What would you buy from Amazon?

[AmateurPrepper]

We are very low budget preppers, we've never bought in bulk, all been 500g lentils here, tin of custard there.

I've just done an inventory and DH and I are rather proud.
10kg each of pasta, rice, lentils. Plus broth mixes. Packet mixes. Beans. Fruit. Custard and rice puddings. Meat. Fish. Sauces. Tomatoes. Veg. Very simple toiletries (soap - wipes - sanpro - washing powder)

We run apps that pay us in Amazon vouchers. Averaging £15 a week. The plan was to use them to buy dry goods, but we're better prepared than we thought.

Would you buy dry basics? Treats? (we are very good at not touching the stores) Toiletries?

It's essentially free money, but as we're low budget I'm loathe to waste it. Voucher balance is currently £32.50.

[goldengummybear]

I've bought shampoo, toilet paper, first aid kit, batteries, lightbulbs and long life milk today,

[goldengummybear]

And new phone chargers

[ElyElyOy]

Unless you already have them: In car phone charger (unless you have a usb point in your car, in that case just a spare lead), wind up radio, treat toiletry (for me a large TIGI shampoo and a bottle of radox!), Useful books (first aid, veg gardening, cook book etc), thermal gloves/hat, treat books/board games.

[bellinisurge]

I actually think treats are a nice idea. If you have factored bugging out into your preps, consider adding to that as an alternative.

[bellinisurge]

By bugging out, I mean building a selection of bug out things that suit you not buying a prebuilt bug out bag.

[AmateurPrepper]

The bugging out is covered. We get very bad snow so always have stuff in the car which stays there, a bag in the front porch and stuff in the house for power outages and not being able to leave safely.

Power charge pack would be good though. I'm half toying with dehydrators and vacuum sealers, breadmakers etc. Just so thrilled to be better prepared than we thought. My first time posting on this particular board but I've lurked forever, feel like one of the gang now, finally up to speed.

[bellinisurge]

Dehydrating is fab. Just fab.

[AmateurPrepper]

I'm aware you're a big fan @bellinisurge

[SalrycLuxx]

I worship my breadmaker. Truly. Use it all the time and it’s so easy.

[bellinisurge]

@AmateurPrepper

[jinglewithbellson]

What time span do you think all the stuff will be needed for?
I haven't really thought about prepping and I've asked on a thread as to why but I'm still so confused. M
Can someone pls explain to me why it's a good idea to start bulk buying in and all the other stuff like chargers etc etc so I have a little more understanding pls.
Thanks preppers

[bellinisurge]

@jinglewithbellson there's general prepping and there's Brexit prepping. This thread is more about general prepping. At least I think it is.
It's not a club. Prepping generally is an ongoing thing. It's where people realise they need to build some resilience into their home life.
If a prepper talks about bugging out it doesn't mean they think Brexit will lead to us all fleeing our homes. It means they have thought about some feasible what ifs which might include, say, a fire in their house.
Brexit is just another issue for me like the possibility of being snowed in or losing your job. Hope for the best plan for the worst.

[bellinisurge]

@AmateurPrepper - have you thought about Dutch Oven cooking? Maybe explore that.

[AmateurPrepper]

Can someone pls explain to me why it's a good idea to start bulk buying in for me personally, it's a back up plan. We're a very low income working family. A big financial event (boiler breaking, one of us on sick, job loss, being put on UC) could be a disaster. We don't have a garden or allotment, this is our version of self sufficiency. If it all goes to hell we can survive a few months.

Sometimes it's less than £1 a week on stuff to prepare for the worst. We both run "get paid to play" apps overnight and the vouchers at £32.50 (which took two weeks to "earn") will be our biggest prep spend. Hence my asking the experts in here.

I've lurked a long while, if you want to start preparing simply imagine you're snowed in for 3 days. What do you need? Collect it and put it by. Always a good idea for even the most anti-prep people to be able to comfortably manage a 3 day snow in.

[AmateurPrepper]

@bellinisurge i want to google what that is, bit DH has "treated" me to a Dutch oven in the past.....

[AmateurPrepper]

A decision has been made! Going to wait, save more vouchers and get a good breadmaker. We talked about what we'd miss most and 🍞 was pretty high up the list. So breadmaker, flour, yeast, and some storage tubs for the flour.

Hoping I'll love it as much as @SalrycLuxx loves theirs.

[HolySwearingCuss]

How do the apps work? Can anyone do that?

[AmateurPrepper]

Yeah, they're not gonna make you hundreds but I'm on such a small budget it makes a difference, husband does it too so we get double. We download recommended apps, leave them running overnight and collect points. You can choose different vouchers but as Amazon vouchers don't expire for 10 years and they're unlikely to go out of business we choose them.

Apps are AppStation and Applike. You can find free them on Google play, if you want to use my links you get 25% of what I earn and vice versa. We signed up to both as some games are featured on both so we get payout twice.

It's free vouchers, I've been with both these for over a year now. Can't stress enough it's just a few quid here and there unless you do what we do and run the apps for 12 hours a day.

r.appstation-app.online/campaign/affiliate/30527fc05ab4424aab72af7a0eeb2dd0?channel=

r.applike.info/s/5c3b8338c00bc

[AwdBovril]

AmateurPrepper - if you're going to be buying & storing flour, you'll need to look into how to stop weevils infesting it. This site explains how to freeze the flour & then store it properly, so it should extend the useful storage life of the flour.

[AmateurPrepper]

Thanks @AwdBovril. I'm getting storage for the washing powder bit I never gave much thought to storage of flour. We're mostly tins and some freezer stuff.

Persuaded DH that the next purchase should be a yoghurt maker. He doesn't eat yoghurt but the kids do and in the way we can't imagine not having a bit of bread and butter I think the kids would really miss yoghurt.

[AmateurPrepper]

That site is brilliant! Getting a wee favourite, I didn't even think of storing garlic bit I'd miss it.

[AwdBovril]

Oh - to answer your original question, OP, I've bought the following.
Wholewheat giant couscous
Tapenade
Sundried tomato paste - this lasts pretty well in a fridge even after opening.
Whole milk powder - I broke my Nestlé boycott as I couldn't find another whole milk powder at a decent price. The price has already risen by 25% since I purchased it though.
Large tub of mixed Italian seasoning. I've had this before, it's a good blend.
This pesto also lasts amazingly well of you keep it in the fridge after opening, & make sure you use a clean spoon each time. I bought it from my health food shop but they just stopped stocking it, boo hoo!

A couple of vinyl soap savers - we have switched to soap instead of hand wash, shower gel etc. Only exception is by the kitchen sink where I've stocked up. Soap goes further, lasts longer & is cheaper & smaller to store.

A copy of Cooking for Victory & We'll Eat Again by Marguerite Patten. Good ideas for recipes with limited food, pastry using leftover mashed potato. Some strange recipes but interesting reading. Not very expensive when I bought them.