What Preps are you doing this week

[Arzosah]

This week, I bought a 10 litre Plastic Box. That will be my Bug In Box.

I have a Snugpak Response Pack. That will be my Everyday Carry Bag.

I have a Karrimor Rucksack. That will be My Bug-out Pack.

Plan is - if at all possible, to stay put in my nice, warm, dry, secure, 2nd story high rise flat. If that's not possible, I will exit Bristol towards Bath, and then head south-west towards Devon and Cornwall on foot.

Given my budget is kind of low, being on benefits at present, I wonder what your priorities would be?

A high end water filter is in my kit, but I have a Millbank bag and a means to boil water as the low tech version.

Probably the most important bit of advice is to do your research then buy once, but buy smart, that way you dont end up with a ton of redundant stuff.

Great post, 2RM, and I kept bits of pseudonym's response as well.

I'd add that its not all about money - sometimes its about adapting stuff, and about research. Here's my suggestions:
- you mention a specific route if you *had* to bug out, so work on it with the websites - google and this one http://footpathmaps.com/ used together can give you a lot of information. No substitute for walking what you can of it, but plan it out.
- save food containers - tins, you can save them to become a solar dehydrator or components of a rocket stove, or an alcohol stove. Yogurt pots, you can grow lettuces in. Our poundshop sells 15 litres of compost for 99p ... glass jars, you can make your own jam from the free blackberries that will be around.
- any sweet chestnut trees or walnut trees round you?
- I'm finishing off one rocket stove, and making another - the big tin, thats about eight inches across, I'm getting free from the chippy down the road, catering size of mushy peas I'm telling them its an internet project for my nephew.
- like pseudonym, I have a high-end water filter, but I'm also making a pre-filter from a two litre plastic bottle (there was a Dr Pepper 2l bottle on the rec. ground last night, so I picked it up). Check out online how to do these projects, using google, wiki and youtube.
- as far as the food shopping goes, I'd say the first thing to get, no question about it, is some water - its very heavy weight wise, but its really cheap, £1.05 for 5 litres, something like that - you can avoid a world of hurt with just one of those. But also, do what I did - if there are abandoned two litre bottles lying around, pick them up, wash them **really** carefully, and fill them - then you don't even have to pay the £1.05.

HTH.

[Arzosah]

Forgot my own preps!
- bought the roasting tin thing that junmist mentioned - it was more of a plate, but same diff. I bought two, as I'm collecting another big tin tomorrow from the chippy, to make a 2nd rocket stove for my sister.
- as I mentioned above, I found a 2 litre drinks bottle - threw it into my garden, and I'll be washing it out with soap and then bleach today, to use as the basis of a pre-filter for water. It occurred to me, when you need it, you need it right away.
- put an order in to Wickes, a big chain of chandlers here down south, compost, topsoil, black paint for the solar dehydrator I'm collecting tins for, some maintenance stuff, and some sharp sand, partly to top off the 2nd rocket stove with insulation, partly to do the water filter.
- been on a real learning curve with growing food indoors - my poor chili plants! I should've taken them outside to spray with soapy water the minute I saw greenfly, too late now, I had to take them outside and leave them outside, they started flying around the kitchen and covered the window in crap - honeydew? whatever it is that ants harvest greenfly for. But there were no ants (thank heavens!) so it just covered my window lesson learned.
- got to grips with maintenance for the path along the side of the house that the delivery will use - part of the delivery is grout for between the flags, but even cutting back, weeding and sweeping has made it look ten times better, as well as giving my mint, sorrel and quince room to breathe. Now I need to find out what low-growing food plants like shade.

[Le Mouse]

- been on a real learning curve with growing food indoors - my poor chili plants! I should've taken them outside to spray with soapy water the minute I saw greenfly, too late now, I had to take them outside and leave them outside, they started flying around the kitchen and covered the window in crap - honeydew? whatever it is that ants harvest greenfly for. But there were no ants (thank heavens!) so it just covered my window lesson learned.

I found out this week that it was blackfly (basically aphids like greenfly are) that were getting to my beetroot. The ants that were streaming all over them had been protecting them. And being black, the hoards of ants camouflaged them. Dammit. But, touch wood, nothing else has been affected.

Did a 'fill up the granny trolley' food shop yesterday to keep me going for a bit and to top up the preps. Bread flours, self raising flour, more pasta, some frozen bits, etc.

Still no news of the job reference coming through so I have to consider that my prospective new employer may well withdraw the offer . I have, however, got a job interview offer next week for a job that I thought I had no chance with because after I had sent the form off, I realised I had entirely missed out my education! So that's weird. I'd really enjoy the job, but it's a massive pay cut - it pays what I was paid over a decade ago. Also it's a temporary contract which isn't ideal.

[2ndRateMind]

Great post, 2RM, and I kept bits of pseudonym's response as well.

I'd add that its not all about money - sometimes its about adapting stuff, and about research. Here's my suggestions...

HTH.

Yeah, thanks buddy. Everything has been useful, so far.

I've decided to concentrate on water and fire, as far as equipment goes, as top priorities.

Soon as the next giro comes in, I'll get some matches - probably around 20 small boxes, probably Swan Vestas as you don't need the box to strike them. It would be nice to get some small, sealable, waterproof plastic bags to store them in. Also, some waterproof matches, prob 3 boxes, one for each kit. Also, one of those spark strike devices they sell for survival kits (can't recall the proper name). If I have any change left from my fiver, I'll spend it on disposable cigarette lighters.

As for water - Tesco do fizzy water at 17p for two litres. I normally buy it anyway, to mix with fruit juices to make a long drink out of. So I'll just up my purchase rate beyond my consumption rate.

Having read here about the 'grey man' approach, I've decided not to use the snugpak response pack for an everyday carry bag. It's too military, too noticeable. So I have a small shoulder bag that's much more civilian in style, and quite fashionable, too. Got that from Tesco's (F&F), for a fiver, as well.

Best wishes, 2RM

PS. - As for blackberries, I went out yesterday and foraged 2kilos in 3 hours. Blowed if I'm going to make jam out of it, though. 2 kilos is enough for a gallon of wine!

[SooBee]

I have a cold this week so I've been stocking up on stuff for that. It is always worth remembering how a cold can knock you back so stocks of favourite comforters and basic remedies are worth stashing in a box but I must remember that run-out dates need to be checked.


Soobee (sniffing well)

[Le Mouse]

I have a cold this week so I've been stocking up on stuff for that. It is always worth remembering how a cold can knock you back so stocks of favourite comforters and basic remedies are worth stashing in a box but I must remember that run-out dates need to be checked.


Soobee (sniffing well)

That's where I fall over - not checking dates. One of these days I'll make an inventory spreadsheet of all my preps and set reminders for when they need using.

Get well soon Soobee.

[Arzosah]

Yeah, thanks buddy. Everything has been useful, so far.

As for water - Tesco do fizzy water at 17p for two litres. I normally buy it anyway, to mix with fruit juices to make a long drink out of. So I'll just up my purchase rate beyond my consumption rate.

Having read here about the 'grey man' approach, I've decided not to use the snugpak response pack for an everyday carry bag. It's too military, too noticeable. So I have a small shoulder bag that's much more civilian in style, and quite fashionable, too. Got that from Tesco's (F&F), for a fiver, as well.

You're welcome. Glad to hear about the bottles - but keep some of them, and refill with tap water - that won't take long.

Totally agree about the grey man approach, I didn't click when you said about the snugpack response pack - in any sort of emergency, whether long term or not, you don't want the distraction of people thinking you're official of any kind - I've seen it at demonstrations, and it doesn't go well, as well as the more apocalyptic scenarios.

Fire - there's a lot of ways of making it, have you come across the youtube videos of a live battery and some steel wool? Even a firestick! Vaseline too. Like you tho, I go for matches, tho I have a couple of those striker things in reserve.

[ForgeCorvus]

Just got myself a First Need Deluxe portable water Purifier (pre-owned but new in the box), did the Integrity Test and found I need to replace the filter...... Only to find they don't seem to make that one any more.
Contacted General Ecology Europe (the Euro office of the makers) for advice and am waiting on an email reply.....I did phone but the helpful Caron didn't have that information and recommended that I email her boss.

Apparently, the the First Need XL Elite (the current model) is very popular with bushcraft and survival schools

[izzy_mack]

Made some jams,trouble is the rasp is good and eating it faster than i thought, won't be as much in store as i hoped. Getting a little fitter, dogs surprised at how many walks they're getting. trying to de-clutter so that I have more space to store things that matter more.(this is rainy day activity and we seem to be getting more of them in the highlands just now.) But my biggest prepping move was joining this this forum this week and finally admitting to myself that I'm not stupid and my concern for the future is real and the best way to stop the fear is prepare any way I can, no matter how small.

[ForgeCorvus]

Izzy: Hello and welcome, you are not alone

You've made the first step, theres so much good info on here and most of the folks seem friendly (sometimes people get a little heated).

Don't worry about asking dumb questions, because sometimes they're not as dumb as you might think. That said, the search engine is your friend.

Most importantly, don't try to do it all at once...... Theres an old saying about that
Q: "How do you eat an elephant?"
A: "One piece at a time"



You're not near Norfolk are you? Otherwise I'd have to come round and 'confiscate' your jam.....Mmmm Raspberry [/Homer]