Prepping on the Down-Low

by Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition

Recently by Tess Pennington: Home Defense: 'If You Can’t Protect It, You Don’t Own It'

If the world was a reasonable and informed place, none of us would have to hide our prepping endeavours. There are many situations that require us to be secretive about our plans, not the least of which is OPSEC (Operational Security). However the trickiest situation of all is when we have to hide our prepping from loved ones, whether they are friends, family members, or most difficult of all, spouses.

For some folks, getting their partner on board with prepping may be a long-term project. Some people simply don’t want to hear or think about the possibility of a SHTF event, others scoff at our “paranoia” and still others just cannot grasp the concept that one day the grocery store shelves may be empty, never to be refilled again.

Sometimes the concept of “don’t ask, don’t tell” is wiser than trying to persuade the reluctant spouse that the world is going to end, however if you’re living in the same home, hiding your preparedness items could be very difficult.

If this is the situation you find yourself in, prepping can become very difficult. Arguments over money are one of the biggest challenges. How can you satisfactorily explain to an uninterested partner that you just bought 75 cans of mixed vegetables? A few suggestions:

• Go with the money saving aspect. Buying 75 cans of mixed vegetables is generally $75, but today the cans were half price, which saved you $37.50. (Plus you won’t have to buy mixed vegetables for a year).
• Point out the current levels of inflation – prices are only going up. What you buy at today’s prices may hold you through this inflationary cycle until costs go back to normal.
• Explain to your partner that you’ve begun buying in bulk so that you can go to the store less frequently – every trip to the store (at least for me!) involves a few non-anticipated expenditures – shopping only once per month can really help you save money.

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October 1, 2012

Tess Pennington joined the Dallas chapter of the American Red Cross in 1999 Tess worked as an Armed Forces Emergency Services Center specialist and is well versed in emergency and disaster management and response. You can follow her regular updates on Preparedness, Homesteading, and a host of other topics at ReadyNutrition.com.

Copyright © 2012 Ready Nutrition

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