Junk Preps

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

We all have them: items which are still useful enough that it feels wasteful to throw away, but aren't good enough to deserve a spot among your prepping supplies. I call these "junk preps", and my collection is full of flimsy plastic tools, cheap knives of unknown metal (likely 420 stainless or worse), thin-walled aluminum water bottles and tiny ferro rods. 

Now, I'm not going to tell you not to throw these things out. I'm a firm believer in the concept of "The things you own end up owning you," and your preps should serve you instead of the other way around. If you want my permission to throw them away, then I am telling you that you can throw them away with a clear conscience; after all, if they had value, you would have placed them with your preps. Clean up your clutter with a clear conscience. 

However, if that isn't enough and you still can't bear to throw away these junk-but-not-trash items, I have another solution for you: find a cheap duffel bag (and if you have a collection of junk preps, I know that you have at least one gym bag gathering dust somewhere in your house) and fill it with those preps. If you have multiple bags, then try to distribute the junk preps evenly. 

The purpose of this bag is so that you will have something to give away to friends, neighbors, or people who come asking for help after a disaster. You aren't giving away anything whose absence will hurt you or your family, but you will still be able to give away something if you're the kind of person who hates to turn away the needy. 

As a bonus, the low quality of the items will serve as a kind of camouflage for you; if you are convincing enough with your "This is what we can spare" delivery, then they may very well think that what you have kept for yourself is similarly low quality, and may not bother you for future handouts. 

Be ever mindful of the fact that giving away anything after a disaster is a sign that you have something that others may want, so there will be times that the wisest course of action is to turn others away or otherwise ignore them. As always, let your conscience and common sense be your guide.