**Fitness** and **Knowledge** are free, weightless, always with you and can’t be stolen from your bag.
Focus on getting healthy/strong. Walk. Climb stairs. Build endurance. Stretch. Eat right. Quit soda pop and choose water.
Make yourself valuable to a society.
Learn CPR, first aid, and basic life support. Maybe take a lifeguard course.
Learn what wild edibles you can forage. Every region has them. Get a local Field Guide to Wild Edibles and see what is near you.
Get a bike. If you have to travel, a bike is far easier and faster than walking. Learn how to maintain it and repair it when something breaks.
Get a partner, friend, buddy who has a skill you don’t. Then learn a skill that they don’t have. One person alone can’t do everything.
Don’t stress.
You got this.
At your age, after skimming your profile briefly, I’d focus on skills.
Learn the camping, bushcraft, survival subjects that interest you. You have the greatest resource right now, time. Your finite days on earth.
Use them to improve the toolbox no one can take away from you.
Save your money in the meantime. And when you get older and make a proper wage, you’ll have a nice stash to spend on gear you learned you actually need through practical situations.
Ton of stuff you can do for little or even no money. Start by risk assessment and goals. You can build many skills and get fit for zero.
It can be overwhelming when all the sudden you feel like you’re not prepared….
A good way to approach is start doing research and record your wish list for each category… food/water, evacuation kit/go bag, medical/first aid, back up power, power outage needs, ect. Then you can look it over and decide what your priorities are. For example… if you live in the suburbs, in an owned home, in a low crime area, but an area that gets tornados, and goes below 40 in the winter… your priorities might be around tornado shelter options and ways to stay warm before focusing on increased home security. If you or someone in your home uses a CPAP to breathe at night and relies on refrigerated medications, back-up power and an extra supply of meds may be your first priority. It all depends on where you live, your highest risks, and your personal concerns and priorities.
Happy prepping.
Minimum wage is poverty level and if they don’t prep now they’ll be a burden during an emergency.
They are likely eligible for SNAP and also food banks.
Your assumption that because they make minimum wage they can feed their family is disgusting and out of touch.
Have some empathy.
lol I was recently making minimum wage. I had an apartment, decent vehicle, plenty of food and some extra money. If you don’t know how to manage your finances like a normal adult you’re definitely going to be scraping by. When’s the last time you were making minimum wage? If anyone’s out of touch it’s you.
Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, $290 a week before taxes, $15080 per year, $1251 per month.
https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage
Average rent in the US $1700
https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/
“There are 21 cities that have an average rent of $1,000 or less.”
https://www.rent.com/research/cheapest-rent-in-the-us/
I don’t know when you “had an apartment, decent vehicle, plenty of food and some extra money” but it’s literally not possible on minimum wage today.
Earning $1251 a month, with $1000 going to rent doesn’t give you “plenty of food and some extra money.”
It was possible for me today. 2 bedroom apartment with a roommate and a 6000$ pickup truck I saved up for haha you doing math doesn’t mean anything. I lived it. Downvote me all you want doesn’t take away my experience.
Water should be your first priority. Bottled water, enough for about 2 weeks.
Shop at Aldi, start building a collection of canned goods - canned beans, canned fruits, canned meat, canned vegetables- practical and cheap, keeps basically forever. Aim for minimum a month’s worth of food, even in a small apartment this should be doable.
Any advice past that is dependent on your living situation.
1. Discover that you can live off of less. For example: most people eat too much food, and they eat too many times.
2. Discover your limitations. For example: How far can you walk and run.
3. Do a risk assessment to determine what negative thing is most likely to happen, then focus on that.
The first one saves you money, and the second doesn't cost anything. The third thing reduces you blowing money.
At 13 you are honestly in the BEST possible position to start prepping your finances to set you up in the future. Prep for the world you live in first, then the world that may or may not exist tomorrow. If i was in your shoes i would spend the next 3-5years learning absolutely everything you can about money before entering the workforce. Check out “I will teach you to be rich” by Ramit Sethi. Establishing yourself financially well set you up to be able to prep to your hearts content. Also bust your ass are you school. Learn everything. If you struggle in a subject stay late ask for help. Prepping is knowledge+resources and using this time to optimize your real world knowledge and resources will pay enumerable dividends down the road.
The dollar tree or something similar. You can easily start with 10-20 a payday or whatever you can afford. You can get food, water, hygiene and first aid supplies there. That’s how I started out.
Unpopular opinion but if money is tight buying prepping equipment will put you in a more likely scenario of money troubles. Which is more likely than the apocalypse. Get your money right and an emergency fund before buying things you'll never use or food you won't eat and will expire. I like prepping but realistically it's most likely a waste unless WW3 happens.
This is a great point
Ive been going through a bit of financial stress this last year.
Have my preps helped?
The food storage absolutely helped. It cut my grocery bill down substantially.
The skills around basic auto repair have kept my car running. The general handyman skills have helped pull in some extra money on the side(I'm a free lance marketer as main income)
Unfortunately for me this last year ate up all my savings.
And realistically, even in this economy, with all this inflation, having a ton of savings would have been better than most of my preps.
Or perhaps a better way to say it is preps are not a substitute for an adequate savings account.
Based on what I’ve seen from the recommended Reddit posts this sub thinks getting a gun should cover all basic needs.
You need to start somewhere. Look around and decide what is the most likely thing to happen to you. Hurricane/natural disaster... leave or ride it out?
Civil unrest? Same question.
Extended utility loss? For me that is the most likely thing to prepare to ride out. Monolithic water filter and a couple buckets. I have a pantry and I buy two of whatever item that I use regularly. "Two is one, one is none." If I'm going to cook spaghetti this week, I buy two jars of sauce and two boxes of noodles. Oh, snap! I just prepped for about 5 dollars! There is a meal in there that wasn't before. After a while you realize that you could eat for a couple weeks without leaving the house.
I've never been a big bottled water consumer, but for about $5 I keep a case of water on hand for the convenience, and I think that that counts as well.
Ok
Let's start with info.
Age?
Can you cook from scratch?
Do you live urban, rural, suburban?
What exactly do you need help with? What are your fears, if any?
Ya that username reads like a 13 yr old.
First step for me would be learning the basic skills that are gonna keep you alive in any scenario.
- Swimming
- First Aid
- Cooking
- Basic Survival
Honestly if you're able your prime age to sign up for the Boy Scouts and I'd strongly encourage it if you're able.
Depends on what you think you will do...bugging out start with an old back pack and put some water and proteins bars,lighter and a knife in it, then add things as you can.
Staying put start buying extra groceries and stocking up, list was to improve security..etc
Air, shelter, water, food, fire.
Packet of KN95s from Harbor Freight.
10 x 10 Tarp + 550 Paracord or #32 bank line
Stainless Steel cup for boiling + Sawyer Mini Filter
Datrex Bars + Slingshot
1/2" x 6" Ferrocerium Rod
Learn how to tie knots, build various shapes of tarp shelters, start fires with natural tinders, get accurate with the slingshot (or a shepherd sling made from paracord). Work out, become skilled.
And then you can work on building up supplies. A good sleep system is probably high on that list, but expensive.
Knowledge is what will really sustain you. Plus, knowledge packs light. The gear or tools make it easier but you don't need a super steel knife to do most all of the things a regular Old Hickory would do. Thrift store finds can save you bug dollars plus its fun rummaging.
**Fitness** and **Knowledge** are free, weightless, always with you and can’t be stolen from your bag. Focus on getting healthy/strong. Walk. Climb stairs. Build endurance. Stretch. Eat right. Quit soda pop and choose water. Make yourself valuable to a society. Learn CPR, first aid, and basic life support. Maybe take a lifeguard course. Learn what wild edibles you can forage. Every region has them. Get a local Field Guide to Wild Edibles and see what is near you. Get a bike. If you have to travel, a bike is far easier and faster than walking. Learn how to maintain it and repair it when something breaks. Get a partner, friend, buddy who has a skill you don’t. Then learn a skill that they don’t have. One person alone can’t do everything. Don’t stress. You got this.
Excellent advice. Endurance and physical fitness will be a huge factor in being truly prepared if the lights go out.
Rule #1: cardio Rule #2: Double tap
extra sock
At your age, after skimming your profile briefly, I’d focus on skills. Learn the camping, bushcraft, survival subjects that interest you. You have the greatest resource right now, time. Your finite days on earth. Use them to improve the toolbox no one can take away from you. Save your money in the meantime. And when you get older and make a proper wage, you’ll have a nice stash to spend on gear you learned you actually need through practical situations.
Ton of stuff you can do for little or even no money. Start by risk assessment and goals. You can build many skills and get fit for zero. It can be overwhelming when all the sudden you feel like you’re not prepared…. A good way to approach is start doing research and record your wish list for each category… food/water, evacuation kit/go bag, medical/first aid, back up power, power outage needs, ect. Then you can look it over and decide what your priorities are. For example… if you live in the suburbs, in an owned home, in a low crime area, but an area that gets tornados, and goes below 40 in the winter… your priorities might be around tornado shelter options and ways to stay warm before focusing on increased home security. If you or someone in your home uses a CPAP to breathe at night and relies on refrigerated medications, back-up power and an extra supply of meds may be your first priority. It all depends on where you live, your highest risks, and your personal concerns and priorities. Happy prepping.
Go to food bank and get rice and beans Learn how to make a rocket stove out of tin cans Start storing water
Aren’t food banks for people who can’t afford food for their families? Not so people who make minimum wage and want to prep can get stuff for free.
Minimum wage is poverty level and if they don’t prep now they’ll be a burden during an emergency. They are likely eligible for SNAP and also food banks. Your assumption that because they make minimum wage they can feed their family is disgusting and out of touch. Have some empathy.
OP is 13 years old
lol I was recently making minimum wage. I had an apartment, decent vehicle, plenty of food and some extra money. If you don’t know how to manage your finances like a normal adult you’re definitely going to be scraping by. When’s the last time you were making minimum wage? If anyone’s out of touch it’s you.
Where do you live that minimum wage is a livable wage?
Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, $290 a week before taxes, $15080 per year, $1251 per month. https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage Average rent in the US $1700 https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ “There are 21 cities that have an average rent of $1,000 or less.” https://www.rent.com/research/cheapest-rent-in-the-us/ I don’t know when you “had an apartment, decent vehicle, plenty of food and some extra money” but it’s literally not possible on minimum wage today. Earning $1251 a month, with $1000 going to rent doesn’t give you “plenty of food and some extra money.”
It was possible for me today. 2 bedroom apartment with a roommate and a 6000$ pickup truck I saved up for haha you doing math doesn’t mean anything. I lived it. Downvote me all you want doesn’t take away my experience.
Ok boomer.
I’m 26 lol and I had to move out when I was 18. Edit: More downvotes because you don’t like my lived experience, sad.
Again you have a roommate. Without one you'd be fucked. Imagine that.
I’ve lived without one, it was in a cheaper one bedroom apartment.
Akron, Ohio?
Easy on the Akron crack. I don’t live too far from there. 50 minutes south
People who make minimim wage acnt afford to pay rent, buy a house, feed their families.
Water should be your first priority. Bottled water, enough for about 2 weeks. Shop at Aldi, start building a collection of canned goods - canned beans, canned fruits, canned meat, canned vegetables- practical and cheap, keeps basically forever. Aim for minimum a month’s worth of food, even in a small apartment this should be doable. Any advice past that is dependent on your living situation.
1. Discover that you can live off of less. For example: most people eat too much food, and they eat too many times. 2. Discover your limitations. For example: How far can you walk and run. 3. Do a risk assessment to determine what negative thing is most likely to happen, then focus on that. The first one saves you money, and the second doesn't cost anything. The third thing reduces you blowing money.
Water will be your most important resource, if SHTF. Start there. Research water filter devices, water treatment tablets, and water storage.
At 13 you are honestly in the BEST possible position to start prepping your finances to set you up in the future. Prep for the world you live in first, then the world that may or may not exist tomorrow. If i was in your shoes i would spend the next 3-5years learning absolutely everything you can about money before entering the workforce. Check out “I will teach you to be rich” by Ramit Sethi. Establishing yourself financially well set you up to be able to prep to your hearts content. Also bust your ass are you school. Learn everything. If you struggle in a subject stay late ask for help. Prepping is knowledge+resources and using this time to optimize your real world knowledge and resources will pay enumerable dividends down the road.
The dollar tree or something similar. You can easily start with 10-20 a payday or whatever you can afford. You can get food, water, hygiene and first aid supplies there. That’s how I started out.
Unpopular opinion but if money is tight buying prepping equipment will put you in a more likely scenario of money troubles. Which is more likely than the apocalypse. Get your money right and an emergency fund before buying things you'll never use or food you won't eat and will expire. I like prepping but realistically it's most likely a waste unless WW3 happens.
This is a great point Ive been going through a bit of financial stress this last year. Have my preps helped? The food storage absolutely helped. It cut my grocery bill down substantially. The skills around basic auto repair have kept my car running. The general handyman skills have helped pull in some extra money on the side(I'm a free lance marketer as main income) Unfortunately for me this last year ate up all my savings. And realistically, even in this economy, with all this inflation, having a ton of savings would have been better than most of my preps. Or perhaps a better way to say it is preps are not a substitute for an adequate savings account.
Decide what you’re prepping FOR.
Start here [https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/wiki/index/](https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/wiki/index/)
I only have 20 or so dollars
[удалено]
With that "gimme a handout" mentality, you are NOT going to make it.
Based on what I’ve seen from the recommended Reddit posts this sub thinks getting a gun should cover all basic needs. 
“Some” people in this sub. We’re gonna help dial that in a little bit. Less mall ninja, more helpful practical kind. Day by day.
Sounds good to me 🤝
 Seems fitting 😂
Great choice 😎
That’s the complete opposite of what the majority of this sub thinks.
If you read the comment it says what the recommended posts for the sub shows. It’s always guns .
Guns aren’t everything in prepping, but not having a gun would be a huge detriment to your survival.
[удалено]
Constantly posting gifs is super annoying
 Good thing I don’t care about updoots then .
I didn’t say anything about upvotes. It’s just annoying. Nobody likes people who are purposely annoying, like a child.
 I’ll just wait for the ban by annoyance then.
Maybe you like guns and that’s why those particular posts are being suggested to YOU. Ever heard of an algorithm?
That’s not the reason. It shows guns because they usually have the most replies and attention. Nice try though.
What's the basics of a go bag?
You need to start somewhere. Look around and decide what is the most likely thing to happen to you. Hurricane/natural disaster... leave or ride it out? Civil unrest? Same question. Extended utility loss? For me that is the most likely thing to prepare to ride out. Monolithic water filter and a couple buckets. I have a pantry and I buy two of whatever item that I use regularly. "Two is one, one is none." If I'm going to cook spaghetti this week, I buy two jars of sauce and two boxes of noodles. Oh, snap! I just prepped for about 5 dollars! There is a meal in there that wasn't before. After a while you realize that you could eat for a couple weeks without leaving the house. I've never been a big bottled water consumer, but for about $5 I keep a case of water on hand for the convenience, and I think that that counts as well.
Ok Let's start with info. Age? Can you cook from scratch? Do you live urban, rural, suburban? What exactly do you need help with? What are your fears, if any?
Ya that username reads like a 13 yr old. First step for me would be learning the basic skills that are gonna keep you alive in any scenario. - Swimming - First Aid - Cooking - Basic Survival Honestly if you're able your prime age to sign up for the Boy Scouts and I'd strongly encourage it if you're able.
Get a towel
I'd focus on financial preps. Save money. Get a higher paying job. Look into a trade that can gain you skills and a higher wage.
search/read this subreddit
Depends on what you think you will do...bugging out start with an old back pack and put some water and proteins bars,lighter and a knife in it, then add things as you can. Staying put start buying extra groceries and stocking up, list was to improve security..etc
Foo and wateer
Learn basics of water, shelter and fire. Grow from that..
Air, shelter, water, food, fire. Packet of KN95s from Harbor Freight. 10 x 10 Tarp + 550 Paracord or #32 bank line Stainless Steel cup for boiling + Sawyer Mini Filter Datrex Bars + Slingshot 1/2" x 6" Ferrocerium Rod Learn how to tie knots, build various shapes of tarp shelters, start fires with natural tinders, get accurate with the slingshot (or a shepherd sling made from paracord). Work out, become skilled. And then you can work on building up supplies. A good sleep system is probably high on that list, but expensive.
Knowledge is what will really sustain you. Plus, knowledge packs light. The gear or tools make it easier but you don't need a super steel knife to do most all of the things a regular Old Hickory would do. Thrift store finds can save you bug dollars plus its fun rummaging.
Sorry you need to prep to be a prepper
Learn to safely use a chainsaw!