If you experience a long-term disaster scenario, your stockpile can help you survive. Still, you need a source of income to support yourself and your family. In a post-collapse world, can you use the skills you learned from your day job to make a living? (h/t to BeansBulletsBandagesAndYou.com)
Considering a career in a post-SHTF world
People in certain professions, like carpenters, already possess the skills that will be in demand when SHTF. If you can't say the same for yourself, consider learning useful prepping skills so you can trade goods or services with fellow preppers. (Related: 7 Skills of highly effective preppers – do you have them?)
A carpenter’s tools will last for a long time if he maintains them regularly, but he needs new supplies like nails and screws whenever he works on a new project. How can you keep offering your services in a post-SHTF world without requiring new supplies?
Extend your profession
Try to find a way to evolve your skills so you can offer new services post-collapse. However, this approach requires additional preparation. For instance, if you're a baker who specializes in certain types of pastries like cupcakes, you may need to learn how to make baked products that will be more appealing in a post-SHTF world, like loaves of bread or dinner rolls.
Valuable "soft" professions
There's no denying that firearms and other self-defense weapons will be essential in a post-SHTF society. But disasters also require the services of people who can help you take care of your mental health.
Individuals with a career in counseling can use their skills to help people going through hard times. The survivors of a disaster need to learn how to deal with anxiety, grief, high stress, and other worries.
Without access to medication, these skills will be even more important in a world that's trying to rebuild itself.
Turn your hobbies into a career
Fishing is a leisurely hobby, but when SHTF, your fishing knowledge will be in demand, especially if your neighbors don't know how to fish. Stock up on fishing gear and spare parts now so you can offer your services when disaster strikes.
Other hobbies that can be turned into a lucrative career in a post-collapse world includes:
- Beekeeping – Bees are crucial because they pollinate crops. Complementary skills include knowing how to extract honey from beehives.
- Crocheting, knitting, sewing – These days, not many people know how to properly crochet, knit, or sew. When SHTF, your relaxing hobby can become profitable, especially if you can make blankets, clothes, and socks. Complementary skills include knowing how to make thread and spin wool.
- Food preservation – Being well-versed in various food preservation methods such as canning, drying, and freezing ensures that you can keep adding items to your stockpile. Excess food can be sold to other preppers who need more supplies.
- Gardening – An experienced gardener can preserve and grow seeds that can be sold after disaster strikes. Complementary skills include knowing how to build a greenhouse so you can grow crops even during winter.
- Gunsmithing – A gunsmith will be in demand because people will need the services of someone who can repair or manufacture guns. Complementary skills include knowing how to reload ammunition and make bullet casings.
- Pottery – In a post-SHTF world, many people will need replacements for broken cookware. If you know how to use a manual pottery wheel, you can provide people with these necessary items. Complementary skills include knowing how to harvest clay and how to build or use an off-grid kiln so you can fire your creations.
Most people start these hobbies so they have something to do in their spare time, but preppers know that certain skills can be used to their advantage when things go south.
Sources include:
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