PowerSwitch

Say hypothetically someone had given you £1000 quid which you weren't expecting, what would you buy to "prepare" for the future.

I'm building up a wish list:

#1 is a scythe and kit (around £200).
I'm thinking about a solar panel/battery etc for a caravan we own - probably 300 quid?

We have loads of wool blankets, sheets, waterproofs

What else do you think is essential? I'm thinking gardening tools, perhaps lighting, water purification. I know it's gonna be a long list but this money need to be spent!

You can get a decent scythe if you shop around car boot sales, might need touching up. I'd go on a bushcraft course and learn to make my own wooden handles (I need a new handle on a great little potato fork of mine).

I'd buy knife sharpening equipment and learn to use it well.

Solar panels, yes good idea.

A small battery charging PV system
Long life foods (tins, dried pasta, grains)
Roofing repairs, if any doubt about the condition of your roof.
Hand tools, especialy those that wear out, and smaller items liable to loss
Boots and shoes.
Clothing, including underwear, although you have plenty of waterproofs dont forget shirts, socks, overalls, pullovers etc.
Normally I recomend sheets and balnkets, but as you have plenty, that is a lower priority.
Loft insulation.
Put it towards a wood stove.
If have a wood stove, a large extra stock of wood.
Oil lamps and fuel and spare parts.
Geiger counter and ample spare batteries.
Water butts, chlorine tablets, water filter.
Cycles, or if you already have these, stock up on tyres and other spares.
Storage facilities such as stacking crates and shelving or racking to suit.
Shotgun, training, ammo, gun cupboard.

That lot will cost a lot more than £1,000, but not all the list will be applicable to everyone.

rightee wrote:Say hypothetically someone had given you £1000 quid which you weren't expecting, what would you buy to "prepare" for the future.

I'm building up a wish list:

#1 is a scythe and kit (around £200).
I'm thinking about a solar panel/battery etc for a caravan we own - probably 300 quid?

We have loads of wool blankets, sheets, waterproofs

What else do you think is essential? I'm thinking gardening tools, perhaps lighting, water purification. I know it's gonna be a long list but this money need to be spent!

I'd spend the lot shoes and boots

You can get some very solid utility knives from Hultafors, £5.95

http://www.heinnie.com/Knives/Hultafors ... -913-6866/

A galvanised wheelbarrow £30

http://www.DODGY TAX AVOIDERS.co.uk/Metal-Galvanise ... 774&sr=8-1

The excellent Silky Fox Zubat saw £50

http://www.DODGY TAX AVOIDERS.co.uk/Silky-270-30-Zu ... 911&sr=1-6

A quality hatchet £20

http://www.DODGY TAX AVOIDERS.co.uk/Husqvarna-Hatch ... 996&sr=1-7

Katadyn water filter £70

http://www.DODGY TAX AVOIDERS.co.uk/Katadyn-8014932 ... m_sbs_lp_4

There's a start.

stevecook172001 wrote:I'd spend the lot shoes and boots

With feet as big as yours I'd say that is very wise - get them while you can.

I'd spend it on water, food, heat, and skills, in that order. How you allocate the money, and the implicit time resource, will depend on where you already are with preps. In my case, we have plenty of tinned food, but I'd like to start vacuum sealing some long-term items, so a vacuum sealer would be an appropriate purchase. You may have all this sorted already, so it might be more important for you to get a .22 rifle and the equipment and paperwork to support it. Or a chainsaw and chainsaw course, as a means of earning some extra money. Or a variety of hedge medicine skills, to earn money, be valued in a community, and for one's own well-being. Only you can decide.

Having re-read the above post, I realise our water base is low - must put some effort into it.

Let us know what you decide.

Thanks all, really good tips.

We're living in a well insulated house (renting) with a good few years of wood, there is a well for water and we have some gardening space. And a few years of thinking about this, growing etc already. (see previous post for the potential acre for growing)

So need to move on to investing in some good tools, learning how to make stuff (rather than being sat on the computer)...

Will let you know how we get on

Good price for the Katadyn but as it's bloody DODGY TAX AVOIDERS tax avoiders, shan't be buying it from them. Nor anything from Tesco or other workfare abusers.

I was wistfully thinking of blowing £800 of that £1000 on a reasonable quality touring bike. Dawes, Claud Butler or somesuch.


As for hard crash... a Desmond .22...? Can one procure an AK-47 within that budget and not worry too much about the paperwork...

I'd put it towards a solar powered freezer.

Mean Mr Mustard wrote:Can one procure an AK-47 within that budget and not worry too much about the paperwork...

One can, and one gets 5 years board and lodging included.

If you are looking at getting a firearm then get a double barrel shotgun. They're available very cheaply ( I know of a couple going for free because the owners are giving up shooting or have run out of space in the gun cabinet ) but you still need a licence and safe.

By far the cheapest and most sustainable gun to put meat in the pot is the humble air rifle, no licence required, no limit on ammunition held, cheap to buy and run.

featherstick wrote:I'd spend it on water, food, heat, and skills, in that order. How you allocate the money, and the implicit time resource, will depend on where you already are with preps. In my case, we have plenty of tinned food, but I'd like to start vacuum sealing some long-term items, so a vacuum sealer would be an appropriate purchase. You may have all this sorted already, so it might be more important for you to get a .22 rifle and the equipment and paperwork to support it. Or a chainsaw and chainsaw course, as a means of earning some extra money. Or a variety of hedge medicine skills, to earn money, be valued in a community, and for one's own well-being. Only you can decide.

Having re-read the above post, I realise our water base is low - must put some effort into it.

Let us know what you decide.

I'll second this approach. What comes next is totally dependant on what you already have in hand. The means to grow your own food and to secure water, fuel and shelter if and when the present supply lines get disrupted will be the value you are looking for.

I'd spend some on hookers and booze, the rest I would just waste.

Prolly a DIY bio diesel making equipment or more food for the caches and stockpiles.

£1000? I'd convert the truck to run on wood gas, the rest would go on preps.