One important thing that I've learned is that there are always more things to acquire; the list never ends. So I have two firm rules I try to follow:
1. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! 2. Do not go into debt to purchase items on my list.
This slows down my preparation as I first need to earn the money to buy the stuff, but with an ever-expanding rabbit hole (and thus ever-increasing list of things I feel I need), it's too easy to get carried away and load it all up on the credit card.
Baby steps... baby steps to total preparedness (if there exists sucha thing).
Daren
· 11 months ago
I have only been into the preparedness mindset for a few months. My wife is part supportive and part skeptical. That, plus two young kids at home, puts a lot of pressure on me. I have to admit, many times I have felt overwhelmed at how much there is to do and how little time there is to do it in. I've decided I can't let myself look at the big picture, because it'll just make me despair. So, I am focusing on one or two things at a time.
Jayce
· 11 months ago
@connor no kidding, NO DEBT @Daren it's like debt reduction, looking at everything will always overwhelm you. But like a long hike, it's one step at a time to get there. If crap happens when you are halfway to your goal, you're still better off than you were. So start simple, and develop the habits. Also, don't forget that most of preparedness is mental preparedness. It's what you know, and how you react. That doesn't cost in the way a case of food does. Start reading, and you'll be prepping.
phil801
· 11 months ago
Connor, great points! Prioritization is a critical part of planning and executing your prep plans.
And I loudly second your statement about not going into debt for preparedness! If was was willing to just charge everything I needed/wanted for preps not only would I be broke, I'd have everything I needed and prepping wouldn't be a lifestyle for me.
It will be a sacrifice for me this year to purchase the tents and stoves that I mention in this article. In the neighborhood of $5k. I know I'll appreciate them MUCH more for the effort that went into getting them. The only stress with it is that I have to sit back for a year and hope I get it before TSHTF :)
phil801
· 11 months ago
@daren excellent feedback from Jayce there, and Connor's comment as well - baby steps will get you a long way! The important thing is that with every match you are able to buy, you are more prepared than you were before.
And like Jayce said and my article mentions, the most important part of prepping is the knowledge and experience. It changes you. There are lots of cheap homemade type things you can do - take a look at our cotton ball firestarter post for example. Major prep for only 6 bucks.
And for your wife, once you get your food storage going make sure that you have all the things stored up that she is needing all the time. Then, when she says "we're out of X" you can just tell her it's down in storage and you'll go grab it for her - or show her where. She'll learn to love the idea of having her own supply of everything! Well, my wife and several of my friends wives have at least. :)
Connor
· 11 months ago
The only stress with it is that I have to sit back for a year and hope I get it before TSHTF.
Funny you should mention that, as that's how I partly feel with every major purchase I do: ("I hope I get one before they sell out", "...or before prices skyrocket", "...or before something major happens").
The other part of me always hopes that I never have to use these things; that my bugout bag (while rotated and ready) will sit unused in my closet; that the big tent I want will actually never be needed; that the ammo I have will be used for nothing other than recreation.
But if history and current affairs are any indication, that latter hope is in vain, and we're running out of time. :)
Angela
· 11 months ago
This is a fantastic explanation of prepping! I don't know that total preparedness exists either. Because part of the rabbit hole selection problem is we don't know all the details of what we're prepping for. We can assume some parts of it (no power/running water/etc.) but won't be sure which supplies/knowledge are needed until we need them. I heard someone once say they finished their year's supply and I thought about how my preparations haven't stopped since they started--I don't know that I'll ever be finished!
I have been going down rabbit holes for 10 years or so and enjoying every minute of it--it really turns into a lifestyle. I have a couple of friends who have been standing in the field, looking at the holes and panicking because they don't know where to start. If you're not sure where to start, it might help to take a friend along with you (maybe that's just a girl thing--I don't know). We have a group of 4 of us that get together regularly and go over, learn, practice some topic of preparedness. It has been really fun to learn from each other and keeps us all thinking about preparedness and has helped those standing in the field to go ahead and jump in. It also makes you accountable--I'm giving homework assignments and we're checking up on each others' progress. A little at a time, don't try to hop in every hole at once! :)
Really enjoying the site--keep up the good work!
Tristan Rhodes
· 11 months ago
I know exactly what you are talking about, it can seem overwhelming at times. Sometimes you get the urge to stock-up in a certain area just to get it taken care of. The problem with that method is you are missing many other areas, and if you don't rotate then your investment can go to waste.
I recommend looking at it from a "survival time" point of view. How long can I be self-reliant? Simply by adding some water storage to your home will allow you to survive a week. What would it take to survive two weeks? A month? Two months? By slowly increasing your survival time, you can comfortably prepare without stressing and you will have a feeling of accomplishment as you reach each milestone.
Bustednuckles
· 6 months ago
Like trying to nail jello to a tree.
You did an awesome job of wordsmithing there. Yes, it is overwhelming and yes, we all got here with the help of many people knowing only parts of the big equation. Focus on the basics and pray that you will get by. Crazy isn't as fun as some folks would like you to believe.
matthiasj
· 6 months ago
Great post Phil. Preparedness is a way of life. It's not a hobby or a fad.
doctor zero
· 6 months ago
Excellent article! I have been very impressed with your site and the obviously experienced authors since finding it earlier this year.
Having been at this preparedness thing for nearly 25 years myself, I can tell you the Rabbit Hole analogy is perfect. As emphasized, prioritization is key. Ten-thousand rounds of ammunition and a years worth of stored food will not do you much good if you don’t have a supply of potable water for yourself and your family. Anything that will force you to leave the security of your home during a disaster situation exponentially multiplies the chances that you will be added to the victim list.
I would also suggest to look at prioritization in terms of potential product price changes and product availabilities. Usually these market changes are very predictable. For example, the increasing prices and sporadic shortages of long-term survival foods (and many other survival products) coincides with the recent media popularization of the “Survival Movement”. The dramatic price increases and availability issues with firearms and ammunition could be expected long before the presidential inauguration and current situation. Similarly, pandemic supplies are best obviously purchased BEFORE the WHO announces Phase 6 Pandemic level and the obvious product shortages. Think about what sorts of things would be in demand and short supply in various disaster situations ahead of time.
Another way that I look at prioritization is balance. There are times that I go down one “hole” or another for sure but overall I try to keep balanced across the major critical areas of preparedness in both study, training and financial expenditure. I believe that it only takes one neglected critical preparation area to turn a well meaning “prepper” into a desperate refugee or victim. Water, food, communications, medical, energy production, shelter, self-defense, financial/bartering resources, reference materials, among others, all need to be addressed in terms of short, intermediate and long-term planning scenarios.
Thanks to experienced authors like yourself, there are vast resources of information available on the internet. Taking advantage of the collective experience can be an extremely efficient method of minimizing the learning curves associated in every area as well as reducing costly purchase errors no matter how far along you may be. Be mindful as you go because there are also many sources of “bad” (read-dangerous) information out there. My advice is to take your time, explore and study the basics of each “Rabbit Hole” and proceed from where you are. Don’t be overwhelmed-just start from where you are and you will be better prepared than you were yesterday! -doctor zero
Shreela
· 6 months ago
I find that narrowing my focus helps me break down baby-steps easier. I started focusing for hurricanes -- which came in handy! And because of that, when unemployment happened, it wasn't as difficult as it could have been (it WAS difficult, just not as bad as it could have been if I didn't have quite a bit of non-perishables on hand). Plus the unemployed part helped me learn first hand what things to expect should it happen again.
Now I'm changing my focus a bit to include potential quarantine, using the hurricane and unemployment experience makes it easier because I have experience with those. Basically I need N95s (have 24) and medical supplies (OTC and herbals already on hand, and considering fish ABX for an affordable "just-in-case" the hospitals are full. Also in the "fish" category, I bought some tubing in case I need to hydrate PR).
All Comments
One important thing that I've learned is that there are always more things to acquire; the list never ends. So I have two firm rules I try to follow:
1. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!
2. Do not go into debt to purchase items on my list.
This slows down my preparation as I first need to earn the money to buy the stuff, but with an ever-expanding rabbit hole (and thus ever-increasing list of things I feel I need), it's too easy to get carried away and load it all up on the credit card.
Baby steps... baby steps to total preparedness (if there exists sucha thing).
@Daren it's like debt reduction, looking at everything will always overwhelm you. But like a long hike, it's one step at a time to get there. If crap happens when you are halfway to your goal, you're still better off than you were. So start simple, and develop the habits.
Also, don't forget that most of preparedness is mental preparedness. It's what you know, and how you react. That doesn't cost in the way a case of food does. Start reading, and you'll be prepping.
And I loudly second your statement about not going into debt for preparedness! If was was willing to just charge everything I needed/wanted for preps not only would I be broke, I'd have everything I needed and prepping wouldn't be a lifestyle for me.
It will be a sacrifice for me this year to purchase the tents and stoves that I mention in this article. In the neighborhood of $5k. I know I'll appreciate them MUCH more for the effort that went into getting them. The only stress with it is that I have to sit back for a year and hope I get it before TSHTF :)
And like Jayce said and my article mentions, the most important part of prepping is the knowledge and experience. It changes you. There are lots of cheap homemade type things you can do - take a look at our cotton ball firestarter post for example. Major prep for only 6 bucks.
And for your wife, once you get your food storage going make sure that you have all the things stored up that she is needing all the time. Then, when she says "we're out of X" you can just tell her it's down in storage and you'll go grab it for her - or show her where. She'll learn to love the idea of having her own supply of everything! Well, my wife and several of my friends wives have at least. :)
Funny you should mention that, as that's how I partly feel with every major purchase I do: ("I hope I get one before they sell out", "...or before prices skyrocket", "...or before something major happens").
The other part of me always hopes that I never have to use these things; that my bugout bag (while rotated and ready) will sit unused in my closet; that the big tent I want will actually never be needed; that the ammo I have will be used for nothing other than recreation.
But if history and current affairs are any indication, that latter hope is in vain, and we're running out of time. :)
I have been going down rabbit holes for 10 years or so and enjoying every minute of it--it really turns into a lifestyle. I have a couple of friends who have been standing in the field, looking at the holes and panicking because they don't know where to start. If you're not sure where to start, it might help to take a friend along with you (maybe that's just a girl thing--I don't know). We have a group of 4 of us that get together regularly and go over, learn, practice some topic of preparedness. It has been really fun to learn from each other and keeps us all thinking about preparedness and has helped those standing in the field to go ahead and jump in. It also makes you accountable--I'm giving homework assignments and we're checking up on each others' progress. A little at a time, don't try to hop in every hole at once! :)
Really enjoying the site--keep up the good work!
I recommend looking at it from a "survival time" point of view. How long can I be self-reliant? Simply by adding some water storage to your home will allow you to survive a week. What would it take to survive two weeks? A month? Two months? By slowly increasing your survival time, you can comfortably prepare without stressing and you will have a feeling of accomplishment as you reach each milestone.
You did an awesome job of wordsmithing there.
Yes, it is overwhelming and yes, we all got here with the help of many people knowing only parts of the big equation.
Focus on the basics and pray that you will get by.
Crazy isn't as fun as some folks would like you to believe.
Having been at this preparedness thing for nearly 25 years myself, I can tell you the Rabbit Hole analogy is perfect. As emphasized, prioritization is key. Ten-thousand rounds of ammunition and a years worth of stored food will not do you much good if you don’t have a supply of potable water for yourself and your family. Anything that will force you to leave the security of your home during a disaster situation exponentially multiplies the chances that you will be added to the victim list.
I would also suggest to look at prioritization in terms of potential product price changes and product availabilities. Usually these market changes are very predictable. For example, the increasing prices and sporadic shortages of long-term survival foods (and many other survival products) coincides with the recent media popularization of the “Survival Movement”. The dramatic price increases and availability issues with firearms and ammunition could be expected long before the presidential inauguration and current situation. Similarly, pandemic supplies are best obviously purchased BEFORE the WHO announces Phase 6 Pandemic level and the obvious product shortages. Think about what sorts of things would be in demand and short supply in various disaster situations ahead of time.
Another way that I look at prioritization is balance. There are times that I go down one “hole” or another for sure but overall I try to keep balanced across the major critical areas of preparedness in both study, training and financial expenditure. I believe that it only takes one neglected critical preparation area to turn a well meaning “prepper” into a desperate refugee or victim. Water, food, communications, medical, energy production, shelter, self-defense, financial/bartering resources, reference materials, among others, all need to be addressed in terms of short, intermediate and long-term planning scenarios.
Thanks to experienced authors like yourself, there are vast resources of information available on the internet. Taking advantage of the collective experience can be an extremely efficient method of minimizing the learning curves associated in every area as well as reducing costly purchase errors no matter how far along you may be. Be mindful as you go because there are also many sources of “bad” (read-dangerous) information out there. My advice is to take your time, explore and study the basics of each “Rabbit Hole” and proceed from where you are. Don’t be overwhelmed-just start from where you are and you will be better prepared than you were yesterday!
-doctor zero
Now I'm changing my focus a bit to include potential quarantine, using the hurricane and unemployment experience makes it easier because I have experience with those. Basically I need N95s (have 24) and medical supplies (OTC and herbals already on hand, and considering fish ABX for an affordable "just-in-case" the hospitals are full. Also in the "fish" category, I bought some tubing in case I need to hydrate PR).