Six Common Mistakes that Preppers and Survivalists make - Part 6 of 6

According to Rob Richardson of Off Grid Survival there are six very common mistakes that they see people make, in their opinion, could be detrimental to their ability to survive.

Not Understanding that People will become a Threat During a SHTF Crisis

During a crisis situation, people will likely become one of the top threats to your safety and security.

While the world may be filled with millions of good and decent people, in a crisis situation these people can and will quickly become unpredictable. In the opinion of Rob Richardson of Off Grid Survival, during a disaster of any size, the most dangerous locations will be large cities, or areas that have a high density of people. This is a threat that must be considered.

Six Common Mistakes that Preppers and Survivalists make - Part 5 of 6

According to Rob Richardson of Off Grid Survival there are six very common mistakes that they see people make, in their opinion, could be detrimental to their ability to survive.  

Becoming too dependent on your Guns & Ammo

Rob Richardson of Off Grid Survival state that guns are one of the most important items that you can have. That being said, there are a number of people who he has encountered over the years that think having a gun means they’re somehow prepared to survive anything. He states that he has actually heard people say, “I don’t need to stock up on supplies. I’ve got all the guns and ammo I need to survive.”

In his opinion, that type of thinking is not only juvenile, but it also shows a complete misunderstanding of what it really takes to survive. Stocking up on guns and ammo is definitely important, without them you’re putting yourself and your family at risk, but it’s also not the be-all-and-end-all of survival.

Again I have to strongly agree with Rob on this one as well.  This is why it is so important to make sure you have other means of weaponry.  Again with knowledge is key, expand your knowledge on items such as knives, bows, and anything and every thing else that could help you protect yourself and your family.

Six Common Mistakes that Preppers and Survivalists make - Part 4 of 6

 According to Rob Richardson of Off Grid Survival there are six very common mistakes that they see people make, in their opinion, could be detrimental to their ability to survive.

 The Rice & Beans Mentality

 you need to tweak your plans to fit your unique situation. If rice and beans is what you normally eat, then by all means go ahead and stock up on rice and beans.

Just remember that buying a truckload of emergency food that you’ve never tried, or would never normally eat, is not only expensive, but it could get you killed.

An emergency situation is never the time to find out how your body will react to certain foods. The last thing you need during a survival situation is to find you don’t like the food you stocked up on; even worse would be finding out you have a life threatening food allergy. And even if something that drastic doesn’t happen, do you really want to be stuck eating foods you hate?

In my case this would totally apply to me with MRE's.  I've never had tasted them before so it doesn't make sense for me to stock up on them right now.  So I do what I can.  I stock up on canned goods for the most part but we will definitely need to progress to dry foods eventually such as rice and beans.

Six Common Mistakes that Preppers and Survivalists make - Part 3 of 6

According to Rob Richardson of Off Grid Survival there are six very common mistakes that they see people make, in their opinion, could be detrimental to their ability to survive. 

They lack the Knowledge it takes to Really Survive

KNOWLEDGE in the key to survival.

You can own every piece of survival gear ever made, but if you lack the skills to survive, that gear is useless. To be truly prepared you need to learn how to survive without your gear.  Once you have a good grasp of what’s needed to survive without it, then you can start to focus on what gear you should buy.

We just discussed yesterday in our Part 2 of 6 Series how knowledge is key.  Knowledge is key in our everyday lives.  Think about the job that you go to everyday.  When you gain knowledge it is key for your future and the potential career you have.  The same goes with surviving, obviously you have to know how to survive without gear, basic survival I would think would be key.  Then you can enhance your chances of survival with the necessary gear.

Are You Ready Series: Best Practices For Long Term Food Storage Part 3 of 6

Food Liner

Research has shown that over time, slow amounts of oxygen seep through the walls of plastic containers.  Consequently, over time natural elements, and even insects can find a way inside the container.  To add additional protection, adding a food liner, such as Mylar bags will ensure that there are multiple barriers for the food to be protected in.  Investing in the thickest grade of Mylar would be a good investment for your food storage endeavors.  Simply because if properly cared for, mylar bags can last up to 20 years!  Additionally, the thicker grade Mylar makes a big difference in the taste of food.  The greatest part of investing in these food liners is that because they are so durable they can be reused over and over again.

For those who are investing in a shorter term food supply, many simply pour the food contents into mylar bags, add an oxygen absorber and properly seal the bag closed.  This will keep a short term food supply  fresh over a given period of time.

Six Common Mistakes that Preppers and Survivalists make - Part 2 of 6

According to Rob Richardson of Off Grid Survival there are six very common mistakes that they see people make, in their opinion, could be detrimental to their ability to survive.

Part 2 of 6 of our series

Preppers put too Much Importance on Their Gear

This is one of the top questions that Off Grid Survival receives from new readers, it’s also something that takes away from what you should be focusing on, knowledge.

Newbies, and even some old timers, often obsess over their gear. They sometimes put so much emphasis on stockpiling gear that it can actually start to hinder their ability to survive without it.

We love survival gear as much as the next guy, but the problem highlights something I see in all aspects of society; our culture has become addicted to the quick and easy fix. In survival that doesn’t exist. There’s no silver bullet, there’s no magic piece of gear, and nothing except good old fashion knowledge and training will improve your odds of surviving a disaster.

One thing about SHTF Marketing is that we strive to provide our readers with new information.  We agree with Rob here because knowledge is key.  We understand that gear is important, it is important to know and understand the gear as well.  But gear is not the where all to be all.

Are You Ready Series: Best Practices For Long Term Food Storage Part 2 of 6

Storing Food in Containers

Any food that you plan to store indefinitely, should be stored in food grade containers.  These containers will not transfer any non-food chemicals into the food, nor are their any chemicals within the container that are hazardous to humans.  Typically a food grade container has a #2 by the recycle symbol or the acronymn ”HDPE” stamp on the bottom (HPDE stands for “high density polyethylene”).  Before any food is to be stored, clean the containers with soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly.   5 gallon plastic containers are the most popular amongst those who store bulk quantities of food.

Additionally, make sure that the lid you purchase for your container is air tight and spill proof.  Lids with gaskets and gamma lids are great lids as they do not require a lid opener.  They are typically a little more expensive compared to the traditional bucket lid.  However, they are easier to open and close, and are worth every penny!