Common Sense Rules For Prepping
Being prepared for power outages, loss of income, or natural disasters just makes sense. But, how you prepare should make sense, too! So, I’ve come up with a list of common-sense rules for prepping that will help you prepare for anything in a sensible way.
Common Sense Rules For Prepping
When it comes to being prepared, it’s common sense that you can’t predict what is going to happen in every situation. You don’t know if you need to prepare for a power outage, job loss, natural disaster, or a global pandemic. With these common-sense rules for prepping, you can cover all your bases without it taking over your life!
Rule #1: Don’t Get Tunnel Vision
There are too many variables to try and predict what will, or could, happen. If you get caught up in social media and what everyone else is freaking out about, you may not be prepared for something else that happens.
Many preppers prepare or invest in specific gear while ignoring other possible outcomes. What is the point in being prepared for a power grid failure if you aren’t prepared to handle a simple tornado or hurricane? Don’t get tunnel vision and focus only on one catastrophic thing that could happen. Prepare for basic needs regardless of the situation.
It does make sense to best prepare for those disasters or emergencies that tend to happen most often in your location. Preparing for hurricanes in Florida makes total sense. Preparing for earthquakes in California also makes sense. But remember, you can have terrible storms in California and earthquakes in Florida, so prepare for those and other challenges no matter where you live.
Rule #2: Make Preps Simple, Usable, and Practical
When we are in crisis mode, our brains work differently. You may have some senses that are better than others, but you may not have the capacity for rational decisions, or the ability to remember how one of your preps even works.
For example, if you don’t have specific training on how to use Decompression needles and esophageal tubes, this may be an impractical prep because even if the situation arises, you may cause further harm because you don’t know how to use them properly.
It’s crucial that your preps be practical and usable especially when your brain is in crisis mode. The less you have to remember at the moment, the better things will go. Having “how-to” books available can take some pressure off. It’s a problem if you put those books together based on materials or equipment you have but haven’t learned to use them. The old adage, Practice Makes Perfect, applies here.
Rule #3: Don’t Try to Remember Everything You Read
We put a lot of useful information on this blog, but it’s impossible to try to remember all of it. When reading the information, try to take one thing away from it that you can absorb into the back of your brain.
For example, my Duct Tape post lists 15 ways you can use duct tape in various situations. It’s impossible for you to remember all 15 things, but you could focus on one major thing. The real value of a post like this is that duct tape is something you can use for a lot of things, and is thus important to stock. As mentioned above, putting the information to practical use reinforces what you’ve read and studied, so practice and the approaches for processes will make more sense and come to mand as needed.
Rule #4: Use the 80/20 Rule
Even the best of preppers can never be 100% prepared for everything. This is because we can’t predict the future. An example of the 80/20 rule is 20% of readers post 80% of the comments. Or, 20% of people determine 80% of the politics.
With this, we can create a framework for prepping. If you have two weeks of supplies in your home and a bug-out bag, you are better prepared to handle any emergency than 80% of the population. You won’t ever be 100% prepared, but you can be 80% more prepared than anyone else. Don’t overstress on trying to get 100% prepared.
The challenge you face is setting your priorities for how to prep for those most common situations. You can research weather patterns, seismic happenings near your community, flood maps, etc. to see what are the most common challenges you may experience, and then plan accordingly.
Rule #5: Have a Healthy Mix of Preps
When you are prepared for anything, your preps should be a mix of gear, supplies, skills, practice, planning, community, and you. Preppers can usually be divided into two groups: those who have gear but few skills and those who have skills, but not the gear. You want both, and here’s why:
- You may have all the gear in the world, but if you don’t know how to use it, it won’t do you any good.
- You could have enough food to feed an army, but if you don’t know how to cook it without a stove, you won’t be able to eat it.
- If you have the best urban garden but can’t defend yourself against those who will take your food or the pests that frequent your area, you are going to be in trouble.
Having gear and supplies goes hand-in-hand with practicing how to use it, planning when and how you will use it, and having the right skills to use your preps. Again, it doesn’t need to be 100%, but you need a healthy mix.
Gear is important! Skills are important! Planning is important! Being able to defend yourself is important!
Rule #6: Invest in Preps with a Budget
If you are brand new to prepping, you should expect to dish out a pretty penny to get you prepared for most things. If you are just prepping for yourself with a basic mix of supplies and gear, you should expect to spend $800-$1000. For a family of 4, you’re looking at about $2500. After you’ve spent the money on the basics, it will only cost about $50 per year to maintain it.
With that being said, you don’t have to spend all that money at once! You can buy the most important things for $40, then save up, buy the next thing, and repeat until you have what feel you’ll need. Even if you only have an extra $20, you can get started. In my Prepping for Beginners: A Guide to Get You Started, you can use the first shopping list to get started, today.
Rule #7: Do NOT Let Prepping Dominate Your Life
The prepping community is filled with passionate and engaged people, which is part of what helps motivate others to prepare. But, sometimes people get so passionate about being prepared that it can dominate their life and how they spend their money which can grow into an unhealthy fear.
Although fear can fuel transformation, it can also dominate your life to a point where you aren’t enjoying the life you have. There’s a difference between survival fear and irrational fear. It’s important to prepare for the future, but it’s also important to keep your perspective.
Spend a reasonable amount of time, money, and energy on prepping, but don’t let it dominate your life.
Rules for Prepping Basics
Prepping doesn’t have to be hard, time-consuming, or filled with anxiety. When it comes to prepping, there are a few more basic rules to remember:
- Get your finances in order– Pay down debt, have savings, and make sure you have cash on hand for emergencies.
- Prepare for at least two weeks of full self-reliance– You need enough water and survival food for everyone in your house to eat for at least 2 weeks. I recommend a month. In addition, have emergency fuel sources and ways of heating and cooking your food without the use of gas or electricity.
- Prepare a bug out bag– Although I don’t recommend leaving your home with all your preps unless you absolutely have to, you should have a bug out bag with 72 hours of survival gear and supplies.
- Learn skills and practice– You want to know core homesteading skills as well as practice with your gear before something happens.
- Have a first aid kit– Make sure you have items for minor cuts, scrapes, sunburn, or medical needs, as well as over the counter medications for fever, cough, stomach issues, and common illnesses.
- Know how to protect yourself– Part of being prepared is knowing how to protect yourself and home from looters and those seeking to hurt you.
Final Word
When prepping, it’s important to hope for the best and plan for the worst! You can still live a full and active life being a prepper, but having a backup plan is a smart move. Use these common-sense rules for prepping and focus on getting practical, useful preps. Once you learn some good basic prepping steps, don’t be bashful about sharing what you know with family, friends, and others who are willing to listen. May God bless this world. Linda
Copyright Images: Hurricane Supplies AdobeStock_458745 Lisa F. Young
Good stuff.
It’s a lifestyle not a dominating factor unless there is an event then it’s becomes more of a focus but don’t forget other things around you in the process such as relationships and jobs.
Hi Matt, thank you for your kind words. Relationships are a big thing. Prepping really is a lifestyle, great comment as always. Linda
Regarding #2 above, yes, the first rule of medicine is to do no harm. If you don’t know how to use a decompression needle, your first time seeing a pneumothorax isn’t the best time to decide to give it a try. At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that doctors are not storing any supplies for people outside their families. (And actually, doctors are like the rest of the population–very few prepare to any extent.) They are not storing sutures, antibiotics, or IV kits for others. In the event you need medical care during a disaster, it may be far easier to find a doctor than to find the medications and supplies he needs to treat you. In that case, you will have needed to Bring Your Own Bandages (title of my book on the subject). The current FDA Drug Shortages List (Google the phrase if you are interested) shows numerous shortages for antibiotics and injectable drugs of all kinds. The latter is due to the fact that injectable water and saline are in critical shortage. Injectable water and saline! A doctor friend confirmed that our hospital is close to having to shut down due to these shortages.
Hi Jennifer, thank you for the title of your book. Here is a link if anyone wants to order it: https://amzn.to/3IufxSD Jennifer, great comment, so many of us are taking classes (several) to learn to do things we hope we never have to do as far as first aid. I do have a prepper doctor that is a bit over the top on preparedness but he stockpiles everything he will need. He taught me so much and I will be forever grateful. He is now in the beginning stages of Dementia, this makes me so sad!! I believe there are shortages of medical supplies. I have some family members who work in several different hospitals. Life is crazy right now, God help us, Linda
At one point there was a shortage of Nitroglycerin Sublingual tablets because the only plant making was damaged in a hurricane. I learned when 2000 was supposed to be the end of life as we knew it that most insurance providers allow prescription refills 5 days before needed. 5 times 12 months means an extra 60 days worth of necessary medications.
HI Chris, great tip! Linda
A great article, Linda and I agree with Matt: Being Prepared is a lifestyle. Actually using one’s preps regularly, rather than focusing on buying or being online constantly ‘checking on possible crises’, is far more important. And this is for any and every thing one has or plans to use in case of an emergency. You did a great job of sharing examples of this.
I will add my own example: if my family doesn’t know how to use kindling (including using paper, boxes, bark, etc) to start a fire, what good will my fireplace and woodstove do them? For that matter, if they don’t know they need to open the flue, same thing. Keep up the good work, Linda.
Hi Wendy, thank you for your kind words. That is a great statement about the flue, yeah!!!!! Linda
Matt’s comment is spot on. And Jennifer, thanks for the reminder about the medical supplies! I have been really focused on food storage right now because we have 3 people with food allergies in our family. I am glad for the wisdom everyone shares here. It’s all about balance. Linda, I really appreciate all the research and work that goes into your posts. I am so thankful for the hard core camping we did when I was a child and the basic life/survival skills that we were taught. My big moment was when I finally earned my badge for starting a fire with flint and steel and some kindling. I am still really, goofily proud of that. I also realize I haven’t taught all of this to my kiddos. So we are going to do some fun stuff outside this spring to enhance their repertoire of talents. ; )
HI Steff, I love your comment! I would goofily be proud of that too! Love it! Linda
I do have a suture kit as well as a staple gun for cuts. I got them from Amazon. The suture kit comes with a practice piece of rubber (skin like) to practice on. I also got some suture needles already prepped. I have a medical handbook for preppers as well. I’m trying to prepare for whatever we my need if life as we know it stops. I do have OTC meds, and am looking into herbal remedies and how to make them. I love paper books for this reason.
Hi Deborah, good job, paper books we can hold in our hands are the best. I’m expecting a large long-term power outage. Let me be clear, this is my opinion, I hope I’m wrong. Linda
I hope you’re wrong too. Not fun having no power. Take care of yourself and your family. God bless you my dear friend!
Hi Deborah, everyone in this group will get what I am about to say. Most of my readers know I have moved from Southern Utah to Northern Utah. Well, Mark and I are building what we call a cottage (a small home) in my daughters back yard. Well, our belongings are stored in climate control storage units. Well, I called to make sure if I could get in the units should we have a cyber attack or power outage. I can. Now I can sleep at night. Plus I have some strong grandsons with trucks, need I say more. Hugs, Linda
Banana peels are great for practicing suturing. It’s also important to know when to use a skin stapler and when sutures should be used–and when they should not be used. And then there are all the times when skin glues and butterfly bandages will do the job just fine.
Hi Jennifer, great comment. I was taught the same thing in a “mini” medical class by a doctor with pig skins. My eyes are so bad now, I hope I can get by with the one million butterfly bandages I have. LOL! Not a million but a LOT! LOL! Linda
I do have super glue/derma bond, and butterfly bandages. I know the deepest cuts need sutures. I cut the back of my thigh on a license Plate when I was about 13. It cut pretty deep. I got hysterical when they were going to get me stitches, so Mother did the butterfly bandage. The scar is about 4 inches long. I hit on the corner. I’ve had stitches since then, but it was always after surgery. Just last year I had stitches and steri strips on my lower neck from parathyroid surgery. I’m doing very good now.
Hi Deborah! OUCH! License plates are sharper than they look! Linda
Yes they are! I was sitting on a motorcycle and decided to jump off like on a horse. Just don’t do it! I have a wide scar too. It’s not fun. I thought I’d just scraped it until I showed Mother and she called her husband. Then I saw the blood running down my leg. It happened the day before we left on vacation. It’s hard to get around with only one leg and no crutches. You can only hop so far. LOL
Hi Deborah, oh my gosh right before a vacation!!! NO!!! Not fun! Linda
I think that my family is prepared in a broad-range sorta way. We live in a climate that swings from blistering hot in the summer to snow and ice in the winter. That makes it difficult for our 72hr kits and bug-out bags. A person cannot prep for everything. My biggest fear is that with all we’re prepared for, we’d have to abandon our home…and all our supplies! Our family is basically alone, nowhere to bug out to, etc. Our whole prepping is based on being home based. We do have kits and a plan for leaving quickly but it would be sooo hard!
Getting on to prepping, many many years ago the Church pushed storing 50lb bags of wheat, etc. Well, I don’t “do” that sort of prepping. It would be totally wasted on us. I figured out early on to store/prep what we want/will eat/need, etc. Everyone needs to personalize their own prep that suits their family. On the medical side, I have some Red Cross classes for First Aid, etc., EMT training, but that’s it. With that being said, I kept all my manuals, have several preppers medical books and alot of supplies-that I hope I never have to use! IF there was an issue, AND a doctor was available, my mindset is to have the necessary supplies available for them to use should they need it. This may be the wrong way to look at it, but it eases my mind. With all the unrest in Russia/Ukraine, it brings alot of those feelings home.
Our family weathered the pandemic pretty well, too, with all the supplies we had. That vast movie collection really came in handy, too! Oh, and all my books and my never-ending fabric stash for quilting. I truly believe we were blessed. Our house is paid for, no debt, it certainly paid off.
As always, there were sooo many good ideas and suggestions in all these comments. I enjoy them as much as I do the actual articles!
HI Robbie, I can tell you right now, I will not be bugging out somewhere. We have everything here that we need. (Plus the storage units stuff, LOL). Where we live now we have people that will hopefully work together. I know most of them and my daughter and her husband have known them for years. I wish my home was done so I could set up meetings to help anyone who is interested in learning about preparedness. God is on our side, stay safe, Linda
I value all your help, but yesterday I realized a problem I haven’t had in the past. Before, when I bought 8 roasts for the freezer, I followed up with 8 bags of baby carrots, 8 cans of button muhrooms enough bullion and baby onions. That way, things were used evenly. Yesterday in straightening my pantry, I found 5 jars of gray I had completely forgotten about that had expired . I had always prided myself on not wasting the money my husband worked so hard to earn. How important are expiration dates and how do I keep track of it all??
Foods are usually still good after 3 or 4 yrs past exp. date…..if container is damaged, leaking, food smells bad …throw it away….otherwise it is probably still good to use. As for the gravy, if still good, you could use it right away and/or empty jar into another container and freeze it until you are ready to finish using them all…..I personally have used drinks and foods wayyyyyy past exp. date and never had a problem….I am 82 yrs old
Hi Sandra, oh I have to tell you this. My grandson loves orange gelatin with canned peaches. My daughter brought a can upstairs that was from 2011. She said, “do you think these are still okay”? I said they may taste like metal but I will smell them. I opened the can they smelled like peaches and I made the jello with them. They tasted great! Tomatoes would be sketchy, but these peaches were great! Linda
Thank you so much Sandra for your help. I am truly trying to get this right. My husband supports my efforts, but he essentially is leaving it up to me. I do fear we are headed for a truly dark place in time. I will be lucky to make it to 70 this September. God Bless you and please stay safe
At one point there was a shortage of Nitroglycerin Sublingual tablets because the only plant making was damaged in a hurricane. I learned when 2000 was supposed to be the end of life as we knew it that most insurance providers allow prescription refills 5 days before needed. 5 times 12 months means an extra 60 days worth of necessary medications.
Hi Chris, this is awesome! Linda
Linda:
These are some great ideas. I printed off the article to give to my husband and I also have a copy in my computer. Since all this has happened in the Ukraine my husband is beginning to think ahead now. It took his younger brother to make him see the light.
Hi Jackie, oh good idea! Thank you, my friend! If anyone goes to a grocery store they will see empty shelves. I feel very prepared but I have no control over other countries. I sure hope this situation opens the eyes of many. God help us, pray for our country and the world. Linda
We are lucky because the grocery stores near us buy a lot of local items so we are not seeing the empty shelves those in the city have. We had 1/4 of a pig given us and a cut up goat given to us. The pig was from a friend of mine and the Goat was from my daughters boss who had 3 goats that he killed and cut up. He said he would not use 3 goats because they had beef and pork in their freezer and did she want it. She said sure. So we may be short on beef but we will have a lot of pig and goat and Jack got a big deal on whole chickens at $0.39 a lb. He got 18 of them which were all that they had at that price.
Hi Jackie, oh my gosh, you got some great gifts of meat!! SQUEAL! Boy, the chicken was a great deal as well! Yay! Linda
Linda,
This is one of your best articles ever, and Matt, as usual, was spot on. I would only add that, as far as defending yourself and your family goes, having one or more large dogs is a great deterrent. Our two German Shepherds are polite and friendly to those they know but are very intimidating to those they don’t. And their bark, which they only use when strangers come onto the property, is all the alarm we need to make us aware we need to pay attention.
On another note, our fruit trees are blossoming and unless we get another bad cold snap it looks like we could have better production than last year.
Hi Ray, SQUEAL!!! I’m so glad you got the two German Shepherds!! Even my two little Shih Tzus bark, you are spot on the alarm! Love it! Oh my gosh, pray for those blossoms to stay warm and not freeze!! Love hearing this!! Linda