USAPrepares - FiveMinuteUniversity - copyright 2022

USAPrepares - Five Minute University

As with everything that you see, read, or hear in the media, don’t believe any
of it, including the contents of this document. Do your own research and make
up your own mind.

The author is not responsible for what you do with this information, you are.

Abbreviated list of items you should consider buying right now.

By Vincent Finelli

29 May 2022
Copyright USAPrepares.com, LC 2022

1. Generator – the smallest size to fit your needs will use the least fuel. But don’t load
it more than 80% to extend it’s useful life
2. Fuel for the generator – expect to burn at least ½ to 1 gallon per hour – gasoline,
propane, or diesel
3. Diesel is the most energy efficient, then gasoline is next, then propane.
4. Gasoline may store about 6 months to a year – but if left in the carburetor, it will
destroy the carburetor – the gaskets are generally not available for the carburetor
internals and that means that you will have to buy a new carburetor, they are made
in China – along with most of the the generator engines.
5. Bread machine – used ones are available for about $15 – 25. A Zojirushi is the king of
bread machines
6. Pots and Pans - Revere Ware are the best value in my opinion – vintage ones from
the 1960’s and 70’s are heavier and the lids have a rolled edge, another step in the
manufacturing process – which not all lids have – and the later models of Revere
Ware don’t all have rolled edges on the lids.
7. Water Filter – most stainless steel spinning, expanding, and drawing seems to come
from outside the USA – dog bowls, pots, pans, lids, sinks, etc – you might want to
consider getting these if you need them right now. I like the CEO of ProPur he used
to be a Berkey dealer as I was, and separately, he and I were dissatisfied with the
management, quality, and warranty procedures of Berkey – New Millennium
Concepts – So he and I walked away from Berkey – He started manufacturing ProPur
and I buy his products.
8. Dog’s water bowel – Our Shepherd’s like to swim in the kitchen water bowel – water
all over the floor – I found a solution – A 2 gallon CFO frosting bucket from the
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bakery dept – we asked them to save us some buckets and they did – about 8 for 99
cents – no lids – I fill the 2 gal round bucket with about 6 inches of water at a time –
so the water stays in the bucket.
9. Toilet Paper – There is no doubt about it – the best value is single ply, 1,000 sheet
rolls by the case – Aldi’s house brand is fine – about $0.60 per roll. Write on the inside
of a new roll the date – to see how long a roll lasts – I expect a roll might last a week
– so a 50 roll case will last about a year.
10. Having friends visit for a few days is now a bad idea. Will they bring everything they
need – towels, clothes, food, a suitcase? When they bring their suitcase into the
spare bedroom where do they put it first – on the floor. Where do they put it next –
on the bed. Where has it been – in the airport, in the taxi, on the floor of the bus,
train, overhear airplane compartment – or on the floor of the stall in the airport
restroom?
11. Lighters Or Matches – stored in glass jars – glass – non flammable spaghetti sauce
jars with gasketed metal lids – I know for a fact that they keep at least 50 years. You
should be able to get boxes of 50 book matches in a package – the kind that stores
used to give out for free when cigarettes were purchased – they are getting hard to
find now – check with your supermarket – call them, don’t drive there – Amazon sell
them
12. Propane torch – for starting difficult fires, thawing frozen pipes, loosening rusted
and seized bolts – The standard Bernzomatic type with extra fuel cylinders.
13. Candles – always a fire hazard
14. Kerosene lamps – antique type – work well, but they smell when filled and stored
and when you use them – and a pet can knock it off the table and burn the house
down.
15. 12V LED lighting strips are better – Picture rail – about 12 inches below the ceiling
around the perimeter of the room – 120 VAC light switch and std electrical box – 16
AWG wire is large enough for many applications – Alarm wire red – black with a white
sheath – 500’ rolls on eBay.
16. Digital Fever thermometer – they usually use a LR41 small button cell –
replacements are available on eBay
17. Spare disc type cells for your car’s electronic key fob – typically CR2025 or CR2031 –
eBay 10 for about $4 shipped. Your car won’t work without one or two.
18. Engine oil – a 6 quart case or two 5 gallon jugs are a good start – 15w-40 for air
cooled lawnmowers, riding lawnmowers, and gas or propane generators. Four wheel
ATVs with wet clutches require special oil designed for wet clutches.
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19. Plastic or metal gasoline storage cans – a generator will use between ½ to one
gallon of gasoline per hour – They are color coded – Red is gas, yellow is diesel, blue
is for drinking water – don't put gas in a blue can the use it for water -
20. Gerber 3” Paraframe knife - $10 used – eBay 2 for 15
21. Manual can opener
22. Plastic bottles to store water – store if room in freezer
23. Vinegar – Distilled and apple cider – distilled for disinfecting purposes
24. Outdoor grill with propane -
25. Spare propane tanks -
26. Spare well pump and well pump control box – Well pump $150 - $500 – well pump
control box $100 – eBay – didn't but a china pump or box
27. Soap - were 5 oz, then 4 oz, now 3.2 oz – lever 2000, Safeguard, or Dial – Dial is about
$0.50 per bar – Dollar Store if they have any – call first
28. Triple antibiotic cream for wounds
29. Benadryl for bee stings – colds
30. Activated charcoal for poisonous spider bites – make a poltus
31. Hydrogen Peroxide – cleaning wounds – toothbrushes, and cleaning dental picks –
splinters
32. Nail clippers for splinters
33. 10X magnification loop for removing tiny ticks and finding splinters
34. Probiotics
35. Iodine for wounds
36. Pulse OX - $16 on ebay – get spare AAA cells
37. Ziploc food storage bags – sandwich bags, freezer bags
38. Make own hamburger patties – ¼ pound of ground beef – flatten – about 15
sandwich Ziploc bags will fit in a gallon Ziploc bag – I like them thin – like paper thin –
freeze them flat.
39. Knife sharpening stone – twin grit for all knives
40. 12V battery charger – my favorite is Xantrex – but very expensive – Shumacher is OK
– 6- 10 amp is the right size for most applications – Expect to spend about $50
shipped from eBay – avoid the china made no-name ones.
41. Spare house key and spare car key if you have a standard old fashioned type key
without electronics – cost $1.50 – cost for an electronic key is about $200-750 – way
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less expensive to have one before you need it - - otherwise it is off to the dealer or
locksmith for a replacement key – some keys, like Mercedes are dealer only – and
some are no longer available.
42. Wasp spray – for in your car – it shoots 15’ - make sure that if you are attacked that
you don’t spray the attacker in the eyes – it can blind them.
43. Coffee (If You Drink It) – in steel cans if possible – Cain’s brand in steel cans if
possible – I heard that coffee doesn’t keep well – It lasts years for us when kept cool,
dry, and in a stable temperature location.
44. A Rainwater Collection System If You Do Not Have A Natural Supply Of Water Near
Your Home – be very careful – your roof has a fine collection of jet fuel waste,
radioactive waste from far away sources, chemical pollution, dead bugs, bug poop,
bird poop, and what ever has sprayed on us.
45. A Battery-Powered Radio – Why? – how about the radio in your car. Radio reception
from a car radio is much better than an AM or FM table radio or alarm clock radio –
because of the outside vertically polarized antenna on the car and the ground plane.
But a vintage stereo AM - FM radio with built in amplifier with external antenna
connector for am and FM should work well – I have an old Technics by Panasonic – we
have a SA-200
46. Water boots – We have had droughts in MO – summer 2020 rained almost every day
for months – mud and water everywhere.
47. Sewing machine, needles, and thread
48. Needles and thread for mending clothing
49. A land line and plain old no-battery phone
50. Spare DVD player – I like the older Sony models with the HDMI cable and the RCA
composite video outputs – used on eBay. Sylvania has a poor reputation
51. Spare TV – We only have non-smart TV screens and they are not connected to the
Internet. Good experience with Toshiba – but connected to separate power switch.
52. Spare microwave oven
53. Spare refrigerator-freezer
54. Hard Start Kit for your size refrigerator – 412 on eBay
55. A German Shepherd – trained
56. Dry dog food
57. A cat
58. Dry cat food
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59. Rat poison
60. 5 gal buckets with lids for storing food
61. Ammo cans – military surplus – Great for storing non-food items that you don’t want
to be rusted – nuts, bolts, tools – I bolt one to the fender of tractors to keep tools
handy when out in the field.
62. Tow chain or tow strap – about $10 for a 15’ tow strap
63. Ratcheting tie-down straps – 1” x 16’ long – 4 for about $10 – for holding down loads
in a pickup truck – I usually have at least 4 in my truck
64. Bleach – Plain – about one gal to shock wells
65. Straight claw hammer – in the car and next to you – in case you have to break a
window to extricate yourself from the car – hit the window in the corner with the
claw – with a swift hard blow – about $5 at HFT
66. 25” 1/2” drive breaker bar with a socket to match the lug nut size on your car – keep
it next to you in the floor – next to the drivers seat – is is for lug nuts and tune ups –
in case someone attacking you needs to be tuned up
67. Tire plug kit - $10 – emergency flat repairs -CFO
68. 22 rifle Ruger 10/22, Marlin lever action, or an old Mossberg bolt action will be fine.
If a scope is attached sight in for 50 yards.
69. Revolver – revolver is a good all around choice for the ladies and those who don’t
shoot often – revolvers do not have a safety – so if they are loaded, squeezing the
trigger makes them fire. Be careful – make sure that everyone knows the dangers as
well as how to use that handgun – a 38 special is a great choice – and ammo for the
38 special is required to use it..
70. Hunting rifle - .308. 30-30 or something similar – with a scope sighted in for about
100 yards.
71. Hunting rifle ammunition
72. Rifle and handgun cleaning kit with cleaning patches, solvent, oil, and bronze
brushes
73. 12 gauge shotgun and shells – a pump action is a good choice for many people – but
they have substantial recoil or kick
74. Super glue – great for repairing objects in seconds – wear gloves as one drop turns
your skin into handcuffs – the solvent is acetone – the old fashioned nail polish
remover
75. Heirloom seeds – make sure that you know how to plant your garden
76. Garden fencing for rabbits, chickens, deer, and other animals
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77. Lime for the garden – regular AG lime – you don’t need the expensive pelletized fast
acting lime
78. Garden fertilizer – 13-13-13 is fine – it comes in 40# plastic bags – stores for years if
cool and dry – out of the sun
79. Garden spade – shovel, rake, trowel, pruning shears and weeding rake.
80. Chest freezer if you can find an older model made by Whirlpool, Kenmore,
Montgomery Ward, Hotpoint, or Maytag – the imported brands are sub-standard.
81. Rechargable flashlight with a zoom lens – LED – get 2 because the flashlights are
made in china and the chargers and flashlights break
82. Rocket stove – small and efficient for heating and cooking
83. Kill-A-Watt meter to determine electricity consumption – generator sizing
84. Outdoor 14-16 AWG extension cords – orange type 50’ about $11 and 100’ about $21
at CFO
85. Inverter 1500 watts
86. Automotive jumper cables – 4 AWG or heavier – 6 AWG is too small of a wire size
87. Spare vacuum cleaner bags
88. Endust for adding static cling to your disposable furnace filters
89. Infra Red flood light style heat lamps for warming your bathroom 125W and 250W
sizes
90. Chainsaw and spare saw chain for cutting firewood for heat
91. Air compressor for inflating tires and cleaning parts with air – oil crankcase type with
cast iron pumps are best – oil less types are very noisy and are not as durable.
92. 22 LR ammunition HV hollow points for hunting small game and 40 gr LRN std
velocity for quieter accuracy – about 12 cents per round
93. An Emergency Medical Kit – tweezers, dental pick, nail clippers for splinters
94. 55 gallon steel barrels with removable lids for rice, grains, dog and cat food
95. Cast iron dutch oven for outdoor cooking on a fire
96. Set of encyclopedia for how things are
97. Handyman encyclopedia for how to repair things
98. A book on household wiring – DIY repairs
99. DIY plumbing book
100.Spare toilet flush valve – for when yours breaks – Flushmaster - about $10
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101. Rice – Initially stored in the freezer
102.Pasta – keep it dry and at a stable temp, in the dark – periodically check for bugs
103. Canned soup – tomato soup does not last long in cans
104.Canned vegetables
105.Canned fruit – doesn't last long in cans due to the acidity of some fruits
106. Canned chicken
107.Jars of peanut butter
108.Salt – table salt lasts indefinitely – actually it is millions of years old already – store
in plastic jars with plastic lids – salt will corrode metal jar lids.
109.Sugar
110.Powdered milk – usually comes in plastic bags or cardboard boxes – it oxidizes in
months – once opened put int smaller jars with lids, like clean spaghetti sauce jars –
glass
111.Bags of Flour – freeze for three days when purchased, then store in glass jars
112.Yeast – keep in the refrigerator once opened
113.Whole house surge protector – will help protect sensitive electronics
114.Buckets of long-term storage food
115.Extra vitamins – vitamin B complex, multi-vitamin, D-3, and vitamin C
116. Lighters – we prefer matches
117.Aspirin and pill cutter
118.Flashlights or lanterns
119.Plenty of wood to burn
120.Extra blankets
121.Extra sleeping bags
122.A set of SAE and metric wrenches
123.Set of pliers – vice grips, slip joint, and needle nose styles
124.Pipe wrenches
125.Hand saw, electric circular saw, and Sawzall
126.24” an 4’ level
127.16 oz hammer and 2# sledge hammer
128.Assorted nails
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129.Zip ties assorted sizes
130.Spare fan belt for your car
131.Distilled water – for topping off car batteries
132.Hair cutting scissors and comb
133.Q-tips for hygiene and automotive repairs
134.An extra fan if you live in a hot climate
135.Hand sanitizer – 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide to 9 parts water.
136.Light bulbs for home
137.Spare fluorescent tube bulbs if you like them, while you can still get them – u surge
sed on Craigslist about 50 cents each
138.Spare headlight bulbs for the car – never touch the glass – it will cause the bulb to
fail very quickly
139. Extra Shampoo
140.Extra Toothpaste – without fluoride – salt and baking soda (very abrasive) work well
as toothpaste
141.Extra razors – sharpen against the palm
142.A rubber garden hose with a 4” brass nozzle for gardening and putting out a fire
143.A Plan-B location
144.Two way radios – Baofeng UV-5r – with two spares for your uninvited guests
145.Extra batteries
146.Credit cards for all members of the Family
147.Bank accounts owned by multiple members of the family – if you trust them
148.A repair manual for your vehicles
149.A spare tire for your car with a spare wheel
150.Trash bags
151.Tarps
152.OSB to board up windows and doors
153.2x4’s to secure doors and windows
154.An axe
155.A blanket in the trunk of the car, and water, and food that will keep in the heat and
cold
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156.Spare engine oil in the trunk of the car

157.N95 Masks
158.Garden seeds
159.Lime for the garden
160.Fertilizer
161.Book on gardening and saving seeds
162.Book on canning
163.Sun glasses
164.Leather work gloves
165.Blue jeans without rips
166.Leather work boots
167.Socks
168.Laundry detergent – 35# bucket of Wind Fresh at Sam’s – was $16.88 delivered
169.Canning jars – and extra lids
170.Extra supplies for your pets – store dry dog food in steel drums – rodents can’t
penetrate
171.An Emergency supply of cash – denominated in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
172.Bible
173.A “Bug Out Bag” for every member of your family
174.Dish washing liquid – Dawn or Palmolive work best
175.Dishwasher detergent – powder – Electrosol powder
176.Spare towels, sheets
177.Dark curtains to block light from inside the windows of your home
178.Some silver – I like silver dollars – not collectible just Morgans – at just over spot
179.Some gold – not jewelry – just some US gold, Krugerrand, Canadian Maples,
something recognizable by everyone
180.Reading glasses

181.Dr. Shealy’s Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies – on eBay – less than $10 shipped

182.A CB radio to monitor truckers traffic

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183.A ham radio to listen to international transmissions – and also to transmit – for
emergency transmissions does not require a ham license – but you won’t know how
to use that radio without studying the material – I suggest a used HF rig that does
not require repeaters.

184.Assorted nails, screws, nuts, bolts, and washers for repairs

185.String, twine, and rope for tying things up

186.Pens, pencils, paper, and notebooks for writing notes and saving information

187.Cooking bacon – boil in water first – universal solvent – then pan fry – cast iron
square skillet with square cast iron bacon press – flat skillet works best – not ribbed
– Lodge.

188.Dial soap – yellow – leaves white towels yellow tan – look dirty – it is the soap.

189.Blood pressure cuff – if USB wall plug powered and stops working – try using the
USB port from a powered on computer monitor – it has enough current to power the
compressor

190.Activate charcoal – spider bites and poisonings

191.Vodka – tinctures

192.Baling twine – emergency tying very strong poly twine.

193.Book on pickling – The Joy of Pickling – Linda Ziedrich 382 pages < $5.00

194.Book on canning – Stocking up – Carol Stoner 532 pages hard back about $5.00

195.Book on dehydration – Mary Bells Complete Dehydrator Cookbook HB 280 Pages

about $11.00

196.Leather sneakers – Brooks – if you can find them – about $50.00

197.Shoe horn – used to be free when you bought a pair of shoes in the 1950’s and 60’s

198.Spare shower control valve – same exact valve as you have now if it is a cartridge
type
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199.Spare kitchen and bath faucet control valve – same exact valve as you have now if it
is a cartridge type

200.DIY colloidal silver – 2 1 oz Canadian Silver Maples - .9999 fine

201.Multi colored electrical tape – for color coding and splicing wires – Y, R, G, Bl, W, and
Black – about $4.00 – Menards

202.Black electrical tape - $0.50 per roll – Menards

203.Brush-on electrical tape - $6.00 – Menards – Well pump wire, automotive repairs,
trailers, etc. Heat shrink tubing 2:1 $4.00 eBay for about 300 pcs

204.Heat shrink heat gun – about 750 and 1000 degrees F – large frame gun not a pencil
style – 1500 watts - HFT $15.00

205.Toilet – std height is 15-16” to top of seat – ADH is 17-19” to top of the seat – a way
better choice as one gets older.

206.Combat! is an American television drama series that originally aired on ABC from
1962 until 1967. The exclamation point in Combat! was depicted on-screen as a
stylized bayonet. The show covered the grim lives of a squad of American soldiers
fighting the Germans in France during World War II. 152 episodes. Ebay used about
$50.00

207.Maverick – TV series 1950’s and 1960’s

208.Soldering gun – Mine is a Weller #8200N 100/140 watts $25.00 on eBay used and
was manufactured about 50 years ago – still the best that you can buy.

209.Solder - rosin core radio solder - 60/40 Tin Lead Rosin Core Solder Wire Electrical
Sn60 Pb40 Flux 0.032inches 1lb – maximum thickness – about 20.00 per # on eBay –
DO not buy acid core solder for radio or electrical wiring use

210.Cayenne pepper for tincture

211.Spices

212.Salt for seasoning – also for freeze protection – the ocean does not freeze for two
reasons salty and large moving mass. Corrosive but in an emergency salt solution in
toilet tanks, toilet bowels, and sink drains, etc
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213.Caster oil USP – to dissolve cataracts

214.Nylon car tow strap – 2” x 20’ with forged steel end hooks – 28,000 # working load
strength – HFT $12.00

215.Jumper booster cable 6 gauge 16' 100% Copper – If it does not say 100% copper it is
copper clad aluminum and they need to be heavier gauge to conduct the same
amount of current – expect to pay about $50.00

216.Sharpie permanent markers – store the ones in use upside down

217.Pencils – store in bulk in Ziploc bags – lengthen the eraser shelf-life

218.Headphones – Best in class – overall value Sony MDR-CD-180 – used on eBay – The
ones that you see me using on the one picture of me on the Internet.

219.Rival 3 ½ quart Crock Pot – two vintage styles – non-removable crock and
removable crock – removable uses about 1/3 more electricity and the outer metal
skin is very hot – wasted electricity – the non-removable one heats better, uses less
electricity, but is harder to wash. I prefer the non-removable crock model.

220.Paper and pencils

221.Pencil sharpener