More and more people are getting into prepping. They may not be ready to appear on TV discussing their plans, but they’re dipping their toes in the pool nonetheless.

I’ve talked to a few people who are interested in prepping but have no idea where to start, or are just flat-out intimidated by the vast amount of information out there regarding what is necessary. Of course, talk to 10 different people and you’ll get at least 9 different answers about what you should have in your prep kit, which doesn’t make it any easier for someone just getting into the movement. Add to that the prices of some of the gear and people who aren’t so sure about the whole concept are likely to be scared away.

In these cases, I advise people to keep it simple. Get a backpack. Put in some protein bars, a few bottles of water and a sweatshirt and you’ll be better prepared than a significant number of people. Every paycheck add another couple of items. A basic prep kit should include:

This is a really good start to a bug out kit, and most of these items are really affordable. Next steps could include building one per person in the house, then expanding the equipment each contains, or replacing cheaper equipment with better quality goods.

The best thing someone can do when prepping is to just get started. Don’t let people get bogged down in what the end result should be, just get them in motion. Remember, the more the people around can do for themselves, the less you’ll have to do for them later.

What would you include that I haven’t listed? Have you helped a beginner get their prep started? What was your advice? Leave a comment below and let us know!!

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