How Much is Too Much

[PA PATRIOT]

While looking for items we could donate to the in-laws BUG-IN supplies we discovered the vast amount of items we had stored. You name it and we had it in bulk and I come to realize that we maybe hoarders of SHTF gear. I can't image how much we have spent but it appears every time we came across items of use on sale we just had to buy it without recalling what was already in are reserve stores.

So now to sort through all the gear and store it as kits 2,3 and sometimes four and decide what we should do with it.

Errors I have found is we didn't have a master list of what items we already had outside the main kit to eliminate duplicate buying (Even tho most were great deals) so its inventory time.

Now I know its best to have kits at every BUG out location so redundancy is sometimes a good thing but has anyone else noticed some extra surplus occurring?

[arbninftry]

Evolution of your kit, as you change and your family changes, your gear and stores change. You just reminded me that I got stuff to eBay or donate. About 15 years worth of stuff or crap depending on who is looking at it.
But to answer your question, I would say as much as you envision you will use and can reasonably store. I want to be sufficient for one year and then be able to harvest needed supplies after that. Right now I concentrate on the hard to obtain items after a collapse, like durable goods. Then I will go after the renewable resources like seeds. I do have a basic supply of seeds, but need to expand.

[evenodds20]

i need some stuff if anyone is willing to sell off or donate. my wife and i are feeling the financial and economical strain more so than ever and have just now started to start storing. ive big into the 5 gallon buckets of grain, beans etc. but have yet to get mylar and all the other stuff to store it. right now, i have have maybe a weeks worth of food supplies. i focused on ammo and weapons and though i still need alot in that area, i have no seeds, or supplies outside of can openers and a few 100' of 550 cord. i got a cheap fire starter as well. let me know where everyone else kinda started so i know what i should be focusing on. thanks.

[NWPilgrim]

Evenodds20,

The first thing I would do is save up some cash. Ideally you want $1,000 or more, but even a couple of hundred to start with is better than none. This is cash in hand, not in the bank account or stock account. In an emergency lees than SHTF you need cash for repairs, travel, etc. Cash gives you flexibility and ability to respond.

Considering you have firearms and ammo, the next thing to get is food. Easiest is just build up to where you have a months worth of whatever you eat now but simplified. If you eat out or buy frozen a lot then start learning and getting used to cooking from bulk and canned goods. You don't need any special storage stuff for this. As you run out of things on your kitchen shelves, pull from your in-house grocery (garage shelf, spare bedroom closet, plastic tubs. This could be some basics like canned meats and vegies, soups, rice, beans, flour, salt, sugar, oil, extra yeast in the refrigerator/freezer, etc. You pull from your backup pantry supplies during the week as you run out in the kitchen. Then when you shop put the new food into the backup pantry/grocery. After you have one month of ackup pantry running smooth, then you get get into longer term storage.

You also need to be storing some water and finding ways to save water. In an emergency your hot water heater can give you 50 gals or so of water, but turn it OFF before draining. You can start by just saving tap water and a few drops of pure bleach in left over 2 liter pop bottles. Or get a couple of 5 gal water cans from any sporting goods store in the RV section. You can save a lot of water in an emergency by not flushing the toilet (if the water supply is down). All you need is a 5 gal bucket, lid that you can cut a hole in (or buy a $12 Luggable Loo seat for it), kitchen trash bags, some kitty litter to cut the smell and absorb liquids. You can add some one gallon ziploc bags to stuff the partially filled trash bags into for the duration and later disposal. Later on, get some water filters. Compact and gives you a chance to quickly sanitize a lot of drinking water from questionable sources. Backpacker water filters are good or work up to a Berkey counter top filter (no hand pumping).

So at this point you have some cash, food, water, and firearms to get you through 1-4 weeks of emergencies. Might want to consider getting some emergency lighting and basic tools. Candles are relatively cheap and very handy when the power goes out. One of the most practical lights I have is a keychain Photon LED (about $6-8). Very tough, very bright and you can dim it for longer life. Many ultralight backpackers use this as their ONLY flashlight. Takes two 2016 watch batteries and last a long time. But you also want at least one headlamp and a very bright flashlight in the 80-200 lumen range. I have a fancy backpacking headlamp, but I found some of the RayoVac and Energizer brand headlamps at Home Depot are very good values. Great for working outside in the dark, or for inside when the power is out. Great for task work. A very bright flashlight like a MagLite 3 D-cell LED, Fenix CR123 type LED etc are great for car breakdowns at night in the rain, investigating noises at night, etc.

You want some basic knives. They are handy every day but especially in emergencies when you are cutting plastic sheathing, ropes, wires and such in a hurry. I would try to get a few basic ones:
- Box cutter with lots of blades (cheap and excellent for many household tasks that you don't want to damage or dull your carry knife on.
- Sturdy folding knife. I like the Benchmade Griptillian, but the Spyderco Endura is a classic.
- Sturdy fixed blade sheath knife of 4-5 inches. Could be a Buck hunting knife (I like the Vanguard), Cold Steel, smaller version of KaBar. In addition to, or in place of if cost is a factor, then the Swedish Mora knives are extremely sharp and handy size. Not as thick bladed and tough as hunting knives but can do a lot. You can get the Frost brand Mora in stainless steel for like $15.
- Multitool if you can afford it, otherwise just have some pliers and screw drivers handy to carry around in an emergency for doing repairs.

You should have basic car repair and home repair tools. Sounds obvious but many people nowadays don't even have a set of good screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, etc. If you don't do simple repairs around the home and car now, start learning to do them and you will discover what tools you need. Also have basic things like electricians tape, duct tape, steel wire, wood glue, a couple of tarps, some rope and twine, etc. BTW, do you have gunsmith tools? Need a set of pin punches, brass hammer, gunsmith screwdriver bit set, any specialty ones for your firearms, cleaning equipment, etc. You can buy gun oil/cleaner and grease, or for cheaper get a qt. of Mobil 1 or Dexron Auto transmission fluid (lubricating), some mineral spirits (solvent) or kerosene, and some lithium grease from the auto parts store.

As you work up to this basic level you will probaly start developing ideas for next steps as you imagine what type of emergencies you are prepping for, what those conditions will be like, what you will need/want to do in response, how long it might last, and what you will need to get by.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Like everything else in life, a little pruning is in order from time to time.

Every time I move I create a "get rid of" pile. First I start by giving things to family or friends that need it or could use it. Next I sell it on forums such as this and Craigslist. Two moves ago I sold a handful of stuff that I was going to donate to Good Will Industries on Craigslist and got enough cash I picked up an Arsenal SLG-21! What doesn't sell or gets donated goes to the dumpster. I am a firm beliver of being orgainized. Quite OCD about to be honest.

Start with a list, make purchases, and keep an inventory.

i need some stuff if anyone is willing to sell off or donate. my wife and i are feeling the financial and economical strain more so than ever and have just now started to start storing. ive big into the 5 gallon buckets of grain, beans etc. but have yet to get mylar and all the other stuff to store it. right now, i have have maybe a weeks worth of food supplies. i focused on ammo and weapons and though i still need alot in that area, i have no seeds, or supplies outside of can openers and a few 100' of 550 cord. i got a cheap fire starter as well. let me know where everyone else kinda started so i know what i should be focusing on. thanks.

Be frugal, "waste not want not". Cut coupons from the Sunday paper, junk mail ads, and print them off from the internet. Buy when things go on sale like can goods, batteries, bottled water, et al. You can find tons of tools and camping gear on the cheap side from places like Craigslist, flea markets, yard sales, et al.

[PA PATRIOT]

Finished my stores inventory and found that it was not as bad as expected. Stocked two smaller kits with the overage which will be relocated to BUG out locations.

Did find a shortage of Toilet Paper and will have to correct that ASAP per wifes orders.