In this installment of ask-a-prepper we meet Jane from Mom with a Prep. We hear her side of why she feels it important to prep. Jane is a “Mom gettin’ her prep on” for the sake of her family.

How long have you been prepping for?
I’ve been working towards self-reliance/prepping for about two years in a committed manner. Before then, I was always interested and gathered knowledge, but wasn’t putting a lot of it into real practice. And we began with the idea of being preppers and have realized we have goals beyond mere prepping but towards self-reliance and a desire to live with the liberty God intended.

Any reason why you began prepping? A specific event?
No real specific event, though reading the book One Second After sort of moved me from ‘neutral’ to DRIVE!

Do you live in an Urban setting or a rural one?
I live in a suburban area on a mere 1/4 acre without the ability to raise animals by city ordinances, but thankfull NOT in an HOA that would limit other things we can do!

If the time comes are you bugging out or in?
It depends on the circumstances and our abilities. Of course we’d prepare to bug in because we have a home and stuff that we can use, but have a bug out plan in case we do have to leave under the worst of circumstances.

Has prepping changed your lifestyle?
Yes. Because we’re looking more towards self-reliance than simply just ‘prepping’, our whole focus has changed on what we do and why we do it and how we do it. We spend a lot of time debating purchases by how this will further our self-reliance goals; if we can find a way to make-do, especially if it teaches us new skills; what we can do to our environment to help us further our goals (building a firepit for not only the aesthetic reasons, but to have another source for cooking if need be); and how we can teach our children our passion to help them make more self-reliant choices as they go out on their own.

Do your preps include an underground shelter or bunker?
I wouldn’t really tell anyone if it did 😛 Actually, no, we don’t have an underground space to call home.

If times ever got tough would you work solo or with a support group?
We’d want to create a community of like-minded individuals with the purpose of rebuilding and sustaining. Are we willing to go it alone if we have to? Sure. But we definitely feel a community is the way to go if at all possible.

If you could give a new prepper some advice based on your past mistakes, what would they be?
Don’t focus on what you haven’t gotten done, yet. One step a at a time, one goal achieved, keep working to improve your knoweldge base and USE IT! Don’t just stock it on a shelf. Get out and camp. Get your garden going. Learn to hunt, fish and forage!

Did your significant other have a problem with your prepping? Did he/she back you?
We both have a similar ultimate goal, though we each come to it through a different perspective, which I feel makes us a great team.

Kids. If you have any are they incorporated? If so how? Were they hesitant on doing so?
You betcha, though one is more so than the other. We have them right along side us when we’re working, when we’re learning, and teaching them WHY.

Can you share any tips for the elderly or low income families who wish to prep but are unsure of how to start based on said age or income level?
Start right now, where you can. It doesn’t take a lot of money to start! Do you have a plan for just getting through 3 days of a local weather emergency? Do you have contact numbers of folks who can help – are you friends with your neighbors? Do you have enough water stored in your house (even in soda bottles or juice bottles) in case your water goes out in the city when a water main breaks? Look at the small, everyday emergencies that you can deal with and begin working on those. The more you prepare for the small things, the more prepared you are for the big things. Focus on food + water + heat for a limited amount of time, and grow from there.

Doomsday Preppers. Has the show hurt or helped the prepping community?
While I think it’s brought the prepper movement out from the shadows and exposed folks to issues, it’s done a lot of harm to those who DO want to be more prepared and paints us all as looneys and anti-government terrorists.

Does your extended family or friends give you slack about prepping?
Our friends and family know about our ideals to live a more self-reliant lifestyle and are supportive. Sometimes they think we might be on a ‘whim’, but because our focus is truly on learning old ways and being more self-sufficient wherever possible, they understand.

If nothing happens in your lifetime or children’s lifetime for that matter, would you feel that you wasted your time and money?
Not at all! We’re learning so much and are enjoying so many wonderful experiences with our children that I would never ever think we’ve wasted anything. Besides, it’s only a waste if you NEVER use it. We use everything we can now. We rotate through our food supplies, we rotate through our non-food supplies, we use our supplies in everyday life as much as possible.

Want to give some advice to a new prepper?
Move away from the idea of stocking up enough stuff to last. There’s more to prearedness and self-reliance (which I really prefer to ‘prepper’) than just having 30 years worth of dried beans and rice on a shelf. There are skills and knowledge to be had! There are experiences to share with your family as you learn them together. There are dreams to be lived! Go out and do it, don’t just prep for it!

Here is a fun question. If you had to pick one item to aid you on an deserted island… what would it be?
a satellite phone to call for help 🙂
I think I would have to say a great blade. I could gather water, I could start a fire, I could build a shelter, but a good, useful, large knife would allow me to do so much MORE easily.

Last words or thoughts you wish to share?
Don’t let the thought of a ‘doomsday prepper’ and how people view them stop you from being a more preparedness-minded family. So what if you have enough food for six months and your neighbor complains constantly about going to the store or bugs you to borrow something. So what if you happen to drive a little older model of car because your focus is more on saving money so you’re not caught out when you lose a job or the economy takes a nose-dive. The everyday things are what are really important now. Be prepared for those ordinary things that can rock your world.

We thank the Jane for her time and if you the reader feel inclined, please visit her excellent webpage at momwithaprep.com and Facebook page fb.com/momwithaprepblog.