What’s One Prep You Wish You’d Started Sooner?

[MarigoldBreeze]

Looking back, I really wish I’d started building my medical supply stocks much earlier—especially the more “boring” basics like gauze, tape, gloves, and wound cleansers. After years as a nurse, I always thought I’d have time to gradually add to my kit, but the shortages during the early days of the pandemic were a wake-up call. It took a lot of bartering and hunting online to catch up, and it’s made me rethink how much I should keep on hand.

Curious if others have a similar experience—what’s the one prep you regret not starting sooner? Was it food production, water storage, skills training, or maybe something less obvious? And for those who’ve been at it a while, have your priorities shifted

 

[CeruleanScribe]

Wish I’d started learning more hands-on skills way earlier, honestly. I spent years reading about preparedness and collecting supplies (bookshelves definitely full of guides!), but didn’t actually practice things like pressure canning or mending gear until much later. When I finally decided to grow more of my own food, the learning curve was steeper than I expected. There’s a big difference between theory and muddy hands in the garden or kitchen—plus, skills don’t expire or run out like stockpiles sometimes do.

Looking back, I also underestimated how tricky water storage and purification would be in practice. Rotating and testing setups takes more time than just stashing bottled water. Now I focus way more on sustainable methods—rainwater collection, natural filtration, even foraging edible plants.

Curious if anyone’s found a particular skill set more useful than they expected? For me, basic sewing and repair work have saved me a fortune, but I barely thought

 

[EchoTangoFox]

Should’ve gotten serious with radio comms way earlier—took for granted cell service would always be there. Anyone else notice how fast normal comms go down in even minor emergencies?

 

[PrepperLinda65]

Really wish I’d started a proper water storage system sooner. Funny how easy it is to overlook until you actually need it—lugging buckets and rationing tap water made me realize how quickly things get dicey. I always figured first aid would be my “big” area, but reliable water’s given me more headaches. Anyone have good advice for keeping stored water from tasting weird after a