Preppernomics: How to Survive While the Dollar Dies
Jan 4, 2015 7:30:39 GMT 10
remnantprep, Peter, and 4 more like this
Post by Matilda on Jan 4, 2015 7:30:39 GMT 10
Are Australians ready for another financial collapse? As a relatively new prepper, it can seem overwhelming at times! That feeling does pass once you realise that you are preparing to help those you hold dear thru difficult times whether it is bushfires, floods or storms and even unemployment or sickness or a worldwide financial (etc) event. So many questions flood my mind and I often try to remember my Mum and Dads stories of the depression and what got them thru it. Whatever bought you to this point, I arrived at mine through suddenly recognising that I was living in what the Bible describes as 'the end times'. I was once challenged by some dear Bible teachers to 'never take your eyes off Israel because you will see the condition of the world when you look to Israel'. No truer words were given me.
The persercusion of both the Jew and Christian is ramping up. No-one can deny that. Where supposedly Christian nations (blessed mightily by God) are now turning their backs on Israel and Christians, we will see a shift away from freedom, truth and democracy - those pillars that stand out in Christian nations - to socialism/communism. Neighbours will turn against neighbour and child against parent etc. We are being conditioned to 'dob in a mate' something that is so alien to Aussies. Australia has never experienced race, gender or class wars like we have in the last 7 years or so.
We have seen the rise and rise of the political correct classes via social media. Once you are their target - be it an individual or a business, a sportsperson, or a politician, these attacks are so vicious and hateful that they destroy lives, families, businesses and perhaps in the future, countries. Joseph Stalin used a similar technique and he called those that did his bidding his 'useful idiots'. Those the PC class use as their 'bootlickers'. Hitler had his 'Aryan race'. Russia today has its oligarch's and I believe the USA has come full circle in 100 years and has become an oligarchy again.
But how ever hard it is to watch these things happening around the world, my faith remains rock solid and I am blessed that my eyes were opened to the world of prepping. I'm not surprised that many on this board have identified themselves with Christ. We know we are in for one tough time! I handed my life over to Christ many years ago and I find Him directing our prepping life today.
Although I listen to the news nightly, I find it very untrustworthy, bordering on propaganda. I visit many prepping sites to glean useful information on many subjects, especially on food storage etc. and I like to check out what is happening in Israel and match that up with other news around the world. I like to be informed, not by the media in Australia, but by a few sites that are trustworthy and have proven record of reporting the truth. There would be just one or two journos that I trust in Australia, one being Hedley Thomas, who research their stories thoroughly before they print it. I believe in the next couple of years, these journos will either be silenced or the public will seek out their articles as honest and truthful and to be relied upon. In the meantime we continue to prep. and every day it brings a new urgency. I thought the following article by Daisy Luther - Organic Prepper very timely.
How can you prep to weather this economic disaster? www.theorganicprepper.ca/how-to-survive-a-personal-economic-collapse-11252013
If you’re here, reading this, it’s probably because you are of a preparedness mindset. You are ready for all sorts of disasters: huge storms, earthquakes, civil unrest, small personal SHTF moments like a hiking trip gone bad.
But are you prepared for the one thing that is the most likely event to affect your family? Are you ready for an economic collapse on a grand scale?
Prepping for an economic disaster bears some similarity to prepping for other types of disasters. The main difference is figuring out how to make ends meet while making less and spending more. It’s time for a crash course in “Preppernomics”.
The answer to weathering the economic collapse is to make some radical changes to your lifestyle.
If you are in a position where all is well right now, you are one step ahead. Heed the following and make adjustments to allow yourself to be prepared in the event that your personal finances take a hit.
If you are already suffering from the financial downturn, then look at the following suggestions and see what changes you can make.
The key to economic survival is requiring less of things that cost money.
First, you have to take a stark look at what necessities really are. It is not necessary to life to have an iPhone, a vehicle in both stalls of your two-car garage, or for your children to all have separate bedrooms. People in Southern and Eastern Europe right now will tell you, as they scramble for food, basic over the counter medications like aspirin, and shelter, that necessities are those things essential to life:
Water
Food (and the ability to cook it)
Medicine and medical supplies
Basic hygiene supplies
Shelter (including sanitation, lights, heat)
Simple tools
Seeds
Defense Items
Absolutely everything above those basic necessities is a luxury.
So, by this definition, what luxuries do you have?
Some are more important than others, based on your lifestyle and might be considered secondary necessities. You might require transportation, work clothing, a computer and an internet connection, electrical appliances, a cell phone – you are the only person who can define which are these are luxuries and which are secondary necessities. It’s essential to be truly honest with yourself and separate “wants” and “I really enjoy having this” and “the kids will complain without it” from “needs”.
You may have to make some brutal cuts.
What can you change about your life? Where can you reduce expenditures by several hundred dollars monthly? This is the point at which most people say, “I can’t.” Most people don’t want to move to a smaller house, get an old car, or go without premium cable. But this is where you can truly dig in and create a lifestyle to survive an economic mayhem scenario.
Everyone’s situation is different. You may be locked into a mortgage on a huge house in a market that won’t even cover the balance of what you owe. It could be the same with your vehicle. Explore all of your options, though, because paying a few thousand dollars to get out from under it could be worthwhile. Some people could have reached the point where they must begin to default on payments. That, too, is a personal choice. I’m not recommending that you blow off your obligations. (However, do consider the fact that large banks get bailed out by the government, and everyday people do not.) Before making decisions like that, be sure to discover all of the potential ramifications, such as repossessions, garnishing of bank accounts, and ruined credit.
Here are some cuts to consider:
Move to a smaller house. Contrary to popular belief, no child ever died because he or she had to share a room with a sibling.
Relocate to a small town. Is it worthwhile to commute to a job in the city from a smaller, less expensive location? This can give you the added opportunity of homesteading and providing for many of your own needs.
Get rid of your late model year vehicle. Look for a decent used vehicle that you can purchase with cash.
Cut back to one vehicle or even no vehicles. Sometimes public transit and your own two feet can provide all of the transportation you really need at a fraction of the price of owning a vehicle. This varies by location.
Stop using credit cards. This goes for any type of lending system that requires you to pay interest. Stop accumulating debt.
Pay off debt. If you are already deep in debt, you need to try to pay it off. The fewer bills you have when things go sideways, the better off you will be.
Don’t eat out. Limit meals out to no more than once a month or special occasions. Even better, don’t eat out at all. Dining out, even at a fast food place, is at minimum 4 times more expensive than the same meal prepared from scratch at home. (And far less healthy!)
Look for free or low-cost entertainment. Consider a family YMCA or community center membership instead of gymnastics clubs or private tennis lessons if you need to enroll your kids in some activities. Go hiking, have picnics, explore parks, go to the library, and find out what’s offered for free in your home town. Learn to enjoy productive hobbies like canning, carving and needlework.
Use the envelope method to budget for shopping trips. For back-to-school shopping or Christmas shopping, decide how much you want to spend. Put that money in an envelope. As you shop, place each receipt in the envelope. When the money is gone, it’s gone. If there’s something else your child desperately wants, then they need to decide what item they’d like to take back to get it. Be firm and stick to your guns. This has the added benefit of teaching your children to budget.
Reduce your monthly payments by cutting things like cable, cell phones, home phones, and/or gym memberships. Look at every single monthly payment that comes out of your bank account and slash relentlessly.
Shop using the stockpile method. Shop only the sales and simply replenish your stockpile. (Learn to build a one year food supply in 3 short months!)
Eat leftovers. Have you ever stopped to think about how much food you throw out every month? You can often provide a few “freebies” every month by carefully repurposing your leftovers.
Stay home. By spending more time at home, you will spend less money. You won’t be grabbing a bottle of water, going through drive-thru for lunch or putting fuel in the car. Learn to treasure you time at home with loved ones – it’s worth more than money.
Learn to provide for many of your necessities alone. Grow food, join a co-op, raise chickens and rabbits. Even a small salad garden in a kitchen window can help you to offset high food prices. Learn to sew, mend, repair, preserve, and build. Decrease your dependence on consumer goods and services. Embrace your frugal side and opt to be cheap by choice.
Reduce your dependence on the power grid. Use rain barrels to collect water, direct the gray water from your washing machines to reservoirs, hang your clothes to dry, and use solar lighting whenever possible. The less you depend on public utilities, the lower your bills will be, which could mean the difference between having some services or being totally without them.
Find other ways to stay warm. This can be difficult if you rent but it can still be done. Consider making modifications to allow for the use of portable wood heaters, look into different types of camping heaters and make your plans and purchase your supplies well before you need them. Learn how to safely store fuel for these secondary devices. Invest in battery operated C0 monitors (and extra batteries). Get sleeping bags with a warmth rating for low temperatures, consider a small tent where you and family members can sleep in your living room to pool body heat, and stock up on cold weather clothing like hats, fingerless gloves, long underwear and heavy sweaters. Find ways to insulate and separate one main living area off from the rest of the house by closing doors, hanging curtains in doorways, etc.
Watch the prices of your utilities. As the prices begin to rise, more and more people will be unable to pay their bills and eventually their power will be shut off. Check your bill each month and as prices increase, use less power. Redefine necessities. You can hand wash your clothing, cook on a woodstove or outdoor grill and can foods to preserve them instead of relying on a large chest freezer. None of these are the way things are commonly done these days, but if you can manage to keep power on for the most basic necessities, like running the pump for your well, running a refrigerator, and maybe powering up a laptop, you’ll be living in luxury in comparison to those who have no power, no heat and no running water.
Prep, prep and then prep some more. The end of the Australian way of life is upon us. If you’re new to the idea of prepping, check out some sites like Ready Nutrition (especially the 52 Weeks to Preparedness Series), Survival Blog, Graywolf Survival, Survival at Home, Survivehive, Prepper Website, Lew Rockwell, and SHTFplan. The clock is ticking, so buy as much as you can, while you can. Despite what many veteran preppers may tell you, it’s NOT too late!
Build a preparedness library. While free information from websites is great, if there is a point in the future that you can’t access the internet (or your computer) hard copies of useful books will be vital. Here are some links.
The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster
The Organic Canner
The Pantry Primer: How to Build a One Year Food Supply in Three Months
Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When Youre on Your Own
Life without Refrigeration
The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 40th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual of Living Off the Land & Doing It Yourself
The Forgotten Skills of Self-Sufficiency Used by the Mormon Pioneers
The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
The persercusion of both the Jew and Christian is ramping up. No-one can deny that. Where supposedly Christian nations (blessed mightily by God) are now turning their backs on Israel and Christians, we will see a shift away from freedom, truth and democracy - those pillars that stand out in Christian nations - to socialism/communism. Neighbours will turn against neighbour and child against parent etc. We are being conditioned to 'dob in a mate' something that is so alien to Aussies. Australia has never experienced race, gender or class wars like we have in the last 7 years or so.
We have seen the rise and rise of the political correct classes via social media. Once you are their target - be it an individual or a business, a sportsperson, or a politician, these attacks are so vicious and hateful that they destroy lives, families, businesses and perhaps in the future, countries. Joseph Stalin used a similar technique and he called those that did his bidding his 'useful idiots'. Those the PC class use as their 'bootlickers'. Hitler had his 'Aryan race'. Russia today has its oligarch's and I believe the USA has come full circle in 100 years and has become an oligarchy again.
But how ever hard it is to watch these things happening around the world, my faith remains rock solid and I am blessed that my eyes were opened to the world of prepping. I'm not surprised that many on this board have identified themselves with Christ. We know we are in for one tough time! I handed my life over to Christ many years ago and I find Him directing our prepping life today.
Although I listen to the news nightly, I find it very untrustworthy, bordering on propaganda. I visit many prepping sites to glean useful information on many subjects, especially on food storage etc. and I like to check out what is happening in Israel and match that up with other news around the world. I like to be informed, not by the media in Australia, but by a few sites that are trustworthy and have proven record of reporting the truth. There would be just one or two journos that I trust in Australia, one being Hedley Thomas, who research their stories thoroughly before they print it. I believe in the next couple of years, these journos will either be silenced or the public will seek out their articles as honest and truthful and to be relied upon. In the meantime we continue to prep. and every day it brings a new urgency. I thought the following article by Daisy Luther - Organic Prepper very timely.
How can you prep to weather this economic disaster? www.theorganicprepper.ca/how-to-survive-a-personal-economic-collapse-11252013
If you’re here, reading this, it’s probably because you are of a preparedness mindset. You are ready for all sorts of disasters: huge storms, earthquakes, civil unrest, small personal SHTF moments like a hiking trip gone bad.
But are you prepared for the one thing that is the most likely event to affect your family? Are you ready for an economic collapse on a grand scale?
Prepping for an economic disaster bears some similarity to prepping for other types of disasters. The main difference is figuring out how to make ends meet while making less and spending more. It’s time for a crash course in “Preppernomics”.
The answer to weathering the economic collapse is to make some radical changes to your lifestyle.
If you are in a position where all is well right now, you are one step ahead. Heed the following and make adjustments to allow yourself to be prepared in the event that your personal finances take a hit.
If you are already suffering from the financial downturn, then look at the following suggestions and see what changes you can make.
The key to economic survival is requiring less of things that cost money.
First, you have to take a stark look at what necessities really are. It is not necessary to life to have an iPhone, a vehicle in both stalls of your two-car garage, or for your children to all have separate bedrooms. People in Southern and Eastern Europe right now will tell you, as they scramble for food, basic over the counter medications like aspirin, and shelter, that necessities are those things essential to life:
Water
Food (and the ability to cook it)
Medicine and medical supplies
Basic hygiene supplies
Shelter (including sanitation, lights, heat)
Simple tools
Seeds
Defense Items
Absolutely everything above those basic necessities is a luxury.
So, by this definition, what luxuries do you have?
Some are more important than others, based on your lifestyle and might be considered secondary necessities. You might require transportation, work clothing, a computer and an internet connection, electrical appliances, a cell phone – you are the only person who can define which are these are luxuries and which are secondary necessities. It’s essential to be truly honest with yourself and separate “wants” and “I really enjoy having this” and “the kids will complain without it” from “needs”.
You may have to make some brutal cuts.
What can you change about your life? Where can you reduce expenditures by several hundred dollars monthly? This is the point at which most people say, “I can’t.” Most people don’t want to move to a smaller house, get an old car, or go without premium cable. But this is where you can truly dig in and create a lifestyle to survive an economic mayhem scenario.
Everyone’s situation is different. You may be locked into a mortgage on a huge house in a market that won’t even cover the balance of what you owe. It could be the same with your vehicle. Explore all of your options, though, because paying a few thousand dollars to get out from under it could be worthwhile. Some people could have reached the point where they must begin to default on payments. That, too, is a personal choice. I’m not recommending that you blow off your obligations. (However, do consider the fact that large banks get bailed out by the government, and everyday people do not.) Before making decisions like that, be sure to discover all of the potential ramifications, such as repossessions, garnishing of bank accounts, and ruined credit.
Here are some cuts to consider:
Move to a smaller house. Contrary to popular belief, no child ever died because he or she had to share a room with a sibling.
Relocate to a small town. Is it worthwhile to commute to a job in the city from a smaller, less expensive location? This can give you the added opportunity of homesteading and providing for many of your own needs.
Get rid of your late model year vehicle. Look for a decent used vehicle that you can purchase with cash.
Cut back to one vehicle or even no vehicles. Sometimes public transit and your own two feet can provide all of the transportation you really need at a fraction of the price of owning a vehicle. This varies by location.
Stop using credit cards. This goes for any type of lending system that requires you to pay interest. Stop accumulating debt.
Pay off debt. If you are already deep in debt, you need to try to pay it off. The fewer bills you have when things go sideways, the better off you will be.
Don’t eat out. Limit meals out to no more than once a month or special occasions. Even better, don’t eat out at all. Dining out, even at a fast food place, is at minimum 4 times more expensive than the same meal prepared from scratch at home. (And far less healthy!)
Look for free or low-cost entertainment. Consider a family YMCA or community center membership instead of gymnastics clubs or private tennis lessons if you need to enroll your kids in some activities. Go hiking, have picnics, explore parks, go to the library, and find out what’s offered for free in your home town. Learn to enjoy productive hobbies like canning, carving and needlework.
Use the envelope method to budget for shopping trips. For back-to-school shopping or Christmas shopping, decide how much you want to spend. Put that money in an envelope. As you shop, place each receipt in the envelope. When the money is gone, it’s gone. If there’s something else your child desperately wants, then they need to decide what item they’d like to take back to get it. Be firm and stick to your guns. This has the added benefit of teaching your children to budget.
Reduce your monthly payments by cutting things like cable, cell phones, home phones, and/or gym memberships. Look at every single monthly payment that comes out of your bank account and slash relentlessly.
Shop using the stockpile method. Shop only the sales and simply replenish your stockpile. (Learn to build a one year food supply in 3 short months!)
Eat leftovers. Have you ever stopped to think about how much food you throw out every month? You can often provide a few “freebies” every month by carefully repurposing your leftovers.
Stay home. By spending more time at home, you will spend less money. You won’t be grabbing a bottle of water, going through drive-thru for lunch or putting fuel in the car. Learn to treasure you time at home with loved ones – it’s worth more than money.
Learn to provide for many of your necessities alone. Grow food, join a co-op, raise chickens and rabbits. Even a small salad garden in a kitchen window can help you to offset high food prices. Learn to sew, mend, repair, preserve, and build. Decrease your dependence on consumer goods and services. Embrace your frugal side and opt to be cheap by choice.
Reduce your dependence on the power grid. Use rain barrels to collect water, direct the gray water from your washing machines to reservoirs, hang your clothes to dry, and use solar lighting whenever possible. The less you depend on public utilities, the lower your bills will be, which could mean the difference between having some services or being totally without them.
Find other ways to stay warm. This can be difficult if you rent but it can still be done. Consider making modifications to allow for the use of portable wood heaters, look into different types of camping heaters and make your plans and purchase your supplies well before you need them. Learn how to safely store fuel for these secondary devices. Invest in battery operated C0 monitors (and extra batteries). Get sleeping bags with a warmth rating for low temperatures, consider a small tent where you and family members can sleep in your living room to pool body heat, and stock up on cold weather clothing like hats, fingerless gloves, long underwear and heavy sweaters. Find ways to insulate and separate one main living area off from the rest of the house by closing doors, hanging curtains in doorways, etc.
Watch the prices of your utilities. As the prices begin to rise, more and more people will be unable to pay their bills and eventually their power will be shut off. Check your bill each month and as prices increase, use less power. Redefine necessities. You can hand wash your clothing, cook on a woodstove or outdoor grill and can foods to preserve them instead of relying on a large chest freezer. None of these are the way things are commonly done these days, but if you can manage to keep power on for the most basic necessities, like running the pump for your well, running a refrigerator, and maybe powering up a laptop, you’ll be living in luxury in comparison to those who have no power, no heat and no running water.
Prep, prep and then prep some more. The end of the Australian way of life is upon us. If you’re new to the idea of prepping, check out some sites like Ready Nutrition (especially the 52 Weeks to Preparedness Series), Survival Blog, Graywolf Survival, Survival at Home, Survivehive, Prepper Website, Lew Rockwell, and SHTFplan. The clock is ticking, so buy as much as you can, while you can. Despite what many veteran preppers may tell you, it’s NOT too late!
Build a preparedness library. While free information from websites is great, if there is a point in the future that you can’t access the internet (or your computer) hard copies of useful books will be vital. Here are some links.
The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster
The Organic Canner
The Pantry Primer: How to Build a One Year Food Supply in Three Months
Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When Youre on Your Own
Life without Refrigeration
The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 40th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual of Living Off the Land & Doing It Yourself
The Forgotten Skills of Self-Sufficiency Used by the Mormon Pioneers
The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
