Posted: 2/19/2010 5:43:34 AM EDT
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Hey all...
Since my saved dollars are about to inflate to worthlessness anyway I've decided to drop another $1000 or so in preps, but I'm not sure where best to put my cash. Here are some highlights of stuff I already have: * No debt * +/- 6 months of food for the wife and myself * Several rifles (FAL, AK, SKS, Garand) with at least 800 rounds each, 2500+ rounds each for our two "go to" ARs * 9mm pistols with at least 500 rounds each * Basic medical and hygiene supplies * chest rigs/load bearing vests/holsters/etc Here are a few things I know I either need or would like to have: * Country Living grain mill to replace my cheapo grain mill ($400) * More food * Non-hybrid seeds * A good pair of boots * Good BOBs for wife & me * More ammo, particularly some more 9mm and 5.56mm for the ARs * Training (I'm ex-LEO, but the wife needs it bad) * Osprey Piston kit for one of the ARs (much more a "want" than "need") Also thinking about replacing my paid for Ford Taurus with a used F150 pickup (for which I'd pay cash), but that's a little beyond the scope of this exercise. Ideas, suggestions? |
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how are you set for water and water purification?
definitely get the bob's pulled together. and boots for both you and your wife are a must, as well as gloves, rain gear, etc. also, i didn't see a generator listed - got one? if not, get one and store some extra fuel. if you run down your list of most likely SHTF scenarios and make sure you're prepped for each (e.g., you have food/water, shelter, protection, comfort covered), eventually, you'll run into areas where you need to add stuff. initially, though, the BOBs and water are huge. |
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Quoted:
how are you set for water and water purification? definitely get the bob's pulled together. and boots for both you and your wife are a must, as well as gloves, rain gear, etc. also, i didn't see a generator listed - got one? if not, get one and store some extra fuel. if you run down your list of most likely SHTF scenarios and make sure you're prepped for each (e.g., you have food/water, shelter, protection, comfort covered), eventually, you'll run into areas where you need to add stuff. initially, though, the BOBs and water are huge. Yeah, I forgot water. I have a couple of chlorine treated 55gal barrels and a hand pump. It's a start, but I definitely need more. Finding storage containers that don't smell like Dr. Pepper or cost $60 each in shipping has been my biggest stumbling block there. The BOBs are nice to haves, but we are definitely planning a bug-in unless dire circumstances force a move. Though I know at least a good GHB is necessary for each vehicle. |
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Quoted:
how are you set for water and water purification? definitely get the bob's pulled together. and boots for both you and your wife are a must, as well as gloves, rain gear, etc. also, i didn't see a generator listed - got one? if not, get one and store some extra fuel. if you run down your list of most likely SHTF scenarios and make sure you're prepped for each (e.g., you have food/water, shelter, protection, comfort covered), eventually, you'll run into areas where you need to add stuff. initially, though, the BOBs and water are huge. +1 I think you still have to keep in mind you may be mobile at some point. If so, you'll need clean water. If you are on foot you'll need the boots, etc. |
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Don't focus too much on the guns, at leats the "tactical" ones. You have a good stock, focus on other things before going deeper into them
Medical supplies- what do you mean by a "basic" kit? Get at least one really good kit, and keep that in your car, with smaller kits in your home, workplace, shop etc. Training- look at an EMT-B course. There is a community college here in western NC that does EMT-B online, with the class meeting 1-2 Saturdays a month for the hands on. People from all over the southeast take the course and travel up for the weekend classes. You local CC likely offers classes as well. Got a good wood stove and some wood? (assuming bugging in is your primary plan) Got a good .22 rifle and about 10k rounds? 22 is cheap to train with, and you can take small game all day long with it. I would also suggest that a good .22 suppressor and a pistol and rifle with barrels threaded for it is a very, very valuable tool for taking small game and dispatching vermin quietly. |
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MrMorden, i plan on bugging in, as well, until the F5 or the zombie hordes overrun our property, in which case we're outta there. many things can ruin your bug in plans. fire, flood, chemical spills, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. none may be a high probability, but a little prep will go a long way.
some water, even if you have to treat it to drink it is better than none. rain water stored in a 32 gallon plastic trash can, w/ a hole cut in the lid to catch run off from the roof w/ a mesh screen to keep mosquitoes out is simple, crude, but effective. are you on a well? if so, then some way to power your pump when you lose power is essential. if you're on septic, then you're good in that area, but if you're on city sewer and it goes down, you'll need an alternative setup to take care of waste. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
how are you set for water and water purification? definitely get the bob's pulled together. and boots for both you and your wife are a must, as well as gloves, rain gear, etc. also, i didn't see a generator listed - got one? if not, get one and store some extra fuel. if you run down your list of most likely SHTF scenarios and make sure you're prepped for each (e.g., you have food/water, shelter, protection, comfort covered), eventually, you'll run into areas where you need to add stuff. initially, though, the BOBs and water are huge. +1 I think you still have to keep in mind you may be mobile at some point. If so, you'll need clean water. If you are on foot you'll need the boots, etc. True. We have a big gravity filter for water, but I do need a more mobile filter. The boots I think are a given. I have a couple of pair, but none really up to the task. |
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Quoted:
Don't focus too much on the guns, at leats the "tactical" ones. You have a good stock, focus on other things before going deeper into them Medical supplies- what do you mean by a "basic" kit? Get at least one really good kit, and keep that in your car, with smaller kits in your home, workplace, shop etc. Training- look at an EMT-B course. There is a community college here in western NC that does EMT-B online, with the class meeting 1-2 Saturdays a month for the hands on. People from all over the southeast take the course and travel up for the weekend classes. You local CC likely offers classes as well. Got a good wood stove and some wood? (assuming bugging in is your primary plan) Got a good .22 rifle and about 10k rounds? 22 is cheap to train with, and you can take small game all day long with it. I would also suggest that a good .22 suppressor and a pistol and rifle with barrels threaded for it is a very, very valuable tool for taking small game and dispatching vermin quietly. I have two 10/22s (one with scope, one with irons), and several K ammo (not 10K but several). I would not say I'm focused on guns, I was just pointing out what I have and would like to have so folks could make informed suggestions.  I have mixed feeling on getting myself into the NFA registry (Though I do have a C&R  )...if I wanted to be vewy quiet I'd probably just use reduced power .22 rounds.
No wood stove, but a fireplace and dutch ovens that could work in a pinch. We just spent a LOT of time building up a good stock of wood for the FP as well. I have definitely thought about an EMT class. Can you give me a cost estimate on that? |
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Some ideas:
LED headlamps bullet resistant vest Alarm system Upgrade door hardware Safe Fruit tree for the backyard Ham radio and license Replacement parts for your stoves, guns, etc More food Holsters / slings for your firearms Security camera setup Emergency fund |
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Quoted:
MrMorden, i plan on bugging in, as well, until the F5 or the zombie hordes overrun our property, in which case we're outta there. many things can ruin your bug in plans. fire, flood, chemical spills, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. none may be a high probability, but a little prep will go a long way. some water, even if you have to treat it to drink it is better than none. rain water stored in a 32 gallon plastic trash can, w/ a hole cut in the lid to catch run off from the roof w/ a mesh screen to keep mosquitoes out is simple, crude, but effective. are you on a well? if so, then some way to power your pump when you lose power is essential. if you're on septic, then you're good in that area, but if you're on city sewer and it goes down, you'll need an alternative setup to take care of waste. Sadly, we're on city water. I'd dig a well, but we're hoping to move to TX, ID or MT in a few years to our final homestead, and don't want to make a lot of SHTF improvements to this property. The waste issue has loomed large in my mind. I can dig a latrine or set up an outhouse, but eventually you have to remove the waste. I guess I can remove a manhole cover in the street and dump it in there until it stops flowing. 
I definitely would like to set up a rain catch system. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't focus too much on the guns, at leats the "tactical" ones. You have a good stock, focus on other things before going deeper into them Medical supplies- what do you mean by a "basic" kit? Get at least one really good kit, and keep that in your car, with smaller kits in your home, workplace, shop etc. Training- look at an EMT-B course. There is a community college here in western NC that does EMT-B online, with the class meeting 1-2 Saturdays a month for the hands on. People from all over the southeast take the course and travel up for the weekend classes. You local CC likely offers classes as well. Got a good wood stove and some wood? (assuming bugging in is your primary plan) Got a good .22 rifle and about 10k rounds? 22 is cheap to train with, and you can take small game all day long with it. I would also suggest that a good .22 suppressor and a pistol and rifle with barrels threaded for it is a very, very valuable tool for taking small game and dispatching vermin quietly. I have two 10/22s (one with scope, one with irons), and several K ammo (not 10K but several). I would not say I'm focused on guns, I was just pointing out what I have and would like to have so folks could make informed suggestions. I have mixed feeling on getting myself into the NFA registry (Though I do have a C&R )...if I wanted to be vewy quiet I'd probably just use reduced power .22 rounds.
No wood stove, but a fireplace and dutch ovens that could work in a pinch. We just spent a LOT of time building up a good stock of wood for the FP as well. I have definitely thought about an EMT class. Can you give me a cost estimate on that? The online class they offer is $175 +$110 for books. You need a CPR certification first, if you don't have it that runs around $50-75 |
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nice to see you have no debt! even though the dollar's future is questionable, do you have at least 6 months of living expenses stashed up? hopefully the "another 1k" you want to drop isn't all your cash! shit is more likely to break than hit the fan.
ETA i vote good boots and a spare pair for you and the wife. |
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Quoted:
nice to see you have no debt! even though the dollar's future is questionable, do you have at least 6 months of living expenses stashed up? hopefully the "another 1k" you want to drop isn't all your cash! shit is more likely to break than hit the fan. ETA i vote good boots and a spare pair for you and the wife. No, it's not all my money, hehe. I wouldn't spend all my money on preps any more than I would spend it all on insurance! 
The wife has some good boots, so I only need to buy one pair. I'm a very common size 11, so I won't need a lifetime supply right away (though a spare pair might be a good idea). Back to the water thing, does anybody have a good source of new, food grade water containers that won't break the bank to have shipped/delivered? |