Monthly, Is your prepping theory working / happening / changing? What preps are paying off?

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IrishSnow23@reddit

I live in an apartment. Looking to plant some veggies on the back patio and got the indoor garden set for herbs/lettuce. Besides prices going up, I honestly don't feel great about the quality of food and everything getting cut for food safety by the government. I got a reverse osmosis counter top unit, as our water has been deemed super high in nitrates and we are a top cancer state. I really need to invest in some kind of power backup and thinking solar is the way to go, but I get freaked out by the reviews and there's so many options. Really want it mainly for the fridge and freezer and the reverse osmosis. That one worries me the most. Open to any suggestions on that!

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raphael_lorenzo@reddit

Do you live in a US state? Do you know if there are any rules against balcony solar, or what your state and local regulations are?

https://cleantechnica.com/2026/03/28/balcony-solar-is-spreading-across-the-us/

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IrishSnow23@reddit

I don't know...but if it comes to needing it, I don't think I'll care about the rules...

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VariousFalcon7466@reddit

I bought one of those big stainless steel water filters. It’s a significant improvement. The water here has been tasting swampy lately and the fridge filer just wasn’t cutting it. It doesn’t need electricity either! My stupid fridge won’t even dispense water if it’s not connected to the internet.

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Jbigdog23@reddit

What filter?

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No_Possible_7108@reddit

"Smart" appliances are a pox on humanity

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VariousFalcon7466@reddit

I hate that stupid fridge.

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AD_Grrrl@reddit

Anytime I try to do anything remotely prepper-like my husband thinks I've lost my mind.

We live in an apartment, so so far it's been me squirreling things away into nooks and crannies.

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forbiddenfreedom@reddit

I recommend snagging survival books. Less to hide when it's all retained information.

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HabaneroShits@reddit

DIY books are also super handy. Even if the world doesn't go to pot, you can do a lot of home repair yourself and save a ton of money.

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forbiddenfreedom@reddit

Not to mention the arts and crafts you can do with children just making useful tools out of the environment.

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AD_Grrrl@reddit

100%. Been teaching myself a lot of recipes that using very basic staples, and looking up stuff like how to make a hobo stove, what wild plants in my region are edible, how to grow sprouted legumes, etc.

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forbiddenfreedom@reddit

Nice! I snagged a Bushcraft books, foraging, trapping, hunting, stalking, and survival medicine. As well as maps of my region and state parks.

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angrytetchy@reddit

Let me guess, he thinks that things will just work themselves out and "go back to back to normal?"

It's so frustrating to keep hearing things like this (more in the area of "why are these partners not stepping up and at least trying to understand why" instead of "so many people complaining" type of frustration) - things are not going back to a norm that we were accustomed to when we were growing up in it.

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Vegetable-Board-5547@reddit

When we bought our current house 15 years ago, we planted six fruit trees: Asian pear, fig, plum, persimmon; 5 blueberry bushes and some raspberry. We also put in six raised garden beds, about 600 square feet. This is on a quarter acre lot. Full on 50% of our food comes from this.

this year we hope to barter for eggs and fish

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Any_Needleworker_273@reddit

We've only been on our small acreage for a few years, but I have zero regrets that I kept ordering more fruit trees all winter. Just planted 2 cherry, 2 more peach, 2 apple, and I have 4 more blueberries to add to our current batch of 12, and I finally got my raspberry bed in last fall, so fingers crossed. Just hoping a hard frost doesn't hit the spring blossoms.

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Vegetable-Board-5547@reddit

Awesome!

I'd encourage a good dehydrator.

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Any_Needleworker_273@reddit

Yup, bought a huge one last year for the garden (im stillnworking through all my dehydrated leeks!), and we just picked up another freezer, and I will be canning more as well (peach salsa was a game changer!).

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faco_fuesday@reddit

Yess!! I'm also on a 1/4 acre and put so much shit into the ground this year. We moved into the house about two years ago and it had a huge north facing sunny lawn. No more!

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whozwat@reddit

I eat the same $3 prepper meal everyday. Made from grains, legumes, dehydrated veggies and Indian spices. Long shelf life no refrigeration needed and can cook in an instant pot powered by a solar charged power bank.

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NuckingFutzNix@reddit

What solar charged power bank do you use?

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whozwat@reddit

Generic Chinese power station (UA1101) with about 1100Wh battery capacity, pure sine wave AC outlets, USB ports, and DC outputs.

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NuckingFutzNix@reddit

Thanks

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thefedfox64@reddit

We had something like 3 tornado warnings/watches last week. 1 near hit

Tornado hit just a few miles down the road, didnt have power or water from Tuesday night till Wednesday night. Couldn't leave the neighborhood (legally, Im sure going through someone's yard/lawn was possible).

I got backup power, I got backup water. What I lack is ability to handle smells well.

So Tuesday. Home at 6:30, dinner ready by 7:15. Storm hits 8 and no power. Dishes not cleaned, Garbage day is Wednesday.

Wednesday by 10ish, neighborhood smells, like stinks cause its garbage day and ya not happening.

Next Garbage day was yesterday. Preps worked....but had to deal with just awful smell for 1 week. Was not prepped for that, and cars still have a stink on/in them. Worse things in the world, but yea. That is on my prep next... cars sit outside with all windows down pretty much every day this week its not raining.

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No_Possible_7108@reddit

You might consider picking up some vicks vapor rub(or alternative) then whenever you are dealing with smelly stuff you can put some between your upper lip and your nose. That will be the primary thing you smell and should help block out most of the nastier smells

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Tablesafety@reddit

Do you have one of those filter masks with interchangeable filters? Pop a lil peppermint oil in one (a LIL) and youre good for most common airborne contaminants and smells

I feel like with the pushing and pushing about datacenters, having a way to breathe clean air is gonna be critical unfo

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thefedfox64@reddit

I do have two, use them for spray paint and or not huffing glue. Good idea, though I'm worried about wearing them for long periods (Not worried about my health, worried that I'll go stark raving mad if I have to wear those for more than an hour or two. Insert bane/darth vader voices here. )

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random-khajit@reddit

I've scent bombed my 90 gal garbage bin with peppermint oil before. I've also used peppermint oil in a mist humidifier to cut odors inside .

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thefedfox64@reddit

Ohh, how well did it work?

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random-khajit@reddit

It works well, but you'll need to re-apply to the trash bin periodically. For use inside, the cool mist humidifier i had then worked better than the warm mist one. Scented wax melters work well for inside too, though i find them to be too strong for me after about an hour.

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thefedfox64@reddit

Alright, I will test that out, especially in summer it's... moist <.<

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faco_fuesday@reddit

Please don't aeresolize peppermint oil. It can cause serious respiratory issues, especially in those with existing respiratory disease (asthma, chronic lung disease, COPD, etc) and pets.

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Gene-reader@reddit

What's developing in my theory? I think the supply chain is already broken but it hasn't manifested yet. I have shifted some of my prepping to non-perishables that I will need such as trash bags, tp, cleaning supplies, canned foods. I also bought a bidet.

What preps are paying off? Currently recovering from surgery so homemade, frozen foods are great right now. No shopping, no prep needed; just heat it up and wash only plates and silverware.

What do you wish you had done differently? I wish I had studied more about how to hide food crops in an HOA lawn. I feel like I need to grow more food.

What is your current focus? Evaluating holes in preps in relation to the supply chain. I have always shopped based on price because that is prepping for the bank account. I am trying to buy now before prices explode ( which I think they will but I'm no expert).

Thanks for sharing everyone so we can all learn.

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Practical-book-3911@reddit

What a fun challenge to hide crops 😄 a lot of lettuces are very pretty-cabbage too if you have room, dill gets frilly like some annual flowers, nasturtiums are actual flowers and the whole plant is like peppery flavored lettuce, garlic would a solid start-it’s even green through the winter, chives, I think the trick would be to plant it next to things that they approve of like seasonal flower baskets or whatever

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Gene-reader@reddit

I've enjoyed creatively hiding food from the HOA for years. My pool is screened in which keeps out mosquitos but also the pollinators. I have propogated pineapple, ginger, and herbs growing in pots around the pool. I hide aloe in the shade underneath the back of approved plants. Four months ago I put a potted citrus bush on the front porch. So far, no one said anything but it only just started producing it's first lime. I would like to add a savory, filling crop. I'm thinking sweet potatoes but I really do need to study the concept more. The real answer to what I wish I had done differently is not buy in an HOA.

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Practical-book-3911@reddit

I hear that about no HOA-potatoes are pretty with good foliage until harvest-could be very “shrub” looking. Sweet potatoes vine a bit more, but still pretty attractive looking. I’d say you could likely get away with either in larger pots.

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Vegetable-Board-5547@reddit

You can plant garlic here and there

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SpiritTalker@reddit

I would think onions, too.

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V1ld0r_@reddit

Bit of non-sense but... We had some emergency repair work needed at our property. This was unplanned for but our emergency fund allowed us to keep on going and we'll reduce the grocery bill and the "fun money" of the monthly budget for the next 3 or 4 months to re-build the emergency fund (and hopefully some more).

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hailene02@reddit

NC is currently in a drought and back in March I bought 2 rain barrels. Even though it has only rained twice since then they are near full.

Expanded my garden and also bought a pressure canner. Im hoping to be able to can/freeze enough for the coming mo ths/year.

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Unique-Sock3366@reddit

Howdy, neighbor! North Carolina is exceptionally crunchy, indeed. We have a well and I’m worried about our aquifer. And the potential for wildfires. Most of our property is heavily wooded.

Happy to hear that your rainwater collection is working well! We’re seriously considering doing the same.

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hailene02@reddit

This is the one I ended up buying

https://a.co/d/0bIwLbg8

While big they are easy to assemble.

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Unique-Sock3366@reddit

That’s awesome! Great choice and thanks for sharing!

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splat-y-chila@reddit

Home Depot has them too - I didn't buy the base (just the barrel) and just used 2 cement cinder blocks + a big paver instead as a base, and also got the connection to downspout kits from there too. Just gotta make sure you put some gravel down first if you're using the cinder blocks, for stability.

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Rheila@reddit

My current focus revolves around developing our homestead/small farm.

Selling chicken eggs isn’t worth it (too much hassle for little to no profit? but having chickens is. We are ahead vs feed costs and that was before we found a local grain grower to buy from ($15/bag vs $25/bag) instead of the big stores.

Watching beef prices go up and looking forward very much to butchering our first steer in November. Cows are by far my favorite part of our homestead and we have the potential to actually make money selling registered highlands it’s a niche market.

We still have 12-18” of snow, but it is melting fast. I was going to focus mostly on trialing varieties again this year while I learn our new climate, but with food prices going the way they are I am going to be gardening a little harder and focusing on production as well.

I feel more secure in that we have the capability to provide a lot of food to mitigate the cost spikes.

Solar is definitely making a difference on our bills, but we will see if it is going to make as big of a difference as we thought now that the days are getting longer and we can actually generate some credits.

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7o7A1@reddit

in general it revolves around gardening, maintaining multiple income streams and overseeing investments

short to medium term i want to beef up my solar/electric backup system and to position a couple of ibcs that i have for water collecting

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StrawberryFailcake@reddit

I'm really glad I started building a stockpile of heirloom seeds including tomato last year, and I'm feeling great about my second year kratky-style seedling setup. Still waiting for mother's day to put anything in the ground outside.

My nonperishable food preps are paying off because I've been applying to job after job but no dice. The only problem is we've had to eat into it way more than I'd like and it's already feeling sparse compared to what it was. (My husband's job is luckily stable, just not cutting it anymore with all the rising expenses. Trying to work around the needs of special needs kids is rough. But damn am I thankful I started prepping years ago).

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symplton@reddit

Clearance sales are strategically distributed through most stores. We’ve spent the last year figuring out what the timing and seasonal markdowns are looking like. This month we’ve been bolstering the shoes, undergarments and pj pant sets left over from the holiday season.