Mental Preparation For the Coming Collapse

Sometimes it is difficult coming to terms with the fact that a strong, turbulent time is approaching and that our quality of living will diminish in the recent future. It is equally as hard to put on that happy face in front of family and friends (especially during the holiday season) knowing that the next year could bring job losses and personal struggles for loved ones. Some struggle with and immensely dread a new year because they know that every new month brings the collapse closer and closer. The time for mental preparation is now. Preparing the mind for possible worst case scenarios and training the mind to stay calm when anxieties, fear and pressures flare is one of the most important survival techniques anyone can master.

Fear and Anxiety Can Be Used For Preparation of the Mind

Anxiety and fear are the largest emotional components that drive a person to prepare faster and harder, yet they are also motivators in times of disaster. Prepping can be fun at first, but there are times when imagining what one would need, or the situation it will be needed for can overwhelm a person to the point of feeling lost and completely out of control. When a person gets to this place, they have gone to the "dark side". And the dark side is not a fun place to be in, but it is a great time for mind exercises to learning how to stay focused at the task at hand and finding ways to face fears and move past them.

Finding the reins to control those feelings of hopelessness and fear can be found in the very closet or room that holds all the preparedness items.

* Review the plan of action for you and your family. Write down the plan of action for other family members to have.

* Walk through and take a look at all the preparations. And take comfort in what you have prepared for -and your future plans of preparing.

* Center yourself and find comfort from your belief system.

* Get physical. Go for a walk or work out to let out frustrations and anxiousness.

* Stay the course and continue to prepare in order to find the control.

These mind control exercises can also be adapted and used in a disaster scenario as well.

Mental Preparation

When preparing for a disaster or impending collapse, staying focused in the wake of things can be quite difficult (if not impossible). Many know that athletes train their mind as much as they train their body. Experts say that there is a link to mental preparedness and success during a competition. Prepper's must do the same. And this is often one of the last things many prepare themselves for. Training the mind to deal with stressful situations and unplanned issues that will arise will help a person stay focused and not to get "rattled" as easily. Additionally, it will keep the focus on the situation and not on needless things. Keeping a positive perspective and clinging to those seeds of hope can go a long way in a tough situation. Having a negative attitude is contagious. If a person begins to hear negative thoughts, they tend to get "siked" out faster. Stay away from any negative thoughts or persons who could be negative. This is the last thing anyone needs during a high stress situation.

Sooner rather than later, people will have to face the fact that time has run out to prepare and that it is time to put the plans of action into full effect. Some have even begun to have with "prepper's guilt." Even though they are proud of being prudent and preparing for possible disastrous events, there is still a sadness that dwells knowing that there are friends and family that chose not to see the signs before them.

No one can foresee what the future holds or how bad it could be. Being wound up like a stress ball from anxiety and fear is no way go through life. Accepting that some things can be controlled and other things cannot is a way to get a person out of the "dark side". Additionally, knowing that the best way to survive a disaster is to prepare for them. Having a plan in place, preparing as much as a person possibly can, and practicing the skills that one has learned will keep a person confidant in their survival abilities. Keeping these aspects in mind when preparing fully for unforeseen disasters can put a person at a great advantage. Planning ahead is the key, but staying calm and finding the best case scenario is ideal.

Tess Pennington is the lead content contributor for http://www.readynutrition.com. Ready Nutrition is an educational resource for those wanting to learn more about home safety preparedness, learning how to cope in disaster situations, and for those wanting to learn how to be more self sustaining. Her career at the American Red Cross left her with years of experience in safety and disaster preparedness. Tess is establishing herself as one of the foremost authorities on safety development and disaster preparedness on the internet. She describes herself as a mixture of Martha Stewart and Les Stroud. Tess lives in Texas with her husband and three rambunctious children.

Tess Pennington's work today encompasses: Teaching disaster preparedness Informing readers about the importance of preparing for any given situation. Writing Speaking Media consultation

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Staying Warm When Bugging Out

While I may use an RV for bugging out and since they generally come with a means of keeping warm much of what I am about to say would no longer apply to me. Unfortunately not everyone has a Motor home for a bug out vehicle so other methods must be employed.

Many people state that there is simply no way that they would ever consider going camping in the winter time but we as survivalists just cqn not predict when an emergency condition will occur forcing us to consider alternative living arrangements. On the other hand there are many people that would perhaps welcome the quiet and peaceful relaxation that can be afforded by nature even in an emergency situation. All this peace and quiet can quickly be disturbed and result in a nightmare if the proper precautions are not taken to stay warm. Even in mid April as here in Delaware the nights have been very cool causing some sort of heat to be necessary. In such cases here are some tips on how to stay warm when surviving in the outdoors.

Foremost you should ensure that you have the proper equipment for the season. Most survivalists have both a winter bug out kit as well as a summer one. Just because the calendar says its spring don't automatically assume that you can pack up the winter kit and switch to the spring one. When preparing to bug out always try to check the weather condition in the area that you are heading to. In my case that's easy since I plan to bug out within a 400 mile radius of my home. Others may have different plans and should follow the above rule carefully. Pay particular attention to the minimum temperatures where you are heading. If you know that you will be using a tent and a sleeping bag then make certain that these items are rated properly for these temperatures.

You may wish to consider the use of a sleeping pad even if your sleeping bag is properly rated for the temperature conditions you are about to encounter. It is highly likely that you can still find yourself freezing at night if you fail to use such a device. What happens is the weight of your body will compress the sleeping bag filling as you lay on it and ultimately reduce its effectiveness. The ground is usually very cold even within the confines of a tent.

The weather can be very unpredictable and as such you should take the proper precautions against water and rain. Rain can not only be very uncomfortable but can also eliminate any warmth that may be provided by your clothing. Down sleeping bags as well as cotton fabric clothing are useless for warmth if they get wet. Make sure that you have rain covers for your survival gear and ponchos for yourself.

Although one should not have to be told you would be surprised at the number of people who fail to bring extra clothing with them. Even if it appears that you will have mild temperatures during your bug out and expect warm weather you should always be prepared for a worst case scenario. Bring plenty of extra socks, some long insulated underwear, a hat, a scarf and gloves.

Here is a trick that I learned a long time ago when I went camping. Bring a heat-proof water bottle and during the day fill it with drinking water for drinking while at night place boiling water in it and wrap it in cloth to use as a hot water bottle. If its properly sealed you can place it in your sleeping bag prior to going to bed and it will help keep you warm overnight.

There are many hints and rules that you can follow to keep warm and being a survivalist or prepper you should avail yourself with as many as you can. By continuing to learn you can assure yourself and your family some warm nights ahead when bugging out.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

www.survival-training.info

By Joseph Parish

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

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Preparing For Dollar Collapse Under Obama - Financial Preppers Get Ready For the Worst

Those astute investors who want to protect their assets from a possible collapse in the value of the dollar - who are nowadays looking to invest in foreign multi currency accounts, foreign residency and second passport programs - have a new name: "Financial Preppers." In a recent article, "Rise of the Preppers," Newsweek describes them as, "...regular people with homes and families. But like the survivalists that came before them, they are preparing for the worst." They are not, however, holing up with canned food and gas masks in their basements. Modern financial Preppersare sophisticated international financial planners who are learning the secrets of offshore asset protection.

One website, The American Preppers Network, receives 5000 visitors a day. Its founder, Tom Martin, observes that, "There are so many variables and potential disasters out there, being a Prepper is just a reaction to that potential." For a Prepper, these "variables and potential disasters" include the collapse in the commercial real estate market, government nationalization or appropriation of 401ks and IRAs (something Obama is already dropping hints about), the unfunded and off-balance-sheet liabilities of Social Security, Medicare and other US Government programs, and trillions in new debt for more and more bailouts.

All this has only one logical conclusion for financial preppers: devaluation of the US dollar against hard currencies such as gold. Many more people are joining this financial prepper movement, following obvious questions raised about the competence of leadership due to the healthcare bill and the controversial HIRE Act. As one prepper puts it rather sarcastically, "in times of crisis, the only sure thing is that you can count on your government."

When residential real estate and the stock market crashed in 2008, unemployment doubled. Yet when the US Government, i.e. the taxpayer, came to the rescue with trillions borrowed from the Chinese or Arabs, unemployment continued to rise along with the big bonuses on Wall Street. The natural result of unemployment so high is record home foreclosures predicted: 7 million for 2010, twice those of 2009. In view of all this, I believe the article in Newsweek should not have been about why more and more are being becoming Preppers, but why anyone would not!

With the fall in housing prices in the US as a result of so many homes going unsold, it is indeed ironic that many Preppers, along with others, are turning to acquisitions of international real estate. It is unsurprising, however, when one considers the advantages of international real estate as a primary residence, vacation home or investment property. Why live in OECD countries and pay high taxes, when you can legally live abroad and take adevantage of $90,000 a year tax free earned income?

Most buyers in tax-free offshore havens like Panama and Belize are overtaxed Europeans and Americans looking for a milder climate, lower taxes and a higher quality of life. As international real estate is becoming more popular, two factors have evolved that make it a shrewd investment. The first is that, despite the crisis, foreign banks are increasingly willing to finance these properties. The second is that with more buyers and easier financing, prices in countries with business-friendly regimes and financial systems like Panama and Belize are continuing to rise from basic "supply and demand."

While buying international real estate is a relatively new Prepper strategy, Preppers are also turning to the time-honored hedge of buying and storing gold bullion and other precious metals stored in offshore vaults - often located in Switzerland, Austria or Singapore. Gold is, and always has been, not just accepted, but preferred as payment for goods and services around the world when currencies tank. It is the best asset protection there is against the threat of currency devaluation. This is evidenced by the way the price of gold has soared recently, while the purchasing power of the dollar has plunged.

Storing gold bullion and other physical precious metals offshore, like investing in international real estate, offers prepper investors the security and peace of mind that comes with traditional financial privacy. With Swiss-style bank secrecy under attack around the world, and the US Foreign Bank Account Reporting (FBAR) form now requiring individual Americans to list bank names and account numbers, holding physical bullion and real estate have both become increasingly attractive. Neither ownership of foreign real estate nor foreign physical bullion need be reported on tax returns or FBAR forms.

The bottom line? Preppers have been growing in ranks since Hurricane Katrina. Preppers are responsible adults making rational decisions to protect their families' assets and wealth by buying international real estate and gold bullion stored offshore to protect their investments.

This article by Peter Macfarlane was originally published by the Q Wealth Report

The Q Wealth Report is a privately-published newsletter based in London and Switzerland covering freedom, wealth protection and privacy issues, with practical advice on offshore banking, asset protection and precious metals investing. To find out more or to receive a free five part course that would train you to be a sophisticated financial prepper within the next week, visit the Q Wealth Report.

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Common Terminology Used by Survivalists In Disaster Planning

Below are some basic terms that a person may come across when researching survival awareness and preparedness. Some of these words and others may appear from time to time in articles and other information sources commonly used by survival experts or self proclaimed 'preppers'.

Big One - see TEOTWAWKI. The "big one".

BOB - Bugout Bag. Used to store a supply of readily available supplies that you can grab at a moments notice if you need to leave your home in a hurry, as in right now!

Channelized Areas - In the case of an event where an entire city was to be evacuated, channelized areas are the most likely routes people would take; major roadways, railways, riverways, etc...

EMP - Electromagnetic Pulse. Capable of knocking out electronic equipment permanently.

Event - A catastrophe, big or small, that may require you to use some of the knowledge and supplies you have acquired through being a prepper. Green events last 1-10 days, yellow events last 10-90 days, and red events last 90 days to years in duration.

FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency. A Federal Government organization that responds to disasters. It usually takes FEMA a minimum of 72 hours to respond to a disaster emergency with the very basic of supplies (water and rations).

FIFO - First In First Out. A method of organizing perishable goods.

Golden Horde - The anticipated large horde of refugees and looters that will pour out of metropolitan regions when things like food, water, and civil order start to become non-existent.

G.O.O.D. - Get out of Dodge. Abbreviated slang term that describes the need to get out of town in a hurry.

GPS - Global positioning system.

Grid Down - An extended period of time when the power system is not available. (1989 Quebec power outage - small solar storm struck earth, lasted only 12 hours but knocked out power in the entire province of Quebec).

MRE - Meals Ready to Eat. U.S. military rations.

Prepper - A person who plans for the worse, but hopes for the best.

Retreat - A privately owned property where you can go in case your home becomes unsafe to reside within. A retreat in most cases is someplace away from large cities where you can find safety and survive on the basics such as hunting, foraging and farming.

TEOTWAWKI - The end of the world as we know it. Basically this is an event that spells the end of world society, including a large drop in the world's population and a massive loss of technical skills/knowledge. The entire world will never be the same as it was.

For more information on survival planning and preparedness, check out Biff Brannon's web page at http://www.survivalawareness.net.

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Urban Survival, Economic Collapse and Foraging for Food

With unemployment at a sustained high, the economy in tatters and both the national debt and deficit out of control, more people in the US are feeling insecure about putting food on the table. There is also a growing number of people who call themselves "Preppers" that are storing food and supplies in case our economy collapses and we see hyperinflation and a situation worse than the Great Depression. How will they feed their families? What makes so many people worried is that they don't know much about growing food or preserving or canning or anything beyond going to the grocery store. As a result, Urban Survival skills are becoming more important to more people.

Although more people live in suburbia today than live in an actual "urban" environment, for the purposes of this discussion, "urban survival" refers to anything happening in any size city or suburb that is not rural. These are the population centers where hundreds of millions of people could go hungry if there is any kind of a collapse.

If the store shelves are empty, or your pockets are empty, it doesn't really matter - you and your family face hunger. While there is the possibility in an extreme situation that food banks may still operate, nobody wants to be in a position where their life depends on the charity of others. So how do you put food on the table?

Urban Food Sources

Retention ponds are a gold mine of food. First off, there are almost always ducks or geese there, which can be an instant source of a good meal. While many of the geese are protected by wildlife laws, if there is a breakdown in society, that will matter little compared to feeding your family. The great thing about these fowl is that they are easy to catch. Soaking corn or grain in alcohol and feeding it to them will make them drunk and sluggish and easy to catch, in case post-collapse pursuit of the birds becomes more common and they are easily scared. In other urban environments, there are pigeons as well, which can be caught just as easily.

In addition to fowl, retention ponds offer cattails, which are a very good source of food year round, and not very well known. In the spring, the tender green shoots of cattails can be pulled up and eaten just like thin cucumbers. Later in the year the heads sprout pollen, which can be collected and used as flour. Year round, the roots of the cattails can be collected and processed to make a very nutrient dense flour as well.

Trees bearing fruits and nuts abound in parks and forest preserves, if you know how to identify them. Oak trees drop acorns that can be gathered and processed to make acorn flour, and even crabapple trees that have tiny fruit that is bitter when eaten raw can be used to make jelly that tastes great and provides vital nutrients.

Hunting small game in an urban environment is not recommended, but rabbits and squirrels can easily be trapped using improved snares once you learn how.

Skills To Develop

All of the food sources listed above are plentiful and, at least in the beginning stages after an economic collapse or societal breakdown, they will not be highly sought after. Thus, competition will be sparse and it will be easier for you to forage and ensure your family survives. Developing these urban survival skills is not difficult, as all can be found demonstrated quite well on YouTube, though it requires an investment of time. For families with children, this is a great way to learn more about the environment and a great excuse to turn off the TV and spend some quality time together learning how our ancestors fed themselves.

For specific plans about being prepared, you can go to a 'nuts and bolts' regular guy Prepper YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/survive2day.

Mike Kuykendall is an expert in Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Planning and Urban Survival affiliated with Survive2Day. His articles are featured at http://www.Survive2day.com, and is a contributor to the book "When the Last Bubble Bursts: Survival Without the Tinfoil Hat.

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Living Underground in a Doomsday Bunker / Shipping Container

As an avid prepper I long ago converted my wife into like thinking. She's as much of a prepper as I am now and in some cases even more so. When it comes to a doomsday bunker that's where we part ways. She has her mind set on not being able to live in a "coffin" as she calls it. Ideally I'd like to bury a couple of shipping containers that are built specifically for living in. I would be content with the top of the containers being maybe a foot up above ground level and letting a dirt berm or shrubs block the visibility.

My ideal shelter would have quite a few windows in that exposed area so you wouldn't get that feeling of being buried. Even with that said she still doesn't think she could live in it. I asked how that's different than being in a basement with windows and she said it would feel more confined. With nearly 400 square feet of living space a shipping container would work very well and give ample room. If you had several of them there would be even more space.

So one of the big items to address if you are looking to turn a shipping container into an underground house is how it will be received by your family members. I obviously didn't take the time to properly discuss it with her so she'd understand the details of living in a shipping container. I think had I taken time to talk more about things I'd do to make it a liveable doomsday bunker I'd have a much smaller hill to climb right now.

So assuming that I get past that I have started thinking about the ideal configuration for an underground bunker built from a steel shipping container. I think using 4 containers together would make for an ideal configuration. The goal would be to make living areas for 4-6 people.

With 4 of these you would have nearly 1,600 square feet of underground bunker space and 2 large living areas and 4 smaller areas. One large living area I would dedicate to a kitchen, food storage etc. The other large living area would be dedicated to a more family or group oriented room where similar to what a living room is now.

The 4 smaller rooms would probably amount to 2 or 3 bedrooms and one bonus room for storage and all the other stuff one would need to live underground for a longer period of time. With limited space it would need to be well organized but certainly a 1,600 sq foot bunker would work well.

The layout would be 4 of these staggered back and forth with a 50% overlap. The 2nds would start halfway up the first, the third would be the same as the first and the 4th the same as the 2nd. Giving you a center that is 20x40 and 4 nodes each of 20x10. In further articles I will discuss what I would need to stock an underground bunker and what items I would want in my storage cache for living underground.

Each bedroom would be 10x20 so there would be a good amount of space, the living room and kitchen would be 20x20 which is also very spacious. Between he kitchen and the living room would be a door and or pass-through or it could be completely open to make one large room. Ideally the entry way would be through the storage room and that would be the access point.

If you have any thoughts or ideas I would love to hear them.

At http://www.doomsday-bunkers.net we have information on how to construct your own bunkers, where to buy bunkers, information on living in a bunker and supplies you might need and much more

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Bug Out Bag Checklist for Preppers and Survivalists

A bug out bag (BOB), also referred to as a Get Out Of Dodge Bag (GOOD Bag), is a pack that has all the necessary items for any survival situation for 72 hours or longer. Below I'll provide a detailed checklist that will give you a good understanding of what you should have in your bag. Remember that when you pack to think about the weight of each item and ask if it will be worth carrying it. Most times more gear will be better, but just keep weight in mind.

The most important thing about a bug out bag is the QUALITY of the bag itself. You will be entrusting this bag with your life, so try to get a good quality. The best ones have a place for a water bladder, straps and good amount of outside pockets.

Remember the four 3's:

3 minutes without Oxygen, 3 hours in harsh weather, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.

Shelter- Shelter is the most important (3 hours in bad weather). If you know how to pitch a tent correctly then all this may mean to you is packing a tarp and equipment to set it up. If you don't then remember to pack something you know how to setup. Also remember to pack a sleeping bag and anything else you might need to keep you dry and warm.

Water- Water is behind shelter (3 days without water). Pack a few water bladders and remember to keep your water bladder filled with clean water (this may mean dumping the water in it and refilling it every now and again to make sure the water is nice and clean if the situation arises where you need to use it). Also, a water filter can save your life if you run out of water. Never drink water in the wild without boiling/treating it. Recommended amount of water intake is different for everyone but a good way to think about is half your weight in fluid ounces. So if your weight 150 pounds, 75oz a day is your recommended amount. 128 fluid ounces is a gallon so that would mean you need to drink a little more than half a gallon a day.

Food-Food is in last at 3 weeks (that's assuming you have water). Freeze dried food and MRE's are recommended for survival because they are high calorie food rations that will provide your body with the energy it needs. Trail mix also has a lot of calories so you may want to consider packing some to eat while you're traveling. Like water, the recommended amount of calories differs from person to person depending on height, weight, gender and more but try to eat 3,000 calories a day. Never eat below 1,200 calories a day.

Checklist:

Here is a simple checklist for your bag (This is not set in stone, everyone has difference skills and this is just to give you an idea):

Flashlight

A good survival knife

Tape (Duct Tape/Gorilla Tape)

MRE's or freeze dried food

Sewing kit

Some form of getting your hands clean if needed (dish soap, bar soap, etc.....)

Bottles of Water (Water Bladder that's filled would be good too. Water purification tablets and a water filter would be good as well)

Multi-tools are very good to have because they take up less room

Radio (Hand Crank/Solar would be best but battery operated is fine)

Rechargeable batteries for your equipment that needs them.

Camp stove (try to find one that uses multiple fuels)

A copy of emergency and important contacts (include addresses and phone numbers)

First Aid Kit

Money (If you have to leave your city for a few days

Maybe an extra copy of your I.D.

Para cord (preferred) or very strong rope

Map of the area

Hygiene necessities (comb, toothbrush, small can of shaving cream, razor, toothpaste)

A waterproof way of starting fire (flint/waterproof matches/etc...)

Extra change of clothes (include socks and underwear)

Can opener (small one)

A list for defensive purposes:

100+ extra rounds for each of your firearms

a form of night vision sight (Sighting scope, a rifle scope that functions in daylight and night, etc...)

Remember to camouflage all of your equipment (including your bug out bag itself)

This is Jeff from Survival Hour we are dedicated to informing the public how to survive almost any situation and providing the best gear to help. Be sure to check out our Survival Hour blog as well for even more in-depth information.

Check here for some good stock bags to start with(you should add a lot more stuff to them though): Bug Out Bags

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Myths About Being a "Prepper"

There are lots of notions about preparing that turn out to be myths. The very mention of survival or preparedness can conjure negative mental images that have no basis in fact.

Myth 1 - Prepping Is Expensive. Prepping does not need to cost a lot. You can start small and only purchase things that are affordable. In fact, some preparations, including food storage, can actually save a little money.

Myth 2 - Prepping Takes Too Much Time. Anything, including hobbies, surfing the web, or watching TV, can "take a lot of time." Prepping is a worthwhile activity to which you are able to devote just as much or as little time as you want. It all depends with your comfort level.

Myth 3 - You Need A Lot Of Space For Storage. Anyone can create storage space, whether in a small apartment or a house in the suburbs.

Myth 4 - You Need A Farm Or A Retreat Location. It would be nice if we could each lay claim to a faraway place we could go to, but most of us aren't that fortunate. Instead, just prepare wherever you are, as best as you are able to. Any amount of preparation is preferable to none at all.

Myth 5 - Preparing Will Turn Me Into A Tin-Foil Hatter Living In The Woods Decked Out In Military Gear Threatening People with Explosives. This image stems from media stereotypes of survivalists. Sociopathic loners like the "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski and right wing militias that really enjoy visions of far-fetched conspiracies to warrant firearm fanaticism. The truth is, most preppers are normal everyday people who realize the system may not always be around to support them and so feel they have to look after their own personal safety and security. In a time of ongoing financial crisis, spectacular natural disasters, and technology run amok, imaginary conspiracies by shadowy government entities really are the very least of our problems.

There are plenty of emergencies we can plan for, which range from events with a higher likelihood of occurring, including unemployment or illness in the family, to natural disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes to rare but extremely catastrophic events such as a terrorist attack or pandemic. Whether you're making preparations for a short-tem or long-term emergency the initial steps towards those goals are the same.

Even if you're starting from the beginning without any emergency supplies at all, as soon as you get started with the prepping process, you will soon start to see positive results. As you build on these simple measures, you can expect to be confident in your labour and be rewarded with the confidence that you have done the very best you can to safeguard your household for disaster.

If you're looking for more Apartment Prepper information, please vist the Apartment Survivalist Blog at http://apartmentsurvivalist.com/

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The Prepper Movement

Make no mistake, financial sustainability, especially nowadays, includes preparedness for unknown events in the future. My Dad used to tell me that he learned this life-lesson from being a boy scout; their motto: "Be Prepared". Unfortunately in my own case, I only learned the wisdom of these words in retrospect...after NOT having been prepared for one personal circumstance or another. Some of us must learn the hard way and no doubt I am in good company!

When it comes to the economy and financial planning, financial planners typically recommend that you establish an emergency (rainy-day) fund. The size of that fund varies between 3-6 months of living expenses. Illness, layoffs and simply unexpected circumstances both positive and negative can turn one's world upside down in terms of how to meet routine financial obligations. Obviously, an emergency fund aims to reduce any potentially negative impact on our lifestyle until needed earnings return to status-quo levels. The ongoing recession serves as a current example.

But wait...there's more.

The question that is now top-of-mind for those living in today's economic landscape comes as no surprise: "Will the status-quo world as I have known it, in fact, EVER return?"

Such concern is totally valid despite government and media noises about recovery. With unemployment still high and unemployment benefits recently ended for millions and given record numbers of personal bankruptcies, bank closures and home foreclosures....who wouldn't wonder? Then when we add the tragedy in the Gulf plus two wars with threats of another, one cannot help but question the merit of "recovery".

I just finished reading an article about how the number of banks closed so far in 2010 is double the number of those that closed during entire year of 2009.

"The 83 closures so far this year is more than double the pace set in all of 2009, which was itself a brisk year for shutdowns. By this time last year, regulators had closed 40 banks. The pace has accelerated as banks' losses mount on loans made for commercial property and development." June 20, 2010 USA TODAY

The Prepper Movement, birthed from precisely this sort of information, has caught fire across the country!

For these folks, keeping up with the Joneses is no longer about who has granite-kitchen-counter tops, the whitest teeth or the most exotic vacations. It's all about who has been able to best think through as well as stock-up on what might be needed when the S_ _ _ Hits The Fan (TSHTF)! They are answering the question,

"What will it take to adequately sustain my/our quality of life despite potentially worsening external circumstances?"

The Prepper Movement spans a broad spectrum of ideas, opinions and behaviors. On one end are those keeping their pantry stocked with food and candles, growing gardens making emergency plans with their neighbors. On the other end are those moving back to a pioneer-type lifestyle of living off-the-grid and buying guns and ammo. Then there is everything in-between!

More and more American now hedge their bets. They no longer believe someone else (local, state or federal government) will make it all work out for their family in the event of natural disasters, economic downturns, evacuations, war, etc. Instead they take the issue of personal preparedness very, very seriously and, to a whole new level.

They build their lifeboats...just in case.

"Lifeboat: a double-ended ship's boat, constructed, mounted, and provisioned so as to be readily able to rescue and maintain persons from a sinking vessel."

If you also find merit in their pro-active premise then having 3-6 months of living expenses squirreled away will be just the beginning of finding your own unique prepper- sweet spot.

Susan Boskey is an alternative financial consultant and author of The Quality Life Plan: 7 Steps to Uncommon Financial Security. Her book goes where no other personal finance book has dared to go. It not only exposes the systemic-root cause of the 2008-09 economic meltdown but perhaps more importantly, provides critical strategies for everyday people to turn the tide and build real wealth.

As millions struggle to find an honest way off the vicious cycle of credit and debt, frugality measures and debt-consolidation offer some relief but not enough. For families to achieve similar financial security and well-being as in times past, an entirely new personal-finance model is called for. The Quality Life Plan offers exactly that by providing strategies using a big-picture perspective about money and wealth. Without the big picture, strategies alone are proving to be insufficient. Those yearning for a quality life of simplicity, creativity and financial sustainability find practical answers via the book's alternative approach and user-friendly workbook format complete with recommended action-steps. There's no turning back once you're in the know.

Sign up for a free eCourse to learn more at http://www.AlternativeFinancialNow.com where you can also purchase the book.

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Canning and Dehydrating Foods For the Suburban Prepper

What is Jarring? Jarring is a method of food storage that enables you to store food for long periods of time. Being relatively easy to do with a little practice you will find that you can stock pile food to last at least three months. If you can do more, that is better, but three months is a great start.

A quick history of Canning.

In 1795 the French Army offered money to anyone who could discover a way to preserve food.

Years later in 1809 Nicolas Appert discovered a way to preserve food by heating a "Hermetically" sealed container. Although he new that the removal of air was important he did not fully understand why. The French Army awarded him the prize for discovering a way to store food for long periods of time. Google Nicolas Appert for a full history.

There may be a day when the food you have in dry storage is all you have access to. If you live in an apartment you likely have some small storage space. Think now about how you can utilize the space you have for shelves to maximize the area you have to work with. Build or install shelves from floor to ceiling on all walls leaving just enough room for the door to open. Hopefully in a short time you will have these shelves full of stored food.

Basic canning check list.

The Equipment. Look around your local area for high-tempered glass Jars made to with stand the heat from the canning process. Look in the local buy and sell, Farmers Market and news paper. In some cases hardware stores will have some as well. Ask around in your family. Chances are "Grandma" has some stored in the basement from years gone by.

1. Make sure all of your equipment is clean, rust free, and not bent or cracked.

2. Pick only firm ripe fruit or vegetables. No bruises or blemishes. Be sure you have a good commercial anti-darkener or ascorbic acid.

3. Choose your Syrup or Liquid

4. Choose your processing method

5. Proper lifting of the jars.

6. Cooling jars.

7. Checking the seals.

8. Proper storage.

Be sure you have new lids. If this is not possible thoroughly check you lids to be certain that they are in good condition. When pre-cleaning your jars boil them for 2 minutes to sterilize them.

Be certain the screw lids function properly and have no rust and no "sleight" bends in them.

When you are preparing your fruit or vegetables, prepare only the amount you can work with at any given time to avoid dis-coloring.

The different types of syrups for canning are. Sugar syrups. Corn Syrup. Honey. Fruit Juice. If you choose to use a sweetener. Remember that slight sweetening can help acidic fruits taste better after they have been stored for a while.

You will want to decide if you are going to raw pack or hot pack. Use a plastic or rubber knife or spatula to remove air bubbles. Clean the rims of the jars. Applying the lids. Follow the manufactures directions. They generally recommend placing the lids in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes to ensure a proper seal.

Remember when processing that the altitude where you live effects the processing time. The higher the altitude the longer you wait. Be very careful when lifting your jars form the boiling water using a proper lifter made for canning. Allow the jars to cool on a clean dry wooden surface, metal rack, or folded towels. Be sure the surface is not cold as this will make the jars crack.

Let the jars cool in a draft free area with a small space between each so air can circulate.

As the jars cool you will hear the "famous" pop as the lid cools. When this happens you know you have got a good seal. Label and date your jars and store in you storage area.

Remember that techniques like canning from times gone by may become essential skills in the future. Learning how and why this works so well for the safe storage of food will help you to feel empowered and less dependent on the system. Knowing that you can "own" this process is a crucial step you can take in your plans to prepare you and your family for "difficult times.

Food Dehydration is another effective method for long term storage of food.

Removing moisture from food is an effective method for long term storage of food that inhibits bacteria growth. Most food s can be dehydrated indoors using a variety of methods.

These methods can include Air drying. Using your conventional oven. If you want to invest some money into it you can purchase a counter top confection oven or a dehydrator.

There are several varieties of food that can be dehydrated and although each have different techniques it is well worth your time to learn this skill. Dehydrated foods require less space to store and can last a very long time when stored properly.

A Mind Set Re-adjustment

When you commit your self to learning how to Can a Dehydrate food you are making an important shift in mental focus. A major problem we face in society is our dependence on the system for very basic things. There is no reason for people to loose the ability to take proper care of themselves in the long term. Running down to the store for all of our needs every day is NOT taking care of our selves. And will do nothing when major change forces us to re-adjust at the last minute. Preparation skills can not be learned over night. That is why it is essential to start now. Go through the learning curve when there is no pressure to perform.

[http://the-next-leap.blogspot.com]

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Water Storage or Berkeley Filter?

As the curtain begins to close on our national government and chaos rules supreme we will quickly discover that the mighty dollar bill has lost its fascination and appeal while in its place are now bottles of fresh clean water or cans of urgently needed foods. Bartering will be the business technique by which all transactions will be accomplished.

Such common items that we are so used to taking for granted today will be some of our most prized possessions in our days of crisis. Things like can openers or water filters will hold the ranks as the valuable assets of which men will seek.

A young couple just starting out in their ventures of preparations asked me a very fundamental question recently. If they could get one item to store in the event of an infrastructure shut down what should it be? My immediate reaction was to tell them to obtain a water filter such as a one of the Berkley Filters. You can live much longer without food than you could from the lack of water.

You could store up on bottles water but this is a very expensive and space consuming proposition for most people. In addition, you would do well to consider the possibility that the current plastic containers used for storing drinking water often tend to slowly leach toxins back into your water over a period of time making your investment in this lifesaving liquid useless for its intended purpose.

To give you an overview of the space that stored water would take up consider for one moment that a single 1/2 liter bottles which is 16.9 ounce is sold 24 bottles to a case. That amounts to 405.6 oz. of this vital product. When you do the math at 128 ounces of water to a gallon you will obtain 3.17 gallons per case. When you figure 8 pounds of weight for each gallon that you are storing that amounts to 25.35 pounds of water not including the containers and packaging.

As you can clearly see creating a sufficient supply of water is certainly going to use up your valuable storage space and if you are like the rest of us you need all the area that you can muster. Now let's change the scenario just slightly and imagine that you have accumulated all these vast amounts of water and you find that it is necessary to bug out from your main home and head to a safe retreat miles away. In a case such as this none of your water reserves would be able to travel with you. It sure seems foolish to stock up on supplies for some thief in the night who may stumble upon your house after you have departed.

Although many new preppers have never heard of one of these types of water filters they are known globally. What makes these filters so unique is their ability to make totally safe drinking water from just about any type of water to include raw sewage if necessary. I feel that an investment in one of these filters would be a preppers best outlay in their survivability. They are readily available at any fine survival or self sufficiency store include several on the internet. An excellent source would be Lehman's as they carry a vast selection of products of interest to preppers.

As I concluded my conversation with the young couple it was determined that perhaps an investment in a Berkeley filter would be the more prudent course of action. You owe it to yourself and your family to investigate this type of filter today.

Copyright @2011 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

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Do You Have an Emergency Plan For Your Family?

Called "Preppers" on some places on the net, these forward thinking folks are gaining the attention of the main stream media.

I been having a good look around and have found several cases where your "average Joe" has been buying water filtration systems and stock piling food for the last 6 months. In some cases for years already. And they are most definitely not "extremists in any form. In fact they ar so normal looking you would not be able to pick them out of a crowd. If any of this surprises you, I can assure you that it would not surprise anyone in Greece or Ireland. Have a look at some of the news head lines from just the past month from Europe.

The fact that our media here in North America talks about NOTHING only underscores my point. And should be taken as a loud but silent warning.

The most recent lay off stats for March are showing something like 613000. Holy crap! That is just one month. Similar figures have been reported every month since last October. Now I ask you, how long can this continue before we start seeing some ugly things unfold? Patio or roof top gardening will become a crucial skill to develop right away.

Suburban Realities and Getting Prepared

The world is changing. All areas of life are undergoing rapid change. A quick glance at any area of our lives will show this to be true. Many families and individuals know how fast things are in motion. It does not matter if we are talking about the economy, the environment, our health, or simply the "things" that are becoming a priority to us. The immensity of what is occurring is without comparison. If you have begun to take notice of these rapid changes then you are not alone.

As events move quickly it can be difficult to get a grasp on the best course of action for you and your family. There are several things you can do to get ahead of the curve in becoming prepared for the times ahead. [http://the-next-leap.blogspot.com]

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Starting a Food Storage Program

A prepper I know recently confided in me as to their confusion of what to store up on for a potential emergency. Their major concern was the great changes that we are seeing in our weather across the country. They stated that if the conditions get too drastic the supply trucks will not be able to get to the local grocery stores and as a result the shelves will remain vacant. This is rightfully a valid concern and I was glad that at least the consideration had prompt a desire to stock up on food supplies.

The best that I could tell the person was to stock up on a year's supply of emergency foods. I explained how difficult it is to specify specifics since no two peoples diets are the same. I was asked if the food storage programs were worth the large sums of investment dollars needed, to which I reply in the negative. Now before all the one shoppers who buy these survival packages get excited and send me nasty email letters let me explain. As stated each person's taste in foods are varied and the packages may send you certain foods which may never get consumed. In that case it is a waste of both money and food. While you might initially feel the package represents a good bargain if nothing else it might be a good way to kick start your food preparations. Remember however, store up on those food which you eat on a regular basis.

Bulk purchase of survival foods is a great way to initially get started but keep in mind that you can easily assemble month's worth of emergency foods by purchasing items here and there. Look for the deals or sale items at Wal-Mart or your local grocery store and than put the package together yourself. I compliment my purchases with the #10 cans as well.

You would not want to start eating any unfamiliar foods at the onset of an emergency situation. Try to avoid this at all costs. Stocking up on the long shelf life items which your family eats on a regular basis will allow you to keep eating those foods after an emergency is declared. The foods are best which your body is used to, that you enjoy eating and will help keep your food stock rotated.

Not all of the packages that are offered for sale are of value to the prepper. They may appear to be a bargain when shopping for bulk foods but may not be if there are products included that you do not use. You are likely to find unprepared grains, TVP (veggie protein) and sugar. Many items are basic and would merely serve as a base from which to build further storage upon. I started out by spending an extra $10 to 20 dollars per week at the local grocery store on canned foods and rice. I would always try to buy more than what I expected to use thus building up as much stock as I wanted. I would than rotate the stock using the older cans from previous weeks. As I did that I would than purchase one or two to replace it.

Your basic food storage could start with storage of white rice, winter wheat, pancake mix, and elbow macaroni. For vegetables you would want to stock up on cans of dehydrated potato chunks, freeze dried sweet corn, green peas, chopped onions, dried mushroom pieces, instant potatoes and broccoli. No diet menu can be complete unless it includes some fruit to compliment your other foods. Make sure to include apple slices, dried strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.

I included as a basic starting point the following dairy products powdered milk and chocolate drink mixes. You will likely later add items such as butter or margarine powder. Other nice to haves may include sour cream, powdered eggs and instant cheese powders.

Beans are an excellent source of protein and you should include a variety of different types. Include dehydrated pinto, black, lima and lentils as well. I generally eat lentils on a regular basis. They are a fairly complete protein source with lots of fiber and are low in fat. Lentils can generally be prepared in a number of delicious ways and a search of the internet will return literally hundreds of recipes.

TVP or Textured Vegetable Protein is an excellent meat substitute and is consistent with the taste and texture of real meat. If you are a vegetarian this would be a great addition to your food reserves. You can start with the basic meat TVP such as bacon, beef and chicken and later expand it include specialties like taco, BBQ and sausage flavored TVP. Now add your cooking basics such as white sugar, baking soda and baking powder to your list.

The following items are excellent additions to add to your emergency food pantry. I keep supplies of potted meat and deviled ham, canned chicken breast, tuna, canned Chili and cans of baked beans. All these are commercially sold in the grocery store and should keep for 3 to 5 years when properly stored.

The general life spans of prepared items are freeze-dried products is 25 years, dehydrated products is 20 years and the TVP products at least 10 years. These spans are for unopened cans.

Copyright @2011 Joseph Parish

http://www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

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Top 10 Reasons Why the Future of America Depends on Survivalists & Preppers

There has been a lot of derogatory talk lately about "preppers" and "survivalists" and I'd like to take a minute to point out 10 reasons why preppers and survivalists have always been vital to the United States and why it is essential that we have as many as possible to survive future disasters.

1. FEMA-The cost for local, state, and federal agencies to plan, equip, and staff for EVERY disaster that might happen is cost prohibitive. When disasters strike, government is quick to talk, quick to "ramp up", but government help is slow to come and inefficient when it arrives. Survivalists and preppers on the other hand are able to act quickly and efficiently to take care of their own house and provide stability, structure, and assistance for their streets, neighborhoods, and beyond.

2. Stable Base-An organization (or nation) of people with specialized skills may accomplish great things when everything is going smoothly, but it quickly fall apart when trouble comes. The survivalist & prepper mindset of "Jack of all trades, master of ONE" makes for a stable organization (or nation).

3. Joseph in the Bible-Preppers/survivalists have been around saving the day since the beginning of time. In Genesis 37-50, Joseph sees trouble coming and prepares for seven years. At the end of seven years, a severe drought/famine hits that lasts for the next seven years. Because of Joseph's preparations, Egypt survived the drought/famine and was able to help the surrounding nations.

4. Founding Fathers-With the Constitution and Bill of Rights, our founding fathers pushed responsibility from the federal government down to the individual citizen and promoted a survivalist/prepper. They did it with the 2nd and 4th amendments, they did it by example (Washington leading a mostly barefoot army across the Delaware,) and they did it throughout their writing, "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote." -Ben Franklin

5. Siege warfare-Many of the things that happened after Katrina are textbook examples of why siege warfare is so effective. The normal city has a 3 day supply of food. The normal prepper has a 6-24 MONTH supply of food. Which do you think is more stable in the event of a siege that is due to disasters or war? If you ONLY focus on food and water supplies, a city/county/region/country with many preppers will be much more resilient to being cut off from outside help than one with few preppers.

6. Independent from the government-How much leverage does an energy tax (or most other taxes) have on a family who's living off the grid? The more self-reliant you are, the less control the government can exert over your life through taxes.

7. Criminals fear the aware and prepared-This is fairly straight forward. Preppers & survivalists gradually become more aware and prepared than the average person. This will show itself in your walk, in your eyes, and how you carry yourself. In short, you stop looking like a wounded gazelle and more like a badger... cute & cuddly, but ready to do anything necessary to stop a threat to him/herself or loved ones.

8. Tyrants fear survivalists and preppers-In addition to living a lifestyle that insulates them from siege, some taxes, and being nannied, survivalists and preppers are usually well armed & seek advanced training. Good men have nothing to fear from an armed populace, but tyrants who seek to control the lives of others will always try to disarm them first through confiscation, taxation, or pressure through media and the educational system.

It worked for Hitler, Mao, and many more narcissistic, mass murders suffering from Munchhausen by proxy throughout the ages. So far back, in fact, that Aristotle spoke extensively about how, in any society, those who control the arms control the state.

9. More preppers = fewer refugees & faster recovery from disasters-After a local, regional, or national disaster, the number of refugees will be inversely proportional to the number of preppers & survivalists in the area. In other words, the more preppers you have in an area, the less strain the hospitals, volunteer organizations, and government run refugee centers will have.

10. More able to help their fellow man-After a disaster, you're not going to see very many refugees donating their food/supplies/time. It's not that they don't want to, but rather it's because they are in a fight for their lives and may be dehydrated, hungry, and tired.

Preppers and survivalists who have food storage, water or water treatment tools, and who have prepared themselves psychologically for disasters will be able to help in several ways. First, they're less likely to become refugees or use the time/resources of first responders. Second, since they ARE prepared for disasters, they can help the people in their immediate area which will lessen the load on first responders and reduce the number of refugees. Third, by helping themselves and their neighbors, preppers will increase the quality of care for people who DO end up still needing first responder care or to relocate to a refugee center.

In short, the more survivalists and preppers that we have, the more stable our families, cities, and the country as a whole are. If you believe in this message, please forward it to your friends and family, tweet it, and link to it from your website or Facebook page.

And, if you have any interest at all in preparing so that you can survive disasters in urban environments, you really need to check out the Urban Survival Guide. Other people like you who've taken the course agree that it is the best book or course on surviving disaster in an urban environment that they've ever read. Here's what Doug in California had to say:

"In 23 years service in the Air Force, I completed both arctic and jungle survival training, many combat/battlefield skills courses, and I served under daily fire in Vietnam. I think I'm fairly well prepared to survive the environmental hazards. However, your course has significantly broadened my perspective when it comes to urban survival and surviving both the good and malicious intent of my fellow citizens. Thank you so much for digging out the information and for shortening the learning process." -Doug (Retired Air Force) in California

All I can say is, "WOW!" Thanks Doug. David Morris

SurvivalDave

Surviveinplace

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Disaster Survival - Are You Prepared For Any Disaster Situation?

Being prepared for disaster survival is easier than many people think. If you can prepare for possible emergencies or disasters ahead of time you can eliminate or minimize any impact on your life. You can live in any state or country and you will have something that could impact you so there is no excuse for not being prepared.

Think about what your local disaster potential could be. Maybe it's hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, flooding, blizzards or even a chemical plant explosion. There are numerous things that can go wrong or happen. You would be benefiting you and your family by coming up with a plan you can implement and putting aside extra supplies to get you by in case something does happen.

Do you worry about being called a prepper or survivalist and are holding back on putting stuff away for emergencies? Do not let that stop you; you will be the one that is squared away while they are waiting for FEMA to come to the rescue. Being prepared has been gaining in acceptance over the last few years so it is now more common place. It does not matter if you live out in the country or an apartment in a city, you can prepare for emergencies.

If you are not sure how to go about preparing you can research online and will find a multitude of information. Find a site that appeals to you and learn all you can. It does not have to be expensive buying extra food and water, a little every week or so will add up. As you add more, organize it so it is out of the way yet easily accessible to you.

Do you prepare for what may happen unexpectedly? You can never know when some unforeseen incident will catch you off guard. For more information on urban preparedness go to Urban Survival Preparedness and you will find some of the best book resources available. Learn all you can about being prepared for your future.

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Tomatoes in a Rain Barrel - Part 2

First things first. TRANSPORTATION. With the shrinking credit markets we have a SYSTEMIC breakdown of the economy. As people lose jobs there ability to spend begins to diminish. As people find themselves in tougher times the first thing that goes are luxuries. And then what is defined as a luxury is continually readjusted. This has to effect the volume of wholesalers and retailers. Then as a matter of continuity this has to effect the entire shipping and transportation industry. Already there are 100's if not more EMPTY tankers sitting just off port all over the world because lines of credit have been frozen and bills can't be paid. This could mean several things for you and I.

First. Supplies could and probably will begin to dry up. This means that a can of soup or a box of cereal might end up in the EXOTIC grocery item list. Second. If even a hint of a rumor starts to suggest that this is happening weather true in part or whole then it is game over.

How about GROWING FOOD? Just like Grandpa and Grandma used to do? For most people this is almost a lost art as we have become spoiled by a massive food distribution indusrty. I would not be surprised in the least to hear encouragement from the Governments around the world for people to start growing food. What a concept.

YOU AND I MUST START GROWING FOOD A.S.A.P.

For our families.

This is not a joke. If you doubt how quickly things can change then do a little digging on what collapsed economies look like. Not to mention that if our money regardless of where you live begins to loose value and it takes a wheel barrel load of money to buy a loaf of bread. (Old Metaphor)

Lets take someone who lives in an apartment. (Millions of people) And you have a 12x6 patio. (Or some space on a roof top) To grow food you will need some containers. Old pots. Lined wooden boxes and large plastic containers are all good for this. Look at the space you have and start to plan what and how much you want to grow. Focus on the things you like to eat and that will grow with little effort and quickly. (Look for updates on simple recipes you can use to make healthy and cost effective meals with your own food) The idea here is to find the balance between space and needs.

For example. If you like salads you can easily make salads that become an entire meal. One quick example I can think of is lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, carrots, and pine nuts or sunflower seeds. With a nice vinaigrette of course. The point is that all of these things can be grown in pots on a patio or a roof top. Start now. Get an apartment size freezer (if you dont have one) and begin to stock pile your very home grown veggies. Do it smart. Learn to dehydrate. Learn to can. All lost arts.

I remember growing up as a kid and eating Grandmas pickled jarred carrots. They were awesome. And healthy. And STORED FOREVER. Not really for ever but you get the point. I will post further on canning and dehydration. If you have limited space these practices will become ESSENTIAL. The biggest thing here is to start. Now. Do not wait for media wide crowd control/damage control broadcasts. By then you will be limited in options. Look to the links for essential and practical advice on "how to" sites.

One more thing. I have been reading an ongoing argument on the web about what people should do in regards to their living situation should urban living get a little dicey. One camp is saying "get out of the city" and the other is saying "stay put". This is a pointless debate because people will do what they can. Most people are where they are because of their life situation. My advice is to work with what you got. If you and your family live in an apartment and that is your reality, then work with that. Chances are you can form "growing" communities. A new trend for city dwellers. Form a growing co-op on your roof top. If allowed. Work with friends and family. The families that do well in the future will be part of like minded groups.

[http://the-next-leap.blogspot.com]

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Don't Rely on the Government in Disasters, Or in a Crisis

While many people are worried about the direction the US is heading and past actions from government in economic crisis's or disasters. There are now groups of people who do not trust government and some of these people have taken that one step further.

There is a growing movement in the United States by a small group of people know as "Preppers". These people are doing anything and everything for when disaster strikes. They are simply taking it apon themselves and not listening or acting upon government information.

Be it a natural disaster, or a nuclear fallout, these guys say they are not going to wait around for anyone to have their back.

With wall st continuing to bail out the big business personalities, the small guys on main st are left wonder what is left for them, and do they have a bright future ahead. Preppers are fed up. They are losing their jobs, their houses, their apartments etc and have had enough. These survivalist are ones that do not wait around for the government to take action.

This growing movement called preppers have thought of almost everything and are ready to bailout of their home environment in case of economic collapse, civil unrest or natural disaster hits. A threat that is now possible.

The general idea here is that they have taken charge and take care of themselves and their families, not wait around for the government to help them out. Doing whatever it takes in the name of survival.

World recognized trends forecasters, known by many around the world most addictive & highly accurate. Sign up for a FREE Trends alert at: http://www.forecastfortomorrow.com

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How to buy gold and silver

There are lots of ways to get your money into gold and silver. Each has pros and cons, and it is more important than ever that you are well-informed.

Bullion Coins

This is my preferred choice for current times. Commission costs are small. Common bullion coins are easily sold, often to dealers or even via local classifieds or Craigslist. But where you buy matters. Prices can vary from dealer to dealer by as much as 5% or even more. You will generally have to pay in cash (if local) or wire transfer. For any dealer giving you competitive pricing, the cost of credit card processing is just too high. If your dealer takes credit cards, you are WAY Overpaying. More on sources at the end of this article. Storage can become an issue if you are buying large quantities. But in the case of gold, 100 coins (or five rolls of 20) is a small little package (maybe 8x1.5x2 inches) and has a value of $135,000 or so. Easy enough to hide in a sock drawer. A case of silver Eagles (500, or 25x20 coins) is bigger (10x10x2 inches?) and only stores $15,000 of wealth. Even 10 cases (5000) of silver coins is not THAT big, but is noticeable.

You could put them in a safe deposit box, and that is the traditional suggestion. But you may be running some additional risk of confiscation (more on this later).

ETF

ETF's are liquid. You can buy and sell them in seconds inside any stock brokerage account. But they have some drawbacks. Biggest is taxes. Unlike a regular ETF, precious metals ETFs are treated differently by the IRS, and you will have to pay income taxes each year whether you sell them or not. Additionally, they are treated as regular income, not capital gains, so you pay a much higher rate. Before you buy any ETF's, speak with a tax advisor to determine which rules affect you and whether they have been changed since I last checked them.

Gold ETF's have some special concerns. There have been rumors for years that the GLD is not holding as much gold as they are supposed to have. Can you spell "fraud"? Even more disturbing, the gold ETFs were growing so fast a few years ago that they did not have time to verify what they were buying. Stories of them buying gold-plated tungsten abound, and again this will not become obvious until they try to sell this stuff. Even more scary yet, GLD does not have to hold gold at all. They can have your money invested in "gold investments", which basically means derivatives, options, and futures contracts. If you want to own gold and silver as protection against a financial collapse, GLD and their cousins will be the first ones to fail in a market meltdown. ETFs may sound good in theory, but they do not provide the protection you should be seeking. Run Away.

Gold Mining Stocks

Owning some mining stocks may be a good idea. They provide some protection against outright confiscation, since you know that they will be exempted. But the companies themselves can be nationalized, or individual mines can be taken. So you have to look at WHERE the company has it's mines and be aware of political risk. In addition, you are buying a company, so have all the risks and challenges that entails. Lower earnings. Fraud (ala ENron). Rising costs. Bad management. Hedging programs can make companies insensitive to the price of gold, so buying a gold miner may not give you the appreciation you expect. And watch out for leverage - mining stocks tend to move faster than the metal, up AND down. They are not bad investments, but you have to do your homework and you have to understand exactly what you are buying.

Junior Mining Stocks

Junior Mining Stocks have the all the drawbacks of senior mining stocks. Plus they are VERY speculative. They may or may not have any proven reserves. They might not own a single truck or hard hat or single ounce of gold. Even in good times they trade based on rumors and gossip. As a group, they are one of the most fraud-ridden areas of the stock market. And they are not for casual or even most professional investors. Be especially careful of junior miners that do not trade on a U.S. exchange. But the best advice is just do not mess with them at all. You can have more fun losing your money in Las Vegas, and at least they will comp you a cheap buffet meal.

Commodity Futures

Not for the timid. This is the "market", where price discovery happens and where all other gold pricing is based. To trade in it, you just need to open a commodities account. The big risk is leverage. You can buy a single gold futures contract with about $3800, and you control 100 ounces of gold. That means you have about 3% of the contact value amount. If gold goes up by $38 an ounce, you have doubled your money. If it goes down by $38 you are wiped out. And believe me, gold can move a lot more than $38 in a single hour during a selloff or panic. It is a good market, and reasonably fair, but you REALLY need to have some sophistication to play here. Not for the neophyte.

Collectible Coins

Coins are pretty. They are fun to look at and to collect. The biggest issues I have against them as an investment are price and liquidity. Prices can vary way more than bullion coins. The same coin might be listed in a coin price list as valued at $100, but be available for $50 or $125. They always trade a significant premium to melt value, yet the sellers mention "melt" quite often when trying to convince you they are good investments. It's true that a collectible coin will always be worth at least melt (well almost always). But the value may have to double just to break even. When I make an investment, I don't want to wait for it to double just to break even. In addition, when you want to sell a collectible, you have to go to a dealer or find another collector in order to get some part of your premium. Dealers typically work on a 25-50% markup, so that $100 coin that a dealer is selling at $50 might only be worth $30 when you are ready to sell it.

This is a very specialized area. People who are serious about coins live and breathe them. There is no logic, it is completely about special cases. One year can be worth 1000 times another one, and the only way to know is to know. Catalog prices are at best a general guide, but not very useful. Unless you want to become serious about this market and learning about it (10-20 hours a week for a year might get you started, for 20 years is better), my advice is to stay away as an investment.

But coins are pretty. Buy some if you like to look at them, as they certainly are better than most artwork. They make great gifts, especially for children. If you are a silver buyer, there is something special about having a complete set of American Silver Eagles in MS-69 grade. As bullion, you could buy these 26 coins today for about $860. As collectible certified coins, one company is offering this exact collection for $1450. right now. Or maybe you want a nice collection of coins from the various countries. Some are very beautiful as art. These are pretty and nice to show off to your friends, and bullion is NOT. But for real save-your-ass investing, stick with bullion. The coin collection goes to your grandchildren in your will, so you don't have to know what it cost you.

Jewelry

Jewelry is the traditional way for lower-income people to own a little bit of gold. The dual-use nature of jewelry lets them buy a gift and make an investment at the same time. This is very true in third-world countries, and a big part of the culture in India and China. It is a way to have an asset in a country that generally discourages that or periodically confiscates it all. Not even the most stupid dictators would try to take a womans wedding rings!! But you can only wear so much at a time, or you end up looking like a Calcutta hooker or LA pimp daddy. So its good in small amounts, but not larger. And you have a big difference between price and melt value, so as an investment it doesn't really work. If you disagree, go buy some jewelry and take it immediate to a "cash for gold" place to see what they will pay you.

Other Comments

Confiscation is a concern for a lot of people. The US government did it in 1933, and this president seems to worship FDR. I have always thought it was over-the-top to think they could do it again. But some really smart people think it is inevitable, so I have to seriously consider it. One scenario has the government requiring all citizens to redeem their gold for cash. Likely they will pay you at (or even above) market rates. Once they have all the gold in their possession, they can take the USA off the floating exchange rate system, declare gold to be worth $20,000 an ounce, and they are back in business with a gold-based dollar (albeit one that is devastated in terms of purchasing power).

The legal way to avoid having your gold confiscated is to get it out of the country ahead of time. If you live near the northern border, take a ride to Canada and open a safe deposit box. If you have a home in another country, store it there. You can also open a depository account or a gold based account in many countries. There are two types. With one (unallocated), you have a part-ownership in a generic pool of physical gold. But you can also have what they call an allocated account, where you have ownership of specific gold coins or bars. An allocated account is more expensive, but there is no risk at all. With an unallocated account, it is conceivable that if the depository institution goes bankrupt you may be part of the general creditors and waiting in line for your payout. You need to pick your institution carefully. One that is well known and safe is The Perth Mint. http://www.perthmint.com.au

Your other alternative is to have physical possession of your gold, not in a safe deposit box. You can bury it in the backyard or hide it in your sock drawer and just wait out the prohibition on gold ownership. The last time they did it, it lasted 40 years.

My own take is that complete confiscation seems less likely than in the past. Last time they exempted collectible coins, and that is a lot fuzzier line this time. Is a proof coin collectible? How about foreign coins like Pandas? If a coin has been graded by a coin grading service, most anyone would consider it to be collectible. Of course they could try to get the collectible coins as well, since the government can and will do anything they can get away with. In my mind, the most likely outcome is that they nationalize the ETF's. Why spend a lot of time going after coins one at a time when the GLD ETF has 10,000 tons of gold in it's possession? They could almost double official reserves in one swoop, without getting out their guns. They just pay off shareholders at market (which is ultimately all an ETF owner can expect anyway), collect their taxes, and move on.

More on Bullion

So as you can see, for that SHTF money, physical bullion that you can hold in your hands is the superior investment for most people. You have several options for buying gold and silver bullion.

Preservation of Wealth

I discovered this company a short while ago. Preservation of Wealth (POW) is a buying club, with wholesale prices available to their members. I have found their prices to be as good or better than anywhere else, and without the big minimum purchases required by the big dealers. Current pricing is $52 over spot for an American Eagle. They also sometimes have member specials as low as $25 over spot. You can buy a single coin or a thousand. In the interest of full disclosure, once you are a member you can earn a referral for each member that you refer. Refer just a couple of people and your membership is free. Look over the details and join if you see how it makes sense. Once you become a member, share your own link with your friends and earn the referrals for them. If you refer a lot of people, you might even make some real money. Use it to buy more coins. LOL.

Tulving.com

There are several national dealers that have very good pricing. One of the biggest in Tulving.com They always have the most competitive prices for both buying and selling, and list their premiums over spot right on their website. But you have to be a quantity buyer. That means a minimum of 500 ounces of silver or 20 ounces of gold at one time and of a single type. No mix and match. If you want big quantities at one time, these are the guys to check out. Yet POW has the same pricing (sometimes cheaper) without the minimums. The difference is POW has an annual membership fee. Check the Tulving website, then call POW for a fair comparison.

Traditional Dealer

There are two groups. National dealers and local dealers. But essentially the same rules apply. Prices will vary a lot from dealer to dealer, and sometimes from day to day. Today's price may be $75 over spot or $125 over spot, but that changes at the whim of the dealer, possibly based on their inventory or their cost basis or if the rent is due. You have to do lots of price research if you want to buy from them, and do the same research every time. The other issue I have encountered is that when prices drop, small dealers are mysteriously out-of-stock, and you just can't buy bullion at good prices. It can be extremely frustrating to have a buying plan in place, have prices drop to your target, only to have dealers lock up their inventory while they await higher prices. This caused me to miss a great buying opportunity when gold was at $700-$750 in 2008. It is why I went on the hunt to find Tulving (and now POW). This issue is not a problem at Tulving or POW. They just ride the market wherever it goes and keep on selling.

Local Classifieds / Craigs List

This is NOT a reliable source of coins, but you may get lucky. Your goal in buying or selling here is to take out the middleman (dealer) and split the difference with the other party. So let's say a gold eagle has a $20 spread between market buy and sell prices. You can save $10 an ounce by seeking out these people. Or you may get even better prices if you are dealing with an unknowledgeable seller and you can convince them your lower price is a good one. Or you may find someone who wants to sell for cash and does not want a paperwork trail. The new health insurance law requires dealers to issue a 1099 for basically anything they purchase, so someone trying to avoid taxes may give you a nice deal. If you run an ad looking to buy gold, people will call you with all kinds of oddball things including private mint medallions, plated souvenir coins, and clads. You have to be very careful of fakes. They will usually think their oddball coins or fakes are worth way more than reality. You may find yourself driving around town and meeting strangers with a lot of cash in your car. Be security-conscious. I don't have an opinion about any of this. Just be knowledgeable whatever you decide.

Just to recap, my best recommendation for people buying more than a few coins a year is Preservation of Wealth. http://www.GaltGold.com

Bob Costa has been a full-time futures and commodity trader for 15 years, and a serious investor for 24 years. He may be contacted at bob at stone-age.com.

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Common mistakes when buying real estate survival guide

As we all know that there are many people who are buying properties in preparation before the SHTF these days. It is a great move to say that one is ready, but the truth is how sure are you that the agreements you've done really are going to work for you. Many people only buy properties because they are wrapped as survival but are really survival when it comes down to action? The importance of making preparations cannot be explained enough, but the importance of making preparations right is much more important. There are common mistakes that are repeated when some people buy property to survive. Below is a list of some of those common mistakes

1. the first error is in a big hurry to find the right House. This can cut options that would have been perfect just because you're in a hurry to buy a property. This is an important decision that is going to save lives when the SHTF so that the decision should be made very carefully.

2. buying a property which is to be branded as survival but does not verify whether it actually meet the needs of it being actually survival! Now that real estate agents know they're preparing the survivalists, they maybe are customizing any Earth that remotely meets the need as survival property. Need to be aware of such a thing and check out the property and its usefulness for you.

3. does not check if the property meets all the requirements that you will need when you move in here. There are some aspects that we would like to see who is already here. For example, enough space for about 2 or 3 a few cows, sheep and rabbits. You must also try and see if you can find a property that has a body of water somewhere near so that at the end of your water supply always can still have access to water.

4. you must also have enough land to cultivate some fruit trees. Then you will need to check the soil and see if he can sustain life or not. You must ensure that this is far from civilization, otherwise the cause of all is lost.

Make sure you don't make these mistakes and will do well in your decision to purchase a property.

Having an urban survival guide around when disaster strikes will make you and your family feel more prepared.

Visit www.urbansurvivalguide.com/survival-guide for a complete guide and all the needs of your survival.

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Where You Should Store Your Food

Before starting your food storage program, you should figure out where you're going to keep all that food. The conditions need to be right, there needs to be plenty of room, and it needs to be in a convenient place. Look around your home and find a place that you can dedicate to food storage. Be creative. You might need to move things around.

The Right Conditions

Temperature. Ideally, you want to keep your food between 40 and 60 degrees F. Keeping your thermostat at 60 degrees or less could be a strain on your electric bill (and your skin) in the summer, but keep it as cool as you can afford or tolerate. You'll also want the temperature to stay constant. Hot and cold variations can ruin the nutritional value of your food.
Humidity. This will make your food spoil far more quickly. Avoid storing food near the dryer, the water heater, the kitchen, the bathroom, or anywhere there is water.
Sunlight. You'll need to keep your food somewhere dark. Not just a dimly lit room, but a closet or a place with no windows. It's imperative that you keep your food away from direct sunlight. Never keep your food in clear plastic or glass containers.

Enough Space

In addition to having the right conditions, your food storage area should be large, depending on how many people live in your home. Think of it this way: How much food do you buy in a week, and how much space does that take? Now multiply that by 52. Even when packing efficiently, your food could easily fill up a large walk-in closet.

Convenience

Food does not last forever, and hopefully you won't be forced to eat it to survive. But if you're not, you'll need to rotate through it. As the saying goes, "Store what you eat, and eat what you store." This means your food should be somewhere accessible. If you have to walk to the far end of your house, go through several doors, and dig through piles of clothes and boxes, then you probably won't bother eating your storage food and it will go bad. This is money down the drain. Instead, keep your food in a room near the kitchen and install shelves so you can find what you're looking for.

Privacy

It is very important that you don't keep your food out in the open. When the SHTF, people are going to remember the guy who had a room full of extra food. It will be both difficult and dangerous to turn people away, so it's better if no one knows you have extra food in the first place, not even friends. If even one of your friends knows about your supply, he's liable to tell a dozen others and your food won't last a week. Make sure your food is in a locked room or closet that a house guest cannot open. Only the people who are meant to eat the food should know it's there.

Possible Locations

With all this in mind, take a look at these locations. Some of them aren't usually good locations for storing food, but it depends on where you live. See if the conditions are right.

The basement. Nice and cool. Watch out for dryer vents and furnaces.
Under the stairs. Think about installing hooks and shelves.
Closets. Another place where you can install shelves. It's a good idea to have a lock on the door.
Utility room. This might be okay if it is very well ventilated, otherwise the heat and moisture from your washer and dryer could be a problem.
The kitchen. If you have tons of cupboard space, go for it! Just don't use the cupboards right next to the sink, refrigerator or oven (if there are any such cupboards in your kitchen).
Under the bed. Measure how high your bed is from the floor and find some appropriate-sized totes with wheels that will slide underneath.
Inside coffee or end tables. A large chest can be used as a coffee table, or a bucket with a cloth draped over it can make a good end table.
The garage. Usually a bad place unless you keep it closed and the temperature is constant.
The attic. Also a bad place unless it is well-insulated and the temperature is constant. Probably too inconvenient.

Once you've settled on a good location for your food, you'll be ready to start stocking up. There's no excuse for putting it off any longer. Good luck!

After studying and practicing survivalism for years, Matthew Zornes quit his job and became a full-time Internet Marketer, blogging about self-help products and emergency preparedness at UrbanSurvivalSite.com. Like most people, he lives in the city because of work, family and other circumstances, but he believes it is possible to survive in the city through all the most likely disasters. Download free eBooks and articles from UrbanSurvivalSite.com.

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