If you think you are ready, do better. I hate how some of my family and friends call me a “ prepper.”
Posted by Malyfas@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 47 comments
My wife and I have spent years following the principles outlined in this forum. (we always thought of it as the old scout adage of “always be prepared!“) And we are very proud of what we have accomplished. (buying bulk, rotating in stock, adequate off grid, med and defense preparedness, etc.) If you feel that you are an accomplished household in these endeavors, then I would challenge you with this: Education is the key. Share the little lessons that you’ve learned over time of preparing yourself without sounding like a “prepper“. You’ll be more respected. Reminding people that they can buy things in bulk that last long-term. Stock piling non-perishable things on sale. You know what I mean. Share it to your friends, neighbors, and loved ones as a money, saving venture instead of being “prepper“. I honestly we got more respect and think that more people will listen to you. My family did and now they’re doing what my wife and I have done for years.
SandiegoJack@reddit
I don’t talk to people about shit.
Why the fuck would I want to paint a big target on my family and house as “the people with shit”.
MeAndMyIsisBlkIrises@reddit
I really don’t think enough people think about this. It’s one thing to generally tell people they should really consider that tariffs/climate change/[insert list of all the other threats to fulfilling basic needs] will make things unaffordable. It’s yet another to talk to everyone (especially the skeptics) about YOUR OWN prep.
Of course I give advice to people who sincerely ask for it, but for people who seem unconcerned or look at me sideways for even proposing that stocking up is important, then I’ve got nothing else to say. Because we barely have space & funds to prep for ourselves; no way can we become the 1st place people assume they can come when S really HTF and then they’re mad we’re not giving stuff away? Nope.
divorceevil@reddit
Try to keep mouth shut as much as possible but I try to recommend education and reading. Sometimes people say with a grin, I'll just come to you when stuff happens. (For knowing what to do)Telling them, "I won't be around", wipes the grin right off their face.
curiosfinds@reddit
This is the realest problem I have
Beast_Man_1334@reddit
Great advice. People in my family used to call me the crazy one for my preparedness. Until Covid happened. They were scrounging for supplies and I was perfectly fine. Now I'm not so crazy and they want to learn from me.
mediocre_remnants@reddit
It's kind of crazy how many people don't know how to shop. Like when they go grocery shopping, they just buy whatever they want and complain that prices are too high. I was raised in a relatively poor family and we had to shop around and buy stuff that was on sale. Our weekly grocery trips usually involved going to 3 separate stores to buy the things that were on sale at each store. We took full advantage of BOGOs, coupons, etc.
But still, folks in my local sub will complain that a certain grocery chain is too expensive so they refuse to shop there. But sometimes they have absolutely smoking deals on stuff. I remember right after New Years, they had cans of beans for 3/$1. I stocked up so much on them that week. The normal price was over a dollar for one can.
So when I'm around people that complain about the price of food, I mention how I mostly buy things on sale and what we eat at home any given week depends on what's on sale or what we have in the freezer/pantry.
Traditional-Leader54@reddit
This is exactly how my mom (and many other friends) always did it. They’d have grocery lists for two or three different stores with coupons attached to each one. (Sometimes I’d have to convince her it wasn’t worth going to store B just for say Ketchup because it’s 20 cents cheaper if you consider the gas it would take to drive there just for that one item.)
And yeah we’d always have things because that’s what was on sale that week. The cereal rotation was often based on which of our preferred ones were on sale recently. (Wheaties was notorious for doing sales requiring you to buy 4 boxes. Even though I always like Wheaties going through 4 boxes in a row would be tough sometimes. 😂)
There would be times when we were eating something new or a different brand for dinner and my dad would say to my mom “Why did you buy this? This isn’t as good as X.” and before she could reply I or one of my siblings would say “It was on sale.” followed by “She had a coupon!” 🤣 But we still ate it that night but probably not again…unless it went on sale as a buy 1 get 1 free. For free we were gonna deal with it.
commentator3@reddit
(kinda want to hear about more stuff your fam ate because it was on sale. what was the worse? the best? the most off-beat?) (did the cereals still contain toys?)
FragrantDragon1933@reddit
I grew up pretty poor and this is what I do. I eat what’s on sale, not what I want and definitely shops around for deals. I also don’t buy very much prepared food and prefer to make things from scratch whenever possible. I make bread for less than 50 cents a loaf, homemade sauces, butter and working in yogurt next
Sighconut23@reddit
They are just trying to wedge themselves between you and your water/food supply. Don’t fall for it, they mock you when you aren’t around
Malyfas@reddit (OP)
I don’t know my friend, over the last 10 years. I’ve made a lot of progress with my family and close friends that have found the wisdom of being prepared. I’m not saying stockpile to feed communities… I’m saying try to share and spread the knowledge of what we have learned as a community to people who might not know. I absolutely love this sub because everybody gives great insight. The more people reach and bring into the community the better off we all are because we are all more prepared. I apologize if I sound simple, but what I propose is actually very complicated. Thank you for your feedback.
Palavras@reddit
Maybe it's because I'm used to the twoxpreppers sub which seems to have a more nuanced approach to the benefits/risks of community, but the responses here are kinda wild to me.
Passing along tidbits of info to loved ones is not a bad thing and doesn't have to put you or your family at risk in any way. For example, yesterday I was talking with my boss about the blackout in Portugal and I mentioned I saw an article that said folks were relying on solar/hand crank radios for information. She then said, "Oh that's a good idea, I should get one of those for my family." It was an easy leap because our area had a long blackout last year.
Like people here are completely missing the point that it can be as easy as that, and I feel good that maybe if an emergency happens her family will be a little better informed.
coffeejunki@reddit
Yes! Exactly!
I actually just talked about it with a coworker today. I was talking about possibly pulling the trigger on a new car before prices got worse and the conversation turned into "I went to Sams this weekend to stock up on some essentials just in case that article about shortages turns out to be true."
Nobody is going to think my Sams shopping trip is ridiculous and now I've put it in their heads that maybe a few extra things is a good idea too.
slendermanismydad@reddit
I would like to add a caveat here. One of my mom's coworkers asked her to have me make her a list of what I think will happen to the supply chain soon (what specific products I think will be short) and it turned out it's because her son runs a business that tries to predict supply chain issues and make money off it. I'm not helping this dude make money off my work.
Otherwise, I try to share information.
DelightfulSnacks@reddit
Would you mind sharing your list with us, please? I’d be curious to know what you’re expecting.
Bobby_Marks3@reddit
ChatGPT produces the same kinds of lists of you want more detail, but it's:
If a decent portion is made in China, it either won't be on shelves or it will be incredibly expensive.
Supply chain disruption is going to damage many businesses - especially small ones that can't weather the 50-75 days of restructuring where the disruptions should be the worst. Lots of layoffs. "Luxury" American goods that originate in China will probably get demolished.
Shipping should get more expensive as volume drops. Keep an eye on any shifts in what an Amazon Prime subscription does for shipping.
Over a few months, Chinese manufacturers will redirect goods though other countries. Expect to pay about 10-35% more for anything made in China, but at least it will get here.
All of this leads to inflationary spirals of slumps, layoffs, people spending less, and ultimately less economic activity.
Potential upside: housing bubble might crash. It'd be one more catastrophe for our economic outlook, but people who maintain their income through all of this should be saving now and hoping to buy a home in the next 2-3 years.
Ifyouwant67@reddit
Unfortunately, we live in a society where people enjoy and profit off the misery of others.
Malyfas@reddit (OP)
Respect.
MonadicSingularity@reddit
My wife and I just tell people we're living on last year's grocery prices. We buy staples and try to cycle through stuff, but bulk is just more convenient and we don't have to go to the store very often.
LopsidedRaspberry626@reddit
This \^\^ I'm buying now for 2028. Full Stop. My 2025/6/7 canned goods are already stocked.
NohPhD@reddit
You are going to hate more when all these hungry mouths show up at your doorstep expecting you to feed them
hdizzle7@reddit
We were happy to share food, internet, and a battery charging station after Helene. It was really heartwarming how the community came together. My daughter's friend's dad gave out like five generators in his neighborhood.
Brave_Quality_4135@reddit
I talk to people about preparedness all the time, but we’re undergoing a massive power outage in Western Pennsylvania right now, and I know at least 5 families that are already completely out of food and water because the utilities have been out 2+ days.
As soon as the refrigerator and freezer go bad, most people are in trouble. The most useful thing for short term emergencies here is generators. But, that’s a sizable investment for someone who doesn’t really believe the power will go out.
It’s good to keep talking, but people still won’t prepare beyond a couple of frozen pizzas bought on sale and some cans of soup. It’s better than nothing to buy in bulk, but it’s not nearly enough. We need to practice shutting off the water and electricity for a few days every year to realize how bad we are at this.
PonyNoseMusic@reddit
So I agree that a generator is a really good idea but what do you do if you live in an upper floor apartment?
TheRealBunkerJohn@reddit
Solar panel + car battery.
PonyNoseMusic@reddit
Because I know only a little I'll ask - would you then need a phase shifter (is that the correct term?) to change the DC from the battery to AC for home appliances?
TheRealBunkerJohn@reddit
Yup, that'd be the inverter! So, for a solar system, you need just a few components.
That's it =) You just need to make sure the wattage of the controller matches up to the panels, and it's high enough to charge the 12v car battery. There's a LOT of resources online of how to set up a simple solar system. I went with Renology in regards to solar panel brands/charge controller.
factory-worker@reddit
I had a car battery I found and tested, a 30 dollar inverter and low voltage lights during the last hurricane.
PonyNoseMusic@reddit
Inverter!! Ooo... I was so close. Thanks for your help!
TheRealBunkerJohn@reddit
Most welcome!
Brave_Quality_4135@reddit
I have this one https://a.co/d/hLZH3fY it’s great for apartments!
factory-worker@reddit
Move to Florida, the hurricanes will help.
acer5886@reddit
I often talk to people and say the best preps to have are 1 financial preparation (minimum 3 month emergency fund, get out of any high interest debt) 2 general physical preparation, be healthy. 3 is more variable, and depends on where you are and what stage in life you're in, but it's mainly about looking at where you live and what is the most likely thing to happen, for most, I'd say a power outage is the most likely major thing they could face. Similarly a water issue, such as a water main break, how long do you have water for? Then I go down the list from there. For me a good 1-3 month of bulk food is a part of #1 because it allows you a bit of a backup in case of a job loss, or in case of an emergency situation where maybe you need to support family/friends around you that you care about.
Lethalmouse1@reddit
The world we live in people unironically think restaurants are cheaper than groceries.
Those people will always think you sound like a prepper. You're not going and talking to a housewife 30 years ago, saying she should stock stuff for better pricing and finding her basement pantry. You're talking to deranged people now.
Ambitious-Rip-1781@reddit
Depending on what restaurant and what tier of groceries, restaurants certainly can be cheaper, though it's rarer since inflation kicked in recently. I did the math like 10 years ago and determined that when you take into account your time spent cooking and washing, utilities, and wear and tear, I would need to value my free time at less than $10 dollars per hour for cooking to make sense over the average takeout meal.
All that said, if you're trying to save money, cooking is still the better way to go.
Lil-Sunny-D@reddit
The way I look at it is my free time only has monetary value if I'm actually losing money by doing/not doing something. I used to be in the habbit of what I now call "Imaginary money". If the money doesnt exist at this moment, then it is not a factor to take into account.
Grotkaniak@reddit
The way I've always looked at free time is this: it is one of my most precious resources. I am rarely hurting for money (though I am by no means rich either), but the days where I have a surplus of free time are even rarer. I am absolutely willing to pay more so that my worknights are less stressful and more free, therefore my free time has monetary value to me.
I know that's not a luxury everyone can afford and I don't judge those who prefer to look at their time from a more practical perspective. Free time just happens to be one of the luxuries I value and one I almost never regret indulging in.
Lil-Sunny-D@reddit
Man I think free time is precious, Im just saying to stay away from imaginary money. If you've got the funds and want your free time, by all means. I would and do it when I can. Just know that it is not "cheaper", its an expense to allocate more time to the things you want and still knock out the "to do".
Traditional-Leader54@reddit
This the same trap my wife falls into and took me into for a couple years.
“Why are you gonna spend 8 hours doing that when you can pay someone $XXX to do it for less in 2 hours than you make at work in 8 hours?” Because I can’t exactly go into work on Saturday, put in 8 hours and expect to get paid for it. Overtime doesn’t work that way. Not only that but I’d be paying the contractor with after tax dollars not pre tax dollars so my hourly take home is much less than my gross hourly rate.
Lethalmouse1@reddit
No.
You're comparing apples and filet mingion..
You're also almost universally comparing broke people to not broke people as well... there is some wiggle of time. Sure.
And 99% of it is based on food issues.
Like the breakdown, of burgers - buns - condiments etc.
It works out to half or less price per burger. But many say "but I want ONE burger now, I dont want to eat other burgers later!"
That's demented mental issues.
Further, you have miscaregorized your time.
Unless you order delivery and door dash which typically racks up way mire money per capita, you have to go get the food. Again, unless you have a unique circumstance, the process of getting the food is going to be most of, sometimes all of the cooking time.
Further, often getting middle ground food, still works out far cheaper.
You dont have to cut up a whole chicken into chicken cutlets, grocery pre done and pre cooked chicken cutlets tossed in the toaster oven, etc. All cheaper and just as fast.
So no time savings. I'll give gas a wash with the possible use of utilities.
Pure nonsense. Unless you're mental and can't eat a sandwich more than once a week. That's broken.
Traditional-Leader54@reddit
Actually you are comparing apples to filet mignon if you’re comparing chicken cutlets in the toaster oven to a restaurant meal.
If you compare the cost of a single good restaurant quality meal to what it would cost you to go to the store and buy every ingredient needed to make that one meal the restaurant is going to be cheaper every time. Additionally it does take more time to buy the groceries, cook the food and do the dishes. and while time doesn’t equal money as you pointed out the time can be used for other things which is certainly a benefit that should be weighed in.
All that being said over the long term buying groceries and making your own mealS will be cheaper than always buying restaurant food because you can buy in bulk, shop sales, buy items that can be used for multiple meals etc. And yes doing weekly weekend preps can save a lot of time during the week.
Unfortunately many people don’t look at that whole picture and only focus on one meal at a time because it’s all about right now not the big long term picture.
Lethalmouse1@reddit
One meal isn't how groceries work. That's how Van Wilder brain works. Enjoy.
Correct-Meal-3302@reddit
I felt like this about 15 years ago - learned my lessons. Happy your family came around but I have no interest left anymore of convincing anyone. People don’t want to hear hard truths - and I don’t feel any obligation to spread it any more. It’s bad OPSEC and futile.
solarsurfer2023@reddit
Our group call ourselves critical thinkers.
The sheeple call us preppers or conspiracy theorists or can call us anything else they like.
They just better not call on us after the SHTF.
nakedonmygoat@reddit
I live in hurricane country. My husband thought I was crazy when I got into prepping, but I'd always believed that if you're financially able to do so, you prep. To do otherwise is unfair to the people who live so close to the bone that they can't do it even if they want to. I was once one of those. I prep so as not to be the one taking relief supplies I was capable of buying for myself.
I also believe in having enough to share with trusted neighbors, if one can afford to do so. I'm 58 and have never read of a crisis where people turn on each other if they know help is coming. This doesn't mean you have to feed your whole neighborhood. It's like knowing that your next door neighbors have a toddler, so you give them a few glow sticks so she'll have a little night light each night. It's knowing that your elderly neighbor might need help, so you check, and if she's hungry, you make some Mountain House lasagna for her.
But back to my husband. We got a direct hit from a hurricane in 2008. When I realized what was coming, I just sighed and got out the gear. I also washed all our clothes and baked cookies to use up the eggs. 😁 We weren't among those cleaning out the store shelves. Afterwards, we weren't among those standing in long lines in the heat, or bunking down on cots at a shelter. We were safe, clean, comfortable, and well-fed.
My husband never said another unkind word about my prepping and went on to brag about me!
PS - That was actually my second hurricane. I've been through three. My father made pancakes on a Coleman stove the first time and was my inspiration.
ManyThingsLittleTime@reddit
I live in Florida and never have to rush to the store when the storm is coming because of the work I've done beforehand, as have you. It's a nice feeling just knowing that you're already set. I even have a stash at my relative's house in case I have to leave my home and go there. There's always more that can be done and for me, the ultimate goal is to get to total food independence which is the current work in progress.
New-Cut-7702@reddit
They call you a prepper, but guess who is going to show up when they need something. I have a lot of family like this. We are going somewhere to do something, we bring everything we need. They don’t bring anything and expect you to share because, well they need it more than you and you have it so you can share (give it to them).