How to get others in your household to buy-in and prepare

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by Dawg23, Feb 10, 2013.


  1. Dawg23

    Dawg23 do or do not, there is no try

    I live with my parents, they are getting older and both have retired. We split our house mortgage, and i pretty much do my own things. However, I am trying to get them on board with being prepared and stocking up on supplies. They pretty much scoff at having more than one or 2 items on hand. Where i have at least 3 of something, and replace consumables when i get down to two. Or if something is on sale, I'll buy the limit and keep plenty of stuffs on-hand.

    My question is this, how can i get them on board and prepare for the eventual SHTF?? We lived through the tornados of April 27, 2011 that came thru our area. I had enough stuff stashed and made our lives alot easier for those 2 weeks after. I thought they would see the necessity of it after that, but no such luck.
     
  2. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I don't know that you can get others to "buy in" so you may have be the one in the household who handles the preps.

    You could try to decide as a family what levels are necessary for the most common event then both contribute to the "prep fund" with a designated buyer.

    I've always just done my own thing but even when I moved in to take care of my parents, they had more supplies than I did so there was no problem. I used to say that I would shop in their "store" before going to the market.
     
    Dawg23 likes this.
  3. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey


    The resistance I encountered was the you're "Hording" reaction, this from their time of WW2 when the markets required "Rationing" coupons for many items.

    I countered that by pointing out that in case of an emergency did they want to be looking for food or be at home, safe in each others arms.

    Both having been farm kids they figured out real quick that being safe, maybe during snow storms or other problems was better than being called names.

    YMMV
     
    JABECmfg likes this.
  4. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    Perhaps suggesting that that the household put together a FEMA 72 hour kit for each person, and build on that. Start with baby steps and increase in psychologically manageable increments for them to find palatable.

    Perhaps get them to give you a shopping list of their wants with a budget...and you do the shopping...go for the best bulk buy and couponing deals...give them the quantities they ordered and put the surplus into the household contingency cache.
     
    Dawg23 and kellory like this.
  5. KAS

    KAS Monkey+++

    couponing is a great thing my girlfriend is into couponing big time and we get alot of stuff for free
    or really cheap and even earn credits for other things at the store...
    Its takes time but is well worth the effort ....
     
  6. NotSoSneaky

    NotSoSneaky former supporter

    I've gone through everything from common sense discussions to gentle hints and the occasional rant.

    To some I've been helpful. To others, I'm the family nutjob.

    Lesson learned; a closed mind will never listen.

    Save the ones you can, let the others be.
     
    jms21y, oldawg, Dogfood and 1 other person like this.
  7. -06

    -06 Monkey+++

    My wife has slowly come close and no longer objects to extras(sometimes). I have quit even trying and just do what needs to be done. When she ran out of olive oil she wanted to open one of the gallon cans and SHTF around here. I finally gave her one as a Christmas present so now everything gets put out of sight that might create a problem.
    Just do what you can with what you have and pray for the best. The snow storm of a few yrs ago that shut off travel/electricity (three weeks) open the eyes of lots of folks around here. Many have asked questions that they openly scoffed at before. Reality is a harsh instructor and very unforgiving for negligence.
    Tell them what happened to the Super Bowl victims and ask if they want that kind of tragedy to happen to them. Be graphic if need be. Ask them what would happen if the "supply train" stopped. Ask them what they would do w/o meds or medical attention. Ask them what they would do w/o electricity or water. Ask them if they really expect that the gub to protect, feed, and house them in the event of national emergencies or martial law---or worse.
    Hope they come onboard to at least have the minimum on hand-- then build.
     
  8. Sierra

    Sierra Monkey

    It can see it would be difficult to get your parents to be on board. My best guess would be try the financial angle. Get a membership to a wholesale club perhaps, and direct your purchasing toward your stocking, in the name of savings. Parents love saving some money.
     
  9. -06

    -06 Monkey+++

    LOL, you can sell anything to guys if you tell them it is tax deductible and to gals if you tell them it is on sale.
     
  10. Dogfood

    Dogfood Monkey+++

    My wife loves to buy food she will buy 5 or more of ever thing she buys. I just let her do her thing. I don't even try to talk to anyone about stocking up or being read for whatever it's a wast of time for me.
     
  11. JABECmfg

    JABECmfg multi-useless

    You could have kids, and tell your parents that you're doing it for their grandkids. They can't argue with that.

    If that doesn't work, you might try peaking their interest in other practical hobbies. Lots of people like gardening, so pick up a few tomato plants or something. Then comment over dinner that "these fresh veggies are so much better than the ones in the store, and look at the money we're saving! It's like free food, and we don't have to worry about pesticides or food poisoning!" Now keep the momentum rolling in your favor - "ya know, these tomatoes are great, maybe we could grow more of our own food like beans or something..." and eventually "These home-grown veggies are awesome, I wish we could grow them like this all year long... Hey, maybe we should get one of those home canning devices, so we can save our extras and eat them throughout the winter!"

    There are lots of other possibilities too. If they're retired, they should have plenty of time for new hobbies to keep them busy, so suggest something positive and see where it goes!
     
    sgt peppersass and chelloveck like this.
  12. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    You gotta be kidding!

    My parents will pick their own where and when.
     
  13. Dawg23

    Dawg23 do or do not, there is no try

    thank you for the input, My Dad has even suggested that we get 50 lbs of beans, tonight at dinner, which really surprised me. its a start, and the tomato plants have been mentioned too. [bow] thanks again. :) will update when something else major happens
     
  14. Dawg23

    Dawg23 do or do not, there is no try

    wow, i must say, since this weekend was disaster preparedness weekend in alabama (tax free on some items) my parents went and bought enough freeze dried food for 2 weeks for 3 people. and Mom is talking about doing a garden "tomatos, bell peppers, and some herbs are easy to do" was her comment. [woot]

    (i think all my talking about being prepared for anything is really starting to sink in)
     
    chelloveck, kellory and JABECmfg like this.
  15. larryinalabama

    larryinalabama Monkey++

    Looks like you have a good start. My folks dont need earth food anymore, however I had to quit mentioning prepping to almost everyone I know, they think Im crazy.

    If you rotate and buy stuff that you like it really save money in the long run, I agree buy all you can when its on sale. I reciently bought enough toilet paper to last at least 6 months likley 1/3 the cost of buying it as I need it.

    Work for me has been slow so far this year and last years preps are a real help right now.
     
    Dawg23 likes this.
  16. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    It seems that the softly, softly, catchee monkey approach seems to be paying dividends. Your mother will be seen in the guns 'n' gals thread before you know it.
     
    Dawg23 likes this.
  17. Dawg23

    Dawg23 do or do not, there is no try

    years ago, before i became a monkey, i worked a truck wreck (volunteer FireFighter) and it had lost most of a load of TP. after the wrecker crew got all they could. we ended up with 1700 rolls of toilet paper. that lasted 2.5 years and we gave alot away LOL I always keep 100 rolls minimum, and lots of extra stuff, for me. space permitting
     
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