The Importance of Prepping and Survival Skills: Interviewing David Savage

Q: (sips tea) So, what prompted you to write this book, and how do you feel it will help others in terms of improving their prepping and survival skills?

David: Just with all that is wrong in the world and all my survival knowledge, I decided it was time to piece it all together in book form. We can’t control all the bad events popping up throughout the world, but we can control our own actions we take as individuals, and this book will help others along that path.

Q: Sounds like the book is a call to action. Readers may be curious, are their actionable items in this book that can be applied to those who are located in the cities and don’t have a whole lot of space to deal with? Or is this book specifically written for those who live in rural areas?

David: I discuss in the book potential options like having a cheap cabin with a small amount of land out in the woods away from the possible chaos as a backup plan if you need to bug out. Or, if that’s not practical an alternative is reaching out to your neighbors to build a community of survivalists in case you hunker down. This will increase your likelihood of have a community rooted in safety, security and an overall stronger sense of well-being.

Q: “Ensuring safety and peace of mind” is one of your direct quotes I pulled from your book promo. I find this particularly interesting, simply because both “safety” and “peace” are two of the most important things any man can provide for his family. So, with that said, can you provide more context? How does your book improve one’s ability to provide safety and peace for their family?

David: I mean, peace and safety go hand-in-hand, right? Safety is financial stability, having plenty of nutrient-dense food on hand, having plenty of water on hand or a close-by water source, having necessary medical supplies, building a community of like-minded neighborhood survivalists, etc. All these things will all heighten a person’s level of safety and help them sleep better at night.

Q. For those who have children, what are a few basic skills our readers can teach their young ones?

David: Great question, and you’d be surprised how many parents don’t teach their children some of the most basic life-skills at an early age. Simple things like memorizing addresses and phone numbers of those you trust, becoming familiar with basic directions, and learning “what-to-do’s” in case of emergency.

Other great skills to teach can be found in the kitchen. If they are not old enough to cook – simply explaining to them what you are doing and why you’re doing it will set that foundation. Explaining to them the importance of rotating foods in the pantry is also a great teaching moment.

Q. Our grandparents grew up during the great depression and I remember hearing many stories about how they powered through those difficult times from a financial standpoint. What is one piece of advice you’d offer to anyone who is currently going through difficult times financially?

David: Data illustrates millions of people perished due to malnutrition during The Great Depression, and I would suggest most of those people were either under-prepared or not prepared at all -not just from a financial standpoint, but also basic skills and overall readiness plans. On the other hand – there were many other who thrived and prospered. – I would suggest now might be a great time to reflect on the actions that were (or were not) taken during those times and act accordingly. And that’s one of the primary reasons why I wrote this book – so others can not only get ready – but stay ready.

Q. Agreed on all points. So, hypothetical question – If someone were reading this, new to preparedness and wants to go out and spend 100 dollars on prepping items – what would you recommend the first thing they acquire?

Having water on-hand and a pantry full of nutrients should always be priority.

David: Great question. Probably the most important thing to have is water supply. So make sure that is up to par, even if it’s just having a few extra cases of water. A good rule of thumb is to always have potable water on-hand and ready to go. Buying an above-ground pool for rain water collection is always a great option just in case an emergency arises.

Believe it or not, $100 can stretch pretty far in regards to just getting the basics – a potential plan could be to spend as little as $40-50 to shore up your water supply, and then use the rest to simply stock up that pantry with non-perishable goods. That would be a great starter kit for anyone who’s brand new to preparedness.

Q: Lastly, tell us about a few interesting things about yourself. What’s your favorite ice cream, your favorite quote, and your favorite color?

David: Ah, these are the really important questions! I try to avoid all the processed sugar I can but my favorite ice cream when I have it is definitely cookie dough. My favorite quote is probably “If you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big”. My favorite color has always been green

David Savage LOVES His Cookie Dough Ice Cream

David, it’s been a pleasure chatting with you. Where can people find your book and how can we find you? Any closing comments you’d like to share?

My Paperback and Kindle versions of my book can be found on Amazon HERE, or by clicking the image below, and I hope to have the Audible version released early next year. My ultimate goal is to help ins;ire and educate others on the importance of preparedness. The personal growth and development that comes along with being prepared is truly remarkable, and my hope is that I can inspire others to do just that. Thanks for having me, it’s been a blast!

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of living in rural areas, read all about it HERE.

Or, If you’d like to check out our Guide to Buying Rural property, you can check that out HERE. After all – the key is to educate yourself as much as possible!