emergency preparations

[cx3]

Been a while since my last post.Was having issues I shared briefly on the family forum.Ironically,problems at home have gotten somewhat better since my job loss a few months ago.

I have been posting for years(since 06 or 07 on old boards) about how bad the economy is getting.My family is in full emergency preparation mode at this time.For us, all money received is used to pay bills with the rest going directly to purchasing self-sustaining supplies while the dollar still has value.I'm preparing for the dollar dropping in value, interrupted utilities, among other things.

QE3(to infinity and beyond),trouble in the middle east(Israel,I think,is serious this time),trouble between Japan and China,possible riots after Nov. elections.Things are positioned to get very serious very quickly.

I've just given my G rated version of what I think is in store.I'm not advocating anything to anyone here,just letting you know what I'm doing.We all have to choose the best path for ourselves and families.I'm posting this because I care about the people on these boards.If you read this and only decide to buy some extra batteries for your flashlight,well,atleast thats something.

[decemberlov]

cx3 - We have somewhat the same thoughts as my husband has been buying and stockpiling gold and silver for awhile now. I've also been thinking about stockpiling food and some supplies as well, although I haven't really started yet.

I do find myself thinking, well maybe I'm just being paranoid...but hey maybe not? I guess better safe than sorry, right?

Would you mind sharing in some more detail some of the things you are doing?

I did recently read this article which I thought was rather interesting: http://thesurvivalmom.com/2009/12/30/what-is-money-when-the-system-collapses/

[cx3]

Would you mind sharing in some more detail some of the things you are doing?

I did recently read this article which I thought was rather interesting: http://thesurvivalmom.com/2009/12/30/what-is-money-when-the-system-collapses/

What am I doing? We all have different situations,so there certainly is no one plan fits all.I,for example, have 18 acres,lower income bracket,and a special needs child.
Since I live on 18 acres,food and water storage is not as high a priority for us as it would be for others.We have a garden and an abundance of deer and fish.I'm trying to fill all voids with something.As time and money allow,improve on what I already have.Our budget only allows us about $300 extra per month for preps.
My mother has a food saver.With than in mind,we recently purchased the mason jar lid attachment.Now,we share the Foodsaver.Cheaper than buying our own Foodsaver unit.
Wife wanted old wooden swingset tore down.So,I'm in the process of converting it to a rabbit hutch.
You mentioned gold.I'm way too poor for gold.Would be nice though.
My sp. needs child has to have steroids to live.He would die in about 3 weeks or less without his medication.We have about six months of meds stored for him(could probably make that last longer in emergency).
I try to get atleast some of my news and information from sources that are not mainstream media.You mentioned survivalmom.That is one site I discovered recently.

[decemberlov]

As far as the gold and silver goes we just do a little at a time, even if it's just $75 or $100 a month. It all adds up.
We have children as well and luckily both are fairly healthy but the little one does have mild asthma and that should be something to think about as far as meds.
I'm guessing that there is an expiration date on the steroids...do you just dip into the supply and use the oldest first to ensure what your saving doesn't actually go to waste?
Most of what I have been thinking about is food. As stated in the article I posted "You can't eat your gold" ;)

[catherine]

As stated in the article I posted "You can't eat your gold" ;)

That's why I don't fully understand the fascination with spending large sums of money on jewelry. Never did. Never wanted a big engagement ring, never saw the point in expensive jewelry, for exactly that reason. I never saw any inherent value to a rock that's not much more than a fancy piece of coal. You can't eat it. You can't even burn it for fuel anymore!

I started to see the light a LITTLE bit when I saw a news magazine show on how Indian women are given lots of gold from family/husband etc--reason being, you're wearing something beautiful, but more than that, it also represents a financial asset.

I won $1500 at the slot machine in CT on my birthday last year, and I just haven't done anything with it yet. When I saw that news piece on TV, I thought, maybe I'll buy myself a nice piece of jewelry, rather than put it in the bank.

[bae]

My emergency preparations for the long-haul are mostly directed at developing community, and sustainability and resiliency within that community.

For short-term events, I have the usual recommended supplies, more-or-less :-)

[Mighty Frugal]

I agree with bae-if you don't have your 'community' on board then what is to stop them from raiding your stockpile?

I am fascinated with emergency preparedness but if it goes 'that' extreme then please count me with the dead:~) no 'Mad Max' for me...no 'gasoline' for me!

I need rules and order. If anarchy reigns supreme then we're all in a heap of trouble!

But, for something like the blackout in 2003 or an ice storm or even another great depression, you can count me in!!!

Thanks for that link-I've bookmarked it. I now want to buy UMF Manuka honey-I'm a sucker and easily influenced;)

For my family, I am making up a first aid kit with back ups. I've included all the standard first aid stock but also bought a small eye wash kit and am buying essential oils that will help us. I keep some American and Canadian currency-small bills, as well as access to some precious medals

If there is a good sale on canned goods I stock up. I keep harping to my dh to buy a filer kit for water-we do a lot of back country camping so we should have our own (rather than just take from the communal water)

If disaster strikes I just hope we have enough time and gasoline to get to my parents home. They have a fair size veggie garden, fruit trees, water, fire arms, a bit of livestock, wood burning stove, and their house is big enough for all of us. They live about 40 minutes away.

If we can't get there we can stay home and hopefully work with our neighbours (we are a small community within a big city)

[bae]

I agree with bae-if you don't have your 'community' on board then what is to stop them from raiding your stockpile?

Well, my "stockpile" includes a selection of belt-fed weapons, mostly because I like to tinker with interesting historical mechanical objects, but who knows, could come in handy if space aliens invade or something...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RqEjrZC_Iu8/TpXSKPDENeI/AAAAAAAAEJs/n1fbsChPKzU/s640/M1919.jpg




I need rules and order. If anarchy reigns supreme then we're all in a heap of trouble!


I've recommended this book here before. People seem to quite often pull together in disasters, and not go all Mad Max on each other:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FVgrndWLL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

[ApatheticNoMore]

I now want to buy UMF Manuka honey-I'm a sucker and easily influenced

It's an interesting substance, that $30 honey :). Very medicinal smell, I'm like wait something is wrong, does it smell of it's plastic container or what? But then I realized it's the actual medicinal smell of the honey itself. It is good tasting though, some of the tastiest honey out there. No I have no real idea why I bought it, I think to spoon in my mouth :~) Perhaps some vague beliefs in it having "health benefits".

[flowerseverywhere]

Bae, thanks for posting that book. I read it the last time you recommended it and it was indeed a good read but I couldn't remember the name to post here.

The moving van will be here next week so for the last two months that we have known we are moving we have eaten down a lot of the pantry, emptied the freezer and fridge and have spent very little on food since I have a nice garden. I am moving to a longer growing season so I plan to always have some fresh veggies in the garden, plus I'll be living near the farms. It is a little scary to have so little on hand. at least when I move south I won't be in danger of freezing to death or having frozen pipes, the worst fear we have here in the winter.

But I always have flashlights, a solar radio, a solar sun oven (which can pasteurize water as well as cook food) and we keep in good biking shape, therefore conserving gas. we also have several types of water filter.

once we get settled in I'll slowly build my supply back up, and get a garden going as well as find the farmers markets and local meat suppliers for the little meat we do eat. I can't plan for the end of the world, but I can plan at least for the most likely disasters and enough to sustain us for a time.