If you’ve been thinking about becoming part of the prepper community but have yet to convince yourself it would be a good use of time and money, this article is for you.
Without a doubt, the notion of “end times,” with its apocalyptic scenarios of complete societal breakdown – especially in stable countries like the United States – seem very remote, and for good reason. Through thick and thin, good times and bad, America has managed to survive.
But look at it this way: While most of us will never see our homes go up in flames, we nevertheless have fire coverage in our homeowner’s insurance. While the likelihood that we’ll die early is remote, most nevertheless carry life insurance. And so on.
Granted, there is a lot involved when it comes to prepping – time, money, training, etc. And you may never, ever need the food, water, weapons and gear that you collect and learn how to use.
But what if you do need it and don’t have it?
Let’s consider the 10 most important reasons why you should be prepping, even if the “S” never does hit the fan, as noted by Urban Survival Site:
- Job loss: No one likes to consider the prospect of losing their job, but the economy can certainly take a turn for the worse without the entire country falling apart. Consider the Great Recession of 2007-2009, which was caused by a collapse of the subprime lending and housing industries. Millions of people lost their jobs and their unemployment benefits did not nearly cover their expenses (plus they eventually ran out). Preppers already have food, cash and supplies on hand to tide them over until they find another job.
- Financial turmoil: Life is full of surprises – unexpected expenses can set you back, such as a big car repair bill or medical expenses (especially in the age of Obamacare). Preppers always have a ready supply of the basics to get them by. Most prepping items consist of foods you would normally eat anyway, and things you would normally use. (RELATED: This Easy-To-Set-Up Emergency Water Collection System Can Save Your Life.)
- Save money: While prepping costs money, it can also help you save money in the long run. “For one,” Urban Survival Site notes, “when you can go shopping you can focus on items that are on sale. If something you normally buy isn’t on sale, you can wait and buy it next time because you already have extra at home.” In addition, use prepping as a hedge against inflation; when buying in bulk and then storing what you buy, when prices for those items go up you will have paid much less for yours.
- Early retirement: If you save enough money as a prepper and learn to become more self-sufficient in the process, who knows – you might just be able to retire from your daily work grind months or even years earlier. Prepping leads to a cheaper lifestyle, meaning less monthly income is required.
- Deal with ordinary violence: Part of prepping is learning how to survive, and a large part of survival, for many people, is acquiring and learning how to use a firearm. We never know what dangers we may face in our everyday lives; buying a handgun and learning how to protect yourself as part of your survival preparation will go a long way towards keeping you safe from “ordinary” violent situations.
- Medical emergencies: Part of prepping is ensuring you have first aid supplies as part of your gear. After learning basic first aid – stopping bleeding, for instance – you’ll be much better prepared for any medical emergencies that crop up in the course of life. And who knows? You might just save a life.
- Mother Nature: Financial collapse, political unrest and anarchy aren’t the only threats to “normal” life. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, major winter storms, solar flares, tornadoes, or hurricanes, can and do happen every single year. If you’re a prepper, you’re going to be among a very small minority of people who won’t panic because you will have already taken care of your basic needs – food, water, shelter, etc. (RELATED: Master These 7 Basic Skills Before SHTF… Or You’ll Wind Up Begging The Government For Basic Supplies.)
- Man-made disasters: No one wants to think about it, but speaking globally, we live in dangerous times. War drums are beating everywhere. A massive attack on our homeland would throw our country into turmoil. But as a prepper, you will be well-equipped to not only defend yourself and your family, but to survive long after the initial attacks.
- Better health: Preppers understand they may have to “bug out” and live off the land for extended periods of time, which means having the physical ability to get to where they need to go. That means adopting an exercise program to improve stamina, strength and overall fitness. Being healthier means you’ll be better able to fight colds, infections, flu, etc., and less susceptible to strains, fractures and other injuries.
- Power outages: While most parts of the developed world don’t have to deal with frequent power loss, they still happen. Icy winter storms, equipment failure or other damage to lines can leave you without power, sometimes for days. Preppers will have the gear to deal with power outages, including portable heating, generators, the ability to still prepare food and so forth.
Visit Bugout.news for more prepping ideas.
J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.
Sources:
UrbanSurvivalSite.com
Survival.news
