As a prepper I am always looking for items to stockpile and give my family the best chance of survival not just in an economical or global disaster but a personal disaster too. A personal disaster could be you or a partner losing a job, a flood,fire or a death.

When the SHTF there will be a period of panic and turmoil the streets may be dangerous and the stores will be chaos.  Do you really want to stake your safety trying to obtain items you think you’ll need to sustain your family?  Are you prepared to lose your life trying to get these things in a disastrous situation?  These items are a must for any bug in situation even some are great to stock up for making your bug out bags.  Start stocking up on these things now before they become scarce or it’s too late.

• Water (water will be worth its weight in gold)
• Canned goods (meats, beans, fruits & vegetables, substitute with dehydrated and freeze dried varieties)
• Grains (Wheat, rice, oats & grain mil to grind it up)
• Spices (Sugar, salt, pepper keep it simple but dried varieties are best)
• Ammo (common calibers .223 .308 .22LR & 9mm luger)
• Fuel (fire wood, gasoline, kerosene, lamp oil, anything that will burn)
• Toilet Paper (gotta have one guilty pleasure)
• Building Matterials (nails, screws, 2 x 4’s, plywood)
• Soaps (bar, liquid, detergent, bleach)
• Alcohol (drinking and rubbing)
• Garden seeds (fruits, vegetables and spices)
• Cooking oil (or it will be soups and stews for you)
• Tools (non-powered variety hammer, hand saw, axe, shovel etc.)
• First Aid items (lots of gauze, tape, medicine, antiseptics)
• Bio-Chemical hazard gear (masks, gloves, goggles, chem suits)
• Garbage bags (especially heavy duty/black bags & 4 mil plastic tarps)
• Duct tape (need I say more)
• Lanterns & Candles (lots of candles)
• Fire Starters (matches, fire steel, lighters)
• Warm clothing (blankets too)
• Entertainment (books, board games, cards)

EXTRA 6: Things you should have

• Guns (you have all that ammo & don’t forget a cleaning kit)
• Knives (make sure you have sharpening tools)
• Wood burning stove or furnace
• Diesel generator (diesel will be easier to make in TEOTWAWKI)
• Solar recharging kits (large set up and portable solutions)
• Knowledge (knowledge and skills will be a life saver)

I’ve seen many lists so keep it simple don’t over complicate your preps and waste your time and money.  There are things that you will need and will save your life and there are things that will just take up space.  Here is a message/list I found online that is from a Sarajevo War survivor they point out some very interesting things.

1. Stockpiling helps but you never know how long trouble will last, so locate near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After a while, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold’s.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity – it’s the easiest to do without (unless you’re in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy – it makes a lot of the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs enough heat to “warm”, not to cook. It’s cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.
6. Bring some books – escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more valuable as the war continues. Sure, it’s great to have a lot of survival guides, but you’ll figure most of that out on your own anyway – trust me, you’ll have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you’re human can fade pretty fast. I can’t tell you how many people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

Source: shtfpreparedness.com