what preps do you INTEND to do?

[nickdutch]

Right now, although i would love to be rich enough to prepare for every eventuality (economic collapse etc) on the face of the planet, I just want to make sure that I have got what it takes to get though any hard times this winter. E.g., paycheque delayed due to snow and bills needing to be paid and having enough food, kitchen and bathroom stocks in to stop me from needing to go to the shops.
I will still head for better preparedness though, but not sure if I will ever get there.

[unsure]

right know i`m looking at chafing fuel . seems to have a good shelf life and lasts for around 2 hours per can .

[Maddie_cat]

I intend to board the floor in my loft and use it to store food, water, batteries etc

Be careful with that plan: the temperatures in lofts can vary wildly from freezing cold in winter to extremely hot in summer which is not good for long term storage of food or water.

[Arzosah]

I'm reading Getting Things Done, by Paul Allen at the mo, and racing ahead of him a bit in making a list of "projects" exclusively related to my prepping - whether things to buy, things to research, or skills to practise. Lets face it, I had 15 minutes spare, didn't want to do anything too serious, and had an enjoyable listmaking exercise but it was actually quite useful in mapping where I am in my prepping journey. No particular order (at least I followed Mr Allen in that ):
- experiment with the chafing fuel from metatron.
- buy Katadyn water filter
- buy water butt attachment kits
- instal the bleeping water butts
- inventory food in the kitchen
- research mylar bag food storage - buy a supply
- blutak upstairs food inventory list into inside of built in wardrobe
- reconstruct BOB
- finish off bug-home routes and maps, and bug out route to my sister's.
- get list of radio frequencies active locally.
- test wind up radio
- learn and list all ways of making a fire.
- practise! making a fire.
- buy a hoe
- buy grit for drainage in garden
- investigate security for upvc doors
- buy two firesteels
- solar chargers, Uniross
- investigate solar panels, making them.
- make list of more Boundtree stuff I want, then recycle catalogue
- buy steristrips
- ask on forum about idea of getting phone numbers for local public telephone boxes (is this history now?)
- buy walking boots
- learn to shoot
- buy catapult
- learn to use catapult
- prepping meet in spring next year?
- self defence/protection classes
- check if I have unopened superglue (wound closure)
- research colloidal silver
- find out about hand-powered washing machines
- check clothes in relation to prepping.
- make a haybox, practise using it.
- buy more solar powered lights, now I've figured out the on/off switch
- practise windowsill salad growing
- buy full-size torch
- practise using compass
- saw whistle off lanyard thingie.
- inventory sewing preps, pack, make any needed purchase.
- make foraging map of my town
- shopping list of preps to buy - put it in my purse.
- buy UK legal knife.
- buy air rifle? The one thats no notification.
- check out removeable kickboards.
- I need a key safe for the garden!
- learn to make soap (just seen Maddie's post on that, fantastic!).
- dehydrating for food storage - investigate and practice.
- no return valve on sewage pipe: research, and buy if necessary.
- compost toilet/waste disposal - research, get the makings.
- research how to make basic candles.
- buy a knife sharpener.
- practise using a signal mirror.

[lupiilu]

just did after thinking about it for months ordered a stainless Berkly water filter unit coming on Friday.

That's on my list too, a couple more months and I'll have the cash for it.

Thats a long way further down the line for me, but I might start to stock up in purification tablets.

I found this on youtube re: water purifier. Looks good for a bugout to me.

[Moony]

Nice list, mine would be fairly similar i think !
On the phone boxes - BT are still legally required to maintain a certain number of them even if no-one uses them any more. I guess eventually this will change, but currently it might be worth knowing where they are and what the numbers are

[lupiilu]

Soooo much to do!

I'm going to start with going on a wild food foraging walk in Bulwell, Nottingham in October link below for anyone interested, I can't find any info on prices, so I assume it's free, though I'll take a bit of cash with me jic!
Make a water filter
pick a bol
make a couple of bob's for me and the other half
put together a proper first aid kit
buy a dehydrator and start on my food hoarding
buy a cheap canner and learn to can my own foods
move into a house with a garden and start a forest garden (I'm sure it'll p*** the neighbours off but so what!)
make sure new house has plenty of storage/sheds etc
rent out an allotment so that I can ensure me and mine are growing most of our own food.
buy a solid fuel range cooker and hook it up to the central heating
look into solar panels (buy or make? how easy/hard is it to make?)
look into windmills (buy or make? how easy/hard is it to make?)
kick boards (I really like this idea)
brew plenty of mead (itshtf alcohol'll be a great barter item, you know, when the shops run out! )
learn how to make Maddie's soap (this info was so welcome, thanks loads)
loads more stuff to do, but this is what comes to mind on the fly with all my info in my office upstairs (I really can't be arsed to go upstairs! )

http://www.wildlifeinthecity.org/events ... -hall-park

[junmist]

Like the list mines a bit smaller next year Im hoping to
buy a lifesaver water filter
practice fire making
buy a catapult
learn to prepare dead meat/fish(can't bring myself to kill anything yet)
have a go at soap making
make a solar dehydrater
like the idea of a foraging map
might have a go at useing a hay box not sure on this though
The first four are a must if I do the rest there just pluses

[Janash37]

Learning to forage, as TwoDo recommended, is a great idea. I'd add learn first aid skills - as a student, you might be entitled to free courses. But there's lots of info on the web you could be collating, including videos, for free as long as you have web access.

And fitness. General aerobic fitness. Any self defence classes you fancy? Its all about skills.

Recently purchased myself a book on edible wild plants/mushrooms which I'm going to start reading over as soon as it gets here. I've actually been out into the woods most days this summer that I have free, practicing bushcraft skills that I've learned over the past year. Have successfully managed to build a few shelters and learned that making fire isn't too easy even if you THINK you know how... but I'm alright now after some practice

My fitness is what I'm least worried seeing as I do a lot of exercise at uni as part of the rowing team. My strength and stamina are good so now I'm just getting used to hiking it around with a bag on my back for long periods of time. Have never had any sort of self defence training but might look into it, perhaps in my final year. For now I've just got my air rifle! :p

[Arzosah]

Nice list, mine would be fairly similar i think !
On the phone boxes - BT are still legally required to maintain a certain number of them even if no-one uses them any more. I guess eventually this will change, but currently it might be worth knowing where they are and what the numbers are

Thanks Moony! I think I've seen it talked about in terms of rendezvous, or of making contact after forcible evacuation, something like that. Nowadays, when anyone over the age of 10 has their own phone, I can't imagine the need is the same, but as you say, it can't hurt to make lists. I've got *one* phone number at the moment, at the local shops - thats not going to be much use, better get myself in gear