Monday, December 26, 2022

2022 End-of-Year Assessment and "To Do" List For Preppers

By Timothy Gamble

December is a great time for us preppers and survivalists to assess our situation, make any necessary changes to our plans, and to do all those things we only occasionally need to do, but are easy to forget to do). 

End-of-Year Assessment 

How prepared are you and your family for a really bad 2023? High inflation, supply chain problems, recession, growing crime, civil unrest, wars - all are real possibilities in the near future. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you assess your and your family's current state of preparedness:
  • Do you have a Disaster Preparedness Plan?
  • Is it written? Or do you keep it "in your head?" 
  • Are you and your spouse in agreement on your preparedness plans?
  • Have your circumstances changed (births, deaths, marriages, divorces, long-term illnesses or disabilities, moves, job changes, and so forth, within both your household and extended family/tribe), and have you modified your plans to fit your new circumstances?
  • Do you have a Family Communications Plan? (see article
  • Do you have a fully stocked first aid kit at home? In your vehicle? 
  • Have you taken a first aid course recently?
  • Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home?
  • How is your emergency fund holding up? Do you even have one? (see article
  • How are your vehicles holding up? Are they "bug out ready"? Do they need new tires, brake jobs, or other maintenance? 
  • Have you planned for your pets and any livestock in an emergency? 
These are just a few considerations for your family preparedness assessment. For a more detailed look at this topic, see my article Personal/Family Preparedness Assessment.

End-of-Year To-Do List

▢ Check and change your water storage if you haven't done so recently. Also, check to make sure your water storage containers don't have any slow leaks. I had trouble with this in the past, as ALL of my Ozark Trail 6-gallon water jugs developed slow leaks. Do you need more water storage? I now use the 7-gallon Aqua-Tainers by Reliance (available on Amazon) for most of my water storage and have never had a problem with them. For other ideas on emergency water storage, see my article on the topic

▢ Check your food storage. Make sure your rotation plan is working and you don't have any problems with food going bad. Make sure all canned foods are not swelling or leaking. Check dry foods for signs of mold or infestation. (See also: How To Tell If Food Has Gone Bad)  Restock any food storage that you're running low on. If your family/group has grown in the past year, make sure you add to your food storage to take into account the new people. 
 
▢ Check all medications and first aid supplies, and replace any supplies that you have used up during the year. Many medicines are safe to use past their expiration date, but some do grow less effective over time, and a few can become toxic. Do your research, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, and use your best judgment. Also, consider if your first aid or medical needs have changed (new additions to the family, new illnesses or health concerns, etc.) and adjust accordingly. (Click here for first aid supplies on Amazon.)

▢ Check all batteries to make sure they are okay. Check all stored batteries to make sure none are starting to corrode or leak. Also check all batteries currently "in use" to make sure they are still working. It is especially important to check the batteries in gear that you don't frequently use, such as in flashlights, headlamps, or radios sitting in your bug-out bag, a toolbox, or the glove compartment of your car. I personally have lost more than one seldom-used flashlight over the years due to the battery going dead and corroding for weeks or months before I realized it. Learn from my mistakes!

Note: Battery testers are relatively cheap - the one I use is available on Amazon for less than $7 currently.


▢ Change the batteries in your smoke/fire alarms if you haven't changed them recently (many folks change them with the twice yearly time changes). Better to "waste" a good battery by changing it too soon, then for it to be dead when you really need it. 

Do any needed vehicle repairs or overdue maintenance. Inspect your bug-out vehicle. 
In fact, now is a good time to do this for ALL your vehicles and tractors! Are there any repairs that need to be made? Is it time for an oil change? How do the tires look? Are all the headlights, taillights, and turn signals working? Is your battery getting old? Be sure to inspect the brakes. 
(see article on vehicle maintenance)

▢ Rotate any gasoline storage you may have. If you have gasoline storage (please do so legally and safely), remember to keep it rotated. Gasoline slowly starts to go flat (lose energy) after about six months or so. STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer may help gasoline last up to two years, but remembering to rotate your stored fuel is probably the easiest and best way. 

▢ Do a home safety inspection. 
Check for fire hazards, tripping hazards, poisonous or toxic materials that aren't stored properly, overloaded outlets, frayed electrical cords, expired fire extinguishers, non-functioning smoke detectors, and so forth. Some fire departments will do this type of home safety inspection for you for free or low cost. Call your local FD and see if they do. 

▢ Re-think your emergency and preparedness plans. Has anything about your situation changed in the last year that will require altering your plans, such as new family members (births, marriages), deaths, illnesses or disabilities, job changes, school changes, moves, or changes in your current community or potential bug-out location. Get input from everyone in your household / family / group that will be affected by your plan. 

▢ Review your emergency and preparedness plans with **everyone** in your family or group. Make sure everyone is on the same page and knows what to do, and when. 

▢ Update your contact lists. People change jobs, move to new addresses, get new phone numbers, and email addresses can change often. Now is the time to update your contact lists and communications plan. You do have a family communications plan, don't you? If not, work on one now (see my article). 
  
▢ Make sure you are addressing the needs of any family or group members with special needs. There are a lot of folks with special needs - the mentally or physically handicapped, the elderly, the disabled, people with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, babies, and very young children, just to name a few. In fact, most families and groups are likely to have one or more people with special needs of some sort. Make sure you are addressing those needs! See my article Prepping For Folks With Special Needs.

▢ Review your bug-out plans and location. Is your bug-out location still available? Is it still a safe location? Does it require any work, repairs, or maintenance? Do you need to make any improvements? Do you need to restock it with food, water, or other supplies? Has your bug-out route changed due to road work, construction, or other circumstances? Do you have an alternative bug-out location? Do you even have a bug-out location? See my article Bug-Out Locations For People Without Bug-Out Locations.

▢ Re-think your EDC. How has the gear you carry everyday worked out for you? Are you carrying unneeded gear? What gear are you actually using? Have you needed something you didn't have? Now is a great time to make any needed changes to your EDC. For more thoughts on this topic, see my article: My EDC Pocket Dump - Only Useful Items, No Gadgets!

▢ Review your finances. The end of the year is a great time to review your finances, especially in light of any changes in your circumstances (raises, promotions, job loss or change, etc.) over the past year. Have your needs for insurance (auto, property, life, medical, etc.) changed? How goes the retirement savings? It is also a good time to reconsider your monthly budget and make any needed adjustments. Start an emergency fund if you don't yet have one. (see my article)

▢ Do a personal self-assessment. How have you changed during the past year? How have your concerns changed? How have your needs changed? Are you addressing any new concerns or needs in your planning? Is your health and fitness better, worse, or the same as a year ago? Have you gained weight, or lost fitness? What skills do you need to learn? Did you meet your goals this year? Do you need to set new goals for next year? 

▢ Is it time for any medical exams, for you are your family members? I've learned the hard way the importance of regular medical check-ups. The key to healing any disease or chronic health condition is early detection. I highly urge everyone to get regular physical, dental, and eye check-ups. If you haven't had one yet this year, please make an appointment soon.

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AD: Some good categories to explore on Amazon!

Augason Farms Long Term Foods (the brand I buy for powdered butter, milk, cheese, eggs, etc.)


______________________

Survive the emerging Dystopia. Subscribe to Dystopian Survival by clicking here and also by following Tim Gamble on social media:

Gab = https://gab.com/TimGamble

Twitter = https://twitter.com/TimGambleSpeaks


Sunday, December 25, 2022

How To Tell If Food Has Gone Bad

By Tim Gamble

How can you tell if your stored food, or any food for that matter, has gone bad? It is about common sense and awareness. Here are some clues to when food has gone bad:

  • The can, bag, or container is leaking, cracked, or bulging.
  • The can is severely dented, especially near the top, bottom, or seams of the can.
  • The can has a noticeable amount of rust (rust may create holes large enough for  germs to enter, but small enough that the product doesn't leak out).
  • There are signs of insects or mold, including dead insects, insect parts, webbing, or insect poop.
  • The food is badly discolored or "smells funny."
  • The texture of the food is wrong.
  • The food tastes bad, wrong, or odd.

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AD: Some good categories to explore on Amazon!

Augason Farms Long Term Foods (the brand I buy for powdered butter, milk, cheese, eggs, etc.)


______________________

Survive the emerging Dystopia. Subscribe to Dystopian Survival by clicking here and also by following Tim Gamble on social media:

Gab = https://gab.com/TimGamble

Twitter = https://twitter.com/TimGambleSpeaks



Thursday, December 15, 2022

How To Build Your Emergency Fund

By Tim Gamble

In my opinion, the top two financial goals for most folks should be setting aside an emergency fund, and paying off high-interest debt items such as most credit cards and car loans. Between the two, I would actually prioritize the emergency fund until you have at least $1,500 set aside. Most money experts suggest having an emergency fund of at least 3 to 6 months of expenses, but that is a large number and a daunting challenge for many. The $1,500 goal is more realistic. You can always add to it later. 

Don't stop making your minimum payments, of course, since late fees and penalty interest rates add up extremely fast. But put any extra money into the savings for now. Once you have an emergency fund, then you can tackle the debt with extra payments. 

Your emergency fund should be kept in a a separate account (savings or money market) from your checking account and ONLY used for emergencies. You may need to wait until you can meet the minimum balance requirement to avoid fees, but move the money into a separate account as soon as possible. (By the way, big banks tend to have high minimum balance requirements. With smaller amounts, you may be better off at a credit union or a small community or regional bank.)

Don't worry about getting the top interest rate on your emergency fund. Safety and liquidity are your goals for your emergency savings, not growth.

Ideas For Raising Cash For You Emergency Fund

This is a great time of year to start your emergency fund. Some folks get a end-of-year bonus. If you do, then use that bonus to build your emergency fund. If you are getting a raise in the new year, then earmark a portion of that raise towards your emergency fund. Do your taxes ASAP after the new year, and use your tax refund for your emergency fund. 

If you loaned money to a friend or relative, it is time to collect. Asking a friend or family member to pay back money you've lent them is uncomfortable, and may lead to some icy Sunday dinners at Grandma's, but it is your money after all. And you need it.

Do odd jobs. Can you sew, tutor, mow lawns, bake, babysit, or do "handyman" jobs? Do you have crafting skills? Post or handout fliers around your community. 

Consider starting your own "Man-and-a-Truck" business. If you have a pick-up truck or van, you can rent it & yourself out for a lot of odd jobs involving moving or hauling. Most people don't have a truck, yet most people will need to haul something somewhere at some point. And they probably need an extra pair of hands (or two). If you also have a dolly or hand-truck, you'll be especially popular. Posting flyers around town and word-of-mouth are great ways to promote your business.

Get in the habit of spending less than you make, and make savings a regular part of your life. This will mean making some personal sacrifices. As Dave Ramsey says, “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.” This may mean brown-bagging your lunches, eating out less often, avoiding impulse purchases, downsizing your cable TV package, cancelling Netflix...

Do whatever else it takes to build your emergency fund - hold a yard sale, sell that exercise machine you don't use, sell that ATV or other expensive toy,  work extra hours or even get a second job.
______________________

Ad:  
The Scriptures - This new English translation includes Genesis through Revelation, and restores the Name of our Creator to the text in each place it occurs. This new version in English is a literal translation by Institute for Scripture Research, overseen by Dr. Chris Koster. New in this 2009 edition: Improvements to the text - seeking a yet closer equivalent to the literal meaning of the original language. Quotations / Allusions from the Old Testament are in bold type in the New Testament, and are accompanied by the text references - aiding your understanding of the original contexts, and how they influence the writers drawing upon them.
______________________

Survive the emerging Dystopia. Subscribe to Dystopian Survival by clicking here and also by following Tim Gamble on social media:

Gab = https://gab.com/TimGamble

Twitter = https://twitter.com/TimGambleSpeaks


Sunday, December 11, 2022

Why Christians Should Be Survivalists

By Tim Gamble
"I hear too many Christians say, “I’ll just trust God.”  Trust God? He’s telling us what’s coming. He’s telling us very clearly. He’s commanding us to be prepared. So doing nothing is the opposite of trusting God." -- Joseph Farah
There are five reasons why I think it is absolutely critical for those of us who follow the Messiah to embrace self-reliance and preparedness, to be survivalists.

1- To be obedient to God. Throughout the Bible, God tells us to prepare for the future. He warns of future hard times and even persecutions that His people (us) will have to go through. Yes, this means both spiritual AND physical preparedness. There are many, many verses from both the Old Testament and New Testament in which God makes it explicitly clear that we are to prepare both spiritually (get right in our relationship with Him) AND physically (food storage, self-defense, etc.). If we are to obey God, we must do both. Preparedness is not only prudent, but in fact is commanded by God. Some examples:

"A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished." -- Proverbs 27:12 (NKJV)

"The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down." --  Proverbs 21:20 (NIV)

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." -- 1 Timothy 5:8 (HCSB)

"Then He [Jesus] said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." -- Luke 22:36 (NKJV)

"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." -- Hebrews 11:7 (ESV)

"And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them." -- Genesis 6:21

A host of other verses could be quoted also, including Genesis 41:47-57 (food storage), Exodus 22:2 (self-defense), Psalm 144:1(self-defense training!), Proverbs 6:6-11 (look to the ant's example - constantly prepare for the future), 1 Corinthians 16:13 (stay alert, be brave, be strong), 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (stay alert, situational awareness), and Matthew 25:1-13 (the wisdom of the five prepared virgins compared to the foolishness of the five ill-prepared virgins).

2- A Biblical responsibility to take care of our family, in both good times and bad times. It is not the government's responsibility. It is not society's responsibility. It is our responsibility. "But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). This is especially true for those of us men who call ourselves His followers, so man-up and don't be worse than an unbeliever. 

3- God guarantees hard times and persecution ahead for those
Coptic Christians Beheaded in Libya.
of us who believe in Him. A peculiar, and frankly unbiblical, modern theology has arisen in recent decades that falsely proclaims that Christians will be spared harsh times and future persecution. Popular pastors and "Christian" authors proclaim that w
e'll be raptured out before things get really bad. But that feel-good message isn't the message proclaimed in the Bible. Believers will face difficult and dangerous times, even persecutions. Just ask those Coptic Christians beheaded in Libya in 2015, or the thousands of other Christians who are persecuted and even killed every year around the world. Read Matthew 24, Luke 21, 2 Timothy 3, and the entire book of Revelation, among many other warnings given by God. Or ignore what God says and follow those "feel-good" pastors instead. Your choice.

4 - Around the world and here in America, the tide of popular, worldly, opinion has turned against those of us who are traditional believers. We are increasingly being forced to choose between following God, or or following the world. Political correctness and wokeness is largely meant to silence traditional Christian beliefs, values and viewpoints. 
This should come as no surprise to those of us who read the Bible, for Jesus Himself warns: "But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you... and put you in prison... You will be betrayed... they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me" (from Luke 21, please read the entire chapter yourself). It will only get worse during the End Times.   

5- The more independent and self-reliant we are, the more we can escape the worldly system and live by God's ways instead.  The more we are able to survive on our own - as individuals, families, and communities - the less we will be tempted to compromise with the World. The more we need the World in order to survive, the more likely we will be to compromise our walk with God.  

This fact is is obvious to the Elites, which is why they have focused so much effort on attacking the concept of self-reliance, labeling it as too hard, unrealistic, unfair, and selfish, among other things. They have even labeled it "un-Christian" in an effort to deceive God's people. The Elites want us as dependent on their worldly system as possible. Then they can control us. 
______________________

Ad:  
The Scriptures - This new English translation includes Genesis through Revelation, and restores the Name of our Creator to the text in each place it occurs. This new version in English is a literal translation by Institute for Scripture Research, overseen by Dr. Chris Koster. New in this 2009 edition: Improvements to the text - seeking a yet closer equivalent to the literal meaning of the original language. Quotations / Allusions from the Old Testament are in bold type in the New Testament, and are accompanied by the text references - aiding your understanding of the original contexts, and how they influence the writers drawing upon them.
______________________

Survive the emerging Dystopia. Subscribe to Dystopian Survival by clicking here and by following Tim Gamble on social media:

Gab = https://gab.com/TimGamble

Twitter = https://twitter.com/TimGambleSpeaks



Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Bug-Out Locations For People Without Bug-Out Locations

By Tim Gamble

In preparedness and survival circles, we talk a lot about bugging-out. But a lot of folks don't have a bug-out location. Where can they bug-out to, when and if it ever becomes necessary? Here are some ideas for bug-out locations for people without bug-out locations. 

1) A Relative's Place. Maybe your Uncle George has a fishing cabin in the mountains. Or Great Aunt Ida lives alone in that huge old house on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. Or Cousin Eddie has a small farm in Kentucky. Talk to them about using their place as a bug-out location. You could even stockpile some food, clothes, and other supplies there ahead of time. You don't have to move into the house with them. Perhaps you could park a camper or RV in their driveway or backyard.

It can be difficult relying on family at times, as pride, ego, jealousy, hurt feelings, and old grudges often get in the way. Put aside those petty family squabbles. Besides, Great Aunt Ida is a lonely old lady who will need someone when the SHTF, and Cousin Eddie could always use some extra hands on the farm.

2) A Friend's Place. Your best friend from high school... Your old college roommate... The guy you used to golf with every weekend before you both got too busy with careers and family... Chances are you know lots of people that have scattered across the country over the years. Its time to look some of them up and reconnect. Perhaps while reconnecting, you can find a "bug-out buddy." 

Reconnect first and reconnect now. Simply calling up an old college buddy out-of-the-blue after many years to see if you can use them as a bug-out location won't work. Rebuild that relationship now. And remember, the bug-out buddy thing works both ways. What if they are the ones needing to bug-out and your location is safe? 

3) National or State Parks. Many national or state parks have camping areas. Some have cabins. Some have RV or camper spaces. At others, you will have to hike in with tents. All these could be used as temporary bug-out locations. I've even heard rumors that some survivalists have buried caches of food and supplies near their favorite spots for use when the SHTF. You'll need to scout out locations ahead of time, and prepare accordingly, but these are good options for those who have no other options.  

4) For-Profit Campgrounds. National and state parks aren't the only camping option. There are lots of for-profit campgrounds around the country, offering everything form cabins, to RV and camper hook-ups, to primitive camping. Decide on a general area (or areas) you may want to bug-out to, then start looking for campgrounds. And, for goodness sake, go camping there a few times before you need to bug-out. This will give you lots of practice and insights in what you need to do and to bring with you, when the time comes for bugging out. 

5) A Church Retreat. This is an idea that might work best for a small, tightly-knit church of like-minded folks. The church buy some land in a rural area. It can be "officially" for use as a church campground or retreat, and unofficially as a potential bug-out location for church members. Start using the retreat now, and start making improvements to get it ready for a church-wide bug-out should it become necessary. 

A number of churches in my area already have such campgrounds or retreats - some individually, some in conjunction with other churches in their denomination. These church campgrounds could easily be pressed into use as bug-out locations.

6) Create a Mutual Assistance Group (MAG). The MAG, or survival group, can then go in together to purchase a few acres of land that could be a mutual bug-out location. This, too, will take effort and time to find the right people, and then to hash out the rules, but it can be done.

Here is a great example: I'm aware of three families who joined together to purchase a small farm that was for sale in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee about fifteen years ago. Over the ensuing years, the families spent most weekends and vacation time on the property, working it into a very nice homestead / retreat community. 

You could also find an existing MAG or survival group to join, but that can be difficult to do, and takes much time and effort. For many, it may be easier to just form one of their own with family and friends they already know and have things (values, beliefs, attitudes, worldview) in common. 

______________________


Ad: Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets - Twin Pack of 50 Tablets Each (100 Tablets in Total). Provides  water purification for camping, hiking, traveling and emergency water preparedness situations. Good for the bug-out and get home bags. 

Ad: 4-Way Silcock Key (aka Water Key) - Opens those recessed water spigots without handles that are on commercial buildings, and at parks & golf courses. Get access to water that you otherwise wouldn't be able to get. Good for the bug-out and get home bags. 


______________________

Survive the emerging Dystopia. Subscribe to Dystopian Survival by clicking here and by following Tim Gamble on social media:

Gab = https://gab.com/TimGamble

Minds = https://www.minds.com/TimGamble

Twitter = https://twitter.com/TimGambleSpeaks

USA.life = https://usa.life/TimGamble 


Tuesday, December 6, 2022

"Died Suddenly"

Two articles deserving your attention:

Expose News:  CDC quietly confirms at least 118k Children & Young Adults have ‘Died Suddenly’ in the USA since the roll-out of the COVID Vaccines https://expose-news.com/2022/11/30/usa-118k-children-died-suddenly-covid-vaccine/  

Slay News:  CDC: 1.1 Million Americans ‘Died Suddenly’ since Last Year https://slaynews.com/news/cdc-1-million-americans-died-suddenly-since-last-year/ 
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My "Boots on the Ground" Report - Comparison Shopping Pays Off!

By Tim Gamble  12-6-2022

As SouthernPrepper1 continues his "Boots on the Ground" series on his You Tube channel (link: https://www.youtube.com/user/southernprepper1), I will occasionally post on this website my own personal observations of what I am seeing and experiencing in my area (small town in western North Carolina).

Comparison Shopping Pays Off!

Supply chain problems and high inflation over the last year or so has created a situation with large disparities in prices from store to store, and not always in expected ways. What do I mean by this? Let me give you an example I am experiencing with eggs in my area.

Last week, my local Walmart had their large white eggs priced at $5.48 a dozen. My local Ingles Supermarket had their large white eggs priced at $3.88 a dozen. Ingles was $1.50 a dozen cheaper than Walmart last week.

This week, that Walmart has the same large white eggs at $5.27 a dozen. That same Ingles has their large white eggs at $3.18 a dozen. Ingles is $2.09 a dozen cheaper than Walmart this week!

The way thing used to be, it was safe to assume that Walmart is the cheapest store for most items. That is no longer the case. Don't assume Walmart is cheaper than other stores. Instead, do as much comparison shopping as possible! 
______________________
AD: Some good categories to explore on Amazon!
*** Oatmeal
*** Augason Farms Long Term Foods (the brand I buy for powdered eggs, butter, milk, cheese, etc.)
______________________

Survive the emerging Dystopia. Subscribe to Dystopian Survival by clicking here and by following Tim Gamble on social media:

Gab = https://gab.com/TimGamble

Minds = https://www.minds.com/TimGamble

Twitter = https://twitter.com/TimGambleSpeaks

USA.life = https://usa.life/TimGamble 


Monday, December 5, 2022

In Prepping, "Perfect" Is The Enemy of "Good."

By Tim Gamble

We all have heard the saying that "perfect" is the enemy of "good," but what does that mean, and how does it relate to preparedness and survival? 

First, let's get something out of the way: Perfect doesn't exist. There is no perfect person, no perfect group, no perfect location, no perfect plan. There will never be a perfect time or a perfect situation or perfect circumstances. This is true in all areas of life, and we just have to deal with it. 

Insisting on perfection in anything causes indecision, prevents action, and results in nothing being accomplished. Unfortunately, the desire for "perfect" is often used as an EXCUSE to do nothing. Or, rather, it is often used as an excuse to not do something that you actually don't want to do. 

When it comes to preparedness, many folks often this as an excuse not to prepare. For example, I've heard many people over the years say they aren't preppers because "its impossible to predict exactly what will go wrong or when, therefore you can't really prepare for anything." In other words, they don't prepare because having a perfect plan is impossible. It is true that no plan is perfect, but a merely good plan is better than no plan at all. 

The examples are almost endless:

"I can't afford to buy a year's supply of food, so I don't stock up anything.

"I have bad knees and a bad back. I'm too old. I have arthritis. Therefore, I can't exercise or do anything to improve my fitness."

"I can't lose wait because I have bad genes - being fat runs in my family."

"I can't get out of debt because I have too many bills and don't make enough money."

"I can't move to a better location because I have too much debt."

"I can't get out of the Big City because my doctor is here (and somehow there are no doctors anywhere else)."

"I can't move to a rural area or even a small town because there are no jobs there."

"I can't... because... excuse..."

The truth is that 99.999% of the time when someone says "I can't" they really mean "I don't want to" because doing so will be too difficult or too uncomfortable for them. They don't want to admit this, so they cast about for an excuse. Don't let the desire for "perfect" be that excuse, in life or in prepping. If you insist on waiting for the perfect time, the perfect location, the perfect circumstances, the perfect plan, the perfect group, the perfect whatever, before you act, you will never act. And ultimately, it will be your undoing. 
______________________

Ad: Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets - Twin Pack of 50 Tablets Each (100 Tablets in Total). Provides  water purification for camping, hiking, traveling and emergency water preparedness situations. Good for the bug-out and get home bags. 

Ad: 4-Way Silcock Key (aka Water Key) - Opens those recessed water spigots without handles that are on commercial buildings, and at parks & golf courses. Get access to water that you otherwise wouldn't be able to get. Good for the bug-out and get home bags. 


______________________

Survive the emerging Dystopia. Subscribe to Dystopian Survival by clicking here and by following Tim Gamble on social media:

Gab = https://gab.com/TimGamble

Minds = https://www.minds.com/TimGamble

Twitter = https://twitter.com/TimGambleSpeaks

USA.life = https://usa.life/TimGamble 



Sunday, December 4, 2022

Three Things You Should Do To Improve Your Financial Situation

By Tim Gamble

Having financial problems? Most of the poor and middle class are, so you have a lot of company. Here are the three things you need to do in order to fix your financial problems:

  • Build capital (emergency savings) - This is HUGE to your financial success. Do whatever it takes to build savings: Work extra hours, get a second job, have a massive yard sale, sell those expensive toys (ATVs, boats, home gyms, and so forth), downsize your car to get out of the payment, and maybe even downsize your house if it is more than you really need.
  • Be happy living within your means - This is an attitude adjustment, which is especially hard for many people. You CAN be happy without a brand new car, or without taking a Caribbean cruise this year, or without yet another pair of $300 shoes. Don't worry about what your neighbors have and do, or what your friends might think about you. Reduce your expenses, live within your means, and be happy doing so.
  • Embrace delayed gratification - Back in the days before credit cards, installment plans, and payday loans, if you wanted something you had to save money until you had enough to buy it outright. This meant you had to wait to get it. These days, Americans feel entitled to whatever they want, and entitled to it NOW! Banks and credit cards companies have made fortunes off this entitlement attitude. Developing a little patience will go a long way to you making your fortune!

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Friday, December 2, 2022

Winter Preps For 2022/23

By Tim Gamble

Winter 2022/23 is here, and with it comes winter's own set of challenges and concerns. Here is a quick review of Winter Preps you should consider.*

Winter First Aid

Winter has its own set of potential first aid concerns, I highly recommend you review the article I posted a couple of days ago on Winter First Aid (link is to my article on this website). In it, I discuss The Anatomy of Body Heat (and how to maintain your core temperature), the Symptoms & Treatment of both Frostnip and Frostbite, Hypothermia Signs and Treatment, First Aid Courses and a handbook recommendation.  

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter
  • Inspect your tires and make sure they are in good shape.
  • Don't forget to inspect your spare tire! Make sure you have all the tools you need to change a tire. 
  • Inspect your wiper blades. Change them if needed.
  • Make sure the anti-freeze level is appropriate for your location (a local mechanic can help you with that if you don't know).
  • Inspect/test your battery, especially if it is more than four years old.
  • Check all fluids and catch up on any routine maintenance to prevent breakdowns (see my article Prepper Auto Maintenance Schedule).  

Make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle
, including items such as some food and water, first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, extra motor oil, and jumper cables or battery starter. For winter, include extra gloves and head/neck coverings (such as a wool toboggan or a full Balaclava). A warm blanket is also a good idea, as is a way to recharge your cell your phone.

NOTE:
Many folks get the shortest jumper cables possible in order to save a couple of bucks (if they have jumper cables at all). However, its not always possible to park both vehicles that close together. Jumper cables are not that expensive, so go ahead an spend a few extra bucks to get a set that will be long enough to actually be useful. I have a 16-foot set of jumper cables in both my vehicles. 

Other Winter Survival Tips
  • Inspect/clean your chimney and wood stove pipes.
  • If you use firewood, make sure you have enough to last you all winter.
  • Don't let fallen leaves pile up against your home (fire hazard).
  • Clean out gutters after the leaves stop falling (safety issue).
  • Turn off and/or cover outside faucets and watering systems.
  • Make sure your home food and water storage are topped off in case winter storms leave you homebound for a period of time. Same goes for any medications you take.
  • Keep your gas tank topped off. Running out-of-gas is not a good idea in freezing weather.
  • Update your bug-out bag for winter: include dry socks & underwear, gloves, head/neck coverings, poncho, emergency or reflector blanket, and make sure you have plenty of matches, lighters, and/or fire starters. 
  • A cold weather sleeping bag/system is highly recommended for winter months. 

Special Considerations for Winter 2022/2023

Various supply chain problems, potential strikes, higher gas and energy prices, high inflation, massive illegal immigration, underfunded (and understaffed) police departments, rising crime, RSV outbreaks, nursing shortages - the list of domestic problems we face this winter is quite long.  And I have said nothing of the long list of international problems that exist. These problems will not only continue, but likely will get worse over the course of this winter. In fact, things could get much worse this winter. 

Food needs to be a top priority. As many others are saying, "stock food to the rafters." Food is only going to increase in price this winter, and grocery store shelves are already starting to look a little skimpy. Buy now. Same goes for other types of supplies you use regularly: cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, paper goods, OTC medications, vitamins and supplements, batteries, and even shoes and clothes. 

Counterpoint: Some analysts are stating that there is a glut of clothing on the market currently, and that after the Christmas season we will see stores sharply mark-down clothing to sell off their excess inventory. It may be worthwhile to put off clothing purchases in order to get these savings. 


Think about security. Crime, including violent crime, is rising across the country. Police departments are underfunded and understaffed. Woke District Attorneys across the country are incredibly soft on crime. And the ongoing influx of illegal immigrants and unvetted refuges will only make matters worse. The new reality is that you have to be responsible for your own security and that of your family. 

Get your concealed-carry permit if it is legal in your area, and carry! Take a good self-defense shooting course (shooting under stress at a moving target that shoots back at you is vastly different from leisurely shooting a fixed target at the gun range). Your local gun shop should be able to tell you where to get training. I also suggest most people double or even triple the amount of ammo you have on-hand. You may want to consider learning how to reload, and stock up on reloading supplies. 

Everyone in your family or group, regardless of their age, should also take a non-lethal self-defense course. A good self-defense course won't just cover the physical aspects of self-defense, but also give tips and advice on avoiding dangerous situations in the first place.


Security isn't just about guns & ammo, but also about hardening your home, security doors, dead-bolt locks, exterior home lighting, avoiding bad areas of town, practicing situational awareness, exercising commonsense, and many other things less exciting, yet probably more important, than guns.
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The Mini Farming Bible: The Complete Guide to Self-Sufficiency on ¼ Acre - This book, by Brett Markham, contains detailed information on: Composting, Seed Starting, Pest and disease control, Selecting and saving seed, Raising chicken for eggs and raising chicken for meat, Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips, and other veggies, Weed control, and much more, all geared towards urbanites and suburbanites with small yards of ¼ acre or less!   



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Survive the emerging Dystopia. Subscribe to Dystopian Survival by clicking here and by following Tim Gamble on social media: