It's difficult not to take our belongings and way of life for granted. Everyday household items are going to become in high demand after a collapse.

Think about the reality of the situation when the grid goes down. Many of the stores will either get bought out or looted, and the trucks, trains, and planes that used to bring in supplies will probably not be available. They'll be too worried about the safety concerns even to think about bringing in supplies.

Depending on the situation that's going on it may be important to bug out at a shelter for a few weeks or more until it's safe. When it comes to staying in one place, it'll be important to have plenty of food for comfort and survival.

When the coast is clear, people who were prepared for the collapse will find you and will either take your belongings or ask to “borrow” them. At first, you may give them a few things out of the kindness of your heart, but after a while, you won't be able to continue handing out your precious supplies.

It's essential to plan ahead before a collapse, which means you should be aware of 20 crucial items that right now are affordable, but as soon as SHTF they will be worth their weight in gold.

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