Welcome, look forward to getting to know you better, and to see where your interests are, don't be afraid to ask questions.. but do take some time and read though different subjects and get a feel for things..

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks so much for the friendly welcomes!

😀 I've been reading so many different posts and different takes on how people view prepping. I love how diverse it is, I read and keep what I believe to be important and right for me and my family. I also really like how a lot of it ends up being environmentally friendly. I'm teaching myself how to use natural medicines and I'm going to be sewing myself some cloth sanitary pads (from a post on here). I put together a bug out bag and between my necessities and my toddlers there just didn't seem to be enough room... but if I make my own that can be washed I won't have to worry about such precious space for other very important preps.

I've also been storing water and food but we don't have tones of money to spend on preparing. I hope that if we get a little creative we'll be able to make out nicely, until we can improve. I've been storing water in reused 2 L pop bottles. Does anyone have any advise on this? I read a post where the woman made sure to use bleach in the water she used to clean the bottles out. I just used very hot water and sunlight soap. I read that I should rotate them every six months but is that really necessary?

Keep your water containers in a cool preferably dark location and they are fine for at LEAST six months. However if you are refilling them with chlorinated tap water there is no cost and rotating your supplies so it is not a bad habit to get into. I rotate mine every six months.

I've said before, water never goes bad. You could have things growing in it but the water itself has no expiry date. Tap water already has chlorine to kill anything alive. Flouride is another issue along with any other chemical contaminant.
I don't trust our Lake Ontario tap water because every chemical dump all along the great lakes chain could be leaching in to the last lake in the line - that's us. So we just don't use it at all or use a Berkey filter. They'll never find what they don't test for.
It won't taste as good the longer it sits but it will be wet and safe. Plastic will eventually break down but those 2l bottles are tougher than most plastics.

ICRCC and Perfesser, thanks for your input. I do live in the city (for now! can't wait to get out of here) so it is chlorinated tap water. I will rotate every six months or so. I'd really love to get a couple of rain barrels too.. maybe I can put that on my birthday wish list! 😀

Thank you for your input about my water storage. I do live in the city (for now, I can't wait to move back out in the country!) so the tap water is chlorinated. I will rotate my water every 6 months or so.

I really want a couple of rain barrels, but I think I could only get away with one in my little condo backyard...not for lack of room for two or three, but just so I am not conspicuous with neighbours RIGHT beside us! Maybe I will put it on my birthday wish list! 😀