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Preppers

What is prepping? Who is a prepper?

57 replies

Sideorderofchips · 25/07/2021 13:39

Hi everyone

I feel that with the current state of the world, that more people are leaning towards becoming preppers and have questions. So I thought I would start a thread about what prepping is, who is generally a prepper and what you should really have.

Most people have seen doomsday preppers or similar and it's all a bit crazy with forts, bunkers etc

Thing is, that isn't all there is to prepping. Prepping can be as simple as having candles and torches for a power cut. Or it's having enough food, water and medication to last years. And so much in between

If you are interested in being a prepper ask yourself what you want to prep for. Reason being that, whilst there is a general list everyone should have, some are more specific. If you live in an area prone to flooding do you have a plan in place? Do you keep valuables upstairs, do you have insurance etc. If you lived next to a nuclear power plant do you have a plan in place OR do you know what the local authority will do if there is an accident?

First thing is would you be staying at home (bugging in) or would you be leaving for elsewhere (bugging out). In reality there are very few situations that bugging out would be the best option.

Food: most governments emergency plans recommend having 2 weeks of food in your house in case of emergency. There are many foods that are really prepper friendly and store for a long time. Make sure you rotate them with your normal food and keep an eye on dates.

Water: this is a fun one. If something happens like a longterm power cut or contamination of your water supply you won't last long unless you have water. And don't rely on local authorities or your local supermarket as everyone will have the same idea. Keep some bottled water and like food rotate.

Medications: I'm on daily medication. I try to have a months back up at all times. Keep painkillers, antiseptics etc as well. You don't need to go full surgical kit. Try and get a first aid course sorted as well.

Heating: we all saw it with texas. No power no heating. Winter is about to get cold. How will you keep warm?

Light: torches are great. Candles are great. Think safety, think lighting it, think batteries

Cooking: how will you cook?

Misc: daft things like a spare tin opener. I saw on twitter during the texas freeze a great thread about the person's brother. Who was a self proclaimed prepper. Had all these tins and guns and ammo... But couldn't open his tins because he didn't have a tin opener.

My advise to all? Always have a back up. Work at two weeks of everything. Only buy what you know you will use. Look for calories. The more calories for less food the better.

Hopefully this is helpful

OP posts:
Heronatemygoldfish · 29/07/2021 16:12

Reading this with interest.

On the water thing, we have a Lifesaver Cube. Unopened so far, but once it is, we can filter pretty much anything out of any old grotty looking water for a year and the filters are replaceable. Brilliant things. Bought because the water supply round us might be compromised by HS2 drilling and at a pinch we can drink the contents of the water butts before we have to go raid the river (which everyone else will be doing if it all goes pear-shaped).

We're also campers so have the kit to cope with no heating or no household gas/electric for a week or so. I do confess to a silly number of candles and tealights but that's because I like them. And hurricane lamps.

First aid kits in both house and car. Lots of painkillers.
Enough tins of meat and dried pasta etc for weeks.

Never thought of myself as a prepper but I guess I am!

Anyone else keep unopened packs of sewing needles?

AppleJane · 29/07/2021 21:31

I used to hate opening cans. Tin openers always break even when you think you've found 'the one'.

Then I discovered Japanese can openers. They look like large butterflies and are similar to the stab tin openers of the '70s but a lot nicer to use in a rocking back and forward motion.

DinosaurDiana · 29/07/2021 21:38

Where do you keep it all ?
I had extra in the garage during Covid but it got dusty. I’d like my stuff to look tidy and organised.

Sideorderofchips · 29/07/2021 22:12

I keep it under my bed, in my shed, in cupboards etc

OP posts:
Hallomother · 29/07/2021 22:19

I’ve become more interested in this since having my little boy but feel overwhelmed and not sure where to start - I don’t have lots of spare cash either!

We have a log burner so I guess we would use that if we needed heat, so having a good stock of dry wood would be smart.
I always try to get nappies and wipes in bulk when I can when they’re on offer so I have a good stock of those, same with baby medicines and creams etc.
I try to be ready with clothes in the next two sizes as it’s easier to pick them up when I see them, same with toys.

I don’t have candles I should look at that, I do have water purification tablets that my dad randomly gave me last year! No torch though. Need to get one of those.

I keep a store of long life oat milk on hand, same with coffee beans as I can’t be without.

I don’t really know what to keep in terms of food though. We rarely eat tins so they go out of date and that just seems a waste.
Cereals and pulses maybe?

Good thread.

Sideorderofchips · 29/07/2021 22:24

It's really easy to feel overwhelmed. Start small. Just buy one extra thing a week. Rice, pasta, cous cous, cereal, uht milk etc

OP posts:
Hallomother · 29/07/2021 22:25

Thank you. I try to make sure I have extras of snack things for DS on hand just as it’s easier to not run out as I go really, ditto for things like washing powder etc as I go through so much now.

I hadn’t really thought about bottled water, I have several water butts in the garden but I guess they wouldn’t last long. DS would be in his element though, he seems to prefer slurping a dirty puddle over his juice Grin

Sideorderofchips · 29/07/2021 22:36

If you have water butt's that's great. Water purifying tabletd are dirt cheap on ebay or amazon so pick some up

OP posts:
WaterIsBest · 29/07/2021 22:41

Im a prepper.
Iv got alot of everything in, 2 full tall freezers full, 6 jars of coffee, 6 boxes of tea bags, sweetener, tons of Packed rice, Cereal, long life milk, litres of Water
Loads of oil in the tank

Always have been like this but worse since Covid, its also now, cleaning materials, Bleach, Dettol, Washing stuff, Hand soap

I buy 1 more than i need every week,
Leaves u with a big backlog and ur not being selfish in the supermarket

BlackeyedSusan · 30/07/2021 00:55

just 6 jars of coffee? coffee might be something going up in price fairly soon.

Legoandloldolls · 30/07/2021 01:37

I had a unexpected emergency blue light into hospital and my bag was already packed as I have an emergency backpack. It's got no clothes in but
But everything else I need if I need to run out house. Battery pack. Chargers. Snacks. Washing stuff. It's all there.

Theres a list of clothes to grab too. I did it for covid incase anyone got ill but I have used it twice in emergency once for me above and when my mum.had a fall

Hallomother · 30/07/2021 08:15

@BlackeyedSusan

just 6 jars of coffee? coffee might be something going up in price fairly soon.
Never had a post made me more panicked! Grin I always always pick up extra coffee beans as I cannot survive without it!
AppleJane · 30/07/2021 08:53

@Legoandloldolls I like the sound of your emergency backpack! Could someone please provide a comprehensive list as I'm sure I'd forget something?!

BlackeyedSusan · 31/07/2021 00:14

@AppleJane there are threads on emergency hospital bags, but if you can't find one start a new one

WaterIsBest · 31/07/2021 00:21

Yep, got an emergency hospital back pack here too. One for me, one for partner

Legoandloldolls · 31/07/2021 21:56

In my emergency backpack I have

A can of coke.
Dried fruit x 2 ( my snacks)
Battery pack.
USB splitter and three various charging leads
Mask
Hand gel
Rubber gloves ( maybe from before we knew how bad covid was - I could always dye my hair I guess!)
Tissues
Hand cream
Lip balm
Everything to have a wash
All basic make up
Hair brush and hair bands
Painkillers
Ear plugs
Head phones
Book
Chrochet project
A weeks worth of prescription medication
Some cash and change
A list of clothes in case i need to stay over night and for a week
Spare fold up or carrier bag
Toothbrush and toothpaste

So if I'm ever in hospital or any of us are I have all these little bits ready rather than getting them together.

Very handy indeed when I phoned 111 one day and a ambulance arrived in five minutes and carted me off! I take the power bank out and make sure its charged every now and again.

You can get bottle sets in primark for small quantities but my wash kit is just a flannel and samples

AppleJane · 01/08/2021 11:09

@Legoandloldolls that's fantastic, thank you very much. My 'job for the weekend' Smile

EzzieLove · 08/08/2021 10:18

Good example of preparedness/ adapt and survive seen on holiday a couple of weeks ago. Family on a camp site we were staying at changed over a gas canister, which then ignited and set fire to their tent. Within seconds another camper arrived with a fire extinguisher and put the blaze out. Family lost the front of their tent but luckily no one was injured and belongings were all ok. Someone else pitch in (pun intended) and provided a tarp to cover the damaged area over night and the family purchased a new tent the next day. Holiday continued. Got to love the camping community. Guess what I’m buying next for my preps!

1Dandelion1 · 08/08/2021 11:16

Never considered myself a prepper, just sensible.
I learnt to buy items while on sale and keep a couple of months worth of toiletries and staple foods as the offers always come around. I realised that I might be considered a prepper when everyone else was panicking and I didn't have to visit the shops and even had enough to share with my worried sister.

VISIONON · 08/08/2021 16:28

what do you all think about the recent disclosure over UFU sightings?
before you dissmiss me as a lunatic,find uot about a man called bob lazaar.Things will be changing VERY MUCH.how will this affect preppers?

AppleJane · 08/08/2021 17:21

What's a UFU?

Fauvist · 08/08/2021 17:31

I can't even remember the last time we had a power cut where I am (London)

In 2020, we had a severe problem with the gas where I live (in London) and quite a lot of people were without gas and some without electricity for several weeks. There were also intermittent problems with the water supply as water getting into the gas pipeline was what had caused the issue. I was VERY pleased that I had a good stock in of stuff to use in this situation and backup plans for warmth etc.

Usuallyhappycamper · 09/08/2021 20:51

I prep for convenience and control. It is far easier to stock up on wood for the wood burner in summer, so it is already there when it gets cold. Preparing fruit and veg for the dehydrator is a faff, but means that when you want to make chilli and don't have peppers or onions, you don't need to go to the shop. I grow fruit and veg to try and cut down on food miles and plastic, but the berries never make it inside the house thanks to the kids being a lot faster than me! It all means thinking ahead, but means that when the light bulbs go or the water is temporarily off, I have a solution. I don't prep for having to live for years off stores or going to live in the woods etc though.

BiddyPop · 02/09/2021 08:26

I prep for general life management, and the kinds of issues that are most likely to happen in the major city we live in. I grew up with regular power cuts in the 70s/80s. Our heating system regularly went on the Fritz and DF couldn't afford to repair it. Food shortages were real (and partly caused by inflation in an economic crisis) so the produce from the back garden was vital.

Now we work very long FT hours and spend a lot of time bringing teenager to their sports commitments (elite player so lots of training and competitions) so we need to be organised.

BiddyPop · 02/09/2021 09:13

Sorry, hit send too soon.

I have a decent amount of no -perishable food in stock, because we have times that life gets chaotic and we need to just eat without shopping. I also keep the freezer well stocked. Partly it is making sure I have things we will use and that gives us a balanced And reasonably nutritious diet. Partly it's about bulk buying things we will use anyway when I see good offers - bogofs, reductions, vouchers, yellow stickers etc. (E.g. M&S can have very good yellow sticker offers on meat and fish if you hit the right day - so freezer space is good to have). I also batch cook when I can, and like a pp, freeze in single portions to quickly expand a meal if extra people arrive for some reason (not unknown), or suddenly plans change and it's all 3 of us not just 1 for dinner. I tend to do both 2 person and 6 person versions of lasagna etc for freezing (6 does either 2 nights, visitors, or I can refreeze portions that have been cooked as single portions to reheat as I freeze them uncooked initially). Even things like leftover roast meats are useful - large amounts are reheated in gravy for a regular meat/spuds/2 veg dinner, but small amounts are thinly sliced to toss into stir fries.

It mostly started from a frugality mindset.
But we've had power cuts, water failures, local floods, etc to deal with even in the city. I keep my 1 ring gas stove for camping in the shed even though my main camping gear is in a storage unit a mile away - which was useful when we had a power outage for boiling a kettle. We also have a gas bbq that has been tested in snow conditions which would also help cooking needs anytime.

I have plenty of torches and lanterns etc for camping, which are also kept at home. And a solar panel to recharge a few of those. But we also like candles anyway so have plenty of safe holders, particularly nightlight type candles, and a stock of candles and matches.

We eat batteries in this house it seems. I really want to get rechargeable ones, especially now we have PV solar panels on the roof (only a few weeks). But I buy these in the large boxes (24) in AA & AAA sizes, and keep a few C, D and small round ones on hand too for lesser used items.

Decent first aid kit, which has been used for various needs over the years, both here, neighbours and on camp. And I keep my 1st aid cert up to date.

General tools to fix things, and supplies of screws and nails, glue, tape, cable ties, etc. To deal with household emergencies. And Ppe for that too (gloves, masks for dust, helmet, steel capped boots etc), and things like safe ladders, buckets with handles, rope to move items safely/hooks to hang items while working leaving a hand free etc.

I used to be good at having a bag ready to go, but fell,out of practise. But I have a small box of tools, torch, knife, tape, tissues, hand sanitiser, work gloves etc in the car boot, a rug, shopping bags etc and I keep water there as long as dd hasn't discovered and "borrowed" it 🙄. In winter, I tend to have spare gear there too (hat, gloves, socks, hoodie, etc) especially if bad weather is due.

We have multiple sources of heat as we,ve had problems with gas supply on occasion etc. So plenty of wood for the stove, hot water bottles and blankets, and candles also are useful on occasion in a single room.

Medicines for my needs but also general over the counter ones for cold and flu, cold sores, upset tummy or gut, pain relief, hot and cold patches for pain, antihistamines etc. As it's usually middle of the night or as we leave on a tight schedule or some other inopportune time that illness hits my family.

I do keep a couple of 5l bottles of water for drinking, I have a 10 l barrel to fill if we get warning of problems, and we also have a water butt in the fog Arden which mostly waters the garden but is used with buckets for flushing loos when necessary. As even in the city, we've had major water problems (which went on for a couple of months during the "Beast from the East" winter some years back).

And I also keep physical books with emergency advice etc - because electronic devices may not work in an emergency. So a 1st aid manual, DIY manual, cookery books etc. But also books to read and enjoy, board games and other non-power-requiring hobbies.

I have had a purse, hidden but accessible to the household, with enough money for an emergency shop (bread, milk etc) in case anyone ever needs cash in a hurry. It's useful for doorstep sponsorships, dd forgot she needed money for school until 8:30am, grab a tenner when meeting someone for local coffee when my wallet is empty etc. And I keep a purse with change in my car, for car parking machines but also handy for vending machines etc. on occasion.

I don't do weapons.

I have a storage unit - we got it for attic stuff when converting the attic 14 years ago (☺️) and keep it for things like seasonal decorations, things dd has grown out of, camping gear, useful stuff that others in the family will need that we don't use now, etc. We don't keep food there. I do sometimes put Christmas presents there over the autumn as I start buying. The resucci Anne that work donated to my Scout group (the kids get to use it frequently, but to keep it functional, I store it away from the Scout Den). That sort of stuff.

I had an allotment before life took away the time it needed. I grew veg in the garden until the dog arrived in our lives last year. So now I just buy them, but can grow more again on window ledges, in hanging baskets etc if it's needed in future.

I have visions of a small holding, including a basement, for my retirement. But that is probably a pipe dream in reality.

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