Why You Absolutely Must Have Food Supplies, Hard Assets And Reserve Cash

[Cheryl Nelson]

http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-preparedness/why-you-absolutely-m...

[Alex Cortes]

Prep for a barter system, I have been stocking up on items like salt/sugar, spices of various types, money I have been keeping at home and out of the banking system altogether.  So if there is a bank run I am out a paycheck and not my entire savings.  I purchase items weekly spending roughly 20-30 dollars a week towards preparing which has been more than sufficient when it comes to food and future barter items.  Know what you have, where you have it and how you will move it when the time comes.....

[Kim B]

It is best to be prepared as best as you can because you don't know what exactly is to happen with the stinking economy.

[Cheryl Nelson]

Invest in commodities... beans, bullets and band-aids, as the saying goes.  If people are going to eat, hunters will need ammo.  Trade bullets for meat.  Stock other long-term storage food and medicines.  And don't forget things like coffee and chocolate... comfort foods...

Some cash is good.  Imagine if you need a doctor and he is up to his ears in coffee and beans and such.  I think he or she would be happy to work for some gold or silver.  It diversifies his/her assets.

[Tammy Fielder]

Then I have enough for a lot of trade!  lol

I have a lot of dried beans and rice, oatmeal, and dried food items.  I am currently stoking up on water and I have water purification tabs and set up for later.  

[Cheryl Nelson]

Cool, Tammy.  If folks can't afford gold or silver, then bullets, coffee, cigarettes (or rolling tobacco), first aid items, and food are definitely a way to "commoditize" your prep portfolio.  I would have some .999 fine silver.  It is good for making colloidal silver, a known antimicrobial.  Of course, get educated and practice while you can before the grits hit the fan. 

Also, junk silver dimes are good to have around, when you really want to buy those antibiotic pills and you don't have anything the guy wants to trade them for. 

You can buy a box of 100 black tea bags at Wal-Mart for $1.18.  Sugar is still relatively cheap.  It's an affordable comfort food.  No, we aren't able to stock a latte machine, but when push comes to shove, cheap black tea and sugar will feel like a luxury. 

I know how addicted smokers are and how crazy they get when deprived.  Not to prey on addicts, but to prevent flaring tempers and anxiety, having some tobacco around will certainly soothe those nerves. 

I'd also have some whiskey and vodka around for medicinal purposes.  Imagine having to pull a tooth with no pain-numby-stuff. 

Water purification tabs are slow, with small output.  Research how to increase volume and decrease time, all without relying on a chemical tablet.  I'd have, at the very least, bottles of unscented Clorox.  Having a way to purify water is a top priority.  Research solar stills and the British Berkefeld (made by Doulton, copycats are out there labeled "Big Berkey") gravity filtration system.  Katadyn Pocket Filter is one of the best, but the price has almost doubled.  Check out Amazon.com, best price I found last I looked.  If Alex comes around, he should comment on the Paratrooper filter, if he got one.  He was thinking about it. 

Charity packages of food should be prepared ahead of time.  Rice with some dehydrated peas and carrots, with bouillon cubes in ziploc bags, fills empty spaces and makes for a convenient "coin" for barter.  I'd make them one-person (individual) size.

And, if possible, figure out a barter exchange.  How much is a meal worth?  Trade you for a band-aid?  A box of band-aids?  What would be a fair exchange rate?  And if they have nothing to trade, see if they have any skills they can trade.  It's not heartless.  It gives them a sense of self-worth.  Most people don't like to beg.  If all else fails, be ready to dispense charity. 

For security, Jim Rawles recommends giving your charity food to a church or other organization and let them dispense it.  But if one isn't nearby, be ready to help passers-by.  Part of helping people includes a guy with a gun, the security guard, a visual aid to keep those who would cross the line in line.

[Alex Cortes]

Personally I have realistically enough food for 6 people for up to a year, for water I have no less than half a dozen methods to purify water and there is always distilling.  When it comes to personal protection I woefully under prepared, have a few crossbows/hand crossbows and one firearm with a limited supply of ammo....not the easiest thing to purchase in Chicago seeing as how its a felony to even have it in your car in two distinct containers seperate from the ammo......very strong gun ordinances and crossbow ordinences are even more rediculous, from what I have read the only people allowed to even use a crossbow in IL are strickly for hunting.  Here is how it breaks down.....

 

Hunters 62 years of age and older are now permitted to use a crossbow without a special permit. Hunters using a crossbow will need an archery deer permit and proof of age in the form of an official ID.  Crossbows used in hunting as authorized by a permit issued under this section shall meet all of the following specifications:

1) Shall have a minimum peak draw weight of 125 pounds and a maximum peak draw weight of 200 pounds.
2) Shall have a minimum limb width of 24 inches and a minimum overall length (from butt of stock to front of limbs) of 24 inches.
3) Shall have a working safety.
4) Shall be used with bolts or arrows of not less than 14 inches in length (not including point) with a broadhead. Broadheads may have fixed or expandable blades, but they must be barbless and have a minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened. Broadheads with fixed blade must be metal or flint-, chert-, or obsidian-napped. Broadheads with expandable blades must be metal.

 

The info comes from:

http://www.huntersfriend.com/crossbows/crossbow-state-regulations.htm

Crossbows also legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/Digest/
217-782-7305

[NORAD (Red Alert)]

Here is a cool site I go to for my survival gear.

 

http://www.majorsurplus.com/

[Cheryl Nelson]

Thanks, Alex.  I just recently found out there are these bow and arrows that are kind of automatic, as in you don't need a lot of physical strength to pull them back.  That's a cross bow?  Here in rural southwest VA, I've seen private citizens walking around with a sidearm in a holster.  First time I saw that, I was taken aback.  Rifles are quite common, as are black bears and 8-pointer bucks.

Norad, it looks like hog heaven to me.  :-)   I have the Surefire 6P Defender (I love that thing).  All kinds of Lodge cookware, and yippee skippee, just found the round griddle I've been looking for.  And while I wasn't looking for it, the pan grill looks useful.  What's on the reverse side of the large reversible grill, more of the same?  Anyone know?

[NORAD (Red Alert)]

Oh yeah, I am ordering more stuff as we speak. LOL

[Cheryl Nelson]

Norad, take a look at this... http://www.majorsurplus.com/M-Tech-Grenade-Knife-P15353.aspx

Would it fake someone out that it's a grenade? 

[NORAD (Red Alert)]

I saw that and thought it was cool. I think it would fake someone out if they are not close to you.

[Cheryl Nelson]

I like weapons that intimidate people into leaving without a fight.