Getting started in prepping can be a daunting task and one can easily get overwhelmed. With the headlines of today, it is easy to feel a huge sense of urgency to get ready NOW – with many giving up because they just don’t have the money or the time to invest. These myths could mean the difference between having taken the necessary steps to prepare – or not.
One point that needs to be made is that everything does NOT have to be done at once. While I would not suggest any further hesitation baby steps will get you in a much better position than not starting at all.
12 PREPAREDNESS TIPS
1. Store What You Eat – It is not necessary to purchase a years supply of food all at once, nor is it required to buy expensive freeze dried products. When doing regular grocery shopping throw in a few more cans of beef stew, corn, and a couple bags of rice. Build the pantry with every trip and over time.
2. Store Extra Water & Get a Water Filter – Water is fairly cheap with a case of pure bottled water running under $3.00 for 24 bottles. Stacking 10 in the corner of the garage is a great start. Soft drink bottles can be washed out and refilled with water from the tap. For most who throw these bottles away, this is an ultra-low budget water storage method.
A good water filter will be extremely useful should water stop flowing from the faucet. A couple of Sawyer Mini Water Filters will filter thousands of gallons of water. Add a Sawyer Water Filter Bucket Kit and filter water for the entire family.
3. Have a Plan to Bug Out – With the dangers that this world presents the need to relocate or “bug out” is certainly one to consider. If something should occur in your area and bugging out is needed a plan should be made well ahead of time.
It may be as simple as going to Aunt Besty’s out in the country 30 minutes down the road – or traveling to the State Park located a couple towns over. Regardless, have a plan of action.
Oh – and make sure everyone in the family knows this plan in case communications are down and not everyone can get home. A secondary meet up point is also a good idea.
4. Don’t Get Caught Up In Specifics – While you may have had your interest in preparedness peaked after watching a Youtube video on EMP – there are much more likely threats that exist daily. With this in mind cover the basics of preparedness – food, water, medical, defense, shelter.
5. Don’t Focus on One Area of Prepping – In planning your preparedness effort do not focus on one aspect of preparedness. Do not say, “Well, I’ll get my food stocked up and then go to water.” This is a common practice and all areas should be worked on over time so your preparedness system remains somewhat balanced.
6. You Do Not Have To Spend a Fortune – Most of the basic supplies needed to be put back can be purchased at the grocery store, dollar store, and discount stores such as Wal-Mart. Think about what would be needed for going camping. A massive solar system costing $10,000 is not needed(but would be nice!).
7. Educate Yourself – A boatload of preparedness information is available on the Internet.  Read articles, watch YouTube video’s, and most importantly use some common sense when getting this information. Fear mongering is everywhere.
8. Keep Your Car at Least Half Full and a Full Gas Can At Home – Gas lines and shortages don’t bode well for an expedient departure when your car is running on empty. Keep it at least half full and have a reserve.
9. Put Together a Bug Out Bag/Kit – Using the camping analogy again review needed supplies once the bug out location is reached. Typically using a backpack is recommended however I prefer a rugged tote box for storing supplies. This tote could be kept in a car trunk/SUV – or in the home. Point being a kit needs to be put together so that if needed it can be “grab and go” scenario.
10. Prepare Yourself….Mentally – No doubt you’ve thought of a variety of situations that may occur. Now is the time to visualize them over and over in your mind. The purpose of this is to prepare mentally for what might happen BEFORE it actually occurs. Â Should some unfortunate event take place you will be more mentally prepared due to the visualization exercises conducted.
11. Purchase a Firearm If You Do Not Own One – There are a variety of situations where the need for firearms could come into play. Civil unrest, rioting, crime waves, etc. can cause innocent citizens to become violent crime victims. Even the playing field by having a firearm.
If you read this and go out and buy a gun make absolutely certain you also purchase training. The mere ownership of a firearm does not constitute the ability to use it and defend yourself.
12. Alternate Forms of Cooking – If the grid goes down preparing meals will still need to take place. While most of us have gas or charcoal grills at home how much fuel is available? How about a firepit along with enough wood to last? A propane camp grill with a dozen or so canisters is a good start. Extra propane tanks for your gas grill are fairly cheap. Charcoal? Stock up on sale and keep it dry.
Although those discovering preparedness at this point in time may be a bit late to the game – there is no better time than NOW to start – so get to it. Don’t go overboard and run up credit card debt. One step at a time will get you to your destination.
Rourke
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I think that one of the most important things about prepping is to not let yourself get overwhelmed by what other people are doing. Start with simple things and keep your preps well rounded. Get ideas from other preppers online, but don’t get locked into the mindset that you need to keep up with them.
I also think that “store what you eat” is misleading. My house tends to rely on chicken tenders, tater tots, and fish sticks, none of which can really be stocked in bulk. “Store what you would eat if you had to” is more realistic. Casseroles aren’t a favorite of mine, but they’re easy to make with stored pasta, rice, or potatoes, and they’re hot and filling. Same goes with oatmeal, bean soup, or chili. When I plan meals around the foods in my pantry, I get inspiration by thinking back to what my grandparents cooked. They lived simply and made their meals out of what was available.
living in the florida keys during the hurricane season of 2004 and 2005 was a rude awaking to the reality of how things can go very wrong in life with no way to control it. so instilled in my being was the reality of how life can be unpredictable and so the prepping started. I invested in a small generator and shower on demand and had plenty of cans of spam, stored fresh water, and boxed food. When the tidal surge from hurricane Wilma the last and most destructive huricane for florida in the 2005 season destroyed tens of thousands of cars and most people if ur house wasn’t on stilts u lost everything… I was lucky that we had a loft in the place we rented to keep things safe from the ocean salt water that flooded and destroyed our 2 vehicles, fridge and and everything on first floor… thank god for prepping(forsight), planning, and to this day prepping is just a part of living this life even in upstate NY cause I know the reality of how life can change on a dime
One thing to remember, no one can prep for everything. Don’t get paranoid about your prepping. Start with a few cases of water for each person and then a water purifier. A few extra cans of things everytime you go shopping, to be set aside. You’ll be amazed how fast it accumulates! Anything you do will help you with whatever comes. Think outside the box. Water, shelter, heat, a way to cook. Good luck!