These days, you can barely turn around without someone giving you advice on what you should or must do to succeed at prepping.  This is all good news because four or five years ago, most advice you found would likely be highly militaristic, political, or simply over the top unreasonable.

I can recall the days when the #1 survival tip was to establish a remote bug-out-location and prepare to live permanently off grid.  Now really, how practical is that for most of us?  Don’t get me wrong.  There is nothing wrong with permanently bugging out; I am just saying that except in the most dire of world circumstances, doing so will not be practical or probable for most of us. Kershaw Oso Sweet (183... Buy New $15.49 (as of 10:25 UTC - Details)

That brings me to today’s topic: how to succeed at prepping.  I have been thinking about this for awhile and whereas this list is not infallible, it may help you to foster a road map leading toward a positive prepping experience.

How to Succeed At Prepping

1.  First and foremost, evaluate the risks and prepare for that

Let’s face it.  We all have risk tolerances that vary with our geographic location, age, health, and economic condition.

Sit down and make a list of the top five things that worry you the most and prepare for those things.  I am not going to give you a laundry list to choose from, you know what keeps you up at night!

2.  Build a stockpile of food, water, medications, first aid supplies, and cash Chums Cascade Paracord... Check Amazon for Pricing.

The stockpile you build is your “survival” insurance plan.  Build up a modest stockpile in each category and add to it over time.  You do not need to do it all at once.

Resource:  20 Items to Kick Start Your Food Storage Plan and Survival Basics: Water and Water Storage

Rothco Storm Safety Wh... Buy New $2.55 (as of 10:49 UTC - Details) 3.  Decide what skills are needed to meet the risks in #1, and learn them

Once you have your list of probable and/or worrisome risks, back into the skills you need to acquire and hone in order to meet those risks head on.  They may include old-fashioned pioneer-type skills,fire-making, or simply people skills.  Or something else entirely.

Your list, your skills. Don’t be tricked into adopting a skill set that does not address your needs.

Resource:  5 Uncommon Skills That Will Be Useful After the SHTF, Potable Aqua Germicida... Best Price: $6.16 Buy New $6.50 (as of 10:40 UTC - Details)

4.  Develop various emergency kits for varying purposes.

Putting together a big kahuna survival kit when you first start to prep is often number one on the priority list.  Before you jump in with both feet, consider putting together a minimum of three or more smaller, more basic kits instead.

The Prepperu2019s Wate... Daisy Luther Best Price: $7.49 Buy New $9.94 (as of 06:00 UTC - Details) Most likely you will need a Get Home Kit, Every Day Carry Kit, and Three Day Kit.  You may also need a vehicle kit, a trauma kit, and a carry on your back and get out of dodge bug out kit.

The nice thing about kits you build yourself is that you can pick and choose the gear according to your needs and budget.  That is not to say that there are not some excellent all-in-one kits out there, because there are.  Just be aware that one size does not fit all and after starting with a modest all-in-one kit, you may want to customize and update your kit over time.

Recognize that your emergency kit will always be a work in process. The Prepperu2019s Blue... Tess Pennington Best Price: $11.98 Buy New $18.98 (as of 02:20 UTC - Details)

Resource:  8 Essential Items: The Perfect Portable Survival Kit

5.  Learn extreme coping skills

You may have noticed that I have not said that survival following a disruptive event will be easy.  There is no way that I, or anyone else, can guarantee that being an extreme prepper will ensure your that you make it through a horrific disaster.

On the other hand, you can learn coping skills and you can learn to take things in stride and roll with the punches.

Resource:  13 Ways To Roll With the Punches

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