Sally Fields was on Jay Leno the other night and she was talking about her experience with Hurricane Sandy...The lights in her building went out. She said she had to carry her bags all the way down a bunch of flights of stairs (I think she said 16 but I could be wrong) anyway, she said all she add was a tiny flashlight she carried between her teeth as she was making her way down those stairs with a bag in each hand...She said that's all the stores had left were those little flashlights...I would strongly suggest a flashlight you can wrap around your head...a forehead flashlight...I don't know what they're called but I'm sure you get the idea 🙂
She also said that she hailed a cab and for where she wanted to go, it normally cost 11$ and her cab driver said he'll take her for 40$. So when the SHTF, there will be a lot of people trying to financially profit from that said "S"...! Also be sure to have oodles of small bills...whenever hubby and I find ourselves with a 5 dollar bill, we never spend it, we always put it away...in no time we've accumulated a good size wad of 5 dollar bills...
Why should I "hoard" food and non food items? The question should be, why should I NOT?
Rain
It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.....
I bought a washboard today...! Youppeee! Another good non-food prep item 🙂
Rain
It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.....
TIME...
This is something that we hoard when we are are preparing. And something that we waste when we are executing our plan.
Antsy
Needs must when the devil drives.
Tuck tape (same idea as gorilla tape and way better than duct tape)
Crazy glue
Contact adhesive
Epoxy glue
I check out for good deals/sales on knitting and crocheting yarns including cotton. If not on sale, I buy a big ball or two anyways.
I also get some baby yarns. I am almost sure cause the shtf, people will not stop having babies.
At the 2nd hand store I pick up extra knitting needles, crochet hooks and small looms. Also pkg. of buttons, and darning needles, leather patches, etc..
I figure if/when the shtf, I can teach others how to make warm clothing for themselves and their family.
I will also make clothing for trading purpose if nothing else. Everyone needs warm clothing come winter. Sooner or later, what they might have, will wear out so replacements will be needed.
Lots more outdoor work will be required when the shtf I am sure.
I'd rather teach someone to do it themselves, as I will have enough work to do then myself.
I do knit extras of mitts, gloves, hats, wrist warmers, slipper, socks to put back.
The bigger items can be made when it is required and I know the correct sizes.
The cotton yarns can be used to made summer items...even hats for shade. Sacks for toting things around and many other useful things.
All bits and pieces of yarn left over, gets saved as well. Then made into blankets at a later date or as needed. The smaller bits can be used are darning.
That requires me buying more tubs to keep it all in. I am thinking I am gonna need a silo yet. 😆
Guess one could say, I/we am helping out the economy.
As others have said, the word 'hoarding' bugs me. I don't see it as hoarding. It's all something I can use later and don't have to pay a higher price, IF its even available.
I do stock up on sturdy warm work gloves as well, when they are on sale. 🙂
*sigh* yet another tub needed.
And then theres books for reading or colouring and card/board games I come across. Someone might like in the shtf times if no hydro or batteries available.
Any hand operated tools, be it gardening, kitchen or tools for building.
Hinges, wire, screws, washers, nails, paint brushes, zip ties, extra chimney pipes (for wood stove), chimney brushes/rods, etc..
Flannel yardage (when on sale), for diapers,ladies personal products, PJ's, etc..
Thread, safety pins, snaps, v. strips, etc..
I keep good 'out grown' clothing can be made in to clothing for kids, patching or in to quilts/rugs.
So many things. To many at times when juggling the tubs around to make room for....just one more tub. *sigh*
Clear tubs sure do help when stacking and you want to know whats in the bottom one. 😉
Need a bigger attic, me thinks.
A sense of humor is absolutely essential to survival.
Now that you mentioned that about saving yarn for knitting/crocheting etc...(a great idea btw...I'll start doing that too...I aready store sewing materials, but that's all) a memory came to me...my Mother used to take old sweaters apart and save the yarn and make mitts/socks out of the yarn from the old sweaters...my Mother couldn't afford to throw anything away...but it's a good tip for when the bad times come...
also, about the word "hoarding"...obviously it's not a word anyone needs to take too seriously...if you were to go in the basement or garage of most preppers, you may call it "hoarding" but if it's neatly stacked and organized, then obviously it's not hoarding...whatever "word" you want to use...as long as you're doing it...who cares? 😆
Rain 🙂
It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.....
Heritage plant seeds, with instructions on how to collect the seeds for the next year.
Heritage herb seeds, same instructions as mentioned above, and a good guide on there medicinal uses
22 ammo
Footwear
Salt
Karnit
LED lighting. I am browsing the Princess Auto online flyer right now and see they have some 1/2 price ($9.99) indoor motion sensor LED lights that work quite well. The lights use 4 AA batteries and cast about as much light as a fairly bright nightlight. I have 4 of them now and am thinking about a couple more at this price.
Between these lights and a cordless battery charger it works out pretty good if the power goes out.
Another addition to the "Stuff That Works" files. 🙂
Than= I’d rather be rich than poor.
Then= I first became hungry then I ate.
There = She is there now.
Their = They have their things.
They're = They're going to the mall.
To = They came to the house.
Too = That's too bad.
1. Things you get for free.....Walmart Shopping bags, carry things protect things, they burn great
2. 20l motor oil pails.... cleaned out w/lid can be used as a fuel container, water jug (just not drinking water), a indoor planter, wood plus diesel fuel= quick firestarter or for me a quick way to get the coal fire going.
3. Kerosene lasts forever
4. old fridges and freezers? why you say they don't work! have you ever seen a mouse get into one thats closed? use for storing grain on the farm.
5. common bullets, lots for your firearms but keep some to "trade" .22/.303/7.62X39mm/.223/12 gauge 😉
I live off grid already supply my own power and heat in east central Alberta and proud of it as I set it up myself!
Toilet paper and other sanitary supplies
Mothballs
Fire extinguishers. Have them where you need them and keep them maintained
First aid kits. Again have plenty and keep them stocked and rotate the perishable medications
Rechargeable batteries in every size
Solar chargers. You can't have too many if these in any size
Petroleum jelly
Vitamins/ supplements
Vinegars: yes I know it's a food, but it has plenty of other uses. Such as apple cider vinigar in a cup with a drop of soap kills fruit flies. It's a great deorderizer, sanitizer and preserver
Soaps, detergents cleaning supplies
I found some Carbolic soap. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbolic_soap Most of you who have experienced it probably think of this soap as evil or nasty BUT I picked up some athletes foot at a swimming pool change room years ago and a couple of washes with carbolic soap cleared that up in no time flat. I would be inclined to believe a somewhat harsh sanitizing soap to be a definite asset in times where sanitation is compromised due to a lack of clean water.
Than= I’d rather be rich than poor.
Then= I first became hungry then I ate.
There = She is there now.
Their = They have their things.
They're = They're going to the mall.
To = They came to the house.
Too = That's too bad.
Fuel stabilizers, tire repair kit, water filters, lumber, nails, antibiotics, bandaids/bandages,
canning jars/lids/rings, boots, rain gear, barbed wire and posts, firewood
Way overlooked and seldom thought of, shoe laces. When I buy work or hiking boots they tend to come with shoe laces that damn near span an ocean. As soon as I get those boots home I figure out how much too long the laces are and buy appropriate length laces for my preference. As a result I have several pairs of 'too long' boot laces around but would expect that 'beggars who can't be choosers' would rather deal with overly long shoe laces rather than breaking/knotted laces or no laces at all on their shoes/boots. If all else fails I can still use those laces for lashing. My cost ZERO. Barter value at least something. "OK, three tomatoes, 2 lbs of potatoes and a pair of boot laces for two dozen eggs?" (for example)
I throw out a chit load of shopping bags, cheap and intentionally disposable by design. I also save some of those (produce) bags to pick up after my dogs as well as stashing some better quality plastic bags for the day when plastic bags are no longer common. They take up very little room and have value in an extended period of commercial disruption. I refuse to pay for 'under the sink' garbage can bags. I get them for free with purchases from retailers.
We rarely see the value of things we take for granted. Think about what you throw away when it is new, unused or barely used.
I'm the frugal product of conception outside of wedlock, not to be confused with an ordinary cheap bastard! 😆
Cheers,
BTR
(Gads! I'm going to end up on a hoarder show!!! 😮 ) Really, it's not that bad... yet?
Than= I’d rather be rich than poor.
Then= I first became hungry then I ate.
There = She is there now.
Their = They have their things.
They're = They're going to the mall.
To = They came to the house.
Too = That's too bad.
Everyday non-food/Non-weapon Items that will be valuable barter items in a SHTF situation:
Matches
Lighters
Toilet Paper
Paper Plates
Candles
Alcohol
Garbage Bags
DaScribbler
________________________
Paracord, and you can use it for shoelaces too.