Where would you start?

[slade5x5]

Hi guys, where would you start if you were the average guy on the street new to prepping? . Let's say you were spending your first £5, £20 & £50, any ideas welcomed. Cheers Slade

[preppingsu]

Have a look here
To tips for new preppers

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=817

But food, alternative means of cooking the food, water, heat and light are good places to start.

Start with building supplies to last 72hrs and once that is done move up to a month, then two and so on.

[damaralenoire]

what he said..... It does seem very overwhelming at first but one step at a time.

a small bit of advice from me is that, Last year, when we had the "BRITAIN HALTING" Snowfall... I couldnt get to work for 3 days and i was also unable to make it down to the shops.. Those three days i really could of appreciated some food in the house (because i live alone i usually bring some food home with me from work from the M&S at the train station) i had difficulty with water cos the pipes were freezing up and even though i was cold i didnt want the heating on too much due to costs. The first things i bought when i decided to start prepping was a few Tins of soup, tinned meat, Bags of bread flour (The just add water mixes) some coffee mate, bottled water, thick woolen socks, snow boots, snow grips for my hiking boots (Allowing me to be able to venture out properly in the snow) Simple items.... Just wish i had them last year

My supp[lies consist of a lot more now yes and for many different scenarios... so i guess i'd say look back at a situation you have once been in and what you would have wanted at the time to hand

[bettersafethansorry]

A good knife,
A good BoB (filled)

after this its all gravey

[Plymtom]

This sort of question comes up very often and TBH the thing is where are you now? what sort of calamity is it you fear? many who stumble on prepping to some extent are already to a degree leaning that way, my wife and I both came from families who operated a full cupboards policy, whereas some of my daughter's friend's families had next to nothing and couldn't see further than the next pack of fags or pub run, there has been talk of keeping fit on here, but the first thing coming to my mind is how is one prepping for a future if one is P$%^ing and smoking ones life away and has bare cupboards and hungry kids? Not everyone is at one end of the spectrum or the other, it's not just full cupboards, but over full cupboards of things the shops run out of, for us that was TP, Cat litter, value cola, always come first to mind, yet after that where to start when you already have a love of all things Ray Mearsy, sleeping bags and rucksacks all round, then you just examine what's in your rucksack and call them BOB Many people ( alright mainly men but I'm a 21st century guy) have a liking for sharp pointy things, and gadgets that make something fly with a bang, a twang, or a pop, have hunted or even played darts.

My point is I doubt that you are actually at the start, you may not be a long way from it, but you don't want to go out and buy a shed load of stuff you already have, nor do you want to prepare for the least likely scenario first, and pay attention to other priorities, for instance I hear the word bug out and what's in your BOB/EDC/GHB, but not all think of footwear and clothing or calories and hydration first, whatever else you have the more or better for purpose those four things are then the further you will get

[24942895]

For me, Food, Water, BOB starting with flashlight knife and shelter, then medical, more food & cooking, and so on.

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[Jane_doe]

I'm in the same boat. Not sure where to start really. I have extremely full cupboards so providing nobody raided us if we were snowed in for a few weeks we would be fine for food as most of it can be eaten cold in event of power cut (although very depressing eating cold tinned beans in the cold!)

I have LOADS of various szed Yankee candles as I am abit obsessed. But want to stock up on generic tealights can't imagine the 50+ scents I have would smell so nice all mingled together!

I want to get some big woolen blankets so I'm going to go and snaffle round the charity shops. I have no way of generating heat by other means so if the leccy goes we are fubard.

I was thinking of ordering some of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Light-Sensor-Mo ... air+lights to put along the landing and hall way for light on the floor to walk that hopefully won't draw too much attention through windows etc... They are out of my price range at the moment but will keep a look out for an offer.

For cooking I'm not sure what to do. I was thinking of getting a butane camping stove but saw a post on here that they are not the best because of freezing up in low temps, but I didn't know of keeping it wrapped up in blankets (dependant on flammability) would stop it freezing.

My short term plans are to be ready to bug in over winter for now and get myself together a bob that can be kept in the car so if we get stranded in the car or something I can make it as 'pleasant' as possible.

[24942895]

For cooking I have one of those flat gas stoves that take the canisters that look like aerosol cans, it's the most convenient for me to use and store at home.
I don't expect my home to get cold enough for it to be a problem but I've used butane/propane mixes at low temperatures (-30c) and used a stove with hose leading to the canister which was either under outer clothing or in warm water just heated. The canister looses pressure in the cold and it also cools itself in use.

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[Plymtom]

For cooking I have one of those flat gas stoves that take the canisters that look like aerosol cans, it's the most convenient for me to use and store at home.

I've got a couple of those, had a problem with one of them- it got knocked over when I was out and leaked the remaining gas, I told them to open all the windows when they called me on the phone, but the moral of the story is don't leave the gas in them.

I also want to know and haven't done it yet is how long does a tin of gas last? Then work out how many more I would need.

[banshie13]

I would say to start with some blank pieces of paper and put the heading of Food, Heating, Lighting, Cooking, Hygiene, Pets, Security, Power, Medicines, sustainability, knowledge and the most important section treats, etc.

I would then divide the page into a number of sections for 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and long term. This then gives you a time frame to work with and a set of goals. and just start to fill them out with what you would need don't be afraid to put the same item in more than one section. I also mark down the most cost effective place to get the item in question as this can help when you need to resupply (I have a serious love affair with B+M I have to limit myself when I go there!!!).

And the most important thing is to use what you stock there is no point in have 50 pot noodles if you can't stand them!!!!

Hope this help

Banshie13