“True wealth is the ability to spend your time the way you want to. That is the ultimate resource.” – Chris Weatherman
It’s important to prepare for retirement so that outside factors won’t impact whether or not you have the retirement you’ve dreamt of. Financial independence and self-reliance are important. But according to Chris Weatherman, it’s also important to prepare your life for the unexpected.
Chris—known as the “Angery American”—is the author of a series called “The Survivalists,” consisting of 11 books (two of which landed on the bestseller list of USA Today). Chris has been a “prepper” since the 1990s, teaching primitive skills and modern survival tactics.
In this episode of Upthinking Finance™, we dispel some myths about “preppers,” talk about why it’s important, and share some tips and strategies to help you get started. Don’t miss this unique episode!
Covid has clearly demonstrated that just-in-time inventory systems don’t function. Society is fragile. Preppers are people that don’t implicitly trust the system and take responsibility for their own welfare. They don’t believe in “normalcy bias,” i.e. “Nothing bad happened yesterday so nothing bad will happen tomorrow.”
Chris is prepping to live. He prepares food, medical, energy, security, communications, etc. He’s not preparing for the “end of the world,” the common misconception attributed to preppers. Instead, he’s preparing for the end of his world, which could mean an illness, job loss, a hurricane that knocks out power, etc. You have car insurance, homeowners insurance, and medical insurance—why not ensure the continuity of your life? That’s what prepping is.
Whether it’s a car accident, fire, a natural disaster, or a crime being committed against you, Chris emphasizes that “You are your own first responder.” Chris got into prepping because he didn’t want to be “that guy” standing in line waiting for help. If he can take care of himself, resources can go to someone who does need them.
Hurricanes are common in Florida, and life after a hurricane can be rough. The power can be out for weeks at a time and things are hard to find. So Chris plans ahead with fuel storage, food, generators, and solar power that’s 100% off-grid.
When you get groceries, just buy a few extra cans of things your family already eats and likes (think rice, beans, pasta, and anything canned). Once you have a 30-day-supply, continue buying those things by rotating out and using the older things. Secondly, avoid things that don’t have a long shelf life.
If you live somewhere that deals with water shortages, what do you do? You still have to maintain hygiene, have enough to drink, and have enough to cook. If you don’t have water, you’ll have to leave where you are and go to water or you’ll die. If you drink soda and buy two-liter bottles, rinse them out, clean them, and refill them with water. The hot water heater in your house can be drained and used for bathing and whatever else you might need in an emergency.
Stock up on at least one...
