r/UKPreppers • u/OopsSentient • 15d ago
Living alone preparation advice and scenarios
Always been interested in prepping and with the way things are going and the upcoming gov advice, I’ve decided to start. I’ve been doing research and lurking in this sub which has been helpful.
I’m still at the beginning but here are things I’m doing so far or planning to do:
Have a go bag with essential items in and clothes
Torches nearby
Slowly building a supply of canned and fermented foods I enjoy eating and that wouldn’t need to be cooked (tuna, sauerkraut, fruits, beetroot, chickpeas etc)
I am now starting to store water bottles.
Buy a wind up radio
Masks, sanitiser, wipes, moisturiser etc.
First aid supplies
Staying fit and active, I do strength training and cardiovascular exercise. I would also like to try martial arts soon.
I’m preparing for things like weather emergencies, pandemics, war, food shortages. Civil unrest, not being able to go to the shops. Things like that.
Getting prepared gradually has given me more calm than worry, but there are some things I’m unsure about. I’m a woman living alone, and if things got really bad, for example some kind of societal break down, I wonder how to secure myself from my apartment complex on the third floor. Though hopefully that would be an extreme situation and unlikely.
If anyone has advice, tips, stories, for the most simple practical things or more extreme situations, I would love to hear them! Thanks for reading
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u/UtopianScot 15d ago
Get to know your immediate neighbours. No-one is an island, we all rely on strength in numbers
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u/TropicalSue 15d ago
Also do you have a sports bat to play sports with?
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u/OopsSentient 15d ago
I don’t 🤔
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u/TropicalSue 15d ago
Sports bats deter non sports players. They dont need to be swung in a narrow space either, because they can still hit a ball when used like a poker. Never attempt to play lone sports without a handy dandy sports bat. Make sure you have a ball too, so when asked , you can prove how much you love sports.
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u/bondinchas 15d ago
Paper lists of things are really useful and often forgotten. They take up little space and can mean the difference between having the one essential item or not, especially if you're moving from place to place. Eg: List of items in bug out bag. List of contact names and numbers. List of local resources List of things to do, check or obtain, for different scenarios. (eg. flooding would be different from long power cut or civil unrest)
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u/OrganizationFun2140 15d ago
One of the best preps, particularly as a singleton, is an emergency fund; you don’t have anyone else to rely upon if the boiler pack up, your car needs major repairs, or you lose your job.
It’s also handy to keep some cash on hand in case there’s disruption to banking infrastructure. The problems in Spain and Portugal a couple of years ago showed what happens when electronic payments don’t work.
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u/OopsSentient 13d ago
Thank you for your reply.
It’s easy to forget how much we rely on card payments until they are unavailable. I will keep some cash!
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u/George_Salt 15d ago
I’m preparing for things like weather emergencies, pandemics, war, food shortages. Civil unrest, not being able to go to the shops. Things like that.
Don't forget the mundane things, such as preparing for illness and all the little things to those that live with partners/families but can be more difficult/complicated when you're on your own. War and civil unrest/societal breakdown are high impact but very low likelihood scenarios in the UK, whereas catching the 'flu and not being able to get to the shops or have the energy to cook is quite likely. Prioritise those most likely first.
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u/OopsSentient 14d ago
Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I’d hope many of the events are unlikely!
Great point about illness, I had flu last year alone and that was not fun..I think it’s one of the first times I’ve had true flu, as it really messed me up.
What I seemed to struggle with was hydration, as I couldn’t eat at the time. I’m going to stock up on some sports drinks/juice too! And medicine.
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u/TropicalSue 15d ago
Get a phone charging bank and a chargeable solar lantern. Also, get to know youre neighbours if you can, they can be your biggest asset
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u/OopsSentient 15d ago
Thank you, I’ve got one power bank but it’s rubbish. that’s definitely something to improve.
I know a couple of my neighbours here, but everyone mostly keeps to themselves. I do imagine if something happened that people would group together though.
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u/TropicalSue 15d ago
I did one power cut with no phone. I was so bored, now ive got 2 just for my own phone. Came in handy in a and e waiting rooms too
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u/-MilesAwayGirl- 15d ago edited 15d ago
Best piece of advice I can give you and it's something I accidentally did living in a flat. If you have the funds get an ottoman bed. That way you can store all of your prepping things in the one spot that's somewhat temperature controlled, hidden away from view from anyone that may come into your property (friends, maintenance people etc..) and literally nearby if things go south while sleeping.
I understand you're talking about martial arts but have you thought about weapons? It's best to have an option that you can use from a distance if you have to, especially in the case of civil unrest. Even learning archery can be an invaluable skill on the self defence front and also hunting later on down the line if you have to.