By Kit Perez<\/a><\/p>\n T<\/span>he concept of prepping \u2014 the term used to describe preparing for some kind of disastrous life event \u2014 has become far more popular lately. It used to be somewhat of a derogatory term, conjuring up images of tinfoil hats and conspiracy theories for some folks. More and more, however, people are finding themselves in need of a self-sufficiency \u201csafety net\u201d when facing pandemics, catastrophic inflation, record gas prices and more. Suddenly, beginning prepping doesn\u2019t sound so crazy after all, does it?<\/p>\n Maybe you have no idea what to do first. You might be unsure of how to start prepping: what do you buy, or where to buy it? With the prices of everything rising so quickly, you must spend your money wisely and get the biggest benefit possible.<\/p>\n So, before you run to your local supermarket for a 50-lb. bag of flour or beans, read on.<\/p>\n Some folks new to the prepping world tend to see it as a checklist of actions that must be taken. Many beginner preppers fall for the sites that tell them to \u201cbuy these things, store them and wait for disaster.\u201d Instead, you should think of prepping as a mindset change first, and action later.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s talk about what becoming a prepper means in practice.<\/p>\n Before you go out and start buying things, stop and ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n Each of these questions will help you get started by making you think about the types of things you need to buy, trade for or make.<\/p>\n Where you live can determine the types of weather gear you may need, and ties into what you need to have on hand. Here in Montana, our gear is different than those who live in southern Texas or Florida, and those places are different than New Jersey or Michigan.<\/p>\n Next, think about what kind of situation you\u2019re preparing for, because that\u2019s going to also inform what you\u2019re buying. If you\u2019re in the middle of Portland and you\u2019re worried about political unrest, looting or violent protests, you\u2019re probably going to buy different things than someone who is planning for their next hurricane season. If you\u2019re simply planning for a job loss or other financial disaster, that\u2019s also going to change how you prep.<\/p>\n Figure out what kinds of things you may need to deal with, and what kind of supplies you\u2019ll need to do it. Don\u2019t just think about natural or man-made threats, either \u2014 think aftermath, too.<\/p>\n Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Understanding the kind of event you\u2019re looking at could also change how you store the things you buy like your prepper food<\/a>. Living in a coastal or perennially wet state means you\u2019ll need to plan for things like rust and maybe salty sea air. If you live in a state where wild fluctuations in temperature happen from one season to another, where you keep your supplies in one season may not work in another. Consider these things when developing a prepper storage room<\/a>.<\/p>\n Next, you\u2019ll need to think about how many people you\u2019ll be taking care of. There is much debate on this point; some believe that they\u2019re responsible for the people in their household and no one else. Others believe that they should have enough to also care for anyone who comes asking for help. Whichever camp you\u2019re in, you\u2019ll need to decide now.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also need to consider any specific needs of your household members. Ongoing medical issues will need supplies, and you may need things that you won\u2019t personally use but someone in your home might. When thinking about how to start prepping for medical emergencies, consider what things your family uses now and begin with those items.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s talk timing. While it\u2019s true that a disaster can occur at any time, if your focus is natural events then your locale often dictates when those are most likely to happen. If you\u2019re in Florida, maybe that\u2019s hurricane season. If you\u2019re in Wisconsin or North Dakota, it\u2019s winter, when cold can reach -40 degrees below zero. You can plan your acquisitions so that you\u2019re buying in the offseason when things are cheaper. The last position you want to be in is buying critical items after they\u2019ve become critical. (Try buying a generator during a power outage; you\u2019ll see what I mean. Likewise, don\u2019t begin prepping for winter\u00a0<\/a>when the temps drop below freezing.)<\/p>\n Willpower also comes into play. Are you willing to ensure that you are physically, mentally and emotionally fit? Can you do without Netflix if it means having supplies? Can you stick to a budget to ensure the means to buy supplies? These are questions only you can answer, but they are fundamental to beginning prepping.<\/p>\n Finally, you need to know what your actual goal is and how far you are from it. Take stock of what you have first; make lists of each category: food, water, medical supplies, equipment, etc. Decide what you need based on the above criteria and plan your purchases.<\/p>\n You might want to run down to your nearest supermarket and sporting goods store and start filling your cart but don\u2019t. Prepping is a deliberate thing, and every purchase, no matter how critical, requires well-thought-out action.<\/p>\n Unless you have unlimited disposable income \u2014 and let\u2019s face it, most people don\u2019t \u2014 you won\u2019t get everything you need in a week or even a month. Look for deals. Shop sales, use coupons where appropriate and look at online sources. This will help you get the most for your money.<\/p>\n If the thought of waiting for months to have a year\u2019s worth of food on hand makes you highly uncomfortable, there are options. You can go to a bulk distributor, such as Azure Standard, and get a few 50-lb. bags of bean\/soup mix and bouillon, and a few five-gallon buckets, mylar bags and oxygen absorbers to store it indefinitely. It\u2019ll cost about $400 total for a year\u2019s worth depending on your family size, and it certainly won\u2019t be the most gourmet or even varied thing you\u2019ve ever eaten, but it\u2019ll be enough to keep you alive for a while if you have nothing else.<\/p>\n One thing you don\u2019t want to do is tell people you\u2019re starting to collect food and supplies \u2014 even if you plan to help others outside your home. You\u2019ll have a plethora of friends and extended family telling you that when something happens, they\u2019ll \u201cjust come to your house,\u201d effectively dodging any responsibility they may have for their own families. That\u2019s not the situation you want as a beginner prepper \u2014 or even if you\u2019ve been in the survival community for years.<\/p>\n Prepping isn\u2019t as simple as buying a lot of canned goods, but with the right mindset, it can provide peace of mind for you and your family. If you\u2019re going to do it, do it right. You\u2019ll be glad you did.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: Be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\nFirst Step: Mindset of Prepping<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/picture>Beginning Prepping<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/picture>Keep It to Yourself<\/h2>\n
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