10 Simple Ideas on Beginning Prepping

If you’ve recently learned about prepping and the advantages of it, you might want to learn some prepping basics so you can start prepping at home with your family. Being prepared for potential emergencies like natural disasters is essential.

You never know what can happen, whether it’s floods, a tornado, earthquakes, a wildfire, or hurricanes, you can make sure that you’re ready for most challenges by stocking up on essentials. Check out these ten simple ideas on beginning prepping and becoming more self-reliant that are easier than you might think!

I’m updating this post because I realize I have some new followers and they may need a little help. Please feel free to share anything on my website if you teach emergency preparedness classes, want to inform neighbors, or get extended family members involved. We all started out small and then added the items we needed as our budget allowed.

10 Simple Ideas on Beginning Prepping

1. Start Collecting Non-Perishable Foods

It’s always a good idea as a prepper to start collecting non-perishable foods to have at home. These foods included canned meats, canned tuna, containers of peanut butter, protein bars, and more. You don’t need to run out and buy the first non-perishable foods you can find. Instead, try to catch these items while they’re on sale. Right now many stores are holding caselot sales of canned goods. It’s a great way to get started.

If you grab them on sale, you’ll save money and add them to your stockpile simultaneously. Don’t waste money on food you know your loved ones won’t eat, even in an emergency! This may be one of those simple ideas on beginning prepping, but it’s an important one because you don’t want food to go to waste. During a disaster, you and your family still need good nutrition as a means to stay healthy and alert

2. Store Plenty of Water For Everyone in the Household

Storing water is a must. You’ll need it to stay hydrated, but it can also come in handy for boiling pasta, rice, and other ingredients you can eat in an emergency. If you’re going to store water, you need to do it the right way.

Don’t place it in old milk jugs. While it may seem like a good idea, it’s not because those jugs can easily break over time, causing the water to leak out and get everywhere.

It’s best to store your water in quality water storage containers with lids to keep the water free of dirt and debris. I have a few ideas I want to show you. Some of you know about these, I’m sure. But for those who are getting started and may not be familiar with various products, I want you to have some options to choose from. I store water in many ways, that’s what we need to do.

Please make sure you keep your water safe by storing it on 2 by 4’s to keep it off the ground or concrete. You don’t want chemicals to leach into the water container(s).

Blue Cans

You may want to look at these Blue Cans, they are truly my favorite water to store for the long haul. They are good up to 145 degrees outside, but they could freeze outside, depending on where you live. The heat is my issue in Southern Utah as well as freezing some winters. I stored these stacked in my bedroom.

They taste better right out of the can than any water I have stored. The cheapest place to buy them is at Brownell’s. They sell out fast, so put your name on their email list if they’re out of stock so they can notify you when to order. Brownell’s Website These don’t need the product Water Preserver. This is something you add to your stored water so it doesn’t go bad for up to five years. The Blue Cans have a 50-year shelf-life and that’s why I feel they are the best thing ever.

Yes, they may be a little pricey, but when you need water to survive, price really isn’t an issue. If you sign up for their newsletter, they have free shipping sometimes, plus, with your first purchase you get a great discount. I don’t profit from these if you buy them. I want you to know how much I love this product.

WaterBricks

I love WaterBricks, I have several of the 3.5-gallon ones and a few of the 1.6-gallon size. The larger units are more practical because you can carry one in each hand to balance them. They each weigh about 27 pounds if filled with water.

I used to have a guest room that had 16 of the larger ones under a queen bed, so I had 56 gallons under that bed. No one knows they are under there. WaterBricks They are really handy because they’re designed so they can be stacked. You can see in the picture below the ridges and grooves for stacking purposes.

55-Gallon Barrels

I have four 55-gallon barrels on the side of my house. They are from my early days of prepping. They are inexpensive and need a pump to get the water out. Because I live in the desert, I cover them with UV water barrel covers to protect the plastic.

55-gallon UV Water Barrel Covers I have only replaced them once in 15 years. This water may best be used for hygiene purposes but could be put to use for cooking and drinking if needed. As a precaution, you may want to use a quality water filter to properly filter the water, or even boil it if you’re nervous before you consume it in food or as drinking water. As mentioned above, I use Water Preserver in these so I only have to change the water every five years.

As a note, many government agencies suggest one gallon of water per day per person in your family. I have always to my readers a more realistic number is four gallons per person per day. That should cover needed hydration, provide water for cooking, give you some to do limited laundry if needed, and also for some sanitation and personal hygiene, even if it’s just a sponge bath. And don’t forget some water for your pets.

Some people like to use unscented bleach or water purification tablets to treat their water. Other than Water Preserver, I like products from Big Berkey and PortaWell.

3. Build a Garden in the Backyard

Focus on building your garden in the backyard. If you’re growing different fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you’ll have access to fresh food in an emergency. You can start small, especially if you don’t have much gardening experience or growing space.

If you’re not sure what to grow, think of the vegetables and fruits that you eat and add to recipes more often than anything else. Those are the best fruits and vegetables to start growing if they work in your location.

Consider planting lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, berries, and other produce you can use in an emergency. These pictures show some of the items we typically have growing in our garden right now.

Most months I update an annual post in which I outline what you can plant in that particular month based on what growing “zone” you live in. Check them out in my archive above.

4. Use Coupons to Get Must-Have Prepping Items

When you know that you need specific items while prepping, such as mason jars with lids for canning and storing food, or flashlights to help you out when the power goes out, make a list of those items. Start looking through sales flyers or newspaper ads to see which stores are offering the items you want and need at discounted prices. The goal is to find what you need at a discounted price to save more money.

You don’t need to rush out and spend all your money in a day while trying to get the prepping essentials. Take your time and collect what you can based on family size, budget, and storage space. When it comes to simple ideas on beginning prepping, this tip is essential.

5. Get a Storage System Set Up in a Convenient Spot

Invest in a sound storage system that you can place in a convenient spot, such as the basement. It’s out of sight and out of the way, but you can use it to hold some of the most critical items, including bottled water and canned foods.

It would help if you had a safe place to put your things to prevent them from getting damaged. You can buy plastic or metal shelving units that are sturdy, reliable, and spacious. We keep our storage food on metal shelves from Costco. I really like them since they are sturdy and have wheels so I can move them. They almost fill one small bedroom in our home.

The prepping gear that isn’t affected by temperature changes, like our 72-hour kits (bug-out bags), Sun Ovens, Dutch ovens, cooking fuel sources like charcoal, etc. are on the same kind of selves but located in our garage.

6. Buy Batteries While They’re on Sale

If you’re going to start prepping, you’ll need to have plenty of batteries. If you don’t have a power source, batteries are a must-have because you can put them in flashlights to see where you’re going and what you’re doing. Try to buy batteries when they’re on sale.

You can find batteries at many different stores, including your local home goods store and grocery store, but it’s best to get them when they’re available at a discounted price. While the brand doesn’t necessarily matter, you might want to choose a brand known for its reliability.

Please invest in some solar items as well. There are many new devices that use a portable solar panel to run the item or charge its batteries. Solar Lanterns or Solar Flashlights Make sure you rotate batteries as needed. Nothing worse than grabbing some in an emergency only to find your stored batteries are depleted.

Please consider getting a hand crank radio for your home or evacuation shelter. That way you can stay informed and not have to carry too many batteries in your inventory for needed communication in a disaster. This is a great addition to your family’s emergency kits.

7. Put Multiple First-Aid Kits Together

Work on putting multiple first-aid kits together using quality first-aid supplies. If you have several people living in the household, it’s best to have a first-aid kit for each person. You can collect different items for the kits over time, such as rubbing alcohol, bandages in assorted sizes, gauze pads, ointments, allergy medication, and other helpful first-aid products.

Some families have members with special health needs that require medical supplies others don’t use. Take their needs into account as you gather supplies for short and long-term storage.

It’s always good to have these items in case someone gets injured or ends up in pain. In case you missed this post, First Aid What You Need To Survive

I highly recommend these books: Bugging In By Raymond White and The Survival Medicine Handbook

8. Invest in the Right Cookware

Try to buy the best cookware for emergencies. You can find a portable grill, emergency stoves, pie irons, and other products that you can use to prepare meals without a traditional power source. You might also want to invest in wood to use for fires in emergencies. If you have a garage, you can store the wood there until you’re ready to use it. Pie Irons for Cooking

Please invest in Cast Iron Pans and a 6-quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven. You can survive with a cast-iron Dutch oven if you have charcoal and some matches stored, or have fire starters of some kind.

You’ll also need dishes to serve the food that’s prepared. I always have some paper plates and other disposable products available.

9. Work on Eliminating Your Debt

Try to get out of debt. Being prepared isn’t just about having water, food, and a first-aid kit, but also about getting your finances in order so you can still meet your financial obligations when out of work or if your home or car is damaged.

You can start with your smallest debt and work your way up to the most significant debt to get everything paid off within a reasonable amount of time. Once you’ve eliminated most or all of your debt, you’ll feel much better prepared for the future. You can also start saving some extra cash in a safe at home to become more financially secure.

10. Learn How to Start Canning

Don’t forget to learn how to start canning different foods at home. It can save you money in the long run when you’re trying to build your stockpile full of foods that your family will eat. Learn about different canning methods, such as pressure canning, before you even get started.

You can get the supplies needed and get started, by canning some of your favorite foods, including vegetables, jams, fruits, and meats. Please invest in one of these canning books: USDA Canning Guide or The Ball Canning/Preserving Book

Final Word

If you’re just getting started with prepping, these helpful ideas are worth considering. You don’t need to rush out and spend your last dollar on essential prepping items as you start putting together a survival kit. Consider making a checklist of what you need, take your time, and get items while they’re on sale to save more money.

You can focus on slowly, but steadily, building your stockpile until you feel comfortable with what you have at home. What are some simple ideas for beginning prepping you’d like to share? May God Bless this world, Linda.