One common, and big, misconception about preparedness is that it takes loads of cash to be fully and properly prepared for survival. In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, having a lot of money to spend on survival can sometimes become a crutch that actually impedes a person’s ability to become truly self-reliant. Don’t get me wrong, I love my gear as much as the next guy, and good gear sure does make life a lot easier during a crisis. But survival gear also has a big downside, which is the fact that it can be dangerous, even deadly, to become too reliant on your gear.
Many people make the mistake of believing they can buy their way out of danger. They spend countless amounts of money stocking up on commercial survival foods, buying prepackaged first aid kits, and ordering all sorts of survival gear that looks like it’s right out of some bad Hollywood sci-fi flick. They make the mistake of believing large amounts of gear will somehow save them when things go bad.
The truth is prepping can be done very successfully with little to no budget. Those who prepare with knowledge will be far better off than those who rely solely on their gear to survive. Knowledge is the key to surviving in just about any situation. That being said, there are some advantages and practicalities to stockpiling food, water, and some basic survival supplies.
Adding a “Preparedness” line item in your budget is no different from making a monthly insurance policy payment on your home, car, or health. Preparedness is the best insurance policy you can buy. It not only ensures you’ll be able to take care of your family during an emergency, but it also protects you from things like economic problems, a job loss, or an extended illness that might cause a loss of income. Before arbitrarily picking an amount to spend on prepping each month, take the time to analyze your budget to determine how much money you can safely spend on building your preparedness supplies.
Most of us have more gear and equipment than we realize, and chances are you already have a number of things in your home that can be used during an emergency situation. Having a good inventory of your current supplies will prevent you from buying something you may already have.
A lot of people mistakenly think they need to do everything at once. If they can’t have it now, they often become discouraged or give up all together. While most people don’t have the financial means to buy everything at once, that doesn’t mean you should give up on preparedness. Build your supplies when you can. If it means buying one extra can of food every time you go to the grocery store, then start with one can. Even that one extra can of food, purchased on a regular basis, will quickly add up. If you want to make a larger gear purchase, you may need to set aside a portion of your monthly preparedness money for a few months until you have enough to make the large purchase.
Over the last couple of years, emergency food companies have sprung up everywhere. Personally, I really don’t enjoy the taste of most of these products. I think I’d rather eat dog food over some of the commercial survival foods I’ve tried. Another problem is they can be very costly. Stockpiling even a couple of months’ worth of commercial survival food can cost thousands of dollars for a single person. Now add up all the members in your family and most people would be hard-pressed to find that kind of money just lying around the house.
Many first-time preppers make the mistake of stockpiling foods that they would never eat in a non-survival situation simply because the food is marketed as being specifically for emergency survival. During times of crisis, do you really want to start eating foods that may disagree with your body? In my opinion, you will be far better off stocking up on shelf-stable foods that you already eat.
Again, you don’t have to spend hours upon hours clipping coupons, but you should take advantage of every chance you can get to save money. Most major food manufacturers offer money-saving coupons through their websites, Facebook pages, or other online resources and local newspapers. A few minutes of work every week can save you thousands of dollars throughout the course of a year.
Most survival situations can be prevented or survived by learning basic survival skills. If you’re short on funds, compensate by stocking up on knowledge. It’s the one thing that can’t be taken away and it will always be there when you need it. I suggest taking the time to read as many survival books and websites as you can get your hands on. To stay on top of the latest survival techniques, skills, gear, and threat assessments I also suggest following me at my website, offgridsurvival.com
While knowledge is a key aspect of survival, taking the time to practice your skills is a key part of the survival puzzle. Training so you can master survival skills is what makes the difference between success and failure (life or death). To really be able to count on your knowledge during a crisis, run through your techniques in a number of scenarios and environments. The more you train in real-world situations, the more likely you’ll be able to perform your skills when it really matters.