Thread: Prepper vs Prudent

I was just pondering on this today, of all days 12/21/2012

I was thinking everything I have done since June of this year could be looked at either way..

Built a new re-loading bench and started re-loading more ammo

Prepper = Always has stocks of ammo

Prudent = I had torn down my old bench to make way for more Razor Restore areas, a few years back, reloading is much cheaper than buying retail and allows me to custom tailor my loads.

Filled the 1000 gallon Propane Tank in July and topped it off on Dec 1st

Prepper= Stockpiling for the Apocalypse

Prudent= Propane is much cheaper in July and we top off before the snow gets deep every year



All fuel tanks and extra tanks are filled and treated with Stabilizer by Dec 1st, the vehicles are never allowed to get below 1/2 tank after that

Prepper = Hoarding fuel for the Doomsday

Prudent = During the cold winter month the tanks can get water from condensation if allowed to go low so we treat them and keep them topped off.. Also if stranded during a blizzard you want to live through the night by keeping the heater running..


All vehicles that are not driven weekly are set up with battery trickle chargers and full treated fuel tanks

Prepper = Ready to Bug Out at a moments notice

Prudent = Batteries cost money and fuel tanks have less problems if they are kept full over the winter

The Pantry and Freezers are full and we have at least 6 months of food stocked at all times

Prepper = Ready for the down fall of the food supply chain

Prudent = Buying in bulk saves money and we have the room to keep in stocked by shopping the Sales

We keep an emergency bag in the rear of all vehicles

Prepper = A "Go Bag" should be stocked and at arms reach always

Prudent = There is really a good chance of getting stuck in a Blizzard up here or having to hike home from the highway, we keep a bag with "Pink Lady Candles", extra socks, winter boots, extra gloves, a waterproof hooded jacket and an MRE in each Rig from Nov - May.. Cell phone service is spotty up here and is worse during snowstorms..

Generators and Kerosene heaters are serviced and full

Prepper = Ready for the power grid to collapse

Prudent = The power goes down at least twice per year out here, if it goes down on a day we get 2 feet of snow (Monday Night) it could be down for days so you have to circulate water or lose the pipes..



So really what is the difference between being Prepped for the Mayan Apocalypse (Dec 21st 2012) and being Prudent for the first day of Winter (Dec 21st 2012) Every time I watch the "Doomsday Prepper" show I smile a bit as I think "Yeah I do that, or I have that, but that ain't why" of course we all know that it would be boring if were just being Prudent..

My answer is that to many people have given over their own survival to others and don't accept the responsibility to be ready for the unexpected.. Therefore what was once just plain common sense, is now looked upon by many as "Prepping for Doomsday"

ps: I just picked the Mayan Apocalypse because of today's date you can "Prep" for many other doomsday scenarios..