May 3 , 2026 - What did you do this past week to prepare?

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Mission_Reply_2326@reddit

I am reading a book on survival medicine. It’s basically written for a long term SHTF scenario. Also reading a book on DIY composting toilets and how to make sure your community’s shit doesn’t poison your water.

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funke75@reddit

Your book sounds interesting, whats the title? I have “where there is no dr”, But am always looking out for other guides on the subject.

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Mission_Reply_2326@reddit

It’s “The Survival Medicine Handbook: the essential guide for when help is not on the way” by Joseph and Amy Alton. Literally has a section explaining how to get your hands on antibiotics and when and how to use them. A section on how to give physical assessments. A section on how to treat appendicitis when there’s no surgeon around (or at least treat it as best you can). It’s amazing

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funke75@reddit

Is it this one?

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Mission_Reply_2326@reddit

Yes!

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funke75@reddit

cool, I'll check it out. This is the one I have if you're interested.

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Mission_Reply_2326@reddit

Oh yeah! I have tbat one too! I also have where there is no midwife and where there is no dentist. All of these books are excellent!

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Kidd__@reddit

Research. Also started stocking water as I just moved across the country and am able to establish a new living situation.

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MOF1fan@reddit

Went camping. Before hand though spent hours hunting down all my gear. Bought a large tote and finally centralized it all. Even then still managed to walk off and leave my gas lantern in the garage 🤦.

While camping saw some gear that my friends had I needed to add to my stash. Thought of a few things I needed to get rid of and optimize my setup. Using gear and practicing are the best prep for sure.

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Comfortable-Story-53@reddit

I always forget something. One time I forgot my clothes... 😜

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Ingawolfie@reddit

We found out the hard way that having some things centralized in totes etc is invaluable when we had to evacuate due to a brush fire. All our important documents, bug out money, etc were in a file folder in a safe. They are now in a dedicated briefcase in said safe.

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LeanUntilBlue@reddit

Ooh, I should do that too. Thanks for the tip!

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Comfortable-Story-53@reddit

I tested out my battery powered shower pump doohickey. Zestfully clean!

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funke75@reddit

Fun, which kind did you get?

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Comfortable-Story-53@reddit

Spopal Portable Shower for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6RJ42M2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

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funke75@reddit

Sweet! How well did it work?

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Comfortable-Story-53@reddit

It wasn't the regular shower but I thought that it worked great. I used about three gallons of water and the battery % only went down about 4%. I need to find a water container around 3-5 gallons and paint it black. Or just paint a Home Depot bucket.

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funke75@reddit

does the shower equipment have a heat rating? I wonder if you could dump in some boiling water to a partially filled bucket to have a hot shower, or does it only work with cold water?

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Comfortable-Story-53@reddit

Hotter than you can handle- 140 degrees F. It has a temperature gauge on top. I used my old beer boiling bucket and filled it partway with 80 degree water. Then added a couple of kettles of boiling water. Got it to 85-90. Got me thinking about making a copper hot water coil that you put in the fire. Always another project. First I'm going to make some bleach- water, salt, and electricity. 😄

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Complete_Bake_14@reddit

So much gardening! Hardening off my seedlings, tending to my raised beds, and checking things daily. I caught a fungus gnat infestation early and was immediately able to begin treatment. Ordered neem cake and oil to address the bulk of issues I face.

Spent time researching fertilizing options and soil amendments that I can handle on my own with potential fertilizer shortages looming. Also joined a compost co-op.

Recently moved in with my partner and reorganized our pantry/kitchen. It was very helpful to identify what deficits we have so I can put additional effort into to padding those areas moving forward.

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CopperRose17@reddit

I bought a Quick Dam Grab And Go Kit, due to a reddit prepper who mentioned them on one of the subs. We get monsoon storms that blow up out of nowhere in the summer. I've seen trucks float down our street when water breeches the golf course in our tract. Sand bags are heavy, messy, and not easy for me to use if my husband isn't home . This sub is a good source for product recommendations that actually work.

My other prep was to install a blackout curtain under the draperies on a hot window. It was a cheap kit where the curtain hangs from hook and loop tape. It was super easy to install, Time will tell if the thing will stay up. Summer is already here in Az. It will be 107 this week, and it's time to get ready!

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SexMachineMMA@reddit

Not prepping specific, but I felt proud after it. I have a pair of mocassin slippers that had some holes in them, and instead of buying a new pair, I repaired them. As they are fur lined and some of the fur was damaged, I even replaced the fur lining with my dog's hair (I had cut her hair earlier in the week and saved it for this project). The slippers turned out great. and the holes are completely repaired and the fur is very warm. Skills like this will be invaluable in a post-SHTF scenario. I'll be looking for more opportunities to enhance my skills in this way

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DogsAreOurFriends@reddit

Well, apparently the last tankers from before the war are now offloading. So looking to conserve gas.

Would stockpile, but honestly that isn't really going to help.

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DeafHeretic@reddit

Caching fuel helps in a number of ways.

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DogsAreOurFriends@reddit

It’s short term. But so are many things.

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MindFluffy5906@reddit

Bought 2 new pairs of tennis shoes to add to the rotation. Lucky to be close enough that many places I frequent can be reached via trails, so I'm working on hitting 5 plus miles a day while I'm cutting down on driving.

Had a very weird situation where I was away from home the other day and the car didn't want to start. Used my handy dandy jumper box. Nothing. Neighbor used jumper cables (my trunk wouldn't unlock at that point for some reason) and nothing. Called AAA. They came out, hooked up a diagnostic and said the alternator was good. Battery was drained. Pushed a button and the *#<÷& car fired right up. None of us can explain what happened. Best guess is a cable was loose and got re-tightened during everything. Haven't had any issues since. It's weird, WEIRD!

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Glittering-Swan-246@reddit

corrosion on the battery terminals?

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MindFluffy5906@reddit

Nope. And the battery is 2 years old, alternator was replaced 4 years ago. It really was the weirdest thing. Even the AAA driver was scratching his head.

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DeafHeretic@reddit

Every vehicle should have a voltmeter to show the current state of the charging system. All of my vehicles do. My favorite one plugs into the cig lighter socket, has a voltage display, retractable usb cables and tilts so I can see the display easily.

Whenever I start a vehicle I watch the voltmeter and while driving I occasionally check the meter - especially on longer trips. This way I know when something is not right, long before I have problems due to the charging system going bad.

I also have a VOM and I know the simple ways to use it to diagnose charging system issues and even other electrical issues.

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MindFluffy5906@reddit

Thank you so much! Do you have one you recommend? There are quite a few on the market and I watched a few videos on what they do. Sounds like a handy tool to have around. I'm not exactly a car person, but I do know how to do a few things like swap out batteries, change the oil, change a tire, refill fluids. I just don't like too. I just know enough to hopefully rescue myself if I have to.

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DeafHeretic@reddit

Amazon has a lot of plug in USB chargers that also have a voltage display.

As for a VOM, Fluke is one of the best, but also one of the most expensive. There are plenty of others that are less expensive and should be sufficient for diagnosis of the charging system (all you really need to know is the battery voltage during certain tests).

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MindFluffy5906@reddit

Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to help explain things to me. It was very kind of you.

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flower-power-123@reddit

Why do we not have a post about rationing here? They are rationing fuel in Asia now. China, which is the source of most of out domestic good, has shut off all fuel exports. Incidentally China is getting around the tariffs by exporting components to other Asian nations where they are turned into finished goods. That will stop soon as well. Here in Europe we can expect to see rationing of fuel in a few weeks. Food rationing will come at some point as well. It takes diesel to run tractors. I bought a Burley Travoy and I will fix up the beater bike this week. That is my prepping effort.

How can we get a discussion going about which is the best bicycle for a rationing future? Some new bikes come with wireless shifting. if you don't have electricity your bike stops working. Many new bikes (maybe most) have hydraulic disk brakes. These are not in and of themselves a problem but they represent a maintenance headache in a crisis. Tubeless tires look like a good low maintenance solution but they require a compressor to seat the tires. They are also filled (usually) with sealant. The sealant will dry up in a matter of a few months. Now you need fresh sealant. Some (but not all) sealants use natural latex rubber. It will deteriorate on the shelf. You get the picture.

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DeafHeretic@reddit

The time to “ration” is before it is necessary. With fuel 40-50% (or more diesel here is $6.3-$6.4/gal - which is $3 higher than what I paid pre-war) higher today, I am glad that years ago I bought storage tanks for my fuel needs (both gasoline and diesel) and filled them up with treated (PRI-G & PRI-D) fuel. Also glad I keep my vehicle tanks full and do very little driving - only what is absolutely necessary (I am retired).

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flower-power-123@reddit

I am very interested in your reply. What I didn't hear is at least as interesting as what I did. You didn't say "I bought an electric car, enough solar panels to charge it, and a large bank of batteries". You instead spent a small fortune on fuel tanks. Did you store them above ground? Do you use a generator? How long will the fuel last in the tanks? Just an FYI: we pay about 9USD/US gallon here in my area. The price has jumped about 20% give or take. I think that the public (especially investors) are fooling themselves that things will go back to normal in an reasonable period of time.

I plan to park the car and ride the bike if the SHTF. I am on the fence about getting an electric motor and solar. I have a folding panel but it will only generate 400W. There has been a revolution in cargo bikes but it revolves around the ability to use an electric motor. I think that the cargo bike is a sleeper tech that will revolutionize the world.

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DeafHeretic@reddit

I do have solar panels and batteries.

I also have several gensets (both smallish inverter sets, one runs on gasoline, another on gas or propane) and I am looking at buying a large (10KW+) diesel powered genset (preferably inverter).

As for fuel storage tanks and their expense - I will probably wind up spending a lot more on solar panels, controllers/etc. and a battery bank (work in progress), than I spent on fuel storage and fuel. Solar power is expensive per KWH (in the short term).

Right now I am not too worried about long term power self-sufficiency. Short of a total grid collapse, my most likely power grid issue a very short term failure. I usually have power outages of no more than a day or two in the winter. I can handle those easily with just a couple gallons of fuel for intermittent genset usage, batteries and a woodstove for heat. The rare summer outage (can’t remember the last one) is usually less than one day.

I live in the PNW which is self sufficient with regards to electrical power; mostly hydro power - enough so that we export a significant amount of electrical power. The main threat to that system is a severe earthquake (as in 7-9 scale) - which is certainly possible, but a rare occurrence (albeit it does happen every 500 to one thousand years - volcanic eruptions happen more often, and forest fires happen every year).

My solar power setup is mostly for my overland vehicles (primary usage is overlanding, but also serve tertiary backup shelter).

I am a believer in prepping diversity - I don’t rely solely on fossil fuels, the power grid or solar.

I do intend to get several e-bikes as backup to my ICE powered vehicles. At first it will be a folding bike to carry in my vehicles as backup.

I used to ride bicycles a lot but I cannot go far on a pedal powered bicycle anymore; I injured my spine 55 years ago and that gradually made riding a pedal bicycle increasingly painful. I also have a heart/lung condition now (I am 72 YO) and just cannot exert the strength and I don’t have the stamina.

Beyond that, 2 wheeled conveyances are unstable - if you are sick or injured, they are much more difficult to use, if at all.

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HummousTahini@reddit

I think rationing is a smart, incisive practice. I'm *guessing* the reason there's not much rationing discussion about it on r/preppers is that:

-The majority of users are probably American.

-America is now an exporter of oil/gas (this offers a good explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nt1CgQsgpI), so while consumers might "feel the pinch," there's no need to ration.

-Rationing, for some time now, would be perceived as "un-American" as it infringes on "individual rights," despite it being commonplace and seen as a community values throughout the 20th century.

I agree with you, just trying to understand the current state of the world, too. This lens seems to offer the most clarity. I've been thinking more about folks outside the US and having a lot more empathy. It's going to get harder/worse. I think a certain segment of America might be *inconvenienced,* but will not experience as much pain or hardship.

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limit35@reddit

I purchased a Surly Skid Loader, set it up with an extra battery, put on some panniers, and a surplus military container on the rear rack. It has a good range, can ride off road, and hauls a good load. It was the prime reason to install a small solar setup in the yard to charge it. I agree on the issues with modern bikes. I don't really like hydraulic brakes for instance, they are a maintenance and supply issue. My GF had some name brand turned unobtainium disk brakes that had to be replaced rather than fixed, that is no good. I have had the same problem with certain derailleur hangers becoming almost extinct. Dropper posts are something that can fail also. I like the cargo ebike, but I wouldn't completely trust a tech bike to run forever without costly upgrade or repair.

As MOf1fan mentioned, old bikes are a good way to go. I have an old Peugeot road bike I rebuilt with cyclocross tires and a rack and panniers. It works well as a road trip bike, back up, or for small store runs. Those old bikes are bomber, I have had mangled friction shifter setups get me home more than once. I wouldn't haul 4 bags of soil from the garden shop on it though. Bike co-ops are a good place to collect old gear like shifters, cassettes, brakes, pedals, whatever to throw in a box for spares on the cheap. They also have bike repair classes and volunteer opportunities.

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MOF1fan@reddit

My shifter on above described bike broke one ride. Turned it into a single speed on the side of the road. Road it for several more years like that. Old is better and more reliable for sure when it comes to old bikes. Parts are plentiful still on eBay because no one wants them. I have enough parts stocked to build several functional bikes if needed

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MOF1fan@reddit

Get an old road bike. Put a flat handlebar(mountain bike) on it. Get Continental Gatorskins or some other brand wide extremely durable(think commuting tire). They make extra thick commuting tubes as well. Put on flat pedals and you are good to go. Add a rack and some paniers and you have a great set up. I rode this same setup to work daily for many years and had maybe one flat a year, usually about the time I needed new tires. That said might want to look into stocking up on tires and research best way to store them so not to dry rot. Hope that helps or at least gives you some ideas.

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dawn_thesis@reddit

Or a gravel bike, with similar setup. try Schwalbe Marathon Mundials - I've have thousands of kms without a flat (except one caused by a bad innertube)

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InterviewThick2660@reddit

Due to a sudden change in long term health status I'm having to rethink/revise several bug-in/bug-out plans. Semper Gumby - Always Flexable

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Comfortable-Story-53@reddit

Me too. Kind of sucks.

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Comfortable-Story-53@reddit

I was going to build a deck for my 'cabin' with a recycled billboard vinyl tarp. I even have all the plans drawn out. Rheumatoid arthritis SUCKS!

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dawn_thesis@reddit

Hey! I'm sorry to hear about health issues. :/ I wonder if other folks might be in a similar situation. Would you be willing to make a post about it? Maybe something like "That was my old plan, then this happened, and now my new plan is this"?

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DeafHeretic@reddit

More firewood cutting.

Also, got an 12 gal aux tank and bumper with hitch receiver for my pickup. Ordered some tools from Amazon Haul, got some chest trauma bandages and more shelf stable food for the pantry.

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joshak3@reddit

The local wildlife have eaten the earliest seedlings that I planted outside, so I'm going to plant some smaller vegetables in pots on the raised porch instead. I'm trying to figure out what to do about corn because it takes up a big enough area that fencing it would be a hassle and a bit of an eyesore, and this is my first year trying corn.

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HummousTahini@reddit

What kind of corn did you plant (sweet corn, flint/drying corn)? What variety? Just curious : )

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joshak3@reddit

I bought Early Sunglow sweet corn because that variety is supposed to tolerate cool weather and take only two months from planting to harvest, but it's my first year trying it, so we'll see how it goes.

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Mysterious_Radio_190@reddit

Replaced some almost-expired items in my BOB.
Finished the ebook, Urban Survival Basics.

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Austechprep@reddit

Went camping for several nights, burned some food, caught a surprising amount of fish/crauchies/fresh water prawns etc using just leftover food and a cheap trap I got from Aliexpress. Tested out new camping setup which was OK but still a lot of organizational improvement needed.

Tested out a new setup using an Rpi4 that had information about the camp site, a big library on the flora and fauna for the area, additional details for the surrounding 50km of the region, a simple to use chatroom and more advanced long range using reticulum (LoRa), had APK's to download and auto-detect ports for HDD and LoRa modules, all worked well but there was a fair few teething issues to work through but I'm really impressed with how well my portable "internet" module is coming together. Next steps will be to add more foraging and bush cooking parts.

Overall the technology part of my camping is coming together well, not what most people do, but its great to test out technology while away from any cellular coverage, gives it a real stress test to see if its functionality is beneficial or not.

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funke75@reddit

I got the garden going in full swing, 8 4x12 foot raised beds weeded, planted and watered, as well as a bunch of herbs and perennial fruit and veggies added too.

Looking into putting in some protective fencing around some of my fruit trees, and can’t wait to clear out my three 12x12 plots next for corn beens and squash.

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Motorcyclegrrl@reddit

I'm working on an inventory of my stuff. I bought some organizer products.

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Fluffy_Job7367@reddit

I'm going through my apocalypse totes as I call them and moving stuff to the kitchen so I can restock. Rotating and spring cleaning.

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Sk8rToon@reddit

Gave my place a clean. Found some grocery gift cards I had bought years ago for my folks. So for their anniversary this weekend they were given them as gifts. Now they can stock up on food before prices go up further. Them being more prepared helps take work off of me. Not the traditional prepping but it counts!

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only-uuuu@reddit

Stayed up late today and drew a draft of 2 bug-out plans. Geography is very funny where I live, so I have nowhere to go south or west, and the only viable bug-out location is the one 50 km to the north.

Finally stopped using 3 same passwords for all my accounts. It also turned out, I was way less prepared for a cyberattack, leak or anything else that would lock me out of my main GMail address. Not anymore.

Some data hoarding here and there.

Bought cookies and beans into my tiny stash. Unfortunately, stocking big isn't an option yet.

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ChordSlinger@reddit

Good forethought and knowing that your options are urban or the long road. Much like motorcycling, you don’t want to get trapped and will need multiple escape paths. How have you incorporated data hoarding into your moves through a city or long road?

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Many-Health-1673@reddit

Added a homemade wheel kit with 8" wheels to my generator for the house. So easy to push it from the shed to the natural gas/electric hookup now versus using a furniture dolly.

Started fermenting a batch of sauerkraut.

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LeanUntilBlue@reddit

I’m just starting fermenting this week.

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Many-Health-1673@reddit

Did you add anything other than salt for your recipe?

I added a sauerkraut seasoning mix that had bay leaves, caraway, garlic, onion, dill, and black pepper.

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LeanUntilBlue@reddit

That sounds like such a great idea. I haven’t actually started yet, but I’m going shopping on Tuesday for things to ferment, so I’ll also think about all the things that should go into the ferment.

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Many-Health-1673@reddit

I hope it turns out well for you.

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JRHLowdown3@reddit

Awesome. For some damn reason years ago I bought several small gas/LP generators when they were on sale- usually Black Friday time periods. Got 5 in all over the years. One I lost the "wheel kit" some damn where, it's a bear to move without it. Our diesel genset doesn't move, literally built a building around it.

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Many-Health-1673@reddit

I have had that project on my to-do list and the only downside it is makes it easier for someone to steal the generator - getting older makes me appreciate not having to struggle to get it across a wet yard.

I can always chain the generator to something though.

I used 5/8" rod for the axles and hair pin clips with washers to hold the wheels in place. U bolts to hold the axles in place. 300 lb rated solid rubber wheels from Harbor Freight.

Turned out well, I should have done it 10 years ago.

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JRHLowdown3@reddit

Nice!

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Many-Health-1673@reddit

Thanks!

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Mule_Wagon_777@reddit

Planted lemon balm and peppermint. Got an abscessed tooth extracted.

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Hard_Luck7@reddit

Peppermint tends to be really invasive. Try to plant it in some kind of containers. It’ll compete with other plants otherwise.

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JRHLowdown3@reddit

Picked up some Lemon balm yesterday at a nursery north of Jax. Been meaning to stop by there after Sunday morning training. Everything else was insanely expensive- fruit trees in the $40-100. range. Fairly busy there so I'm guessing city folks don't know any better.

Was the only useful herb I found there we didn't already have growing. Are you using it for teas or tinctures?

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Hard_Luck7@reddit

As a short sighted person who depends on eyeglasses 24/7. I ordered a new pair of them for backup.

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RickShaw530@reddit

Paid almost $3000 for a valve job to make sure I had a reliable 4x4 rig.

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Salty-Gas-1172@reddit

This past week we planted nine fruit trees. There is a 10th one on the way in a couple weeks. Next big elbow grease project is cleaning out the garden area and making it usable again. Maybe also building up the fire pit with the side bricks. That one's not a prep so much as an esthetic thing. I think people leave that out when they think of sheltering in place preps. It's important for mental health to enjoy being where you are at in at least some small ways.

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-jspace-@reddit

I'm replacing things that are old or won't last. Truck battery was almost 5 years... Fire pit was very rusty almost broken, all metal popcorn popper.

Also still buying sized up things for the kiddo.

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dawn_thesis@reddit

bought moar food (: nowhere to store it!

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MojoFilter8@reddit

I sorted through my "priority food" and checked expiration dates. Turns out I have some canned food I need to eat this week. I call it "priority food" since it's what the fam and I like to eat, like tuna or soup, rather than my stock of canned veggies that are there for if shtf and we run out of the good stuff

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myOEburner@reddit

Another routine, steady contribution to our 401(k)s. Old age and retirement are some of the very few events that are both foreseeable and inevitable. There's no excuse to arrive at the day underprepared.

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DrNinjaPandaManEsq@reddit

Just started recently, but I’m currently working on redoing my storage. Slowly buying some basic canned/dried goods and I want to maximize what I can store in the space I’ve set aside for it.

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Cute-Consequence-184@reddit

Planted out several varieties of vegetables that outgrew their pots

Picked up more straw for my Rith Stout garden

Planted out more varieties of seeds

Picked up eight 5-gallon bucket for planting trees.

Cleaning up an area to have tilled for a garden

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ExtraplanetJanet@reddit

Lots of gardening this week, plus I donated a bunch of stuff from my storage room that I will never use (nice decorative stuff I inherited) so now I have considerably more room to get organized.

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JRHLowdown3@reddit

Been very dry here and fires in certain areas. We decided to postpone a trip, stay home and stay around because of that.

Added some new sprinklers to the irrigation system that are near the main house and can wet the house itself. Watering a lawn for the first time in several decades... seems like a waste normally. Pulled down a ton of trees for some friends at their place, making more defensive space for fire.

Rolled my ankle a bit a week or so back so went light on combatives and running this week, only went to class twice and didn't run till yesterday afternoon, 2 miles and then a half Murph. Got this nurse this a little longer. We fasted one day last week.

Went over to the range property for some night fun

Some clear beautiful skies last week.

Around the homestead continued some of the work putting up more firewood which is always background work on most homesteads- something that you could do when you want or have some extra time.

Finally got some rain, thank The Lord and finally got a chance to see and tweak some of the newer rain catchment systems/upgrades to systems in work. Tied in the other side of the greenhouse gutters to the side with the tank on it- had to run 3" pipe across a gate opening with just enough drop to keep it going for 15' plus a couple turns to make it into the tank. Bit of a PITA piecing it together overhead and having it in place to test to be sure everything flows before anchoring it, etc.

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Eastern-Working9747@reddit

Purchased a new 25kg bag of caputo flour as my flour store was getting low. Also bought some new O2 absorbers. Have some packing to do tomorrow once the O2 absorbers arrive.

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tazztsim@reddit

It was non veggie can good restocking this weekend.

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MNConcerto@reddit

My garden

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Skwonkie_@reddit

Garden.

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Unique-Sock3366@reddit

Finally having the surgery that I’ve literally been putting off for thirty years.

Kind of feels like it’s now or never?

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Financial_Resort6631@reddit

Planted stuff. Got nicety/barter/quality of life shit.

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ResolutionMaterial81@reddit

Considering upgrading my Radiacode 102 & 103 to a pair of 110 to go with the new Zeros. If I go this route, I would gift the 103, silicone case, EMP case & a Marinelli Beaker to my youngest daughter (& her husband) and likely make a friend or family member a great deal on the 102.

Still working on the Major Spring Cleaning and Reorganization Projects.