Preparedness - the continuation thread

Nargleblast

I am trying to get into the habit of checking the fridge every day for things that need using up. If it can't be used that day, then it should be put in the freezer for another time. And if it can't be frozen then something will have to be done with it before it goes off, even if it means some very odd dishes on the menu that day.

GreyQueen

Lindlou wrote: »

A sheet, for cover up reasons and a bit of warmth/comfort at night, followed by my glasses on day 2. Blind as a bat.....

:o Oh, I forgot about my glasses, too.

I'm so short-sighted that any companions wouldn't have to worry about their modesty, as I could give Mr Mag00 a run for his money. They'd be a vague blur......

So, thus far: glasses, bath sheet, bowl and spoon.

OK, past my bedtime, off for the night, see some of you for breakfast. Be good, and if you can't be good, have a bliddy good time being baaaad.:rotfl:

milasavesmoney

Cheel, the going wisdom is to begin saving toward £1000 for an emergency fund. If you want, there is a challenge you can sign up for, and I would give the link to you but don't know how to transfer it on to this post. It's under debt fee wannabe challenges. You can join at anytime to get started. After that it's a good idea to save 3-6 months living expenses in case of job loss, illness, divorce, general mayhem etc. That's the challenge I'm currently doing.

I keep cash at home and my EF in a savings account. I learned the hard way that sometimes one might need to get up in the middle of the night and go, when my son had an emergency splenectomy 5hrs away from us. I did have cash but could certainly have used more to take with us. Of course, now with debit cards people don't think they need to keep cash, but I don't agree with that so I have some hidden at home. It does not matter if you can save an EF fast or slow. Some people put in £5 per month...it just matters that you begin. It's easier not to spend it if it's in a separate account. A lot of people set up direct deposit because that's simpler for them.
I'm sure others handle EF and cash a bit differently and can give you their own stories. It's a very important question and essential to prepping...right beside being debt free.

Doveling gave a sensible way to begin stocking up on food items that you need to have on hand. I like to start with dry things that can be kept for a long time and build from there. Think rice, beans, salt, sugar, dried pasta for a few. Look for sales. As Doveling said a little at a time adds up quickly.

p.s. To all of you tea drinkers :T how do you store it to retain freshness?

lessonlearned

GreyQueen wrote: »

I think I'd start with a bath sheet as my first item.

Rationale being that I could use it like a sarong (I'd feel a bit weird nekkid) and as a towel and even as a substitute blanket.

Are these people being fed? I'd then want a bowl and a spoon. Gosh, half a week gone and I'd still be barely decent and hardly own anything.

What would the rest of you choose as your first items, and why?

One of the girls in that programme was an aspiring fashion designer. Her first item was a length of fabric. No scissors, no needle, no thread.

She placed the fabric on a nail on the wall and tore it into appropriate lengths and strips. She then twisted, plaited, knotted it as necessary and made the following.

A sort of all in one bra/knickers combo, a dress/cover up and some footwear. Absolutely brilliant. So resourceful.

It really was a very interesting experiment. The choices they made and the reasons they gave for their choices were fascinating.

At the end of the experiment when they got all their possessions back all of them gave loads of stuff away. What came over though was just how little any of us actually really "need" and how resourceful we humans can be.

Very comforting.

There is going to be a series later this month called "Eden". The premise is about a group of peole having nothing and having to start again. Should be interesting.

lessonlearned

My mother and her family were Belgian and they lived under the German Occupation. As a result my mum had a bit of a siege mentality and we always used to tease her about having enough supplies to see us through WW3.

But her family had had to learn the hard way........

So here was my mums advice on what to keep - obviously after food, candles, torches etc

1. Always keep some cash.

2. Invest in some gold/good jewellery. Paper money might become worthless but gold and gems are international "currency" . They are small and portable.

3. ALways keep a well stocked medicine chest

4. Keep all your important documents together, just in case you need to vacate your home quickly.

ancientofdays

May I join in please? I lurk a lot, not a prolific poster.

I've got some cash, got some gold, OH has all the docs, got food stores, got a supply of emergency lighting and a little cooking lamp. I am pretty sure I've got some paracetamol and I do have half a tube of Voltarol and I have soap and face cream stocked up.

Not quite sure how useful the paracetamol is going to be as it is a bit old but so am I.

maryb

:wave:Morning AofD

I'm not sure how many paracetamol I've got. All my family seem incapable of seeing the open packet in the medicine cupboard so open a new pack from my store. So several half full packets

lillibet_dripping

I also watched 'Life stripped bare' - it was interesting to see how many of them chose their mattress as the second item. On Desert Island Discs many guests choose their bed as a luxury item. Sleep is soooooo important to mental well-being. Sad to see those that chose their phones next though.
Looking forward to watching 'Eden' when it comes on.

GreyQueen

Hi guys, it anyone wants to stock up on some shampoo at a good price, it came to my attention yestereve that Liddly have their bottles of Cien shampoo at 35p for 400ml. I've bought a couple and may get a couple more for the store cupboard.

For things I use constantly, and can't see myself not using in the future, I like to stock up when I see a good price. I have 4 x 6 packs of TP permanantly stashed as the backup supply, and buy an 18 pack to use. That way, I know where I stand. The backup supply lives wrapped in a black plastic sack on a shelf above head height in my storage shed and wasn't tampered with even when the shed was broken into a couple of years back. It doesn't draw attention to itself.

My storage/ bike shed is designed to look like a mare's nest of low value items. There are actually some useful supplies in there, not a great deal of money-value but a goodly amount of usefulness. But it's all stashed in such a way that it looks trashy (my shed opens onto a major thoroughfare around the flats, so any time it's open, there's a chance of someone passing glancing into it).

VJsmum

GreyQueen wrote: »

I think I'd start with a bath sheet as my first item.

Rationale being that I could use it like a sarong (I'd feel a bit weird nekkid) and as a towel and even as a substitute blanket.

Are these people being fed? I'd then want a bowl and a spoon. Gosh, half a week gone and I'd still be barely decent and hardly own anything.

What would the rest of you choose as your first items, and why?

It rather shows maslow as being right, doesn't it?

I thought that when i did my "virtual reality" walk through the Calais "jungle", the other week - except in their case "safety" was first, then followed by the physiological needs of food and shelter. Sounds like an interesting programme, i will check it out.