When we preppers think of mindset and what will help us through a SHTF event, I would hazard a guess that most of us first think of mental toughness. Sure, toughness matters and we do need a lot of that during these difficult and stressful times. 

What I'm going to share in this article is a mindset that I believe is helping me through this kind of slow-burning SHTF that we're currently in. I am seeing the benefits in many areas of life of my rationing mindset and I hope it might be helpful to you, too. 

What is a Rationing Mindset?

As this is an idea of my own, I can't consult Webster's Dictionary for any help here. I would say that a rationing mindset has got two parts. The first part is being able to track usage of available resources and maintain awareness of what is an acceptable usage level in your current context. The second part is the kicker: being willing and able to cut down the above usage when the context demands it. 

In a certain way, a rationing mindset is definitely connected to mental toughness. Can you do what is necessary to reduce your usage of resources when you need to? If you cannot, then your alternative is to increase your resources. Based on what I've read of Selco's writings, that can be a high-risk endeavour, indeed, in a true SHTF.  

Example: Toilet Paper

QUICK: How much toilet paper do you need to supply your household for a week at your current usage levels? If you don't know how many rolls on average, ask yourself if that is a useful number to know. Knowing how much you use for a week allows you to quickly extrapolate right up to a year with basic math.