So how did you start and what did you start with?

I started with water, way back in the beggining it was all I could afford to do...I am and always have been a pop drinker, so I would save instead of throwing out my pop bottles...I would collet up a couple of green garbage bags of the empties and then have a water day...I can remember when I had to move I dumped about 300 bottles...gave empties to a freind who took them to place to be recycled...

I also began by getting bigger bags of rice, in comparision price shopping it worked out cheaper in the long run...and I would watch for sales if I needed coffee and the jars where regular 7.99(yea it was that high in price at one time) and it went on sale for 3.99...I would have an extra 4 dollars in my budget to get something else...So watching other things that went on sale I would pick something to prep with extra money....


Of all the things I remember it was very tough to get started, not motivation..more finacially..

You want to make sure you have what you need for your family for your alloted grocery funds and amount of time you need to have food, at least till next grocery shop....

And in these economic times it is tough...but lets share stories and cost cutting...

This goes back to the 70's. After High School while looking for a job and out in the world on my own. I did without a lot of things due to the fact there was no work to be had. I entered the US Navy and for the next 6 years of my life I witnessed the horrifying waste and corruption within the Department of Defense. Having been cared for by .GOV for the last 6 years and not liking what I saw, I decided that if I could I would find a way to never have to do without again. I left the military and went into working on Heavy Equipment for a living. I was doing pretty good until winter hit and I had not payed attention to what I had vowed to do. I made it thru that winter but did without a lot. The rest is history as they say. When I got back to working steady I started buying extra every time I went to the store. I started thinking back to summers on the Grand Parents farm and how they had a very well stocked storage cellar. I started to do the same with canned foods purchased from the store and it has just became a life style now.

This way of living has saved our family many times over the years. Every time the housing construction slowed I was sure glad my family did not have to do without when the layoffs started.

I started very slow as I said every time I went to the store I would pick up just a little extra. You will be amazed at how fast you build up a good supply of needed items if you just make it a habit to buy 1 extra of something every time you are in a store. You really do not notice the couple of dollars extra you spend that week. Before you know it you will be at a point that you can shop for stuff only when it goes on sale. Now with that you save even more of your money.

My best advice to someone just learning what it means to be prepared would be, to begin buying a couple extra cans of food and make that a habit first. Buy what you eat now and do not get pulled into the belief you need thousands of dollars to go out and buy MRE's or freeze dried foods because you will probably never eat them. That is not the way you should begin. It has always been my belief that starting small and buying only what you use now is the way to begin becoming better prepared. I was asked a question by a reporter during an interview and it went like this But how can I stock up on stuff I am in an apartment with very little room. Well I asked what is under your bed? What is behind your couch? ETC.

I truly believe that many times the ones that are way ahead on this seem to forget that they at one point had to start of buying that first extra can of beans. Many times I believe we as a community tend to try to teach each other on a college level and for those just graduating kindergarten it seems way to hard to accomplish. We are now in the age of instant gratification and need to first teach our younger generation that this does not happen instantly. Unless of course you happen to have thousands of dollars laying around to blow. If that is the case contact me and for a fee I will be glad to get you all set up and going towards your goal of preparedness.
Santa

How does one become a "preparedness minded" person, for prepa.redness is a mindset
For me, it started very early with a healthy mistrust of modern society, being a firm believer in the fallen nature of mankind, and the inherent evil in his heart.
I'm sorry if this bursts your bubble and belief that all men are inherently good.
The facts and all human history teaches otherwise, with that said, I'll get to the point.
1. If your family will not eat it , it is a bad deal at any price. Don't store it away, cause in an emergency they will reject anyway. "They'll eat it or starve?? Your right, they will.

2. The first place to put food by economically, as kelee said is buying staples in bulk. Rice, beans, sugar and many other staples are on sale all the time if you will buy larger bags.
Be aware that items MAY be cheaper in smaller packages if on sale week to week- check the per ounce or pound tags to see.

3. Keep it in mind that the most expensive food on your table, and the first place to economize is in learning to cook from scratch, things that you normally would buy in a box, such as Box potatos, Noodle dishes such as hamburger helper and the rest. The same thing holds true for box cakes and brownies etc. It just is not that hard to learn to make them from scratch, the reason that the instructions say "beat for X number of strokes is to keep you from beating the mix to death, eg, making the cake tough, or not rise properly from being overworked. Treat your doughs and batters gently.

4. Mankind survives on starches such as rice, potatoes, and grains, but the thing we must have is Protein
and we in the West, assume that every meal must have meat at every meal, or we have not had a proper meal.
Remember that a grain and a legume, (bean) is a complete protein, and most of the earths people survive on these alone for most of their lives. This is why the soybean is so widely used in Asia, as it is highest in protein of all beans. There a very small amount of animal protein is added for interest and flavor.

5. Meat is terribly expensive, and I like it as much as everyone else. Learn to stretch it for the benefit of your health and pocket book. The very best cookbook I have found is the "More with Less Cookbook"
and "Extending the Table" written from the experiences of Mennonite Missonaries all around the world
and the one thing that is universal is that meat is reserved for special occasions and such birthdays and weddings, and is shared with the poor in your general area, so that the good fortune of those with resources, is shared with those of less means. In this country this is called charity, and we send money to private organizations and never see the face of those in need even in our own area. Government would have us send them our charity, and they would decide who was worthy.

Don't expect to have a complete pantry full overnite, and do a little every week and soon you will start to have a little peace of mind, that of knowing that your family is "prepared"