Glad to be here, and full of hope.

[Odin]

Starting on a new journey, especially one that involves navigating through heaps of information, can feel a bit like stepping into a maze without a map. That’s exactly where I find myself right now—new to preppering and admittedly a little overwhelmed. The sheer volume of advice, strategies, and perspectives out there is both exciting and intimidating. It’s like trying to drink from a firehose!

Still, I’m determined to chart my course, and I’m taking it one step at a time. That’s why I’m so grateful to have stumbled upon this forum. It’s a relief to know there’s a community of people here who’ve walked this road before, who understand the ups and downs, and who might be willing to share their insights.

For me, forums like this one in the UK are not just about finding answers; they’re about finding a sense of connection and encouragement. It’s reassuring to know I’m not navigating this alone and that there’s a place to ask questions, share experiences, and maybe even laugh at the occasional misstep. I’m hopeful that, with your guidance, I can make sense of it all and turn this initial confusion into a structured, focused plan.

So, here’s to learning, leaning on each other, and making the most of this supportive space. Thanks in advance for being part of this journey with me—I’m genuinely excited to dive in!

[jennyjj01]

So, here’s to learning, leaning on each other, and making the most of this supportive space. Thanks in advance for being part of this journey with me—I’m genuinely excited to dive in!

Hi and welcome from Cheshire.
Lots to learn here, and a friendly crowd. Have a mooch around and throw out a few questions or answers of your own.
What sort of scenarios are you prepping for and what steps are you taking? There's no right or wrong ways, so long as we get a little bit more secure than our non-prepping peers?

Frequent themes and advice on here is...
We're not quite the same as our US cousins, who prep first by buying guns
Prep in ways that get max bang for your buck. E.g a bit of extra food in, or a couple of £hundred in cash covers a multitude of scenarios. A tent and hunting knife, less so.
Consider Bugging in as more feasible than heading for the hills.
Careful who you reveal your prepping to: A friend in need is a PITA
Build a bit of community, with a chosen few, as prepping alone is not survivable long term.
Hold on to that hope, as the world looks ever more hopeless. I'm sorry to say, I'm not so able to do that.

Prepping can get obsessive. Try to stay balanced.

[Odin]

Hi and welcome from Cheshire.
Lots to learn here, and a friendly crowd. Have a mooch around and throw out a few questions or answers of your own.
What sort of scenarios are you prepping for and what steps are you taking? There's no right or wrong ways, so long as we get a little bit more secure than our non-prepping peers?

Frequent themes and advice on here is...
We're not quite the same as our US cousins, who prep first by buying guns
Prep in ways that get max bang for your buck. E.g a bit of extra food in, or a couple of £hundred in cash covers a multitude of scenarios. A tent and hunting knife, less so.
Consider Bugging in as more feasible than heading for the hills.
Careful who you reveal your prepping to: A friend in need is a PITA
Build a bit of community, with a chosen few, as prepping alone is not survivable long term.
Hold on to that hope, as the world looks ever more hopeless. I'm sorry to say, I'm not so able to do that.

Prepping can get obsessive. Try to stay balanced.

Thank you for all the above. My first day, and delightful, as in my other post got great advice saving me money.

[pseudonym]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Thank you for all the above. My first day, and delightful, as in my other post got great advice saving me money.

Welcome

It's very easy to blow a fortune on kit that looks good on the internet but in the real world isn't that good


Start with the day to day emergencys

Unemployment.. it's ok having a full bug out kit but a stash of cash/ savings to pay rent / keep the lights on and your family fed for example might be a better use of your earnings...

House fire a year as now well it was Saturday the 18th
(literally ) I was fighting to save our home when we had an electrical fire in the teenagers bedroom

https://www.uk-preppers.co.uk/forum/vie ... re#p237695

Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers / fire blanket and a plan with the household on what to do saves lives it was less that 20 seconds for the shout of fire (as they were drilled) to evacuate the house and begin tackling the flames

Sexy Gucci kit is good but first aid training can save lives for example

[Arzosah]

Welcome to the forum, Odin - you sound like a thoughtful person, I'm sure things will go well for you in your prepping journey. You have some information, and you're willing to do the research to get more. It's the "ordinary emergencies" first, as Yorkshire Andy points out with his house fire last year, and the maxims that Jenny is sharing.

Buying food: tinned/instant/long life versions of food you already eat, you can't go wrong - but if you buy a new brand, taste it first before you buy loads.
Water: so many ways of storing it! I limit myself to 2litre bottles, it's a question of arthritis and concern about spills and breakages dripping down to the ground floor.
Absolutely don't advertise yourself as a prepper - the reputation is extremely tarnished! And there is a concern about people demanding help, rather than you offering it. But I'd also say, there's lots of activities in the UK that help your preparedness that aren't about prepping: getting fit, geocaching, camping, gardening, food preserving, all sorts.

Enjoy!

[Frnc]

Greetings from Manchester. Don't worry about rushing to be prepared. It takes a while. First priority is to build up a bit of a food stock. Preferably things you will eat eventually. I buy thinks like pasta, tinned tuna, and tomato puree. I do also buy stuff like dried egg, that I wouldn't normally, but it is edible, so hopefully won't get wasted. Ditto dried milk, most of us buy Nido I think, because it's full fat.

Next priority is water. You can buy 10 litre containers. Give them a rinse with soapy water, then clean water. Then use 2 Milton tabs for half an hour. Keep your water away from light, eg put a bin bag over it. Swap it every 6 months to a year. You could start with 2 containers, then buy more over time.

It's a good idea to have a camping gas or picnic type gas stove for cooking and boiling water if the gas and or electricity go down.

And as others have said, financial prep is important. Basically have some savings, and a bit of cash on hand. Savings should be accessible. It's no good in an emergency if it's all tied up.

[korolev]

Welcome aboard.

It's the mundane stuff that will get you out of a spot.
We, too, had a fire this year (some grow lamps melted and caught light). Fire extinguisher put it out and avoided the fire brigade filling half the house with water. Insurance put it right.
When Covid came along, having a stash of grub and loo rolls was a godsend.
When we had a power cut, having a few torches and spare batteries meant we could see to make a brew using the bistro stove.

These are the sort of things I'm prepping for.

[PPrep]

Welcome to the forum. There's little I can add to what has already been said; just take time to build up your preps and enjoy the journey!