When you think of prepping, the image of apartment preppers probably doesn’t immediately spring to mind. But being a prepper isn’t just limited to those living out in the bush, surrounded by wilderness with several bunkers set up beneath their feet.
Preppers also exist throughout some of the largest cities on the planet. While they may not have access to vast amounts of land to fence off, they still manage to concoct pretty useful plans in case an emergency arises. That’s why I thought I’d put together this article, to help those thinking of joining the masses in the cities.
There’s something about the quality of a prepper far outweighing the quantity of a prepper. And that is because the quality is going to get you much further than quantity ever will.
The following 6 tips specifically aimed at apartment preppers, will bring to light some of the focus points you should consider. They will help you make smart choices when it comes to prepping and hopefully give you the right direction to aim for.
Tips for the Apartment Preppers
Tip #1: Plan to Understand Your Plan
Every great solution begins with a plan. So why shouldn’t your prepping plan? This is one solution that will ultimately save your life and those of your family.
Getting caught in a high-rise apartment calls for an even more stringent plan, due to the extra risks faced within those buildings. Fire is a major consideration and not a threat to ignore.
Creating an evacuation plan isn’t too difficult and will give you the confidence to know you and your family are prepared for disaster. It’s good practice to conduct drills, to make sure everyone knows what is expected of them in the event of a crisis.
Tip #2: Make Everything Portable
Living in an apartment does not mean you need to forego prepping entirely. It just means you need to look at things in a different way. The chances of you needing to evacuate during an emergency are high and that means keeping everything portable.
Bug out bags is your number one weapon against facing a disaster head-on. Keeping a significant amount of supplies packed in an easy-to-grab bag will give you the best chance of survival. Add to this the possibility to work with nearby family members and things might become easier for you.
Tip #3: Prep Within Your Budget
One thing I see all too often is people trying to buy all their prepping needs at once. This will often lead to frustration, the demeanor heads south, and eventually, they scrub the whole plan. Avoid the headaches and start with what you can. It doesn’t have to all come at once.
Set a few dollars a week aside and buy a little here and a little there. Choose a single item a week or month and go from there.
A good practice is to keep an eye out for sales, visit factory-direct outlets and places that sell supplies in bulk. It’s amazing how much money one saves when buying things in bulk.
Tip #4: Technology is Your Friend
I find it common for people to prep with the belief that they should return to the stone age and avoid modern technology. It might be true to some degree, but don’t give up on technology completely. Even as an apartment prepper, there are still plenty of technological conveniences to help you survive.
Security systems help guard your front door, portable HAM radios provide all the communication needs and medical devices save lives. Apartment preppers still need certain tools, some of which are no different from suburban preppers.
Tip #5: Space is a Luxury
Most apartments don’t have vast expansive living areas and extra storage sheds. Most of the time, rooms are simple, small, and compact to say the least. Look at some of the places you use now for storing items. Is there dead space you can use?
A lot of wardrobes hold a lot of dead space, particularly when shelves are too far apart. Look for ways to use that space. Use the dead space under beds, under sofas, build extra shelving. If possible and the budget allows for it, look at renting a storage space, but remember that these can be pricey.
Tip #6: Rely on the Power of One
Depending on the type of disasters, the conveniences of living in a city may suddenly end. No corner stores, no supermarkets, no home deliveries. For this reason, try to introduce some self-sufficiency into your life.
Start by growing a vegetable garden, or an herb garden. Some work great out on balconies and don’t need a lot of space. Growing your own produce and then storing it by freezing or through dehydration will help you soon achieve a new level of “providing for yourself”.
So, as you can see, it is easy to become an apartment prepper, so why not start right away?
