a Big Buddy with 20# propane tanks can be a lifesaver, select one room to live in and close it off

with blankets nailed up if needed, sleeping bags and cots if needed.

This!

 

[stowlin]

FWIW most marinas especially stateside are tough on live aboard boats, but I’d suspect that would change in a series crisis and undoing of society. Most marinas are gated at shore, have lots of like minded people and here is the thing. A perfectly capable 27-32 foot sailboat is probably $5-7k today and will or could take you most anywhere - even though where it is, in the marina, might just be the best place for having shelter.

 

[charito]

This is in response to the member who sent me a private message - I can't message you back.
It won't accept my response to you, so I'm posting it here:

I hear you. A lot of people must be on the same boat - even here, due to our massive job losses.

The only concern in the immediate future is the possible unrest after the election (no matter who wins).
That's in the first week of November. So....the clock is ticking on this one.

Just concentrate right now on water and food supplies that would last you for at least 2 weeks. That's very doable in our limited cash situation.
In STHF situation - we'll eat what's available even if it's the same thing everyday! Then, add from there when you can.

Pork and beans is a very practical idea which I forgot to mention - they're cheap, high in nutrition and can be eaten out of a can
(in case of power outage).
They can store a long time (even if you end up not having to use them). make sure you check the expiration date.
Nissin Cup-O-Noodles is high in protein too, and they're also cheap.
You can eat oatmeal without cooking - just soak them overnight . Lots of recipes online.

Do an inventory what's in your pantry right now - you probably already have at least a week's supply sitting there.
Set aside what you'd need in case of SHTF, like some sugar, or some opened Uncle Ben's, pasta sauce/tomato sauce etc..,

Flu meds and antibiotic ointment to prevent infections of wounds and burns (or what you normally use in your household), if you can.

The good news is, even if there is no problem after the election, at least you already have the very basic and you're on your way to prepping for anything that could happen. You can start adding and building it up.
That's how a lot of us had started. Just buy what you'd normally use so you can rotate them as you go.