Prepping is more than a list of chores. Prepping, done right, is actually a lifestyle change. A lifestyle change that is welcomed by some, and resented by others.
If you fall into the latter category, it is probably because you have believed a lie. A lie that is actively pushed, one that says you have to buy tons of gear, a property in the middle of nowhere, a warehouse full of food, an off-road RV and tons of other expensive stuff.
That’s complete hogwash. Prepping effectively can be done in a minimalist manner without turning your life completely upside down. That’s a fact, and in this article I’m going to tell you how with some quick tips that will help you become a minimalist prepper. We will dive right into it below.
Focus on Skills, Not Gear
If you learn nothing else from this list, learn this and take it to heart. Skills are what pay the bills when disaster strikes.
Knowledge, and better yet experience, doesn’t weigh anything and it’s something you’ll always have with you. All the gear in the world won’t save the day if you don’t know what you are doing.
If you are of a minimalist mindset already, this will be easy to understand: you probably shy away from buying hordes of stuff without a really good reason. Learn what to do and when, then buy the things you need to support your skills and you’ll be off on the right foot.
Only Store Food You’ll Actually Eat
This is a mistake I see made over and over again, and truth be told it is a mistake that I made myself! When you start to assemble your survival food stash, it’s easy to get taken in by the idea that you should have this huge, varied menu. All kinds of food, all kinds of things, grains, veggies, fruit, meat and more.
It is true that you want some variety to prevent menu fatigue and to make sure you’ve got all your nutritional bases covered, but aside from that you should only store things that you actually want to eat.
If you hate lima beans, don’t get them! If you detest tuna, there’s no reason to have it no matter how good it is according to some guy on the internet like me.
Buy Supplies in Bulk When Possible
Whenever you are buying consumables, be it batteries, food, water, medicine or anything else for the purposes of stashing it, try to buy it in bulk if you can. This will save you money and make your life easier.
Now, depending on where you live and where you shop this may or may not be possible. If the vendor you are buying from only has smaller quantities or packages, you may be out of luck. That said, you can always talk to the manager and see if you can negotiate a better deal. And you should!
Thrift Shop for Expensive Gear
Make no mistake, despite my emphasis on skills rather than gear, having the right gear is still critically important. You might be a seasoned and savvy medic, but if you don’t have a trauma kit on hand when someone is grievously injured, the deck will be stacked against you and your patient.
If you’re shopping for something expensive, be it a nice tent, tools or anything else, you should go thrifting for it. Check flea markets, closeout retailers, estate sales, swap meets, classified ads, social media marketplaces and more. A little bit of time and due diligence can save you a small fortune.
Rotate Perishable Supplies
This is basics, but so much of prepping is doing the basics well. Food, water, meds, batteries and more will all go bad in storage over time. You don’t even have to open them or interact with them for this to happen!
Because of this phenomenon, you’ve got to rotate your supplies. That means you take out the oldest stock before it goes bad or becomes useless and, ideally, use it so it doesn’t go to waste.
When this happens, you replace the quantity you removed with new, fresh stock. First in, first out; that’s what you’ll hear the concept called in these circles. By rotating your supply diligently you ensure you’ll always have viable supplies on hand.
Keep Your BOB Packed – But Reasonable!
The keystone prep for pretty much every prepper is a BOB, or bug out bag. This is a large backpack or other piece of luggage packed with the survival supplies, equipment and other gear you need to self-sustain for at least a couple of days if you’re forced to evacuate or leave your home.
I can go on for thousands of words on the topic, and have, but for now suffice it to say that you should put one together as quickly as possible and have it ready to go in an easily accessible spot. If you are forced to run out the door with little warning, your BOB can be a lifesaver.
Plan and Prepare for the Most Likely Hazards in Your Life
Some preppers get sucked into a kind of paranoia worrying about and subsequently planning for, in microscopic detail, every conceivable hazard and disaster under the sun.
This is a mistake. Figure out what is most likely to occur in your life. Natural disasters that are most probable in your neck of the woods, and lesser emergencies that could befall you or your family. Plan for those.
Don’t Be Seduced By Apocalyptic Scenarios
Humans have a tendency, seemingly a natural one, to contemplate the end of the world or the end of days. A super volcano eruption, nuclear war, gamma ray burst, asteroid strike, magnetic pole reversal, killer AI uprising, zombie outbreak and all the rest.
Here’s a sad fact: it’s called The Apocalypse for a reason. The vast majority of people, if not all people, won’t be survivors of such an event but will instead be corpses in the background.
Spending time pondering and planning for such an event is fantasy, something that will rob you of attention, energy and willpower. Don’t give into it; keep your feet flat on the ground.
Get Fit, Stay Fit
If you aren’t fit, you’re going to die. It’s just that simple. Folks who have strength, stamina and resilience are far more likely to survive every conceivable kind of scenario. By the same token, people who are flabby, out of shape and infirm are far more likely to perish.
You owe it to yourself to get fit and stay fit. No excuses.
Leverage Family and Community Connections
Last but certainly not least, going it alone is a recipe for disaster, one you should avoid if at all possible. Smart preppers will cultivate connections and proper bonds with friends, family and neighbors.
These very real community links provide strength, redundancy and backup plans in times of trouble. Wolves that run with a pack survive and thrive; lone wolves perish in the winter.
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