Arizona Highlander
12-11-2006, 03:46 PM
I’ve been giving thought to all those (currently) inexpensive items that may someday be priceless in a survival situation. I’m emphasizing here what might be called “Durable Goods,” rather than consumables (cans of tuna, or a boxes of .22’s, are of course desirable survival items, but I’m looking at things that we can use over and over).
And I’m trying to keep the price down below $10 - just basic stuff, not National Match M1A’s at $1,800 a pop.
So, here goes with my idea list:
Sewing Needles. Currently dirt-cheap, but just imagine trying to manufacture these in a home shop! And, in a survival situation, you may need ‘em, since new shirts from Target may not be available any more. I picked up a package of assorted sewing needles at the local Safeway for something like $2, and then added a few spools of thread (a consumable, I admit, but necessary for the job). For under $10 I had all I need to keep my clothes together for the foreseeable future (spools of thread might make for great trade items in a future world, too).
”Personal Care Items.” I felt like a fool looking over the items at the Maybellene display, but I still came away with a pair each of tweezers, nail clippers, and nail files. Elegant women might use tweezers to pluck their eyebrows, but they’re dammed useful for plucking splinters, too. And regular use of the nail clippers and files can prevent painful conditions like ingrown toenails - something that could really cramp your style on a long march. These are practically giveaway items right now, but can you imagine trying to fabricate tweezers or nail clippers in a home workshop? I got a pair of each for $10.
Needlenose Vise Grips. Okay, ANY quality tool is a great survival item, but I’m really partial to those needlenose Vise Grips. Extremely versatile, they can be used for lots of odd jobs, and the quality of genuine “Vise Grips” is beyond reproach. I’ve seen them on sale, too for under $10, so they’re my choice. Other kinds of tools, of course, might also justifiably be on the list, but I’d focus mostly on hard-to-fabricate tools that might still see lots of use on the home workshop. Most of us could probably rig together an improvised screwdriver or hammer, but can you imagine trying to fabricate something like a set of Allen Wrenches?
Fish Hooks. Not particularly useful to me (I live in the high desert) but for folks living along a river or pond, they could have extraordinary trade value (I’d rekon that a bag of fishhooks might end up being a whole lot more precious than a bag of silver coins). They’re also items that, while currently cheap, might be all but impossible to fabricate in a home workshop. One might consider stocking a spool of fishing line, too - you could still probably still keep it close to the $10 limit, even with an assortment of hooks.
Swiss Army Knife. Any GOOD knife is a worthwhile investment, but where to find a quality knife for under $10? Well, Big 5 sporting goods has genuine Victorinox Swiss Army knives on special right now for $10. You just can’t beat the quality OR the utility! I carry one with me everywhere I go, and can hardly imagine living without one. Possibly another great trade item, too.
Oral Mercury Thermometer. A bit of an oddball suggestion, perhaps, but with everyone buying those newfangled digital thermometers, one wonders what everyone would do if batteries became unavailable. Mercury Thermometers last forever (or until they get dropped . . . ) but if you’re careful they’ll hold up for at least a generation or two. Could be useful if you’re stuck being your own doctor. They’re getting harder to find, but should still be less than $10 at your local drug store.
Magnifying Glass. You can get a really nice magnifying glass for $10 these days, and they’re not only useful for locating that painful little splinter that’s tormenting you, but they also make pretty useful firestarters. They last forever, and never wear out. Every homestead should have at least one or two.
Clothespins and Clothesline. Most of us these days have automatic clothes dryers, but a “solar powered clothes dryer” still makes a great backup system. I saw packages of wooden clothes pins going for $1 at the Dollar Store, and they’ll last practically forever. Don’t forget the clothesline, too. For about five bucks, you can have it all ready for the hard times.
Binder Clips. A offbeat selection (you can find them at places like Office Max or Staples) but they’re really useful for grabbing things. Great for sealing up half-opened bags of food. They’re cheap now (a 12-pack of the extra-large binder clips - the most useful size - goes for something like $3.49 at Staples) but they would be extremely difficult to manufacture in anything but a big factory. Though they last essentially forever, they do rust easily, so best to limit them to indoor chores.
And finally, Heirloom Seeds. Food-oriented items that aren’t really consumables, since “Heirloom” (non-hybrid) seeds can reproduce. A half-dozen little seed packages can therefore provide you with food AND the seeds you need for next year’s crop . . . and the year after that . . . and so on. In an end-of-the-world scenario, it could literally be the foundation of a food supply that your great-grandkids could be munching on long after you’re gone. Hard to imagine a better survival investment for $10.
Surely, I’ve missed a whole lot more possibilities. Anyone have a few suggestions for the list?
And I’m trying to keep the price down below $10 - just basic stuff, not National Match M1A’s at $1,800 a pop.
So, here goes with my idea list:
Sewing Needles. Currently dirt-cheap, but just imagine trying to manufacture these in a home shop! And, in a survival situation, you may need ‘em, since new shirts from Target may not be available any more. I picked up a package of assorted sewing needles at the local Safeway for something like $2, and then added a few spools of thread (a consumable, I admit, but necessary for the job). For under $10 I had all I need to keep my clothes together for the foreseeable future (spools of thread might make for great trade items in a future world, too).
”Personal Care Items.” I felt like a fool looking over the items at the Maybellene display, but I still came away with a pair each of tweezers, nail clippers, and nail files. Elegant women might use tweezers to pluck their eyebrows, but they’re dammed useful for plucking splinters, too. And regular use of the nail clippers and files can prevent painful conditions like ingrown toenails - something that could really cramp your style on a long march. These are practically giveaway items right now, but can you imagine trying to fabricate tweezers or nail clippers in a home workshop? I got a pair of each for $10.
Needlenose Vise Grips. Okay, ANY quality tool is a great survival item, but I’m really partial to those needlenose Vise Grips. Extremely versatile, they can be used for lots of odd jobs, and the quality of genuine “Vise Grips” is beyond reproach. I’ve seen them on sale, too for under $10, so they’re my choice. Other kinds of tools, of course, might also justifiably be on the list, but I’d focus mostly on hard-to-fabricate tools that might still see lots of use on the home workshop. Most of us could probably rig together an improvised screwdriver or hammer, but can you imagine trying to fabricate something like a set of Allen Wrenches?
Fish Hooks. Not particularly useful to me (I live in the high desert) but for folks living along a river or pond, they could have extraordinary trade value (I’d rekon that a bag of fishhooks might end up being a whole lot more precious than a bag of silver coins). They’re also items that, while currently cheap, might be all but impossible to fabricate in a home workshop. One might consider stocking a spool of fishing line, too - you could still probably still keep it close to the $10 limit, even with an assortment of hooks.
Swiss Army Knife. Any GOOD knife is a worthwhile investment, but where to find a quality knife for under $10? Well, Big 5 sporting goods has genuine Victorinox Swiss Army knives on special right now for $10. You just can’t beat the quality OR the utility! I carry one with me everywhere I go, and can hardly imagine living without one. Possibly another great trade item, too.
Oral Mercury Thermometer. A bit of an oddball suggestion, perhaps, but with everyone buying those newfangled digital thermometers, one wonders what everyone would do if batteries became unavailable. Mercury Thermometers last forever (or until they get dropped . . . ) but if you’re careful they’ll hold up for at least a generation or two. Could be useful if you’re stuck being your own doctor. They’re getting harder to find, but should still be less than $10 at your local drug store.
Magnifying Glass. You can get a really nice magnifying glass for $10 these days, and they’re not only useful for locating that painful little splinter that’s tormenting you, but they also make pretty useful firestarters. They last forever, and never wear out. Every homestead should have at least one or two.
Clothespins and Clothesline. Most of us these days have automatic clothes dryers, but a “solar powered clothes dryer” still makes a great backup system. I saw packages of wooden clothes pins going for $1 at the Dollar Store, and they’ll last practically forever. Don’t forget the clothesline, too. For about five bucks, you can have it all ready for the hard times.
Binder Clips. A offbeat selection (you can find them at places like Office Max or Staples) but they’re really useful for grabbing things. Great for sealing up half-opened bags of food. They’re cheap now (a 12-pack of the extra-large binder clips - the most useful size - goes for something like $3.49 at Staples) but they would be extremely difficult to manufacture in anything but a big factory. Though they last essentially forever, they do rust easily, so best to limit them to indoor chores.
And finally, Heirloom Seeds. Food-oriented items that aren’t really consumables, since “Heirloom” (non-hybrid) seeds can reproduce. A half-dozen little seed packages can therefore provide you with food AND the seeds you need for next year’s crop . . . and the year after that . . . and so on. In an end-of-the-world scenario, it could literally be the foundation of a food supply that your great-grandkids could be munching on long after you’re gone. Hard to imagine a better survival investment for $10.
Surely, I’ve missed a whole lot more possibilities. Anyone have a few suggestions for the list?