Posted: 12/20/2012 7:31:51 PM EDT
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I've spent this past year "prepping" most of my focus was guns/ammo with food and water being second. I decided I need a new focus for 2013 because the safe is full.
Ive got the weapon side squared away Primary rifle and backup Primary pistol and back up A few thousand rds for each Spare parts and tools Quality gear that works for me. I'm a veteran 11B  I continue to take classes and stay proficient.
Food could always be better. I have what I estimate to last my family 6 months A lot of canned food rice noodles tuna beans oatmeal ect Plenty of water some cash on hand in small bills and some silver coins Plenty of TP Plenty of charcoal 15 gallons of gasoline that I rotate every 4 months A bug out bag/ a plan and a place to go. A get home bag And a wife that's all about being prepared! Want to get more family members on board to lighten the load if something happens. Can't help everyone :( I would like to add a generator more food and water and what ever else y'all can suggest. My mind is open! |
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TJ is unbeatable for practical advice....he taught me (as lurker years ago) to prepare for the most likely scenario first and then work up to the least likely.
Water, food, shelter, cooking.... get those squared away - plus disaster related supplies (plan for dealing with a house fire, no power in summer. no power in winter. trees down through roof, down across entire county....) Much will revolve around tools but also neighbors. 98% of emergencies do not require us to be packing firearms. But almost all emergencies that occur at home will involve other people so get to know your neighbors. OPSEC is one thing. But be known as that friendly, can-do guy who is a nice neighbor and you'll be surprised how things turn out when the chips are down. Suppose there IS a global socio-political-economic meltdown in 2013.... suppose all hell does break out.... all the preps for a natural disaster will be what you need most of the time anyway. Especially working with neighbors. If faced with general anarchy we need to be the rocks or glue that keep our corner of civilization together. That doesn't mean showing up with the guns, it means we've already established friendships in the neighborhood, trust, and thus can be either leaders or advisors to leaders who happen - if all heck comes our way to have heavier stuff to haul out than we initially let on. |
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One of the members here is called Shane. I think his blog is "a place with no name" or something like that. He did a really cool flow chart on how to prepare for Katrina and subsequent articles on how to make a dedicated flash drive and physical sachel full of your IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS... resume, passport, insurance stuff, tax returns, etc. - stuff that if lost (in flood, fire, burglary) are really a PITA to replace.
Alot of this is simple de-cluttering but he had some really cool ideas. I wish I had the link but it's around here somewhere. Dave Ramsey.... make a budget and a short, medium and long term financial plan.... create a monthly budget for preps - or at least a line item to save x amount per pay check for Y prep or the generic category... so you can better make decisions and purchases.... Budget time and money to reach out and get to know the neighbors....BBQs, holiday gifts/cards.... I have 1 dedicated rubber maid bin for "social justice" food - ramen, canned goods etc. to give to needy people in 'normal' emergencies. Be involved civically and in local church scene.... if you hunker in the bunker you'll be a target. If you're one of the upstanding community elders.... then YOU are civilization. |
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I certainly hope the weapons stay in the safe. No way I want my family exposed to the deadly force of others, which is the only reason to get them out.
It's easy to tell how serious folks are about preps. The serious stock food and water. The players and hobbyists stock up on guns.. Ops |
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Quoted: I certainly hope the weapons stay in the safe. No way I want my family exposed to the deadly force of others, which is the only reason to get them out. It's easy to tell how serious folks are about preps. The serious stock food and water. The players and hobbyists stock up on guns.. Ops Yes, but in certain situations, meaningful weapons (or access to them) show security, and that can be invaluable for moral. But 3 dozen ARs and a belt fed is probably really over-kill as far as what is 'needed' in 99.9% of situations. |
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Quoted: TJ is unbeatable for practical advice....he taught me (as lurker years ago) to prepare for the most likely scenario first and then work up to the least likely. Water, food, shelter, cooking.... get those squared away - plus disaster related supplies (plan for dealing with a house fire, no power in summer. no power in winter. trees down through roof, down across entire county....) Much will revolve around tools but also neighbors. 98% of emergencies do not require us to be packing firearms. But almost all emergencies that occur at home will involve other people so get to know your neighbors. OPSEC is one thing. But be known as that friendly, can-do guy who is a nice neighbor and you'll be surprised how things turn out when the chips are down. snip... +1 Good post JustAdBellum  |
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I certainly hope the weapons stay in the safe. No way I want my family exposed to the deadly force of others, which is the only reason to get them out. It's easy to tell how serious folks are about preps. The serious stock food and water. The players and hobbyists stock up on guns.. Ops You look like a "player" in that avatar. U like to dress up? 
Like I said I will be focusing on adding more food and water this year. If your gonna criticize then take that weak minded shit to another thread. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I certainly hope the weapons stay in the safe. No way I want my family exposed to the deadly force of others, which is the only reason to get them out. It's easy to tell how serious folks are about preps. The serious stock food and water. The players and hobbyists stock up on guns.. Ops You look like a "player" in that avatar. U like to dress up? Like I said I will be focusing on adding more food and water this year. If your gonna criticize then take that weak minded shit to another thread. Wetawed87, This is not GD and Ops was not toying with you. You are welcome to stay, learn, and help out where you are able to. If you just want to sling mud then your stay here will be uncomfortable. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I certainly hope the weapons stay in the safe. No way I want my family exposed to the deadly force of others, which is the only reason to get them out. It's easy to tell how serious folks are about preps. The serious stock food and water. The players and hobbyists stock up on guns.. Ops You look like a "player" in that avatar. U like to dress up? Like I said I will be focusing on adding more food and water this year. If your gonna criticize then take that weak minded shit to another thread. You took that the wrong way. He was making a statement, not mocking you. I'm proud of you for prepping and having 6 months of gear lined up. Congratulations. |
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Quoted: I've spent this past year "prepping" most of my focus was guns/ammo with food and water being second. I decided I need a new focus for 2013 because the safe is full. ... I would like to add a generator more food and water and what ever else y'all can suggest. My mind is open! |
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1) Take a Dave Ramsey course. Get $1,000 in cash as an emergency fund and then don't touch it.
Then build up 3-6 months of expenses in cash savings.... so, if your monthly expenses (all inclusive, home, car, insurances, food, etc.) are say, $4,000 then scrimp, save, get second job, hoc extra stuff, etc. until you've amassed $12,000 to $24,000... and then don't touch it. This will allow you to up your deductions (thus lowering monthy insurance payments) as you can handle genuine emergencies better. It'll also put you in the top 10% of the country in terms of being able to literally not need income during the crunch of any lay off (or depend on gov. 'insurance' or wealth transfers etc.) in the event of a genuine economic collapse. We took the course and it's saved us big time.... and while we're not quite at 6 months, we've just eked across the 3 month mark and I can't tell you how much less stressed we are thanks to this buffer. Knowing that we could (not that we would) just buy a car outright, in cash, if we needed to is huge. Or could just handle the rent, food, etc for 90 days.... that's a huge relief. 2) consider other skills to round out your resume.... my next hobby will be Ham radio but at work I'm also learning an essential data entry program that'll make me more useful...even though my job doesn't currently require me to be an expert. Having that skill will help alot if God forbid there's a crash and I need to settle for a non-supervisory job somewhere else..... as much as a 50% pay cut would suck, it's better than nothing. And with the 3-6 month buffer, a 50% cut in income would stretch out that buffer to 8-10 months before our current lifestyle would need serious downsizing... 3) Generator... Yes, I have one - thanks to a deal we got here several years ago. 4,000 watt model. Works great. But I got it solely for my well pump. In an extended outage in summer in our new home (city water), it'd be less needed - just for freezers and lap tops.... so consider ways to reduce wattage needs even as you get a big enough generator for your needs. LED lights, solar rechargers for AA, AAA, or 12 v batteries.... so you'd use it sparingly and only for the essentials. Like running a single window AC set up for a single room rather than whole house AC... using the freezer to make ice which you then put in the fridge, so you only need to power 1-2 appliances at a time... 4) life style changes.... simplify and diversify.... local food co-ops, get to know your local farmers markets, fishermen, etc. 4H or scouts.... homeschoolers, Amish.... peopel are typically pretty open about helping others so learn from them and become 'that nice guy who's always eager to learn new tricks' (vs. the gun guy building the bunker). 5) arfcom curse.... get the spouse involved on this site too - so you don't prep only to lose 50% of everything you own in divorce. I've tried to limit my time here too... learning from guys here both positive and negative as I've read probably a hundred guys post their 'divorce' threads in the past 5 years. Guys can use hobbies as escape or as means to the end of improving our 'real world performance'. The wife needs to know that time here is well spent for either innocent relaxation or serious learning to become better providers, protectors, etc. |
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I certainly hope the weapons stay in the safe. No way I want my family exposed to the deadly force of others, which is the only reason to get them out. It's easy to tell how serious folks are about preps. The serious stock food and water. The players and hobbyists stock up on guns.. Ops You look like a "player" in that avatar. U like to dress up?
Like I said I will be focusing on adding more food and water this year. If your gonna criticize then take that weak minded shit to another thread. ] You took that the wrong way. He was making a statement, not mocking you. I'm proud of you for prepping and having 6 months of gear lined up. Congratulations. Well I apologize. I took that the wrong way, 
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I certainly hope the weapons stay in the safe. No way I want my family exposed to the deadly force of others, which is the only reason to get them out. It's easy to tell how serious folks are about preps. The serious stock food and water. The players and hobbyists stock up on guns.. Ops You look like a "player" in that avatar. U like to dress up?
Like I said I will be focusing on adding more food and water this year. If your gonna criticize then take that weak minded shit to another thread. ] You took that the wrong way. He was making a statement, not mocking you. I'm proud of you for prepping and having 6 months of gear lined up. Congratulations. Well I apologize. I took that the wrong way,
You sure as hell did! It was meant to encourage you to continue adding to your food and consumable stocks. Maybe I should change avatars.. Ops |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Maybe I should change avatars.. Ops Ops do not change your avatar. The newbs will always be just as new no matter what you use as an avatar. Agreed.  does that mean you guys want me to go back to the capt. spalding crazy clown avatar  There is so much truth in OPs simple statement about food vs guns/gear. The longer your in the game you tend to see past the gliter and glam and concentrate more on the engine,transmission and gears than the fancy paint.... |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Maybe I should change avatars.. Ops Ops do not change your avatar. The newbs will always be just as new no matter what you use as an avatar. Agreed. does that mean you guys want me to go back to the capt. spalding crazy clown avatar There is so much truth in OPs simple statement about food vs guns/gear. The longer your in the game you tend to see past the gliter and glam and concentrate more on the engine,transmission and gears than the fancy paint.... No, You need to stay in character too. The avatar change that you do for the new decade or whatever is part of your character.  |
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I certainly hope the weapons stay in the safe. No way I want my family exposed to the deadly force of others, which is the only reason to get them out. It's easy to tell how serious folks are about preps. The serious stock food and water. The players and hobbyists stock up on guns.. Ops You look like a "player" in that avatar. U like to dress up?
I really am sorry man... Don't change your avatar because I was being a dick. I should have read your reply twice. Like I said I will be focusing on adding more food and water this year. If your gonna criticize then take that weak minded shit to another thread. ] You took that the wrong way. He was making a statement, not mocking you. I'm proud of you for prepping and having 6 months of gear lined up. Congratulations. Well I apologize. I took that the wrong way,
You sure as hell did! It was meant to encourage you to continue adding to your food and consumable stocks. Maybe I should change avatars.. Ops |
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If you have food, water, shelter, protection covered for as long as you are planning for, it's time to get your medical supplies.
I see that you are in Louisiana. You could put back some Gatorade in mason jars that have been vacuum sealed or mylar and oxygen absorbers for electrolyte replenishment in the hot weather. Pet and large animal veterinarian supplies are a good source for stocking up on bandaging, sutures and ointments . Fish antibiotics are the same as human and about 1/3 the price. "Where there are no doctors" is a good book to have on hand. It can be downloaded for free. Alcohol, peroxide, anti diarrhea, antihistamines, ointments, band aides, and all that other stuff that we take for granted might not be available but needed even more in a SHTF situation. |
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My path was different in that I started really getting my prep mindset after a hurricane demonstrated quite convincingly that I was thoroughly unprepared for any sort of significant natural (or man-made for that matter) disaster. So, my first inclination was to get all those things that made struggling thru 5 days with no power not suck rocks. That was, in no particular order: food (cans and a rack, freeze-dried, MREs), water, a generator, extension chords, portable A/C and heat, bug-out supplies (sleeping bags, pads, packs, etc.). When it looked like Odumbo had a good chance to win, then I started doing the gun thing. Along the way, the economy took a header and I slacked off on gun buying and started shifting funds to "wealth preservation". The timing and priorities of how one goes about getting squared away are a function of both current events and current resources available. I think the whole "prep for the most likely events first" is probably the best approach.
I've also found that by having multiples of everyday things we use (soap, shampoo, TP/paper towels, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) that the frustration that occurs when you're in the shower and THEN realize you're out of something goes away. Same when you go to the store and they're out of whatever you're looking for. If you're looking for the "backup", you can afford to wait till it comes back in stock. If it's something you <need> and it isn't there, you're screwed -and- frustrated.
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