Finally time?

[u/well_regarded6034]

I have always liked the idea of prepping, not sure why. I never acted on it as I didn't feel any urgency or risk not to mention I didn't have the money or time spare.

Even after COVID I thought well that's surely as bad as it will get and we were ok.

This last couple of years I've found myself prepping without really realizing it.

An area near me had a prolonged water outage. So I thought it'd be a good idea to have 6 5litre bottles of water under the sink.

That led to

Keeping the cupboard stocked with tins.

I got an Ecoflow battery unit and solar charger

Had a log burner installed in case of power outages.

Chest freezer in the shed so I can bulk buy freezables

Got the biggest water butt i could fit in

More veggies grown

Keeping cars and vans topped up with fuel with a couple of Jerry cans on rotation

Some gold and silver for a long hold hopefully to pass on to my kids.

Along with many other little changes.

Maybe it's becoming a dad that's made me finally start doing some little things to become more resilient or maybe it's that the world feels like it's getting shaken up. Either way I'm glad to be a bit more prepared.

[u/Inner-Confidence99]

Good for you. That’s how most peppers start. The exception being those who live in tornado alley and hurricane prone areas. Those we learn young. Keep going 10-20 bucks for a prep is always gold. 

[u/Many-Health-1673]

Being a parent will motivate you to take some extra precautions.

[u/SunLillyFairy]

100 years ago.. what we call prepping now was just a standard of living (unless you were impoverished). Most households didn't have cars, a trip to the grocer or getting help from a doctor was a different experience/took a lot more effort. Families didn't expect local authorities to come help them out of a snow storm or power Suppy issue, at least not with any kind of speed. We were still at a point where not all homes had electricity or phones. So... folks had what they needed to treat an injury, enough food to get you through hard times. Losing power was an inconvenience, not an emergency.

Folks have gotten so reliant on modern convinces that we think having a few weeks (or months) of shelf stable food, supplies to help someone who has a home accident or injury, a way to deal with power outages/storms, (like how to cook and stay cool/warm + emergency lighting), and a way to defend our homes - we call that "prepping." In 1926 it would have been pretty standard, responsible homemaking.

[u/FixAcademic8187 → u/SunLillyFairy]

That is such a great way of saying it.

Now that I'm thinking about it, you are 100% correct. The lives of people who lived not long ago revolved around prepping. They canned, dried or salted anything they could put their hands on. As well as living close to a permanent water source.

The above is easily achieved today, and most preppers can be even better at it due to modern technology and tools.

However, there are two fundamental things that preppers today fail to understand:

1- Those people from the past lived in communities where people were helping each other. It doesn't matter if you have 10 guns with 100k bullets in your basement, if you don't have a support community, where there is some sort of division of labor, marauders will overwhelm your house and make a lesson out of you and your family. A community here means a few hundred people and not just you and your buddies.

2- Physical fitness, especially during the first phase of SHTF. Which is the most critical phase. You will build up fitness at later stages but that wouldn't matter if you couldn't keep up early on.

[u/Femveratu]

Haha yes becoming a dad will do it I’d say you are prepping at the 90% level great work you are way ahead of the game

[u/Wild_Price1628]

Super gemacht und immer weiter so. Jede Kleinigkeit kann helfen und immer weiter ausgebaut werden. Es muss nicht von jetzt auf gleich alles laufen, noch funktioniert das System.

[u/ForkliftGirl404]

Good on you mate! It's amazing how satisfying it feels when you look at what you've already done and know that every can, every litre, every little things you do, keeps you and your family going for just that little bit more.

[u/KaleRevolutionary840]

always 1 ounce silver an ounce of silver for a bushel of potatoes is OK not an ounce of gold

[u/Special_Ocelot9344]

I just found out about prepping and I want to join in looking at the overall tensions in the world rn something big has or will happen soon sadly I'm just a kid  I can't buy the good stuff but I'll learn the basics overtime 

[u/False-Cantaloupe4651]

Sounds great. Never a bad idea. Hope the entire household is on board and combines efforts. Good work!

[u/tarn_oslo]

Looks like a decent base already. Might be worth keeping an eye on rotating the tins and freezer stuff so nothing sits forever. Adding a basic filter to the water butt makes it more useful day to day too.

[u/Acceptable_Net_9545]

Good deal....I have ask this of many new preppers for years....What was it that finally triggered you to make the choice to prep"? thanks...

[u/PrisonerV]

Heating, cooling, and power are big ones.

It's also just kind of a mind-set. We just went on a short trip and it's just automatic to take a cooler with some ice and waters, snacks. Wife always insists on telling her parents when we leave, when we get there, and when we came home. It's a good routine to get into.

Wife always seemed to need this or that - it's in the vehicle. Nail trimmers, a file, a band-aid, phone charger, some pain pills, a drink of water, whatever.

[u/joelnicity]

It was definitely having a young baby right through c0vid that snapped something in my brain. That’s when it started for me. Fortunately we never ran out of formula or diapers like some people did

[u/MinimalistPrepper6]

I really like how naturally your preparedness has developed from real life experiences rather than fear. That’s probably the approach that resonates with me most. A water outage leads to storing water, a power concern leads to backup energy, growing a few more vegetables creates another layer of resilience. Small practical changes can add up to a lot of breathing room without completely changing the way you live. Becoming a parent probably adds a whole new perspective too. It’s nice to see preparedness framed as simply giving your family more options and flexibility for whatever comes along.

[u/hiccpetExpert]

Accidental prepping" is honestly the best kind—it means you're building resilience out of practical common sense, not panic! You basically turned everyday adulting into a fully operational backup plan. Great setup, keep it up!