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We all have things we know we should have already done in life. Preppers are no different. Here are the top 7 prepper steps you should have already taken care of:
- Evaluated your health. Health is everything and physical fitness needs to be an ongoing effort. This may be the most difficult area of preparedness because it requires daily, and sometimes hourly, effort. But in a crisis or a collapse of our economy, medical care may be nearly impossible to find, and it will be the healthiest who survive, not necessarily those who have amassed the largest caches of firearms and/or food.
- Put up a shingle for a new home-based business. Figuring out ways to bring in two, three, four or more streams of income isn’t greedy, it’s necessary. Depending on a single source of income, unemployment and other government assistance included, is dangerous in an economy that continues to struggle and spiral downward.
- Joined a preparedness related MeetUp group or connected with another person or family who can teach you and yours a new skill. Hobbies have always connected like-minded people, with many of them forming lifelong friendships. Just ask an amateur radio operator! If the hobby is also a skill that will be useful now and into the future, learning it will equip you and your family for rough times ahead, and the friendship just might turn into an ally.
- Started a formal, methodical savings plan. Even if the economy collapses, having money saved will be far better than having nothing at all. When currencies have been devalued, the old currency was always worth something. Even if you’re a complete pessimist about the future, it may take many months or even years for a collapse to occur. In the meantime, having a nice stash of cash will help you prepare, buy land, pay off bills, and take other smart financial steps that will make your future a little more secure. The 52 Week Savings Plan is a super easy way to save over $1300 in one year! There is even a Facebook support group for Survival Mom’s working on this challenge.
- Stocked up on effective nutritional supplements. The FDA has long had its sights set on regulating supplements and likely banning many of them. If you’re like my mother and swear by stinging nettle, echinacea, and a few others, it might be smart to stock up on several months worth, or more. When it comes to storage, treat the supplements as though they were food, storing them in a cool, dark, and dry place.
- Paid off all vehicle debt. Most families rely on their vehicles to transport them to and from work, job sites, employment interviews, medical appointments, and shopping trips. If you can’t stay up to date with payments, there goes your ability to earn a living, seek medical care, and buy necessities.
- Stocked up on at least 2 months of food and supplies. If you’ve done this over time, you’ve no doubt noticed that container sizes have decreased while prices have increased. When you buy food, toiletries, over-the-counter meds, etc. now, you’re buying them at today’s prices, which will almost certainly be cheaper than prices down the road.
Hopefully, you have already taken care of at least a few of these. The ones that are left should be the next items on your Prepper-To-Do list!
Need specific guidance for stocking up?
These links might help!
- Simple Food Storage Meals for Tight Times
- Top 10 Foods for Stocking Up
- The 6 Enemies of Food Storage
- The Everyday Emergency Kit — Customize to your own needs.
- Make a Grab-n-Go Binder — Keep all your vital documents in one place.
- Quick Start Guide to Getting Prepared
- Vehicle Emergency Checklist
Updated from original article published on December 28, 2011.
8. Make sure the car is gassed up and ready if you must evacuate in a hurry. If you have a cool, dry place to store and extra 5 gal metal can of gas (with Stabil), do so. If the gas you've been storing is old, make sure you replace it. It doesn't hurt to do so by testing your generators (you have one, right?) to run essential appliances for a few hours to make sure it all still works.
BTW – that might sound paranoid for some preppers, but I've had to evacuate from floods and tornados in my lifetime. And we all saw what happened when there wasn't enough gas, vehicles, or sensibility for some people to leave ahead of Katrina.
I talked to a "small engine repair guy" and he advised that sta-bil is only good for about 90 days at best and with the "new" fuel blends maybe even less. He said you need to use it and rotate it just like your groceries on the shelf… Just a bit of FYI to help any and all. God Bless. Jeff.
Unless you use pure gas in the mowers, weed eaters, and vehicles, which we do.
I just found out that it is still possible to purchase gasoline with out ethanol. There are apparently sites all over the rural areas of the country. There are 2 outlets in my small town that I had been totally unaware of. I was also able to find a 5 gallon metal Jerry can today, so that will be my goal for tomorrow. I did not save the website that had a list of outlets by state but Google should be able to find it for you.
Bamboo, my small engine guy has told me the same thing regarding Sta-Bil and said to use this http://www.priproducts.com/preparedness.cfm . I treat a 1000 gal. of diesel and 500 gal of gasoline as recommended by the manufacturer and everything starts first time every time. Try to stay away from cheap fuels, Chevron is the best having a longer shelf life and using premo for chainsaws and other 2 cycle tools will keep them running better and longer. The shelf life for Pri-G and D is indefinite provided the container hasn’t been opened, so you can stock up. Also, according to the manufacturer, their products will rejuvenate old fuels by doubling the dosage.
U wanta testify, I wanta testify!. I have been usung Pri-G since 1999 in our lawn mower, etc with gas, for that particular reason of log shelf-life. In act I have only gone thru two bottles of the stuff since 1999. The preservative of choice.
Yep-you are reading my mind. Making plans to leave my beloved California (going broke as fast as we can!!) because of the political environment. Will be doing a little low key touring this summer with relocation in mind. Also, working on paying off my school loans-my only bills, and affirming several streams of revenue. You can NEVER be too prepared! Take it from someone who has survived the Watts riots as a kid, innumerable earthquakes, floods, the Rodney King riots, and several droughts to name a few things. Thanks for all of the great ideas on Survival Mom!
For the Relocation-minded, check out Joel Skousen's book, Strategic Relocation.
If you are considering somewhere east of the Mississippi where there is plenty of water, he recommends the Tennessee Cumberland Plateau. Beautiful, sustainable, defendable. You might also look into the Village on Sewanee Creek.
Thanks for posting this. Your #2 & 4 are currently on our list. Not only health but dental also. Our family is almost 100% completely off prescription medication and I have a nice stock of the medicine we use when the children are sick. So 2012, is starting off with trying to convince the children that going to the dentist is god for them.
To go along with health, is strength and stamina. If you are huffing and puffing when you come up from the basement like my MIL, you should do something about that! Lose some weight and start walking! Are you strong enough to carry heavy backpacks or cut firewood?
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Guess what, Ladies? I’m finally learning to drive! How’s that for “prepping”. I’m only half kidding. Until recently, I didn’t realize just how my lack of a licence was a real handicap. That and income streams are my prepping goals for 2016.
My grandmother never did learn how to drive, so good for you!
The comments on Stabil are off mark. I have been storing gasoline for several years, doubling the recommended addition of Stabil and recycling every two years. It works great in my truck, generator and chainsaw. Twenty five gallons at my house and the same at my get out of dodge prepping house. Every two years, I use the old gas and replace it. I’m sure the other stabilizers work also. Yes, it would be better to have pure gasoline vs ethanol added.
That’s good to know. Thanks.
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