What is prepping?
The term prepping comes from the word ‘prepare’ although in this context it’s much more than just preparing for the short term, such as having friends to dinner next week or going on holiday. Prepping means being ready for anything that might be thrown your way from a natural disaster, nuclear war or the collapse of capitalism.
Who are preppers?
Prepping has historically had a bad rep. Those who engaged in this were seen as gun-hoarding, ex-military, hard-hat-wearing nutters who believe that the end of the world is coming in an all-out nuclear war or a zombie apocalypse. But that view is rapidly changing in the post-pandemic world where we are plagued by a cost of living crisis, and prepping has come to be a part of our everyday lives for a rapidly widening group of people
Many people are quietly jumping on the bandwagon that is prepping and starting to stockpile food, water, first aid, torches, generators and even weaponry, to make sure that they are ready for anything – be it another pandemic, power outages or a worsening cost of living crisis, all of which could ultimately lead to a complete breakdown of law and order.
The prepping trend that originated in the USA is now gaining traction in the UK and thousands of new people are joining online prepping forums and following YouTube prepper channels every week. The prepping community is a wide and varied one, ranging from professionals and single parents with small children to elderly citizens who live alone and are simply concerned about how they will cope if there are extended power cuts.
The motive behind the prepping movement is to hope for the best, but in the meantime, prepare for the worst. So, preppers are not just a bunch of crazy conspiracy theorists. Let’s be honest, no one would have predicted a war in Europe or a global pandemic a few years ago, but here we are, watching countries tear one another apart and struggling to pay our energy bills. It's hard to feel sure about the future. Prepping can help by giving you the confidence to face whatever the future holds.
How can I start prepping?
The first place to start is with food and water. Most preppers would suggest that storing enough food to last you and your family a week or more. You’ll need shelf-stable foods like tins, rice, pasta, oats, beans and dehydrated or freeze-dried foods, as well as bottled water, a water filter and sterilisation tablets. Torches and battery-powered lamps are other essential yet inexpensive items that you can easily purchase and store. Extra warm clothes and blankets will always be useful and if you can manage it, then a generator, small gas stove and heater would be ideal additions. Don’t forget to add a first aid kit either – having the means to deal with any injury in a panic situation is essential and keeping some basic medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen on hand never hurts. Some of the most common items to start storing are:
- Water – at least 10 litres per person per day for drinking and sanitation.
- Food – several days’ supply of shelf-stable foods for each person.
- Torches and spare batteries – matches or fire lighters and waterproof bags to store them in.
- First aid kit – containing basic dressings and paracetamol/ibuprofen.
- A radio – battery powered or wound by hand.
- Hygiene and sanitation products – it’s very important to keep yourself and your home clean, since, without access to appropriate medical care, infections and infestations can soon become a problem.
- A bug-out bag and other survival tools.
- A small generator and heater, which will run off gas or petrol, or even better, solar power.
There are so many things which could be listed as necessary, and although the list above would keep you and your family going for a while, it isn’t comprehensive.
Buying in bulk is the best way to begin, as you can then start to save on your monthly shopping and be putting away items for your stash. This also enables you to begin building up your supply gradually, without breaking the bank by having to purchase large quantities in one go.
Storing your supplies
As suggested previously in our blog on how to store prepping supplies, if you live in a small space, such as an apartment, then you might have to be creative with storage. Consider under-bed storage or the bottom of the wardrobe, although a spare bedroom is an ideal location, which would enable you to keep a much greater volume of supplies. If you live in a bigger house, then you might have a garage, cellar or large shed which could enable you to keep a much more substantial stash of supplies, potentially enough to keep you and your household self-sufficient for several weeks and giving you peace of mind despite the current instability. Most preppers are quietly, and almost secretively, building their stash as they don’t want others to know who they are, where they live or what they’ve got. It’s important to stay ahead of your competition, as you’ll be competing with these people for supplies when the worst comes.
Preppers shop stocks just about any item you could possibly want to complete your own prepper supply. With over eight years of experience trading in the UK, we have helped numerous people get prepared for any financial, military or environmental problem that might suddenly rear its ugly head.
You can visit our store in Cornwall or check out our website, where any available item can be ordered online and dispatched swiftly to your home.
Alternatively, simply contact us by phone or email for advice on how to begin your own prepping journey.