In this article, you will learn 18 innovative prepper tips to help you with your preparedness journey.
When people first begin preparing, they almost always make a few errors. I’m sure I did. They get caught up in the idea of prepping and rush into it without taking the time to plan and think about what they’re preparing for.
Sometimes it’s simply a matter of not having enough information. If only I’d known what I know now back then. Please don’t squander your time, money, or energy by making the same mistakes I and so many others have.
Instead, read this list of prepper tips that they may have wished they had known before starting to prepare.
Let’s dive in.
In This Article
- 1. Start Budgeting
- 2. Spend Slowly
- 3. Store a Lot of Water
- 4. Diversify Locations
- 5. Prioritize Skills
- 6. Don't Forget Hygiene
- 7. Account for Special Needs
- 8. Account for Pets
- 9. Get Your Family Onboard
- 10. Get Fit
- 11. Keep your Yap Shut
- 12. Prepare a Get-Home Plan
- 13. Have a Plan B
- 14. Test Everything
- 15. Have the Right Everyday Carry
- 16. Frequently Check Your Stockpile
- 17. Weigh Your Bags
- 18. Learn to Use a Radio
- Final Words
1. Start Budgeting
You don’t want to spend all of your money on food and supplies. Instead, search for methods to cut costs until you have enough money for prepping each month.
2. Spend Slowly
Spend slowly on preparing. You don’t want to blow through your funds in a month. You need to budget yourself and find the best deals. And remember to prioritize what’s most important first.
3. Store a Lot of Water
Water is more vital than food in terms of hydration, and you’ll go through it faster than you think. You don’t have to buy bottled water to stay hydrated.
You may gather your own water and store it for lengthy periods of time in your garage or basement in collapsible containers or barrels.
4. Diversify Locations
It’s impossible to predict when danger will hit. In the blink of an eye, your whole food supply might be depleted. Place several caches about your area, maintain a get-home bag in each car, and store some supplies at your bug-out site if feasible.
5. Prioritize Skills
Every prepper needs both knowledge and expertise. Here are 25 urban survival skills and 18 survival skills your kids should know.
You and your family will need training and hands-on experience for each of these. You should also have a great collection of reference materials stored away as well.
6. Don't Forget Hygiene
It’s just as vital to store up on toilet paper and soap as it is to stock up on food and water. To avoid becoming sick, you must keep yourself clean. Getting sick in a survival situation, when hospitals are either closed or overcrowded, might be fatal.
7. Account for Special Needs
Insulin, glasses, medicine, oxygen, wheelchairs, EpiPens, and other items may require certain persons. Make all of the required preparations for them as soon as possible.
8. Account for Pets
If you have pets, you have two options: prepare to feed and care for them or abandon them. If you love your pets, make sure you have enough food, water, and other necessities on hand.
Make your decision regarding your pets today, rather than waiting until the last minute, when your emotions are already running wild.
9. Get Your Family Onboard
Every member of your family must be on board. They don’t have to be as enthusiastic as you, but they do need to know what they’re doing. Make sure to include them as much as possible in your preparations. You want everyone to be as safe as possible.
10. Get Fit
After just one day of catastrophe, many preparedness enthusiasts will be totally tired. Hiking from one location to another, transporting supplies, fixing broken roofs or windows, and so forth.
If you’re not in good shape, it’ll all wear you out quickly. It’s not as difficult as you would imagine becoming in shape. A half-hour of daily power walking will have a significant effect. Being in shape will not only keep you healthy, but it will also help you survive.
Here is a decent resource for getting fit – https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/exercise-and-fitness
11. Keep your Yap Shut
You don’t want to showcase your possessions. You’ll have a queue of people at your door if when a disaster comes, and you won’t be able to aid them all. So keep your plans to yourself and a small circle of people you trust.
12. Prepare a Get-Home Plan
Many individuals overlook the fact that calamities do not wait until you get home. They can also happen at work, school, or anywhere else.
Do you have a strategy to go home or a location where you can meet up with the rest of your family? Here is an article for starters regarding building a get-home bag.
13. Have a Plan B
Some individuals just expect that they will have to bug out, while others believe that they will be able to bug in. But you have no idea what will happen. You must have a plan A and a plan B in place. Every prepper should probably also have a backup plan for their backup plan.
14. Test Everything
Don’t count on your tools to function well when you need them. You must give them a shot. Also, don’t just keep a bunch of the same tool since you could need a different sort of tool if that one doesn’t work out.
15. Have the Right Everyday Carry
There are many times when trouble strikes, and we have to deal with only what we have on our person and in our pockets. A BOB is a luxury that might not be with us when the unexpected comes along, so I like to make sure I have a minimum of things on me before I leave the house, even for a trip to the grocery. Here are my recommendations. You can adjust for your own needs:
1.) A multi-tool with a usable knife
2.) A small lighter
3.) A black sharpie
4.) IFAK
5.) Slim wallet with emergency cash and id cards
6.) Keys, with a small flashlight on a keychain
7.) Other personal protection gear
16. Frequently Check Your Stockpile
17. Weigh Your Bags
This ties into testing everything. Put it on and go around the house with it. How long do you think you’ll be able to continue without stopping?
This article on tips to cut out weight from your BOB is a lit of a few of the things you could do if it’s too heavy, which it’s probably going to be.
18. Learn to Use a Radio
Invest in a GMRS/FRS radio. Radio traffic can cause regular CBs to get congested. A reputable brand will also provide encryption, allowing you to conduct private conversations with your family.
It may come with frequencies that require a license, depending on the manufacturer and model. If you do want to use public radios, you can learn how to get a radio license here.
Final Words
In this article, you learned some commonsense prepper tips. There are no fear mongers here, just regular people trying their best to protect themselves, their families, and their comfort and safety, regardless of what occurs down the line.
Having all the necessary survival items is fantastic, but having the “knowledge” of staying alive is crucial. Learn everything you can and then practice every day. Great article!