How to Get Your Spouse on Board with Prepping
In some families, the wife and husband are on the same page regarding prepping. They may not agree on the exact amount of stockpiling that should be done or on each of the individual items that should be stored, but they are on board with the necessity of preparing for an uncertain future.
That’s a recipe for success when it comes to determining how much money should be spent on getting ready for an emergency.
But then there are those families in which the wife wants to build a three-month stockpile of food, water and other essential items, while the husband thinks she’s becoming a paranoid, “The End Is Near” whack job. Or vice versa.
That’s a recipe for problems in a marriage, especially as it pertains to finances that might be tight.
So, what should you do if you strongly believe that being prepared for a crisis is the right thing to do to protect yourself and your family, but your spouse thinks there are better things on which to spend money?
There’s no easy solution to this problem, but there are a few ways you can go about trying to draw your spouse over to your way of thinking on this very important subject. Here are 10 of them:
- Don’t overdo it. Your goal might be a one-year stockpile, while your spouse thinks three days is sufficient. Start with three days and then build it gradually.
- Choose key items. Make sure your first three-day stockpile includes items your spouse would not want to be without.
- Keep the emphasis on safety. Instead of talking about disasters, place the focus on the need to keep the family safe in an event that could shutter stores.
- Pick your spots. Don’t keep chirping about preparedness. Talk about it when it’s timely, i.e. when a crisis has affected people in one area of the country.
- Flip-flop it. If your spouse were trying to get you interested in something, which methods would work on you and which ones wouldn’t? Learn from that.
- Watch the right stuff. Movies about zombies, viruses and EMPs will get your spouse thinking about preparing for a worst-case scenario.
- Use testimonials. If you know anyone affected by Sandy or other weather disasters, ask them to share what they’ve done since then to get prepared.
- Don’t argue. If the discussion is going in a bad direction, change the subject and bring it up later at a more opportune time. Otherwise, you’ll lose ground.
- Get your spouse’s input. If your spouse feels this is all your agenda, you won’t make progress. Get him/her involved in the decision-making process.
- Be patient. Changing someone’s mindset rarely happens overnight. Allow your input and life’s circumstances to do the heavy lifting here over time.
Do you have a spouse who is not as into prepping as you are? What methods have you used to try to get him/her on board? Have they worked?
I have a long term food storage and I have regular food storage that I buy lots of can food in bulk, I have enough can food to last 3 to 4 months for 12 people that way I have my spare food and then still buy my regular groceries and every couple months rotate all food inventory. It takes a little more planning but it is food you normally use plus a little extra liked canned ham, canned ground beef, and tuna but you will still have food when needed. Like when vegetables go on sale buy a case or two. Then I buy 1 can of emergency food (25 yr) shelf life stuff each month keeping your cost to view very minimum. Then other things like toilet paper, when it’s on sale instead of buying 1 pack buy 2 and put the second away with emergency supplies. I can all be done very subtly, but after awhile it definitely grows
For what it’s worth, my wife was not into prepping for the first several years we were together. Gradually, as things like 911, Katrina, etc happened, she changed and got more on board with me. That said, I have continually fought an uphill battle to get scarce resources devoted to the project. She, like so many people, tends to let her guard down some time after a disaster has passed. Anyway – I do what I can on my “shoestring” budget.
We lived in the Houston Texas area for 17 years before moving to the hills of central Tennessee so it’s not like we haven’t weathered through torrential monsoons and several major hurricanes but my wife seems complacent that being outside of city areas living on rural acreage is going to be enough. We still have our back up generator for power outages and camping gear for emergencies but I can’t get her to stock up more than a few weeks rations and fuel and heaven forbid I bring up having a chicken coop and some rabbit hutches. Against her strong resistance I am going to start a garden this spring after being here for 2 years now and hope to persuade her to let me plant some fruit and nut trees this year.
Dear Frank,
First …. MERRY CHRISTMAS … to you, your loved ones and all those in our Power 4 Patriots family.
One of the things that helps get the family thinking your way is, ASK FOR HELP! (Even when you don’t really need it.)
Everyone in the family has a variety of skill; adults. teenagers and children. Some are cooks, some are techno-geeks, some are fashionistas, some are artists, etc. Everyone has some sort of hobby or interest in something, even if it is only sports.
As your set an objective you need to meet ask each of them to help you, and ask as if you really needed their help! Cooks can help select foods for the pantry. They can help when making your own survival meals, soups and stews for long-term storage.
Tech wizards can help select communications, off-grip power sources, select critical navigation instruments, etc,
Teens into athletics can help you get in shape and motivate others to join in. Teens that are fashion savvy will gladly help you select clothing … that is once you set the parameters of “Rugged NOT Cute!”
Those with DIY skills can help build food racks, storage units, etc. Mechanics can help you keep vehicles at the ready. Wrench twisters can also help you design and build emergency transport vehicles from bikes, game carts, wagons …
Young children can help mark storage containers, make signs or labels for shelving, be an extra set of hands while you work on something.
You get my drift. When your loved ones feel they are providing positive input to something you are passionate about, they will not only feel rewarded, but will learn from you why “Prepping” is critical not just for you, but for their own personal survival, too.
May the coming year joy, peace and maybe after the elections, bring some sanity back to our beloved nation.
God Bless to One and All,
Orrin