Priorities

As you read and research survival, preparedness, the coming Zombie Apocalypse, it's easy to be overwhelmed and wonder where to start.  Most blogs seem to point towards thousand dollar arsenals and literally tons of food and water.  I will always grant that if you prepare for the worst you are ready for about anything along the spectrum.

But where to start?  If I have $1000 and spend it on a gun and some ammo, sure I'm better prepared than I was, but when that hurricane hits and the power is out for a week, that gun may not do much for you.  And then you lose your job and end up selling that gun for $500 because everyone else is losing their jobs.  Not good.

Here's my priorities for being prepared, where to spend your money:

1. Get out of debt.  See Dave Ramsey.
2. Save an emergency fund. See Dave Ramsey again.
3. Start investing/saving for the future (retirement/college funds)

I think these are the most important priorities for anyone.  Getting out of debt frees up your capital/cash flow for everything else you want to do.  It also is the best prep, because if the SHTF and you lose your job, the economy completely tanks, inflation soars, etc, you can spend what money you do have/can earn on necessities vice paying off your credit card.

Now, some balance is required here, because if you put off all your preps until you have 1 thru 3 well in hand, that could be a couple of years down the road, which is a couple of years that disaster could strike.  I'm just saying financial preparedness should be you're number #1 priority, but you can and should advance your preps as you can, with what you think is a reasonable deduction from your debt fighting funds (that part deviates from Ramsey).  Even $20 a month can get you down the road of preparedness.  Plus, austerity can drive innovation. Thrift markets, flea markets, dollar stores, garage sales, your own basement/garage can be great sources for probably 90% of your basic preps.  It doesn't take a fortune to be prepared, only a plan and the initiative to accomplish that plan.

Once you get to step 3, you can start budgeting more for your preparedness needs. I'm only listing things that you need to budget for/specifically buy.  Go Bag items like duct tape, trash bags, etc you either have laying around or can be easily purchased.

1. Everyday Carry

1. Multi-tool/pocket folding knife
2. Flashlight

2. Basic Gear (72 hour/go bag)

1. Day pack/small back pack
2. Multi-tool (a full sized one if you EDC a smaller one)
3. First aid kit
4. Para cord
5. Backpacking water filter
6. Backpack stove and fuel
7. Fixed blade knife

3. Long term items

1. 2 cases of bottled water
2. 2 cases of your favorite canned foods (ie, 1 soup, 1 vegetables)

With the above (assuming a complete 72 hour bag with change of clothes, toiletry items, etc) you can weather a post-hurricane power outage, a quick evac from the advancing wild fire, and, with 3 months living expenses saved in your emergency fund, 3 months of job hunting.

Now you can focus on larger items such as firearms/ammo and larger amounts of shelf stable foods like MREs or freeze dried.  The web is the most amazing resource we are privileged to have available to us.  Use it to figure out what you need to be prepared for the events you think are most likely to come your way.  Just take it one step at a time and get your financial house in order first and foremost.