10 Prepping Mistakes That Could Get You Killed (And How To Avoid Them)

Everyone that is into prepping is doing it for a good reason, to increase their chances of survival. However, there are a number of simple mistakes that can actually make you LESS likely to survive than if you didn’t prepare at all.

In no particular order, here they are, 10 prepping mistakes that could get you killed:

1. Having a false sense of security.

Just because you can put some holes in a target downrange doesn’t make you safe when shtf. Having a false sense of security could make you ignore danger that you would have otherwise responded to.

How to Avoid it: Do not underestimate your enemy! No matter how good you are, there are more dangerous and better trained people out there prepared to take what they want without asking.

2. Failing to get immediate family on board.

You are not a lone ranger. You are not good enough to protect your group alone. What if you get hurt, sick, or worse? Will your crew be able to pick up the slack. If your spouse looks at you like you are nuts when you talk about prepping, this one is for you.

How to Avoid It: Make sure your family has the basic skills and not just you. It’s better to have 2-3 knowledgeable people than one super prepper.

3. Ignoring the “boring” prepping areas.

We all know about the fun areas of prepping. Guns and ammo, bug out bags, food stockpiles, etc. However, without things like a steady supply of water or first aid skills, you could be out of the game within hours when shtf.

How to Avoid it: Make a point to spend time on all the critical prepping areas, even if they aren’t fun.

4. Never actually using you preps.

Probably the most common one on the list. Buying a bunch of crap and never even using it. I’ve seen it with everything from food, survival kits, and even guns. If you cannot act quickly and are not skilled with your gear, you might as well give it away or sell it when the time comes.

How to Avoid it: Be a prepper, not a hoarder. Use the gear that you buy until you are comfortable with it.

5. Falling in love with your plan.

If you have a plan, you are at least a few steps ahead of the game already. However, it’s extremely unlikely that your plan is perfect for every disaster. Being unwilling to deviate from your plan could easily get you killed.

How to Avoid It: Have a plan and practice it, but always have a backup plan. When practicing your plan, throw in a curve ball or two that make you improvise and think about what you would do if part of your plan failed.

6. Telling acquaintances about your preps.

The people that pose the greatest danger to you are your acquaintances. While they seem like decent friends now, that will all quickly change. Believe me, when people start to get hungry, thirsty, and angry, your “friendship” will be the last thing on their mind.

How to Avoid It: Only tell people you trust completely about your preps. If it is not someone that you would trust with your life, they are a potential threat when shtf.

7. Buying large amounts of preps at once.

It should be obvious by now the government is spying on everything you do. Buying a ton of preps from anywhere all at once is not a great idea, but especially when using a credit card or dealing with companies that are in the governments pocket.

How to Avoid It: Pay with Cash when possible and only do business with companies that respect your privacy. Explore alternate payment methods online with prepper friendly companies.

8. Ignoring OPSEC.

Preppers that wear military style clothing or fortify their homes in a way that is visible from the exterior can be doing more harm than good. Things like generators and barbed wire in areas where it is typically uncommon will make others think that you have something worth hiding.

How to Avoid It: Check out some of these articles about OPSEC . Be discreet when fortifying you residence. Make your place look as boring as possible from the outside yet very difficult to gain entry. Keep your visible preps to a minimum or move to an area where it doesn’t raise eyebrows.

9. Completely depending on your preps.

So you got a new AR, 1000 rounds of ammo, and 6 months worth of food and water. That’s great, but what happens if a natural disaster or a fire takes out your supply. Do you have an alternate plan to stay alive?

How to Avoid It: Keep it real. If the shtf, all the preps in the world are only going to give you an edge. Try have some preps spread across different locations or caches just in case something goes wrong.