Common Preparedness Mistakes

If you've spent any time around preparedness-minded people, you've probably heard some version of this advice: buy it before you need it.

It's not bad advice.

In fact, having supplies on hand when everyone else is scrambling can be one of the biggest advantages of being prepared. The problem is that preparedness can get expensive, complicated, and, if you aren't careful, kind of ridiculous.

I've made some of these mistakes myself. I've bought things because they seemed like a good idea at the time. I've spent money on gear that barely got used. I've discovered that storing certain things is considerably more complicated than simply putting them on a shelf.

And, perhaps most importantly, I've learned that being prepared isn't necessarily about having more stuff. But instead having the right stuff, stored properly, within a budget you can actually maintain.

Here are some of the most common preparedness mistakes I've learned to avoid.

Mistake #1: Buying a Huge Amount of Ammo All at Once

This is probably the most obvious one.

When ammunition prices are favorable, the temptation is to buy a mountain of it. You know the feeling. You see a good price, think about what happened during the last shortage, and suddenly you're whipping out your wallet and dumping entirely too much cash on a brick of ammo. Or five.

The problem is that traditional bulk ammunition buying comes with some serious drawbacks.

First, there's the upfront cost. Spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on ammunition at once can put a pretty significant dent in the household budget. And if you're trying to prepare for multiple calibers, the costs build up pretty dang quick.

There's also the opportunity cost. Money tied up in ammunition is money that isn't available for other preparedness priorities.

Naturally, this is where the AmmoSquared platform makes a lot of sense.

Instead of thinking about preparedness as one enormous shopping trip, AmmoSquared lets you build your ammunition supply over time. You can allocate money toward ammunition and build your account gradually rather than feeling like you need to make one massive purchase every time prices look attractive.

That changes the mindset completely.

You're still working toward having ammunition available when you need it, but you don't necessarily have to turn your basement, garage, or closet into an ammunition warehouse in the process.

It's the difference between stockpiling everything at once and systematically building a reserve.

And for a lot of people these days, the second approach is considerably easier to sustain.

Mistake #2: Buying Gear Because It's Cool

As a self-proclaimed "gear junkie," I'm super guilty of this one. 

This industry has no shortage of cool gear. There are gadgets, bags, tools, optics, flashlights, knives, radios, cases, organizers, and approximately seventeen thousand different ways to carry all of them.

The problem is that what's "cool" and what's "useful" are rarely the same thing.

Before buying another piece of gear, ask yourself a simple question: What problem does this solve?

If you can't answer that question without making excuses, you probably don't need it.

The best preparedness equipment is usually boring stuff that solves actual problems. Reliable lighting. First-aid supplies. Communication tools. Appropriate clothing. Water storage. Food you will actually eat. Basic tools. Backup power.

You don't need to build a collection worthy of a tactical gear catalog. You need equipment that fits your circumstances and that you actually know how to use.

Mistake #3: Preparing for the Apocalypse Without Preparing for Tomorrow

This one might be my favorite.

It's easy to spend all your preparedness energy imagining the spectacular scenario: a natural disaster, an extended power outage, a supply-chain disruption, or some other major emergency.

But preparedness is actually more about the mundane, everyday stuff.

Preparedness doesn't have to mean building a bunker. I guess it can if you've got bookoo bucks and plenty of time to kill. But in a more realistic sense, it means having enough basic supplies to make an inconvenient week slightly less inconvenient.

And honestly, those are the scenarios you're far more likely to encounter anyway. I don't fault you for preparing for Armageddon. I get it. Just don't get so caught up in it that the small, everyday stuff gets left behind.

Mistake #4: Having a Storage Plan After You Buy Everything

I learned this one the hard way: your storage solutions should be part of the plan, not an afterthought.

Preparedness supplies should be organized, accessible to the people who need them, and protected from environmental conditions that could damage them. Ammunition, food, batteries, medical supplies, and other equipment all have different storage considerations.

Before bringing something home, figure out where it's going to live.

If your preparedness strategy requires stacking boxes three feet high in the corner of a damp garage, you probably definitely need to rethink that strategy.

And remember that security matters, too. Preparedness supplies should be stored responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Mistake #5: Building a Preparedness Budget You Can’t Maintain

The biggest mistake of all may be trying to do everything immediately.

Preparedness is a marathon, not a sprint.

You don't need to spend your entire paycheck every time there's a sale. In fact, doing so can undermine the very financial stability you're trying to protect.

Set a realistic budget and stick with it.

A small, consistent investment can accomplish a lot over time. That applies to ammunition just as much as anything else.

This is another reason I like the concept behind AmmoSquared. Rather than treating ammunition preparedness as a giant expense that happens once or twice a year, you can approach it as an ongoing part of your overall preparedness budget.

It's just the smart thing to do, in my opinion.

Preparedness Makes Life Easier

At the end of the day, preparedness is less about who has the biggest stockpile or the most impressive gear collection, and more about resilience.

It's having the things you need without putting yourself in a financial hole to get them. It's storing those things responsibly and understanding what you actually need, and avoiding the temptation to buy everything that looks useful on the internet.

And when it comes to ammunition, there's a pretty compelling argument for changing the way we think about stockpiling altogether.

Instead of waiting for the next shortage and scrambling to buy whatever you can find, or spending a small fortune trying to build your entire reserve in one afternoon, start building your ammunition supply deliberately and consistently.

And if you're still wondering where AmmoSquared fits into the preparedness equation, you've missed the point entirely.

AmmoSquared is the epitome of the preparedness mindset. 

You don't have to break the bank, blow through retirement funds, or stockpile all the latest and greatest gear in one fell swoop. You just need a plan, a level head, and an understanding that incremental gains are far more valuable than dangerously high expenditures and ill-planned panic buys. 

Always.

Take it from me; My credentials include several years of experience and an unfortunate number of receipts.