New and worried!

[Kelso]

Hi all

Hope everyone is well.

So I am sure like many new people I have been brought here by the show that premiered in the uk. I can honestly say I have never given any thought to prepping or anything like this until the show. But this has got me and my OH and some Family seriously talking and thinking about it !

I'm interested to hear if people think it is essentially 'too late' to get involved in prepping? Are we closer to some sort of global issue that is going to happen sooner than we could prepare for ? Also what is it we should be most worried about in the uk ?!

Do people think we should plan to stay put or bug out in an emergency?

How much money does prepping involve ? Etc etc

But watching the us show it seems they have it a bit easier , lots of land etc to use but also loose gun controls that means they can protect what they stock ? But how we would do this in the uk? How are other people planning to protect their tinned goods like peaches etc etc

Really interested as to how serious people think we should be a out this ?

Cheers Kelso

[scoobie]

Hi Kelso,

Welcome to the forum. First of all, breathe and pour yourself a cuppa, and have a mooch around the forums.

It's never too late to start prepping!!

First of all you need to decide what you are prepping for? Is it unemployment, a natural disaster, pandemic, etc. Then with the aid of this forum, other forums on the same subject and books out there; you can come up with a list of what you need to learn, and what you need to buy.

Once you have your lists, think to yourself 'what are the next two things I need to do' Do them, and then tick them off the list. It will help calm the panic!

Prepping doesn't have to be expensive. Many of us started out by just buying some additional tins or staple foods with a long shelf life each week, and learnt some new skills along the way.

Hope you find your time here useful

[scoobie]

Oh, and btw, once you've read a bit more of the forum you will notice than many of us plan to 'bug-in' rather than 'bug out' due to the lack of space in this country..

[Maddie_cat]

Hello Kelso!

I have been prepping for a few years now so hope I can answer one or two questions despite being a relative newbie on this forum myself. Sure others will come along and help too

I'm interested to hear if people think it is essentially 'too late' to get involved in prepping??!

NEVER too late. Even if you go down to your local supermarket and buy an extra couple of cans of beans, that is two more than you had yesterday and will give you an upper hand over those that aren't aware. The big thing is that you are now aware of what is going on so can keep a weather eye open.

Are we closer to some sort of global issue that is going to happen sooner than we could prepare for ? Also what is it we should be most worried about in the uk ?!

I don't think anyone can answer that with certainty TBH! You look at things like the Cuban crisis in the 1960s where they were on the cusp of a huge nuclear war only for it to fizzle out; or even the promised Bird Flu pandemic which came to nothing over to things like the SARS attack in Japan which wasn't foreseen or stuff like 7/7. It is best just to keep an eye on the news, discuss it with like minded individuals to get a balanced view and prep.

As for what to look out for in the UK? You might be safe in knocking volcanic eruptions and tsunamis off the list but as Scoobie says, you need to try and ID what you are prepping for. Get a couple of survival books from the library: they usually have a list of likely disasters that you can go through, think about and work out what you think you are most likely to be affected by.

Do people think we should plan to stay put or bug out in an emergency?

This is really a personal choice Kelso. There are a couple of threads on this one that you might want to look at. You need to think of things like where you would bug out to – no point leaving your home if you have no where to go to. What stuff can you take with you? Who will you have to look after? Transport? Others on the road? Or would it be better to stay at home where you have your stores? What security do you have? You can see the train of thought

How much money does prepping involve ? Etc etc

As much as you are willing to spend! You can only buy what you can afford

But watching the us show it seems they have it a bit easier , lots of land etc to use but also loose gun controls that means they can protect what they stock ? But how we would do this in the uk? How are other people planning to protect their tinned goods like peaches etc etc

Our Cousins across the Pond do seem to have it better – more land, basements, guns etc – but don’t forget, we are in the UK so we will all work with what we have.

Hope that helps.

[Arzosah]

Hi Kelso, welcome to the forum! Just agreeing with what scoobie said, really, its never too late to start prepping. My plan is to bug in, absolutely - the only bugging out I'd be doing would be to my sister's, if push came to shove, or the nearest travelodge if there was a problem in my road, stuff like that.

I think most people on here are prepping in relation to economic downturn and winter fuel problems (electricity lines brought down by snow, that sort of thing) - so I'd say the first things to do are to get in a week's worth of tinned goods, a couple of those 5 litre water containers (they're about £1.05 in Sainsburys - you don't have to spend lots, honest), insulate your outside garden water tap if you have one (and any external pipework if you can reach it) and you're already into prepping!

Follow scoobie's instructions, especially the cup of tea look around on here - there's lots and lots you *can* do, but you can most certainly do it bit by bit.

[pseudonym]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

[tigs]

hi and welcome , first of all its never too late to start prepping even if you only have a little extra its better than nothing , as for how much it costs well thats up to you as little or as much as you want! most people will start by buying a few extra tins of food or and extra bag or too of rice or pasta at most depending on the tins could set you back no more than £10 a week , if you set yourself a budget for extra food each week it will soon add up especially if you buy own brands or shop at the cheap end super markets ( 7p for a tin of peas ,9p a tin of beans etc £10 a week can buy a lot of tins ) along with food you will also need to prep water , you will only last 3 days with out it! 3 weeks with out food .

you can then step up your preps by adding air weapons , bows, crossbows fishing kits etc it all depends on what you have to spend

[Constantine]

So I am sure like many new people I have been brought here by the show that premiered in the uk. I can honestly say I have never given any thought to prepping or anything like this until the show. But this has got me and my OH and some Family seriously talking and thinking about it !

You joined for the same reason as I.

I'm interested to hear if people think it is essentially 'too late' to get involved in prepping? Are we closer to some sort of global issue that is going to happen sooner than we could prepare for ? Also what is it we should be most worried about in the uk ?!

It's not too late. It's too late it's too late, which isn't -- thankfully -- yet.

What I think we should be most worried about? Economic collapse from high oil prices, high food prices, a burst housing market, and electricity becoming so expensive that the ordinaries can't afford it. But that's just me.

Do people think we should plan to stay put or bug out in an emergency?

Depends where you live. I'm urban. I plan on bugging out, probably after bugging in for a while. Rural is where it's at, IMO.

How much money does prepping involve ? Etc etc

As much as you need, really; you can do it slowly, like I am. I'm (embarrassingly, and begrudgingly) on the dole while I trying to find work, so if my family and I can do a little bit, it should be slightly easier if you're working. When I finally manage to hear back from somewhere, I plan on doing more.

It depends what you want to do, as well. Planting your own foods, even if only in plant pots in the house, would cost very little.

But watching the us show it seems they have it a bit easier , lots of land etc to use but also loose gun controls that means they can protect what they stock ? But how we would do this in the uk? How are other people planning to protect their tinned goods like peaches etc etc

When I can afford it, I'm going to apply for a shotgun licence and buy an air rifle.

Another one, of course, is like what my wife and I do: we don't talk about what you have with people. Nobody knows about our (small, but growing) stockpile of rice, pasta, tinned foods, etc: it's just an in-house thing. Even my sister-in-law, who sleeps round regularly and comes up at least three or four times a week while she's on break, doesn't know of it.

[Arzosah]

The other thing, of course, is skills - and there's so many instructional bits and bobs on the web, you don't need to pay out (tho my local authority has a two day self defence/self protection course for £14, so I'm going to go on those). Medical skills will be valuable. So will, um, all sorts of things - carpentry, DIY, knowing how to chop wood, knowing how to forage. Knowing how to fish. There's loads of things that can be done and learned that doesn't cost much, much of which will give you pleasure too!

[Anxious]

Hi Kelso!

I too saw that same programme after some 'acquaintances' recommended it to us. Well, I have never looked back!

We have started prepping, the doomsday big shop is being delivered this evening. I haven't thought really where its going to be stored, I did get a fantastic tip from the show - there's a lot of wasted space inside the settee. Ofcourse it wont just end here, I'll be pickling all the time now. I have to admit tho I am panicked at how much I have to do, is it worth buying anything for Christmas?? According to my doomsday app, its all going to be over before then. So much to do. You shouldn't hang about with this level of threat hanging over. The sooner you're prepped, the better.

Lots of love
Anxious x