How many people here are prepared for an emergency?

DollDoctor said:

anything big like a generator or wood stove is totally out of the question.

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Auctions!
http://www.auctionzip.com/ Type in your zip code and finds scores of auctions in your area.

Some years back we picked up this box stove (on the left) for $22.00. Except for times like this when it's so bitterly cold, it heats the whole house.

The one on the right we got for $45.00. This one heats the shed.

Good buys!

I'll have to look into the auctions when I have more time and money.

unclejoe said:

Auctions!
http://www.auctionzip.com/ Type in your zip code and finds scores of auctions in your area.

Some years back we picked up this box stove (on the left) for $22.00. Except for times like this when it's so bitterly cold, it heats the whole house.

The one on the right we got for $45.00. This one heats the shed.

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I heated a big farm house for about 6 yrs with a Boxwood stove the size of the one in the pic on the left...looked exactly like this one...LOVED that little stove! Excellent price on that item!

Wowie! I'm jealous! That's a fantastic find! It might be dangerous to go to that website....

I went, typed in wood stove and any listing that had any form of the word wood (including wooden) or stove came up, no matter what it was!

Denim Deb said:

I went, typed in wood stove and any listing that had any form of the word wood (including wooden) or stove came up, no matter what it was!

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You can certainly do it that way. I prefer to enter my zip and get a list of sales within about 30 miles of our area. Then I look through the sales individually. Yes it takes longer but you never know what you'll come across at some of the estate sales. 3 years ago I went to a sale that had a few guns on a table. They weren't listed on the bill but there was something else I wanted there so I went. Came home with a 1913 Winchester97 coach gun (12ga shotgun) for $100.

Those estate sales can be a treasure trove of homesteading supplies and depending on the crowd that day, you can come away with some incredible deals just because the rest of the people aren't interested in the same things you are. Then again, sometimes it doesn't work out that way and everyone wants the same thing you do which hikes up the price.

This was in sales that were w/in 30 miles of me and I was curious to see what would come up.

There weren't any estate sales going on, just ones that are normal for around here that I already know about.

Dolldoctor1, small steps will eventually get you there. Save what you can, and look for a woodstove in the summer, when the demand is low. Buying an extra can, or two when something is on a good sale will add up faster than one would think it would. Do you need a generator to pump water? They can be expensive to buy, and run. A power inverter, and a deep cycly battery may get you by for a short time deal. Running a generator to power a few lights won't be cost effective. There are options out there, you just have to think outside the box sometimes. Feel free to ask questions, as thats the only way you will get any answers.

UncleJoe, I will have to check that out sometime. Sounds interesting.

We are just starting. I am a recent immigrant, my new husband had some bad luck on the jobs front in the last couple of years and is now studying for a PhD, I am not able to work yet so things are stupidly tight. We started our life together in an emergency! We are together and that is the most important thing for now.

Our first target is potential bad winter weather and possible power outages. We are renting a place that is all electric so getting some sort of alternative to provide hot water and food has been the first priority after food for ourselves. We just got lucky and picked up a Coleman camp stove for a few dollars. Tap water here does not taste good, the house has a filter under the sink but I think it is powered by electric so next step is some water storage. Has anyone used empty soda bottles for this, as I am not thinking currently of long term apocalyptic situations, I can change the water out fairly regularly. I am making all our bread and bakery goods so this month have splashed on a 50lb bag of all purpose flour and two food storage buckets with those flashy lids and have managed to put a few extra tins away towards a food storage system. It is going to take some time but we will survive and things will get easier.

It is great to see everyone else's ideas to help me form a plan.

I have great luck using white vinegar bottles to hold water. The bottles are usually thicker plastic than others, and I'm able to get gallon and a half sized bottles. I don't use mine for drinking but if you changed them out frequently enough they would probably work well.