Tips and common beginner mistakes
One of the biggest misconceptions that new prepping beginners face is what items to prepare. This article will discuss some important things to consider before getting ready, as well as some tips for how to organize your supplies.
First, you don’t have to buy every little thing in this world! In fact, investing in only a few key products can be a great way to start prepping.
And even though it may feel like there are never enough resources available, most people already have everything they need to survive. We live in an over-consumerized culture where almost everyone has access to food, shelter, and medical care.
The average person doesn’t know what all these things mean in terms of survival, but they are definitely aware of them when needed.
Don’t feel like you have to take action immediately, but if you want to begin prepping, now is a good time. Start with something simple first – such as stocking up on water or medicine.
There are many ways to get started with prepping, so choose one that fits into your schedule and enjoy it. Being prepared is not a once a year event, it is a constant reminder to be self-sufficient and independent.
Planning based on your risks
As we have discussed, being prepared does not mean stocking up on food supplies or buying every tool under the sun. Being prepared is actually planning for something specific — in this case, a crisis.
The word “prepper” comes from the term “prepare.” A prepper gets ready for a potential crises by thinking through what could be life-threatening situations that are likely to occur, creating a plan to deal with them, and gathering the necessary items to implement that plan.
This might include things like having enough money to last you for several weeks, knowing how to take care of yourself and others, and understanding basic health issues related to disease and medicine.
By thinking about possible threats in advance, you can begin preparing for them. In an emergency, these skills will help you survive, possibly even thrive!
Maslow’s hierarchy and the Pareto 80-20 rule
The first step in defining what it is to be a prepper is to determine how much time you have to devote to preparing for an emergency. If you work full time, then investing in food stocks and supplies can be put off until after hours or weekends when you have more free time.
For example, instead of buying twenty cases of water per person, only buy six because that is enough to meet your daily needs for several days. Once you have met your basic needs, invest in additional foods so that you are not limited to the basics while waiting for the rest to be replenished.
The next element of being a prepper is having a plan. This should include both short term and long term goals. For instance, a short term goal could be gathering enough food to last you three months, while a longer term goal may be finding employment with paychecks that insulate you from any major financial setbacks.
Get your health and finances in order
Health is one of the most important things you can prepare for because if you are not healthy, nothing else matters!
Prepping does not mean giving up food or medicine that you need to stay alive, it includes improving your diet and exercise routines to ensure that your health is as good as possible.
You should also be aware of how to take care of yourself in case of illness or injury. This means knowing first aid and what products work for basic wellness (such as clean eating and stress-relieving practices).
It’s also very helpful to know how to conserve energy by using efficient light bulbs and lowering electricity use where appropriate. In fact, many organizations offer free tips for ways to save energy while still having enough to survive.
Financial preparations include learning about money management strategies, estate planning, and how to avoid debt in preparation for worst cases.
Get your home ready for two weeks of self-reliance
Surviving without food, water, and shelter is an incredible challenge. With that in mind, what kind of person looks to prepare for just about anything?
Prepping can feel very complicated at times. It’s easy to start preparing everything from storage bins to survival gear, but it all goes down the drain if you don’t organize and store it properly.
Don’t worry! We’ve got some tips here for you. After all, we’re pretty big fans of preparedness ourselves.
From stocking up on supplies to figuring out how to take care of yourself, this article will help you get started as a beginner prepper.
Bug Out Bags for every adult
Having an adequate bug out bag is one of the most fundamental parts of being prepared in general, but it can be tricky to know what size bags you need if you’re not quite sure what kind of situation you will face.
Most experts agree that while there are no hard and fast rules about how many items you should include in your bug out bag, at least two things are essential. These are food and water.
Beyond that, the size of your bag depends on several factors. For example, if you expect to stay outside for less than an hour then a smaller backpack or purse-sized container is enough to contain all of your needed supplies.
But if you think you’ll be spending hours away from home after evacuating then having a larger pack is better. This way you have more room to add extra bottles or boxes of food!
General tips
The best way to ensure you don’t run out of vital resources like food or water is to make sure your bag has separate compartments for each item. This way, you can easily find each piece independently.
Another tip is to only buy products with good reviews. You want to be confident that whatever you pick works well and doesn’t break down quickly.
Get Home Bags, Everyday Carry, and vehicle supplies
Having these items is not enough- you have to know how to use them! There’s an important rule in prepping: if it’s not needed today, it doesn’t get used.
If you don’t take this lesson seriously, you can easily waste your resources waiting for the day everything comes together. And we all know that’s no way to live.
With that said, getting home bags, everyday carry (or bug out) supplies, and knowing what products work well for your car are good first steps towards being a more prepared individual.
A home bag is typically a small backpack or purse item people carry around their house to store keys, credit cards, and other valuable belongings. They also include personal hygiene products like shampoo and lotion, as well as a blanket or tarp to protect against leaks and rain.
Bug out supplies include food and water that you would normally keep in your home, but instead you’d be taking them with you when fleeing or possibly staying away until things return back to normal.
Develop a Community of Like-Minded Preppers
In addition to having enough food, water, and supplies for yourself, your family, and your community, being a prepared person means having access to these things for people that you love.
Prepping is an ever changing process that requires you to be in constant learning mode. This comes not only from resources and courses you take, but also through interacting with other individuals who are motivated by the same thing as you.
By having these relationships, you’re able to pick up tips and tricks from them or get inspired to start preparing yourself.
There are many ways to develop this relationship circle, but one of our favorites is hosting a potluck party. A potluck party doesn’t require any recipes, and it can be anything from having someone make dinner for everyone to gathering snacks at someone’s house and serving those together.
The key here is making sure there is something for every participant so no one feels left out! Having a potluck event organized by a restaurant may not work for some, so instead try contacting local restaurants to see if they have a membership program where members get discounts at their place. Or ask if anyone is offering a free meal tomorrow!
Learn, practice, and plan!
Being prepared is not about having enough food to last you for a week or buying every new gadget that everyone else seems to have. It’s about being able to survive anything life throws at you by using what you know, how to use it, and who you are.
Prepping is also about giving back to your community. Generosity can be providing free resources to those in need (or creating your own!), hosting impromptu get-togethers, and supporting others in their endeavors.
Your word will spread much faster if you let people know who you are and what you offer so start sharing and growing!
What makes someone a “real” prepper isn’t just owning a few things, it’s knowing how to use them and investing time into learning how to survive no matter what happens.
So whether you decide to add some items to your collection or not, never hesitate to learn more about survival!