6 Common Prepper Mistakes

By Tim Gamble

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Previously, I posted an article on 6 Bug Out Bag Mistakes (article link). This article will point out the six most common overall mistakes I see preppers making. The biggest, but I won't include it on this list, is simply not prepping. Even those who dismiss the possibility of big disasters, such as a major war of political or economic collapse, should at least prepare for life's smaller emergencies that will happen, like bad weather, unexpected job loss, or accidents.

Mistake 1: Going Into Debt To Prepare - Prepping can be expensive. It doesn't have to be, but it can be. One of the worst mistakes a prepper can make is running up credit card debt to pay for his (or her) preps. 

Mistake 2: No Back Up Plans - I'm constantly surprised by preppers who only have a Plan A, and don't even want to contemplate the need for a Plan B or C. Usually Plan A is to hunker down in place and ride out a disaster. That is actually a good Plan A in most cases. But what if Plan A becomes untenable for any one of dozens of possible reasons? Everyone needs to have at least a Plan B, and even a Plan C. 

Mistake 3: All Stuff, No Skills - Buying your way out of a problem is very American. We are capitalists, after all, and if you have the money it is easy to buy all the food, guns, and other stuff you may need in a disaster. But having plenty of stuff is useless if you don't really know what to do with it. And knowing what do do is very different than actually having the skill to do it. You need stuff AND knowledge AND skills. 

Mistake 4: No Financial Preparedness - Eliminating personal debt and building an emergency fund is vital, as is living within your means (budgeting) and being employable. Having a solid financial foundation in life will help you prepare for and survive a myriad of potential disasters, as well as being successful in life if disaster never comes. 

Mistake 5: No Emphasis on Health and Fitness - I've been yelled at enough over the years for even daring to mention the importance of health and fitness to realize that many folks absolutely don't want to hear it. Sorry, but it is important. And, even if you don't want to admit it, everyone - yes, even you - can do something to improve your health and fitness, regardless of any excuses. No, I'm not suggesting you have to become a world class athlete, but even you can improve to some extent. It does take time and hard work, the real reason folks don't want to hear it.  

Mistake 6 - Only Doing the "Fun" Parts - Many men really get into the "guns and ammo" part of prepping. Or they go overboard on cool knives (guilty). Many women really get into gardening and food preservation aspects of preparedness. Great. those things are certainly fun, but we need to do the less fun stuff, too - like getting into shape, paying off debt, and learning skills. 

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