The risk from Just In Time business models

[Tarrel]

JIT business models are a symptom of us, as a civilisation, putting efficiency ahead of resilience. There is an inverse relationship between the two. Resilience implies having excess or redundant resources or systems, which is anathema to those who seek to optimise or squeeze every last bit of efficiency out of our systems.

This is relevant to prepping, as we can apply the same principles to our own situation. Many households work on an "efficiency" or Just-in-time model; one form of heating (often central heating provided by a single gas boiler), minimal food in store, often through lack of space, combi-boilers, meaning no water in store - everything fed directly from the mains, etc. Resilience would imply multiple ways of cooking, solid fuel heating that can use different fuels, a deep store of food, etc.

Many households in the UK would do well to ignore marketing messages promising efficiency or "cost saving" and just play out a few "what if" scenarios in their heads. Buying choices then look quite different.