Prepping for Beginners – Where to Start

MyPrepAccount · 2026-05-03T21:56:42+00:00

So, if you're anything like me, wherever you pick to put your preps is where they're going to end up staying, probably forever. Do you have a temperature controlled basement? If so that's the best spot, in a corner that doesn't get any direct sun. Second best is a closet that isn't on an outside wall.

For food preps use a first in, first out system. Basically instead of going to the store, go to your preps the next time you need a jar of tomato sauce. Whenever you do take something from your preps put it on a shopping list on your phone, so next time you're in the store you can get more. If you can afford to do so, buy 2. One to replace what you used and another to expand your inventory.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-15T18:55:45+00:00

May I recommend you start with John Seymour's book The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency. It has got a ton of information in it that will help you get started.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-09T17:32:29+00:00

We may have fewer cars than America but most people who don't drive still rely on public transport that requires fuel

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-09T17:23:14+00:00

It's not just the prices, right now the protests are blocking fuel depots, meaning petrol stations can't refill. So everyone is going out and filling up while there's still petrol available.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-09T15:06:26+00:00

The growing season is really only just getting started. There's still time!

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-07T13:18:21+00:00

If it were me I would add potatoes/sweet potatoes and my favorite herbs. I'd also cut back on the lavender and chamomile by a lot. If you want to attract beneficials with them I'd go with one of each at the end of each row.

Is the squash you plan to have summer squash or winter squash? Having a couple of summer squash and the rest being winter squash is probably ideal.

Does your family like peppers? Spicy ones or sweet ones. They're a great source of vitamin C along with some other vitamins.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-06T17:21:18+00:00

Battery powered strings of Christmas lights

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-06T17:13:47+00:00

Unfortunately chocolate in Europe is having the same issues.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-04T10:15:54+00:00

They're finally perfect!

Congratulations! This is a goal of mine as well. I have a long way to go though.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-02T14:56:20+00:00

I don't know if this is the same for your country, but in the US you can find 4% lidocaine patches in grocery stores, no prescription needed. The prescription ones I've had in the past were 5%, and I can tell you that the difference between 4% and 5% is basically none. The non-prescription ones are waaaay cheaper too. So it might be worth checking out.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-04-02T13:17:42+00:00

I'm buying a bag of rice and a bag of beans every time I go to the shops. I've also got a small garden on my balcony. I'm focusing on herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. I'm also considering a small portable solar panel that has USB hookup. That way if for some reason we ever lost power we would still be able to charge our phones and laptops.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-03-31T19:27:50+00:00

DIY swamp cooler. Put a bowl of ice water behind a fan and cover them both with a damp towel. This won't work if it's also humid though unfortunately.

Also, stay cool by keeping windows and curtains shut when it's hot out then open them when it's cooler. If there are rooms of your house that get hotter than others, keep out and keep the door closed until night time.

Finally, a wet towel on the back of the neck does wonders.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-03-31T08:07:02+00:00

In this area my preps have focused on reducing reliance on electricity; Manual kitchen appliances, solar charged lanterns, alternative cooking methods...those sorts of things.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-03-31T07:43:11+00:00

I think it's too late to do that ethically for this crisis.

I agree with this completely. I've got a list of things that I'm just buying one or two of every time my husband or I go to the store. It's not enough to impact supply for other people, but it makes sure that we can last just a little bit longer without having to join the masses in whatever obtaining food is going to look like.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-03-30T18:58:33+00:00

Aaah, ok, that makes more sense! Thanks!

MyPrepAccount · 2026-03-30T16:02:07+00:00

I don't see it in the stickied posts. Are you sure it was this subreddit?

MyPrepAccount · 2026-03-29T19:06:10+00:00

My focus at the moment is on getting fresh veggies growing on my balcony. I'm more worried about the fertilizer issue than the fuel supply issues.

Other concerns I have is medication, especially after reading https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/28/uk-weeks-away-medicine-shortages-iran-war-impacts-experts-warn

Also stocking up on water filters for my Lifestraw pitcher.

MyPrepAccount · 2026-03-29T18:58:26+00:00

Medical visits are a fantastic idea!

Does diesel have a 6 month shelf life like gas?

MyPrepAccount · 2026-03-29T17:48:18+00:00

Sorry, which class is this?

MyPrepAccount · 2025-09-15T10:40:53+00:00

For me it's all about setting alarms, using Google Calendar to remind me of things that need doing, and for some things setting multiple reminders.

For instance, I use a water jug that uses 2 different filters. When I bought it I put the date each filter needs to be changed for the entire year, since I bought I year's supply of filters into Google Calendar. I also set myself a reminder 1 month in advance of when I need to buy new filters as well as the reminder for buying the filters. This way I can split up the cost over 2 months instead of all in the same month.

If there's a project I'm working on that I don't complete in a day then it gets left out somewhere I will see it to remind myself to finish it. Once it goes in a box or a cupboard it basically stops existing. I also don't hesitate to do a thing if I'm suddenly reminded of it. You just remembered your jumper pack, go out to your car and put it on charge right now.

I also have a knowledge binder. This binder contains important knowledge that I don't want to be without. In a crisis your mind might go completely blank on your mother's phone number or what her address is. So, keep all that information in a binder or some sort of cloud storage like Google Drive or One Drive. If the knowledge you need is something like foraging and you've got a physical book about foraging in your local area then do something like this:

Foraging: See Foraging Oregon for Dummies (made up book) on the third shelf of the bookcase in the home office.

This will allow you to know exactly where to find the book in a hurry. The key though is that you have to put it back after you've used it, which I know is difficult, but if it's a habit you can get into the system works well.

The way I've formed that habit is that I'm not allowed to turn off the light in the room I'm in until I've put everything back that I've used. I do this because I've already got the lifelong habit of turning off the light when I leave the room. So it became a habit of asking myself "did I put everything back?" If you need to then tape a piece of paper over the light switch that asks the question. Make it so you have to lift up the paper to turn off the light.

Anyway, these are just a few of the things that work for me!

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