Don’t pressure yourself to spend money you don’t have

Don’t pressure yourself to spend money you don’t have
Don’t pressure yourself to spend money you don’t have on supplies. It is extremely important to get together a go bag and start storing food and other supplies as soon as possible; but not by hurting yourself to do it, be realistic. Make preparedness part of your monthly budget and stick to it. When you purchase items take the time to find the best value helping you to stretch every dollar.

Know what is going on where you live

Know what is going on where you live
Know what is going on where you live. What kind of possible dangers are lurking near you and you’re community like fires, violent weather, flooding, tornadoes, earthquake, etc. Put a plan in place in case you have to evacuate; keep all important documents in one secure location have bags or boxes on hand, consider evacuating prior to it being mandatory. If you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance that you need to evacuate you have the essentials ready to go and leave post haste.

Make a place to stay ahead of time

Make a place to stay ahead of time

When disaster strikes do you know where you’re going?

Pre plan for a place or places to stay before you need one; relatives, friends, or a place you have pre set up. Public Shelters should be a last resort. Prepare your home or shelter to house others if in their time of need, remember that cot, sofa or tent in the company of someone they know is better than any shelter.

Self Storages used in an interesting way.

Self Storages used in an interesting way.

It is always great to think out side the box...Matt certainly has, check out this idea he talks about.

Whether the worst is a tornado, flood, or earthquake you should always be ready for anything. What do I mean exactly? Basically, what I’m suggesting is to have a plan; have the appropriate steps in place to ensure that you make it through any of these dangerous situations.
The basis to any survival plan starts with having a safe, secure location to retreat to. If you have access, a basement is probably your best bet, but if you don’t then you need to find an alternative solution. An underground bunker, an attic, or even a ‘Panic Room’ are good choices, but how about considering a self-storage unit? Think that’s a crazy idea? Let me explain.
If you really stop and think about it, self-storage facilities are the ideal safe haven. They have locations all across the country; they are extremely well built, and depending on what size you get, can easily fit five to seven people. In addition, they usually have high-tech security systems in place and if you so choose, you can even get units that are climate controlled – you may be coming here after you lose power in your home so this amenity could be quite appealing.
Imagine all of the things you could store here that would come in handy during these emergency situations: candles, matches, batteries, and weapons are just a few examples; of course food and water should obviously be your number one priority. Also remember that weapons can be a bit of a wild card, specifically guns/rifles – make sure you ask your facility manager if you are allowed to store fire arms in the unit before putting them in there.
Even though renting a storage unit is an added expense, in the end I think it will be worth it. Do a little research before you make your decision to guarantee that you find the best deal available, but also keep in mind location (i.e. proximity to where you live). You may get a better deal on a unit that’s across town but it won’t be worth it to rent a unit you can’t get to when the time comes.
You may also want to keep this information between you and your family. The last thing you want is for other people coming to your unit in their time of need just because they weren’t prepared. By all means help out whoever you can, but keep in mind people’s dark side comes out when push comes to shove.
It should be noted too that because these facilities are an untapped resource (at least at this point), they may be one of the first places ransacked when things hit the fan. Because of shows like Storage Wars, people are now aware of the endless possibilities of items that could be found in a storage unit, anything from mattresses and clothes to food and water. Keep this is mind when heading to your unit and always be on your guard.
I want to end by stressing that I don’t believe this will be the best option for everyone, but it is an option to consider. Most people haven’t thought of using storage units for this purpose and so I felt I could enlighten them. Whatever you decide to do, take the time to consider your options and of course, stay safe.

Preparedness food for thought

Preparedness

I always say remember the time to learn your lesson about personal security, self defense and preparedness is before something happens. Well I would to give you some food for thought.

Let’s say you recently planted young tree, you have nurtured it made sure it has enough food, water, and planted in a position that it receives enough sun all to help it grow healthy and strong. Those are necessary for the tree to thrive. What else would you do?

Did you say stake it? I think that would be perfect! Why would you stake it?

Well I say you would stake the tree it to prepare it for the possibility of weather events that might harm it. Yes prepare! You take the time to place stakes and strap it so it doesn't break or fall from the weather events like high winds, saturating rains, etc.

If you’re willing to invest that kind of preparation for a tree how much more should you take for your family or yourself?

Remember the time to learn your lesson about personal security, self defense and preparedness is before something happens.

Why Preparing is Essential – Economic Collapse

I found this information very insightful.

Many Preppers believe that the most likely reason they will be using their stored goods will be a natural disaster. It may happen. But let me tell you what I believe is the most likely purpose those goods will need to be used; widespread financial crisis.

The food that preppers have stored will be used in lieu of weekly purchased store-bought food, not because the food at the store is not available, but because it is too expensive. It will be used on an ongoing, regular basis (and not in response to a specific event like a natural disaster), while others financially struggle to buy food because they don't have stored goods. Preppers will start using a piece of rope to hang clothes to dry, instead of paying increased electric bills from an electric clothes dryer. Self-defense items will be employed by preppers to defend their goods they had the foresight to store, instead of defending oneself. The bad guy those self-defense items will be used against will not be the usual criminal-type, but one of the many people who did not prepare for the future state of the economy. (As an aside, I think the secure garden will prove to be the best prepper investment of them all.).

Just like the USA and the former USSR, the rest of the world learned that economic conditions proved more important than how many nuclear warheads each had. In the future, preppers and non-preppers will learn that our personal wealth and how we used it will be the critical factor in a person’s quality of life on a personal level.

Why do I say this? It is because it looks like there is no way out of our current economic malaise and our long-term problem -- our staggering national debt. We simply do not have the political will to do what is necessary, never mind be able to agree on what plan to implement, to save ourselves from the coming economic pain. Recent events indicate that the national debt will increase even more rapidly.

Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, recently announced a new quantitative easing plan, known as QE3, coming after QE1 and QE2. QE3 plans to purchase 40 billion a month in mortgage-backed securities, in addition to continuing what has become known as operation twist. This will continue to increase the money supply. However, commentators debate the amount of inflation now, and how much will come in the future. The government says there is hardly any inflation, but as any grocery shopper will tell you, items, especially food, are costing more. Regardless of what the official government numbers and economists say about the extent of inflation, you can count on food prices to soar in the future as the Federal Reserve carries out its latest plan.

With regard to employment, this dichotomy between government's official numbers, and what people really experience, continues. For instance, the “unemployment rate” the government concedes, is still high, but is down from early 2009. Before you rely on this and think things have really improved, realize that even the numbers show more people have left the job force in the past few years than in a long while. We now have a job force the size it was 40 years ago. That means the numbers show many people have simply given up trying to find a job. But no matter how you interpret or spin the unemployment numbers, what anyone recently laid off or successful in finding a job can tell you, the jobs aren’t what they used to be.

Yes, you may be able to find one, but it will not come with the same pay, benefits, or stability provided in prior job markets. “McJobs”, as some have termed these new opportunities, are the norm. Will good jobs ever return? In the face of two major forces: 1) automation; and 2) outsourcing (companies moving to Mexico or who knows where), there is no reason to think current trends are going to change. So, whether you were able to find a new job or not, the overall theme is a lack of real wages. Real wages have been stagnant since 1973. This is one official number that does seem to jive with the reality people have experienced.

With inflation poised to rise, and unemployment (real wages,which at best are treading water) the overall economy and the growth rate will be dragged down. For everyday folks, this means a continuing grind to get by. As the paycheck shrinks from lower real wages, and the value of the paycheck decreases from inflation, the budget will get tighter and tighter. Prepare for the chronic economic struggle that will lead to preppers employing their skills and goods unto everyday living.

Planning Menus and Preparing Food from Scratch for Health and Savings

We all know that planning menus and preparing food from scratch is the best way to frugally feed a family. Stocking your pantry, refrigerator and freezer allow you to have the things on hand that you need to prepare healthy and delicious meals. These are the basics that every pantry, refrigerator and freezer should have, but customize your list to items that you like and will use.

PANTRY

BAKING
Baking powder
Cornstarch
Flour-Wheat and White
Sugar-granulated, powdered and brown
Chocolate-Cocoa, semi-sweet, chocolate chips
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Shortening
Corn Syrup
Molasses

CANNED FOODS
Beans-Black, pork and beans, kidney, garbanzo, white
Broth-Beef, chicken
Fruit-Fruit cocktail, peaches, pears
Meat-Beef, chicken, tuna, salmon
Soups-Cream of chicken, Mushroom, Tomato, Vegetable Beef, Chicken Noodle
Tomatoes and Tomato Sauce
Vegetables-Corn, green beans, mushrooms

CONDIMENTS
Gelatin
Maple Syrup
Vinegar-Balsamic, white, apple cider
Honey
Peanut Butter

DRIED FOODS
Dried Beans-black, pinto, red, white
Dried Fruits-raisins, craisins, miscellaneous

GRAINS/PASTA
Spaghetti
Egg Noodles
Oatmeal-Quick Rolled Oats
Rice-White, brown, wild
Whole Grain Cereals-Ready to eat
Split Peas
Lasagna Noodles

HERBS/SPICES/EXTRACTS
Basil leaves
Cilantro
Cumin powder
Dill weed
Onion powder
Pepper
Rosemary
Salt
Chili Powder
Coriander
Curry powder
Garlic Powder
Oregano
Poppy Seeds
Sage
Thyme
Cinnamon
Cloves
Ground Allspice
Ground Ginger
Ground Cardamon
Ground Nutmeg
Almond Extract
Vanilla Extract

OILS
Olive Oil-Food Preparation
Non-stick Vegetable Oil Spray
Safflower or peanut oil-for high temperature cooking

REFRIGERATOR

CONDIMENTS
Ketchup
Mustard-Regular and Dijon
Salad Dressings
Soy Sauce
Worcestershire Sauce
Mayonnaise
Pickles-Dill, sweet, relish
Salsa
Teriyaki Sauce

DAIRY
Cheese-Cottage, cream, mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan
Butter, margarine
Milk
Yogurt
Eggs
Sour Cream
Cream Cheese

FRESH FRUIT
Apples
Lemons
Avocados
Oranges

FRESH VEGETABLES
Lettuce
Carrots
Garlic
Peppers-green, red
Sweet Potatoes
Celery
Onions
Potatoes
Tomatoes

FREEZER

JUICE
Apple
Orange
Grape

FROZEN VEGETABLES
Peas
Beans
Broccoli
Mixed Vegetables

MEAT
Beef-Ground beef, roast, steak
Fish-Cod, Tilapia, Salmon
Poultry-Chicken, Turkey
Pork-Pork Chops, roast, Canadian Bacon
Shellfish-shrimp, scallops, imitation crab