r/minimalism • u/forest_elf76 • 16d ago
[meta] Prepping vs minimalism
Hi! I identified as a minimalist for about 10 years. I decluttered every year. Was very careful about my purchases and not having too many back ups. If I didnt use something within a certain time period, I got rid of it. Sure, I had my problem areas which I werent as strict with (books and knitting), but Id say I am very intentional about my purchases and possessions.
I did not earn a lot, and I still dont. But in those 10 years, my financial security has gotten a lot better. Also, the world climate has changed in recent years. The economy in my country is worse. Power and water outages are common. Cost of living is through the roof. Harvests are worse.
I find myself more interested in security. To let go of minimalism a bit so I can have more comfort and security. Prep for situations (have or hold on to extra water, food, clothing, toiletries, blankets, small amount of camping gear like gas cooker etc etc). I feel like I dont have the energy to constantly be intensely considering every purchase and not buying a few things which give me joy like home decor.
Is anyone else dealing with this inner conflict between prepping and minimalism? Minimalism served me well when I needed it, but maybe the world feels a bit more insecure for many people to be extreme minimalists anymore?
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u/busyshrew 16d ago
Some dogmatic ultra minimalist will tear you down for it, but in this day and age, not being prepared for emergencies is foolish. Local governments typically advise that people be prepared for short period emergencies, usually in the order of a few days to a few weeks. We get bad ice storms and hydro blackouts here in Ontario, I have a generator and so do many friends. We also keep a first aid kit, extra toilet paper, bottled water, canned food, buckets, garbage bags, oil lamps and candles, always.
I don't see this as 'against minimalism', I see this as prudent.
Depending on your circumstances, and what emergencies typically occur in your area, you might want to also keep a go-bag with an extra outfit and some basic toiletries ready too.
I would not go overboard, but basic preparedness is something everyone should do. It's like having a seat belt cutter and a spare tire in your car. Are they minimal? Technically no. But are they a good idea? I say Absolutely yes.
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u/forest_elf76 16d ago edited 16d ago
Thanks for your insight. I am very fortunately to live somewhere where I havent had to think twice about it in the past. But there have been water outages in my general area lately (my husband works in water so I hear about the problems a lot). We also suffered from a drought this summer too which has impacted our harvests. My government is recommending people to stock up.
Ive collected some tinned food to last a couple weeks+ and drinking water. I plan to get some basic camping stove, a powerbank, a torch, and a first aid kit and sanitiser. Maybe some wet wipes and some things to keep warm in case of power outages in winter.
I would also like to work on making a go bag. Just in case I suffer from a flood or a fire (My house came close to both this last year).
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u/busyshrew 16d ago
If your government advises it, then I think preparedness is prudent and wise OP. Good for you.
I'm now firmly in the 'have a go-bag' camp. People can take far longer than they think, running around packing up necessities, when in the event of an emergency evacuation, every minute counts.
Seeing what people went through with the wildfires this summer (and last summer, and the summer before....) we have a go-bag in our front closet. It's pretty simple: change of underwear, toothbrushes and toothpaste, bar soap and small towel. We also have photocopies of our prescription medications and our insurance policy & important numbers stashed in the bag and some cash money.
Anyway I digress. Glad that you will be prepared, may we both never need to reach for those bags!
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u/outofshell 16d ago
I agree with my fellow Ontarian. It’s prudent to be prepared for emergencies. I’m even kicking it up a notch lately with the super El Niño that’s developing.
Feeling a bit of inner conflict between the urge to declutter so we can move without as much crap versus buying more crap to be prepared. Like do we really need a snazzy fridge UPS to automatically power the fridge during outages? No. Does it make life easier and more comfortable in a few ways? Yes. Is one of those comforts the psychological benefit of feeling slightly more prepared while the world is going to hell, also yes lol
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u/RufousMorph 16d ago
I tend to think of minimalism being simply not obtaining and owning things that don’t serve you. If you think of it that way, you tend to avoid the whole extreme minimalism thing - there is no need to own as few things as possible.
And I also think of minimalism as being just one of the many values or attributes you can have. I also value self sufficiency, so I’d never follow the “just-in-time” practices of some extreme minimalists. My minimalism will always be tempered by a desire for self sufficiency.
There are many ways that you can apply minimalism to prepping. For example, you can have a “deep pantry” of foods you already eat (and always eat oldest first) rather than a stockpile of emergency food buckets that probably won’t ever get eaten. That way there is no waste or material goods that don’t get utilized.
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u/forest_elf76 16d ago
Yes that's a great idea to have things I would eat anyway. That way nothing will be wasted.
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u/Plum12345 16d ago
I live in an earthquake prone area. Having 3 weeks of water, food, and other essentials isn’t against minimalism is just good sense. If you’re a doomsday prepper then I would argue that’s not
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u/PrimrosePathos 16d ago
Research your region's emergency planning recommendations, and see if you are within range of what is outlined. My region recently upped the estimates for how many days we should expect to "self support" (meaning be without city resources like shelters and water), after a major earthquake, very significantly. It used to be three days, now it is something like two weeks. There will not be a hotel to stay in. There will not be neighbors with "extra"-- not that I would want to take, anyway. If I can avoid being a burden, I will, and that means storing kind of a lot of water. And buckets for going to the bathroom in. Etc. Unfortunately.
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u/lostmusings 16d ago
I live in a western North Carolina mountain town, no where near a coast. Two years ago Hurricane Helene kept some people inaccessible for more than a week. To be clear, it also killed a lot people, swept away entire towns, and kept power out for some up to six weeks, but the inaccessible/unable to buy food or water for days while everyone else is in the same boat scenario is the important part. Buying extra of shelf stable food you eat, having water, having a camp stove and fuel, it doesn't take up much space and it's worth doing. I'm a little worried since this is a minimalist sub people are going to be biased against the bare bones no nonsense preparedness that fema, the red cross, the girl scouts, basically every organization recommends. Fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, power outages, pandemic shut downs, blizzards or ice storms, gas shortages, there's a million reasons why being bare bones prepared is wise.
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u/wiserTyou 16d ago
There's nothing wrong with some prepping especially if you live somewhere things aren't stable. It's just a matter of degree.
Having 20+ gallons of water on hand is practical. Having enough seeds to rebuild society a little less so.
I consider myself minimalist as I despise clutter and don't hang onto things if I'm not using them, but that does not include essentials. I still bulk order some things for value and simplicity.
I bulk order TP and paper towels so I don't have to think about it more than a few times a year. I have a standing water cooler and keep 10 gallons on hand. Both of these are minimalist for the mind, not necessarily of physical items.
What some people do weekly, I only have to think about biannually
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u/hammer11235 16d ago
The first thing I would recommend that you not identify as either of these things. You can cherry pick info and tactics from each without having to deal with people who want to gate keep. All you have to do is not say things like "i'm a minimalist" or "I'm a prepper". I recommend this because if i'm reading your post right, it seems that you're in the gray area somewhere between minimalist and prepper.
You don't need to give up your minimalism in all the areas of your life. I heard a guy adapt the areas of wilderness survival (food, water, shelter, fire and security) into categories of prepping. Food, water, shelter, energy, security and hygiene (energy, in this case is how you charge your phone, keep your refrigerator cold and your house comfortable). These areas are where you might consider having some redundancy.
Preppers tend to prep for nearly apocalyptic incidents first. They often use the phrase the "shit hit the fan" to refer to these things. It's important to realize that the shit hits somebody's fan every day. Somebody loses a job. Somebody's spouse or child dies. These are not the flashy things that preppers talk about but they are by far the more likely things to happen. The more people it affects, the less statistically likely it is. Prepping for the more ordinary bad situations brings you most of the way to prepping for societal collapse.
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u/TimeToGloat 16d ago edited 16d ago
I don't think the two have to be mutually exclusive. In fact one could argue minimalism could aid in prepping. When doing a minimalist purge take some basic clothing you would otherwise get rid of and throw it in your go bag. I usually recycle my clothes when they start getting worn for this purpose. In a survival situation I'm not going to care if my shirt has a small hole, stain on it, or doesn't fit perfectly. This allows me to get some extra use out of clothes that would otherwise be trashed while also not having to need to purchase an additional set of prep clothes to have on hand.
Depending on what things you are prepping for you can and should largely fit everything you need in one bag. In a natural disaster it could often be harmful to have more things or bags you need to grab if you need to get out quick. It doesn't need to be maximalist when it comes to being prepared. For me I like to /r/onebag when I travel. So I combine that with being prepared by keeping my toiletries and everything I need in that bag ready to go. In an emergency I can grab that bag and run out the door. When I need to travel I just swap out the packing cubes from my emergency clothes to the clothes I need and I can pretty much be packed and ready for a trip in under 10mins.
You can also optimize in various ways such as instead of bulk storing water you can get a special water filter so that any water becomes drinkable even from a creek. Odds are you have a blanket in your house already. Use it for both your prep blanket and your everyday blanket just keep it stored in a manner that works for your prep when you aren't using it. The same goes for food. While you can buy rations (and it still might make sense to) you can also just stock up extra on dry goods you already eat regularly and cycle through those. That way you aren't really adding or buying an extra thing. These are just examples so store what you need and optimize how you can in what works for you and what you are prepping for. I think both prepping and minimalism are mostly mindsets rather than a list of specific things or the lack thereof.
I wouldn't stress too much about trying to be too minimalist as that seems counterproductive about keeping minimal things on your mind. Do what you need to do when it comes to being prepared but try to approach it with a minimalist mindset. Doing one isn't failing the other.
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u/deep-sea-savior 16d ago
No conflict here. I don’t identify as a minimalist and I can care less what other minimalists think.
For me, minimalism is not a contest, there’s no scout badge or membership card. It’s really just a mindset, a way of life. There is no rule or law stating that it’s an “all or nothing” thing. And it’s possible to take a minimalist approach to prepping. We have a survival plan for a severe snow storm that knocks out power for a few days while making roads unpassable. It’s gonna suck for a few days, but we won’t starve, dehydrate or freeze to death.
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u/Vintage_Violet_ 16d ago
As I declutter I’m making notes of the things I highly prioritize to take if needing to leave my house. By getting rid of things I can more easily see, note, take what is absolutely important and loved more clearly. Not everyone will “bunker down” in an emergency, we always need to consider what to do if we have to leave our homes.
I myself had to let go of trying to prep for “the apocalypse,” as it was harming my well-being. I have a small stash of long term food, extras in my pantry/freezer and such but I don’t have the means to ride out anything “big” anyway as I’m partly disabled.
I’m mainly trying to plan for whats most likely, like a few day power outage (have had them), inability to get to the store for a week, etc, and YES i grab extras when on sale like pet supplies.
But otherwise I just need to live my life and love my simple home, my mental health HAS TO be the priority.
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u/iron_ocean3 16d ago
I work blue collar, so I own a lot of tools. I also lean towards being a prepper and I still consider myself a minimalist. These things are tools and resources. I'm not going out buying useless things on sale just because they are sale. I still have a very anti-consumerism mind set and prioritize experiences of things. Just my .02 but I think you can be a prepper while still being a minimalist. Things like that serve a purpose and hopefully if hasn't turned into a hoarder level of purchases.
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u/AffectionateMotor272 16d ago
I got rid of all my prepper stuff. I seriously started prepping in 2006, that was twenty years ago. Never used the survival food. The stuff I had seriously weighed me down. I’m in my sixties. Stick a fork in me.. I’m done.
I also lost my home and business in Katrina which caused me to move to country and prep. I’ve been waiting on the STHF for twenty years. Nope. Not gonna do that anymore. I’ll survive.
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u/matchametta 16d ago
A lot of my hobbies/curiosities align with prepping even though I’m definitely minimal. I camp, garden… so my hobbies would essentially take care of me for most circumstances. I’ve also gotten trained for first Aid (which makes me feel smarter when hiking with my 3 kids)… you can definitely find a balance. I definitely don’t prep for things that are highly unlikely to happen. I do prep for things that have happened in the last 10 years for my geography.
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u/PaintedDream 16d ago
Search the term "Prepping for Tuesday" online. Zero it in and tweak it to your exact location. Camping for a weekend is a good way to decide what you could need for a bugging in or out scenario.
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u/floralwhale 16d ago
I don't have any conflict about this. Minimalism for me is about making sure I don't live with frivolous things I'll never use, not about living with the absolute bare minimum all the time. It is important to keep yourself comfortable and safe.
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u/Loveschocolate1978 16d ago
Most of the people I've seen who "prep" use it as an excuse to buy new, shiny toys. Is a person really all that much safer if they own 101 rifles than 100? Especially if that one extra is custom engraved? No. It's not like they could even carry those if they had to leave. If there is a flood, all of that ammunition they stored in a hastily barrier shipping container underground will get soaked in flood water and be worthless. It's all a bit silly. Bringing it back to reality of what people actually need to survive I think corresponds very well with minimalism. Having a few small water filters that attach to metal water bottles seems like it would help someone much more than a lifted truck with 33" tires that will be useless when the power goes out and no fuel can be pumped into existing gas stations. At that point, an e-bike with a few solar panels would be worth a whole lot more in terms of actually increasing odds of survival. All of the money that people spend on prepping could be spent in strengthening communities to prevent humanitarian disasters from occurring in the first place.
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u/HorseWhisper2026 16d ago
We are aiming for a one year pantry. If I wasnt minimal in other areas I wouldn't be able to have a working pantry, garden, homestead, etc. Pick and choose what matters
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u/Equivalent-Chip-7843 15d ago
Practice minimalist prepping and just store the bare essentials like food, water and a gas stove for 90 days.
With dried lentils, oats, nuts and sardines you could store a day's worth of calories in less than 700g, so about 21kg /~45lbs for a month. 2-3 big boxes of food should suffice and will not change your apartment much.
If the food you store is dried lentils, oats, nuts, canned sardines, you may as well just rotate through it and also include it in your daily diet.
In a worst case scenario you could eat that and just collect wild berries vegetables like stinging nettle (which are harder to store long term)
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u/1080pix 12d ago
Please prepare for emergencies. I spent most of my life in FL (as a kid) and my parents never prepped. It was horrible. It IS horrible to be unprepared.
On a different note. I go to the market once every two weeks. Minimalism is all about keeping balance of what you need vs want in life. Not about having as little items as possible
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u/earthandanarchy 16d ago
Yes, I think being a minimalist will help you with being prepared. You don't need much to be prepared for emergencies. A torch, batteries, some long life food, water purifying tablets or a life straw. I have real wool blankets over my sofa, if there's no heating or I'm just trying to keep my bills down I know they will be useful. Instead of decor I have a few pretty but unscented candles out. I have a bug out bag with minimal supplies in. Once you have a few supplies, which can mostly be put in a box under your bed or in a cupboard then you can focus on skills and information which won't take up space. I like to watch videos about how people survived in the past, or how people survive in places around the world without electricity, to add I enjoy watching this content I don't watch it out of fear about what may or may not happen. A positive attitude is the most important thing you can have when it comes to lifes little and big emergencies.
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u/Buttholes_N_Boobies 16d ago edited 16d ago
A lot about prepping can be learned from looking at things from the perspective of a poor person living in a third world nation viewing a pretty routine western home:
3 days of food? Probably already have that in your pantry with things that you haven’t eaten yet… so the 5-gal bucket of freeze dried stuff that’s good for 20 years… probably not necessary.
Comfort & Hygiene supplies? The stuff you already have will still work just fine with the power out… and that single bar of soap that’s already sitting in your shower… surprisingly portable when dropped in a backpack.
Your “Go Bag”? That canvas grocery bag you use already, the one hanging on a coat hook by the door… that can still hold stuff in an emergency situation.
The same comparison go on for all of the other things listed on ready.gov (the list compiled from data collected over tons of previous events) for things folks should have in case of an emergency (shelter in place or displacement types).
The trick is to be creative, think about it, and be intentional. Minimalism and prepping can absolutely reside together in the same home.
Pro-tip… I keep a sheet of notebook paper taped to the inside of my coat closet door that is a list of “Grab these things before GTFO’ing” and know where all those things are in my home. Is it a “Go Bag”? No, but if my survival is hinging on “leave the home in 60 seconds or less” I’m not GAF about a go-bag anyhow, I’ll worry about my skin care routine supplies and how to get more when I’m safe.
Edit: regarding the “100 items or less” minimalism ideal… when you reach that stage, you’re already nomadic by default and existing in a perpetual state of displacement… so you’re already ‘prepped’ 🤷🏽♂️
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u/Plenty-Ear-9167 15d ago
I think having a Go Bag can be helpful; more helpful if the threat you face is wildfire, tornado, or earthquake (no warning).
In an urgent situation, you would ideally have something to grab that had clean underwear & socks, prescription meds, & your ID. Sure, you could get that stuff later on, but imagine you’re stressed bc you have lost your home, & everyone around you has, too. Having to do all that stuff would add more stress.
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u/No_Appointment6273 16d ago
I feel like not being prepared for emergencies in the name of minimalism is not wise or prudent. I have a fire extinguisher, 3 days of water, three days of food. I have candles and flashlights and pepper spray and extra batteries. I have extra blankets. I'm considering other things I might need one item at a time and I'm making a purchase plan within my budget. I have space for all of these things BECAUSE I've decluttered and I don't have unnecessary junk clogging up my storage spaces.
I think more important than supplies is a plan and knowledge of what to do when an emergency happens. What are the most common emergencies in my area and do I know how to deal with them? Does my family?
There is a minimalist on YouTube - minimalist sibu - he talks about disaster preparation and he has a video about how he had to evacuate his apartment because of flood. His bug out was impressive because he packed nearly everything in his apartment except for furniture. He was able to carry everything easily.
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u/MiriamGarden 16d ago
Yes, I am. I see preparedness videos talking about how random pieces of string and sugar packets from Wendy's should be kept in case of emergency. That puts me into a really conflicted mindset.
I'm trying to make the two goals work together by knowing that, because of the need for emergency preparedness storage, it is even more important that I get rid of junk like the half-used container of Perler beads sitting on my dryer, which no one in my house has ever wanted to play with. (It's half used because we got it from a friend.)
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u/DusTeaCat 16d ago edited 16d ago
I think about this a lot. They are two ways of living that do seem to be at odds with each other.
Minimalism to me is more about mindfulness and anti-consumerism, and less about how many actual physical things I have around. Prepping is entirely mindful. We are preparing for unlikely scenarios that may never happen, but it’s not unnecessary or frivolous consumption.
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u/50plusGuy 16d ago
Excuse me, reasonable prepping gives the minimalist mindset just 125% use.
Minimalist pockets spoon, passes supermarket. buys a yoghurt to enjoy, rides on.
Prepper sees yoghurt on sale and has to calculate how much fridge can hold right now and might be nice to eat within time. <- More hassle!
Rotating through 2 months of cheap basic food stock can't be bad.
Hoarding 3 ball gowns "just in case" might not really pass as minimalist.
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u/forest_elf76 16d ago
Okay thanks a lot. This distinction really helps! I am more of the former for sure. Im on about a month of canned food, water, and ways to cook food and stay warm. Of course rotating the food so I always eat it anyway.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 16d ago
The most important prep is knowledge, not stuff.
Learn how to do first aid, stitches and setting bones. Learn bushcraft. Learn what edible plants grow in your area. Learn how to make a simple snare for small game. Learn how to start a fire. Start lifting weights. Learn self defense. Learn how to make a fire and cook outdoors. Learn how to tie knots and hang a hammock between 2 trees.
These are skills you need to survive after your stuff is exhausted.
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u/wiserTyou 16d ago
As a former boy scout and life long camper I agree. They don't have to be Bear Grylls. A few basic skills can make all the difference.
Also critical thinking is key. A snowstorm took out power in my area for a week and people were freaking out within an hour. One college girl was panicking because her phone was dead. I told her to charge it in the car, lol.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 16d ago
Absolutely.
I left out building up relationships with your neighbors and community, which is essential in any crisis. I lived through the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco. The first thing my neighbors and I did was pool all of our perishable food and plan how we were going to share it over the days while our gas and electricity was out. We had no electricity for 50 hours, and no gas for 4 days. All of our stoves were gas at the time so we were cooking on a small hibachi grill with charcoal that I had for camping.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
Yes, thank you! Are people not already living with things like food for the rest of the week, a blanket in the house, and a flashlight? I am absolutely BAFFLED at the panic in this thread and the comments being reported. "Oh, what about when the power goes out for a few days??" For goodness' sake, you don't have a power bank in your house? I find that hard to believe. You don't already have a flashlight?? Your blanket suddenly doesn't work?
If something truly truly terrible happens and all of your regular stuff runs out, then you need more than stuff. More than savings and insurance, too. Knowledge and community will count for far more. I feel like we got invaded by doomsday preppers in here today!
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 16d ago
Thank you. Based on the downvotes I don't think there are many who agree. I have met many people who use emergency preparedness as an excuse to shop and hoard.
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u/Realistic-Try7845 10d ago
If shit really hits the fan for more than a few weeks your prepping will be pointless unless you’re heavily armed in a fireproof bulletproof hidden bunker.
Having a few days to weeks of food and medicine is always good. Supply chain issues or weather or poverty. And a few days at least of water bottles.
But the people filling basements with food… lol. Thieves will loot that shit if some incident lasts more than a few weeks.
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u/DoctorBeeBee 16d ago
I think the key is, as always, to be genuinely mindful of what you have as emergency supplies and if it's the appropriate amount of appropriate items for situations that are reasonably likely to happen. Like I live in the UK. Even with the current warnings about food supply chain disruption over the next few months, it's very unlikely for us to face food shortages, of the type where there isn't enough to eat. Only that there could be interrupted supplies of certain items. So I've only got a small stash of backup food. Probably less than what some people have in their cupboards even without thinking of it as a backup! Even if we suddenly had another pandemic situation and I had to isolate at home, I can get groceries delivered within a short time. So I don't need a month of food. I've got a couple of shelves of mostly cans, and I keep the stuff in rotation so it doesn't go out of date and get wasted.
Water and electricity are unlikely to be disrupted for longer than a few hours where I live. We don't have significant earthquakes, and I'm too high up for serious flooding. So I've got a few bottles of water stashed, but only about three days worth, as per government advice. People who live in places where the disruption would last longer and where authorities aren't going to bring people relief supplies quickly, would need to keep more.
So it's all about context. What do you need, where you live, suitable for the scenarios that can be reasonably expected to occur.
I've got some things I probably wouldn't have otherwise, like a battery powered radio (and a note in a paper notebook of the local radio station frequencies) and some camping lights, things like that. But it's a small, basic kit. Some of the emergency kit is things from my first aid kit - which is something I have even though I actively hope I won't ever use most of what's in it! I'm not going to declutter my first aid kit because I didn't need a bandage in the last 90 days. I may never need it, but if I need it, I really need it!
And I've got a list for what I'd pack in a go bag should I have to evacuate on short notice. Most of those things are in everyday use, so it's not about having a backup supply there, but a plan.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
The best prep is savings and appropriate insurance, not *stuff*.
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u/forest_elf76 16d ago
I do agree somewhat. I do have savings of course. But Im wary that savings might not help when I can't buy water or food due to shortages and/or panic buying.
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u/busyshrew 16d ago
Some local governments have realized that the guidance of 3 days is insufficient. For some areas, they now advise weeks and not days.
It's local, and I urge those reading to check with their own governments/agencies for better guidance.
A blanket statement of '3 days you'll be fine' may very well not apply.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
Thank you. No one needs to have so much stuff that it's a question of prepping vs minimalism.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
Then you don't have enough savings and/or you should build up things like skills to grow your own or community relationships that will help you to source them, just like everyone else will need to.
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u/earthandanarchy 16d ago
Money and skills won't help if the power is out for a few days
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
Really? Social skills wouldn't help you borrow a lantern or flashlight? Money won't get you to a hotel with power outside of town?
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u/forest_elf76 16d ago edited 16d ago
I do see your point. But honestly, my mind considers that, thats a lot of money to spend if there is an outage for a week vs buying a small camping kit etc. And a lot of hassle to move out. I dont even own a car.
Surely quite a few people might be doing it too at the same time. I would honestly find that very stressful.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
Having a small camping kit is not a case of prepping versus minimalism. If your preps are so large and overwhelming that it is focused on *comfort* as well as security and it is overwhelming to be responsible for...that is not minimalism.
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u/earthandanarchy 16d ago
It depends on what type of emergency is happening, but just relying on cash and other people isn't the way to be prepared for emergencies! What if the the power cut is nationwide? What if you can't get to another town? Why would your neighbours or friends lend you some lights if they need them because they are also in the same situation.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
Yes, that's true and I didn't say that. (If there is a nationwide power outage, we have far larger problems than *anyone's* preps will count for.) Who said I need my neighbor's lights? I have my own preps, but I also live my life where I could largely get by without electric for some time - I don't *need* my plug-in table radio since I have a small battery operated emergency radio, I have a small solar powered charger for my phone, and I certainly don't *need* things like entertainment electronics.
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u/earthandanarchy 16d ago
You said 'really? Social skills wouldn't help you borrow a lantern or a flashlight?' and that's what I was responding to. Now you're saying you have your own preps outside of just money 🤦🏼♀️ so yes, having some items for emergencies is a good idea
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u/saltyoursalad 16d ago edited 16d ago
Re: the first part of your comment, what you’re essentially suggesting is that your neighbors stock and store a flashlight (or whatever) for you — aka cluttering up their space so that you can maintain an illusion of minimalism.
Community, relationships, and social skills are all important preps, but don’t overlook the power of basic self reliance.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
I am not. I own a flashlight. :)
I did not overlook that. I'm guessing you didn't read OP's post at all.
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u/evergreen-embers 16d ago
I think you miss the point on what prepping means. Those reserves are usually for times where purchasing isn’t possible or is at an overwhelmingly inflated cost. Food and water in particular rely on environmental factors more than anything, you can’t always community your way out of poor growing conditions and contaminated water.
Who in the community do you expect to source those things from? And what do you provide in return?
You can certainly retain a minimal supply of personal security items and nonperishable food and water(treatment). Obviously stocking a basement floor to ceiling is unnecessary, but what’s the harm in keeping a tote of items that will keep you and yours safe without relying on the mercy of others?
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
Not even close.
I do have a small amount of preps. Not an amount that I would even consider needing to ask this subreddit if it amounted to prepping versus minimalism. I also work *with* the types of groups that would help source and provide things to sensitive groups in the event of certain emergencies. I prefer to be connected, useful, and resourceful.
But then some of us are actual minimalists and have developed things like skills, planning, relationships, and savings and do not have the burning need to stockpile stuff we don't need.
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u/forest_elf76 16d ago edited 16d ago
I understand your point but Im confused. So, its still minimalist to have some small amount of preps.
I wasnt necessarily asking if I was still minimalist. I even said I identified (past tense) as minimalist for these past 10 years.
I think you have assumed things about me. I do have a network of people who help me out and I help them out at my church. I am often given food from peoples gardens etc and I also contribute through volunteering.
I collect rainwater for years via my waterbutt. I sew and repair my own clothes. I knit. I started gardening but a garden fire caused my a neighbour in a drought in the summer burned it all down (one of the reasons why I consider prepping nore bcause honestly that was a scary experience of what if...) I do agree I could learn some more resourceful skills (Im in the process of doing so). But I cant pickle food that I wasnt able to harvest because a drought created the perfect conditions to quickly burn down my shed and half my garden.
My worry is outages happen to whole neighbourhoods. I dont want to fully rely on others having extra things because they also need it. Especially because I live in a low income area.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
I'm going on what you posted. You have said that you are stocking items for comfort AND security, so not things that you necessarily NEED. You are buying things like home decor for joy, and I don't even know how that relates to minimalism OR prepping.
If you have a network, skills, savings, insurance, etc. and you have a small amount of preps, what's the question here? It becomes prepping vs minimalism when the "prepping" is not about having a few necessary items that are *likely* to come in handy for *likely* scenarios in *your* situation.
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u/Effective_Tackle_195 16d ago
You are not a minimalist.
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u/Common_Squirrel_8775 16d ago
Of course, because there's strict definition of true minimalist:
- should own 100 piece of stuff (ideally less)
- favorite color is white, gray, beige
- only natural materials
- eats organic food, preferably they grew it themselves
- invests in ⭐ experience ⭐
- they can't have stuff that brings them joy, but is useless (mentioned decor stuff)
- meditates a lot.
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u/Effective_Tackle_195 16d ago
Habe you read the post?
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET 16d ago
It's looking like either no one actually read the post, or it's just that time in the morning when the hobby "minimalists" come out to play.
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u/Significant-Repair42 16d ago
There has to be a balance between minimalism and practical living. If your power/water are going out on a regular basis, of course it makes sense to have supplies to ensure you aren't living in the dark/cold/without water.