How to collect, digitize, back up, and print your family recipes and the stories behind them, plus how to make and gift a family cookbook.
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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Mushrooms are easy to grow if you create the right conditions. In this video from the Youtube channel, FreshCap Mushrooms, Tony explains a simple way to grow mushrooms in a 5-gallon bucket using Aspen woodchips and some Oyster mushroom spawn.
What You’ll Need
To start, take a 5-gallon bucket and drill some quarter-inch holes in the bottom spaced about 2 inches apart. Drill some quarter-inch holes on the side of the bucket, also spaced about 2 inches apart.
The holes on the bottom let excess moisture drain out, while the holes on the sides let the mycelium breathe and give the mushrooms a place to grow out of the bucket. A quarter-inch hole might not look like much, but it’s plenty of room. In the video, Tony harvests a cluster of oyster mushrooms weighing close to a pound that grew out of a single hole.
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In a large plastic container, soak aspen woods chips in hot water. You can buy Aspen wood chips at some home centers or on the Internet. You can use hot water from the tap but as the container starts to fill, top it off with a couple of gallons of boiling water to get it to 80 degrees Celsius. That’s 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pasteurizing the chips kills off many of the competing organisms that could contaminate your bucket, giving the mushroom mycelium a head start. It also softens the wood chips, which makes it easier for the mycelium to work its way through them.
Tony mentions that plain aspen chips might do fine with just a soak, but pasteurizing gives you a much better chance of success. A kitchen thermometer is handy for checking the water temperature, and putting a lid on the container will help it hold the heat longer.
If you can’t find aspen, other hardwood chips such as oak, maple, or alder will also work. Avoid softwoods like pine and cedar, which oyster mushrooms don’t grow well on.
Let the wood chips soak overnight. Before you add the spawn, make sure the chips have cooled down to room temperature. If they’re still hot, they can kill the mushroom spawn.
The next morning, grab some soaked wood chips from the container and let them drain in your hand for a few seconds and drop them into the bucket. Fill the bottom of the bucket with an initial layer of chips about 2 inches thick and top with crumbled Oyster mushroom spawn.
Break the spawn up as much as you can so you don’t end up with big clumps. That way, it’s spread evenly throughout the bucket and can colonize the chips faster.
Don’t worry if your spawn has been sitting a while and has turned into a solid block or even has a few tiny mushrooms growing in the bag. As Tony shows in the video, it’ll still work fine as long as it smells fresh and mushroomy. If it smells sour or you see green or black mold, don’t use it.
Oyster mushrooms are a great choice for beginners because they grow quickly, they’re very forgiving, and they can outcompete a lot of the molds and bacteria that might otherwise ruin your crop.
Top this first layer of spawn with another layer of wood chips and sprinkle some more spawn on top. Make sure you gently compress the wood chip layers as you go.
Pressing the chips down helps the mycelium spread from chip to chip and colonize the whole bucket. If your chips are dripping wet, squeeze some of the water out before adding them. A good test is to squeeze a handful of chips. If just a few drops of water come out, the moisture level is about right.
Repeat the process in layers until you have filled the bucket to the top. Make sure the very last layer is wood chips rather than spawn. For reference, Tony used about 5 pounds of grain spawn to fill his bucket.
Cover the bucket with a lid and place it either in the garage if the weather is cold, or if the weather is warmer -outdoors in the shade. Try to put the bucket in an area protected from the wind as well. The mushrooms will need some air circulating but they thrive on high humidity and you don’t want the wood chips to dry out.
After a week, lift the lid and check the wood chips. They should feel compact and you should notice the mycelium or young mushroom growth starting to spread into the chips. If the weather is particularly dry, cover the bucket with a plastic garbage bag but lift it from day to day to let air circulate.
Try not to open the lid too often during this stage, since the mycelium does best when it’s left alone. It usually takes about 10 to 14 days for the bucket to become fully colonized. When it is, the chips will be bound together with white mycelium and the whole thing will feel solid. At that point, if the bucket has been sitting in your garage, it’s time to move it outside where it can get plenty of fresh air.
After two weeks, check the bucket again. You may notice some mushroom sprouts emerging from the holes in the side of the bucket. As these buttons continue to grow you can mist them with water from a sprayer. Continue to do this as the mushrooms grow and mature.
Humidity is most important when the mushrooms are first starting to appear. If the tiny mushrooms, called pins, dry out, they’ll stop growing. Once they’ve grown past that initial stage, they’re much less fussy about humidity.
Fresh air matters too. Oyster mushrooms, especially blue oysters, are sensitive to carbon dioxide, so plenty of fresh air helps them grow into big clusters with large caps. If your mushrooms have long stems and small caps, they probably need more fresh air.
As the mushrooms mature you can begin to harvest and make sure you pick them before their caps start to turn up. That’s a sign that they are about to quickly dry out and release spores.
To harvest, just take a sharp knife and cut the entire cluster off right where it comes out of the hole. Store your fresh mushrooms in a paper bag in the refrigerator, where they’ll keep for about a week. Oyster mushrooms should be cooked before eating rather than eaten raw.
After harvesting your mushrooms, you can leave the bucket to see if you get a second harvest. If little or nothing shows up, dump the wood chips in the yard and cover with straw. You should get a second or third crop this way and they may continue to grow in that area over the years.
Of course, this is much easier to understand if you can see it done, so be sure to watch the video below to learn more.
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Have you looked at your bank statement lately and wondered where all the money went? You’re not alone. Groceries cost more, insurance keeps creeping up, and those little monthly charges have a way of multiplying when we aren’t paying attention. Many families I talk with feel stretched thin, and none of us knows what the economy will do next. What we do know is that we can take charge of our own household spending.
I’ve always believed that being prepared isn’t only about having water stored and a full pantry. It’s also about having margin in your budget. When you lower your monthly bills, you free up money for your emergency fund, your food storage, and the things that truly matter to your family. Today I want to walk you through 27 monthly bills you can cut or lower right now. Some of these will save you a few dollars, and some could save you hundreds over the year. Every little bit adds up.
When we lived in Southern Utah, I saw a lot of fraud with food stamps and low-income housing. People made a game of trying to “beat the system” by not reporting money paid under the table or admitting you were living alone even though you were living with a baby daddy. They would get free hospital services, children’s services, free breakfast, and lunch for their kids at school. I met with a group of ladies for coffee and breakfast every week. One of the ladies had a baby, no insurance, and stated she was living alone while living with her baby daddy, so she got a lot of free benefits. Food stamps/EBT card, etc. I knew many who did this. You may think I’m judging them; I just want things to be fair. I was taught to be honest and live with integrity.
I remember being at a church meeting when three ladies at my table were all living in low-income housing. One lady told the other two young mothers: If I have one more child, I can get an extra $800.00 in food stamps/EBT every month. I didn’t say a word. I was shocked, to say the least. Anyway, my readers know I’m real, and I don’t play games; I am against all fraud- enough said.
Lanterns Solar Outdoor Ones (you can bring them inside when you need them)
Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, pull up your last few bank statements, and let’s go through this together.
This is often the first bill people cut, and for good reason. Many families pay for hundreds of channels and watch only a handful. Free antenna TV still works well in many areas, and you can get local news, weather, and some favorite shows without a monthly fee. If you love a certain program, consider picking one streaming service instead of a full cable package. Ask yourself honestly how much your family watches and whether that time might be better spent together doing something else.
Here’s the funny thing. Many of us cut cable and then slowly added four or five streaming services that now cost almost as much, or even more. Look at every streaming charge on your statement. Keep one, cancel the rest, and rotate. Subscribe to one service for a month, watch what you want, cancel, and move to another. You’ll never run out of things to watch, and you’ll only pay for one at a time. Hopefully, you can find one streaming service that provides the majority of your favorite channels or shows so you can stop the run around and stick with just one.
Take a careful look for those small recurring charges you forgot about. Apps, cloud storage, magazine subscriptions, monthly boxes, premium versions of games, and free trials that quietly turned into paid plans. These are the sneaky leaks in a budget. On most phones, you can see your active subscriptions in your settings. Cancel anything you haven’t used in the last month. If you miss it, you can always sign up again.
If you use your gym membership several times a week, it may be worth every penny. But if you’re paying for a gym you visit twice a month, it’s time to let it go. Walking is free. Bodyweight exercises at home cost nothing. Many communities have parks, walking trails, and free online fitness videos. Gardening, chopping wood, and hauling feed buckets count as a workout too, as any homesteader can tell you.
Phone plans from the major carriers can be very expensive, especially for a whole family. Prepaid and smaller carriers often use the same networks for a fraction of the price. Check how much data your family actually uses each month. Many people pay for unlimited data when they mostly use WiFi at home. Switching plans can be one of the biggest savings on this list.
Look closely at your phone bill for insurance add-ons and device installment payments. Do you need insurance on every phone, or could you put that money in a savings account instead? When your current phone is paid off, consider keeping it longer rather than upgrading right away. A good cell phone case and screen protector cost much less than a new phone every couple of years.
Call your internet provider and ask what promotions they offer. Many companies offer lower rates to new customers and will sometimes match those rates to keep you. Also check your speed. If you’re paying for top speed but only use email, browsing, and a little streaming, a lower tier may work just fine. Some providers also offer reduced rates for qualifying low-income households, so it’s worth asking.
Many homes still have a landline they rarely use. If everyone in the family has a cell phone, the landline may be an easy cut. If you keep it for emergencies or rural reliability, ask about a basic plan without the extras like long-distance packages and voicemail features you never use.
Insurance is one area where loyalty doesn’t always pay. Shop your car insurance at least once a year. Ask about discounts for bundling, good driving, low mileage, safety features, and good student grades. Consider raising your deductible if you have a solid emergency fund to cover it. If you have an older car that’s paid off, talk with your agent about whether full coverage still makes sense for that vehicle.
Just like car insurance, it’s wise to compare homeowners or renters insurance every year. Bundling your home and auto policies with one company can lower your premiums on both. Installing smoke detectors, deadbolts, and a security system may qualify you for discounts. Make sure you’re properly covered, though. The goal is to stop overpaying, not to leave your family unprotected. Carbon Monoxide-Propane-Natural Gas Detectors
Life insurance is an important form of protection for families, but some people are paying for policies that no longer fit their needs. Term life insurance is often much less expensive than whole life for the same amount of coverage when it’s first issued. The premiums increase each time the term expires, so keep that in mind. If you’re unsure, sit down with a trusted, independent professional who can look at your situation. I’m not a financial advisor, so please get good counsel before making changes here.
You may not be able to cut your electric bill significantly, but you can usually lower it. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Unplug chargers and small appliances when they aren’t in use. Wash clothes in cold water and hang them to dry when you can. Use a programmable thermostat. Swap old bulbs for LED bulbs. Ask your power company about budget billing and free energy audits. Little habits really do make a difference over the course of a year.
Heating and cooling often account for a large share of home energy use. Seal drafty windows and doors with weatherstripping and caulk. Close curtains on hot summer afternoons and open them on sunny winter days. Dress for the season inside your home. Wearing a sweater and warm socks in winter, and using a fan in summer, lets you adjust the thermostat by a few degrees. Change your furnace filter regularly so your system doesn’t have to work so hard no matter what season.
Fix leaky faucets and running toilets right away, because they waste more water than you might think. Take shorter showers. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads. Water your garden in the early morning to reduce evaporation, and consider collecting rainwater where it’s allowed in your area. Being careful with water is good for your budget and good conservation and preparedness practices too.
This is my favorite category because it’s where so many families can save the most. Plan your meals around what you already have in your pantry and freezer. Make a list and stick to it. Buy in bulk when prices are good like fall case lot sales, and store food properly. Cook from scratch as often as you can, because convenience foods cost much more per serving. Shop the sales and use coupons when offered. Stock up on the things your family really eats. A well-stocked pantry protects you when prices go up.
Eating out has become very expensive for families. I’m not saying you can never enjoy a meal out, but it helps to make it a planned treat instead of a habit. Keep a few easy meals ready for busy nights, like soup in the freezer or a casserole you can pull out and bake. Teaching your children to cook simple meals is a gift that lasts a lifetime and saves money right now.
Meal kits can be helpful when you’re learning to cook, but they usually cost much more than buying the same ingredients yourself. If you enjoy the recipes, save them and shop for the ingredients yourself. You’ll get the same dinner for less money.
A daily coffee shop drink can quietly add up to a big monthly expense. Brewing your coffee at home and carrying it in a good travel mug is one of the simplest changes you can make. If you love your fancy drinks, learn to make a version at home with a little milk, flavoring, and a whisk. Save the coffee shop for a special outing with a friend.
Look at your bank statements for monthly maintenance fees, overdraft charges, and ATM fees. Many banks and credit unions offer free checking accounts, especially if you set up direct deposit. Local credit unions often have lower fees and better customer service. There’s no reason to pay your bank to hold your money.
If you carry a balance on your credit cards, interest may be one of your most costly bills. Call your card company and ask for a lower interest rate. You might be surprised how often they say yes, especially if you’ve paid on time. Focus on paying off one card at a time, and try not to add new charges while you do. Getting out of debt gives your family so much more freedom.
Take a fresh look at your car loans, personal loans, and other debts. Sometimes refinancing at a lower rate can reduce your monthly payment, but be careful not to extend the term so long that you end up paying more in the end. If you’re able, putting even a little extra toward the principal each month helps you get out of debt sooner. Please talk with a trusted financial professional before making big decisions about your mortgage or major loans.
Owning a vehicle costs much more than the payment. Combine errands into one trip to save gas. Keep your tires properly inflated, and your car maintained so it runs efficiently. If your family has more vehicles than you really need, selling one could eliminate a payment, insurance, registration, and upkeep all at once. Carpooling with neighbors or friends for school and activities helps too.
We all want the best for our children, and activities can be wonderful for them. But when every child is in several paid activities, the costs can add up quickly with fees, uniforms, gear, and travel. Consider having each child choose one activity they love most. Look into free programs through your library, church, or community center. Some of the best childhood memories come from simple things like backyard games, helping in the garden, and family nights at home.
If you pay for lawn mowing, house cleaning, pest control, or other services, consider which ones your family could handle in their own. Doing chores as a family teaches responsibility and saves money. I understand there are seasons of life when help is truly needed, especially with health issues or a new baby. This is about looking honestly at what fits your current season.
We love our pets, and they’re part of our families. You can still lower some of the costs. Compare prices on pet food and buy larger bags when they’re on sale. Learn to do basic grooming at home. Ask your vet about lower-cost vaccine clinics in your area. Keep your pets healthy with good food and exercise so you avoid bigger bills later.
Online shopping makes it so easy to spend a little here and a little there. Delete saved card information from shopping sites so you have to stop and think before you buy. Unsubscribe from store emails that tempt you with sales. Try a waiting rule: wait a few days before buying anything that isn’t a true need. Many times you’ll find you don’t want it after all.
Extended warranties and protection plans are often sold at checkout, and some families end up paying monthly for coverage they never use. Review any recurring protection plans on your statements. For many household items, setting aside money in your own repair fund may serve you better. Read the fine print before you buy any new plan.
Please don’t try to tackle all 27 of these in one weekend. Start with the easiest wins. Cancel the subscriptions you don’t use. Make a few phone calls to your insurance, phone, and internet companies. Plan your meals for the week. Those three steps alone can make a real difference.
Next, sit down with your family and talk about why you’re doing this. Children understand more than we give them credit for. When they know the family is saving for an emergency fund, a family goal like a fun vacation, or simply peace of mind, they often become wonderful helpers. Make it a family project, and celebrate your progress together.
Write down every bill you cut or reduce and how much you save each month. Then put that money to work. Build your emergency fund first, then add to your food storage, pay down debt, or save for the next big expense. Money that isn’t given a job has a way of disappearing.
None of us can control the economy, grocery store prices, or what happens in the news. What we can control is how we manage the resources we’ve been given. When your monthly bills are lower, you have more breathing room if hours get cut, a job is lost, or an unexpected expense comes along. That breathing room brings peace, and peace is priceless.
I’ve learned over the years that being prepared is really about stewardship. It’s about taking good care of what we have so we can care for our families and help others when they’re in need. Cutting your monthly bills isn’t about living a life of deprivation. It’s about choosing what matters most and letting go of what doesn’t.
101 Ways To Save Money Every Day
Friends, I know it can feel discouraging to watch prices climb while paychecks stay the same. Please don’t lose heart. Every bill you cut or lower is a step toward more security for your family, and those steps add up faster than you might think. You don’t have to do everything at once. Pick one or two bills this week, make the calls, cancel what you don’t need, and watch your savings begin to grow.
Remember that living on less doesn’t mean living a smaller life. Some of our happiest family memories came from simple meals at home, evenings playing games around the kitchen table, and working side by side in the garden. When we stop spending money on things that don’t really matter, we make room for the things that do.
Keep building your emergency fund, keep stocking your pantry, and keep teaching your children how to be wise with money. These habits will serve your family well no matter what the future holds. We can’t control the economy, but we can control our choices and face whatever comes with faith rather than fear. Thank you for being here and for caring enough about your family to prepare. I’m cheering you on every step of the way. May God bless this world, Linda
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The post 27 Monthly Bills You Can Cut or Lower Right Now appeared first on Food Storage Moms.
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
You’ve probably read quite a few articles over the past year that list how much water and food you should have in your emergency pantry. Now it’s time to think about the other items that are essential to survival.
Of course, the type of emergency, where you live, and the time of year will factor into the supplies you need. But we’ve put together a list of non-food items you should consider gathering as part of your emergency preparations.
1. Air Pump – You can use a hand-held pump to pump up your vehicle’s tires, rafts, or flotation devices.
2. Ax – In the right hands, a quality ax or hatchet can do much more than just chop wood. (If you don’t believe me, read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.)
3. B.B. Gun, Pellet Gun, Slingshot – These weapons are useful for hunting small game and for self-defense. They’re also much quieter than firearms, and BBs and pellets are cheap enough that you can stock up on thousands of rounds.
4. Baby Supplies – Plan for baby’s needs both for now and down the road. Think diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, and clothes in the next size or two up, since little ones outgrow things fast.
5. Baking Soda – You can use baking soda as toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo, and to treat irritated skin. And that’s just the start of a long list.
6. Bandanas – These inexpensive items can serve as facemasks, compresses, cool-down cloths, and other things.
7. Batteries – Make sure you have spare batteries for things like radios and flashlights.
8. Bike – You may need a bike for transportation, and the more rugged terrain it can handle, the better. Keep a patch kit, spare inner tube, and small pump with it so a flat tire doesn’t leave you stranded.
9. Binoculars – You can use binoculars like these to watch the sky for weather changes, to look for rescuers, or to help find people or animals that are lost.
10. Blade Sharpener – Keep your knives and other tools in shape with a blade sharpener.
11. Blankets – Keep extra warm blankets at home and in your car. Wool blankets are a great choice because they’ll keep you warm even when they get damp.
12. Bolt Cutters – Sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures, and bolt cutters might become a necessity.
13. Buckets and Lids – Five-gallon buckets are useful for storing and carrying food, water, and other supplies.
14. Cash – During a grid failure, debit and credit cards may not work. Keep a supply of cash on hand for emergencies.
15. Cast-Iron Pan – You can use a cast iron pan on the stove, in the oven, or over a campfire. This one is even pre-seasoned.
16. Charcoal and Lighter Fluid – You can start an outdoor cooking fire easily with these items. Just never use charcoal indoors or in a garage, since it gives off carbon monoxide that can be deadly.
17. Chlorine Bleach – Unscented bleach can help you sanitize dishes and cooking gear with minimal water. Keep in mind that bleach slowly loses its strength over time, so rotate your supply about once a year.
18. Compass – Your phone’s navigation tools won’t help in some emergency situations, but a compass will always be fully charged and ready to go.
19. Contact Information – A written list of phone numbers, addresses, and other contact information of friends and family members is handy if your phone won’t work.
20. Crowbar – A good old-fashioned crowbar and some elbow grease can get you out of a lot of jams.
21. Dental Floss – Small and easy to carry, floss can be used for fishing lines, thread, traps, snares, and many other survival purposes.
22. Duct Tape – You can read entire articles on the many survival uses for duct tape. It’s inexpensive, versatile, and long-lasting.
23. Dust Mask – All the face masks we’ve been wearing over the past year will be useful in another emergency.
24. Eating and Cooking Utensils – Portable, reusable utensils — like the infamous spork — are important to a survival toolkit. This one even has a bottle opener.
25. Emergency Candles – You often can find inexpensive emergency candles at yard sales and thrift stores.
26. Extra Socks – Clean, warm, dry socks are critical for health and comfort. Wool or synthetic socks are better than cotton because they wick away moisture and help prevent blisters.
27. Family Photos – These treasured keepsakes can keep you focused on what’s important.
28. Ferro Rod – You can use these to light a fire in just about any condition.
29. Fire Extinguisher – It’s a good idea to have several fire extinguishers at home and one in each of your vehicles.
30. Fire Laces – These reusable flint and steel shoelaces will help you start a fire.
31. First Aid Kit – Keep a well-stocked kit at home and in your car. Here’s a list from the Red Cross.
32. Fishing Line and Tackle – Fish is a valuable food source. Make sure you have the supplies you need ready.
33. Fixed-Blade Knife – In addition to a multitool's blade, you’ll want one or more quality fixed blade knives.
34. Flares – If you need help at home or on the road, flares can be a lifesaver.
35. Flashlights and Batteries – Everyone in your family should have their own flashlight, and make sure you have plenty of batteries for them as well.
36. Games, Puzzles – You’ll want to save your phone battery power for communication and news updates, so think old-school when to comes to entertainment.
37. Gasoline – Gas stations are likely to be closed in a disaster. Keep your gas tanks full and store an extra supply for emergencies. Be sure to add a fuel stabilizer, because untreated gas can start to break down in as little as a few months.
38. Goggles – Goggles can offer eye protection when there is debris in the air.
39. Hand Warmer Packets – These single-use packs will warm hands and feet when you are cold.
40. Hand-Cranked Can Opener – You’ve got a lot of canned food in that pantry. Don’t rely on an electric opener, or you could be out of luck in a power outage.
41. Hand-Cranked Radio – With one of these devices, you can get news and weather updates even when the power and internet are down.
42. Hats, Gloves – We don’t know when an emergency will strike, so be sure you have winter gear ready.
43. Headlamps – If you need to travel by foot after dark or just need hands-free lighting to perform a task, headlamps do the job.
44. Heat Source – If you don’t have a fireplace or woodstove, you’ll want to invest in a portable propane or kerosene heater as a heat source. This Mr. Heater is suitable for indoor use. Whatever heater you choose, make sure you also have a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector in your home.
45. Hygiene Products – Don’t forget oral care when you stock up on health items. Soap, shampoo, deodorant, and feminine products are also easy to overlook, but you’ll miss them quickly if you run out.
46. Jumper Cables – If you’re using your car to stay warm or run electronics, you may end up with a dead battery. Make sure you have jumper cables to jump your vehicle or someone else’s.
47. Lighters, Waterproof Matches – Starting a fire without these items can be done. However, why waste your time and energy if you don’t have to?
48. Machete – If you have to find your way in the wilderness, this tool is excellent for cutting branches and vines.
49. Maps – Google Maps is great, but what about when the power is out and your phone is low on charge? Paper maps of your area can come to the rescue.
50. Medications – Stock up on standard over-the-counter medicines as well as your prescriptions. Ask your doctor whether you can get an extra month’s supply of your prescriptions, and store all medicines in a cool, dry place.
51. Multitool – A quality multi-tool is a must-have. We like this powerhouse tool from Leatherman.
52. Oil – Motor oil is useful for your vehicles and machinery, and you can use it to start a fire if need be.
53. Paper and Pens – You’ll need these for lists, messages, diaries, and doodles.
54. Paracord – You’ll find lots of uses for this emergency staple.
55. Pepper Spray or Bear Spray – You can use these portable self-defense sprays to ward off animal or human predators.
56. Personal Identification Papers – Keep copies of essential records and documents on hand in a safe, waterproof, and fireproof place.
57. Pet Food and Supplies – Think about how you will feed and transport your pets, if necessary.
58. Phone Chargers – Have you seen these emergency phone chargers that come in three-packs?
59. Playing Cards – There’s a good chance you’ll have time on your hands during an emergency. A deck of cards can keep your mind occupied.
60. Portable Camping Stove – We like this classic Coleman suitcase stove.
61. Propane – Many camping stoves use propane, so make sure you have a supply of this fuel safely stored. Store propane tanks outdoors in an upright position, never inside your home or garage.
62. Radios – A ham, shortwave, or C.B. radio can provide a vital communication link when other methods fail.
63. Rain Barrel – Collect rainwater to keep your water supply up.
64. Rain Gear – It’s a good idea to stock up on inexpensive ponchos for every member of your family.
65. Rechargeable Batteries – You’ll need these for your electronics, radios, and lanterns.
66. Rubbing Alcohol – This inexpensive staple works well as a wound disinfectant.
67. Saw – Storms that cause emergencies tend to bring down trees and tree limbs. You’ll find many uses for a quality saw in a disaster.
68. Scissors – You probably have a pair, but are they in good repair, and are they sharp?
69. Seeds – After your food supply starts to dwindle, what then? You can grow your own fruits and vegetables if you have a selection of seeds stored. (Be sure to rotate seeds for freshness.)
70. Self-Defense Weapon and Ammo – You also can add martial arts and self-defense tactics to this item.
71. Sewing Kit – Whether it’s fixing a backpack strap, hemming a torn cuff, or sewing a deep cut in an emergency, needle and thread can come in very handy.
72. Shovel – You’ll need one to dig a firepit, free a stuck vehicle, break up ice, and plant a garden.
73. Signal Mirror – You can use a mirror to reflect sunlight to alert potential rescuers who are on the ground or in the sky.
74. Sillcock Key – This tool allows you to open water valves that don’t have standard handles.
75. Sleeping Bag – Store one for each person in the family. Choose the best temperature rating for your climate zone.
76. Sleeping Mask and Earplugs – When things get tough, sleeping gets tougher. These items can help you block out the lights and noise to get the rest you need.
77. Solar Battery Lantern – Lanterns like this one are good for 360-degree lighting when the power is out, or you are in a tent.
78. Solar Chargers – When the grid is down, you can harness the sun’s power with solar chargers like this portable one.
79. Space Blanket – Lightweight and packable, these mylar blankets help you maintain 90% of your body heat.
80. Sturdy Boots – Having the proper footwear may be one of the most under-rated aspects of survival gear. Break them in well before you need them, because blisters can slow you down fast in an emergency.
81. Sunscreen – You’ll also need sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful rays. Sunscreen does expire, so check the dates on your supply and replace it as needed.
82. Survival Backpack – We’ve often written about what to pack in a bug-out bag. You also need a quality backpack in which to place your on-the-go supplies.
83. Survival Books – Pocket guides and full reference books can help you handle the unexpected. This article gives tips and suggestions for building a survival library.
84. Survival Hammock – You may think of a hammock as something to relax in, but sleeping off the ground is much more comfortable.
85. Survival Mask – Check out this selection of survival gas masks.
86. TACT Bivvy – Here’s an emergency kit that comes with a lightweight sleeping bag, carabiner, survival whistle, and paracord tinder.
87. Tarp – Plastic and fabric tarps are useful as ground cover, for building an emergency shelter, and many other things.
88. Tent – A quality tent provides emergency shelter in the wilderness.
89. Tinder – Store tinder for building fires during an emergency. (Hint: dryer lint is a good one!)
90. Tire Repair Kit – Can you fix a flat fast if you have to? Make sure your spare tires are in good shape, and stock up on Fix-A-Flat.
91. Toilet Paper and Toilet Paper Tablets – Yes, store some actual toilet paper, but you don’t need to clear the store shelves. These tablets are another idea.
92. Traps and Snares – Here is a design that’s easy to anchor to a tree or stake and doesn’t need a wire. Under normal circumstances, be sure to check your state’s hunting and trapping regulations before you set any traps.
93. Trash Bags – Large trash bags are suitable for their intended purpose, but they also work well as ground covers, tarps, makeshift ponchos, and other things.
94. Walkie-Talkies – Use these two-way radios to stay in touch with friends and family who are up to 16 miles away.
95. Water Filter and Purification Tablets – The personal-sized Lifestraw can filter up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water. These tablets disinfect water, making it more suitable for drinking and cooking.
96. Whistle – A survival whistle is small and lightweight, but it can be a powerful way to alert others of your location when you need help.
97. Wipes and Hand Sanitizer – These items are helpful for on-the-go clean-ups and whenever water is scarce.
98. Written Plan – Think and plan ahead and talk with your family about what you will do and where you will go if disaster strikes. Make sure everyone knows where your supplies are located and how to use them.
99. Zip Ties – Makeshift handles and fastening gear into your backpack are just two of the ways zip ties come in handy.
100. Zippered Plastic Bags – You can use them to hold and protect kindling, nails, snacks, you name it. Make sure you have some in several sizes.
There's one more thing you'll need in a disaster: common sense. The past year has shown us in dramatic ways that none of us is immune to disaster.
The good news is that planning ahead can offer you valuable peace of mind that you are doing your best to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy.
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