Prepping and Saving – Do Both Now

People tend to categorize prepping, or emergency preparedness, as either one or the other: a lifestyle choice, or a hobby. We could say that this changes on a case by case basis. Is a mother who preserves fruit, maintains a survival garden, and keeps a backup generator in case of a power failure really anything like the gun-toting doomsday prepper who lives in a camouflaged bunker? They might prepare in similar ways, but their lifestyle differences leave a lot of room for interpretation when we talk about what “prepping” is really all about.

However, there is one truth to doomsday prepping that I believe permanently rules it out from hobby status; unlike collecting stamps or crocheting, prepping is a lifestyle choice that doesn’t need to cost any significant amount. Not only will it improve your survivability in difficult life situations, but it can also save you a fortune through the process. I understand why some might have reservations with that statement; with so many products marketed specifically for preppers, like special equipment, rations, and home defense measures, someone could easily spend as much on their preps as they do on college tuition.

However, I’d argue that the right kind of prepping can make an enormous positive impact on your funds. So if cost has been deterring you from expanding your preps, read on to learn activities that can make your home safer and more inexpensive to maintain. For more ways to attain greater independence and financial freedom, check out your debt settlement options.

Defending Your Home

The most mainstream of home security options comes in home security systems. For those who think that every problem has a one size fits all solution that can simply be bought, this can be an appealing option. While they can help report crime as it happens and may deter criminals, the worst thing about this mode of thinking is that many homeowners neglect to consider other aspects of their home security simply because they have one of these installed.

• Consider how well exposed and concealed certain parts of your property might be. Do you live in a gated community, or are there people coming and going around your property at all times? More “exposed” properties experience higher crime rates and require ample fencing to discourage prying eyes. Also make a concentrated effort to avoid advertising your home’s income by discretely disposing packages to items such as televisions, computers, or other coveted tech.
• Are your doors and windows of a sturdy construction to repel invaders? While an alarm might scare them off, you can fend them off before they break in with a solid door and adequate lock – read more about ideal materials and construction here. Windows can be capped off with a screw, thereby making it impossible for intruders to force them open for entrance.

Preparing Your Pantry

Many starting preppers think that their first step needs to be purchasing preservatives or dehydrated foods from their grocery store. In fact, even the most mainstream grocers now offer aisles full of dried and reconstituted goods specifically for emergency preparedness situations. But like security systems, just because they exist and they’re marketed to us does not mean that they’re the end-all of prepper nutrition. 

• In fact, creating your own preservatives is by far the more flavorful and nutritious option while costing less than anything you can purchase off of a shelf. Fruit leather remains a perennial favorite for those living the prepper lifestyle, and you can make your own by checking out these methods.
• Another popular commercial option are ration bars, which offer convenient doses of calories and nutrients. Some of these bars advertise the ability to sustain its consumer for up to three days. However, stocking up on these can be expensive – and the flavor is hardly a just reward for the cost. For a fraction of the cost, stock up on your own homemade variety. 

While it can be a labor-intensive lifestyle, doomsday prepping is a way of life that has a wide range of benefits. With more inexpensive living costs and a safer, more independent household, the right style of prepping can protect you from catastrophe while sparing you the funds to think about the future.