When a long term grid down disaster strikes, where money becomes worthless and where you will no longer be able to resupply yourself from grocery stores or commerce sites like Amazon, what would you do?
There are many items that we take for granted in our everyday lives, but that would also become scarce and thus immensely valuable in the event of an above scenario happening.
While it’s not considered strange at all to have these items in your home in our ‘normal’ lives, it would still be considered strange if it was known you were hoarding large amounts of them simply because of how easy it is to currently resupply ourselves with these items.
But in the face of possible societal unrest, natural disasters, a grid-down disaster, or economic collapse, we can never take anything for granted.
There are many items that you should start stockpiling now even if other people may consider you a bit weird for doing so. When disaster does strike, they’ll be the ones who come begging you for help.
So, what are some of these items that might be considered strange to hoard but that you should still stockpile anyway? Let’s dive right in:
‘Strange’ Items To Hoard For SHTF
Most people understand the value of storing food, water, and first aid/medical supplies for a disaster scenario. But there are some additional, commonly overlooked items that you should consider stockpiling as well.
Here is a list of items that may be considered strange to hoard in everyday life, but that will prove to be extremely useful in an SHTF scenario, presented in alphabetical order:
Batteries
Take a moment to think about how many items you use that rely on batteries. Let’s list a few such items here: cameras, clocks, flashlights, watches, electronic devices, smoke detectors, and countless kinds of kitchen gadgets.
Related: How To Recharge Alkaline Batteries
There are probably more that you can think of besides those ones, but you get the idea. A lot of the items that we rely upon today are battery powered.
This is why it will be so important to take inventory of the battery powered items that you do have, make a list of the types of batteries that those items take, and then stockpile those batteries.
Candles
If electricity ever goes out, candles and flashlights will become your new best friends for seeing in darkness. Be sure to stockpile matches and lighters for lighting those candles as well.
Cooking Oil
While most people understand the obvious value of stockpiling food, many of those same people overlook additional commonly used cooking items.
Cooking oil is one of these items; we simply use it with so many meals to stop meats and veggies in particular from sticking to pans.
Paper And Writing Utensils
You’ll need paper and writing utensils for keeping track of inventory, taking and sending notes to other people, writing directions, or to write stories for entertainment, if you’re a writer that is.
Especially if you no longer have access to a computer with which you can use Microsoft Word or Excel, you’re going to be dependent on a traditional pen and paper to get your writing done.
Hoard lined paper, notebooks, blank white computer-style paper, pens, pencils, markers, and sharpies.
Honey
Honey is important to stockpile because it lasts forever and never spoils when stored in the right conditions. When sugar runs out, you can use honey as a sweetener in its stead.
Honey also has an antibacterial effect on bacteria commonly present in wounds.
Paper Towels/Napkins
Think about how often you use paper towels or napkins everyday. Not only do we use paper towels and napkins for cleaning our hands while we eat, we also use them for drying pots and pans after cleaning and to help scrub kitchen surfaces clean.
As you’re probably already aware, it doesn’t take long to use up an entire roll of paper towels, so be sure to hoard as much as you can.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is one of the best versatile ‘handy dandy’ items that you can have.
You can fix countless things with duct tape; for example, you can cover a rip in an inflatable mattress, fix a broken strap on a backpack or messenger bag, fix torn boxes, patch a hose…the list goes on.
Alcohol
Alcohol isn’t just for getting loose or tipsy. That’s because alcohol can provide a wealth of other important uses as well. It can be used as a painkiller or for sterilizing wounds, for example.
And even if you don’t drink, a lot of other people do. That’s why it’s worth stockpiling alcohol simply because it will be a very valuable bartering commodity in the event of a disaster scenario happening.
Related: 50 Low-priced Items That Will be Invaluable when SHTF
Beer, wine, gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, and tequila will all be highly sought after post-disaster.
Plastic Bags
This includes both grocery bags and Ziploc bags. Both are great for storing items, disposing of items, organizing items, and so on.
Just like paper towels, we use plastic bags often in our daily lives and it doesn’t take long for a box of Ziploc bags in the kitchen cabinet to run empty.
Salt, Pepper, Spices, And Sugar
Like we talked about with the cooking oil example above, most people understand the value of hoarding food, but less seem to think of the value that comes with additional food-related items.
Salt, pepper, sugar, and spices may not be nutritionally necessary, but they’ll help provide additional taste to tasteless foods, which can help keep your morale up.
Tarps
Tarps can be used to help build shelters, collect rainwater, create a barrier in between the insides of your cars and anything you don’t want touching the upholstery, such as if you need to put a deer you’ve shot in the back of an SUV.
Related: 13 Shelters That You Can Build With A Military Poncho
Socks
Most people understand the value of stockpiling extra clothes, but socks are one clothing item that commonly get overlooked. That’s because socks wear out faster than other clothing items simply because we walk around in them so much.
Stock up on cheap socks now while you can. In a long term disaster scenario, they’ll likely become a valuable bartering item as well.
Vinegar
Like cooking oil, vinegar is another common household cooking item that can fulfill a multitude of uses.
Besides its obvious cooking-related uses, you can also use vinegar to help soothe skin-related injuries such as bug bites and sunburns, killing weeds (just combine with dish soap), and killing bacteria over flat surfaces.
The above items are by no means the only items that you should stockpile for a disaster. But this list has hopefully reminded you of items you may have overlooked yourself just because it may be considered ‘strange’ to hoard these items. And while it may seem strange now, you’ll thank yourself for hoarding these items when disaster strikes.
For the next step, start to stockpile some of the above items little-by-little. Even if you buy just one or two items a week to add to your stockpile, you’ll be surprised at how fast your stockpile will grow.
Additionally, be sure to continue thinking about items outside of this list that you think would be very valuable in a grid down disaster as well. You likewise might be surprised at how many additional items you come up with.
You may also like:
How To Identify Animals By Their Tracks (With Pictures)
Why You Should Never Hide Your Stockpile In Your Basement (Video)
Veggies You Only Plant Once And Harvest Forever
Many disasters have come and through many recoveries, we were restored. Through them all, someone remembered to guard and pass Scripture to the generations that followed and upon which recovery was possible. Be that someone who bears light through dark times. Like the honey mentioned in the article, Scripture lasts forever and can get you through hard times.
Non-preppers, remind me of the city type dwellers of an underground comic 1970 series.
A Humorous updated quote;
“Preps will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no Preps.” Adaption take off from the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, an underground comic. They are a perfect example of what most non-preppers would be like from the city.
“Fat Freddy’s Cat”, was the best underground comic character series. Always fighting the cockroaches at home. But I digress that preps are still important today as in the 1800’s were.
Happy 4th of July!
I have a bBible in my bug out bag, consider it my most important survival item.
I 100% agree on the need for a copy of the Holy Bible and read it!
MANUKA honey has an antiseptic effect, yes –
not all honey.
Much commercial o.t.c.honey today (21st century) is infused with questionable stuff from China…
If you cannot acquire the Manuka, at least try to patronize a known, responsible beekeeper…just sayin’…
canning jar lids are an excellent barter item. people who can have jars and rings but will need lids. i reload my own ammo but keep extra components to load other peoples ammo and trade for what i need. the liquor is a good item, i keep several bottles on hand for barter. a farmer who likes a taste of “hooch” will trade generously for a bottle when its no longer available. this was a good article and makes one think. thanks
There are resealable canning lids. Reusable Canning Lids.
another canning tool to use.
I read of many who reuse canned lids. NOt me.
I do reuse lids used for sealing dehydrated foods.
I guess I certainly don’t see the aforementioned items for storage as strange. It is EVERYTHING, at least as much as your finances will allow. I could present many examples, but let me mention just a couple. We have a stove to percolator for coffee, or improvised coffee. That seems simple enough, but I pretty much assure people that the little glass [or plastic] knob at the top will break at some point. Which is why I store several extra’s. Likewise we will be obtaining a second percolator…just like this one as a spare.
Obtain and store spare parts and supplies for everything. If I only consider one engine driven device, our portable welder. You must not only have fuel, but oil filters, air filters, fuel filters [in that world fuel quality may always be somewhat questionable. Spare parts including a complete carburetor [yes, this one is old school, points, condenser, extra wire and connectors [just in case], plugs, plug wires and inner tubes for the tires.
Now, I could go on…with enough examples to fill a book. In the end, you should and hopefully will obtain what you can reasonable afford and safely store. For us, I’ve lived like this for decades and we still devote a small portion monthly to such supplies. To each, good luck and Shalom.
As mentioned in other posts. At what point does the preps start to become on the fringe of being a hoarder?
One is none, two is one, three or more is something too much.
It goes back to what our personal anticipated future needs are for.
How much barter items do we store before it looks like a hoarding mess in our backyards?
Today we celebrate the 4th of July!
Regardless what the naysayers, detractors of America say, it’s our day to celebrate!
We do what is necessary to survive and prep for what we perceive is our concerns.
It maybe the same basics common to the average prepper or not.
There might be certain local, regional or national ‘norms’ we seak for our preps.
The survival mode kicks in after the basic preps are set in motion.
Prepping is now and over used term for traditional commonsense. What we think is modern day survival/prepping was normal part of living in previous generations have done.
What works for one, lone wolf, family, group or a community might not work for the rest of us.
We use the information gained here or other websites to how those will fit in for us.
There is no set cookie dough pattern, one size fit’s all theme here.
take some ideas with a grain of salt, we do our own research on those ideas. Make an educated guess on some stuff, make the best discernment of the situation we are into.
We may have time to tweak the info or adjust the equipment to our likes.
There maybe a chance we have a short time to adapt the new knowledge right away.
Improvise, Adapt and Overcome! – Gunny Highway.
Side note;
Funny thing the Heartbreak Ridge movie script was shopped around around to the military branches. Originally was written for the Army. At the time the Army declined as not favorable to it’s image.
Eventually the Marines agreed, the movie was a hit. Clint was a former Army vet playing a Marine. But that’s Hollyweed folks. Many of the older Hollyweed stars were actual vets of wars. Not like the fake Hollyweed types of today’s movies.
Anyway we agree to disagree here,
Have a great 4th of July!
150 years or so ago, prepping, survival, and such, they just called everyday living…
Agree, the modern term for what people did hundreds of years ago, today we call “prepping.” Other posters here make good observations of prepping. It could be a hobby or an addiction with a tinge boarding on hoarding if taken to the extremes.
We can prepare for the worst situation and hope for the best solution.
What works for some maybe what others call hoarding to others.
Be mindful in our prepping.
Survival is a hard sell to a population who’s idea of a absolute disaster is no cell service. Seems the extremes dominate the conversation. Survival in our homes would appear the most likely event rather than an E and E escape to a hidden bunker in an EMP proof 4wd truck. If it gets to that point, I’m toast.
Mouse and rat traps; assorted glues; nails and screws; parchment paper; yeast; coffee filters; assorted types of wire;
O-ring assortments; wire connector assortments; matches and lighters; buckets; wood working tools; pet food; fertilizer; and so much more.
I also have pink Himalayan salt and plenty of seeds t raise for family and animals even to trade still looking for a old pool to catch excess rain water and maybe try to raise some perch
first off – there are a few definitions of the word “hoard” >> for someone writing a prepping article and use the mental disorder definition – WTF???
another insult to preppers from using the hoard word – keeping a stockpile of items secret and to oneself instead of sharing with others >>> can’t hoard anything that is commonly & widely available to purchase and acquire – and if people want to scream “HOARD” for having a quantity of an item stockpiled when it becomes unavailable – scream away – losers that are short sighted and jealous of other’s success can’t be taken seriously ….
Not everyone is as classy as you with preps. As we have seen on TV shows like hoarders or American Pickers show. People tend to let their hobby or whims get the best of them.
Like someone pulling the lever on a slot machine in Vegas. It maybe one or a few times with no problems.
Then we have people that get hooked the first time they pull the handle or after they get a small pile of money, With a few free drinks they get hooked.
Same thing with preps.
How much are we willing to store up before a predisposed idea becomes. Especially if the end times or chaos does not come to fruition in our lifetime?
For decades people have predicted the end times, religion or otherwise.
There have been people in certain times or periods, head for the mountains prematurely. They sell homes and things. Then come to the reality that predicament never happened. Then they come back home, red faced, humiliated.
So just because, we should review what are the real deals if these were to happen.
Act accordingly, we also need to enjoy life along the way, smell the coffee, have a cup, kick back. Collect our thoughts, be calm.
Prepping maybe be a life style for some and others it could be an addiction too.
Moderation in all things. By the way, that is from the maligned hood book, The Bible.
Good points made to get people thinking outside the box. I was disappointed with the image of the oil to store. Canola oil is outlawed in all countries except the USA!!! it is a industrial lubricant not fit for human consumption!!! A major reason for the I’ll health rampant in the country.
Even olive oil is a gamble as some companies mix in additives to it. There are a small real olive dealers that have 100% oil nothing added. There are some antiquated standards to what is considered authentic 100% pure olive oil.
Does any poster found these companies we can purchase from them?
https://mrpapous.com/
Is where I get olive oil
Can buy Canola oil for cooking in Australia too!
I threw away all those oils when I read how dangerous to our health they are.
I use olive oil, peanut oil now.
And of course, lard.
I look at an item and say, can I make that? Then it’s off to the $+ store to buy 6 can openers. I keep a few primers and a pound or so of powder on hand, just in case. But we have to realize that eventually we will have to revert to the “old ways”. Get ready…
Good list to encourage yourself with once you have moved beyond rice and beans. I have most of these items along side of my deep pantry, (hadn’t thought of socks). I am now emphasizing hand tools. A brace and bits can make a hole when the Dewalt drill has become useless. Regular saws crosscut and rip will have to do when the power has been off for a while. A good supply of nails, screws, wire, duct tape and cordage could defiantly make it easier to cope.
Happy Fourth. America is the home of the free because of the brave.
It may seem obvious and I’m sorry if someone feels like I’m insulting their intelligence, but I’m in the process of printing my electronic files of the most important information (which for me means processes with which I am least familiar), and putting it into easily-retrievable form – binders in my case, well labeled. I’m also collecting as much as i can afford of hard copy books on everything from recognizing plants to metal working (and building a forge) to mechanical engineering to herbal medicine. If the grid goes down, Google will be gone, and all we’ll have is what we’ve collected or carry in our own heads.
This leads to another prep – finding people in our area with expertise. Our own expertise will be an invaluable barter item, and knowing who can do what we can’t will also be invaluable.
Make sure what information is being collected is correct. There are plenty of exaggerations from people who do cut and paste information. Repeat maybe incorrect supposed facts. This is the time to gather you library together. The advent of AI will also confuse many places in our society to come. Physical books are best, but we can’t carry everything in our bugout bags on the run. It will be condensed information carried on the bugout. The main collection may need to be placed in a safe place for future needs.
You got the right idea, go for it.
Hand tools are not just for when tshtf. Look around. And think. With all the terrible storms hitting us everywhere and leaving many without electricity and maybe not even enough fuel to power up a generator, a saw, manual drill will be invaluable among other items of this type. We lived in our house in Florida for 3 weeks without ANY electric. It makes you think, what if this was a permanent problem. What do I keep on hand to continue to live and survive.
Only asking what if ….?
It could be permanent. Past city riots have consequences. Many of those areas did not get rebuilt and lacked funds to rebuild.
What person or small business would want to rebuild in those areas? With the possibility of that happening again.
We see people rebuilding in the tornado alley regions and hurricane areas. Some how the insurance companies resident more than just once to rebuild their homes.
Timber companies no longer in business to supply hardware stores with lumber to rebuild. We know America will help other countries in their needs to rebuild again. But in our time of needs will others come to help us, maybe not?
In those potential disaster areas, what will it be like when there is no help, insurance companies to help come with relief. What will happen then?
Most of these are stuff we already have or know about. The comments section includes more less thought of items!
Looking to today’s posting comments and some past posts. We focus on people, what about our pets, cats, dogs and others, rabbits, chickens an so forth.
What preps have people done for the animals?
Do we stock up to the max or try to grow some plants for them to survive?
What have others done, so we can all learn here, thanks.
My great aunt was kicked out of Cuba when Castro took over. Her husband died and she and her son moved to N.H. They built a large stone house made to withstand a nuclear blast. They recruited folks to survive with them. Every person had to be proficient in two trades. My cousin was a forester and a surgical medical ( although not licensed). Bunkers, supplies, knowledge were theirs. They were the pepper’s pepper, in the 50s and 60s, and neighbors who weren’t part of their group knew nothing about their commitment to survive. They’ve died now without having to experience the tragedy of SHTF. I was in my 20s then and didn’t take the opportunity to glean from their vault of knowledge.
Bigger picture here than is spoken above
Agenda :
Bankrupt the business , create koas, dissention , lazy sloths to rely on the social system
Then after collapse , the people will willingly give alliance to leadership , no matter how bad and will forget all the lies of thier past
This is on purpose , not by accident or circumstance
Agenda :
LIE , Cheet , Steal , Take over , cover up , then keep up the scharrade untill you can take control
Read about the real history , not fake checkers version
one thing is forsure :
This is not about you or me
it is Control , Take over , Take Down , nothing more
use yard sales for procurement
As a prepper, I strongly dislike the use of “hoarding, hoarder” to describe me.
Please don’t use this term on this website to describe those of us who are PREPARING to survive through a natural disaster, social uprising, or worldwide catastrophic event, by putting away food, water, and other items that may be needed to get through tough times.
I am NOT a hoarder. I am a prepper.
If you don’t know the difference, read this:
Preppers vs Hoarders: 7 Key Differences
These sorts of preps are wise, however it’s not one size fits all.
A large number of people live in compact housing (units, small homes) or temporary housing (rentals, the US “Trailer parks” and equivalent etc).
Large scale preps are harder when you live like this. Then the focus is on how to survive without 15 packets of toilet paper, or hundreds of batteries stored. Instead you look into what to do without storage of vast quantities of stuff. What can you find in battery charging options, so you don’t need as many stored and instead can recharge them? Can you mock up a charging point off your exercise bike to charge them (and other things) or what about a solar panel.
Sometimes buying more more more of something isn’t the best prep, stop, step back and think about what you will do when the stores close and you can’t buy more, do you have a sensible redundancy then?
(And some of us just aren’t fans of over cooking the storage bunkers, instead preferring to find modern or simple solutions now)
LINT
I STOPPED BUYING PAPER TOWELS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. I SAVE THE LINT OUT OF THE DRYER FILTER. I USE IT TO WIPE UP SPILLS , WASH A LITTLE SPOT ON THE FLOOR FROM SPILLED FOOD OR CAT VOMIT. IT WORKS GREAT AND IT DOESN’T COST ANYTHING. SIMPLY KEEP A CARDBOARD BOX ON TOP OF THE DRYER AND STORE THE LINT THERE.
OLD CATALOGS MAKE GREAT THINGS TO WIPE GREASE OFF THE FRYING PAN. THEY ALSO, WORK WELL TO CLEAN OUT THE LITTER BOXES.
Unless you line dry all your laundry….I do!!
These lists have appeared on here from time to time, highlighting many of the same items.
As I was reading through this article’s list, I asked myself what I could do if said item ran out.
Batteries last awhile, but even if they are not used and just sitting on the shelf, they can stop working. So what’s my plan for those battery-operated items? For flashlights I decided on Luci lights as they can sit quietly on a sunny ledge until needed. They advertise they will not work in temps lower than 20°F. I’ve used them at 25°F and they worked just as well as
they did in more ambient, indoor temperatures. I still have some flashlights that need batteries, but unless it’s in the coldest part of the year, I needn’t rely on the battery style flashlight.
For paper napkins or paper towels, I look to see if I can use cloth versions or other kinds, such as newspaper to blor excess grease. Old shirts or other clothing items can be cut up and used.
For cooking oils I look to rendering animal fat.
One item I’d add to the list are sewing items, like needles, thread, buttons, and snaps. Repurposing old clothing is more successful when you can cut and sew the fabric. Knitting needles or crochet hooks would be included in the sewing kit as would a tape measure. Knowing how to darn socks allows the socks to be used longer, and knowing how to knit a pair is handy. Ditto mittens, fingerless or regular gloves, hats, and scarves.
For all that paper, it’d be good to have a pencil sharpener or two. Pens are good but will they be hard to replace? Will inkwells make a comeback?
Also, along the thread idea, is to lay in a supply of string. Just plain string or twine.
While it’d be great to make cordage from Virginia creeper, say, there might be times we have none available so having a ball of twine on the shelf would be prudent.
I personally do not drink alcohol and would not store it for bartering, for this reason: Let’s say someone finds out you have a bottle or two of whisky or gin or whatever tonic they would like and they ask you to trade them something for it. And let’s say you make the trade. A couple of hours later, a knock on the door is the previous bartering neighbor with a gun in his hand and drunk as a skunk. He’s decided in his inebriated state, that he wants to “take” the rest of your hooch for himself. Now, many will say, they would probably take care of this drunk with the butt of their rifle or at the point of another weapon. This is bad business for both of you and can only end badly for you, both of you, or your family. My advice is don’t put a box of matches in the hands of an arsonist. Don’t borrow trouble. One item I have to barter with that I don’t use is coffee, instant coffee. You might also barter with cigarettes which can’t hurt anyone even if you try to throw them or poke someone with them. I would stay away from the booze, especially if you don’t drink. You don’t need to borrow trouble.
The many options to silent kill are available, should you choose to do so.
Drunks are a liability to preps.
@William Hartford:
Yes, I stockpile alcohol. Mostly for making herbal tinctures and medicines. I am of the don’t tell ANYONE about my preps. IF I were to barter anything it would be on “neutral’ ground…somewhere that I don’t live, or even frequent. I am good at not being followed, so it wouldn’t be a problem. Most likely, I would use up my store of alcohol making medicines that I could barter instead of the ingredient.
Insect repellant. Tics and mosquitoes can kill.
Consider: files and sharpening stones for tools, storage conditions can affect how long various goods remain good. Oils used for food and other chemicals (it’s all chemicals) they can lose condition particularly when stored in higher than ambient temperatures and exposure to air. Hence the benefit of cold room storage. Learn how to sharpen those tools. Some tools are more difficult than others to sharpen, so training/learning new/old skills may be necessary.
Excellant Responses, Articles
Now the only thing to see is if were consumed with for survival , determined to live on , obsessed with a vision of staying alive , or just keeping up
horders have a fear or obsession
preppers have a fear or obsession
but there is a balance and only you can determine what that is
Life , Liberty, Happiness or ?
Purpose , Passion , Pleasure ?
Everyone must look into the why of thier own hearts or self to see just what this is .
No one else or nothing else can determine this.
Happy Day s of Freedom because of the Brave and those who made the sacrafice for your Constituion and safety
Free always has a price and someone has to pay for this
Thank God , Jesus Christ payed this price for our sin. all of it
Are you some kind of closet BIBLE thumper?
We have a lot of RINO’s in politics too – religion in name only. Creating problems while hiding behind religious figures for their own hidden activities.
I resent being called a hoarder. What is wrong with people storing more excess stuff?
We will be the general stores when the next depression happens soon under Biden’s second term in office. Sure our homes are decrepit with what looks like junk flung around. We are the holders of hard to get items you all need.
Work as if everything depends on me….pray as if everything depends on God.
CANOLA OIL belongs in the vehicle engine as it is poison.