I'm new to prepping, I've been mulling over it for the past 6mo or so, but have never really put anything back except a few days worth of canned food and such. I'm worried something may happen this fall and want to make sure my wife and daughter can ride out economic hardships the best we can. I'm virtually debt-free, only owing on my house, so that's no biggie. I'm sitting on $1k at the moment that I can spend on either preps or possibly some gold/silver. What can I aquire that would make the most of my money and get me at least started? I'm open to any suggestions, whether they be knowledge or physical things. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

What I have already:
1. Generator
2. Truck
3. BOB filled with mostly clothing
4. Arms w/ some ammo
5. Weather Radio
6. One book on farming under 1acre of land
7. 55gal Rain Barrel

I was thinking along the same lines. I'm just a little overwhelmed trying to figure out how to get the best bang for my buck, how far my budget will get me when it comes to food.

Agreed.

I think you should examine your priorities. First, you could buy a vacuum sealer, dehydrator, and pressure canner and have a little bit left over for accessories (like mason jars and the vacuum sealer attachment for the jars, tools for canning, vacuum seal bags, etc. etc.). This would set you up to really save food in the long run.

If you are more worried about short term, then maybe a water tank with pump and some food would make you feel better. Of course, you have to be careful with what food you get and watch the shelf life, since you can't yet can, dehydrate, or vacuum seal it.

The way you set up your post sounds like you are on the Dave Ramsey debt plan. If that $1000 is your emergency fund, I would say don't spend it on this! You should budget a little more money towards food each grocery trip. Buy two of things that you eat, and focus on the stuff with long shelf life first. Also budget an envelope to buy the water tank down the road. You can buy a bunch of cases of bottled water that will get a family of three through at least a few days by adding that to your grocery budget too.

Two questions for you.

What book do you have?

If you were to buy silver ($1000 won't buy an ounce of gold...), what would you do with it? Let's say that the entire system broke tomorrow. How much of your goods or labor are worth one silver coin? How much do you think you will be able to purchase with your silver coin? If you put that into terms of gold, it just gets ridiculous.

In my mind, along with water storage is water filtration as a primary prep.

With careful shopping, a carbon block filter [$10] in a 10" housing [$12] and a ceramic filter 'candle' [$25] in a 10" housing [$12] and some 1/4" tubing plastic Guest fittings and valves [$15] and you have the basics to filter reasonably clean scavanged water. Everything is on ebay at good prices.

Knowledge of how to mix, match and connect various filters, tubing etc will be gotten when you learn how to put your system together.

A small RV pump for say $80 and some more fittings will give you the ability to process your water through an RO system for some really great water that arguably you ought be drinking now for health issues.

Back to the knowledge issue, I'm sure you are aware that having money to spend to "get prepped" is only a part of what's required to succeed. Being able to work with, repair, modify, adapt, stuff is essential.

Many folks get the stuff, put it on the shelf and figger they will get it out and use it in an emergency. I do too...

It's a great way to fail.

My opinion: Water, fire, ammo. In that order.

Make sure you have access to, and can sterilize for drinking plenty of water. If you live in t he city: water storage and filters. Well: Way to get it out of the ground without electricity.

Fire: $10 worth of lighters and matches sealed up will do.If you keep some firewood split/stacked in the yard, you have heat for whatever. You may need a pit/BBQ to burn in.

Make sure you own REAL blankets that keep you warm in the winter if you have no heat. Extra pairs of boots, work gloves, etc on hand.

Ammo: Can use it in a weapon to:
-Defend yourself and loved ones
-Hunt food (if rural, or can get rural to hunt)
-Trade it for supplies you don't have. It will be very valuable. (in a really bad SHTF scenario. Your 2 week power-outage won't probably result in ammo=money)
-Keep to common calibers. And make sure you have a good hunting .22 (10-22 or my favorite: Marlin model 60) and LOTS of .22 ammo. For $40 bucks you can have over 1000 rounds of bulk pack Federal or Remington. You can take down deer with a well placed .22 shot at 50 yards. Dinner for weeks for 2 cents.
If you don't have a pistol and holster: I recommend one. Unlike a rifle, a Pistol can ALWAYS be with you.

I would not bother with precious metals. That is good if you need to safeguard money. You need 'stuff'. The Exception: silver silverwear. Silver is anti-microbial. A set will ensure you are eating off a biologically clean utensil every time, even with sub-par washing. You only need silver-plated stuff. You can pick it up cheap at yard sales, and thrift shops. Real pure silver would cost you.

A lot depends on your situation, neighbors and surroundings, and what you are prepping for. TEOTWAWKI, economic recession, extended power outage. First have enough everything for 3 days. Then go from there.
Also, PRACTICE whenever possible.

YMMV

"The Exception: silver silverwear. Silver is anti-microbial. A set will ensure you are eating off a biologically clean utensil every time, even with sub-par washing. You only need silver-plated stuff. You can pick it up cheap at yard sales, and thrift shops. Real pure silver would cost you."

Good info -thanks!

Food: Spend some of your money on the common food you eat now. Rotate it while you are putting more back. Common food is easy to prepare and your family will recognize it as edible. A camp stove that your wife can use to heat it up. Think about the things that can keep you at home while neighbors are going to motels. FAK, heat, fan, light (propane, liquid fuel, or battery), smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, etc.

Plus, relax a little, try not to get too worked up. Make a list on what you need and work from it. Teach the spouse on how to use the gear you buy. If you camp for fun now, you are on your way. Camping is fun family time and a way to check and test gear for a SHTF.


How are you on a supply of fuel for your generator?
How are you on heat for your home in the winter?
Heavy extension cords for your generator?

if you haven't seen the Wendy DeWitt video on food preparation.....spend the hour or so....she is LDS and they are the pros....

I had initially vacuum sealed some staples (rice, beans,powdered milk,pasta,boullion cubes, salt, sugar, cooking oil... basically anything under $1 a pound) and have about 3 months in 5 gal buckets, but after watching her video, have begun to vacuum pack in glass jars....

I invested in a dehydrator (for prep and not a no electricity item) and high end pressure canner... to preserve any perishables without refrigeration

you have a weather radio... does it have SAME alert technology so you can custom tune for alarms you want...my Midland 300W worked great for the tornadoes in TS Debbie

I have a shallow well. with a deep piston hand pump.. if you have a shallow water table, get a sand point and drive a well.... and invested in a Sawyer 5 gallon .1 micron filter, because it can be backflushed... .SODIS or calcium hypochlorite secondary purification... about 20 gallons stored hurricane season to season

3 bulk propane tanks to fill 1# bottles, for catalytic heater and camp stove for hurricane emergency.... heavy duty rocket stove for long term cooking.... looking into SOS Solar oven and solar dehydrator

I've shot USPSA for 30years and 3 gun for about 15, so have a pretty good reloading capability

I live about 3 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.... it is my protein source.... good cast net and snatch pole

I can't over emphasize the need to watch the Wendy DeWitt video before you start any type of food storage... she will save you from making mistakes

OverScoped... yes... she has an additional one (YouTube) that is a continuous 1hr26 min or so at a different venue that is very similar, couple of the questions from the audience are different...she has PDF files on her web site..."everything under the Sun" total amounts and menu included

Thanks for that, I'll check those resources out. I'll probably start with seeing if the local LDS is open to sell me their food and make a poor-man's water filtration system, then buy a couple books on self-sufficiency.

Good thinking! Mine too.

We use one compact RO system [cost $55] and the filters have been in service since abt 2006 still w/ excellent TDS. Also have a couple systems here and there incl in the mtn and drinking the great tasting water from it now.

Save your $$$ vs the Berky and get a $20 TDS meter off ebay.

Avoid the box store RO systems that use special filters to the mfgr. Get one that uses standard 10" filters to save $$$ when you finally need to change them.

Good idea to keep spares for an emergency and to be able to hook a 12vdc sprayer pump ot RV pump to it as well. That's the way the one I'm drinking from is hooked up.

I saw the mylar bucket thread and haven't gotten through it just yet, sounds like an awesomely cheap way to store food. Any particular types of rice/beans/pasta that preserves well? Is there a list somewhere of what can be safely stored in those bags?