how am I preparing??

[hobo]

Good info. Thanks everyone. First job for me today is an overdue inventory of food. Tomorrow I'll scavenge some wood and start getting it dried out for next autumn. One step at a time....with a goal in mind.

X

[st3vi3]

Idea for wood I do is ask factorys or business. Last year I got all my wood from a factory, such as pallets and other pieces. They have it by the ton and sometimes pay companies to take it away. Just an idea, works for me

[Moony]

Idea for wood I do is ask factorys or business. Last year I got all my wood from a factory, such as pallets and other pieces. They have it by the ton and sometimes pay companies to take it away. Just an idea, works for me

Good idea but be careful to remove nails as galvanised ones will release toxic gases when you put them on a fire. Pallets are also treated with various chemicals to improve rot-resistance and insect infestation (especially ones for export), no idea what these chemicals might do when you burn them, but I suspect it might not be good for you

[st3vi3]

Yea agree very true, also need we bitta time to cut them up. I normally go for the broken bits store them up threw the year because no one seems to think about the winter untill late september, by then I got good start. Do agree to be careful

[st3vi3]

So last night I started on my preps... Keep in mind still not paid from end oct start nov sometime so didnt spend.

I cleared out a little... Could be ebay or bin or charity.

Water... Its free so I added 2x 2L bottles to car, in my edc I added 2l. In work today I put 4l in my locker and carry flask of hot water in carry bag. I dont trust my work water so I boil 2l in kettle and leave it there. Its a start
Not 100% on how much i should carry? read post in water storage on how much to keep at home.

I now keep in car spare clothes socks and strong walking boots coat hat gloves scarf. Keep in my edc a pair of gloves and my walking trousers, only because I wear crappy suit trousers to work, not warm or v strong.

I want light edc but good enough to get to my car or last for 3days. My car will hold main kit to get me home or rebuild my edc to get me home. Its a small start.... But im better off than I was 24hrs ago.
Aim to add updates as I go so you experienced people keep me right on the straight and narrow

[Arzosah]

Hi there! So you've got a house (and a 3 year old! that must keep you busy!) so collecting free wood for fuel, storing water, warm clothes in the car and clearing out are really good preps, as you can't spend any money right now.

If money is tight, I'd recommend you sell the stuff you've cleared out on ebay, as long as you think it will, or on the free listing weekends if its fairly little. But remember to do the postage properly - plenty of people make a loss on their sales at first because they don't charge enough for postage.

The other preps you can do that don't cost are:
- collecting information (usually from the web, or the library) - whether its on first aid, or the local area, or gardening.
- since you have a house, do you have a garden? Digging the garden over to plant some perennial crops can be done soon (if you've got clay soil, wait a bit!) Or is there a windowsill thats out of reach of 3 year old hands? You could grow herbs indoors, *with* the 3 year old, come to that.
- is there any external maintenance you can do with stuff you've already got on hand? Paint the fence, touch up the pointing, experiment with a rocket stove built with loose bricks that might be hanging around?

Hope this helps.

[st3vi3]

Thanks for the reply

Yea I rent a house at the min, its a new house still like a building site haha. I would like to plant, its small garden so was thinking of herbs on window like you said and look at raised 1 square foot garden (if that makes sence lol) soil is poor and on a slope. I just need short term fix and work, as want to build at farm or buy close to it
I want my son involved better than watching tv, rather he help me and learn young


Been.caught out before on postage sometime get it wrong , live and learn haha

Should have pay sorted mid jan ... So im told Then can stock properly. First aid glad you said that I need to renew that. I work 12hr shifts alone in security so plenty of info gathering done... How I found here

[st3vi3]

went to shops today spotted in asda washing comfort...£1 each got 6 of them works out just under 6 months for us.
Also got given a 25l water carrier, filled it, stored it.
Thou still not paid(starting to annoy me...another story) still can prep.

Explained to my partner what was doing so she agrees, she just likes the spending bit haha. Good to have her on board

[Arzosah]

Square foot gardening is a good idea, when its rented, and you're planning on moving on - its about learning skills, and getting your little boy used to having fun in the garden. Lovely that your partner supports you in your prepping.

[Black-Hat]

Thanks this is a good read. I doubt many people have a big enough income to go mad prepping I would bet 80% of us are in the same boat money wise, I think it's more rewarding prepping on a budget


Keep up the good work!