Preppers get painted is crazy doomsday people, sitting around waiting for the world to end, disappointed when it doesn’t. I think National Geographic has done a disservice to prepping with their show. The people on the show explain "what" they are preparing for. To many, their reasons are crazy. To me, some of the reasons are crazy. I think it’s important to make it clear that it’s not about a specific event or cause. It’s about planning for the future and protecting yourself. Does it really matter if an EMP, financial collapse, or natural disaster disrupts your basic necessities? What it comes down to is that you need to provide for your own essentials and survival.
Being a prepper is planning for your future, just like investing. When you invest for your retirement, you know you need to diversify your portfolio. You buy stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and gold. You do this because you need to spread your risk. You buy some things that are risky, that you hope will rise in value (stocks), and you buy things with certain intrinsic value that will not decrease (gold). Prepping should be added to your retirement portfolio too.
If you look at the big picture of the economy and the world, you invest your money in the stock market and retirement funds hoping they gain value, and now, hoping they will still be there when you retire. I think it is safe to say there is no guarantee that these assets will be there in the future. With the state of our entitlement programs and Social Security, they will run out of money. What then? Could the government take private assets such as investments? I think there is a chance. It would be easy for the government to say, "We are confiscating everyone’s investments and savings to fund Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. In doing this, everyone will now be eligible for these benefits." The things that you have based your future security and comfort on, have just been taken. Now you are waiting in lines to get your rations because you didn’t prepare. Like any investment you need to evaluate it based on your situation and beliefs. Maybe you are an optimist and only want to store enough for a short term emergency and wait until the government is able to come in to help. This would be like a Hurricane Katrina situation. Just enough to survive the rough period, then get help from the government.
Now there is some risk that if it gets that bad, the government could say, "You are only allowed to have 1 month of food and 20 gallons of water saved. Give me your extra 3 months of food and 100 gallons of water." But this is much more difficult than just confiscating your money. So look at prepping as part of your retirement portfolio, and start investing in it.
Just as you would set aside a certain percentage of your income for retirement, choose an amount to set aside for prepping. It doesn’t have to be a lot, just prioritize your spending. Food and water first, then purchase the items appropriate for you. But also think about what others might want; such as alcohol and tobacco. Maybe you have moral objections to either, but there are many who don’t, and many who will want those items. Think about the Great Depression and Prohibition. Those with alcohol did pretty well.
The physical items you buy to be prepared can also be handed down from generation to generation. Now, I know that not everything will last. But if that can of green beans has been in your basement for 25 years, are you going to throw it away? Probably not. You will keep it and eat it when the times comes. It may not taste the best, but it probably won’t kill you. Your guns, tools, certain foods, bags, tents, etc. can be handed down from too. There is the potential for them to greatly increase in value as well. What if the sale of certain guns becomes prohibited? What could your gun be worth then? It can be left to your kids, like your investments could, but it would be tax free and provide for their future better than money. It is also important to teach your kids the importance of prepping. If they don’t value it and invest their own time in it, what you leave to them could be wasted.
Just like your finances and investments, your preps need to be protected. Where do you keep your supplies? Are they where guests can see them? What would happen if your house was lost? The FDIC insures your assets at a bank up to $250,000, so you shouldn’t keep more money in one bank than that limit, or it could be lost. The same is true for your supplies. This is where your network could be a great advantage. Try to diversify your supplies and don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
