Top 5 Most important

[vern1972]

HI,
I am an absolute beginner....!!! With a wife and family of three boys 14 19 20 yrs old.

Read lots about prepping, but would welcome peoples top 5 first things to buy! (would be interesting to see the different views)

Thanks in advance!

Vern1972

[pseudonym]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

[Arzosah]

Welcome to the forum! But honestly, my advice is to read the forum, rather than setting up a question and answer. Otherwise, food, water, sanitary supplies.

[tigs]

welcome to the forum

top 5 food, water, shelter, fire and defence/ hunting everyone's choices will differ

[Plymtom]

Tigs is right everyone will differ, not least because you may call yourself a beginner but few really are that come this far, I wouldn't mind betting you've been leaning towards preparedness in some ways already, if you've ever ran out of something, then stocked up to prevent a future occurrence (toilet paper is a fine example) what do you know you've been prepping
Other than that imagine a scenario (no not the zombie apocalypse) say you fell and broke your leg or got laid off, what would you be running out of first? Preps are primarily your buffer zone so start small and figure out what you'd need, and what you have not got enough of, EDC's, BOBs, BOLs, are all totally useless to you if you have broken your leg and can't get around well for a few weeks, in your case you'd need help, I'd recommend something to cut the plugs of your son's x-boxes so they could step up and do stuff for you and the Missis

[preppbill]

hi i have a big family 4 kids would i have to make my bug out kit bigger or plan a root to bug out an stash kit an food on this root hoping to bug in but if you got to get out quick

[preppingsu]

hi i have a big family 4 kids would i have to make my bug out kit bigger or plan a root to bug out an stash kit an food on this root hoping to bug in but if you got to get out quick

Surely all depends on why you might be 'bugging out'. If you have to evacuate due to a local fire/ chemical/gas leak then your 'grap and go bags' should have some snacky foods in it to get you through a short time.
A box with essentials in it ie tea/coffee/dried milk, crackers, dries fruit etc ready to go would help for a longer time.

If, as it seems many are, preparing for a zombie apocalypse , then don't worry you'll be able to raid local stores!

Back to OP, start with food, water, heat and light. Alternative cooking and sanitation next. There is plenty of info on the site - take some time to read.

[junmist]

Knowledge Knowledge and more Knowledge then a 1 minute bag set them all a chalange tell them there is a fire they have 1 minute to grab stuff before they have to get out set a timer and go what they will most proberly grab are the stuff that they are most attached to. You then give them a bit more info you will be staying at a hotel for three days how are you going to claim the insurance do they have shoes underware and such stuff when you have thought of things like that your family have a go bag.