One Last Trip To The Grocery Store For The Partially Prepared Prepper

shopping-cart

Hypothetical: If you had not yet fully acquired a deep pantry and were only partially prepared with a moderate amount of extra food, what would you get at the grocery store if you only had one last chance before SHTF?

But here’s the catch… Your last grocery store run includes throngs of other people (non-preppers), and you will not have the opportunity to get ‘everything’ that you want. So, when you go inside the grocery store you need to prioritize what you’re going to go after first…

So, list your priority foods that you would grab first…before others clean out the shelves.


 
Note: Instead of putting out a shopping list of 50 items, think about say, the top 5 or 10… If you manage to get the 50, that’s a bonus for you – but chances are that the other shoppers will be grabbing much of it before you get down the list…

Note: Think about ‘why’ you choose X,Y, or Z and what benefit they have for SHTF preparedness over other choices.

 
Quick! Head to Aisle #5!
Ready, Set, Go!

 
(After the comments have run their course, I will tally up the results and list the top items)

188 Comments

  1. Box milk, extra rice, extra beans, yeast, flour, sugar, chocolate (3 kid’s), beef brisket, fresh fruit, fresh veggies.

  2. I think while the sheep are fighting over bread and milk I’d rather be en-route to the “retirement property”, where we’re fine with a sustainable food supply. If I had to stop at a store it would more likely be a hardware store.

    1. @Whappo: You are correct about not stopping at any store on the way to the BOL. We are either fully prepared as can be, prepared to live without if we don’t, or die when we make the last trip to get the perceived need. When the collapse comes, if you have to make a last trip, it might as well be to the funeral home. thanks.

      1. Taxdn,

        I’ve said this before. It depends on where you live and how much money you are willing to waste on things you don’t normally use.

        In my case, I live in a very rural area where the store personnel know me and would take my check even if their POS system wasn’t working.

        There are many things that don’t keep well and I wouldn’t use a lot of in normal situations but that I would need lots of if the SHTF, such as flashlight batteries, bleach, canned milk, etc. etc. Even pet food. So those are the things I would be stocking up on.

      2. Reminds me of a scene in a book I read. The S has hit the F and the wife wants to make a last trip to the store. Didn’t go the way she expected. I think it was the second book of the “Ankara Fever” series.

        JustSayin’

  3. That’s a good thought provoking question. I actually had to think about that one. :) That being said, I would most likely avoid the canned good aisle as everyone would likely be in that aisle as well as the water aisle. Since not many people bake or cook from scratch I would likely head down the baking aisle for things like flour and sugar, then the produce section to get some of the more exotic fruits that we can’t grow in our area like banana’s, as we may never be able to get them again. The produce section is usually left mostly untouched when a storm is announced, so I think it would also hold true for a SHTF event. Lastly the detergent aisle, another aisle no one thinks about prior to a storm. I can always barter the detergents. Since we are well stocked on long term items I wouldn’t have to fight people for those things.

    1. Another interesting thought when planning my route. In the grocery store closest to my house, the produce section feeds out directly into the mob area–water aisle (including the alcohol), and three canned goods aisles right there. Not sure I’d be able to get through.

    1. A fun hypothetical, but isn’t that why people prep in the first place, to avoid dying in a melee over the last can of corn? A ‘last run’ sounds tempting, but the down side makes it prohibitively expensive. At my age, I wouldn’t fare well in a food fight with a bunch of 20-30 somethings.

      1. Well, the scenario did specify that you’re NOT fully prepped so I addressed it on that level. I’m sure many others did as well.

  4. It depends on the type of emergency and the type of store.

    I’m assuming common knowledge and a standard grocery store rather than a Voldemart stupid store.

    First, I’d plot out my attack in advance. The produce is usually to one side of the store, the bakery to the other and the meat/dairy at the back. I’d want to get through the entire store and get out with my haul with one cart, without being mobbed for what I’m getting.

    At the front of the store I’d grab any kind of cookies/snacks and put them in the top basket. If people want to grab that stuff, it’s their choice–they’ll grab that before they grab what’s lower down. It’s just bait.

    Fill the bottom of the cart with durable produce (not stuff that will spoil within the day) and fruit. Then around to the meat department. Forget the milk, it won’t last two days without refrigeration. Cured cheeses and meats, fresh meats. Then down the baking aisle and if there’s time a run up the laundry aisle for borax, etc. Make up the list and know where everything is before hand. DO NOT leave that cart unattended! We’re not to maximum incivility here, but I had my cart stolen one year when I was stupid enough to go out on Black Friday. Those things are gold in a mob situation!

    Top five:

    Fresh produce
    Meat
    Baking goods
    Honey
    Vinegar

  5. Grabbing all the canned tuna and spam there is also all the dried beans, rice, strike anywhere matches, charcoal, lighter fluid, bleach, medical supplies, honey, peanut butter, spices, hot peppers, black pepper, salt and all the beef I could carry.

  6. My first question is what is the situation? I’m assuming that we are talking about SHTF only halfway, where people are still buying items rather than a full SHTF where everyone is looting/stealing/fighting.

    So, if I’m braving the hoards of people to buy items and wait in lines. I would always check the water even though I think I have enough. Next I would go for the canned goods, rice and beans since they last the longest.

    If those are gone then I’m grabbing anything I can get my hands on.

    Lastly, I’m buying as many propane tanks as they will let me.

  7. Nothing. Zero. Nada.

    I hate ordinary crowds of people. People in cars who will do a wrong-way suicide dive down a parking aisle, put their blinker on and block traffic for 5 minutes while they wait for a car to load and leave a spot. LOVE those guys.

    I wouldn’t go to a mall on “Black Friday” for $10,000 free cash. I wouldn’t even venture out. Someone would get hurt.

    1. I totally agree. I plan ahead and have what I need so I don’t have to go out into large crowds. They make me very uncomfortable.

    2. When TS actually HTF, I agree completely, I can’t imagine anything that would really be worth fighting the crowds for. But then again, to fit into Ken’s hypothetical situation, I probably would have had to have had a long period of personal economic trouble to have drawn down my stockpiles that much.

      OTOH, when it comes to Black Friday, I think every Prepper should head out to the local shopping area and assess just how well-behaved the crowds are. This gives you some idea of how dangerous it will be when TSHTF. (Bonus points if you have no shopping nearby AND have a good stockpile.)

      Now, as to the question at hand:
      1. (If the season is right) Seeds — I imagine most people probably won’t be thinking long-term, so this should not be thronged. But, not only will they be good for my own use, they will be a good barter item once people start realizing they’re supplies are running out.

      2. Toilet paper — Again, not an item I suspect many non-preppers will think of. My own personal rule is to keep as many days worth of toilet paper as I have of food. Once people start running out, I imagine it will be a highly sought after barter item.

      3. Salt — Okay, this is more obvious, but as I don’t live anywhere near the ocean, a salt flat, or a working salt mine, this is critical. Never goes bad, never can have too much, even when you buy pink salt by the bag. Even if I did live near the ocean, I would have to worry about contaminants.

      4. Vegetable Oil — I’m working on getting oilseed sunflowers adapted to my plot of land and plan on getting a Piteba-style oil press, but really, this is going to be very hard to replace. I would especially look for coconut oil that I could never make myself. And I’ve found from stocking up on clearance sales that unopened oil in glass bottles, kept out of heat and sunlight, will not go rancid for years.

      5. Propane — to grill up all the meat in my freezer before it goes bad.

    3. Americans wonder why we’re all so fat, but many refuse to push their grocery cart 50′ to the corral.

      I know it’s crazy, but I have a theory as to why we’re so fat—we eat too damn much!!

      1. @ Hildegard
        I head a little different “best exercise”…. Push yourself away from the dinner table.
        NRP

  8. Since I have lots of rice and beans.
    Oil or lard (You need oil in your diet)
    Flour and Masa (For making tortillas)
    Garlic bulbs (You could also plant them)
    Peanut butter (Makes a good sandwich along with honey)
    Sweet potatoes (You can also plant some of them)
    Seeds (For the garden or barter)

    1. Mike:
      I don’t know about your plan on planting store bought Sweet Potatoes.
      I tried even so called ‘Organic’ (Ha,Ha) and nothing sprouted.
      I’ve had a professional planter tell me that so-called ‘Organic’ in stores is just ‘not so’.

        1. On the sweet potatoes, leave out in room temp in filtered sunlight, when start seeing buds on one end..place the root end in water, sprouts and vines will come out… these you root.. when the buds begin to develop, some ppl put them in shallow sand/soil, for better and more slips.

        2. I have started and planted store bought russet and sweet potatoes, and they grew and produced very well. Maybe they just need a little time for the spray to fade away.

          I think I would head to the adult beverage aisle for my last minute preps, don’t really have a use for it now, but who knows what may happen in the future. Besides it could be a good barter item.

      1. I’ve done this with ginger, and with store-bought potatoes. Yes, they are sprayed and most will not grow. However, a few are strong enough to overcome this given enough time and the proper conditions. My first ginger root took nearly a year to germinate, and then most of it died anyway. I now have a 10 gallon fish-tank for my ginger. Same with turmeric purchased from the grocery store.

        It CAN work, but it’s less time intensive to simply purchase slips that haven’t been treated. Also, as far as sweet potatoes, I’ve grown them from the leaves you buy in bundles in the spring. If you have one or two with a leaf node, put them in water and they’ll grow roots.

      2. I have raised both sweet potatoes from store bought produce. The sweet taters did much better than the regular potatoes, but got enough to eat fresh, cure sweet taters for winter use and can up the other potaotes.

  9. I like this kind of question. Flour, sugar, salt, yeast and then anything shelf stable. I tried to do this list fast without much thought, somewhat of a poor simulation to a real SHTF moment. I think the wife can always make something out of these basic items.

  10. Every time I go to the grocery store, I think what if this is the last time I get to go before the SHTF. After all the nearest store is 70 miles one way. So I buy accordingly.

  11. I would get my neighbors organized to go to the grocery store, so that

    a) they are better prepared, and won’t be asking me for food so soon after SHTF.

    b) they think I am as unprepared as they are. I will act frantic and buy stuff right along with them. Not that I need it.

    1. It’s a mom & pop store, so there would be no mobs to make it dangerous.

  12. Since I have most of what we need to fill in a little deeper, here is my plan.

    1) Coffee/tea & filters
    2) Spice isle-celery seed/dill seed/poultry seasoning/exotic spices
    3) Coconut oil/peanut oil/peanut butter/vinegar
    4) detergent section(dish soap)
    5) aluminum disposable pans for cooking & tossing

    Not sure if I would go near the alcohol section it could be total pandemonium.

  13. If there was something I needed so badly that I’d venture into town in a SHTF situation, I’d go armed, get that item, and come home. It wouldn’t be food. We’ve been prepping long enough to have accumulated what we deem necessary.

    1. I’ll be attempting to determine when to bug Out just prior to the SHTF event to avoid grid LOCK. Too many things can and will go wrong from the time you leave your residence to go to the store until you return, including the parking lot where people w/o money will most likely be lurking to assault the unaware victims for what they just bought.

      It’ll be an out of control environment that I’ll be trying to stay clear of.

      If the grid goes down and its not caused by an EMP, the traffic initially will be very congested so waiting for a late night exit should be considered in order to save gas, unless you have already stashed extra gas along your route at a trusted friend or relatives residence.

      1. Being Watched:

        You must live in a large city. I live in a very small town in a very rural area, so I wouldn’t have to worry about mobs, or traffic, or someone breaking into my car while it was in the parking lot.

        In today’s newspaper, there was a story about a windstorm that caused a tree to crash into a trailer where a family (husband & wife) lived, cutting it into two pieces. According to the paper, the landlord immediately put the couple up in a motel and has been bringing them food. I recognized the landlord. He was one of the first ones to come and help me when my crazy next door neighbor decided to burn his house down.

        The landlord – and my other neighbors – offered to help me put water on my roof (which was 10 feet from the burning house), get my pets out, let me stay in their house, and that landlord was the one who offered to move my car out of danger. Then he brought my keys to me, told me that he had locked my car and told me where I could find it. All the time, I was standing in my doorway in my pajamas, not thinking of what I should be doing to help myself.

        I really think that in the first stages of a disaster everyone would be helping everyone else. If there were trouble, it would come when the children got hungry or when outsiders came into town.

        1. In a medium size city in the south. I have warned friends and family and most has landed on deaf ears. I’ve been mocked and gossiped about. All I can do is pray now. But I continue to prep and strive to be ready in every way. The group that I’ll be bugging out with is made up of some family and trusted friends that have also prepped and have specific skills, good marksmen.

        2. After reading about the the town you live in, it reminds of the values our society had thats depicted in Norman Rockwell paintings. I would like to think America has many small towns like yours.

          I hope whatever happens doesn’t come to upset your way of life for a long time.

          Best Regards

    2. I agree it wouldn’t be the grocery store. I’d be getting any and all available gas cans filled to the brim. I once did a “practice run” and the one thing I ‘forgot’ to do on a last minute run was stop and fill my truck at the gas station. I would be doing that. Fill the vehicle and any gas cans. We are pretty well set on food and personal items.

  14. I can hear NRP yelling at me now: “Don’t go to the store – run away from the store!”

    But, let’s say I am going to fly in the face of danger and make a store run, I would go for:

    #1 – Ice – we have a couple of BIG camping coolers with tight fitting lids for long-term trips. This would allow me to keep frozen food cold long enough to eat & can it. (I’m assuming power outage to follow soon). If I get nothing else this will be a big help as it buys me a few days to save a lot of frozen foods.

    #2 – Produce – particularly root veggies – potatoes, carrots, onions. These will last a bit, and can be canned if need be. If the produce section is not too crazy I might grab a few luxuries like bananas, melon… only because we will miss them when they are gone, not necessary.

    #3 – Meats – only if it’s not too crowded. Like produce, buying to both eat & can – but this is just to add to existing supply and not a requirement.

    I would love to have more water & TP (can’t get enough) – but I don’t think it will be worth trying to battle the crowds in those aisles. I would be better off at home filling the 600-gal inflatable pool, bathtub (and every other container in sight) while we still have water pressure.

    1. Until I read your post, I hadn’t even thought of ice for the collection of coolers in the attic.

      With a 7 cubic ft. freezer full of all types of meat(I’m sure you know my piggly-wiggly story by now) that would be the wise thing to do of grid is down. I had thought of giving to neighbors, but how many have charcoal or propane for their grills?????
      Thanks So Cal Gal.

      1. Thanks, JJ. We are in a tightly packed suburban neighborhood and don’t have a generator, not that we want the attention being the only one around who has a generator would bring us. So, a few bags of ice would be a big help to us.

  15. I have a very deep pantry and preps have been ready to go for a while. So…I think I would grab what wasn’t being fought over and what I already have a lot of (i.e., canned goods, long term food stuff). Like some other commenters I would grab detergent, bleach, chocolate/candy/gum (morale boosters), alcohol, diet coke for my last rum and cokes :), fresh fruits.

      1. My son asked me why I need 26 large cans of coffee…. told him I don’t like water unless it tastes like coffee. End of conversation… Mom why do you need 1100 tea candles… told him so I can laugh at his silly ass when the lights go out.

  16. Since it is a what-if scenario, let’s extend this scenario for those who say “I wouldn’t try it, I have enough.” You’re traveling, in a hotel, and too far from either your BOL or home to get back safely before SHTF. Would you brave the grocery store in that situation? If so, what would you buy?

    1. Hi Lauren,

      We have a trip coming up, and it’s too far to drive, so we will be flying and staying in a large hotel(business convention). In that scenario, bottled water and canned goods plus a can opener would be my first thoughts. Because we don’t really know any locals there we would be on our own, and not likely to do very well in a SHTF situation. We would be scavenging for the same things other visitors would be looking for and it would be very difficult.

      1. And yet, if you have that initial supply (say two weeks food and go back to your hotel to fill the tub with water) then you’re better off than many. Even many who live in the area will be dead or in bad shape within that time period.

        1. That’s true, Lauren… anything will be a help, and many people wouldn’t really think of it right away so there may be a chance we can beat some of the rush (I’m trying to find some sort of positive outlook). Thanks!

      2. So Cal Gal. Do you shop eBay? If so, search for P38 can openers. Get the ones made by Shelby as they’re the ones issued to multitudes of GIs and they’ve been used to have millions of cans of C rations. Put one on each key ring you have and wrap a bit of electrical tape around it to hold the blade down. Consider using them as zipper pulls on backpacks. I’ve never had a problem going through airport security but have had fingernail clippers confiscated.

    2. In that case I would have to say peanut butter. High calorie and energy food. Might as well get crackers also.

  17. water (can never have enough of that)
    canned meats
    canned veggies/fruits
    coffee
    rice
    beans
    flour
    salt
    sugar
    yeast
    oatmeal
    honey
    hearty soups
    chocolate

  18. Me, wouldn’t go out, but, say, something had just happened and my pantry stores was empty (total basement flood/sewage backup ?)

    water…other drinkables sealed so indefinite, juice, even pop
    canned protein – fish/meat/beans
    canned veg/canned fats/etc
    spices
    disinfectant = alcohol/peroxide/javex
    garbage bags/paper towel/toilet paper
    chocolate bars with real chocolate in (most have little)

  19. if as Lauren suggests, away from home, at hotel/travelling or an unprepared relative/friends….

    same list

    but

    better include
    can openers
    matches
    charcoal (most grocery stores have charcoal)

  20. What would you all say/suggest would be the least sought after items that most last minute shoppers will not even consider (that many of us could make good use of)?

    Me, if I went in such a situation, with my current stores (can not imagine I would, as I am not fond of crowds..but if)

    I would look around the store to find the isle/spot with little or not people crowding in.

  21. Well, if it is as you said, just Before a SHTF event, I would go directly to the nearest Liquor Store (I already have my other stuff.), and using a Credit Card, I would ‘clean house’. I believe that would be one of the most (If not the 1st.) valuable barter items you could possibly have. History has proven that the harder times get, the more liquor is consumed.

    1. Survivor1

      Good idea, in many ways.

      Also, you could pick up the highest alcohol content bottles, good disinfectant if nothing else.

      But I strongly suspect there would be a rush on the liquor store..

      I think most folks will be thinking in terms of a long party weekend sort of situation

      pizza (frozen no doubt and no way to cook/preserve)
      chips
      junk food
      booze
      etc

    2. If your credit card has an RFID chip in it, cut it up after that purchase so they can’t track you to your BOL!

      Also those who have a TWIC Card issued to you for your job, cut them up or place it in multi-layered metal container to block it from receiving a signal.

  22. My dementia-brained husband knows what to get—a truck load of potato chips!!!

    1. JJ

      When I read the term truck load, made me think a person might be better off looking around to see if there was a farm hardware or farm feed store in vicinity, and loading up with practical things like crowbars/rope, even seed (could be planted if worst came to worst)….

    2. And my “dementia-brained” Dad would add, hot dogs! Sugar cereal (can never have enough of that) and soda pop. :) He would also load up the car with extra bags of sugar.

  23. We are in a small town, so it would be the Dollar Store and small grocery. I would not drive the 30-45 to the big town. I would send hubby to Dollar Store for non food. Tylenol, Advil, Allergy med, first aid type stuff, seeds, anything worthy of grabbing. Me off the the grocery. I know which aisles to hit first. Water, canned goods, peanut butter, flour/sugar/baking items and produce if there is time. Then I would grab my gas can and get some gas and head home to safety. All of this is within a few miles of our home.

    1. Texasgirl

      Very good reminder…the Dollar Stores…

      They have a lot of good supplies, as you mentioned, and most have also fairly wide selection of canned foods and such..

      Folks might well miss thinking of Dollar Stores as an option.

      1. Another few things they carry at our Dollar Trees here in town:

        Glow Sticks–they aren’t those industrial things that come w/ “professional” survival packs, but they will do in a pinch, they are cheaper, and I can give some to the kids to play w/ (if I get enough) for the first few nights so it’s a fun thing and not a “mom-and-dad-are-stressed-and-talking-in-scared-tones-of-voice” type situation (I’m Mommy, so it’s my job to keep the natives from getting restless).

        Those little solar dancing flowers (or the like)–string a few of those together, and you may be able to charge a few batteries or a cell phone (if they still work in this SHTF situation), or run a small light at night –my husband is MacGyver and Superman rolled into one… should be no prob. for him to rig it up.

        Kitchen utensils–Grab a couple more can openers, juuuust in case, and some bowls and such…

        Soaps, Laundry necessities, Shampoos, TP, medications

        Small games/coloring books/card games–This ain’t just for the sanity of those aforementioned natives.

        Zip top baggies–This is my vice LOL. Need a container to save some food in for later? A dry place for clean clothes? A Mini Washing Machine (soap, water, clothes, then squish and shake), a water proof container for matches, cotton, or meds? Then the handy dandy zip top is for you. :D

        This isn’t necessarily my list, but I wanted to toss these ideas out there for those who might normally pass up the Dollar Stores.

  24. I know that many of you are entirely prepared or ‘prepared enough’ and would not go out into the mass of last-minute sheeple, however, remember, you’re putting yourself into the hypothetical situation that you’re only ‘partially prepared’… so, what do you get?

    1. Ken

      It is as you say, but also as Lauren mentioned..you might actually be away from home traveling, or staying with others unprepared.

    2. Ken, I have another hypothetical situation.

      You are on your way home from running errands. You come across a one car accident scene. You stop to help the driver. The driver knows he is dying but appreciates your trying to help him. He in turn wants to help you for trying to save him. He tells you he is CIA (or some other alphabet agency), then he tells you to go home and hunker down, that in exactly two hours the world will forever be changed. You now have two hours notice of some great disaster but you don’t know what. Remember, no one else has this inside information. What do you do?

      1. Go directly home. Communicate to other family members what I had been told. Disconnect the main electrical breaker of the house and all vehicle batteries. Place loaded magazines for reloading strategically around the house. Locate emergency radios but kept in the Faraday cage until certain that the emergency was not going to be us being nuked.

        Since I’ve already placed containers of water into the freezers, no concern of food spoiling.

        Start implementing my predetermined plan. Start loading items on the list to take with me to my BOL. Just before leaving, shut down remaining utilities to the house, gas, water, etc.

        1. Hi BW,

          I don’t have a lot of room in our freezer, but I am going to make some space for freezing bottles of water in case I can’t get ice in an emergency. Thanks!

        2. zip lock bags make good blocks of ice, if space is limited. .
          ..milk cartons wash, with hot water, bleach heavy and let it set for 45 min or so then rinse well and fill. ditto for juice bottles the square/rectangle shaped ones..
          ..leave a little airspace and collapse the sides in slightly before you put lid on tightly.

      2. Notify family members (most of whom would ignore the warning) and then go home and turn on the news for the first time in years to look for the cues that it’s started. Fill all tubs, sinks, etc with water, and start processing what’s in the freezer (24 ft capacity). Possibly one last trip to the store to pick up extra bottles/lids, and several more propane tanks (I don’t currently have room to store extras). Also parts to finish out the solar project. Turn on the hoses and water all the trees and the garden deeply. Fill up the gas tanks. Call the family again.

      3. Peanut gallery,

        I hadn’t thought of turning off the breakers; that is a good idea. I would call my brother and warn him. Then go to the gas station and fill up and fill up my extra gas can. On the way home, I would stop at the store and pick up the things I mentioned before, batteries, bleach, canned goods, matches, pet food….Then I would go home and clean house. My house is always dirty (3 pets) and I would want to get it cleaned one last time while the water was still running. Oh, and while I was doing that, the bathtub would be filling, and I would put all the containers I could find, one at a time, in the kitchen sink where they could be filling with water.

        1. DaisyK, the idea on the circuit breakers was “Being Watched’s” idea, not mine. But yes it is a good idea. I never would have thought of that as well.

        2. The idea about the electrical breaker. All my utilities are under ground. If we have an EMP and its not close but does send an electrical surge, having the main breaker off, I hopefully would have a better chance of it not effecting electronics plugged in inside my house.

        3. Unfortunately, there is no breaker on the neutral wire. It’s the third wire that goes with the 2 hot legs coming into your house. The 2 hot wires feed into the top of the panel and are the ones connected to the breakers.

  25. If you have a Stockpile of ‘Booze’, you can get ANYTHING else you might want!

  26. 1. Canned meat – last long and concentrated protein
    2. Water – important to have
    3. Fresh and canned veggies
    4. Vitamins – to compensate for any deficiency
    5. Toilet paper and wet wipes – for sanitation

  27. I’ve not read ‘Grocery Store Rant’ until now and I could have written that!
    Laughing while agreeing on the philosophy of the grocers’ opinion of consumers.

    1. One of my favorite activities in a grocery store is to lift up the “sale” tags and see what the original price was. The sale price is often higher!

      1. Lauren, I too lift up/slide over sale prices all the time. I don’t know that I’ve seen them higher than the regular price, but it’s often the same as the regular or only one or two cents different. But if it’s marked “sale,” I should buy a lot of the product…right?

  28. Dried foods like jerky, pasta, beans, rice, oatmeal, pancake/biscuit mix
    powdered milk, flour, yeast salt, rice, beans
    dried potato, Pasta-roni, rice-a-roni type box mixes
    Canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned soup, canned Pasta
    Canned meat/fish like tuna, salmon, chicken, ham, spam
    Peanut butter, nuts, and dried fruits
    Energy bars and Snack foods like pop tarts
    Cooking oil, vinegar, bleach
    Pet food

    Batteries
    Toilet paper/Hygiene/toothpaste
    Candles, lighters

  29. I’d go for the beans and rice first. Then the canned meats like spam, chili, and corned beef hash. Then, if it’s one of the larger stores I’d grab all of the large tubs of protein powder shake mix. If they don’t have it I’d head over to the health food store on my next stop. Protein powder has a decently long shelf life and will go a long way to filling out your protein needs. It can also be mixed in with lots of recipes. I like to mix it in with puffins (muffins made with pancake mix). Oh yeah, I’ll probably grab a bunch of pancake mix too.

    Side note: Watch out for the parking lot shoppers. The ones who don’t waste time going into the store. They’ll be waiting in the parking lot for you to come out and just take what you just bought. Security will be overly busy inside the store.

    1. Grits, good idea on the protein powder. Canned meats and other proteins are one of the weakest areas of our larder. Funds have been a bit tight lately for stocking meats. I will have to add that to our list.

  30. In keeping with Ken’s hypothetical situation…

    We will make the assumption that, as Ken instructed we have a “moderate” amount of food storage. Also we may take the assumption we can increase the food supply by foraging, hunting, fishing, garden at a later date.

    So, I would be looking for items that have a short shelf life that I already have and will “spoil” or turn rancid over time or items “I CANNOT PRODUCE/FIND” after a SHTF. Also, I will be heading away from the “throngs of other people” to the area’s most would not. Remember your trying to not get killed here.

    1) Cooking oils; coconut oil, vegetable oils, etc.
    2) Vitamins.
    3) Salt, Sugar, all you can carry.
    4) Dog/Cat food, now y-all are going to go “yuck” BUT most people will NOT be caring about dog/cat food when TSHTF, so there will be few people there. AND I guarantee you WILL eat dog food if hungry enough.
    5) Aluminum Foil and Plastic/Storage Bags, all for storage and “Sun Cooking” (not food I know)
    6) Lastly I would hit the Baking Isle looking for Nuts of any/all kind, High I Protein and needed Fats.

    I would not even think of going near the actual “food areas”; all canned foods, meats, fast foods, produce, anything. These areas will be a death trap once you get caught up in there (dead will do you and your family no good). Water will be gone in 3.5 seconds as will the Alcohol and Prescription Drugs.

    NRP

    PS, did I happen to mention TP? HAHAHAH No I did not, not worth the risk.

    1. Lol, you made my day. I once make a big sale with my business but didn’t have anything in the house to celebrate with, but I found a bag of dog biscuits. So we all celebrated, me and my dogs. Actually they tasted just like 1960’s “Metrical” diet cookies, the only cookie my father would allow us kids to eat, and I wasn’t fat.

      1. @ Stardust

        Hey, if it’s good enough for Blue, it’s good enough for me

        NRP

  31. I see some posts include water. If you do not have a dependable source of water at this point, getting some bottles at a store may only extend your life by a few days – sorry to be so blunt.

    1. Homebody, Well, it did say for the “partially prepared prepper”….Also, I am not sure how long one would have to wait for their outdoor water source to be safe, in say a nuclear event: 3 days? 2 weeks? not sure. But we can never have enough water. Whether you have a spring or well or whatever, those sources can always be contaminated. And it can take a while to distill, etc. A “few days” could be just what you need to save your life. Having plenty of potable water inside is very important.

  32. Ken said “if you had one last chance” so I believe he meant that you were forward thinking enough to go before the madness begins. Today may be a good day to do that last swing around town to round out your supplies – not too many crazies yet but tomorrow could be interesting.

  33. Top item I would try to obtain no matter how much I had would be water. After water because I have several food allergies it would be more of the specialty items needed such as corn pasta, quick oats and lard. Other than that it would be anything I could get my hands on that my family could eat.

  34. high calorie products:

    canned meats and fish
    nut butters
    oils (corn olive vegetable)

    If possible I would fill my cart with just three categories as they would compliment the dry goods like rice, beans, and wheat already stored at home.

  35. I got most of what I need, and I’d expect the snacks and goodies gone so I would get what is probably not known to disappear for emergencies that would be left.

    veggie seeds for next year
    Yeast for my sour bread starter to keep it going forever
    Many cans of Bug spray for mosquitos and ticks
    Powdered bleach
    Baking soda for it’s many uses
    Napkins or paper towels

  36. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Southern California, grocery stores near where we lived (Santa Clarita) were giving away any perishable and/or refrigerated items (milk, ice cream, etc.) because the items would spoil due to the power outage that lasted for days.

    I don’t live in California any longer (yeah!). We live in a rural setting now in another state. However, if the SHTF, I would not head to big-chain grocery stores (25 miles away). Instead, I would go to the local farmer’s coop to purchase hardware/lumber, seeds, and livestock supplies. Then I would head home and hunker down. If the disaster is an EMP, I guess I wouldn’t be going anywhere unless I could ride a bicycle there and back…

  37. IF! we HAD to go, it would be canned meats, as many can openers as I could carry, canned soups as well. I’ve found that a can of condensed soup in a stout sock, makes a dandy field expedient sap, an age old self defense tool. You can eat the evidence too! Heck, recycle old D cell batteries or re-purpose the, for that purpose!

  38. Y-all do know that Ken is suckering us all in here, right????

    His thinking is to get us all to think about stuff we’re all short on by listing them, then Tomorrow he’s going to spout off that we ALL should go out and get what we think we’re short on.

    That old man is one smart cookie.

    NRP

    1. I thought the same thing – that Ken is a tricky one! But, it worked…

      I was thinking that if I’m still in the market for dry goods like beans, rice or flour then I just haven’t been working hard enough to accumulate this stuff on regular shopping trips.

      And, I admit, I was thinking the dry goods aisles would be really busy but the back of the produce dept (where root veggies are in my store) might not be so bad. In the end, if the store wasn’t too crowded I might just grab whatever I could figuring everything will help.

      But, you told me a while ago to remember that no extra food is worth risking life and limb – very sound advice. So, if the store was super crowded I would leave empty handed before doing battle for a few items. See, I do pay attention! ;)

      1. @ So Cal Gal

        That is exactly right, I know the jest of the article was “if ya had time” but weigh the options, NEVER put yourself in a spot where you not make it out, or get killed for the stuff you did get. Situational Awareness would be in super high alert. Also someone to watch your 6 would be a GREAT idea if one could….

        NRP

        PS; at least someone out there in never Neverland listens… HAHAHA

    2. …not as old as you NRP ;)
      Havent you heard that 50-something is the new 40’s?

      1. Well, if NRP hasn’t heard of it I have, and they are words to live by! ;)

        1. @ Ken and So Cal Gal
          Ohhhh I heard of that, but once you hit the 60’s it flops over and the “new 60-something is the new 70’s”
          HAHAHA,
          NRP

  39. Honey, Vinegar, Ambisol, Salt, Bourbon, Bleach, Corn Starch, Baking Soda.

  40. Recently I have been considering this on sleepless nights & working out a list in my head if I had 2 days notice & could get to the city but if it was a short term notice I would just go to our local town. The list for the city I am trying to buy before that emergency. For example I try to keep 5 22lb bags of rolled oats on hand but if I could get more in an emergency when family would be arriving I would want at least 10 more bags.

    Realistically the local town would be the best option & if seeds were available I would stock up on them. Also I would buy more salt, baking soda, honey, sugar, & canning lids at the grocery store, refill prescription at drug store, & get more gas, propane, nails, & plywood at lumber yard/gas bar.

    We have a big garden, so fruits & veg. are basically taken care of, our neighbors are farmers so we can get grains & meat from them. In fact I have orders in for chickens & 1/2 a beef for fall. The other day the beef guy phoned & asked if I’d have freezer room for the beef before hunting season as the butcher is very busy at that time & he wanted to be sure he got his 1/2 in the freezer early because he doesn’t like how the world looks. He also warned me not to tell people I had it because someone had told him he planned to take from others if need be. Good to know I have a prepper neighbor.

    1. From a coworker of my Dad many years ago: “I don’t need food storage. You have your supply of food and water, I have my supply of guns and ammo. I’ll just come take yours.” OPSEC, people, OPSEC!

  41. I’d be cleaning the house and getting it ready to roll to the BOL(we live in an RV FT), while on the phone w/ hubby telling him what to get and where, and printing out recipes, instructions, and the like from the internet (don’t know if we’ll have it after SHTF)…

    I’d toss out a lot of things that we think we “can’t live without” in order to make room for more food (my family jokes that I’m getting ready for the zombie apocalypse when I shop now, so everything’s full)… I think you never can have too much food.

    *BEFORE* SHTF, we’d be gone, headed for the BOL. On the way, we’d gas up the RV, and the van, and get as many Propane containers as we can fit into the van.

    What would I ask the hubby to pick up at the store?
    Connectors for a smaller propane tank to hook to the RV tank (gonna need refills), Plastic Sheeting,duct tape, guns and ammo, all the dish soap and dry goods he could pile into a buggy (rice, beans, flour, pancake mix, sugar, yeast). I really don’t have room to store extra, and our BOL is not equipped to keep out the pests (we only visit it a couple times a year).

    Looking at this list has caused me to realize how insufficient our plan is. Guess I need to put more time into it. Like, why don’t we buy some of these things now?

  42. If it were spring-I’d head for the Co-op just down the street.

    Seeds
    Feed
    Chicks/ducklings
    Heirloom plants

    Any other time I’m stayin’ home. We live too far out to go to any big store. My local grocery would be over whelmed quickly.

    Maybe the pharmacy, if I was close to needing the BP meds.

  43. Lotto tickets as not many people will be around to collect in a few weeks so my odds just went up. ?

  44. Following your restrive directions:

    1. Hit the canned soup aisle hard–virtually and and all I can–all varieties
    2. Hit the dried beans and rice–next to each other at my local store
    3. hit canned foods–especially tomatoes, spinach, greens
    4. grab all the pasta sauces I can grab
    5 grab all the soap I can get

    These are all top offs of other items. Allow combinations of food selections–with soups, combined with rice and beans–extra calories and easy to prep.

    On last run expect limited ability to buy except with cash and limited space to grab and haul out–one buggy?

  45. I would get Borax.

    I love tomatoes. I raise Sun Suger FT originally from Chile Plants and now from seed.
    After the harvest I change the soil, add some coffee grounds, banana peel, egg shells and bury horse poop 6″ down. I re-pot my starts so I get a 6″ root.

    Add 1/4 teaspoon of Borax.

    Need something for the head. For me tomatoes will do.

  46. @ Being Watched

    You make a good reminder about tomorrow, I also will be stopping at the GS on the way home, a few little extra things would not hurt, and will probably need them any ways.

    I would greatly tomorrow you exercise your rights to protect yourself in any manner you see put. Just don’t be stupid and start a war.

    NRP

    1. Stupid is as Stupid does!!! LOL!!! Only in self defense or hunting wild game or at the range, do I draw my weapon!! I just wanted to bring the facts out about the facts the number “7”, which the elite satanist use. I think its more than a coincidence that it is being used so many ways tomorrow!!

    2. I also think they have planned a time sequence of events leading up to Martial Law!!! Please note that Baton Rouge isn’t on their list. which might be a sign that these demonstrations were planned months ago.

      1. Typing too quick, I forgot to go back and edit my spelling again!! That’s demonstrations!!!

  47. Canned soups, Hershey bars, water.
    This past winter before a big storm I entered the big box store.. I had a potty chair for grandchild, the cashier looked at me & said – you getting ready for the big storm? I looked at my order, told him it looks like I forgot the milk & bread guess I’ll come back in the morning to get some. He rang me up said see you in the morning…
    I’ve been reading for a few months, 1st time posting, love the site.

    1. @’Raised this way’, happy to hear new commenters… Thanks for being a regular reader.

  48. Got another 1000 rounds of .223 delivered today. I would get kraft macaroni and cheese. I love that chit. It is my comfort food.

  49. Speaking of the devil!!!! Just learned about what has happened in France!!

    Please everyone stay vigilant!!! Don’t hesitate to open carry if your state laws allow it. Know your rights and laws when it pertains to self defense.
    It never hurts to refresh your memory in these stressful times.

    When you’re on the right side of the law, “Stay Calm and Make Every Shot Count”!!!!

  50. Ramen Noodles
    Soy Sauce
    Sardines
    If trouble start, I make you very dericious sushi roll.

  51. Henry Kissinger, Advisor to President Richard Nixon:
    “Control the Oil and you Control Nations.
    Control the Food and you Control People.”

    1. They are planning to use the same concept in gun control, but only if “WE THE PEOPLE ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN”!!!

  52. I’m not one of the partially prepared, so I would have to judge the tactical situation about even trying to go to the store. Should it be safe enough to go to the store I’m going to go after items others are not interested in. I think I would prefer to go to the hardware store.

    1. Anonymous

      Good sense, all.

      I keep thinking of what kinds/types of stores others might not even consider. Someone had mentioned Dollar (and such) stores. That was a good one.

      Hardware Stores, good too…
      others

      Veterinary Supply Stores (lots of good medical stuff, and animal meds)
      Home Health Care Stores (lots of good medical stuff)

  53. I would purchase dozens and dozens of cartons of eggs. Keeping them smeared in mineral oil they will keep for over six months. Lots of Bisquick. Canned products by the Hormel company because of their long, long shelf life. I read they they cook the product after it is sealed in the can and this gives it the long shelf life. Popcorn (kernels). Powdered milk. Oatmeal. Trail mix.

    1. Pieface,

      Along with those dozens of cartons of eggs, I am thinking, toss in Pickling Vinegar (and a few spices), and you can have some good protein to last a long time.

  54. Perishable things-
    Up the B aisle for beef, butter, bread, bananas, batteries… & beer.

    1. Dont forget Beans. Beans, Beans the more you eat em the more you…, the more you…, the better you feel!!!

  55. Pretty well set here, but the top 5 I would go for would be salt, honey, flour, powdered milk, canned meats. Next 5 would be bleach, matches and or lighters, over the counter meds, extra first aid supplies, small plastic trash bags for portable toilet.

  56. Can you “pickle” meat? (similar to pickled eggs)?

    Maybe this would be an option if electricity gone, cook up your freezer meat and pickle some of it?

    1. I believe you can. I remember pickled pigs feet that they had in great big jars at the local pubs. Also they used to ” brine” all kinds of things.

      I also recall farmers wives storing bacon in crocks. They would put the sliced bacon in the crocks, and pour in rendered lard over it.

        1. Anon

          Its called potted meat. Have seen it done on one of the BBC documentaries. Could’ve been on Victorian Farm or Edwardian Farm.

          May join you on that for a refresher.

          kk

        2. kawartha kween

          Thank you.

          Over next week or so, will be checking this out.

          Seems like it might be a simple method to preserve meat quickly if needed. Pending of course that one has containers. As it happens, I have many large jars with lids (one gallon? or such)…

  57. Dried beans, rice, oatmeal, canned meat and fruit. Same things I store.

  58. As usual, an interesting question. One that isn’t as direct as it seems. So, from a “sitting back and listening” point of view:

    Being as though this is in reference to a situation of “partially prepared”, I am assuming (yes, I know what that does) that the person does have some rice, beans, etc., those things of the long term storage nature. So, I would suggest that that person make a last run to a store to pick up things that would help in the transition from “normal” to a situation that has just been shoved up their south end when facing north. So, I would keep the following in mind on this ‘last trip’:

    -Large cans of beef stew. There are some very nice varieties of this available. Such as Nalley.
    -Bush’s Baked Beans. Fart food extraordinaire. And they are good!
    -Cans of chicken gravy and soup, beef gravy and soup.
    -cans of tuna, chicken, beef, spam, any kind of cooked meat.
    – Cooked prepared items such as ravioli.

    Having good stuff in storage is nice. Having meals that will make the transition acceptable is even better. And……do not start off with a multi-course meal the first evening. Make the meals nice, but not overly nice. You might prefer to have some of the beef stew in a couple of weeks. Or even a bowl of beans.

  59. Oh, I think of this scenario pretty often, being what many here would consider “partially prepared”. I’ve got enough stuff to last a while, but that’s only months. There’s a Cash and Carry less than a mile from where I work and I work less than five miles from home. I’m heading there for as many sacks of rice, beans, canned meat/veg, and spices as I can get my hands on. I learned long ago from some Rangers that spices and seasonings are very important. Get enough of those and you can eat pretty much anything.

    1. Nihilist
      Since your Cash & Carry is close by, may I suggest you look at the specials for this time frame, good to the 24th of July. Pork loin $1.59lb, pork ribs good price, box of pasta less then 10 dollars, frozen veges, frozen fruit(veges & fruit hydrate), sugar in small packs. Check out their ads on line or inside the door flyers, I do this every month, an purchase accordingly to the needs of our household.

  60. so…

    Today we were at a discount store, which we know from past will have sort of spot specials on this or that…if it is “good enough” we stock up.

    Went in to pick up a few things..at the end of an isle, was TP..stupid cheap ..I picked up most of what was there. Left two because I could not reach them. (got eleven packs).

    I saw the manager sorting something in cooler across from me, giving what I swear was “looks”. When we got to the checkout, the cashier, who looked like she had be “chewed out”..very nicely/informed us that the manager had told her that if we bought any more, it was now a limit of two to a customer.

    We smiled nicely and agreed of course, and thanked her..etc..

    What do you all think? Was I being “greedy” or such taking eleven? Me, I figure if there is no sign (such as limit 2), they are there to be SOLD.

    Any thoughts?

    1. On any item that a store has to sell at a discounted price and no limit posted, it’s fair game. They should have antisipated sales by ordering more for the sale.

      1. THANK YOU

        my opinion as well.

        I have often seen a sign in many stores with limits. Couple of times I have got to the till, and been told (different stores)…oh, am sorry the store has a limit of such and such, but the cashier has offered each time to phone the manager and ask for an exception. Each time I have said yes please, and each time the manager has said yes.

        For my part, I have always figured, if it is for sale, they want to get rid of it.

        It was said to me by a friend, that this store has more in the back, and they just didn’t feel like restocking. Don’t know. Am tempted to stop by today to have a look.

        Whatever. The manager truly did not look happy when he kept glancing at me loading up my cart…quite upset in fact. Oh, well…..I got the deal.

        1. @ Sheesh. As a former business owner, I can tell you that if it is a really good price, then most likely its a “Loss leader”. The store paid a higher price for the item than what they are selling it for. They do that to get people in the door, expecting to make up the loss when you purchase other items. That is why stores will put a limit on those items. It’s a marketing ploy.

        2. Peanut Gallery

          I don’t think it was/is the usual loss leader, which is advertised to get folks in.

          This is a sort of discount store, which sells stuff shuffled over from other stores. Not everything is a good price, some is. They have one or two advertised specials each week, and these are often not even great prices.

          what they do, do, is every so often they will have a stack of something on a pallet in the aislebor at end of isle, which is CHEAP. We have often stocked up from these cheap offerings. It is not something advertised. The TP at the end of an aisle, was this sort of thing.

          have never had a limit put on before. It was just this instance, when the manager was close by, and he did give me nasty looks. However he did not come over and say, sorry, limit. I saw him go to the cashier, and on way out, she told me..”oh, just so you know, it is a limit of two now.” She seemed pretty unhappy (being the one to tell me).

          It was not a big deal for me to be told there was a limit, and in fact, if someone had said, sorry store has a policy (Baloney) of limit of four, I would have nicely said, sure.

          It just sort of gave me the creeps, and made me feel greedy, the nasty looks the manager gave me, and kept staring at me, cart full of TP, etc..

          I had rolled several comments over in my mind what I would say if he confronted me in some way (not if he just nicely said sorry, we have a limit).. Just his attitude and looks made me feel uncomfortable and feel he was going to confront me at some point, about WHY was I buying so much.

          I was thinking of ways to shut him up in such a way that he would have a hard time “mouthing back”..

          such as…oh, I am so sorry, I have rampant diarrhea, doctor cant figure out why, or some such. Problem with that, is I am a bit of a giggler, and not sure I could have kept a straight face.

        3. I had the limit rule pulled on me a few years ago at DG with peas/corn/green beans, 3/$1.
          I was only allowed 6 cases, 2 of each.
          It was name brand cans, so I just went to another DG down the road-now, they are 7 miles apart I read.

    2. @ Sheesh

      IMHO, there is NO such thing as being “greedy” when it comes to your preparing. If you can afford it, buy the entire store out, period.

      NRP

      1. NRP

        Thank you.

        Agree.

        (and if he didn’t want it cleared out, the manager should have had a limit sign)

  61. In order of entering store..depends on if I have a head start on an event or not..a day’s notice..and money to buy…

    Bread, cereal,cookies, fresh and dry fruit(raisins pineapple coconut), eggs, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire, soy. cooking oils, shelf stable milk, baking needs..yeast, flour, salt, honey
    condensed soups, canned meats..mixed beans, ..bacon, polish sausage.
    Like Grits above, have already been working on this list,..but if fan event has occurred will be home securing the hatches.

  62. Duct Tape (or some such)

    Garbage Bags (good for so much, and possibly necessary for waste hold)

  63. From the grocery store: canned meat and stews, toilet paper, laundry detergent, Dr. Bronner’s soap. Isopropyl alcohol, bleach cleaning rags/cloths. Rubber kitchen gloves in medium, coffee filters-as many as I can get to filter sediment from water to go easy on my Sawyer filter.(pre-filter concept- Not just for coffee anymore.)

    From the Hardware store: tarps, duct tape, rope, cordage and twine. Charcoal butane, propane all burnable fuels I can carry.

    From the sporting goods section: powder, primers and ammo if I can find any. Dark glasses and ski mask for my last trip to the:

    Pharmacy: Opiate based analgesics, Benzodiazapines (Valium, Ativan, Clonazepam, ) Antidepressants, and Phenobarbitol. All have high potential for addiction and street value is well above gold.

    Pretty dark topic butt hey, why not go for broke. For now it is hypothetical.

  64. On the TP front you may want to buy some Lambs Ear seed. You can use fresh Mullein leaf but it will not dry well for use. Makes you think how the Sears catalog was so much of an improvement over the corn cob.

    1. @ Anomymous

      Lambs Ear, Mullein Leaf, Sears catalog, Corn Cob…….. Making note to self, BUY MORE TP NOW!!!!!!

      HAHAHAHA

      NRP

  65. I am always curious when these ideas come out that a lot of people will go and buy staples such as rice , beans, canned goods ect. If you would buy them because you know there is a SHTF situation coming up why don’t you have them now? Everyone on the site states that the world is coming to an end so why aren’t they all stocked up already. The basic’s are not expensive, beans,rice,flour ect can be bought and stored for very little money. You can get 250 lbs of rice at Costco or Sams for under 100.00,beans are about the same. If I even bothered to do a last minute run it would all be meat and I would be breaking out the canner and dehydrator when I got home.

    1. @ Poorman, I know it sounds odd that a prepper would purchase items last minute that they should already have stored. In our case we just have no more room. If a SHTF event were inevitable, I would still buy these things, its just that they would be piled in the middle of my living room floor until needed. Also for some, money is a concern and may not have the amount stored that they would like. In that case they may choose to rack everything on the credit card last minute and deal with the aftermath later.

    2. The scenario was to pretend you’re not fully stocked. I’m sure most of these people have what they’re discussing (short of fresh meat and vegetables). Others would run to the store just to sit in a corner and watch the show.

  66. Mmmm this question has got me thinking about the gaps in our supplies,
    Could do with more water, over the counter med’s, vitamins, tinned fruit in juice and flour for starters.
    Guess what I’m doing tomorrow lol

    1. @Westlothianlass

      I still say that’s EXACTLY what Ken’s motive for this article was, OR he is now working for the retail advertisement agencies HAHAHA. I believe his tactic worked very well.

      NRP

  67. Well, thanks a lot Ken! Now I’m making a another list! I won a little money at the casino, guess where it’s going! But nothing beats peace of mind in these troubled times does it? Of course more TP is on the list. Lol

    1. @ Miss I Made It Myself

      “Well, thanks a lot Ken! Now I’m making a another list!” HAHAHA!!!

      My point EXACTLY, Older brother is watching out for all of us I believe, and I do need to thank him for spending another 4 paychecks of mine LOL

      BUT I will probably use all this 1/2 truckload of stuff at some point :-)

      NRP

  68. Forgot to ask, how long does shortening store? Longer than lard?

      1. I’m sure that’s true, I just like to make my own bisquick with it.

    1. It seems shelf stable until the can is opened. We put ours in the freezer after we open a can.

  69. Thank you Ken! This is me. I read your blog all the time but this is my first comment. Single working mom, limited money and space. I feel confident that I’m ready for a short term event of 2-4 months, but not a worst case scenario. So I do have a last minute list to spend all my savings on, if necessary. Please let me know when that moment in time comes!

    The list includes everything I already have on hand times 2. Rice, beans, spices, meats, vegs, chocolate, charcoal, etc. Really appreciate all the great ideas here like the eggs in mineral oil, root vegs, etc. Thank you all.

    Got great news today that my brother who has laughed at me for years for prepping has told me that he was wrong, and he is now becoming a prepper too! This upcoming election has him really scared.

    1. @ partly prepped

      You have 2-4 months??? That’s FANTASTIC, probably better than 85% of the shepple in the US. You have done a GREAT job, you should be very proud of what you have done.

      AND you swayed your Brother, NOT an easy task, good for you.

      Keep it up girl, you’re doing something you will never regret.

      NRP

      PS; you want to really scare your Brother have him read up on Venezuela

      1. Thanks NRP, love all your comments. Already told my brother about this site. Venezuela is next.

        1. @ partly prepped

          Well if your brother does decide to head to Ken’s site, PLEASE have him at least say Hi-Ya, the more that contribute to this site the better for us all….

          And I promise I will NEVER pick on someone/anyone that’s new and trying, ok?

          Now Ken, he’s an open target…. HAHAHAHA

          NRP

          PS; we do like to have a little fun but keeping on subject, except for Saturdays, then it’s open forum….

    2. @partly prepped, you are WAY ahead of 95% of others, so give yourself credit! Regarding your brother, I believe that there are many new preppers recently and most of us know or are admitting to themselves that the world is becoming unhinged…

  70. Just got in from my trip and what do I find…a prepping at the last minute topic. hmm. Was almost 400 miles from home so ACK!!! and then the massacre in France while I was still on the road another ACK!!

  71. (assuming I was already in the store &/or some time traveler you trusted told you with certainty that you had 1 hour to buy whatever before the end but no one else knew so no risk of mob, & that money wasn’t an issue)

    1) anything canned. Veggies, fruits, milk, spam (& extra can opener in case mine break)
    2) vitamins (for when the fresh & canned veggies & fruits go out)
    3) sanitary napkins, tampons, mydol/asprin, chocolate, toilet paper (in use as I type – sadly I forget this normally)
    4) pest deterants (raid, rat traps,)
    5) more bandages, hydrogen paroxide, alcohol, ace bandages, etc
    6) hand sanitizer, bleach, gloves, wipes, windex, clorox, etc
    7) paper goods (paper towels, napkins, kleenex, plates, utensils, etc)
    8) any extra bottled water I can carry
    9) garbage bags, ziplock
    10) any extra non perishable stuff like pens, sharpies, batteries, salt, sugar, honey

  72. I am thinking, now, of items a grocery store may have other than groceries (or corner store, or gas station etc)

    matches
    lighters
    fuel of any sort
    hot spices to use for defensive actions
    spray cans to use for defensive actions
    air horns (the sound of which might be used in defensive actions)

  73. Coup in Turkey tonight.

    First thing the civilians did when the coup started was go to atm’s and grocery stores.

    Hopefully, as preppers, we all can do a little better than that.

  74. Canned meats, canned vegetables, toilet paper, and medical supplies

  75. Sugar
    Salt
    Flour
    Nuts
    Peanut butter
    Rice
    Dried beans
    Dried fruit
    vitamins
    spices

  76. After reading everyone’s comments, I now have an index card in my purse containing a list of last minute shopping items.

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