Assume shortages worsen over weeks/months, not overnight. The rule of threes sets priority: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter (in bad weather), 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. So spend in this order: water → heat/shelter → food → energy → medical → comms → everything else.
Phases to plan for:
- Phase 0 (now): buy, build, learn, practice.
- Phase 1 (disruption, weeks): grid unstable, shops stripped. Live off stored water/food, top up tanks.
- Phase 2 (scarcity, months): rationing. Rainwater + filtration is primary water; garden + preserved food supplements storage.
- Phase 3 (long haul): closed loop — grow, capture, repair, barter.