Let’s face it…prepping can be difficult. There are so many options out there and so much information it can be hard to know what to do. Prepping mistakes are made by newbies and experienced preppers alike.
We have all been there. You think that you are well prepared until you go to check on your survival food only to see it is expired. Or you try your dehydrated food you bought and realize you would rather starve than eat it.
Prepping can also be expensive. We all get sucked into buying the latest and greatest cool survival gadgets only to overlook some critical holes in our preps.
Some of the bad advice out there has been repeated so many times that it sounds like it must be true.
Avoiding some of these common prepping mistakes can save you time, money, and potentially your life.
#1 - Not Having Enough Water
This is by far the most common prepping mistake that is made. When the SHTF utility systems may be inoperable.
Water is the most essential element to preserving life as we can’t survive more than 3 days without it.
You need to plan on a minimum of 1 gallon of water per person per day. Remember that you will also need water for other things like washing and cooking as well. You want to have a minimum of 2 full weeks worth for you and your family.
If you have access to a fresh water source you may think that you can get by with less water storage and simply filter the fresh water out of the lake, stream, etc. While this may be true in most circumstances what happens if that water source becomes contaminated?
Read up on some fantastic water filter suggestions in our buyers guide.
#2 - Planning your bug out first
Sure, there are situations where bugging out is the best option, but that shouldn’t be your first plan.
You are far safer and more self sufficient sheltering in place in most instances. However, if an evacuation order comes ahead of an impending disaster you should follow those recommendations and move out.
Start your prepping by focusing on sheltering in place first. You can store large amounts of supplies to ride out most scenarios until order is restored.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t make a bug out plan. You absolutely should. I am saying that it should be something you plan for in a worst case scenario.
For suggestions of the best bug out backpacks check out our in depth buyer’s guide.
#3 - Too many supplies; not enough knowledge
Knowledge is the key to survival in most aspects of our lives. Prepping for SHTF is no different.
All the cool supplies in the world will not be enough to keep you alive if you don’t have some basic survival knowledge. Invest in your survival and bushcraft skills before investing too much in gear.
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Every prepper should have a survival library of a few good books that they can read to develop a basic level of skill that might be the best investment you have ever made. 
#4 - Not having offline survival information
This prepping mistake is closely related to the one above. In this digital age we tend to rely on accessing information online much more than we should.
When the power grid goes down your electronic devices will go with it unless you have some sort of renewable energy source. Think solar.
If you have solar or generator power you may be able to access files that are stored in your device, but not those that are on the web.
Invest in some good books for your library and store files in your device memory or external hard drive. Having access to these resources is vital.
#5 - Storing the wrong types of foods
One major prepping mistake that a lot of people make is buying and storing the wrong foods. You want to store food items that your family already eats in addition to the freeze dried foods that most buy.
Do you primarily eat plain rice and beans right now? If so, great then store those because they have a great shelf life. If not you should slowly build up extended supplies of the types of foods you currently eat.
Some great options are dried pastas and a variety of sauces. Canned food items that have long shelf lives are great as well. Having good food to eat will improve morale during tough times.
For more options check out our emergency food buyer’s guide.
#6 - Not eating and rotating stored foods
This prepping mistake continues on from the last one. Not only should you be storing foods that you already eat but you should be regularly eating and rotating these foods.
The benefit to storing food you already eat is that you can eat items to prevent them from expiring and replenish your stock with new items.
By regularly eating and rotating your stock of food you can continuously maintain a 30 day supply or more.
#7 - overpacking your bug out bag
This is a mistake that far too many people make. Most people put so many items into their bug out bag that if they truly needed to move a far distance it would be impossible.
The problem is that many people fail to actually practice hiking with their bag to see how they will react to the weight.
45 pounds does not seem like a lot of weight until you need to cover a large distance in a short period of time. I speak from experience that if you don’t regularly hike with a large amount of weight on your shoulders it will be a really tough task.
As a general rule of thumb you should keep your bug out bag weight to no more than 30% of your body weight. I try to keep my own bag at under 25 pounds. This is so I am more agile to cover longer distances without risking serious injury and fatigue.
#8 - relying too much on food preps
Some people make the mistake of putting too much into their food preparation. Food is obviously important but water and warmth are more important.
Don’t think that huge amounts of food are all you need to get by. Improve your survival knowledge to improve your resourcefulness. Some basic tools can go a long way.
#9 - not getting family involved
Emergency preparedness cannot only be the concern of one family member. It is important to get your whole family involved so that when a situation arises they are ready and know their roles to play.
Imagine if a disaster situation occurred and you were the only one mentally prepared for the difficulty ahead. How would your children react? How would you be able to take care of them if they are not even remotely prepared to handle what they may have to face?
List out the most likely scenarios for your area and develop action plans. Discuss these plans with your family regularly.
#10 - bragging about their level of preparedness
This is a very easy mistake to make. We are proud of our level of preparedness and survival knowledge.
The problem is not with talking about your preparations with a few key people that you trust. The problem is when you broadcast to everyone you meet how prepared you are.
Who do you think they will come looking for when disaster strikes and they are hungry? You and your large stockpile will be their first option.
Practice good operations security (OPSEC) and keep your plans low visibility.
#11 - being tacticool; not tactical
This mistake cracks me up. We have all seen the guy walking around in cargo pants bloused over his combat boots, looking like a mall cop with a serious mission on his hands.
By definition tactical means using carefully planned actions to achieve a desired outcome beyond the specific action. It means being skillful, smart, and cunning. To be tactical is more about your actions than a look or specific cool looking gear.
Carefully planning your action plans and backup plans is being tactical.
#12 - preparing for less likely scenarios first
A lot of people have the misconception that to be a “prepper” you need to be preparing for nuclear war or an end of the word type scenario.
The problem?
These scenarios are highly unlikely. You are much more likely to deal with loss of a job or a natural disaster than those scenarios.
Focus on things that have a higher probability to prepare for first before worrying about less likely events.
#13 - Not testing your gear and equipment
I can’t stress the importance of testing out your gear in advance of a need to use. The worst thing that could happen is that you spend a ton of money on all these supplies just to find out that you are either don’t need most of it, or it is crap.
Actually fill your bug out bag with everything that you wish to carry in it and go on a 5 mile timed hike. If you are completely wiped out, you may need to cut some weight and ditch unnecessary items.
Try out your emergency food before you need to survive off of it. Practice how to use your camp stove and water filters. Using your equipment and inspecting it regularly will ensure you know how to properly use them and if they will meet your needs.
#14 - not having backup plans
Always, always, always…have a backup plan. Things will almost never play out the way that you have planned in your mind. The ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions and several options to act on may save your life.
Your first plan may be to shelter in place. When that becomes too dangerous you may need to bug out by vehicle. If that is not possible you will need a plan to bug out on foot. Make a detailed plan for each and backup plans for them.
#15 - forgetting about hygiene and sanitation
Hygiene and sanitation will be of extremely high importance in a disaster scenario.
Stock up on hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. Think about storing enough toilet paper to serve your family for a minimum of 30 days.
Store enough water to provide boiling water for sanitation and personal hygiene needs. You use a lot more water every day than you probably realize.
#16 - not prepping for all seasons
For some reason when planning for a SHTF scenario people fail to prepare for the cold of winter.
When I was a firefighter we would train mostly when the weather was favorable.
The problem?
Major emergencies typically did not occur on days with perfect weather. They happened during a blizzard, or a major rain storm.
The point is this…a disaster scenario will not wait for a moderately warm summer day to strike. You need to be prepared for the worst.
#17 - no bug out location
Having a bug out bag prepped is a great start. But, where are you going to bug out to? You need to have a destination in mind.
Whether that destination is a remote piece of land with an off-grid cabin, a friend or family member’s house, or a pre-determined rally point, you need to have a location in mind.
Again, ensure that you have backup plans in place for a situation that throws a wrench in your plans.
#18 - Lone Wolf Prepping
Believe it or not, being a lone wolf is probably the most serious prepping mistake that you can make. And it is really common.
While you don’t want to be broadcasting to the world what your preparedness level or specific plans are, you also don’t want to try surviving alone.
There is truth to the saying that there is strength in numbers.
If a disaster scenario becomes a long term issue unprepared people will seek out others that they can easily overtake. If you are hunkered down by yourself you are at risk for becoming an easy target.
#19 - keeping all preps in one place
Keeping every bit of your preps in one place is a recipe for disaster. If everything you have prepped is in your home and you have to bug out you will have to leave some of your supplies behind.
Having caches of supplies dispersed in multiple locations will ensure that you can resupply along your route. Store more preps at your designated bug out location that are longer term in nature.
#20 - focusing too much on arsenal
Look, I get it. Weapons and physical security are important. You need to make sure that you have a couple of different options, but view them more as tools than the end-all-be-all.
I am guilty of getting a little carried away with my guns as well. After all, I can justify a new gun purchase to my wife if it is for our future security, right?
Once you have this area covered, make sure that you place more emphasis on your food and water preps.
#21 - neglecting communications
This another prepping mistake that is real easy to make. But communications are vital during any disaster.
You should have access to both walkie talkie type transceivers to remain in contact with your party during scouting or scavenging.
You should also have a good quality emergency weather radio with the ability to alert you to any important weather events or public information.
#22 - Being overconfident
No matter how skilled or well prepared you think you are, you always have more to learn. Keep your mind open to new ideas.
There is a difference between confidence and cockiness. There is no problem being confident in your skills, but be open to learning from others. No matter how much you know, you will never know it all.
The suggestion that you hear today may be the one that saves your life tomorrow.
#23 - failing to have an every day carry
Again, failing to be prepared at all times is dangerous. The vast majority of us spend more time away from home as we do at home. The chances of disaster striking while away is very high.
Keep a small bag with limited supplies in your vehicle and carry some gear in your daily backpack. If disaster strikes while you are out you will have what you need to make it back home or to your bug out location.
#24 - failing to think about toilets
While the toilet is one of the last things you may think of when planning your preps you shouldn’t forget about it.
What will you use when the utility grid goes down and water service is cut?
There are plenty of good emergency toilet solutions available, and having one will make a world of difference.
There are some great composting toilets that require no water and very little power to use. You will be very glad you have this area covered if the SHTF.
#25 - Failing to financially prepare first
Finally, one of the biggest prepping mistakes has to do with financial preparedness.
Before dropping loads of cash on cool prepping supplies you want to be on stable financial ground. Build up your savings to a level that will keep you afloat for 3 months or more.
While preparing for emergencies is important you need to focus on the most likely scenarios first. Things like loss of job or layoff are more likely than an EMP or other serious event.
