Prepping for someone else (without them knowing!)

[4suchatimeasthis]

Has anyone considered prepping for someone else, without telling them about it? Other than your kids, of course. My kids ask me whats in all those 5 gallon buckets, I tell em "storage". My 14 yr old step son thinks I'm nuts (entirely possible), I tell him 5 gallon buckets are cheap storage, for "all kinds of stuff" and leave it at that. Anyway, I was just wondering, do you ever prep for:

-Someone you hope to bring into your family/group if and when shtf
-Stuff to have on hand to barter with others, post shtf, high value things besides coins, ya know, like chapstick and dental floss ;)

Or, my personal favorite,
-Someone you are related to by marriage now, so if shtf, let's make life as comfortable as possible....prep booze?

I am lower on preps than I was a few years ago. Several months of unemployment/moving/personal shtf took it's toll. But I was super grateful to have the preps to use! Now we are back at the "build em up" stage of things again, and I am trying to think of what unnamed persons might need, because we are the ones they would come to, no doubt in my mind. But, they have useful skills, so prepping things in their areas of expertise (for example, prepping extra first aid/medical stuff because she was an ICU & ER nurse for 30+ yrs) couldn't hurt.

Thoughts?

[Echo2]

We have prepped for 4 more than is in our group....just because there are single people in the group that may not always be.

[Sniper-T]

I expect that my sheeple inlaws will be on my doorstep with nothing but empty hands and hunger pangs. Indeed, I expect that they would leave whatever supplies that they do have at their place so they have something to go back to 'after'! :eek:

I don't nec. prep anything 'special' for them, just more of everything. My biggest obstacle will be rationing what I have to maximize longevity. Whatever the situation is, they will expect it to be "all over soon enough" and want to eat and drink everything immediately.

*sigh*

[slowz1k]

I look at this issue by dividing my preps into two categories. LTS, and MTS. I keep adding to my LTS dry goods as $ allows. All of this stuff has a 30+ year shelf life in sealed #10 cans. My MTS (Mid Term Storage) goods consist of mostly grocery store bought canned meats, fruits and vegetables.
My view is this:
I have 2 adults and 1 Teen (that I will count as an adult for food consumption) living in my home. I have a MIL, BIL, and SIL living within 3 miles of my home that I "may" need to help out in a post event.
Priority 1 (P1)is LTS food supply for 3 adults in my home
Priority 2 (P2)is LTS food for 1 more adult (MIL)
Priority 3 (P3)is LTS food for 2 more adults (BIL and SIL (Married))
If at one point in my preps I've reached a 12 month supply of LTS foods for my P1 3 adults, I know that I've got a 6 month supply of LTS food for all 6 of my P1, P2, and P3 adults.
When I've reached a 24 month supply for 3, I know I can feed 6 for 12 months... and so on.
I never plan to stop growing my LTS, so I know I'll either be able to feed more or feed longer.

The MTS items get rotated and consumed daily so I have to stay on top of weekly/monthly restocks. I view these as primarily items for my 3 P1 adults and possibly, depending on circumstances, a source to supplement food for my P2 and P3 adults.

Not sure any of this makes sense, but I'm going to post it anyway. Wouldn't be the first time that I've spewed nonsense.:o

[4suchatimeasthis]

^^^ I'm tracking, Slowz1K, makes sense to me.

[prepguide]

I also prep for those not here currently. I agree with how Sniper-T said it, I don't do anything special for them just try to have more of the same in as many categories as possible. A phrase I use often "A preparedness lifestyle guarantees us nothing, it is about increasing both the quality and quantity of our options". I strongly believe that our society is facing a very uncertain future that will impact our lives in many ways, some of them very negatively. Having more on hand as well as having a group around you only improves your options.

[The Stig]

"A preparedness lifestyle guarantees us nothing, it is about increasing both the quality and quantity of our options"..

Stands and claps loudly.......

[Evolver]

We have been putting away extra LTS also for the whatever and whomever. It could be from my IL's, recruits, strays that might happen by to bartering for items needed.

[msomnipotent]

Kinda sorta. I am planning on my family showing up at my door, but I only have enough money to properly prepare for my immediate family right now. I keep a few things I normally wouldn't, like baby formula. My sister has a toddler and another on the way. I'm keeping some of my daughter's old clothes and toys, but the rest is being sold to pay for our needs. I also keep more kid's foods than I would need for one child, just in case the neighbors come knocking at the door. I don't want kids to go hungry. The parents will just have to find their own. I am also looking to trade some of my things for a used generator for my parents. My father has asthma and sometimes needs a machine (nebulizer?) and my mother needs refrigerated medication. I already have a genny for myself and a lot of our family lives within walking distance of my parents. If I had more money, I would prep for them more.

[realist]

My everyday pantry is always full, as is the freezer, this will sustain my family, of four, for at least one to two months. Then there are my preps that are LTS. I keep adding as much as possible. Should anyone show up in a SHTF situation they will get what they get. My immediate family is number one, relatives are two.........maybe three. Friends would be three........maybe two.

[ladyhk13]

I keep adding a little bit of everything from food, meds and medical supplies, lots of seeds, extra sewing items that can be used to either make clothes or blankets as needed. At this point because of the way things are stored - in so many different places - I don't even know how much stuff I have, but I think we will never have enough of anything so I just keep adding and hope to keep a good balance for whatever or whoever comes our way.

[Gunfixr]

For awhile I secretly prepped for my wife, but in an apartment (back then), it didn't take long for her to catch on that something was going on.
She thought maybe I was losing my mind, but she got past it, the "insurance" angle.

Mostly, finances have been tight enough that we've only been able to prep for ourselves, but there might be some extra. My middle name should be "overkill", so there probably is.
A few friends could show up who would bring what they have, so it wouldn't immediately be a burden.
Most would show up empty-handed, but I don't think they'd even show, after my response when asked about just showing up. This especially after I tried to get them to prep for a long time.
The kids, growing up in this "I want it all, right now" society, just take what they want, and have for years, which has made prepping quite difficult, since stuff just disappears constantly, and I've had nowhere else to hide it. Still, I have quite a bit hidden around the house, so well hidden that I no longer know what I have. I find stuff fairly regularly.

[Katrina]

I'm doing for family. that said I'm looking at about 25-30 between kids, grandkids, siblings. I know SIL and BIL( and their kids, grand kids) will be bringing their motor home w stuff to add to the stores I've got. DH's other sibs will bring what they can and son1 is helping out ($) for him and his family. Tough to prep when they are on the move all the time. Son 2 and wife are prepping as well. DIL told me they now have food for them, my grandson(her parents and two sisters, nephew) for about 6-8 mths. As for my siblings, only one sister is on board so far, the others think I'm crazy. I have about 8 mths stored outside the mid term stuff and am adding to long term supplies as I can afford it.

[realist]

Katrina that is not a group that is a small army. I suggest you start taxing them. I could not possibly even come close to having enough for a group like that.

[Katrina]

That's why I'm known as Da General in the family. I may be tiny but I am mighty!! I am used to that many people when I cook, although it's been the holidays last few years but I think I have a handle on this. Plus my SIL and DIL are putting food away. So it's not all on my shoulders.
Besides that's what ya get when one comes from good "catholic" family LOL. DH and I have 5 sibs apiece. His brother and family and Son 2 and family are here in town but the rest are scattered but will head here.