Oct142010
Survival Survey: What’s the Single Most Important Thing?
image by moonstarsilverwolf
I was going to write a post aimed at newbies, people new to the idea of preparedness, and was going to title it, “The Single Most Important Thing”. At first, I was going to write about getting out of debt as the single most important thing a SurvivalMom should do, but then I remembered Suze Orman’s advice about saving money as being the most important thing. Then I thought about the importance of being ready for an emergency and was going to go back to my advice in this post, “Plan for a Short-Term Emergency.” Finally, I had a brilliant idea. Why not ask all of you? If your best friend came to you with her worries for the future and for her family and you knew you had to simplify your advice down to the single most important thing, what would you tell her? The comments on this post will be far more brilliant than any advice I could come up with!
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Jillian
Do something. Something is better than nothing. The most important is to start.
LizLong
As long as you're not making foolish choices and putting yourself in debt for it, I would say being prepared to survive for two weeks or so in your home. That's more than enough to get past most emergencies, and the ones it isn't long enough for, you should still be past the first initial panic. While paying down debt is important, there are more than a few scenarios where it is definitely NOT the best choice. EMP, of course, would render anything that you don't have in your possession (including skills) as irrelevant. That's admittedly not the most probable event, though. Hyper-inflation is far more likely. How will you feel if you spend $100 extra a month toward paying off debt like your mortgage for the next year – then hyper inflation hits and that $100 will barely buy a gallon of milk? If you spent that $100 a month on food storage and hyper inflation hits, how will you feel about your debt comparatively? Again, no one knows what will happen, but prices for goods never seem go down (except old electronics, including cars). And if you are to the point of losing everything because of debt or other problems, wouldn't it be nice to know you could at least eat for a couple weeks?
Stephanie
I would say balance. There are so many areas of preperation that you can (and sometimes I do!) get a little crazy on. There is so much to read, so much to buy, and it can all be overwhelming. A little here, and a little there.
Andrea
Store food and water! It's good insurance against inflation, job loss, collapse, bad weather, hiccups in your budget, unexpected company, sickness. Getting a couple months of food put up is top priority in my book. My husband got laid off last Friday (praying it's short-term) and it's a great comfort knowing we have plenty of nutritious food at our disposal. Getting out of debt IS very important, but there's no sense in starving to death with a perfect credit score.
rightwingmom
Andrea,
Totally agree. Many of us must choose between budgeting for prepping OR reducing debt. We have an excellent credit score and I try to make headway on our debt, but I'd rather have a year's worth of supplies than to be out of debt and unable to feed my kids. I would estimate our surplus budget is 75% to prepping and 25% to paying extra on our bills.
Dustin
In the immortal words of Douglas Adams: Don't Panic
Financial freedom is important, but honestly, if the economy goes totally sour, there is no way any agency or group can call every single piece of consumer debt (mortgages, credit cards, loans, etc.)
All the guns and ammo won't do you a lick of good if you're overwhelmed by force.
Years of food in your pantry won't help if you're not home when things go awry. Consider the scene in The Road when The Man and The Boy find the well-stocked bunker – totally provisioned and relatively safe – they did not remain there because it was not deemed safe (as if anything else was).
Break the inertia. Learn to do some things that have low/no reliance on technology. (learn to sew, start a fire primitively, can/jar food, etc.)
Finally, the instinct to survive is strong – but we all perish. I would rather not compromise myself entirely just so I could go on another day – I'll have to answer for my actions when I am judged.
Dagny
Cash.
Rose
I really like all the comments. My husband and I are new to prepping – he got on board first. I am trying to (hence, visiting here!). My desire is to get out of debt. His is to be prepared. So, we are trying to compromise.
We recently revisited our budget to adjust how much we were putting towards our "debt snowball" to allow more funds to get allocated to food storage, skills training, materials and such. It was a big step for me, but hopefully honoring to him and his desire to protect our family.
When it all comes down to it, I would say "balance" as well. Also, be cool – don't let it all get to your head, because it can be overwhelming to think of all the scenarios of what could happen. But use your head to plan in the first place.
LizLong
I've found that in prepping I buy more ingredients, less prepared meals. This is helping to get me to make more things from scratch in normal life, and thereby save some money there. We also don't have to run out to "just get" things like tp, trash bags, etc – and we all know that those trips end up with extra items we didn't really need, which also add up over time. So, as long as you're smart about it, prepping can help decrease your costs overall and the lifestyle changes you make may help you reduce your "normal" spending in ways that will surprise you.
countrygirl
Knowledge. Wherever you are, if you are with your kids and family or away from home you always have it and so do they. It can be pratical and used in a basic medical emergency or a long term survival secnario. Also with knowlege comes the desire to prepare financially, physically, etc. Another words a very important first step.
Mike in Virginia
I think Dustin has the right idea. The most important thing is to engage your brain and think about your current situation and the types of events you need to prepare for. Everything else will flow from that first step. And don't forget to bring a towel.
L P
I plan to do a treatment on this on my blog at some point, and it will likely follow the basic outline of:
Food
Water
Shelter
…with the recognition that just about everyone that can READ a blog has shelter already. To "survive", one must be able to carry on basic physiological functions – impossible without food and water.
A guy, or gal, has to be able to continue eating and drinking, and their survival plan needs to keep those things as a goal. Whatever can get in the way of those things needs to be dealt with, or else the plan will fail quickly.
Debt is an enemy of your ability to purchase supplies, or the raw materials needed to create supplies. If debt eats all or most of your monthly income, you need to get it under control or seek relief in court.
Lack of knowledge will cause you to spend cash in the wrong place and on the wrong things. Get EDUCATED. Read blogs like this, or mine, or whichever works with your way of thinking, but get educated. The ill informed will be the ill prepared, and possible the recently departed.
If you plans include others, get them solidly on board and save time and energy later getting them to go along with some of the more unappealing things.
Whatever the drive or anchor, get it under control and get your life sustaining supplies set aside. The other fancy stuff comes after that.
Barbara
For the newbie, I would tell them to start by sitting down with a notebook and begin to make plans. Plan your storage, plan your gear, plan your plans (Bug out, Bug home, what to do for friends and relatives, etc.) Think about what you need to learn, and just where you stand on many of the moral issues you might be faced with. (Quicker and easier to deal with a situation if you know in advance if you'll fight or flee.)
In other words, start with your head. Know what you're doing, where you're going, and why.
Red
The single most important thing for us is to get our budget under control. This is allowing us to (most importantly!) stop living outside our means and accruing new debt, build up a small emergency fund and pay off debt while still allotting a controlled amount of money toward other categories (including prep) each month. We've finally got a handle on it and now we really are telling our money where to go, instead of wondering where it went at the end of each pay period.
Katie
I am new to prepping within the last year. I would say food and water. I agree debt is huge, but for some people their debt is so big, they wouldn’t be able to prep for years before they paid their debt off.
Kandi
The will to survive. I have had a couple of friends tell me that they would just be emotionally flattened and not sure they would want to go on. To me that is dangerous thinking. Of course if a big emergency comes their survival instinct may kick in. But it may be a bit late.
Barbara
Kandi– Tell your friends that is exactly why they should prepare. You don't have to stand there and be stunned stupid, you can get going on what you know needs doing. Doctors aren't tossed into surgery without being trained what to do first. Soldiers aren't herded into battle without gear and training. Survivors aren't thrust into disaster without supplies and knowledge… victims are.
Those who prefer to die rather than face uncertain futures of work and danger are lazy and self centered. I prefer they're not in my way.
Sunshineblog
Of course Kandi has it right. Mindset – the right attitude – willpower – that of course is the most important thing. Without it, all the food / water / money / lack of debt / gear / bags / planning / knowledge / guns / skills / ingredients / lack of panic / sense of balance in the whole world won't do you any good.
Victor Frankl used it to survive the holocaust – while those around him gave up and died. If you have it, all your other preps will mean something. If you don't have it, you and your family could encounter tragedy while surrounded by warmth and plenty.
GoneWithTheWind
I think the problem is that ther is no "one" prep for all the possible scenarios. So my answer is a bug out bag for each family member. This is a cheap trick to name one thing that is actually many things. My bugout bag contains a tent, sleeping bag, 7 days of food water, water purifier, first aid kit three ways to make fire, money, clothes, etc., etc. Even if I stay home it would provide. This is my backpacking bag and I keep it ready to go and hanging in my closet. I know right where it is (even in the dark) and I know what's in it and how old all the items are. Everyone watched New Orleans residents go through a week or more of hell so my question is; how could you not have a BOB?
Pearls
In regards to Hyperinflation, you should put your monies toward tangibles that tomorrow may cost more – that means food – clothes – necessities – medicines – "prepper" items. DO NOT PAY OFF YOUR MORTGAGE… Think about it – if there is large inflation – Germany – hyper inflation – coming our way, it will be EASIER to pay off your mortgage. It is weird to think about, but your mortgage is locked and therefore inflation actually helps you pay it off, but it does not help you buy things to feed your family.
DO PAY OFF THINGS that have adjustable interest rates (which is pretty much everything else
)
If you save, save in a "real" item and not just money in a bank because inflation will render it worthless.
And be ready to purchase while there is "blood in the street". There will be a time during hyper inflation when people will sell anything – ANYTHING – for gas/food/whatever. If you have positioned yourself with tangibles that can be sold (gold, silver, oil) you will have an opportunity to purchase land, homes, you name it. This is what happened in Argentina and looks as closely to what we will follow as I have seen.
Long time back to say – FOOD – CLOTHES – whatever you think you might need at your home if you couldnt leave for several months….
Mary
Several said balance and that's probably the best advise.
Mary
Pearls, I've followed your site for a long time and love it too! Sites like I Drive My Tractor in Pearls and Survival Mom are always in my morning coffee browse time. SurvivalBlog was my first site that I followed when I "woke up" but some of the articles make me yawn as I skip through paragraphs of electronic info. As a Mom and wife it's always interesting with the chick prepper sites! LOL
Emerson
First and foremost is your mindset. In any survival situation, the first thing any survival expert tells you is to STOP, SIT, CALM DOWN, AND ASSESS THE SITUATION. This goes for any scenario (wilderness, urban, etc.). If you lose your scruples, then you make rash and hasty decisions, which can lead to greater consequences. Get your "thots" together, and all else will follow. I like to think in this order… Think, Plan, Act.
Ashleigh
I totally agree with all of you! Prepare yourself mentally first! I think the biggest obstacle is shock, so the sooner we play every worst case scenario through our minds, the better off we will be mentally in assessing what we need to do! The next step is water, water, water!!! Start filling up cleaned out milk jugs and store them. Then potassium iodide pills for fallout radiation protection. Next is food. Stock up on foods that don't need to be baked or micro-waved. Instant oatmeal is great! Ramen noodles, things that have a long shelf life. Get extra prescriptions if you need them. Extra diapers, wipes, dog and cat food. Just try to buy 2 instead of one to begin your storage. That's a good start. I read the best quote the other day: It's better to be 30 days ahead than a day late in prepping! Amen to that.
Carolyn
Ashleigh has the right idea, water, water, water. it is the number 1 necessity in survival, yet most put it second behind food–not that food is not important too. But water can be stored very inexpensively. However in the blogs I have read, they say not to use milk jugs–forgot the reason—but instead use soda or juice bottles. Jusr wash them out, fill them up with clean water, and store in a dark place if possiblle for up to a year.
I also use soda bottles to store rice, oatmeal, sugar, salt. dried beans, etc. I wash the bottles, turn upside down and drain until completely dry, fill with desired product.with the help of a large funnel, and put lid on. Label bottle with contents and date filled. When I have a 10 or so of these fillled, i take off all of the caps, put a nitrogen pack in each one, and replace lid tightly. Then for extra insurance i wrap some duct tape around cap to show that they have been treated. Another tip I have read is that if you put your bottles in the freezer for 24 hours you will kill any larvae or eggs that might cause your food to be ruined.
Moss Walker
All the suggestions above are valuable. I have amassed a collection of "How to" books. If, TSHTF, there will be no internet or TV……I've been living without TV and radio for about 6 years now, by choice. I collect and read everything possible about self-sufficiency and defense. My larder is growing every week along with my knowledge. I just purchased a brand new, still in the box, dehydrator at a yard sale for $5. and will begin processing vegetables this week.
Keep up the good work everyone!
LizLong
Re: internet and tv: I think that depends on the particular S in TSHTF. Economic Collapse will almost certainly NOT result in them going away, at least not in the short term. I think an EMP is the only scenario that would render all electronics (including kindles) non-functional and it would be easier to carry a fully loaded Kindle around than the same amount of information in paper books, although paper backups for critical knowledge is important. Of course, you would want a solar charger for any electronics you choose to keep.
Great buy on the dehydrator! I hope it goes well for you. And great for you on the no tv or radio. I frequently am doing other things while I watch, but getting rid of it entirely is even better.
Harold
As others have said; education is a must. Read all you can about different survival/disaster scenarios. This education in turn will lead you to making plans and purchasing of gear appropriate to your situation. Ask questions and question what you learn in order to better understand; there are lots of "viewpoints" out there. Work all of this into your daily living and attitude. If you are a Christian you should consider that Jesus provides the ultimate survival. None of us can be sure that all of our plans will work out.
Bryan
Well, seeing as I don’t see any responses yet and I’ve been reading tons of the stuff on this blog here, I’d like to provide you wonderful people with my .02: most important thing in preparedness is a well cultivated relationship with each member of your family. This is not only all too neglected today, but it is the whole reason why we marry and don’t send our kids out on their own after a year like the deer do. Its also extremely practical. Imagine what happens if your child or your spouse all of the sudden decide that an emergency situation is a good time to engage in a power struggle? Or perhaps even decide that its time to hash out all of those unresolved beefs that have been hanging out in ignore land waiting for the butcher to show up and wisk them away painlessly. With all seriousness, even though emergencies do tend to bring people together, how much more effective could you be if the family dynamics were healthy before shtf? Likewise, what motivation will your 4 year old have to help with your 2 year old if you have done nothing up until that point to ensure they have a healthy relationship? If our prime motivation in prepping is to save our family from certain calamity, then let us not ignore the calamity that seems to plague america today, the dysfunctional family. Now I’m not trying to suggest that every prepared family should be perfectly socialized and never have relational issues (impossible) but the skeletons in the closets and the elephants in the living rooms MUST be addressed before a situation presents itself that heightens emotions and fears and requires families to place elevated levels of trust in each other. Not only will you find more help in your preparations but the emergencies that you face will begin to seem more like adventures than stressful and threatening calamities. I think I’ve made my point. Thanks four your time and attention. Bryan
LizLong
I've recently realized that I have some family members (aunts, uncles, cousins – not immediate family) that I will NOT help if things go badly. I will help a stranger before I help them, because there is the chance that the stranger will help me in return, even if only with chores, and they may have useful skills. These family members WILL sow strife wherever they go, they will be nasty to everyone else, and they are unlikely to be team players, or even nominally kind people. They have spent decades proving this. A disaster will NOT make them better people, and they are not welcome in my home.
In addition, they believe Big Government will save us, so they can go rely on it instead of asking me for anything. Actually, they have been quite condescending (again, for decades) to anyone who dares dispute their OPINION – on anything. Again, not someone I want in my shelter. I don't need someone who is going to create an argument over the best way to dry cast iron – and I saw my aunt nearly reduce her 70-something mother to tears making fun of her for drying cast iron "wrong".
So, create relationship with those who are close to you and you need, but recognize the ones you do NOT want or need in your shelter – or your life. Weed them out now.
bryan
ok so if my last post actually shows up at some point… just know i posted on my phone and it did not load any of the previous posts that had been made. sorry…
TheSurvivalMom
Bryan, I've had some issues this morning with my server. Your comment now shows up, loud and proud.
) I agree with you about family relationships. Hard times are easier to take when family members trust each other. I think trust is a big issue and definitely worth nurturing within our immediate and extended families and circle of friends.
Bryan
Thank you so much! I’m kind of ready for people to start including family dynamics as topics in their survival blogs and forums, it just seems to be a bit lacking. Not that every one isn’t concerned with their family, I just think its not touched on like it ought to be. This is what I appreciate so much about your blogging, extremely practical and very family oriented. Keep up the great work!
Trisha
Knowledge! If alot happens, and you had to leave all your preps, you can always take your knowledge with you! Learn about wild edibles, wild medicines, first aid, how to make a shelter, how to make something out of nothing, and you will have that, no matter what happens.
Blessings in Christ,
Trisha
carolbee
perhaps it's just ME, but will someone explain the necessity to LEAVE?
what the scenario?
am understanding 'survive in place' but other..is WHY?? also–
in the event of a total breakdown..NOBODY will be able to pay their mortgage
and the bankers will be busy looking to their FAMILIES needs
so..
I say to my younger sisters and nieces in the cities..when/if the time comes
QUIT paying your RENT.
buy a bicycle NOW
take you & 'your's to a small town, use your $ to rent, by the month, an apartment WITH A FIREPLACE
then start dating..a survivalist!
LizLong
I agree – you don't want to be a refugee!!! Too many survival-minded sites tell you to get out and go out into the middle of nowhere. Really? Every area has dangers, you just need to evaluate and be mindful of the ones near you.
LizLong
Now that my kids are asleep, I can finish. We're not likely to be the ones who go running to…well, golly gee, didn't think that far ahead, if the SHTF. (Unless DC gets solidly nuked, then that's a different story.) However, once the first wave of panic has subsided, there is definitely the chance that things could get so bad that we'll need to leave, but I don't think the scenarios that would result in that are related to the most-likely events, like hyper-inflation. Evaluating and being mindful of the dangers near you has to include re-evaluating periodically. Someplace that is initially safe (or dangerous) may not remain that way. We have family we could run to, but there is also a town we know of in West Virginia that we may run too if necessary. Going to West Virginia from DC wouldn't force us to cross large waves of refugees from other cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Richmond, which is the main advantage.
And a small house or row house might be easier to find than an apartment in a small town, especially with a fireplace. You could also have a garden more easily at a small house. If the owner fusses, just share part of the produce and they'll no doubt quiet down.
TheSurvivalMom
I agree that staying put may turn out to be the safest option, but if a town's water source was tainted, grocery stores were out of food, and roaming gangs of violent thugs were going door to door, leaving might not sound so bad. Your advice for dating a survivalist is very wise.
)
David McPherson
All of the posters have good ideas but the single most important thing is your mind set. Do you really take this seriously? Are you prepared to totally change your life? Think of what it was like when there was a power outage. How did you react to it? Could you live comfortably for a few days, a week, a month without power? If you live in a city, the violence will come sooner not later, but even in the country, violent groups will show up eventually. Are you ready for that? Could you kill to protest your family? Alot of people say they can, but when the metal meets the meat, they can't. This is the most important thing, because if you have the mind set for this, the rest is alot easier. If the above happens, do you fight or flee? What happens if you flee? It's great that people are thinking about being more self relient, but you must think in terms we are not used to thinking in. For me, I think in the worst case senerio…maybe nuclear war, then plan from there. Tis don't mean buying a ton of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, but it is a reasonable place to start for alot of preparadness planning.
Sean
I live in an area that is subject to pretty harsh winters, frequent power outages, and the occassional "freak storm". I remember as a kid, whenever a storm rolled in, Mum would always fill the tub, sinks, and any jugs we had around the house with water, and when the power went we always had a few days water before we had to hand draw off the well.
When I got married, my Wife always thought I was a little nuts, insisting on a weeks food in the house at all times for each person, plus 10% more, filling up the tub/sinks/jugs when a storm was coming, having a propane stove, heater, and plenty of gas for these, and the gas BBQ.
Then Sept 24 2003 Hurricane Juan slammed us…in the heart of the city, we were without power for 8 days, no stores, no phones…a mini SHTF. A state of emergency was declared, the Military was brought in to help with disaster relief and cleanup…we were fine, well off, in fact, even comfortable.
After it happened, I was RABID about re-stocking…we had several arguments over it, as I insisted on replenishing all of our used supplies quickly, and properly…I had an emergency fund of cash for just this purpose (even though it didn't cover HALF of what the re-supply cost), and that caused a HUGE rile between her and I, she was mad because there were time we had been short of cash that I refused to use the money. This went on for a few months, as I replenished and restocked, and every time I bought something, it caused another fight…things finally calmed down around the end of January…the kit was restocked fully to my standards, and there was no money left in the slush fund…quite literally, we were talking divorce over the matter…February 17th…what is known in Eastern Canada as "White Juan" hit us (a freak snowstorm that dumped 3 feet of snow on us in less than 24 hours…no power, snowed in, no stores open, no phones, sure as HELL not a plow on the road for the first 2 days so no one was travelling anywhere)…and again, we were fine…comfortable even.
Now when a storm is forecast, SHE inventories the supplies, and counts the slush fund for re-supply.
My point in all of this, is that what we do seems strange or weird to some, even those close to us, but eventually, they see the logic behind it, or they move on.
Don't go through what I did, educate your family as to WHY preparedness is so important, and how it can and will save your lives when the time comes that it is needed. It'll save you a LOT of headaches, heartaches, and sore throats from fighting!
AND…if you can get her to see your side…your Wife might just let you buy the GOOD supplies for your stores!
TheSurvivalMom
Sean, I love your story! It really does help when both husband and wife are on the same page when it comes to preparedness.