Advising a new prepper

[K9medic2]

Lets be honest it must be a bit daunting to decided to become a prepper, watch a few YouTube videos then come on to one of the forums and compare what you have done with what those of us who started before "prepping" was a term have achieved.

So to help those people, who are sitting in an inner-city bed sit dreaming of a homestead in the Welsh mountains, and getting stressed on were and how to start. What is the realistic time in the UK we would need to prep for? Remember this is a new starter being given an achievable first mile stone.

It used to be 72 hours, but Katrina proved that one wrong. So my starting point would be - No outside help for 7 to 10 days.

What are your thoughts?

I think minium amount of cash is milk and bread for the week, or a tank of petrol, cash for fair home from work etc. I have a £20 in my phone case. Some cash hidden at home ( make a note of where). Too much isn't a good idea aa it's not safe if your broken into. Yes to change.

Think about when you might need cash. Unexpected hospital trip at night and old fashioned vending machine? Etc.

Or in my case my mobile was playing up and I had to buy my shopping in cash.

I agree, it’s not about having a load of cash, but enough to get any emergency food you need for a couple of days, ability to manage somewhere you don’t normally go that needs cash (parking meters, coffee/food vending machines, Dr or meds costs etc) or to get yourself out of a sticky situation (runners for walking a longer way than normal, to get a taxi to agree to bring you somewhere, persuade someone with loads of food to give you a sandwich/fruit, enough petrol to get you home etc).

I wouldn’t keep a load of cash, but some smaller notes and some coins in the bag I carry daily, some smaller notes at home, and a small amount in my car. Based on how much it would cost locally for those kinds of things (so I carry less in my current home in a mainland EU capital than I did in Ireland).

Totally agree – 7 to 10 days without outside help feels like a solid and realistic starting point. I’ve only recently started taking it seriously myself and focused first on food, water, power, and some basic tools – they've got loads of useful gear. Once you sort the basics, the rest doesn’t feel so overwhelming. It’s about small, steady steps, not building a bunker overnight.

Exactly – even a small amount of cash can make a big difference in an emergency. That £20 in your phone case is a smart move – always with you, and most people wouldn’t think to look there. I also keep some loose change hidden at home (and made a note of the location too!). Coins come in handy for vending machines, parking, emergency transport – especially if your phone dies or card machines are down. No need to stash a fortune, but having zero cash can be a real issue when the unexpected hits.

Totally with you on that – it’s easy to forget how often we rely on cash for little things, especially when systems go down. I’ve started slipping a few coins into old tins around the house and glovebox too – feels like low-effort prep that could really pay off one day. Curious, do you keep any emergency cash when you’re travelling, or just at home?

@WinniLoy - i usually have emergency basic cash on hand when travelling also. At least a €20 note in car and my bag I don’t use day to day.
Car has coins also for general day to day stuff ie if coin only parking, pay to use toilet at service stations etc

I went to the arcades yesterday and topped up my change. I cleaned the quilt at a laundry and they only take cash in coins which wiped me out.

I always have Euros in cash when in Europe.

A solid first milestone is definitely 7–10 days without outside help - it’s realistic and manageable for most. Focus on essentials: water, food, warmth, and basic comms. Once that’s in place, you can build up gradually without feeling overwhelmed. It’s not about matching others, just making steady progress.