POLL: How prepared are you??

[boyfromdixie]

which category does the whiskey go under food or medicine??? oh never mind i will put some in both place's.

[KYnyts]

It is nice to see that no one is completely unprepared.

[Honey]

(04-18-2012 09:20 AM)boyfromdixie Wrote:  which category does the whiskey go under food or medicine??? oh never mind i will put some in both place's.

It goes down smooth.. (Hopefully..)..

[Chronic]

Not sure why but one of the items i had the hardest time remembering to pickup was Dried Milk.. Took me about a year to finally remember to add to the stockpile.
I think i only tried it once on cereal - icky!

[agsilverbear]

(04-18-2012 07:45 PM)Chronic Wrote:  Not sure why but one of the items i had the hardest time remembering to pickup was Dried Milk.. Took me about a year to finally remember to add to the stockpile.
I think i only tried it once on cereal - icky!

Yeah, I won't use it unless I have to. Even then probably more for baking and cooking than for drinking. Maybe for oatmeal with dates,or raisins, and walnuts.

[Honey]

(04-18-2012 08:35 PM)agsilverbear Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 07:45 PM)Chronic Wrote:  Not sure why but one of the items i had the hardest time remembering to pickup was Dried Milk.. Took me about a year to finally remember to add to the stockpile.
I think i only tried it once on cereal - icky!

Yeah, I won't use it unless I have to. Even then probably more for baking and cooking than for drinking. Maybe for oatmeal with dates,or raisins, and walnuts.

Ick... I remember being about 6 and having it with cereal.. almost would have prefered water on it.. Yuck..

[Chronic]

(04-18-2012 09:38 PM)Honey Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 08:35 PM)agsilverbear Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 07:45 PM)Chronic Wrote:  Not sure why but one of the items i had the hardest time remembering to pickup was Dried Milk.. Took me about a year to finally remember to add to the stockpile.
I think i only tried it once on cereal - icky!

Yeah, I won't use it unless I have to. Even then probably more for baking and cooking than for drinking. Maybe for oatmeal with dates,or raisins, and walnuts.

Ick... I remember being about 6 and having it with cereal.. almost would have prefered water on it.. Yuck..

As a matter of fact it did taste just like water. I wish i knew how to bake breads - better. I've tried a few times and it never looks like the picture and tasted just like eating'em too.

[Honey]

I actually made my own wedding cake.. (What was I thinking!!)

My mom took me to the Wilton Cake Decorating classes when I was young so learned how to make roses...(and cakes... sort of..) We ended up putting real flowers on it so it turned out beautiful!

Now.. here is an amazing fact. The cost that people spend on an average wedding today is 28K.. Imagine the silver you could buy with that!!! I have a few clients in the wedding "industry" and it is crazy the amount of money that people spend on that one day. Your wedding day can be made special with so many other things that don't cost a dime...

Okay.. this was completely off topic.. sorry...

[AgShaman]

(04-18-2012 09:20 AM)boyfromdixie Wrote:  which category does the whiskey go under food or medicine??? oh never mind i will put some in both place's.

Perhaps both.
I've stacked alot of booze as preps (mostly 'Sailor Jerry' spiced rum and a couple brands of vodka)

I also make my own homemade cherry vodka...which counteracts gout and arthritis symptoms. (so I guess that's medicinal)

Booze...IMO...totally qualifies as a prep. I'm not a big fan of the hard alcohol, but more of a beer and wine snob....still, booze could come in handy in the future. The prices keep going up on booze...so it's not insulated from inflationary trappings.

[Chronic]

(04-18-2012 10:06 PM)Honey Wrote:  I actually made my own wedding cake.. (What was I thinking!!)

My mom took me to the Wilton Cake Decorating classes when I was young so learned how to make roses...(and cakes... sort of..) We ended up putting real flowers on it so it turned out beautiful!

Now.. here is an amazing fact. The cost that people spend on an average wedding today is 28K.. Imagine the silver you could buy with that!!! I have a few clients in the wedding "industry" and it is crazy the amount of money that people spend on that one day. Your wedding day can be made special with so many other things that don't cost a dime...

Okay.. this was completely off topic.. sorry...

I suppose buying a monster box or two might have the same affect. LOL Couldn't imagine making a wedding cake. when everything must be perfect wouldn't take much to make things go bad.

[SonofYAHWEH]

I am 100% ready for just about anything, except a flood, I don't have a boat. but the rest I feel pretty well about my chances. I have food, weapons, medical, hygiene ,gardenin and of course my stack. I think it is just as important to be prepared as it is trained! learn as many skills as you can!

[KYnyts]

(04-18-2012 10:06 PM)Honey Wrote:  I actually made my own wedding cake.. (What was I thinking!!)

My mom took me to the Wilton Cake Decorating classes when I was young so learned how to make roses...(and cakes... sort of..) We ended up putting real flowers on it so it turned out beautiful!

Now.. here is an amazing fact. The cost that people spend on an average wedding today is 28K.. Imagine the silver you could buy with that!!! I have a few clients in the wedding "industry" and it is crazy the amount of money that people spend on that one day. Your wedding day can be made special with so many other things that don't cost a dime...

Okay.. this was completely off topic.. sorry...

We spent less than $300. $75 for the license and $150 for the JOP. Of course, it was just me and him, a JOP with a tape recorder tucked under his arm to play the wedding march, and a witness who was both blind and deaf.

Talk about "what was I thinking!!" What can I say...I was having a "let's be practical here" moment. A girl I went to school with had spent a ton of money on her wedding and honeymoon, and ended up filing for divorce 9 months later. I was speechless, but mentally filed away the sheer irresponsibility of spending that kind of money on getting married.

Finally, for what it's worth, a contested divorce runs about three times or more that $28,000 number you cited. Aiyyeeee, people.

[Mark777]

(04-19-2012 09:22 AM)KYnyts Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 10:06 PM)Honey Wrote:  I actually made my own wedding cake.. (What was I thinking!!)

My mom took me to the Wilton Cake Decorating classes when I was young so learned how to make roses...(and cakes... sort of..) We ended up putting real flowers on it so it turned out beautiful!

Now.. here is an amazing fact. The cost that people spend on an average wedding today is 28K.. Imagine the silver you could buy with that!!! I have a few clients in the wedding "industry" and it is crazy the amount of money that people spend on that one day. Your wedding day can be made special with so many other things that don't cost a dime...

Okay.. this was completely off topic.. sorry...

We spent less than $300. $75 for the license and $150 for the JOP. Of course, it was just me and him, a JOP with a tape recorder tucked under his arm to play the wedding march, and a witness who was both blind and deaf.

Talk about "what was I thinking!!" What can I say...I was having a "let's be practical here" moment. A girl I went to school with had spent a ton of money on her wedding and honeymoon, and ended up filing for divorce 9 months later. I was speechless, but mentally filed away the sheer irresponsibility of spending that kind of money on getting married.

Finally, for what it's worth, a contested divorce runs about three times or more that $28,000 number you cited. Aiyyeeee, people.

I think a great way to get married is to elope....to Vegas or somewhere similar where it's cheap and the newlyweds can have a lot of fun too.

[craftyfellow]

I am over a year of food supplies for the wife and I.

I started buying some freeze dried stuff and long term canned stuff. I found the Mormons had great prices on #10 cans of quick oats, pintos and white rice with 20-30 year shelf life... I bought a 6-can case of each. Costco online was good for a tub of vegetarian freeze dried meals(265 count) in Mylar. My local Wal-Mart now has #10 cans of dehydrated milk, eggs, onions, corn, potatoes, dried fruit and and peppers which I added. The regular Costco store was good for a few items to include a 25 lbs bag of salt ($3.50) put in old coffee cans with a saltine cracker to absorb moisture, and a 25 lbs bag of rice. I bought some 3 & 6 gallon food grade buckets with gamma lids. I just bought a case of Mountain House dehydrated meals for a bug out bag. All good, but what do you really eat?

Try making a list of what you buy/eat for 30-days. Check the shelf life and figure how much you can store. When it is on sale, stock up! Here are a few things I stock, eat and rotate:
MEAT
DAK brand 1lb canned hams... They are the best!
Tyson can chicken... Makes the best soup!
Canned roast beef from Costco

CARBS
Gnocchi (A dried Italian potato dumpling you just boil)
I have lots of dried pasta on hand to include noodles and spaghetti in my gamma topped buckets.
Idaho's Best flavored instant potatoes in Mylar bags... $.78 each on sale. I have a gamma bucket full.

VEGGIES
Trader Joes has the best tasting canned corn! But I usually just buy the Costco cases of stewed tomatoes, green beans, and peas.

PREPARED FOODS
cans of chili (I have a few cases)
Canned Progresso soup - a little more but worth it!

OTHER THINGS
I currently have 3 #10 cans of coffee,
a 3 gal bucket of tea bags (my wife),
both honey and soy sauce (they both last forever!)
a case of bottles of Torani brand sugar free peach syrup (I drink tea with this stuff!)

MEDICAL
Besides the standard medical over sized first aid kit, regular over the counter stuff we use, we are stocking up on 'Biseptol'. It is a mild antibiotic they sell at the local Russian store without a prescription. My wife is from Poland where it is commonly used, but they require a prescription there. In Russia it is sold over the counter. Somehow the local Russian store is importing it from Russia. I am stocking up! I just looked at a package we bought a few months ago and it expires 11/2016. Here is what it is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfamethoxazole

Several places are selling this online without a prescription so it must not be government controlled.

CraftyFellow

[Ripcord]

Nobody talks about this, Are you tough enough mentally to handle it when the SHTF ? All the supplies in the world won't help if your nothing but a head case.

[Grasshopper]

Love this thread!!! 2nd post so just a newbie! You all got me thinking about what hubby and I "don't" have yet! So for that thank you! Heading to SAMs today anyway so going to start my medical kit... Happy Lords day!

[UK silverbug]

I guess I am in a pretty reasonable position.....
No mortgage and few bills to pay, just taxes elec, gas etc.
Some stacking done but as most, can never have enough.....But NO food water first aid etc...
CERTAINLY NO WEAPONS.....dont think God would be happy.
Are you spiritually ready?
Great thread by the way Honey

[Chronic]

(09-30-2012 04:41 PM)UK silverbug Wrote:  I guess I am in a pretty reasonable position.....
No mortgage and few bills to pay, just taxes elec, gas etc.
Some stacking done but as most, can never have enough.....But NO food water first aid etc...
CERTAINLY NO WEAPONS.....dont think God would be happy.
Are you spiritually ready?
Great thread by the way Honey

Oh cool, a thread resurrected from the dead.. Why would God not like you to have weapons? I thought he loved weapons. How would he ever get so many to pass though those pearly gates or the gateway to hell?

[Viper_99]

For some reason I missed this thread. Chronic your not trying to start the gun debate again? The Britts have real problems with gun ownership. Culturally it has been removed from their understanding. They have not been allowed to own guns for decades now.

On topic: I think I getting more prepared every month. One of the biggest problems I face is heat for the winter. I live in Canada and it can be cold. We have electric heat and two gas fireplaces. If power went out how would we heat the house? I'm not sure is you can switch out a gas fireplace and insert a wood one. Then the other problem is getting enough wood for an entire winter. (What about the neighbours who are freezing in their houses and your burning wood like crazy? UK Silverbug, can you say personal defense time?)

Here is great article: http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/Brita...sWSJE.html

During the 1990s, just as Britain and Australia were more severely regulating guns, the U.S. was greatly liberalizing individuals' abilities to carry guns. Thirty-seven of the 50 states now have so-called right-to-carry laws that let law-abiding adults carry concealed handguns once they pass a criminal background check and pay a fee. Only half the states require some training, usually around three to five hours' worth. Yet crime has fallen even faster in these states than the national average. Overall, the states in the U.S. that have experienced the fastest growth rates in gun ownership during the 1990s have experienced the biggest drops in murder rates and other violent crimes.

Many things affect crime; the rise of drug-gang violence in Britain is an important part of the story, just as it has long been important in explaining the U.S.'s rates. Drug gangs also help explain one of the many reasons it is so difficult to stop the flow of guns into a country. Drug gangs can't simply call up the police when another gang encroaches on their turf, so they end up essentially setting up their own armies. And just as they can smuggle drugs into the country, they can smuggle in weapons to defend their turf.

Everyone wants to take guns away from criminals. The problem is that if the law-abiding citizens obey the law and the criminals don't, the rules create sitting ducks who cannot defend themselves. This is especially true for those who are physically weaker, women and the elderly.

[Chronic]

(09-30-2012 08:45 PM)Viper_99 Wrote:  For some reason I missed this thread. Chronic your not trying to start the gun debate again? The Britts have real problems with gun ownership. Culturally it has been removed from their understanding. They have not been allowed to own guns for decades now.

On topic: I think I getting more prepared every month. One of the biggest problems I face is heat for the winter. I live in Canada and it can be cold. We have electric heat and two gas fireplaces. If power went out how would we heat the house? I'm not sure is you can switch out a gas fireplace and insert a wood one. Then the other problem is getting enough wood for an entire winter. (What about the neighbours who are freezing in their houses and your burning wood like crazy? UK Silverbug, can you say personal defense time?)

Here is great article: http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/Brita...sWSJE.html

During the 1990s, just as Britain and Australia were more severely regulating guns, the U.S. was greatly liberalizing individuals' abilities to carry guns. Thirty-seven of the 50 states now have so-called right-to-carry laws that let law-abiding adults carry concealed handguns once they pass a criminal background check and pay a fee. Only half the states require some training, usually around three to five hours' worth. Yet crime has fallen even faster in these states than the national average. Overall, the states in the U.S. that have experienced the fastest growth rates in gun ownership during the 1990s have experienced the biggest drops in murder rates and other violent crimes.

Many things affect crime; the rise of drug-gang violence in Britain is an important part of the story, just as it has long been important in explaining the U.S.'s rates. Drug gangs also help explain one of the many reasons it is so difficult to stop the flow of guns into a country. Drug gangs can't simply call up the police when another gang encroaches on their turf, so they end up essentially setting up their own armies. And just as they can smuggle drugs into the country, they can smuggle in weapons to defend their turf.

Everyone wants to take guns away from criminals. The problem is that if the law-abiding citizens obey the law and the criminals don't, the rules create sitting ducks who cannot defend themselves. This is especially true for those who are physically weaker, women and the elderly.

No, thats why i said weapons, not referring to specifically just guns. Weapons being Guns, yes. But bow and arrows, knifes, ied's, looks that kill, and so on... since it is brought up though i thought the Brits could own things like shotguns and old muskets or something? Pardon me for not understanding their Gun laws...

[Viper_99]

(09-30-2012 09:04 PM)Chronic Wrote:  

(09-30-2012 08:45 PM)Viper_99 Wrote:  For some reason I missed this thread. Chronic your not trying to start the gun debate again? The Britts have real problems with gun ownership. Culturally it has been removed from their understanding. They have not been allowed to own guns for decades now.

On topic: I think I getting more prepared every month. One of the biggest problems I face is heat for the winter. I live in Canada and it can be cold. We have electric heat and two gas fireplaces. If power went out how would we heat the house? I'm not sure is you can switch out a gas fireplace and insert a wood one. Then the other problem is getting enough wood for an entire winter. (What about the neighbours who are freezing in their houses and your burning wood like crazy? UK Silverbug, can you say personal defense time?)

Here is great article: http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/Brita...sWSJE.html

During the 1990s, just as Britain and Australia were more severely regulating guns, the U.S. was greatly liberalizing individuals' abilities to carry guns. Thirty-seven of the 50 states now have so-called right-to-carry laws that let law-abiding adults carry concealed handguns once they pass a criminal background check and pay a fee. Only half the states require some training, usually around three to five hours' worth. Yet crime has fallen even faster in these states than the national average. Overall, the states in the U.S. that have experienced the fastest growth rates in gun ownership during the 1990s have experienced the biggest drops in murder rates and other violent crimes.

Many things affect crime; the rise of drug-gang violence in Britain is an important part of the story, just as it has long been important in explaining the U.S.'s rates. Drug gangs also help explain one of the many reasons it is so difficult to stop the flow of guns into a country. Drug gangs can't simply call up the police when another gang encroaches on their turf, so they end up essentially setting up their own armies. And just as they can smuggle drugs into the country, they can smuggle in weapons to defend their turf.

Everyone wants to take guns away from criminals. The problem is that if the law-abiding citizens obey the law and the criminals don't, the rules create sitting ducks who cannot defend themselves. This is especially true for those who are physically weaker, women and the elderly.

No, thats why i said weapons, not referring to specifically just guns. Weapons being Guns, yes. But bow and arrows, knifes, ied's, looks that kill, and so on... since it is brought up though i thought the Brits could own things like shotguns and old muskets or something? Pardon me for not understanding their Gun laws...

I don't understand them that well either, it is just every time we talk about guns the Britts get bent out of shape. I love that bit about shotguns or muskets or something! You crack me up Chronic!

Try tucking this into your pants:

[Chronic]

(09-30-2012 09:19 PM)Viper_99 Wrote:  

(09-30-2012 09:04 PM)Chronic Wrote:  

(09-30-2012 08:45 PM)Viper_99 Wrote:  For some reason I missed this thread. Chronic your not trying to start the gun debate again? The Britts have real problems with gun ownership. Culturally it has been removed from their understanding. They have not been allowed to own guns for decades now.

On topic: I think I getting more prepared every month. One of the biggest problems I face is heat for the winter. I live in Canada and it can be cold. We have electric heat and two gas fireplaces. If power went out how would we heat the house? I'm not sure is you can switch out a gas fireplace and insert a wood one. Then the other problem is getting enough wood for an entire winter. (What about the neighbours who are freezing in their houses and your burning wood like crazy? UK Silverbug, can you say personal defense time?)

Here is great article: http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/Brita...sWSJE.html

During the 1990s, just as Britain and Australia were more severely regulating guns, the U.S. was greatly liberalizing individuals' abilities to carry guns. Thirty-seven of the 50 states now have so-called right-to-carry laws that let law-abiding adults carry concealed handguns once they pass a criminal background check and pay a fee. Only half the states require some training, usually around three to five hours' worth. Yet crime has fallen even faster in these states than the national average. Overall, the states in the U.S. that have experienced the fastest growth rates in gun ownership during the 1990s have experienced the biggest drops in murder rates and other violent crimes.

Many things affect crime; the rise of drug-gang violence in Britain is an important part of the story, just as it has long been important in explaining the U.S.'s rates. Drug gangs also help explain one of the many reasons it is so difficult to stop the flow of guns into a country. Drug gangs can't simply call up the police when another gang encroaches on their turf, so they end up essentially setting up their own armies. And just as they can smuggle drugs into the country, they can smuggle in weapons to defend their turf.

Everyone wants to take guns away from criminals. The problem is that if the law-abiding citizens obey the law and the criminals don't, the rules create sitting ducks who cannot defend themselves. This is especially true for those who are physically weaker, women and the elderly.

No, thats why i said weapons, not referring to specifically just guns. Weapons being Guns, yes. But bow and arrows, knifes, ied's, looks that kill, and so on... since it is brought up though i thought the Brits could own things like shotguns and old muskets or something? Pardon me for not understanding their Gun laws...

I don't understand them that well either, it is just every time we talk about guns the Britts get bent out of shape. I love that bit about shotguns or muskets or something! You crack me up Chronic!

Try tucking this into your pants:

LoL... What the heck is that? I would think the British would be embraced to pack heat, except for that thing. No wonder they get bent on the subject.

[jonny bizzle]

its really tough to say who is prepared. i dont think even those of us who have backups for our backups are really ready for what will go down as the worst thing ever... i dont think anyone, well, for the exception of those people that were traped on a cruse ship..and that only took 3 days before the people began to act like animals. i guess the experts are right. we have 3 days once the event takes place before all hell breaks loose. and thats when we find out how many really were prepared and ready for shtf..

[AgSoul]

Well I don't know if I can ever be prepared enough.. I think I need more food and dog food. We can hunt, fish and barter with small farmers where we live. Thinking of getting chickens next month too.

[agsilverbear]

Rather than a Cataclysmic Event perhaps there will be a reset of some kind and a slow descent into grinding poverty for the US and perhaps Canada, parts of Europe, while the rest of the world carries on. It's interesting that movies like Looper and the The Dark Knight Rises show the US as a two class society with multitudes of poverty stricken homeless living in tents, with a small criminal class above them. Yet, China is portrayed with fabulous wealth. Other futuristic movies which I can't recall right now have a common theme. It makes me wonder if the PTB aren't telling us ahead of time what they have planned. Moving to Asia may be a good option for those who are able. But who knows?