Hello from a Noobie in Hampshire

[jaffab]

As instructed, a quick introduction of myself.

Just started prepping this year on the basis that I have a strong worry building about a financial collapse. US debt level at 19.967T, UK at 1.86T, USA and India faltering, 2017 being year 8 of the 8-year recession cycle,… all very worrying and the world economy can only do one thing – implode.

I view prepping like insurance – I would rather have some plans and never need them rather than need them and not have them.

I am trying not to go overboard – so my plan is simple…
1) General financial prepping – spreading risk, planning FI, whilst also planning for the future (retirement etc)
2) If the SHTF in terms of the economy (no more US$, Euro and/or Pound) then to bug in terms of food supplies and home defence
3) But also have a bug out if the unprepared turn to looting, violence, the extremes

Married with wife, who is also worried about the financial situation, but prefers ‘not to think about it’ so all my preps have been in stealth mode. She knows I have planned, and says she is happy that I have a plan, but does not want to know the details unless we need it.

Should we need to bug out, its all in hand, but in terms of BOB’s, it would need to be an 80/20% split in terms of weight as she is not that strong.

That’s it – that’s me.

[Britcit]

Welcome to the forum Jaffab. Sounds like you have the right idea, and there is lots of info here to help.

[MBJ]

Welcome, Jaffab.

I have replied to your crowbar thread and given what I hope is some constructive criticism for you to consider. I like to play devil's advocate in discussions so please don't feel as though I am having 'a go,' so to say.

Also please also check out my recent thread entitled 'How Skilled Are You?' to assess what your current skills are and where you might improve. As others have said, it does ask some awkward questions but could be useful.

[whenfires]

Hi and welcome to UKP.

[jaffab]

So, my plans are pretty much in place. Just getting the last bits together now, which I have scheduled over the next few months as money allows... My plans are....

Plan A - the good life. Nice healthy retirement pot, cash in the bank to cover any financial (personal) issues, live a long life, die old, happy and surrounded by people I love (or a large number of naked super models)
Plan B - In the event of SHTF (the economic doomsday), bug in. Defend the house, have enough food, water and entertainment to not worry
Plan C - In the event that something happens with Plan B (riots, fires, etc) have a bug out option

All these are pretty much covered except for odds and sods for Plan B and C, so my schedule is as follows

24th Feb - Purchase 2 sets of bug out trousers (easy to keep clean/dry with knee pads) and 4 x Jerry Cans for water storage
24th March - Order mini bolt cutters (for dealing with fences/barbed wire in the event of Bug Out) and some additional Crossbow bolts (can you ever have enough?)
24th April - Order and adapt 4mm (or 6mm) window protectors for all downstairs windows
24th May - Order antibiotics and Landranger maps (to replace the high level map I currently have) for my BO route
24th June - Order crossbow case (in case I have to BO, not to scare the locals)

And that's it - with those I will be done. I can survive happily now on all 3 plans, but the above completes my preps. On the 24th June, everything will be in place, it will sit, forgotten about and hopefully unused, and that will be me done. At which point, I will leave this forum.

[sethorly]

Get home bag?

Have you scanned wedding/birth certificates, passports, driving licences, pensions, investments, insurances, mortgages, etc and saved digital photos to a location accessible in the event of a fire or bugout?

Do your loved ones know what to do in the event of SHTF?

Got a calor etc gas heater for when heating goes?

Wood cooking for SHTF and gas cylinder cooking for short term gas supply failure?

The list goes on.

[shocker]

re; bolt / wire cutters - I have a WW2 vintage ,WD, pair of folding cutters that got passed down the family as "special airborne only issue". They are a fantastic pair of cutters for up to M8 (so far) and stow away nicely. They have by-pass square edged blades, very solid and cut multistrand very cleanly too.

I have since seen many of the same dating back as far as 1914 on old tool stalls at steam rallies and the like - so much for the "special airborne only" business ! My grandad didnt like the facts to stand in the way of a good story !

Anyway, good compact tactical bolt cutters, will try to find a pic and a possible source

[jaffab]

Get home bag?

No. But if I was away from home and needed one, I am pretty much done for anyway as if I am away, I am (a) Abroad on work trip, (b) at FatherInLaws 505 miles away in Scotland or (c) Working in London. All of which would have the same solution for me... 1) React quickly and 2) Throw cash at the problem whilst cash still have value

Have you scanned wedding/birth certificates, passports, driving licences, pensions, investments, insurances, mortgages, etc and saved digital photos to a location accessible in the event of a fire or bugout?

Yep - all on memory stick, updated with any changes or additions at the start of every month

Do your loved ones know what to do in the event of SHTF?

Nope - see "telling the other half" thread - she does not yet want to know. If SHTF or looks like it could hit, I would tell her what to do.

Got a calor etc gas heater for when heating goes?

No. Good point. Did think of this, but then... looking at the gas bottles, each lasts for approx. 50h depending on usage, which equates to only 1 week of heat. So then you are having to store multiple bottles.

Wood cooking for SHTF and gas cylinder cooking for short term gas supply failure?

Yep and Yep

The list goes on.

Indeed. But need to draw the line somewhere.

[Britcit]

You just started prepping this year, and now just about done?

That was quick.

Just out of interest, roughly how much food, water and other perishables did you manage to squirrel away in such a short time?

Oh, and just a quick comment on your 'no' to the get home bag question. I see your point if you are 500 miles away, getting home may not be possible. But, what if you are on your way home and tshtf. You may not be that far away, and relying solely on throwing money at the problem worries me a little. That seems to defeat the object of prepping.

[shocker]

Whoops! Just re read Jaffabs last and seen that he HAS wood solutions already ! But I shall leave the rest of the post up as it may help somebody

LPG is a poorly sustainable resource in a week or longer shortage situation as you point out Jaffab. If ones accommodation permits, we have found a woodburner to be a fantastic source of dry heat, unlike LPG, and useful for cooking too. With a little extra work a simple heat exchanger gives you hot water. Sadly we cannot fit a burner in our current place unless S stays stuck to F and landlords become irrelevant

Should a woodburner not be suitable (as in our case) I have fallen back on old Primus type pressure stoves and Tilley pressure lanterns. With some fettling these can be made to burn a variety of fuels with varying efficiency (and soot !) and can be acquired cheaply with parts easily sourced. With some more fettling ovens and heaters are possible. I currently have two stoves for the kitchen giving us two rings or a ring and an oven. I have half of a British Army No3 petrol stove and hope to complete it this year, freeing up the single stoves for heating and lighting duties with various attachments and adaptors. I am aware of the CO problems but thats true of any combustion to some extent and feel that its easier and more practical to store or acquire liquid fuel and pressurise it myself than wrestle with the gas bottle storage problem.