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When preparing for a disaster, there are probably many survival items that come to mind. We all had a good practice run with the recent pandemic. All of us quickly found out what really works and what we could do without.
When prepping for survival on your own property, it is important to know the difference between survival items that you definitely need and those that aren’t a priority. Learn more about these survival items you shouldn’t buy when prepping for a disaster.
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1. Survival Food Kits
There are plenty of companies out there that make survival meals and food kits. While these are nice to have in a pinch, they often are quite expensive. You can make your own survival food kits by picking up some well-preserved food options at the store.
Large stocks of canned food are helpful, but you can easily can your own meat, carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables in canning jars yourself.
2. Tent
While many people do need some sort of shelter if they’ll be traveling, tents are often not a necessity for survival. Tents often are quite large, have a lot of parts, and are usually not the best quality.
When surviving at home, your shelter is already in place, so you shouldn’t need the use of a tent indoors (unless you're trying to keep your family warm during a blackout). If anything, a heavy-duty tarp is a better option that can be used in multiple ways.
3. Toilet Paper
I know, I know, toilet paper is still hard to find in many stores today. However, if you really think about it, you don’t need a stockpile of toilet paper to survive. Sure, it will add to your comfort, but consider what everyone did before toilet paper was invented.
You can use reusable towels and even leaves to help clean up in the bathroom, among other things. There are even zero waste families who choose not to waste toilet paper in today’s modern world. While it is convenient and comfier than other options, toilet paper won’t be the thing that prolongs your survival.
4. First Aid Kits
Again, the need for medical supplies is warranted in a survival situation. However, you can easily make your own first aid kit with supplies that you probably already have on hand.
It is a good idea to check what manufacturers have in their kits so you don’t forget anything. Suture supplies and small surgical items are also good to have in a medical kit at home.
5. Cleaning Products
Don’t waste your money buying cleaning or disinfectant products at the store. You can make your own sanitizing cleaners with some bleach, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide.
A little bit of bleach goes a long way, so stocking up on gallons of it should be enough in an emergency. While store-bought cleaning products are easy and helpful to use, they often come at a price and contain mostly water anyway.
6. Flare Gun
If you already have a flare gun at home, by all means, keep it. However, you don’t need to go out and buy a flare gun for survival. While they are helpful in an emergency, a flare gun is a temporary way to signal for help.
Better options for emergency signals are those you can repeatedly use, like a whistle or a small mirror. These items cost a lot less to stock and can be used long-term if needed.
7. Food You Don’t Like
It is vital to stockpile food that you enjoy and would eat in a survival situation. Some would say that you’ll eat anything if you are hungry enough, which is true, but if you have a choice in food, why not stockpile what you like? Food is a comfort, especially in a survival situation, and eating food that you already eat on a regular basis could do wonders for your mind and morale.
8. Battery Operated Flashlight
Having a flashlight at night is a nice thing to have in a survival situation, but it isn’t necessary. Batteries are heavy and take up a lot of space. Using a candle or a kerosene lamp is a better option as they provide a wider angle of light and are longer lasting than battery power. Daylight is an essential part of survival, and learning to work during the lit hours is helpful in a survival situation.
9. Water Purification Tablets
One of the best ways to purify water is to boil it. If you have the means to have a fire at home during a survival situation, boiling water that could be contaminated is helpful.
However, most of us on homesteads have access to our own well or are plugged into the public water supply. Water purification tablets are only needed when you have no other option in purifying a questionable water source. They are nice to have but aren’t absolutely necessary for survival.
10. Electric Gadgets
If you ever find yourself in a survival situation, it is likely that you may not have access to power or electricity. This will make many cell phones and handheld navigation tools pretty useless should the SHTF.
While solar-powered cell phone chargers are an option, there may not be internet or even wireless connections. It is better to have a hand-cranked radio that can pick up radio signals and give you information in a survival situation. Many of these hand-powered radios also have a flashlight and other tools that only require the manual turn of the handle to operate.
There are plenty of things to stock up on when it comes to surviving any kind of emergency at home. However, there are also many survival items that you shouldn’t buy simply because you can make them yourself at home or don’t really need them to make it through another day.
Knowing what to put in your stockpile is an integral part of ensuring that you and your family are prepared if you ever need to survive at home.
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