what to do with $350...

[GoldenRamoth]

I am VERY new to prepping. Just got called to start about a month ago. In that time, I have looked around the home and started making bug out bags, 5 gallon buckets with medical needs, medicines, etc. Have some basics like walkie talkie, crank radio, crank flashlight, about a years worth of matches,etc. I have unexpectedly come into $350 cash. I want to use it to prepare myself and my family. Only 3 of us. Thought about using it to get a shotgun?crossbow?tent/sleeping bags? Honestly, I am overwhelmed. So much to be done and I feel as if there is so little time. So, I ask for you expert opinion. What was the FIRST thing you deemed necessary, can't do without, must have for prepping?

[nakadnu]

Water,Shelter,Fire,Food. Stock up on bottled water and a good way to filter water. Get some rice and beans and other long term storable foodstuffs. Get lots of hand sanitizer and liquid lysol. Get a propane stove and a lot of propane bottles.Tarps and a roll of heavy plastic. Then after the 4 top items are covered get a gun and lots of ammo and some good knives. Paracord is also a good thing to have. Make sure to have lots of bandaids and a well stocked first aid kit. The list goes on and on.

[rsanders]

The question should be " What do you ,yourself deem necessary that you cant do without" You'll get a different answer from everyone you talk to ,so you need to think about what is most important to you, do you need the bottled water more than you need a shotgun for protection? Do you need a tent to stay in more than you need that bag of rice and beans? You have to set priorities of what is most important to you and go from there.

I am VERY new to prepping. Just got called to start about a month ago. In that time, I have looked around the home and started making bug out bags, 5 gallon buckets with medical needs, medicines, etc. Have some basics like walkie talkie, crank radio, crank flashlight, about a years worth of matches,etc. I have unexpectedly come into $350 cash. I want to use it to prepare myself and my family. Only 3 of us. Thought about using it to get a shotgun?crossbow?tent/sleeping bags? Honestly, I am overwhelmed. So much to be done and I feel as if there is so little time. So, I ask for you expert opinion. What was the FIRST thing you deemed necessary, can't do without, must have for prepping?

[slowz1k]

Just like stated above... everyone will have a different answer depending on their location and situation.

If you know you're going to be bugging out, with little chance of staying put, then you would want to gear your preps in that fashion. A water filter may be better than storing a lot of water since water is heavy and the volume doesn't transport very easily. A weapon may be near the top of the list since travel offers many unknown perils and security issues. MRE's or freeze dried foods that are light, and pack easily might make more sense than cans of soup or spam. When prepping for a bug out, plan to use your vehicle, but be prepared to hike. Cars may simply not start, Roads may be impassable, or be too unsafe to use. I have a get home bag that stays in my vehicle. I wanted the bag to be a backpack for this reason. (I ended up with an Army issue Alice pack that works very well)

If you plan to stay home for a while, then gear your preps in that direction. Since you're in TN, heating should be a top priority with winter coming. A wood stove, indoor propane heater, or some alternate form of heating may need to be acquired. Water and food should be a priority, as well as a way to cook it.
It can be very overwhelming at times, but just take it slow. Start with getting a 3 day supply of food and water.... work up to a weeks worth.... then two weeks, and so on. I take advantage of local supermarket sales. A buy one get one free can of beans, ravioli, corn, etc... means that I just added a can of food to my preps at no cost.

There are a lot of smart people on this board with a wealth of information (No I'm not one of them) Soak up as much info as you can. The right knowledge can pull a person through almost any situation.

To answer your question. The first "must have" item: A good knife.
I feel that the first thing Adam was looking for after he realized he and Eve had screwed up was something he could use to cut things.
It's a tool, It's a weapon, It's very versatile.

[prkchp76]

rope sleeping bags get the good 550 cord i also prefer the mummy bags a decent pack glow sticks trioxane fuel tabs at least three sources of fire a hatchet or machette a good knife as stated above a deck of cards a book or two a bible if you are religious the list just goes on just keep trudging forward you'll make it

[cwconnertx]

I can't separate one thing that I would absolutely get without knowing what I already had. Many many things that people consider prep items I consider everyday life items. The knife in my pocket, the pistol or revolver I have on my hip, the medication in my pocket. If any of those were missing I'd replace them first.

For where I live I WILL NOT go outside with a firearm concealed on my person. They moved in undesirables and crime is up, they move in packs and I don't think I can fight off three large younger guys without being hurt.

Its all so personal, but as long as I have my pistol and knife and medication, I'd buy some food. First some canned stuff I eat anyway, then maybe some staples. You can eat a while on a 25 pound bag of rice and a 25 pound bag of beans for under $25. Get a water filter and make sure you have a water source. I carry a small water filter in my bag every time I leave the house.

Just make progress, you never finish. For example I am still working on getting GEN3 nightvision and want a new concealable ballistic vest. You just get further along and find new things you need.

[Oscar Wilde]

$350.00 ? .... Walmart .... get 4 five gallon water jugs, one 1 gallon container of scentless bleach, magnesium firestarter..... Aldi's or Save Alot .... get two months supply of canned beans, canned green vegetables .... store of your choice, get forty pounds of rice, beef and chicken bullion, two months supply of a daily beef ration .... turn the beef into jerkey.... get spices, salt, sugar, pepper ect. Each following month buy TWO MONTHS of supplies. Consider some means of home/self defense .... take a look through this thread http://xcolony.com/x/showthread.php?...k-worth-a-read) while Mags has listed these things under a bob title most of them are a must have regardless of how and where there kept. Happy shopping.

O.W.

[hminus]

If you don't have a gun and ammo, I would suggest you start with that..

[GoldenRamoth]

Thank you! Thank you! I agree that without knowing what I already have then it would be hard to know where to start.
However, I will go with getting 2 versatile bowie knives and a machette, as suggested. I don't have that and think I will probably need these the most.
Some good backpacks as the ones I have are listed under the "don't waste your money" section of this forum. LOL!
Some good hiking boots
Magnesium Firestarter
4 man Tent
I think that will pretty much do it. Lucky for me, the TN state fairgrounds has the suppliers of US armed forces selling their merchandise for great prices tomorrow. Hopefully, I will be able to make a killing!! Figuratively speaking of course.. AHEM, moving on!
Your suggestions were exactly what I needed. Thank you! Now that I have my list, I will look up some cheap online prices and hope to beat them at the fairgrounds tomorrow!
Stay safe! Golden

[Oscar Wilde]

I will go with getting 2 versatile bowie knives and a machette

I don't know what a versatile Bowie knife is .... a machete and a good sharp pocket knife is versatility,

4 man Tent

Save your money and learn this .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myghxFyf6e4 and this ....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amUXydTgwck

O.W.

[slowz1k]

Golden,

If you are looking for a really good knife for not a lot of money, these that are offered by Cheaperthandirt.com are a GREAT buy. I have had DBA-444 for quite a while now, and it's been a great knife. Very tough, and well made. (especially for $10.00.) Read the reviews on each blade. Most are very happy with their purchase. I know I am.



Link to knife page:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemListing.aspx?catid=682

The sheath is a standard "loop" for use on a belt. I modified mine to be compatible with the molle system on my packs and to hold some 550 paracord.

[GoldenRamoth]

I attended a knife and gun show today and had soo much fun! Gotta admit being a lady at a knife and gun show can be quite advantageous! LOL I got so many guys to help me make smart buys that I feel pretty sure I got not only good deals but good items. So, here is what I got:
2 Large ALICE backpacks with frames from the US Army Surplus Tent NEW $60 total $30 each
1 fixed full tang stainless steel knife with a 6.5 inch blade that has a non glare treatment and a sheath that can strap onto a belt or on the leg. It did not have an identification and the dealer could not remember where he got it from. He had literally thousands of knives. Very plain, no pretty curves or decorations, but very balanced. There was a Navy Seal gentleman that helped me pick this one out. I LOVE this knife but love the price more $24
1 20 inch stainless steel machette with black finger guard. I probably paid more for this one than I should have but my hubby fell in love with it and I love my hubby so it came with us. $15
1 kodiak firestarter 20,000 strike magnesium and flint fire starter got no deal on this one but it just impressed me with how easy it was to use. $25
Sabre cut saw $25
Tickets to get into the show for 3 people: $27
So far I have spent $176 with what I feel was a decent haul. I have about another $170 to go. I had to leave because I was getting the "itch". I saw so many things I wanted, that I was starting to actually consider whipping out the good ole VISA. So I started to leave then I met a dealer that lives in my area and offers 3 day survival trips. He will teach us everything needed to survive. His name is Joe Fischer. Anyone heard of him?
What do you guys think of my haul?
Also, O.W. thanks for the info on the debris hut. However, in the first minute of the video it states that the hut is very labor intensive and can take up to 3 hours to make. ??? If I am hoofing it to someplace safe (hopefully) would I have 3 hours every day to make shelter? Not trying to be snarky, really am thinking this would be a major drawback to not getting a tent.????
Thanks everyone for the input. It really helped me make a game plan and stick to it instead of just going out there and spending my money on what I "think" would be needed in case TSHTF.

[GoldenRamoth]

Thank you O.W.! Actually, the knife I got looks alot like the DBA 444 except the blade is the same width throughout the knife lenth, with a very slight curve downward. It seems as if the knife is pretty good since you are the second person who knows more about this than I do to give a thumbs up!

[Oscar Wilde]

I attended a knife and gun show today and had soo much fun! ....What do you guys think of my haul? ....

O.W. thanks for the info on the debris hut. However, in the first minute of the video it states that the hut is very labor intensive and can take up to 3 hours to make. ??? If I am hoofing it to someplace safe (hopefully) would I have 3 hours every day to make shelter? Not trying to be snarky, really am thinking this would be a major drawback to not getting a tent.????

Glad you enjoyed yourself .... gun shows, one of my favorite places to be .... it sounds like you were treated right and had a great experience .... the tent issue .... if it is for bug out, it may serve you well briefly but you will need to find durable shelter. Your tent will survive just so many setups / takedowns. If you're on the move and have to be quick on your feet the tent is also time consuming .... ponchos, para chord and bivi sacks will serve you much better and are easier to conceal also no parts to lose or break. It may be of considerable benefit if you ever have the opportunity to construct a debris shelter. A Dakota fire hole will heat a debris shelter .... can't make fire in a tent .... not more than once ....

In one of the videos the instructor demonstrates the use of a baton and machete .... instead of continually striking at various points on a section of wood until it is cut through, you first find a suitable diameter tree sapling to cut into a 2-2 1/2 foot long baton .... place the cutting edge of the machete where you wish to make a cut .... the baton is used to strike the back of the machete. Makes a cleaner, precise cut, less effort, less chance of the machete glancing off and causing injury .... now .... onto the 12 gauge :)

O.W.

[GoldenRamoth]

[QUOTE=... It may be of considerable benefit if you ever have the opportunity to construct a debris shelter. A Dakota fire hole will heat a debris shelter .... can't make fire in a tent .... not more than once .....[/QUOTE]
ROTFLMBO!!!! I will start learning how to make a debris shelter and Dakota fire hole.

[QUOTE=.... onto the 12 gauge :) [/QUOTE]
Oh, man!! I wanted to trade my car to get some of the guns I saw at the show. Drooling and heavy panting over here. They have so much to pick from. I figured it would be in my best interest to just stick to the list because I had done some research into what I wanted and what kind would be best. I have no idea what kind of gun would be best. I will wait until I can learn more and feel more confident in buying quality. I am leaning more towards a crossbow. Just because it would be more quiet and the "ammo" can be retrieved/reused and, as a last resort, made easier.