Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
If you’re one of our readers who likes to learn about homesteading and preparedness, but hasn’t taken any concrete steps, this article is for you.
Everywhere you look, there are signs that civilization has peaked and it’s all downhill from here. Thanks to wars, crop failures, political battles, and economic turmoil, food insecurity is on the rise, and the entire world is going crazy.
We don’t know when things are going to pop off, but you have to accept reality: hard times are coming. For many, they’re already here. The best thing you can do is get ready. Be prepared to rely on what’s in your pantry, basement, or wherever. It’s the only thing you can rely on.
Having a stockpile of food and other basic necessities will give you peace of mind. You’re going to sleep a little better. You’re going to feel your anxiety drop. When you hear the news about recession, war, or another pandemic, you can take a breath.
You don’t have to be one of the people panicking to get a bag of rice to feed your family. You can stay home, stay safe and stay calm.
Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!
The following list is a great way to get started securing your future, and you can always build on this list. Preppers will tell you that true preppers never stop. You keep stocking and adding little things that will make your life a little easier if there’s a disaster, manmade or natural.
If the shit were to hit the fan, would you be prepared to stay in your home for days? Weeks? If you’re not, you need to get started on this list. Most of these things are really cheap and plentiful right now. You can buy in bulk and pay pennies for some of the items.
Food
Food is pretty obvious and it’s a big umbrella. Essentially, you want to have nonperishable foods. Don’t waste your money stocking anything that requires refrigeration. There are countless lists you can find about what you should be putting away for a rainy day. We’ll give you some of the brief highlights.
There is one really important rule to remember—only store what your family will eat. Some other things you’ll want to remember are things like nutritional content. Calories count, but not in the way you are used to now. You’re going to need the calories when you’re busting your butt trying to take care of business.
You need energy. Calories are energy. You’re also going to need to think about nutrition. You need to stay as healthy as possible. Eating a balanced diet is important. You’re going to need plenty of protein, carbohydrates and the basic vitamins and minerals.
- Baking supplies i.e., flour, sugar, baking powder
- Canned fruit
- Canned meats
- Canned soups
- Canned veggies
- Dried beans; pinto, black and so on
- Freeze-dried foods are amazing, but they can be expensive. If you can afford it, go for it. If you can’t, you can still stock plenty of other foods.
- Honey
- Oatmeal
- Pasta in a variety of styles
- Peanut butter
- Powdered milk
- Ready to eat foods, i.e., chili, ravioli and so on
- Rice, white rice will store the longest
- Spices and seasonings
On a side note, it doesn’t hurt to store some of the little things that bring you comfort. Chocolate and candy can go a long way to making a horrible day a lot better. Think of the kids that are going to be desperate for their usual treats.
Water
It’s hard to store enough water to keep your family going, but there are some options. If you are going to store water straight from your tap, store it in plastic containers like washed and rinsed two-liter soda bottles. Don’t use milk jugs. They aren’t going to last long.
Bottled water is good for immediate short-term use. The larger five-gallon containers are great, and 55-gallon barrels are better if you have the space for them.
You’ll need to store plenty of methods to purify any water you store or collect. A nice filtering system is great. Basic household bleach will also work (use 5-8 drops of regular unscented bleach per gallon of water), but it’s only good for about six months on the shelf. Make sure you are rotating your supply.
Here are some other water purification methods to consider:
First aid
If you’re not able to get to a doctor, you need to be prepared to handle your immediate medical needs. You may not have the luxury of running to urgent care to handle a minor injury. Everything from the basic scraped knees to a laceration that requires stitches or a sprain.
A few supplies you want to have in your stockpile are listed below. Don’t be afraid to add to it and overstock. You can never have too much.
- ACE bandages
- Alcohol prep pads
- Aloe vera gel
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antihistamines
- Antiseptic wipes
- Aspirin
- Bandages in various sizes. This isn’t for nothing. If you don’t have ready access to doctors and antibiotics, you need to make sure you’re keeping a cut or scrape as clean as possible.
- Cough drops and coughing meds
- Diarrhea meds (think about the changes in diet and what that’ll do to the gut)
- Extra prescriptions
- First aid manual
- Gauze in various sizes
- Gauze pads
- Ibuprofen
- Insect repellant
- Nitrile gloves
- Sunscreen
- Suturing kit
- Thermometer
- Tums
- Tweezers
Natural medicines
This is one of those things that will take some knowledge. You want to learn about some natural medicine cures and homeopathic meds. Buy a book—you won’t be disappointed. There are plenty of options available. Plenty of things you can use to fight infections that don’t require a prescription.
It goes beyond daily vitamins. Things like raw honey, garlic pills and essential oils all have their place in the world of natural medicine. When you can’t get access to prescription meds, know how to treat yourself without a prescription pad.
Consider stocking up on herbal teas such as chamomile, peppermint, and echinacea. Chamomile can help with sleep and anxiety, peppermint aids digestion, and echinacea boosts the immune system. Also, keep a supply of activated charcoal for poisoning and a book on identifying and using wild medicinal plants.
And finally, make sure you have a mortar and pestle so you can grind up ingredients.
Tools
This is about as big of an umbrella as the food topic. When we talk about tools, we talk about the things that allow you to survive. To live without the most basic conveniences like calling a handyman to fix a broken door or maybe without electricity.
Think about what’s in your garage or pantry right now. Could you start a fire to keep your family warm and to make a meal? Can you secure your front door to keep people from coming to get the stuff you do have? Fix your car, bike or whatever transportation you might be relying on?
- Axe to chop wood
- Basic toolbox stuff i.e., screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches and etc.…
- Flint for starting fires
- Gardening tools (you might have to grow your own food)
- Generators are one of the big-ticket items you absolutely want to have
- Good work gloves to protect your hands from blisters
- Hand-crank radio
- Headlamps
- Manual can opener
- Multitool
- Paracord, cordage in general
- Propane heater or some other means to stay warm
- Shovel
- Tarp
Cleaning supplies
You need to keep your space clean and as bacteria free as possible. If things get to the point you don’t have running water, keeping your home clean becomes even more important. You want to avoid cross-contamination with your food prep.
You also need to think about the stuff you’re going to be doing outside and tracking in. Keeping your home clean can make you feel better physically as well as mentally.
- Baking soda
- Bleach cleaning solution
- Borax
- Dish soap
- Disinfecting wipes
- Laundry soap
- Lysol—limited sanitation can lead to some stinky situations
- Microfiber cloths
- Mop, broom, sponges and so on
- Trash bags—you can’t have too many
- White Vinegar
Personal hygiene
Cleanliness is important to staying healthy. It also makes you feel a lot better when you don’t stink. You can’t afford to deal with issues that arise from being dirty. It can lead to sickness and even infection. Stock up on these things because they can also be very useful for bartering with your neighbors.
- Baby powder or some kind of powder to keep from chafing
- Chapstick
- Cotton swabs
- Dental floss
- Deodorant
- Feminine hygiene
- Lotion
- Razors
- Sanitizer
- Soap
- Solar shower – Fill with water and hang it up in the sun for a warm shower.
- Toilet paper
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Vaseline
- Wet wipes—load up on these
Survival in general
Think of what’s in your junk drawer, garage or in the closet that catches all the weird little things that you need but don’t really have a space. The list below is not comprehensive, but it will help get you in the right mindset.
Think about all the little things that make life easier. Things that will help you survive in general.
- Aluminum foil
- Batteries
- Candles
- Duct tape
- Flex Seal, spray and tape
- Home protection—you can decide what that is, but you’ll need to protect your home, supplies, and your family.
- Important documents
- Lanterns—solar is best
- Lighters
- Long-range walkie talkies in case the phones go down
- Matches—you cannot possibly have too many
- Plastic sheeting (the higher the mil, the more protection)
- Propane tanks for your camp stove or grill. If you don’t have a camp stove or alternative cooking option, that should be at the top of your list.
- Sewing kit
- Solar panels for chargers
- Super glue
- Weather appropriate gear i.e., coats, gloves, hats
- Whistle
The list is a starting point. Having these supplies on hand will mean the difference between not just surviving but being comfortable and better capable of thriving. Don’t put it off. Make a plan, clear some space in your home and do it.
Like this post? Don't Forget to Pin It On Pinterest!
You May Also Like:
Related Posts:
I would like to know were you would get and store all of the stuff that you have went thru.
Do you have a place to store all that people can store all of the things you have talked about
To misquote the Ancient Mariner: ‘Twaddle, twaddle everywhere: and not a stop to think!’
No matter HOW ‘bad’ (always in RELATIVE TERMS) a situation may (or may NOT!) get, the key to survival ISN’T stockpiling toilet paper and other groceries that are integral to a DIFFERENT world.
As always the Laws of Nature will prevail; The ONLY key to survival is adaptability (to the environment and prevailing/changeable circumstances). NOT VICE VERSA: ie insisting the environment/circumstances adapt to YOU.
A few BILLION years of our ancestral evolution succeeded (demonstrated by the FACT that we have arrived in the present) without ANY of the nonsense touted by the current self-proclaimed ‘experts’. Think, people! Think! And here’s a tip from someone who’s ALWAYS lived ‘survival’ by nature: Rely on your ancestral INSTINCTS, as applied to current situations via your braincells. Tampons are NEVER an issue in the REAL WORLD; nor is ‘Feminism’. And ‘Equality’ doesn’t exist anywhere in the universe; it’s another fantasy we’ve invented so that our arithmetic will work.