This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com

Being prepared and becoming self-sufficient is not all about buying emergency supplies. Learning survival and self-sufficiency skills is a big aspect of the preparedness mindset.  Learning a few practical skills will also help you save money by doing things yourself.

Here are 8 skills you can learn on weekends:

Plant a garden

Even if you only have a small balcony, you can grow a few herbs.  Sign up for free tickets for the Grow Your Own Food Workshop.  You’ll get a Grow Your Own Food Quick Start Guide and Planning Calculator just for signing up.

Learn to use a gun safely

Check out your local gun range for gun safety courses.  I am seeing some spring classes in our neighborhood that don’t cost much to join.

Self-defense training

Employers and local businesses often offer a free class or two teaching defensive moves an average person can do in case of attack.

Learn to bake from scratch

It is fun to make artisan bread – it’s not hard, just follow these simple instructions. 

Basic sewing

I previously took clothes to the tailor for sewing needs, now I can sew buttons, shorten or lengthen hems, repair a tear, etc.

Change a tire

Knowing how to change a tire by yourself is a skill that can come in handy in your daily commute.

Read a map

GPS may not always be available – learn how to read paper maps.  The Auto Club is a good source for paper maps; you can also order them inexpensively for areas that interest you.

Start a fire without matches

There are various of ways to start a fire without matches – just pick a method and practice!

 

Learning a few skills has shown me how much we take for granted and rely on others to do basic activities.   This list is by no means complete-these are just a few ideas to get started.  Find something that captures your attention.  Another benefit is you might find that it’s fun!

About the author:

Bernie Carr is the founder of Apartment Prepper. She has written several books including the best-selling Prepper’s Pocket Guide, Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure, The Penny-Pinching Prepper and How to Prepare for Most Emergencies on a $50 a Month Budget. Her work appears in sites such as the Allstate Blog and Clark.com, as well as print magazines such as Backwoods Survival Guide and Prepper Survival Guide. She has been featured in national publications such as Fox Business and Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Bernie here.