Just to be fair and honest
you have some great posts, I just do not like people being condescending to me or others. So to delete your posts like that shows,, well really ...
your posts in the topic were good as well, so why delete them? Condescension is best done with out though.

I am here to Help, Learn, Share and participate. Most people are as well, love it when everyone does this.

I have 10 of the large 5 gallon bottles that you can find at grocery stores - the ones that sit sideways on a rack and are brought back for exchange and refill. We also have a few cases of regualr water bottles around at all times. Another good idea if you have a freezer is to fill plastic juice containers and line the bottom of your freezer (or just add if you have room) - it keeps the freezer cold longer if the power goes out and provides you with a few more litres of drinking water. I also fill those same juice jugs and leave them unrefrigerated and marked for washing and flushing. Having a Berkey means I can add a little bleach and pour it through the filter to use for drinking water anyway.

I always wanted to use those bottles, but how do you reseal them after being opened?
There is a $10.00 deposit here in Quebec on those, but that is still cheaper than buying a camping water container at Canadian Tire or elsewhere.

Depending on your BOB needs, you also need a shelter and a means to keep dry while walking and a walking aid. A Tarp system, a Raincoat system, a walking stick or fighting stick useful for both as well as jumping over streams etc if needed.

An upgrade for yourself might be those collapsable walking poles. Expensive but very good as well if you like that, turn them upside down to use as poles for the tarp system if you need. Myself I carry a military Rain Poncho, 550 cord already attached to it, more 550 cord in the BOB and some bungy cords. In BOB there are also a couple of knives to use for making camp, firewood, defence etc. Instead of a regular walking stick I use my Chinese Oak Fighting Staff outfitted with a rubber tip found at WalMart for cheap. These are my thoughts you need to do what you need to do.

The Military Poncho can be used;
walking in cold rain
shelter
wrapping around sleeping bag
creating an opening to a poly tarp system, so in effect a doorway
2 together to create larger tent/shelter system

Dollerama right now has those Emergency Tube Shelter and Emergency Blankets, cheap but great for one time or limited use if needed,also very lightweight. Dollerama also carries the expedient stoves that look like Esbit stoves, I have grabbed a few of these and they work great. Fuel can be a few different options in the future as well, so your not stuck with the fuel tabs. Sometimes you will need to use the fuel tabs, these are good since they are virtually odour free and easy to start in the rain. Small wooden fires in Hobo Cans or Rocket Stove setups work great but have a strong wood odour and are harder to start in the rain.

I have 10 of the large 5 gallon bottles that you can find at grocery stores - the ones that sit sideways on a rack and are brought back for exchange and refill. We also have a few cases of regualr water bottles around at all times. Another good idea if you have a freezer is to fill plastic juice containers and line the bottom of your freezer (or just add if you have room) - it keeps the freezer cold longer if the power goes out and provides you with a few more litres of drinking water. I also fill those same juice jugs and leave them unrefrigerated and marked for washing and flushing. Having a Berkey means I can add a little bleach and pour it through the filter to use for drinking water anyway.

I always wanted to use those bottles, but how do you reseal them after being opened?
There is a $10.00 deposit here in Quebec on those, but that is still cheaper than buying a camping water container at Canadian Tire or elsewhere.

Not sure if Quebec has these stores but in Ontario there are a number of stores that offer re-filling of filtered water. At these stores you can find the new tops, they come in 3 different varieties and in one store they offered for a while re-usable caps. Great idea but probably not for long term storage. Here the tops are free as well! You might try Wine and Beer Making establishments as they might carry them.

Not sure if Quebec has these stores but in Ontario there are a number of stores that offer re-filling of filtered water. At these stores you can find the new tops, they come in 3 different varieties and in one store they offered for a while re-usable caps. Great idea but probably not for long term storage. Here the tops are free as well! You might try Wine and Beer Making establishments as they might carry them.

Call around too! One store here does Refill Wednesday and you can get the 5 gallon refills for $1.89 (limit of 5 bottles... My friend picks me up and I fill 5 for her when she needs it 🙂 )

Some Home Hardware stores also have refill stations.

OK, Back on Track enough on he water issues..

back to items that these folks can add into a $500 solution for emergencies BOB, DODGE, GO What they need

In addition to water, I would suggest an alternate cooking method like a camp stove and some fuel, then food to cook on it. You can start with some basics to get a couple weeks worth of non-perishables, then just add a little to it every time you shop. If bugging out is your first thought, then keep some of the 500.00 in cash and then set up a bug out bag with seasonal clothing, food, and some other supplies for at least 3 days.

Hey all! I'm the OP. Thanks for the awesome responses so far and welcome to Signs! No worries about jumping on here, for me. It's all good.

So my little guy and I had some fun finding stuff in the house we already had like bleach, duct tape, tools, small knife, matches, firesteel, compass, binoculars, blankets etc. With tonight's grocery shop I've added some canned goods, garbage bags, water and hand sanitzer. We put it all in a closet downstairs so everything we're gathering is in one spot. We have a lot more to gather/buy obviously. Just had a though tonight to make a little kids entertainment bag --- some new colouring books or toys from the dollar store would help take the edge off for my little guys.

My plan is thus:
My first priority is water, food, and tools for a short emergency like a power outage.
My second priority is creating a family BOB.
My third and ongoing priority will be to expand the home preparations from a small emergency to something more substantial. And also create a solid bug-out plan.
My fourth priority is creating that little "go" bag residing in the car with extra supplies, in addition to a basic car emergency kit.
Another ongoing project will be training myself (and family when appropriate) in various areas, like first-aid, CPR, self-defense, etc.
Thoughts? amf

It all sounds good, read over the thread a few times and with your two additional posts have a few quick thoughts.
1. most important since we now know there are two adults and wee ones, this changes things a bit.
a. eventually packs for eveyrone, even the wee one.
b. MAPS - with a main route and 2 secondary routes for everyone, especially the wee ones.
- rendezvous point in case of leaving the house or school or work etc. this is just a first meeting point.
- in case of separation from you, most adults and some teenagers would look a the map, find the closest Rendezvous point and help the little ones get there, I would put that one in a double zip lock bag tapped to the little guys pack. See also map cases at Canadian Tire
c. practise walking or riding bikes there, so you all get the lay of the land, then do it in the evening, then in the dark. Even the little one, as familiarization is key to keeping ones head and directions, especially under stress or darkness.

Go bags remember are designed to get you from the Car or Office to your house or Secondary location, keep them light.
Car emergency bags do not need to be carried if separated from the car as tools and such are heavy. Make sure you have road flares in your GO bag, they can be used in multiple ways, including self defence. A flare pistole might be a good item, no license required and used to signal or take someone or something out! In GO bag
Full out evacuation kits can be pre-arranged put in totes and big hockey bags, regular tools and items, can have a bag or tote near them, with a quick list for reference

Any and all training is important, make sure you get the full CPR course that teaches kids and pets necessitation as well
Even little kids can be taught first aid and self defence, and it is good for them in character building

water - lifestraws in eveyrones pack, they are light, inexpensive and the best way to drink water on the Go
Here are the links to the Water Filter I use in the Field and at home(TP) important, put rolls in zip lock bags and squish them down, yes bulky but O so useful!
Sawyer Products http://www.sawyer.com/default.html http://www.sawyer.com/water.html Canadian Sales Company http://www.globalhydration.com/product-info/sawyer-sp183-4l-water-treatment-system The Distribute to Canada, see links for companies they sell to.
chime in everyone else including Signs.. thanks

When training, young ones, start it off as a game. Start if off as a map route game in the house. Such as "if Johnny had to go from school to a certain point on the map, what would be the best route and why. Use clear plastic sheets and removable marker for over the map, saves on maps. Or photo copy sections so that they can mark it up. Then take a map "route march", in which can be done on a bike also, make it a family outing with each child with they're own map, to see if they can follow it. NOTE, not every one, can read a map properly, defining which way is North is also a problem for some people. Start off with fun and work to serious, you don’t want to scare people into learning, it doesn't work well.

After a very long chat with a few preppers and actually thinking about this today while working, I have changed my answer.

Filtration system of some kind for water, Absolutely!
Now buy a pressure canner (about 150 at home hardware or amazon), jars in various sizes and some really good cookbooks or find some blogs to print from (message me and I can help you out with that).
A good canner, jars, tools to can are a solid investment with great benefits! You can preserve all your favorite meals, snacks, meats, everything you can imagine... and then you can reuse the jars, prep when ever you see fit and teach others the skill once you have mastered it and it is something the whole family can do and benefit from.
In the long run, it would save you big time $$ even in a non survival situation.

.

There is a lot of great advise in this thread and I personally would buy the best water filtration system I could afford. After this look into food supply. Cans, dehydrated even MREs. I personally try to buy a box of MREs once a month they are nutritious plentiful and you get a good variety. They don't take up much room but they can be very expensive. I would look at it from a standpoint like starting with enough food for your family for a week then when you can afford it extend the timeframe to enough for a month then 6 months then one year and so on. I would also invest in camping supplies like a few good sleeping bags a alcohol stove, first aid basics. You can always add to your supply when you have more funds. Another thing to consider is security and in a SHTF situation it will be inparitive. Take your PAL course so you can buy a firearm. It will be a very good investment, hunting for food and providing security to you and your family. After you have the basic firepower for your needs and what ever situation arises you may want to invest in reloading equitment so you can have a resonable supply of ammunition. Just things to think about. IMHO there is no point having a supply of food and provisions with no way of protecting it. When all hell breaks lose people will get desperate and take what they want from you with no regard for human life. Even if you said in your original question that you had 100,000 to invest you could spend that and still have more you could do to be more prepared. Good luck with your start, your already on the right track. Well done

Thanks all again. I agree with the firearms thing. I was always the kind of person who was very against guns and didn't quite understand it at all, but I have definitely come around on the idea. I gather I need to take the CFSC course and then apply for the PAL. Should I just do that and then get a gun and practice? Or go to a range, practice, and then do all that? Or do all at same time?

I really wish my kids were older, hopefully there are no SHTF moments before they are old enough to read maps, etc. I have a 5 year old and a 1.5 year old, so basically pretty helpless. It's frightening to think about protecting, feeding, transporting them as they are so vulnerable. Oh well, better to be prepared than not! And they do grow up so quickly.

"Should I just do that and then get a gun and practice? Or go to a range, practice, and then do all that? Or do all at same time?"

That's your answer right there!
5 yrs old should be able to learn to read maps, look for tourist maps of your area, or make up your own with them. Good luck