CANDLES - Underrated Survival Prep 

My wife is a candle freak. We have spent a small fortune on Partylite and Yankee Candles over the years. They are decorative and are functional providing light in a lightless room. When it comes to preparedness candles are a huge resource often overlooked.
Incredibly inexpensive with an indefinite shelf life candles have been around since 200 BC. Beyond providing valuable light candles are useful for other purposes such as fire starting, cooking, and to a minimal extent they can provide heat.
Candles come in all shapes and sizes and made from a variety of materials. Some have one wick while others have multiple. They can be found in containers such as glass jars and metal tins. Candles also can be standalone pillars of varying sizes. I am sure we are all familiar enough with candles to bypass a further analysis of soy versus beeswax versus paraffin, etc. You light a candle and it burns with a flame. Pretty simple.
Candles should be a solid part of any survival supplies put back. Wal-Mart and craft stores are both excellent places to find them at great prices. My favorite type of candle is a jar candle. Candles can certainly be a fire hazard and with jar candles the chance of the flame getting out of control is slim. Either way – they should not be left unattended.
With my recent acquisition of a Candlelit Oven and am stocking up on tealights by the bag full. I continue to put back candles of all types.
Don’t forget the matches.