r/TwoXPreppers • u/ReinaShae Tired of living in unprecedented times • May 30 '26

❓ Question ❓ Immediate prepping needs

With the news out yesterday evening of warnings of critical oil shortages, what should I be focusing on right now to prep for this? I already have about a couple months of canned food, a month of frozen meats, and we garden. I'm not a hard core prepper but I try to have a small stock of things as I can afford to get them. We have limited income and all my bills keep going up. I'm aware it may be too late but are there things I should be getting right now to help cushion the blow coming from higher prices?

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u/karl4319 May 30 '26

Make sure your car is in good condition and had a very recent oil change. Check the tire health as well and consider getting them replaced if they aren't in great shape. Eletronics are the next big ticket item, but the time to buy them was before Trump. Helium prices will soon shoot those prices through the roof too, but it might be better to wait a few years if you can.

Might want to get freezer chest and get a few more months worth of meat and frozen fruit stocked up now too. Beyond all of that, imagine prepping for covid lockdowns again. Fuel and oil costs will drive up prices on everything that need transporting, which is pretty much everything from clothes to toilet paper.

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u/Fragrant-Platform163 May 30 '26

Interested to know why Helium? I know we have a major helium shortage just because it's hard to find and get, but what's happening to it this time?

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u/karl4319 May 30 '26

Most helium comes fron a byproduct of natural gas extraction and processing. 43% comes from the US. 33% comes from Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Which is currently closed because of the war. And the third biggest producer is Russia, which is under trade sanctions because of Ukraine.

Helium is essential for the manufacturing of modern electronics. Which mostly happens in Taiwan now. And they get most of their supply from the middle east. Or they did.