Failed with basic preps

[Muddytoes1]

Broke down yesterday, middle of nowhere alone with with baby and 4 yo. Wasn’t intending to go far but rerouted due to traffic. Did I have snacks? Nope. Water? Nope. Something to entertain a bored kid while we waited for breakdown? Nope again. Luckily someone living close took us in and fed us and gave us drinks, charged my phone and generally looked after us until we were sorted. Feel annoyed with myself. All ended well but here’s me worrying about grab bags and stockpiles when I can’t even put parenting basics in the car. Must do better

Well done for surviving it.

We had unexpected snow last week which rattled me. I commute through a stretch of high ground which quickly becomes impassable in the snow (it's THE major route in the region too!) and I'm really worried about getting stuck, potentially with my children.

I've got some outdoor gear and a couple of sleeping bags in the car now, but what other space-efficient things should I pack. It's a tiny car!

Don't kid yourself that general preppers like me don't have tbe odd cock-up when we should be ready for anything.
Stuff I have been without while having all kinds of "other stuff" handy: tissues, water (I know, I know), plasters, lip balm, mints. I think most people would call these things " general stuff you might have in your handbag" rather than prepper stuff. And I have, on occasion, been without them.

I use situations like that to help me prepare better for next time. Happens to everyone, preppers included!

Sorry for slow response, thanks so much! Didn’t mean to whinge, just felt a bit vulnerable and got myself in a stupid situation. Got a little box of just a couple of long-life drinks and snacks as a start and will have a think about a better car emergency pack.

I'm not a preppier at all, in fact I've never thought of any of this stuff before but after breaking down in the pouring rain, an hour from home, at the weekend - I'm too now going to create a bag for the car.

@Kakfor thanks for that, some good ideas to think about!

Think I might edit my online shop now (mmmm cheap noodles!) (must remember forks)

Thanks for sharing those ideas @Kakfor - I too now want noodles!

Just back from buying packet soups, mug shots, crackers and single sachets of hot chocolate, and raided the camping gear for stoves and suitable dual use pans/cups. Now to try to put together a sensible sized & contained kit.

This does mean there'll be no snow this winter. Sorry!

Sounds great @iheartspiders! I’ve only got as far as getting the car fixed and binging a couple of snacks bars and water bottles in the car.

I might have gone overboard. The box takes up half the boot (it's a small car though) and I may have put books in there. The thought of being trapped in a car for hours with bored small children 😱.

But I haven't got a torch. Need to work on that one.

I don't have gear to make warm food, just snacks and water but I do have a poncho cos in this country, let's be honest it will probably be raining! I also keep a lot of those basic every day things in my car bag like tissue and paracetamol and a bit of money because like happened to you it will ALWAYS be when you just nipping out not when you traveling for hours that something happens.
Should probably invest in a set of jump leads though.

Shit, I have forgotten to put the winter bag in. Fleece blankets, ski gloves from Aldi.

There is a bag in the car with hats gloves etc. Need to check it. I usually have biscuits but D's was left in the car... and now I don't.

Also have a bag of cheap salt, sprinkle a bit on the path outside the car door to help me walk.

Thanks for the reminder. Must sort it tomorrow.

On the Torch subject. Try to get one that uses 18650 batteries. These are re-chargeable and there is an easy to get free source for them. The torches are quite cheap now. I have several, Two of which give light for 35 hours on the low setting (from low, med, or high). They are also a handbag or pocket size.

I think the thing most people forget that prepping is not a colection of gear, but rather a living style.

It changes as we learn from our mistakes. Our knowledge changes and grows our choices grow with it.

If it wasnt, we would simple buy a box of gear and there would be no call for discussion groups like this one

I don't tend to drive far so not too worried about breaking down in the middle of no where but I do have the following.

Warning triangle and basic tools inc torch in with the spare tyre in the bit under the boot carpet.

Mini iPad in my handbag all the time and keep it pre loaded with some CBeebies downloads.

Car chargers and a couple of the disposable emergency charge things they sell prepackaged in the pound shop in the dash.

Fleece blanket, kids activity book, notepad and some pens as well as snack bars and long life juice cartons in a car seat organiser hanging thing off the back of the passenger seat.

In the boot I keep a big big towel and one of those foil blankets that I got at the pound shop.

I also keep a change of clothes and some cheap plimsolls in the right size for DD, started doing this when toilet training and just kept it up as comes in useful for falls in mud, soaked through in rain type event.

All in all it takes up barely any room and I don't even notice most of its there till I need it.

I really need to do this. I have a huge box in the Chrysler but not in my small car :(