For quite a while I was asked about starting a homestead (or in our case a “glamstead”) and what it took. And I’ve been asked about building solar systems. And I’ve been asked about various prepper related subjects for a couple decades now. I poured out a lot of details and directions on how to do things.

But…I never shared the overall…over-riding…concept for all of it…every aspect of prepping. And it really applies to all of life if you ask me.

Time vs Money

Fortunately the concept/principle is pretty easy to understand, it isn’t complicated. And it’s application is pretty much universal. Here it is…

If you have enough money you can buy what you need. If you have enough time you don’t need all the money for what you need...you can do it yourself.

Let me hit you with a few examples for clarification.

Food Storage: Let’s say you were starting from scratch, you had zero food storage. But, for whatever reason you decided you want your family of 4 to be prepared for food shortages. You want a year’s supply of food for your family of 4. Two ways to go about it…

Time – You can spend time learning all about food storage, the “ins & outs”, types, how to acquire it, how to garden, how to can it, how to dehydrate it, etc. Might take a year or two of gardening and canning to figure it out to a successful degree.

Money – You go online to Mountain House and spend the sale price of $10,366.99 (regularly $12,697.20) for a complete year’s supply of food…for one person. So that means you lay out $41,467.96…and in about a couple weeks…BOOM! You have a full year’s supply of food for your family. AND free shipping 🙂

Pump Replacement for your well: You know where I’m going with this one! Let’s say your solar powered well isn’t producing enough water and it’s been acting up for the last month. You decide you need more water, a more stable system, and more protection from lightning, etc. Two ways to go about it…

Time – You can spend time learning about solar technology and water pumps, how water wells actually work, electrical wiring, water storage tanks, float switches, etc. You learn the concepts of moving water from one location to another…called “hydraulics”. You can organize a day or two of friends and neighbors helping you to swap pumps. You can spend the time to learn how to wire the electrical system, install a better solar power system. And learn the other little ins and outs. And maybe within a year or so, maybe months if you are quick about it, you know how to do it.

Money – You can contact a well service company, explain the situation and spend $20,000 – $35,000 and have them do it the next week…while you watch the latest NFL game on TV.

Small House/Cabin: You bought yourself a nice little piece of land for you and your family to enjoy…and maybe the place you and your spouse can retire to. Or, it can also serve as a bug-out-location if need be. Now all you need is a small house or cabin to live in while you’re there. Two ways to go about it…

Time – Learn basic construction: site preparation, foundations, framing, roofing, windows, insulation, drywall, plumbing, electrical, flooring, cabinets, painting. Buy materials as money becomes available. Do much of the work yourself, call in friends when you need extra hands, and subcontract only the things you really shouldn’t tackle. It might take you two or three years.

Money – Call a general contractor. Hand him the plans and a very large check. A few months later he hands you the keys.

I think by now you get my point by now…You can either spend the time yourself or buy someone else’s time.

For me I look at it like…

• If you have the time but not the money…You can spend the time yourself.

• If you have the money but not the time…You can buy someone else’s time.

Think about that concept…it can apply to just about anything in life that you need…time vs money. One way or the other…you are going to spend time or money…maybe some of both.

I would love to hear what you have to say about this topic…