Preps you have regretted...

[Trapper]

Have you ever gotten preps that you have regretted getting? What are they? What would have done differently?

Personally, the only thing I can think of I have gotten was a wire type saw. It was only a few bucks. Broke the first use. Usually I don't buy something unless I research it first to see what I'm getting. I don't buy anything in bulk unless I try it first and get everyone's approval in the house if they will be eating or using it too.

 

[old_anorak]

I'm sitting here thinking about the question and I really can't think of much other than MRE's. I didn't buy them, I was dating a guy in the Air Force and he'd brought a bunch of them to my place and left them there. Used them for camping and whatever, but never had an urge to buy any more of them.

 

[hightechredneck]

there you go complaining again. there were free and better than eating dirt or the occasional camo rock when you were able to find one you haven't thrown at someone

 

[Colt 1911]

My 400.00 Gortex jacket, I live in a desert WTH ? could totally get by with fleece and rain gear.

 

[Kenny Lee]

That gortex jacket might come in handy. You never know with climate change, I mean the climate can shift any day now drastically beyond repair if we don't stop putting out carbon..... Any day now....you know... any day now... We need tax carbon, too many useless people breathing. XD

Else you could sell it or barter.

 

[bill harrell]

I've regretted buying everything I bought made in china..enough said

 

[WILD MAN]

I regretted putting oxygen absorbers in my 5 gal. buckets of sugar, now I have big 5 gallon size chunks of rock candy.

 

[Colt 1911]

I regretted putting oxygen absorbers in my 5 gal. buckets of sugar, now I have big 5 gallon size chunks of rock candy.

LOL

 

[bill harrell]

Its still good widman you just have to make tea in volume.lol
Talk to one of your friends on an oil rig...every time they cement casing they purchase a pallet and use about 6 bags(50#) bags. They usually throw the rest away or give it away

 

[old_anorak]

there you go complaining again. there were free and better than eating dirt or the occasional camo rock when you were able to find one you haven't thrown at someone

I know, I'm just a fussy old biddy, ain't I? For all I know, the new ones taste better than those from the late 80's.

 

[old_anorak]

[quote="WILD MAN, post: 26240, member: 863"I regretted putting oxygen absorbers in my 5 gal. buckets of sugar, now I have big 5 gallon size chunks of rock candy.[/quote]

Just chisel you a chunk out as you need it and grind it up in a mortar and pestle or with a coffee grinder. You can always break off small chunks as a treat for the kids.

 

[Chicknladee]

Wildman...sorry about the chunks of rock sugar...thankfully I had read NOT to do that before I made that mistake

My prep I regret is buying a Waterbob. What was I thinking...if the power works I have water, if the power is out I can't fill the waterbob. I'm not psychic...I can't know when the power is going to go out so I can fill the waterbob beforehand!

 

[old_anorak]

But wouldn't it be nice to get a quick message... "You are about to lose power for 3 days, please fill waterbob." I've looked at them and considered one, but so far I just can't bring myself to do it.

 

[Chicknladee]

But wouldn't it be nice to get a quick message... "You are about to lose power for 3 days, please fill waterbob." I've looked at them and considered one, but so far I just can't bring myself to do it.

Lol, yes that would be nice then I could quick shower and then fill the waterbob! But it has gotme thinking...I should fill all those pickle buckets I can't get the smell out of and stack them up for just those times. I'd hate to waste water I paid for for just washing up!

 

[Roninsensei]

My grandma would always keep the tub full. She used it to water stuff through her week until she needed it. The benefit of having two bathrooms. If the power went out she'd always have that tub! lol

 

[kcdevildog]

Wildman...sorry about the chunks of rock sugar...thankfully I had read NOT to do that before I made that mistake

My prep I regret is buying a Waterbob. What was I thinking...if the power works I have water, if the power is out I can't fill the waterbob. I'm not psychic...I can't know when the power is going to go out so I can fill the waterbob beforehand!

Should still have water after power outage right? At least for a while? Not sure in your area but we would still have water.

 

[rudyc]

my regretted prep is solar powered rechargeable battery charger for my phone. it took a week of being in the sun to charge the sucker for 20%. it only charged all the way if it was manually charged with the usb which seems pointless if i ever go out and need some juice. i since got a few additional chargers with me at all time. if not, the 3,300 mah battery my phone has can last me a while but sometimes i pass out without chrging it.

 

[Chicknladee]

Should still have water after power outage right? At least for a while? Not sure in your area but we would still have water.

If our power went out we'd only have the little bit in the pressure tank...no power, no pump. We'd need a 220 generator. We have one but the 220 works like sh@#

 

[rudyc]

If our power went out we'd only have the little bit in the pressure tank...no power, no pump. We'd need a 220 generator. We have one but the 220 works like sh@#

at least you have one. even if it is just to get a little bit at a time.

 

[Trapper]

How deep is your well? Is the water good without going through a softener? Perhaps you can rig up a well pump that is hand powered. Extra work but at least you would have water. My next big project is to put in a sand point well for that exact reason.

 

[Chicknladee]

How deep is your well? Is the water good without going through a softener? Perhaps you can rig up a well pump that is hand powered. Extra work but at least you would have water. My next big project is to put in a sand point well for that exact reason.

Water is good but hard before the softener. I could live with hard water for a short while if I could get it out of the ground. We pounded in a sand point a few years ago. Never got it to produce water...of course we put it in far away from the house (because for some reason we thought that was a good place to do it, lol)...so we tried running an extension cord out there to power the electric pump (now I'm venturing onto ground where my knowledge is shaky at best) but the cord was too long...that was when we discovered our generator worked like sh@#. It can power my tv, refrigerator, and a bunch of other stuff but not the pump for the house or our sandpoint pump. I know water is my biggest worry. I'm almost to the point of paralysis on the water front...that is why I buy water.

 

[Bravery]

I bought a portable toilet for about $5 and it was a piece of crap (get it... toilet...piece of crap... ok... I'm trying people... I'm trying). The thing was so flimsy my 105 pound wife refused to even test it.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/s...51_140768_-1__?N=662858529&Ntt=toilet&Ntk=All

 

[jimLE]

my only regret that i can think of at this time,is that i didnt start sooner

 

[Warriorhealer22]

not buying a piece of property yet

 

[mommymouse]

I guess we are lucky, our water never goes out, maybe because it comes from a lake and we are way down the hill??? I dont think it would ever go out unless the pipes burst up the road or something

 

[Hunter Valley Preppers]

I don't have any items that i regret buying, there were some items along the way (early days) i didn't fully understand the principle and/or function of and regrettably purchased "cheaper" alternatives only to turn around at a later stage and re-purchase these in a better quality etc.

All i can say is research, research, research. Its free and can really actually save you money in the long run.

-HVP

 

[sharkbait]

Gamma buckets/lids.
Do they work?Oh yeah.
Are the easy to access?Oh yeah.
Did I pay 10 times more than I really needed to?Oh yeah.

 

[Trapper]

Gamma buckets/lids.
Do they work?Oh yeah.
Are the easy to access?Oh yeah.
Did I pay 10 times more than I really needed to?Oh yeah.

Just wondering, how much did you pay? I love mine, paid $6 each a few years ago.

 

[sharkbait]

Just wondering, how much did you pay? I love mine, paid $6 each a few years ago.

They were one of the first major prep purchases we made and we got them on Ebay at about $200 IIRC as a "kit" sort of.Came with 12 six gallon food grade buckets,12 gamma lids,12 mylar bags and the o2 aborbers shipped.We bought two "kits" to start out.

It really wasn't a lack of research I guess,more of a not being patient type thing,which I found out (afterwords) if all bought seperately can be had for a fraction of what I paid.I also didn't realize the lids would fit most all standard 5/6 gal buckets.Chalked that up to a vodka induced impulse buy,lol.

Now for the buckets and lids themselves,I have no complaints,we love em,just wished we shopped around more for a better deal.I just looked on ebay and the same "package" deal is now around $217/$220 shipped.

 

[old_anorak]

I've never fooled with gamma lids, the rubber seal that the lids I have seem to work just fine for me. Then again, getting me to pay money for something I already have and works is like pulling teeth out of a chicken.