November 28, 2024

Posts Comments

Preparedness Club Updates

August 6, 2013 by

Readgy2go

Before I get to the Preparedness Club winners for the month of July and the prize for August, I want to announce that Ready To Go Survival has agreed to offer the Preparedness Club members 5% off on all purchases!  They offer a range of BOB’s that are pre-packed with some impressive gear.  If you’re in the market for a stocked BOB, head on over!  They have a variety to take a look at!

 

Preparedness Club Monthly Winner Update

Congratulations to Rachel, Cheri, Donald, James and Phil for being selected as the winners of the Preparedness Club for the month of July.  They each won a copy of the Total Home Prep Now DVD!

 

 PaladinPress

 

This month I’m giving away two books from Paladin Press; Tappan On Survival  and Shoestring Survivalism. A side note before I go on; I own several Paladin Press books.  They carry several book on topics such as self-defense, combat shooting, survival and self-reliance that you just won’t find any other place.  Preparedness Club members receive a 15% discount on all purchases.

 

 

TappanOnSurviavl

 

Tappan On Survival Price $25.00

by Mel Tappan, with a foreword by Bruce Clayton 

Description from Paladin Press

“One of the greatest books ever written on practical survival is back in print for the next generation of self-reliant citizens! Mel Tappan was the godfather of the modern preparedness movement, and this classic collection of his writings is an indispensable resource for information on how to develop a survival mind-set, identify the best survival locations, store food, maintain communications, select firearms and much more. A new foreword by Bruce Clayton, himself an important figure in the preparedness movement after the publication of his book Life After Doomsday in 1980, describes the unique appeal of Tappan’s writings and personality, puts Tappan’s role in the survivalist movement in historical perspective and explains why his work is still highly relevant today.”

 

Chris Says:

This book is loaded with information from a man who many refer to as a “founding father” of survivalism.  Some of the companies may be out-of-date but the information he gives is still excellent.  This book would be a good addition to any prepper library.

 

 SHOE-Shoestring-Survivalism

 

Shoestring Survivalism How to Prepare for Bad Times  Price $22.00

by Andy James

 

Description From Paladin Press

“Shoestring Survival is a complete budget-minded blueprint for preparing for tough times. Self-reliance veteran Andy James shows you dozens of shoestring survival methods that cost little or nothing yet will tremendously advance your preparedness for any sort of large-scale emergency, from natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, epidemics) to societal eruptions (acts of terrorism, economic depression, widespread crime). With Andy James’ handy tips and tricks for low-key, low-budget survival, Shoestring Survival will show you how to:

  • Take 21 simple, low-cost steps right now that will drastically improve your chances of surviving any disaster
  • Acquire free stuff that lots of survivalists never think of
  • Locate the best sources for inexpensive, essential supplies – extra clothing, necessary tools, reliable guns and more
  • Stock cheap, filling foods to feed you and your family for 30 days or longer
  • Find hidden values at familiar stores and in surprising corners of the Internet
  • Determine whether to stay at your home or bug out during an emergency, including how to maintain comfort and safety in a government shelter

You do not need a fully stocked cabin in the mountains or an arsenal of expensive firearms to make it through hard times. You just need the will to begin preparing today, a surprisingly small amount of money to get started and the handy information in Shoestring Survival.”

 

Chris says:

 As we all know, prepping can be expensive!  It doesn’t have to be!  This book has tips to save money on guns, sustenance, supplies, sanitation, as well as information on currency and barter.  There is a lot of information on general preparedness as well.

 
If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!

PreparednessClubOne

Filed Under: Preparedness Club

Incorporating Preparedness Into Your Life

August 5, 2013 by

We’re all preparing for a time when life is harder than it is now, whatever flavor of “when it hits the fan” that might be. Many of us store food and gear that we don’t use on a regular basis. Some might be saving it strictly for that rainy day. I’m not judging. I’ve purchased an item or two that might be hard to find if things fall apart, but I don’t use often now.

We balance our everyday lives with modern creature comforts, with one eye on the potential for things to fall apart. This presents a potential problem for some of us; we may face a potential shock to the system.

When I was in the Navy (I’m sure other branches could tell a similar story), we would spend six months at sea, working 12 hour days, going to port in foreign countries for a few days of R&R. We were lucky to get mail once a week. When we got back home we suffered culture shock. The music and fashion were different and we hadn’t heard of any of the movies that were now out. You wouldn’t believe how much people can change in six short months! Hence, so many “dear John letters” and divorces after a deployment. We lived longing to get home, but when we were finally there, things were different and it took some getting used to.

My guess is that with the advances in technology and the Internet, things are a bit different in the military for those who’re deployed now. I’m sure they’re still very difficult but I bet there isn’t as much culture shock. The military can now use Facebook, Skype or other technology to stay integrated with their families. With the Internet they can keep abreast of the popular things back home. I have visited several prepper forums that have active posting members that were deployed overseas.

I think many preppers have a segregated approach to preparedness, much like when I was in the Navy. By “segregated” I mean that we prepare and put things aside for “when it hits the fan”. When it does hit the fan we’re not used to living that way. It will take some time to get used to the new normal.

I’m not suggesting we live now as if things had fallen apart or like life as we knew it is over. I think an integrated approach, to some extent, makes sense. For example, planning to cook over a fire as your main way of cooking if the grid goes down, you might consider cooking one meal a week that way right now. If you have some equipment on a shelf, take it down and either learn to use it, or make sure it still works.

I’ve written previously about ways you can drill to test your preparedness. Testing them and adding some of that lifestyle to your way of life now will show you where your holes are and will limit any future shock to a new reality.

 

If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!

PreparednessClubOne

Filed Under: General Preparedness

Preparing for the Grid to go Down

August 2, 2013 by

blackout

I reposted an article from Offgrid Survival called Half of all Americans Won’t Survive 2 Weeks without Electricity. It explained how fragile the electric grid is and how most Americans won’t last two weeks without it.

I’m not sure that half the population would die off in two weeks. In my thinking it would depend on if trucks were still running and making deliveries of food and medicine. One thing I do know is that if we saw an event that brought the electric grid down, life would be difficult for everyone and impossible for some.

I have written articles in the past that will be helpful in such an event. One thing to keep in mind about any type of event is that there are five basic human needs that need to be met. The articles that I think are helpful are listed under the basic need that is the best fit. Some might be listed under multiple basic needs.
 
 

Water

If there is no electricity in many places there won’t be running water for long. Some communities have their water pumped in over two hundred miles. Knowing where to get water is a must, as is “The Storage, Filtration And Purification Of Water”.
 
 
Food

I listed some tips for keeping food cold for a short term power outage in “Keeping Food Cold Without Electricity”. Some of these tips could be used to keep food cold for a short time in a long-term event. One might need to know how to cook with “Off Grid Fuel’s” as well.
 
 
Shelter

One often overlooked thing when facing a grid down event is “Survival Sanitation”. If you’re connected to city sewer and water, how to handle human waste is something you’re going to want to know and might want to clue your neighbors in on quickly.

Knowing how to wash clothes is covered in “Off-Grid Laundry”. “Keeping Cool Without AC” is good information to know as well.

As far as I know insulin is the only medicine that means life and death if it is not kept cool. This and some other Diabetic related info is covered in “Preparedness for Diabetics”.

One items that gets more use when the power is out is candles. Because of this “Candle Safety” is important to know. Because of the loss of water pressure, “Fire Safety, Before and After the Fan” is good to know as well.
 
 
Energy

Having batteries to keep small electronics charged is a good idea. “Preparedness and Batteries” covers some needed information. Having a “Portable Generator” could enable power to your home or at least certain portions of it.

Having “Off Grid Fuel” stocked and knowing “Fuel Storage” for gasoline and diesel would be important as well.
 
 
Security

The main thing to keep in mind about security during a prolonged grid down event is that you might see more crime. I covered what civil unrest might look like in “What Does Civil Unrest Look Like and How Can You Stay Safe Near It?”. You might consider “Keeping Watch Once It’s Hit the Fan” and instituting “Light, Sound and Smell Discipline”.
 
 
Closing Thoughts

I have a couple resources available that have a huge amount of information you might consider printing off to make sure it is available for just such an event. They are “Fifteen Must Have Downloads” and the link library. To get to the link library, hover your mouse over “General Preparedness”. It is the top drop down. You can choose from any of the available headings.

If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!

PreparednessClubOne

Filed Under: General Preparedness

Half of all Americans Won’t Survive 2 Weeks without Electricity

July 31, 2013 by

This article was written by Rob Richardson and posted on Offgrid Survival on December 10, 2012

 

Half of all Americans Won’t Survive 2 Weeks without Electricity

A new study conducted by World Net Daily, looked into the overall preparedness level of the American public; what they found is pretty troubling. Almost 50% of the people who were polled said they would not be able to survive for more than 2 weeks without the electricity. An astonishing 75% of them said they would be dead within two months.

What’s most shocking about the survey, is the fact that most Americans realize how unprepared they are, but are still not willing to take the steps they need to take to ensure their survival. If you know you would be dead in a matter of weeks, doesn’t it make sense to do something to safeguard yourself form that threat?

 

The threat is very real, and experts are growing concerned over the possible failure of our infrasturcture.

Our grid is becoming increasingly dependent on cyber technologies; but according to Cyber Security expert Eugene Kaspersky, co-founder of the Kaspersky Lab, that dependence has left us extremely vulnerable. In fact, he’s recently warned that our infrastructure is extremely vulnerable to cyber threats that could spell “the end of the world as we know it”.

That may sound a little extreme, but keep in mind, Kaspersky is one of the world’s top cyber security experts and the threat he’s talking in only just beginning. In fact, the U.S. government has been war gaming these cyber warfare scenarios for a number of years. The first target in almost every one of these scenarios is always the power grid.

Population Not everyone will survive; sadly, most have already given up!

The sad reality is that most Americans have already decided they would simply give up during a major catastrophic emergency. Even before the event has ever occurred, they have already sealed their fate. They’ve become so reliant on the grid, that few of them are willing to learn how to live without it.

Should America’s electrical grid collapse, it won’t take long for the country to break down into chaos. Over the next couple of weeks, we have a lineup of experts who will be talking about what the situation looks like, and how you can prepare to survive the chaos.

 

Filed Under: Signs of the Times

Spiritual Preparedness

July 29, 2013 by

anchoredtoChrist

Since starting the blog my goal has been to bring a Christian worldview to preparedness, to show Christians that preparedness isn’t a sin and is, in fact, it’s very biblical.

Most articles are about preparedness. I wouldn’t say this means faith took a backseat. This is mainly because I have covered all of the areas of the Bible that I know of that pertain to preparedness. Today the tables turn, and preparedness, while still involved, IS going to take a back seat to faith.

I’ve put in a lot of road time over the last month, some of which was spent in prayer and some enjoying God’s creation. I also spent some of that time listening to audio books, one of which some of you have recommended; The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn. I’m not done with the Harbinger, so this isn’t a review. In truth, it is only part of the reason for me writing this article. Before I go any further, I want to say that this isn’t Chris on his high horse judging anyone. What I have to say in this article goes just as much for me as anyone else.

I’m not a prophet, just a watchman on the wall. That being said I am not trying to be alarmist either, but I am concerned that something is on the horizon that will require us to be anchored in Christ. I am reminded of the parable of the sower. Jesus tells of a farmer who spread seed. Much of the seed perished for various reasons and only the seed that fell on fertile soil flourished.

Anyone who knows anything about gardening knows that you have to pamper soil to ensure it stays fertile, adding compost and mulch, as well as making sure it’s watered. My point is, just because you were in fertile soil when you took the seed of faith and you grew in Christ, that doesn’t mean you can rest. No, you must tend the soil, feed it and protect it. If you don’t, the weeds can come back in and choke out any growth or pests can damage it.

 

Training

Professional athletes spend a good portion of their lives training for a season that is a few short months long, in a sport they’ll only be able to compete professionally in for a limited amount of years. Some pro-boxers train for months for one night. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!
All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.”

Are you living to win the race? I hate to admit it, but I’m not. My walk with Christ is stronger than it was in my past. I am in the word daily, I pray, but I still stumble far more than I care to admit. Let’s face it, if a pro athlete had to be in training all year, year after year, I don’t think we would have as many sports teams.

I think that modern day Christians in America and other developed nations might have a harder time with their walk than early Christians. Sure early Christians in the first church were persecuted but they wore it as a badge of honor. Modern day Christians are surrounded by temptation on the internet, TV, Radio, not to mention every-day life. The first church consisted of people who lived with Christ for three years and people who grew to know those eleven. We’re some 2,000 years removed and we only have what we read in the texts, published throughout those 2,000 years. What we all have in common is the indwelling of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Like I mentioned above, we must tend the soil to keep it fertile, lest we let the thistle in and it choke out the growth. When that happens, we allow the quieting of that still small voice and the indwelling of Christ is muted.

Make no mistake, this doesn’t mean we get an easy out. On the contrary, this means we have to be more aggressive at tending the soil, at keeping our walk with Christ as close to Him as we can. I have heard many people say that there is nothing we can do, Christ has done it all. This is not completely true; He made it possible for us to be redeemed to the Father, but we still have to, as Paul said, “run to win”.

 

The Danger

As I mentioned above, I feel like there is something on the horizon that will require us to be anchored in Christ. There are a couple of reasons why I think this is important. First if we are firmly affixed to something we are not likely to be shaken from it. I have witnessed people who, when faced with something terrible, lose faith and turn from God. I had a friend who, at one time, was planted in fertile soil. His wife left him and he started to lose faith. He quit tending the soil. He then was diagnosed with colon cancer and the thistle took over. In the end, he blamed God and was bitter, not wanting to talk at all about faith.

Persecution is also something that may drive others from the faith. We in America are very lucky, as persecution only rarely happens. The following is a story from the ADF, the Alliance Defending Freedom. The article is called “The Longest Night”.. It is a story of modern day persecution of a pro-life Christian group that was unlawfully arrested and subjected to “strip searches” all because they held anti-abortion signs along public freeways. The ADF was able to get the following accomplished.

“Harford County and the state troopers formally acknowledged that the officers’ behavior was unconstitutional, and agreed to train officers about First Amendment and free-speech issues.”

We are told that persecution will increase. Is your faith strong enough to see you through mocking, verbal abuse, being called a hater or a bigot, beatings, arrest or more? It is easy to say “yes” from the privacy of a keyboard, but when put to the test, with threat of violence or death, is your faith strong enough to stand for Christ? Might you falter as Peter did?

Completely falling from Christ isn’t the only danger. Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:15-16

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 3:16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

I’ve never attended seminary, so maybe there is another meaning to this verse. To me, any time I have ever spit anything from my mouth is was because it disgusted me. If I breakdown the above verse to me “hot” would be of God, and “cold” of the world. If you are neither, maybe you are a mix of both.

For many years I walked with both feet in the world, then one foot in each. I have whittled away many of the things that cause me to sin. There are still so many areas that trip me up. It is a good thing we have a graceful and loving God!

Revelation 3:19-20 “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

If you have areas of your life that cause you to be “lukewarm”, with one foot in the world, be it Internet sites you shouldn’t visit, TV you shouldn’t watch, magazines you shouldn’t be reading or relationships that are not biblical, it might be time to repent and press into the Lord. Let Him correct you and open the door for Him!

While we are individually responsible for our walk, we do not walk alone. One of the things that I am grateful to God for is how this community has formed. We share, encourage and pray for one another. If you have a verse that brings you encouragement or strength, feel free to post it. Do the same for any prayer requests.

 

If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!

PreparednessClubOne

Filed Under: Christian World View

Multiple Uses for Multiple Things; Part Two

July 26, 2013 by

I posted some time ago that I come across articles now and then that list the many uses for different items. Follow the link to find the first part of “Multiple Uses for Multiple Things”.

Cucumbers are one of my favorites, so them being used for anything except eating is unlikely (haha). Nonetheless, here are some Amazing Uses of Cucumber.

Coconut oil is among the healthiest oils to cook with, but there are many, many other uses, as you can see. Here are 160 Reasons to Stock Coconut Oil in Your Larder. We use coconut oil for a few different things. I have no financial interest in this site. It is just a Christian-owned site that we purchase from. The name isTropical Traditions.

There are a couple more links on the uses of vinegar and apple cider vinegar on the original article. Here are 35 Reasons You Should Never be Without Vinegar.

Mint is one of the herbs we are growing this year, here are 15 Uses for Mint.

Tea Tree Oil is new to me, but this and other articles build a good case for getting to know its uses better. The Miracle of Tea Tree Oil: 80 Amazing Uses for Survival.

I think this is one item that belongs in the home of every prepper. Here are Multiple Uses of Vaseline. Check the comments for other good ideas.

See below for another product worth stocking.
12 Surprising Reasons To Keep Vicks VapoRub In Your Cache

If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!
 
PreparednessClubOne

Filed Under: General Preparedness

Drills to Test Your Preparedness

July 24, 2013 by

Bomb Drill

Throughout life we are tested in a variety of ways; to see how much we learned, how skillful we have become, how resilient we are and in many more ways. Preparedness is no different! We may have some idea of how well prepared we are but there are only two ways to know for sure; by actually having an event that puts all of our planning into action, or by testing it before an event takes place.

I have come up with six types of drills that you could use to put your plans and preps to the test. First let me give some tips that might make these smoother with less resistance from the family.

Some of these drills will take a lot less time than others. Taking five minutes to do a fire or tornado drill isn’t that big of a deal. However, deciding to do a black out drill over a weekend isn’t something you want to do on a moment’s notice. Give everyone plenty of notice about the drills that will take more time. This gives everyone time to find things to occupy themselves without electricity.

The goal of doing these drills is to learn your shortcomings. Document anything and everything that you find you’re lacking in. If you plan ahead for some of these drills, you might discover some things you need to correct before the actual drill. Add these items to the list as well. For example, if you plan to do a blackout drill in two weeks and you decide to cook all hot meals on the grill, you might check to make sure you have enough propane. If you notice that you need to fill up, there is a good chance that you might be low on propane in the future. Getting another full propane tank might be prudent.
 

Fire Drill

Children are no strangers to fire drills. Schools do them a few times a year. Businesses have started doing them as well. Doing them at home makes good sense but they can be a little trickier, especially if you don’t live on the ground floor. If you have pets make sure to include them. If you live in an area where wild fires are common, this could become more of a bug out drill.
 

Tornado Drill

There are a lot of us who live in areas where tornados are a part of life. How long does it take your family to get to your shelter? Trudee can get herself and all of the dogs to the basement in less than thirty seconds. She grabs treats and they all follow her. If you live in an area that is prone to other extreme weather, run a drill for it!

 
Bug Out Drill

There are two types of bug out drills, one to see just how long it would take your family to get the vehicle packed and everyone inside and the other to see how long it takes to get packed and living with only what you packed. The time it takes to get packed and be ready to pull out should be measured in minutes; preferably less than fifteen. If you’re going to actually bug out to your BOL and live off of what you packed, you’re definitely going to want to give the family plenty of warning.
 

Kitchen Sink Drill

I named this drill the kitchen sink drill because you have time to pack everything, including “the kitchen sink”. The name of this drill is facetious. I don’t really think you should pack everything. This would be an event that is much longer-lasting than an event for a typical bug out, like a wildfire. You have plenty of warning and there is a high chance that your home may catch fire. For this event you need to move quickly but have enough time to take items that may be needed for a longer stay away from home. Having a list written ahead of time that names the items to grab and their locations will save a lot of time.
 

Blackout Drill

This is one of the drills you’ll want to give the family plenty of warning about, so they can make plans. There are many different ways to do this. I have read of people shutting off the main breaker. Others unplug everything except the fridge and the freezer. If you do this they should both be off limits. Put the food you plan on eating for the weekend in coolers. The goal is to only use items that require no electricity. If you have a generator, you run the generator to power the items you want to use. If you are on city water and sewer, keep in mind that if there is a blackout in your area, you won’t have running water. Make sure you have plenty of things to keep everyone busy. I also recommend doing this when the temperatures are bearable. While true that there is a chance you could lose power when the temps are not pleasant, the first time or two you do this drill it is to find holes. After that, if you want to test things when the temps are more extreme, use caution, but go for it!
 

Civil Unrest/Batten Down Drills

This drill could be added to some of the others or done on its own. I don’t expect much civil unrest where I live, but if there were, among other things, I would be standing watch after dark. Having a plan in place for spouses to share four hour watches during the night is a completely different thing than actually doing it. Here are a couple articles I have written on this type of situation. They are called Keeping Watch Once It’s Hit the Fan and Light, Sound and Smell Discipline.
 

Final Thoughts

I hope these drills are helpful. If you follow through on any of them, I would love to hear about them!
 

If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!

PreparednessClubOne

Filed Under: General Preparedness, Preparedness Tips

The Downfalls of Tunnel Vision

July 22, 2013 by

tunnel vision
 
I am in a rare position. Over the years, I have received many emails from visitors to the blog. I have read thousands of comments both on Prepared Christian.net and on other blogs. I have noticed a tendency in some people that could be dangerous. Sometimes people get locked into how they think a certain event will take place and they get tunnel vision. They might then fail to see the event taking shape in a different way or other events taking place altogether.

This can take shape in different ways. One example is when people only plan for a bug out to a remote location. Having a bug out plan is a great idea. The vast majority of times, staying home and battening down is a much safer option. The second scenario takes place when people think “the event” will unfold in a certain, specific way. I have seen many people talk about society collapsing, saying there will be riots and marshal law. While this very well could happen, I doubt it will happen out of the blue. What about all of the events that led to this? Riots don’t happen out of the blue. There is always some event that sparks it. The spark is also important. Could it be a race riot sparked by a legal verdict? What about a food shortage or a pandemic? Not being prepared for the events leading up to “the collapse” could be just as dangerous as not being prepared for the collapse itself.

This is why I don’t recommend preparing for events. I recommend, instead, having a general state of preparedness. By having a general state of preparedness, you will be better prepared and can respond to different situations as they may come up. For example, let’s say someone lived in an urban setting and planned to bug out to their parent’s home an hour away. Since they planned to bug out, they kept a good portion of their preparations at their parent’s home. They kept a BOB, a couple firearms and a bit of long-term-storage food. What happens if there was a big enough event that they needed to bug out, but had broken a leg the week before and were in a cast? If things weren’t too bad, their parents might be able to come and get them. But if there were a pandemic, chemical accident, EMP or one of a host of other incidents that would make it dangerous or difficult for someone to come get them, they are left with minimal supplies.

This way of thinking doesn’t happen only with preparedness. Being open-minded and alert to all things might help keep us from being caught off guard. In fact, the Pharisees were rigid in their thoughts of what the savior would look like. So much so that they hung Him on a cross even after seeing so many miracles and other proofs first hand!

 
If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!

PreparednessClubOne

Filed Under: Mind Set

12 Tips to Use It Up, Wear It Out and Make It Do

July 19, 2013 by

This article was written by Gaye Levy and posted on Backdoor Survival.

12 Tips to Use It Up, Wear It Out and Make It Do

During the Great Depression, frugality was considered a virtue and the phrase “Use it up, Wear it out and Make it do” was the guiding principal in most households.

Times were tough which meant that everything from bits of strings to worn out clothing was saved and re-purposed in some other manner. Not only that but every last bit of food from a can or bottle was swished out with a bit of water and used to flavor a soup or stew. Printed chicken feed sacks became skirts and flour sacks became underwear. Nothing was wasted.

These days, most of us are too young to have lived through the Great Depression and yet, because we know that a second Great Depression could happen at any time, we strive to learn from the old ways and to embrace the time-honored frugal ways that were a way of life for our parents and grandparents.

 

MONEY MATTERS

As much as I would like to say that money does not matter, in the here and now, money is the currency of trade. It is required to buy food, put clothes on our backs, and to pay for the shelter of our homes. Plus, the last time I checked, you also need money to pay taxes (whether you get good value from those taxes or not).

Here on Backdoor Survival, I have written about family preparedness as a lifestyle as well as some of the choices you can make to insure that you and your loved ones live a good long time in good health and within a safe environment. From time to time I throw in an occasional essay or rant too – after all, we all need to get the angst off our chests once in a while.

But back to money matters.

Today I offer up a dozen old fashioned tips for conserving your hard earned cash so that you have a little extra left over for those extra preps as well as a few lifestyle treats that we all need every once in a while.

 

FRUGAL IS NOT A DIRTY WORD

 

1. If you already have it, use it

Think about it. Over the years you have accumulated lots of stuff. Some of it may be a bit shop worn and out of style, but the stuff is still serviceable. If it still works, use it.

Don’t give in to the bombardment of ads encouraging you to go out and purchase the latest model or the next best thing. If money is burning a hole in your pocket, use it for something you truly need – not something you merely want.

 

2. Shop for a bargain and get it cheaper

Research all of your major purchases and some of the minor ones, too. Check out the online reviews and also the recommendations of friends so that you can be an informed consumer. Ask the clerks at the store when the item of interest will go on sale. Believe it or not, you will sometimes be offered a discount on the spot. It happens.

 

3. Used can be just as good as new

Sometimes it makes good sense to buy used. Furniture can be purchased for a song on Craigslist or at garage sales and heck, you can often get some pretty good stuff for free.

Another area where you can save really big bucks is on clothing. Ebay is a gold mine for name brand clothing that is often new. Evening gowns, tuxedos, wedding wear and other dress-up items are especially cheap on eBay. On the other hand, be wary of used electronics since there is no substitute for hands on testing prior your purchase.

 

4. Learn to cook

Restaurant meals can be a rat hole for cash. So is your local, specialty coffee shop. That is not to say that you should avoid eating and drinking out completely, but make those occasions a special treat rather than something you do because you are too tired or too lazy took cook.

Can’t cook? Get yourself a basic cookbook and call a friend over to help get you started. Once you start eating home cooked food, you will be hooked on how delicious those vegetables and salads taste. Oh, and don’t forget about cakes and cookies. Homemade is always better than store bought. Remember grandma’s fresh baked chocolate chip cookies?

 

5. Become a fix-it guru

Before sending that broken appliance to the garbage heap and replacing it with something new, try to fix it yourself. There are many web sites (www.fixya.com, www.instructables.com) that offer lots of how-to’s for fixing everything from your Maglite to your laser printer to your espresso machine.

In addition, you can find service manuals for many products on line at the manufacturer’s web site. And lastly, try calling the customer service number. Many times the company will guide you through troubleshooting steps or even send you free parts. I have found that this works especially well with plumbing issues.

 

6. Make if yourself

You do not need a PhD in home economics or engineering to make your own cleaning supplies, build your own compost bin or construct a set of bookshelves. Using inexpensive supplies and some basic tools, you can create all sort of things.

The Instructables website mentioned above as well as YouTube are a haven for the both the novice and the not-so-notice do-it-yourselfer. Just be forewarned. Once you go to either site to look for something, you may find yourself browsing – and learning – for hours on end. It’s actually fun!

 

7. Move fashion to the bottom of the list

Choose function over fashion. This is difficult, I know. But think about the item you intend to purchase and how it is going to be used. A fancy, Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer may look great on your counter – gorgeous actually – but if you only cook the basics and don’t bake, a $15 hand mixer may be all that you need.

This same concept applies to lots of things: clothing, TVs, jewelry, you name it. Yes, this even applies to cars.

 

8. Do it yourself

Mow your own lawn, clean your own house, give yourself a manicure, wash your own dog. Now if you truly hate to do something, don’t do it if you can afford to hire it out. Or better yet, trade a chore you detest with a chore that someone else dislikes. You both get the job done without spending a dime.

Life is too short to be miserable. But for the most part, with a bit of time management, there are lots of things you can do yourself with just bit of effort. Not paying for services that you can perform yourself is a great way to save a lot of money.

 

9. Take advantage of freebies

Use public beaches, parks and trail systems for recreational activities. Use your public library. Go online and download geographically specific recreational guides and even preparedness manuals from your state and county web sites. None of these are technically free because your taxes have paid for them, but they are free in the sense you have no additional out of pocket costs.

Speaking of libraries, have you checked yours out lately? Most libraries now have a robust collection of eBooks, audio books, audio book players, music CDs, DVDs and more. If you don’t have a library with downloadable materials, they are many that will let you purchase an annual out-of-area card for as little as $15 per year.

 

10. Get out of debt

This is obvious. Sure, you may have a mortgage payment and possibly a car payment. But credit card debt? I hope not but if you happen to be saddled with credit card debt, come up with a one or two year plan to pay of the debt. Just be sure that you also toss all of your credit cards into a drawer, never to see daylight again unless there is a dire emergency.

The old mantra “use your credit card . . . it is the same as cash” simply does not work any more. It never did.

Go back over the tips listed above. Use what you have. Fix it if it is broken. Choose function over fashion. Now put that credit card back in your wallet! Better yet, hide it in the back of your dresser drawer.

 

11. Build an emergency cash fund

Stuff happens.

Your car has a mechanical breakdown and there is no other way to get to work or to town so you have to have it fixed. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cookie jar full of dollar bills so that you can pay for the repairs? In the old days, this was called a rainy day fund. These days, it is called an emergency fund.

Much like prepping, this is one thing you can do using baby steps. How about one meal a week of beans, rice, and a nice chunk of healthy bread (that you have made yourself)? This type of meal is extremely economical and you can put the money you save into your emergency fund. You will be surprised at how quickly $5 dollars a week adds up.

Equally important is that no matter what your age, by saving a small amount each week, you are building a lifetime habit – one that will serve you well for many years to come and hopefully one that you will pass on to your children.

 

12. Save for the special things in life

Now we get to the nitty gritty. Reward yourself for being a both smart and frugal. Come up with an occasional treat. Perhaps it is a shiny new pocket knife. Or perhaps a special meal out and movie. Or perhaps it is a weekend away at the ocean. For some, the special treat may be something a simple as a bouquet of flowers.

Life would be very boring if you did not reach out and do something extraordinary once in awhile. Go ahead. You have earned it.

 

THE FINAL WORD

Being frugal is not being cheap. And frugal is definitely not chintzy. Quite the contrary. Being frugal means that you have made a lifestyle choice to spend your money on the things you need, no more and no less. And with the extra, you have chosen to splurge and celebrate your frugal, thrifty and sustainable habits by doing something special and joyful.

So my recommendation? Go ahead and use it up, wear it out and make it do. And if you can not do that, do without.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

Filed Under: General Preparedness

What Would You Do with More $$$ – Micro-Businesses for Extra Streams of Income

July 17, 2013 by

This article was written by Todd Sepulveda and originally posted on Ed That Matters.
 

What Would You Do with More $$$ – Micro-Businesses for Extra Streams of Income

 
money Photo by 401k from Flickr

I really believe that as the economy continues to drag along towards an inevitable decline, that anything a prepper can do to shore up their income streams will be a valuable asset to their financial security. You can’t and shouldn’t depend on your day to day job! Yes, you should work hard, be an asset to your company, desire to move up, etc… But you should also think of other ways you could bring in income. You should, like so many other preppers have already done, consider a micro or small business to supplement your income.

What could you do with extra income? Would you pay down your debt, which would put you in a better position during an economic crisis? Would you buy more food or preps? Would you put away some money for a rainy day?

The fact is, you are probably doing something right now that others would consider valuable enough to pay money for. You are not looking to move from one boring job to another boring part-time or micro business. You want to do something that you are passionate about!

What do you do right now that you can translate into a micro-business? What skills or talents do you have? Don’t disregard anything! Think about what you do on a daily, weekly basis and write them down. You will come up with something.

Warning, when you are thinking about starting a micro or small business, you will find a lot of info. online. However, there are a lot of online gimmicks that will try to sell you on buying a “home-based business.” Don’t watch their videos, don’t send them any money, just stay away! They are all crap! Just start with something that is your passion and get it out there! Your hardest problem is going to get the message out there that you are selling a product or service.

The key to marketing a micro business is word of mouth. Do some work for free or at below cost and ask the customer to tell their friends and even write a testimonial for you. You can sell your items/services at craft shows or even put them on Craigslist, Etsy or Ebay. You might want to talk to a traditional brick and mortar store owner to see if they will put up some of your work on consignment.

You should probably have a website now-a-days. Many people will disagree with this, but I suggest getting a free one. You can get a free WordPress or Blogger website easily. If your business begins to take off, you can always purchase a domain and move it. You might want to spend the $15 to secure your domain name now though. But at least you won’t have to pay for hosting.

I’m not going to try and list a bunch of business ideas here. A quick search turned up a number of lists. Some of these lists are all online based. They might not transfer over to the Preparedness community. But it might be a start and enough to get the juices flowing. Here are a few lists:

One last thing and one of the reasons why I’m writing this article. If you have a micro or small business already, or you start one, I would like to invite you to list your business for FREE at Prepper Small Biz. PSB is a small business directory for preppers to support other preppers! It is also a place for customers to review and comment on your work, thus providing future customers valuable information.

I hope this article has inspired you to at least start thinking about your everyday activities as skills that you can use to further your income. The possibilities are limitless.

I wish you the best!

Peace,

Todd

Filed Under: Finance
«Previous Page
Next Page»