SHTF: "I am coming to your house!"

You cut back on expenses, clip coupons, make lists, budget, plan and carefully put aside emergency supplies for your family (and maybe a few others) to last a year or so if and when things get bad.

While at work one day, you find yourself in a discussion with a co-worker about the economy or maybe recent world problems. Your friend remarks that preparing for an end of the world scenario is hopeless to which you counter, "Oh no. I have been putting aside food and water for my family for some time. It is not that hard to do..".

Before you know it, you hear those horrible words from the grinning co-worker, "Well, if things get bad, I am coming to your house!".

Great. Expect locusts for house guests the day after.

Where do these people come from? Why do they think they will be welcome, empty handed and wanting anywhere? Why did you open your big fat mouth?

Forget about the arguments about entitlement mentality or the laziness of the herd, if you don't want visitors, bring in the welcome mat.

First, shut up. Being blunt here, but nobody is going to show up with hand out (or gun drawn) if they don't know what preparedness supplies you have. Quit advertising what a great "prepper" you are and how many cases of beef stew you have put back in the basement, etc.

The problem with many preppers is they crave the attention and the approval of the crowd and can't wait to open their yaps and pontificate about their water well, dried food supply, canners, wood stove, grain mills and solar panels. In doing so, they essentially advertise the End of the World Holiday Inn is accepting reservations when the balloon goes up, come one and all.

So keep your mouth shut about what your plans are and the specifics therein.

Keep the emergency food and supplies hidden and out of sight. Nothing says "Come on over!" like a stack of Mountain House foods in plain view for all to see or a pantry floor covered in white buckets marked "Beans", "Rice" and "Wheat".

If someone questions the wheat grinder or dehydrator on the kitchen counter, just shrug and say "Why? Don't you have one?" and make the questioner feel stupid for asking.

Stop coming up with the elaborate stories and tales preppers come up with like "Oh, that stack of number 10 cans of textured vegetable protein? Oh, um, um, we are going on a church mission to open a vegetarian cafeteria in another country. Yeah that's it!" or
"All those bags of flour and sugar? We make cookies and cakes for the holidays. Would you like to order something?" (what do you do when they then ask for a dozen pies, Einstein?).

Ridiculous. Keep your stuff hidden. And if someone comes across a case of MRE's in the house or back of your car, just say. "Man, I gotta clean this place up. I don't know why I still have this junk..". and leave it at that.

Finally, practice saying the magic word - "No".

"No, I have no food or gasoline or a gun to spare for you. Run along and don't come back".

That's it, end of discussion. Otherwise, start working harder and buying more stuff for the deadbeats you will be directly supporting the day after.