Link Roundup: Cleaning Out the Favorites List

Every time I see an interesting article, website, or informative post on the internet, I save it to my favorites file. Although many of these saved items are posted on the Daily INSIGHT link, there are usually a few at the end of the month that don't really fit anywhere but still seem useful nonetheless. Here's today's roundup:

• Urban Fruit Gleaning (a good idea)
• The Fabulous Forager (pass this on to the women folk)
• Temporary Camouflage (cool)
• KRRC Media Archives (funny)
• Adventure Doc (one of my favorite medical blogs)
• Paul Auerbach's Medical Blog (another favorite)

Bartering 101

I don’t have to tell you that the economy is in the tank right now. Even the price of a pizza has risen dramatically because the cost of flour to make the dough has tripled over the past year. Of course there are ways to save money, and the option of doing without, but if there is something you really want and money is tight, consider bartering.Although bartering has been going on since forever, it has, over the past few decades, become less and less of a necessity as most people earned the money to just go out and buy what they needed and wanted without having to develop the skill or the social connections to get things without the exchange of funds. Here’s a few ways to get you onto the path to successful bartering:

• Read ‘One Red Paperclip’. This book about how a man started with a paperclip and traded it until he ended up with a HOUSE will make you inspired.
• Make a list of your assets, skills and resources. Include everything from the flowers in your garden and your power auger to your ability to bake bread and your friend who installs windows. All of these items may come in handy in the future when you put your bartering plan together.
• Start small. If you see that the neighbor has a kiddie pool which never gets used, offer to mow their yard in exchange for the pool that your children will enjoy. Starting small, with people you know, will build your confidence to move on to bigger challenges.
• Make sure every exchange is equitable, fair and enjoyable for all. Bartering means everyone is pleased with the exchange and a network is developed for future exchanges. Feelings of being taken advantage of, one-uped, or making a bad deal will kill your barter network faster than anything else.
• Look to expand your bartering network by checking out the barter section of the local newspaper or Craigslist.
• When making a trade, base the value of the item traded not on the retail cost you would pay at Macys but on the true value of the item to you and your trading partner, the amount of service the item would provide you, or the hourly wage it would take to earn the item at its true value. The very fact of bartering means you don’t have to take into account overhead costs, advertising costs, and other expenses that inflate the cost of an item.
• After you get your bartering feet wet, consider more complicated trades. Need concrete work done but your friend only does windows? Consider trading your plumbing skill to the window guy who then does the window installation for the concrete layer who then provides his concrete services to you. Get the idea?

Bartering is fun, valuable, and a lost art that really needs a resurgence, especially in our current economy.

Earthquake!

If you were anywhere near the news today, you know that there was an earthquake in Southern California this morning. Whether or not you live in a seismically challenged area, you should know what to do in the event of an earthquake because you never know if or when this type of thing will happen (ie: there may be no earthquake faults where you live but one could strike when you are on vacation with the family in Disney Land). Here's what to do should the ground start shaking:

• Realize that earthquakes can happen anywhere but there is a higher probability that they will strike in the Pacific Rim and other fault-laden areas (China, South America, etc).
• When the shaking starts, it's a crap shoot--you will find sources that tell you to cover or not to cover, to stay inside or go outside, to stand in a doorway or not stand in a doorway--basically there are situations in which each of these would be good advice however the consensus is to drop, cover, and hold until the shaking stops then exit the building as quickly and safely as possible (obviously if you are in a crumbly building like the schools that disintegrated during the China earthquake you may want to run outside as soon as the shaking starts, however people have been killed this way as well when things fall on them).
• As soon as the shaking stops, get up, dust yourself off, make sure everyone in your immediate location is OK, take any immediate safety precautions (ie: if you were cooking, turn off the burner and move the pan to the back of the stove), and exit the building/house quickly with your BOB in hand. Don't forget to check the area you are heading towards for dangers such as falling bricks, falling trees, falling power lines, broken glass, etc.
• Once you are outside, if you know there is an immediate problem in your home such as a gas leak, damaged electrical wires, or a water leak, and you are able to shut off these utilities, do so.
• If you are in an outside area where a major gas line or water main has broken or there are live power lines on the ground, get as far away from these dangers as possible.
• Immediately after the quake, use your cell phone for quick emergency calls only such as to find your kids or call 911 for a life threatening emergency. As soon as the immediate family is accounted for or 911 has been alerted to an emergency (calling just to say that there was an earthquake will be unnecessary), stay off your phone so the system doesn't become overwhelmed and those who need to make emergency phone calls can do so. Save the phone conversations about details of your experience for after the need to not overload the phone system has passed.
• Now that you have handled the immediate emergencies, check on your neighbors.
• If possible, stay near your home and don't drive around to look at the damage. It's a good idea to let any downed power lines be turned off before you drive over them. On the other hand, if you live in a tsunami-prone area, you will want to get to higher ground as soon as possible.
• If family members are scattered around the city, ensure that they can shelter in place during the time being. If this is not possible, devise a plan to rendezvous. Cover these details in your quick, initial conversation.
• Break out your battery-powered AM/FM radio so that you can receive official news and information about the event.
• If you do need to communicate, break out your portable HAM radio. Usually right after a disaster, the phone networks are overwhelmed while the HAM airwaves are wide open.
• Do a quick check of your home from the outside and note any damage. If your home looks structurally sound from the outside, you may want to take a look around the inside for damage. Note that depending on the type, depth, and intensity of the quake, there may be a series of aftershocks that will send you scurrying back outside.
• If there is no or minimal damage to your home, you may want to go back in and clean up anything that was broken (of course wear work gloves and heavy shoes when doing this).
• If there is damage to your home which would make it unsafe to go into and there is wide spread damage, consider setting up camp in your back yard. Be sure to check the location for trees, chimneys, power lines, or other things that could fall on you during an aftershock.
• Some people may want to head to the nearest hotel if their home is unlivable, however wide-spread damage may also damage hotels and restaurants and require you to 1) bug out to another location if the roads are passable, 2) seek shelter in a community shelter set up for this event, or 3) park yourself near your home. Many people, after a disaster, choose number 3.
• If you are required to camp outside for the time being, be sure to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. That could mean a number of things depending on where you live, the local situation, and plans that have been made ahead of time.

Basically there are no "right" answers when a disaster strikes. If you survive, you've made the correct choices. It does pay, however, to seriously plan ahead of time for this and other types of disasters.

10 Reasons to Avoid Bad Situations

Some people stumble into the occasional bad situation while others seem to be drawn to them on a daily basis. Here's why you want to avoid bad situations--everything from drugs to embezzlement, from the psycho significant other to bar fights, from legal troubles to underhanded dealing--no matter what:

1. It takes a toll physically (stress, drugs, fighting, etc can have a significant impact your body)
2. It takes a toll financially (court fines, bail, legal judgements...the list financial ramifications is long)
3. It takes a toll emotionally (any major or long term emotional situation such as taking a life or living in a violent situation will impact your emotional development)
4. It takes a toll on your reputation (people do tend to judge you by your actions and your history and reputations tend to proceed people)
5. It takes a toll on your relationships (friends and family will lose respect for you, others will avoid you--and the trouble that follows you)
6. It takes a toll on you psychologically (the loss of peace and living in a continual "high alert" level has an extreme impact on psychological development)
7. It takes a toll on your security (continually having to watch your back is not a good way to live)
8. It takes a toll on your productivity (it's difficult to focus on the task at hand when you are stressing over the latest drama)
9. It takes a toll on your future (the results of many bad situations often carry out far into the future)
10. It takes a toll on your ability to be prepared...this is a preparedness blog after all... (being prepared means your current situation is taken care of so you can focus on being ready for any disaster that may happen; this is next to impossible to do if you are dealing with the above mentioned repercussions)

If You Think You Don't Have Space to Garden...

Yesterday I stopped by and visited a friend who lives in the city. His house is small, his lot is small, but he has done an amazing job of turning this tiny, run-down space into a food producing garden with a great wood storage area to boot. Come winter he will have plenty of wood for the wood stove and plenty of food canned up as well. It just goes to show that with a lot of effort, and in his case, very little expense, you can turn any area into a viable place to grow some of your own food.

About the pictures: like I said, he has spent very little money to get things set up--I asked him why he was growing many of his veggies in containers and he said it worked better on his small lost since he doesn't have a whole lot of ground to rototil and he can move the plants around to catch the sun. He also noted that since he was planting in containers, he decided to use his old grill when it broke instead of throwing it away and buying "official gardening containers". The same goes for the old sink that he took out of his house when he remodeled it.

CNI Challenge #9--Barter for Something Big

Old fashioned trading and bartering, for many people, has gone the way of the covered wagon. It's quaint, it seems, but no longer necessary. As money gets tighter for many people, I'm hoping to see a resurgence of this lost art. The challenge here is to barter or trade for something you need. I'm not talking a trade of corn for tomatoes--it needs to be something fairly substantial. If you want to learn how a man started off his bartering project with one red paper clip and eventually, through many trades, ended up with a house, read "One Red Paperclip" by Kyle MacDonald. You can also find his blog at http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/ Other useful information on bartering can be found at http://www.u-exchange.com/barter101. Give it a try! Bartering can be a fun, rewarding way to acquire the things you need while helping others to get the things they need.
p.s. My biggest barter was for teeth. A friend's mom needed dentures but he couldn't afford them. He was, however, in the business of installing flooring so we found a dentist who needed flooring to pull the mom's teeth and a guy who made dentures who's son needed flooring to make the dentures and, just like that, mama had new teeth.

10 More Financial Disasters to Avoid

As WC Fields used to say, "There's a sucker born every minute". At no time in history have there been more ways devised to separate people from their hard earned money. Here are ten more financial disasters to avoid:

1. Time shares. People get into these because of the hard sell tactics used by the salespeople. If the customer would step back, take a breath, and break out their calculator, they would find that this is an extremely expensive way to take a vacation.
2. Multi Level Marketing Schemes. Every year or so another "great investment" makes it way through family and friends. I cringe every time someone I know buys into a MLM scheme then thinks it will be easy to sign me up as an associate. It's not. These are something I never participate in. There are a couple of OK MLMs (like Avon, Amway, etc which have an actual product to sell) but most focus solely on signing up more and more people; eventually you run out of people and/or sales skills.
3. Pyramid Schemes. The math seems good. Ten friends get together and decide to put in $100 each month to be given to one person in the group. You figure when it is your turn, you will have $1000 so it would kind of be like a savings account. Then life intercedes and some of the group can't afford to put in their $100 for a month or three and the pyramid implodes (along with your monthly "investment" of $100).
4. Email Schemes. No, you aren't the most helpful, luckiest, most blessed person on earth when you receive a plaintive email from a prince in Africa. These scammers--and there are many from all over the world and even in your own back yard--send you a check and ask you to cash it. They will generously offer to let you keep half of the check if you wire them the other half of the cash back. These are fraudulent checks and the sucker who cashes them and sends the money off ends up holding the bag (and the bill for the entire amount of funds).
5. EBay/Craigslist/Other Internet Scams. I used to like eBay but the last few times I listed things on there I would receive emails from people who wanted to make me a "better deal" such as double the price I was asking if I would just accept a check through the mail and send them the product immediately. This is a rip off and so are other "too good to be true" internet offerings such as the person who put an ad on Craigslist and said come to my house, I'll be out of town, take anything you want. Turns out the house belonged to an enemy of the person who listed the ad and the people who went over and helped themselves to the items were actually stealing.
6. Paying for Something You Can Get for Free. That jingle-ey commercial that comes on about "free credit reports dot com" is misleading. If you read the fine print it tells you that you will get a free credit report only if you sign up for their credit protection program, for a fee. You will get an honest to goodness free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. Don't pay for something you can get for free.
7. Leases. If you are leasing something other than a house or apartment, such as a car, it probably means you can't afford it. The reason people lease vehicles, although ostensibly for "tax purposes' is because the price to lease is considerably less than the price to buy. If you can't afford to buy something outright you can't afford it.
8. Investing. Not all investments are scams. If you do your homework and put together a diversified portfolio, you will be on the right track. The problem comes when people invest in a "hot tip" that they know nothing about, when they put all of their money in one company (Enron for example), or when they try to time the market. Dumb investments lead to loss of money, it's that simple.
9. Anything Illegal. People with basic math skills may be able to figure out that buying a pound of marijuana then selling it off in ounces for much more than what they paid can be lucrative, but when you figure in the additional costs (fines, lawyer fees, court costs, incarceration time, etc) the math goes out the window. The bottom line is that making money from anything that is illegal will end up costing way more than anticipated and quite frankly, isn't worth it.
10. Compromising Positions. Don't put yourself in a position to be used financially, blackmailed, et al. The Senator with a wife and girlfriend on the side has made a big financial mistake--it could cost him his salary (when he loses the next election over the hooplah), his cash (when he is blackmailed by someone in the know), and half of his assets (when his wife divorces him).

The best way to avoid these and other financial disasters is to use your common sense, do your research, do the math, never fall prey to hard sell tactics, and check, double check, and triple check anything that seems too good to be true.

Know the Local Hazards

I recently returned from a week-long conference. After the spouse got tired of staking out real estate by the pool, it was time for a run. My only comments as I headed off to another conference session were to use sunscreen since the sun in the desert was much more intense than where we live, to take a bottle of water since the dry, windy climate could lead more quickly to dehydration, and to watch out for rattle snakes. “Watch out for what???” If I recall correctly it was a quick run.

It is important to know what the local hazards are whether you are on vacation, recently moved to a new area, or are temporarily assigned to a new location. Since each location has its own inherent hazards, it is a good idea to know what they are before you get there (or as soon after arrival as possible). It’s a good bet that the hazards where you live are barely a blip on your radar since you are used to taking precautions for them, however when we relocate, everything is new, including possible physical, social, biological or other hazards. Also, hazards may be location specific, seasonal, or location specific and seasonal. Here’s a number of hazards that may be common in one area and unknown in others:

• Buried cluster bombs in Central America and South East Asia complements of Uncle Sam and the various wars that have been fought in these areas. Most areas where these are a threat are marked but you still need to watch your step in some places.


• Gang violence in most major American cities. You wouldn’t want to be caught dead (pun intended) in rival gang colors in east LA.


• Pickpockets in most cities world wide.


• Kidnapping is a Fortune 500 business in some countries. It isn’t everyday you head off to work and have to worry about being ransomed back to your family before lunch. In some countries this is a definite concern.


• The cultural view of safety precautions. These vary from stringent in some areas and industries to non-existent in other parts of the world. If you always wear your seat belt at home, they may not even be available in your third-world vacation location of choice.


• Wild life has its own hazards--bears in the northwest, scorpions in your boots in the southwest, ‘gators in the south east…you get the idea.


• The cute female that is cuddling up to you at an Asian bar…that isn’t all female. While this usually isn't a safety hazard, your buddies will probably never let you live it down so it qualifies as a social hazard.


• Another social (and legal) hazard is kissing someone in public, even your own spouse, in strict Islamic countries--it can land you in jail.


• Many rivers in early summer can be dangerous. The water looks inviting but it could be running cold, high, and fast, and be a drowning hazard. Also, there are usually snags on the bottom of rivers that have collected over the winter.


• Where you live there may be a lake with bass and trout, however in the tropics you are likely to find sharks, piranhas, barracudas, and jellyfish. Sea snakes, Puffer fish in Japanese restaurants, and electric eels are also concerns.


• We take it for granted that you can turn on a tap nearly anywhere in the US and take a drink, brush your teeth, or freeze it to make ice cubes, but this is not always possible in many locations around the world—gastrointestinal upset, putting it nicely, will be the result.


• Natural disasters differ from area to area. If you are new to coastal Florida, find out what precautions to take against hurricanes. Ditto if you are on the west coast in regards to earthquakes, landslides and wild fires, and the north, mid west and east coast in regards to snow storms.

The bottom line is to take a bit of time whenever you find yourself in a new location. Assess the situation, make a note of anything that may impede your safety, and take steps to protect yourself.

15 Components of Your Financial Safety Net

If you want to be financially secure, consider having these items on hand:

1. Insurance (home, life, auto, medical, business, and Executive Risk if necessary)
2. Emergency cash stashed someplace safe
3. A list of account information for all debts and monthly expenses
4. A retirement account (IRA, 401k, 403b, etc)
5. Immediate access to a personal line of credit (bank, friend, credit card, etc)
6. A well-paying job and/or
7. Gainfully self-employed
8. A great tax accountant
9. A great attorney
10. A diversified investment portfolio
11. Checking, savings, and Money Market accounts
12. A plan to review your credit report annually and immediately correct mistakes
13. A Will, Living Will, and Power of Attorney
14. Someone you can trust to take care of your finances for you when you are away from home for long periods of time (of course you will trust but verify)
15. A cross cut shredder

Movie Favorites

Here are some of my favorite movies--obviously these are for entertainment purposes only and most require putting common sense/your knowledge of actual combat/reality on hold a bit but it is all in good fun:

• The Bourne Identity
• The Bourne Supremacy
• The Bourne Ultimatum
• The Saint
• Three Days of the Condor
• The Transporter
• Bad Boys 1 & 2
• The Great Escape
• Saving Private Ryan
• Die Hard series
• Rambo series
• Godfather series
• The Net
• Enemy of the State
• Day After Tomorrow
• 007 series
• XXX
• Lethal Weapon series
• Catch Me If You Can
• Oceans 11
• Eraser
• Collateral
• Indiana Jones series
• Wag the Dog
• Cast Away
• Platoon
• SWAT
• Patriot Games
• Clear and Present Danger
• Hunt for Red October
• Red Dawn
• Lord of War
• The Sum of All Fears

What to Put In Your Gun Safe

I think my gun safe is one of the best investments I have made. It is large enough for a fairly good selection of firearms, it is bolted to the wall and floor so it won't be going anywhere without great effort (and a crane--the thing weights a ton!), and most importantly, it is a fire-proof, water-proof, kid-proof place to store all of my valuables. Here's what's in my gun safe:

• All handguns, rifles and shotguns
• Ammo. Not all of my ammo, just enough to tide me over in an emergency (the rest of my ammo is stored in various hidden locations around the house).
• Cash sealed in an air-tight food pouch (like my ammo, I have cash hidden all over as well)
• Important documents (wills, birth certificates, copies of licenses and passports, etc). These are also sealed in air-tight food pouch.
• Dri-Z-Air. To keep the guns from rusting
• Back-up computer files on a jump drive. This drive is updated monthly and also sealed in an air-tight food pouch.
• Some expensive jewelry and watches that I want to keep secured.

That's about all. Some people like safe deposit boxes but I prefer to keep my important things nearby. Note that you will want to put your gun safe in a well hidden spot (ie: not in view of the general public every time you open your garage door or the window in your bedroom). Also note that your safe is only as secure as it's access points (meaning don't leave the key or combo where anyone can find it).

**Some of these posts may look a bit familiar. I recently reorganized the CNI website to make it less cluttered and am adding some of the content here so bear with me for a couple of more posts until it all gets settled.

10 Financial Disasters to Avoid

I was talking, um more like lecturing, my son today. I may sound like a broken record but kids (he's in his 20's) these days have so many financial pitfalls just waiting to trip them up. The topic turned to finances and I laid out ten things he must absolutely avoid (many, not all, learned from experience). Here they are:

1. Payday lenders. Fortunately I have never got one of these loans but a friend did and when I saw the 345% interest rate in big bold letters on the agreement I nearly fell off my chair. I told my son I would rather have him panhandling on a corner than take out a payday loan. And I meant it. People get into a vicious cycle of payday loans--get a loan, pay it back with interest with the next paycheck, be short with that check so take out another loan, ad nauseum--pretty soon they never get out of this cycle of debt.
2. Credit cards. These start out innocuously enough. Credit cards are practically handed to each person who turns 18 in this country. They are hyped as an excellent way to build credit. Then people use them, they can't pay off the balance, they add more each month, and pretty soon they are in perma debt.
3. Rent to own places. Young people often want to move into their own home just like the one they left at mom and dads. They don't stop to think that mom and dad have built up their standard of living over thirty years, not thirty days. So they run over to the local "rent to own" place and come home with a truck load of massively over priced furniture that they will be paying off weekly for, like, ever.
4. Extended warranties. Some people swear by these, but I have found that if you buy a quality product with a good basic warranty, these over priced insurance plans are really not worth it.
5. Co-signing loans for other people. Bad idea. Bad. Bad. Bad. If your latest girlfriend has such crappy credit that she needs a co-signer, it is a good bet that she won't pay you back either when she defaults on the loan. This is especially true after y'all break up. Watch Judge Judy for further confirmation of this.
6. Loaning money to friends and relatives. Also a bad idea. If you have some money and want to help someone out, give them the money with no strings attached. Don't loan it because you probably won't get it back and you will lose a friend in the process.
7. Not saving for retirement. Yes you are young and retirement looks like it is eons away but it will be here before you know it and you don't want to end up living under a bridge. Compounding interest rocks so use it to your advantage while you are young.
8. Buying a brand new car. New cars drop 25% of their value in the half hour it takes you to sign the papers and drive it off of the lot. It's much better to buy a slightly used car and let someone else take the financial hit.
9. Paying top dollar for your purchases. You can get equally good food at the little ethnic restaurant down the street instead of paying $200 for the latest trendy restaurant. If you need a Play Station, buy it on sale or better yet, on EBay.
10. Doing stupid stuff. DUI--$4,000. Med Evac after crashing a motorcycle without a helmet on $6,500. Becoming a baby daddy with someone you never plan to have a future with--$500,000+. Ouch.

And now that you have saved so much money, you can invest in cool stuff such as emergency prep supplies, firearms (he liked that idea), a class to learn additional skills, etc.

Link Roundup: Interesting Stuff from the Web

Every once in a while, my 'favorites' file gets full and I need to empty it. Many of the sites I put in this file get my attention for one reason or another but they aren't something I would post on the 'Daily INSIGHT' page. Here's some interesting links from the world wide web:

• Challenge: November 7 & 8 Blackwater Escape and Evasion Adventure Race
• Opportunity: 10 Volunteer Opportunities for Free Travel
• When You've Run Out of Dinner Ideas: 101 Picnic Dishes to Make in 20 Minutes or Less
• Something You Should Know: 50 Facts That Should Change the World
• Interesting: Cat Camera
• Useful: 50+ Personal Productivity Blogs You've Never Heard Of
• Educational: 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet

Happy reading...

Car Preps 101

If you rely on your car to get you where you are going and to shelter you in the case of an emergency, here are some preps that will ensure your car is ready to go when you are:

For the car itself:

• Have the oil changed regularly
• Check the tires and replace them when they become worn
• Keep your tires properly inflated and have them rotated on a regular basis
• Have your brakes serviced as needed
• Check all fluid levels regularly
• Service the radiator and have the coolant flushed as needed
• Have it tuned up as recommended in the owner's manual
• Keep the gas tank at least half full
• Keep it clean (you don't want people to look in and find your personal info on mail, etc)
• Always have it insured
• Pay it off as soon as possible

In your car's Emergency Bag:

• Fix A Flat
• Jumper cables
• Siphon
• Light sticks
• Flares
• Assorted plastic bags (ziplocs, garbage bags)
• Ice scraper
• Tire pressure gauge
• Duct tape
• Neon cloth streamer
• Tow chain or rope
• Foldable shovel
• Poncho (can be used to cover accident victims, cover you if you have to walk in the rain, or for something to lay on if you are working under the car)
• Battery-powered radio/extra batteries
• Flashlight with spare batteries
• Bungee cords
• Coins
• $200 cash
• Pen, pencil
• Paper
• Calling card
• Waterless hand cleaner
• Lighter/Matches
• Handi wipes
• First aid kit
• Leather gloves
• WD-40
• Zip ties
• Towel
• Blanket
• Tools (hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, wrench, needle nose pliers, socket set, etc)
• Super glue
• Electrical tape
• Utility knife

Also keep in your car:

• Cell phone charger
• Maps of your county, state, and nation
• Weapon
• Registration and insurance card
• 12 volt AC adaptor
• Fire extinguisher
• Spare 1 gallon gas can
• Usable spare tire/jack
• Car BOB
• Entertainment for the kids (crayons and coloring books) and for you (book)
• Bottled water
• Food (energy bars, dried fruit, nuts, candy, etc).

How Physically Fit Are You?

Physical fitness is a critical part of being prepared to deal with any disaster that occurs. With a national obesity rate that is steadily creeping towards 30%, this doesn't bode well for nearly one third of our entire population. People who are overweight or obese have problems with the very basics of helping themselves during a disaster such as exiting an airplane during an emergency landing, climbing out of a window if their home is on fire, or evacuating on foot, even if they only need to run to the nearest cross street. With that in mind, consider if you...

• Are able to swim one mile (preferably in open water)
• Are able to run five miles easily
• Can do basic calisthenics (100 push ups, 100 sit ups, 40 pull ups)
• Have a Black Belt in a martial art (karate, kung fu, judo, tae kwon do, etc)
• Are well-versed in team sports (basketball, baseball, football, volleyball soccer, etc)
• Are well-versed in water sports (polo, diving, SCUBA, water skiing)
• Are well-versed in winter sports (skiing--both downhill and cross country, snowshoeing)
• Have experience rock climbing, mountain climbing, ice climbing
• Are well-versed in balance sports (bicycling, dance, skating--both ice and roller)
• Are well-versed in individual sports (fencing, gymnastics, golf, wrestling)
• Are strong (weight lifting)
• Are flexible (stretching)

These are all important physical fitness skills to have. Of course as the population ages, the ability to do the aforementioned activities will lessen, however, any amount of physical fitness training on a regular basis will give you many added benefits when it comes to being prepared for an emergency. It may even take care of some basic health issues such as lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
If you want to begin an exercise plan, start slow. Walking to the mail box or around the block may be a good start for some people. You may also want to discuss your physical fitness plan with your doctor and get some baseline tests done in order to see how your improving physical fitness impacts your overall health. In addition, you may want to set some goals to keep yourself motivated such as walking a marathon, joining a bowling team, walking with the Volksmarchers, or even participating the the local Senior Olympics events that are common around the country.
It is never too late to start to improve your fitness level and you will probably even find that as your exercise program progresses, you will have more energy, less weight to carry around, and less aches and pains that are common as we age.

Prepping on the Cheap at the Dollar Store

As I wandered through our local Dollar Store today, I noted a plethora of preparedness items that a person could buy and stockpile, each for only a dollar. Here's some of the items:

• plastic utensils


• paper plates


• candles


• batteries


• cleaning products (ammonia, bleach, scrubbing powder, sponges, mops, etc)


• kid's books


• spices


• hand sanitizer


• soap


• first aid supplies (bandaids, peroxide, antiseptic, gauze, etc)


• razors


• toothbrushes


• toothpaste


• shampoo


• ziploc bags


• plastic trash bags (all sizes)


• plastic containers and buckets


• paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, napkins)


• super glue


• bungee cords


• scissors


• utility knife


• work gloves


• car stuff


• aluminum foil


• canned goods


• dry goods (flour, grains, sugar, etc)


• tools

That just scratches the surface--each store has different items and the same store will have different items each time you visit. For people who think it is too expensive or overwhelming to prepare ahead of time for a disaster, taking $10 to the local Dollar Store and buying ten items to add to your stockpile each week makes a lot of sense.

A couple of caveats: before you shop at these stores, know your prices. Some items can be purchased even cheaper at regular stores so know the going prices for the items you want to buy and if $1 for the item is cheaper than a regular store, make the purchase. If not, buy the item when it is on sale at the regular store. Also, be aware that the quality of these items can range from OK to crap. For example, I purchased a watch repair kit at the Dollar Store because it is something I may or may not use. On the other hand, I purchase my hammers, wrenches and other quality tools from Sears because Craftsman is renowned for quality tools and these are items that I use often and really depend upon.

Useful Technology for the Adventurer

If you are prone to take off at a moments notice to travel the world or just work all over the place instead of in a stationary cube, here are some tech items you may want to have with you:

• Laptop--preferably a very lightweight, small one
• PDA--all your contacts, calendar, and info on one small device
• Cellphone--an "unlocked" phone that you can buy a local SIM card for
• Smart Phone--a Blackberry, iPhone or the like can substitute for the PDA and cell phone
• Satellite Phone--if you are going into an area with no cell service, this may be an option
• Computer stuff--mouse, cables, web cam, etc.
• Digital Camera--a small, easy to carry camera for everything from tourist photos to portraits
• Thumb Drive--preferably two, one for all of your back-up files and one to use for transferring documents
• Digital Camcorder--a small one, great for recording your adventures and/or covert surveillance
• GPS Device--so you won't get lost
• An iPod type device--to listen to music or watch videos on long flights
• WiFi Finder--easier to use than breaking out the laptop to see if WiFi is available
• Spare memory cards--so you can fill them up or replace damaged ones
• iPod--alleviate boredom and amuse the natives
• Power converter/adaptor--so you don't toast your appliances when you plug them in at a foreign hotel
• Earbuds--for your cell/laptop/iPod

What's In Your BOB?

Twice a year, I dump everything out of my Bug Out Bag (BOB), revamp and update its contents, and repack it, just to make sure that it is always ready to go. Fortunately, I have never had to use it to "bug out" however it has come in handy on a number of occasions: we were at a park and someone needed a lighter to start the barbecue--no one seems to smoke anymore thus no lighter--so I simply pulled some matches out of my BOB. Another time I went to meet a friend in a city a couple of hours away from my home. It got late and snowy so I decided to get a hotel room for a night. Even though I had not planned on staying and had no overnight bag with me, it was no problem because I had my BOB in the car and thus all of the supplies I needed to hole up overnight. Many times over the course of a year, I find myself away from home and in need of a particular item and usually all I have to do is rummage through my BOB to find it.

Here's what's in my BOB:

• Backpack, sleeping bag (tiny Slumberjack)


• Food pack (beef jerkey, trail mix, tuna, craisins, M&Ms, instant oatmeal, cup a soup, tea bags, hot chocolate, granola bars, raisins, vitamins).


• Eating stuff (can of sterno, metal cup, can opener, water bottle, spoon)


• Toiletries (floss, toothpaste, tooth brush, nail clippers, comb, soap, razor, shampoo, towel, wash cloth, tissue, toilet paper)


• Shoes/clothing (trail shoes, socks, shorts, T shirt, trousers, fleece jacket, rain jacket, bandanna)


• First aid kit (moleskin, bandaide, alcohol wipes, aspirin,antibiotics, pain killer, gauze, medical tape, scissors, nitrile gloves, antibacterial ointment)


• Repair kit (rubber bands, sewing kit, safety pins, duct tape, nails, small gauge wire)


• Other stuff (playing cards, binoculars, magnifying glass, battery/solar radio, ear phones for the radio, candle, coins, $200 cash, wire saw, Potable Aqua, lighter, fishing kit (hooks, line, sinkers), bug repellent, KaBar knife, knife sharpener, magnesium firestarter/steel, whistle, matches, work gloves, ziploc bags, compass, map, tarp/poncho, para cord, space blanket, hand warmer packets, maglite flashlight, spare batteries, bungee cords, aluminum foil, razor blade, small trowel, spare ammo)

That's what's in my bag. Your bag will probably be different--actually I've never seen two BOBs the same. The premise with this bag is that it contains only the very basics as far as survival supplies go. I will be able to take care of myself with these supplies if I end up in a hotel or in a wilderness area. This bag is not the same as my camping supplies and does not include the items I would take on a multi-week backpacking trip. This is a small, lightweight bag that I can pick up and literally run with if I need to get away ASAP. I've seen some BOBs that weight upwards of 90 pounds which is (IMHO) a ridiculous amount to carry without a Sherpa. On the other hand, these basic items in my BOB are much more than many people in third world countries have in their entire homes so I guess what each person considers "necessary" is relative. Other items that I always have with me: firearm, laptop, Daily Carry bag, jump drive with all of my important documents scanned onto it.

In the event of an evacuation or if I am leaving to Bug Out from my home, I will of course throw as much stuff into the BOV as possible. Everything is organized in the garage by stations and includes bins of camping gear, firearms/supplies, water, food, medical supplies, tools, etc. Each bin can easily be tossed in the BOV and then we really would be able to survive for an indeterminate amount of time away from home.

Personal Finance Roundup

As you can probably tell by reading this blog, one of the best ways to be prepared for anything is to have the cash to be able to take care of any problems that come up. Besides knowledge and skills, money is the next best thing to have. Here's some good personal finance info:

• http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/105149/5-Strategies-for-Surviving-Tough-Times
• http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2005/08/mnd_seven_facto.html
• http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/07/13/ten-tip-offs-that-youre-getting-bogus-financial-information-and-five-antidotes/
• http://www.wisebread.com/so-your-bank-failed-now-what
• http://zenhabits.net/2008/07/golden-money-list/
• http://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/16-great-personal-finance-resources-blogs.html

Common Sense Economics (Or CYA As the Economy Nosedives)

I believe in personal responsibility first and foremost. If you spill coffee on yourself, you don't sue McDonalds, you either be more careful the next time or don't drink coffee. Likewise if you get a mortgage that there is no way in hell you can afford, I don't think the government should bail you out...you lose the house, it's that simple. It's common sense.
Since about the mid '70s, common sense economics has virtually vanished. That was about the time that credit cards started being distributed to nearly everyone, that frugality as a way of life for the masses became very uncool, and parents started spoiling their children to the point that they didn't want them to "suffer" so they did everything within their power to give them as many material goods as they could; these children turned into adults with an attitude of entitlement (and lots of debt used to purchase these entitlements).
Now as the economy reaches new lows each day, it is time to get back to common sense economics. Your economic life is in your hands for the most part, so it is time to take action in order to keep yourself in the best financial position possible no matter what the economy does. Here's how:

• Get out of debt immediately, even if it means you need to work four jobs at the same time. The more you work, the more money you make, and the faster you do this, the faster you will get out of debt.
• You need to own your own home if possible. Note that for some people, this may not be possible or advisable (ie: people in the military who move every couple of years, people who are in deep debt, etc). But once you get out of debt and can actually afford it, owning your own home--free and clear--gives you much more control than renting. The idea is to buy a place that you can afford (even if it is a tiny lot and a travel trailer to start) so that no matter what the economy does, you won't have the possibility of losing your home (something even many renters are facing now as the owners of their properties head into foreclosure).
• Live on cash only. This will usually curtail your spending since if you don't have the cash, you can't buy. Even if you do have the cash, it seems harder to spend this way than when you hand over a piece of plastic.
• Buy the things you need now. Don't raid your 401k to buy things, however, it is always a good idea to have lots of the basics (food, tools, ammo, toilet paper, etc) on hand so that during times of rapidly rising prices and rapidly decreasing value of the dollar, you can more or less take cover and stop shopping until things cool off a bit.
• Diversify your investments. I am not an economist but it doesn't take a genius to figure you shouldn't put all off your eggs (investments) in one basket (a single stock or single type of investment).
• Don't look for a bailout. Years ago, failure was a lesson in what not to do. The lesson was learned and then people moved on, hopefully never to repeat their previous mistakes. These days people don't want to face failure and feel that they deserve to be helped even though it is their own damn fault for being irresponsible (this goes for businesses as well). No matter the type of bailout--a loan from the parents to cover debt, a bill consolidation loan, a government program to "help"--this skips an important step, the failure step, where you get to suffer, learn a lesson, and figure out a solution to the problem. This is an important step as this is where learning and corrective actions can be made so you don't run into the same problem again.
• Keep your head above water always. Don't be misled by "easy" credit, "buy now, pay later", whining children and whining spouses, creating a financial disaster for yourself to keep up with the Joneses or because what others think about you is more important than your bottom line.
• Do the best you can. There are many situations you have control of (your spending, your investing) but there are other situations you don't (an unexpected illness, the death of a spouse). There is no shame in asking for help when something you have no control over happens.
• Prepare for the worst. You need a "Plan A" and a "Plan B" and "Plan C" for the major parts of your life. What would happen if you suddenly lose your job? What would happen if your spouse up and leaves? What would happen if your house is destroyed by a fire or natural disaster? If you have concrete answers for these questions, you are miles ahead of most people.

The bottom line is to take care of yourself without relying on others or the government to do what you didn't do for yourself. Notice I didn't say "can't do for yourself" because almost any situation you find yourself in, you can get yourself out of with enough hard work and determination. Use common sense and keep your personal financial situation as solid as possible so that you can weather any economic storm.

Stupid Turkish Hackers

If you tried to check the CNI website today you will notice the Turkish Hackers have once again hijacked it. I have no idea what their fascination is with my website but now that the problem has been noted it should be fixed quickly.

Evacuate!

With random chunks of the west coast on fire, many people are being forced to evacuate their homes. While you never know if or when you may be forced to flee your home, here's how to be ready for that possibility:

• Pay attention to the news. Some events come with enough warning (some wildfires, hurricanes), others may not (a chemical spill or neighborhood hostage situation), in either case, you need to know what is going on and that the possibility of evacuation exists. In emergent situations, you may only have minutes of notice via a reverse 911 call or the blaring of sirens/announcements by you local police or fire department.
• Evacuate early if possible. If a category four hurricane is headed your way, don't wait until an evacuation is mandated and the roads are clogged before you head out.
• Always have your BOB ready to go.
• Make an evacuation plan way before you need it, not as the minutes are ticking by until you have to leave. Your plan should include how you will evacuate (car, plane, bus, etc) and where you will go (local hotel, friend's home a few hours away, a family member's home in another state). Note that there is no guarantee that public transportation will be available (or won't be overwhelmed) if you are counting on using it for evacuation.
• Take special care to plan for those you are responsible for. An invalid parent who lives close to you who may have difficulty evacuating and may need medical support, your farm animals, a very pregnant spouse, or other situations that will require more preparation other than tossing your BOB in the car and leaving. Also, consider how you will gather up a spouse from work and your kids from school/friend's homes if an evacuation happens when they are away from home.
• Continue listening to the news. Directions may be given for information on when and where to evacuate, locations of emergency shelters, Red Cross assistance, or other services planned for evacuees.

When it is time to leave:

• Close and lock all windows and doors.
• Make sure all appliances are turned off (stove, iron, etc).
• Gather up all family members along with their BOBs and assemble at a pre-planned location (ie: in the garage).
• Gather up all pets (they should have mini-BOBs as well which includes their food, some bottled water, a blanket or carrier, etc).
• Toss anything else in the car that is necessary or useful such as medications, additional food/camping gear/bottled water, your laptop, your packet of important papers (copies of all important papers such as insurance policies, passports, birth certificates, etc. should be kept together and ready to "grab and go"). and other necessary, irreplaceable items.
• If your car's fuel tank is not full and you have time, fill it up with the spare fuel kept for the lawnmower yard equipment.
• Fill out this paper (keep some downloaded and readily available) and leave it on the kitchen counter or refrigerator door.
• Ensure your home is secure (close garage door and make sure front door is locked).
• Leave by the safest, most expedient route possible.
• While you are on the road, call your emergency contact and let them know where you are headed.
• Do not return to your home until you are told it is safe to do so.

10 Reasons to Have a Garage Sale

As I am wading through a garage full of stuff in preparation for a garage sale at the end of the month, I began thinking about why we do this virtually every year. Here's why:

1. It puts some cash in your pocket. Aside from the bulging garage, people usually go to the trouble of having a garage sale in order to recoup some cash from the things they had bought previously. Note that this isn't any form of return on investment--you are usually getting a dime on the dollar from the things you spent your hard earned money on.
2. It cleans out the garage and gives you more space. The garage becomes the "catch all" over the course of the winter, collecting all of the things we no longer want or need. This is a good way to get some more space in your garage (which you can then use to increase your prep supplies).
3. You can reorganize the things you want to keep. After you get rid of the junk and open up more space, it is much easier to organise the things you want to keep (ie: preparedness supplies, stored food, etc) in an efficient and effective manner.
4. It will make you think twice when you go shopping. Do you really need that $50 widget that you may or may not use when you know from your last garage sale experience that you may only be able to get $5 for it after you use it for a bit?
5. It is entertaining and informative. In past garage sales we have met all kinds of people--the early birds, the hard bargainers, an interesting guy who goes to garage sales for a living, fixes up his finds, then resells them.
6. It's a lesson in teamwork. When the kids lived at home, the whole family got in on the process. Now it's just the spouse and I but the teamwork to get the sale done (gathering the items, pricing them, making and posting sign, etc) requires communication and working together which is good practice for survival situations.
7. It provides some good business lessons. In this condensed event, you will learn about advertising, pricing, how to display products effectively, what sells and what doesn't, etc.
8. It gives you an opportunity for a spin-off money making opportunity. When the kids were young they would set up a lemonade stand and sell cold lemonade and sodas to make a little extra cash. At more elaborate garage sales people set up barbecues, place cars for sale next to the action, or post signs for their main business such as backhoe work (which may start a conversation and get a new customer or two).
9. You will meet the neighbors. Years ago we lived in our house for a few years prior to having a garage sale. Before the sale we had only met a couple of neighbors. During the sale they came out of the woodwork and we ended up meeting most of the people in the neighborhood. I guess this is a non-threatening way to check out the neighbors and the kind of stuff they have.
10. You will still get to practice some of your security skills. Of course keeping the money safe will be one task, watching for shoplifters (yes, people actually steal at garage sales if you can believe it), keeping your home secure during the event, and keeping the stuff in your garage that you don't want the world to see camouflaged will also need to be done.

Firearms for Personal Protection and Home Defense

A reader wrote in today asking about recommendations for firearms for the new shooter that can be used for personal protection and home defense. Here's a long and rambling answer (bulleted--no pun intended--to make it easier to digest):

• I would never recommend any particular firearm for a few reasons. First I am far from being an expert on firearms, I only use what I have found to work best for my needs. Second, like asking techno-geeks about the best computer, jocks about the best tennis shoes, or any other niche about the "best" items to be had in the field--if you ask five people you will get five different answers. Third, each person will have a different "ideal" firearm based on their needs, skills, and experience.
• People with little or no firearms experience should start off with a good firearms class to cover the basics. These classes will usually let you shoot a variety of weapons so you will get a feel for each type (handgun, shotgun, rifle) and various brands among each type (Glock, Sig, HK).
• If you learn from a friend, make sure they are a good teacher. Some of the best shooters are not necessarily the best teachers and some of the best teachers are not necessarily the best shooters.
• Safety is paramount. Always use eye and ear protection when shooting and shoot in a safe location (in many areas this does not include the back 40 anymore as new housing developments are popping up everywhere these days).
• Use a variety of firearms before you make your first purchase so you will get an idea of what you want to buy instead of buying a firearm and then trying to talk yourself into liking it (ie: buying a .45 semi-auto pistol for a tiny woman who is a new shooter so she can protect herself isn't a good idea--the recoil from her first shot will probably turn her off from firearms all together. Better to get her a sturdy .380 to start with--after she has had a chance to try some of these out).
• The cost of your first firearms (a rifle, shotgun, and handgun) shouldn't break the bank. Save the custom-made, several thousand dollar pistol for when you are advancing in the competitive shooting field. On the other hand, you also don't want an old, worn out cheapie gun that someone is trying to get rid of. Most recreational shooters (or those who will use a firearm for practice and defense) will not be able to tell the difference between a basic, lower priced firearm and a very expensive, high end firearm. A good quality, mid-range priced firearm will probably be your best bet.
• What you should be most concerned with when purchasing firearms are their accuracy, durability, reliability, fit (people with smaller hands tend to find double stack pistols difficult to use, for example), and ease of use.
• Fit the firearms to your needs and to the person who will be using it. A Desert Eagle .50 may be able to stop a charging buffalo but for basic concealed carry, it wouldn't make sense. Get something along the lines of a 9mm. I would also recommend a good 20 gauge or 12 gauge shotgun over a 10 gauge shotgun; in this case all family members would be able to pick up and use a 20 gauge in a defense situation whereas a 10 gauge may be too much for some smaller family members to use.
• After you have finished up with the basic firearms class, consider taking more advanced classes. Classes that teach you specifically about home defense will clue you in on things you should take into consideration that you otherwise may not know (ie: a shotgun may be better for home defense instead of a rifle that will shoot through the perpetrator, the wall, and the neighbor's wall as well). When you are dealing with a life or death situation, there is no better way to acquire information than from experts who have "been there, done that". Save the "school of hard knocks" lessons for something that won't risk life and limb.
• Remember you aren't stuck with the first firearm you purchase. As you learn more about the various firearms available and try other's guns, you may want to switch to something else, fortunately firearms tend to hold their value so it isn't like you are investing in a new car which drops dramatically in value as soon as you purchase it.
• Consider ammo. You will want to practice as much as possible with your firearms so taking the cost of ammo into consideration is important. The reason kids and new shooters practice a lot with .22s in part is because the ammo is cheap so you can shoot a lot at little expense. Purchasing a firearm that requires expensive or exotic ammo may deter you from practicing as much as you should.
• After you become more skilled and knowledgeable about firearms, consider some extras. Regular pistol sites are fine but laser sites are a nice addition. A variety of holsters to meet your needs, pistol grips, scopes, etc. are also some nice additions to have.
• Consider reloading. Reloading your own ammo isn't rocket science. This is a skill that can be learned and can save you a lot of cash depending on how much and what you shoot.
• In some instances, having a firearm on hand may not be a good option. While it seems imperative that "everyone" should have a firearm in order to protect themselves, there are situations where I would recommend against it. In a home where there are children (from curious toddlers to wanna-be gang banger teens) a whole lot more effort needs to be taken to keep them safe. If there are any doubts about the adult's ability to do this, it may be unwise to have firearms easily accessible. Ditto if there are suicidal family members, a history of domestic violence, mental illness, or other volatile situations where having a gun on hand may cause more problems than it would solve.
• FYI, my personal firearms consist of: KelTec P3AT .380, a Sig Sauer P239 9mm, Smith & Wesson SW 1911 .45, Winchester .22 rifle, Savage .270, and Mossberg 12 gauge pump shotgun. As I said, I am no expert on firearms and there are plenty of firearms that are much nicer/more popular/more expensive than what I have, but for my basic needs (concealed carry mostly and basic home defense) these work for me. I am looking at adding to my rifle and shotgun collection as having more of these types of firearms on hand WTSHTF will be good for both defense as well as for bartering if the need arises.

Resources:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/ayoob_index.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Firearm-for-Personal-or-Home-Defense
http://www.bullseyepistol.com/

Class Update

I called around today to get the details about preparedness-type classes that are offered in my local area and found out the following (note that this information may or may not be the same in your area):

• Our local fire department offers free CPR certification classes about twice a month. Since my card is long expired I signed up for their next class.
• I contacted my local HAM operator's group (found at www.arrl.org) and found out that they offer a free eight week (two hours each Tuesday evening for seven weeks then the licensing test on the eighth week) class that will help you pass the test to get your HAM radio operator's license. The only cost is for the book. I signed up for this too since it is a quiet summer and I have some free time. Also, since sat phones aren't working very well, the emphasis in preparedness circles has switched back to HAM radio so I should at least be licensed to use one!
• I called a rifle club that I belong to and found out that they offer a three day hunter's education course for the grand total of $15. Since I haven't hunted since I was a kid, I figured this would be a good opportunity to brush up on my skills and get certified at the same time (even though at my age I am not required to have this certification). I was talking to another member of the club about this and although he has been a hunter for years, he decided to take the course too because now in order to hunt in some other states you need to produce proof at completing a hunter's ed course.

Anyway, I was just surprised at first, how very inexpensive it is to get some extra preparedness education and second, how many classes are offered in my area alone. This should be a very educational summer...

DPT--Take a Class

If the lazy days of summer are giving you some free time, why not use this extra time to take a class? Summer is a great time to spend a few hours, a few days, or maybe even a few weeks brushing up on some old skills or learning something new that will help you become even more prepared than you already are. Here are some classes going on in my local area:

• CPR/First Aid (great to know in an emergency situation)
• Yoga (a very good basis for your physical fitness routine)
• Hunter's Education (certification is now required for younger hunters in our state)
• HAM Radio (will lead to HAM certification so you can legally use a radio)
• Safe Boating (a good skill to know if you ever plan to be on the water)
• Motorcycle Endorsement class (an excellent way to learn how to ride skillfully)
• Reloading class (how to make your own ammo--always a good skill to know)
• Advanced Sewing (who knows...one of these days you may need to make your own clothes or at least want to be able to modify your gear)
• Wild Edibles in Urban Areas (how to find food in the most unlikely of places)

As you can see, this is just a random assortment of the classes that are currently available. Take a look around your local area, determine what some of the skills are that you would like to learn or that would come in handy when TSHTF, and sign up today!

Apartment and Condo Security/Preparedness Tips

When people think about "survivalists", they think they need to live in a cabin way out in the woods in order to be a "real" survivalist; this simply isn't true. No matter where you live whether it is in the idealized cabin in the woods, a house in the suburbs, an apartment, a trailer, a dorm room, or under a bridge, you can be prepared and ready to survive any situation--being a survivalist is more about attitude, skills, education, and logic/critical thinking skills than it is about location. With that in mind, let's look at some ways that you can be secure as well as prepared if you live in an apartment/condo situation:

• Choose your location carefully; apartments and condos in "bad" sections of town usually have more crime and problems than in "good" sections of town. The extra rent to live in a better neighborhood may well be worth it.
• Before signing the lease, check out the location at night. Is there good lighting? Are there secure entry ways that at left secured or are they left open for anyone to wander in? How is the parking? If it is an underground parking structure, is it secure? Are there security officers on the premises?
• Take a look at fire safety efforts. Fire is one of the biggest threats in an apartment building because a small fire in a neighbors apartment can destroy the entire building. Is there a sprinkler system? Are there working fire alarms? Are there fire extinguishers both in the units and in the hallways/outside of the units? Are they in working order? Are there fire blocks in the attic or is it an open, continuous attic for the entire building?
• Always have renter's or condo owners insurance.
• How secure are the doors and windows? Exterior doors should be re-keyed when you move in. They should also have deadbolt locks and peepholes.
• Devise a system (even is it is the simple matchstick system) to determine if anyone has entered your home while you are away. The building super/maintenance man/manager must give you written notice before entering your apartment--they can't just wander in when they feel like it.
• Put timers on a lamp and a TV set to come on at various times if you are away from home in order to make it look like there is activity in your home.
• Get to know some of your neighbors so they will watch your place (you can be neighborly and keep an eye on theirs as well). This will also clue you into the neighborhood grapevine news about what is going on around the place.
• Beware of the neighborhood busy body--not only will they tell you everyone's business, they will spread news about you far and wide as well.
• Keep your doors, sliding doors, and windows locked. Apartments and condos provide an excellent opportunity for burglars as there are usually so many people coming and going that no one pays much attention. Never leave your doors and windows unlocked and give thieves/rapists an easy opportunity to enter your home.
• Take care when you are bringing things (big new flat panel TV, a nice new rifle, a gun cabinet that can withstand a direct hit) into your home. Try to disguise these items as much as possible or move them in at night so as not to draw suspicion (and gossip) about you or make you a target for a future burglary.
• Consider installing an alarm/surveillance system inside your home. You could go all out and get a complete wireless, remote-viewable, audio-video security system, but even a small alarm that shrieks when the window is opened may be enough to scare away a burglar.
• Look as average as possible. One nice thing about living in the woods or even in the suburbs where you can drive discreetly into your garage is that you can come home in full camo and not raise the neighbors attention (because they won't see you). Coming home to an apartment this way may indeed scare the neighbors so change at the range or elsewhere before you return home.
• Keep access to your crawl space/attic secured. It isn't unheard of for another tenant to access the attic through their unit, crawl over to your attic access, then jump down into your place and steal things. Make sure this can't happen.
• Take care of the basics: never leave a key outside "just in case", don't put your name on your mailbox, keep a detailed inventory of your possessions, stop the newspaper if you will be gone for a period of time, etc.
• If you are concerned about the security of your home, store very valuable items elsewhere (your parent's very secure house, in a safe deposit box, in your office which has 24-hour security, etc).
• Take care when having private, personal conversations in your unit--the walls are often very thin and the neighbors may be able to hear you. Try to keep loud arguing and fighting to a minimum as well.
• Check the walls--voyeurs like apartment buildings because the walls are connected, one small drill hole and a peep-hole type device and they are in business.
• Keep your BOB in an easily accessible place in your home.
• Use any unneeded space (under the bed, closets) to store extra food and water.
• Keep "fold up" water containers on hand in case you need to quickly store some water in an emergency.
• Have the same emergency equipment on hand as you would in a house--an ax to chop your way out of the building, a breaker bar to dislodge items strewn about after a tornado, a water purification system, work gloves to help you escape through a broken window, etc.
• Be social but never give out detailed information about yourself.
• Develop plans for what to do if a disaster common to your area happens: have a fire escape plan, ask the manager what the plan is for the building if a hurricane is imminent, find the safest place in your unit to ride out an earthquake, etc.
• Use common sense in situations that can be dangerous (ie: walking up the stairs in a secluded stairwell, walking from your car to the elevator in a parking structure, using the laundry room in the middle of the night, etc).

DPT--Go Walk!

Here's one of the easiest daily preparedness tips you will find--go take a walk.

Who--anyone with two working feet (although I know a guy who lost both legs in a skydiving accident and he actually runs faster than I do). So basically if it is at all possible for you to walk, go out and do it.

What--walking for exercise, walking as an alternate form of transportation, walking as a way to get prepared in the event you need to evacuate on foot.

When--anytime but preferably as part of your morning routine so you don't run out of time later in the day.

Why--because if you are among the 70%+ of the Americans who are overweight, this is the most basic exercise you can do, because it is an excellent form of exercise for core strength, and because it's a good cardio exercise as well.

Where--anywhere...you can walk at the mall early in the morning, you can walk around your neighborhood, you can walk on a treadmill placed in front of your TV, you can walk just about everywhere.

How--walking is the simplest physical activity there is. You don't need special equipment or clothing, just put on your shoes and get moving (actually shoes are optional as well, there are plenty of people around the world who walk miles everyday in their bare feet because they don't have shoes). If you are really fit, give yourself some tough goals to reach such as walking a marathon; if you are really not fit, walk to the end of the driveway or the end of the block at first and call it good but keep increasing your distance.

Resources:

• Volksmarching (http://www.ava.org/). This is a wonderful group of people that can share with you all kinds of unknown trails and little used roads around your neighborhood and around your city.
• The Walking Site (http://www.thewalkingsite.com/). Good info for the beginner.
• Mayo Clinic Walking Info (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612). Ditto.
• AARP (http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/walking/). More walking info.

101 Frugal Tips

There are probably a million and one ways to be frugal but here are a bundle that I use on a regular basis. The name of the game is to be frugal in areas that are necessary but don't have a whole lot of meaning to you. Personally, the laundry is necessary but how it gets done doesn't really matter as long as I have clean clothes to wear. On the other hand, I have no problem spending money on travel which, for me personally, is a necessity. Other people may feel just the opposite so they should spend their money accordingly. Here's some ideas:

Laundry: If you have a large family, this area can make a pretty good-sized impact on your budget. When my sister's half dozen kids were young, laundry day was a major event at her house--I even had to take a picture once because I couldn't believe how much dirty clothes one family could generate in a week!

1. Wash clothes in cold water instead of warm or hot. I can't tell the difference--the clothes come out the same and we save money on heating the water.
2. Dry clothes outside. It takes a bit more effort but it is good exercise and is a good way to cut energy costs.
3. If you must use a clothes dryer, shake out the clothes when you transfer them from the washer to the dryer--they dry quicker when they aren't clumped together.
4. Use half the amount of recommended detergent. I see no difference when I do this either.
5. Go easy on the bleach. Bleaching every load of whites every time will cause rapid deterioration of your clothes.
6. Cut dryer sheets in half. This is simple to do and each half sheet works just as well as a whole one.
7. Buy only clothes that don't need special care such as hand washing and dry cleaning.
8. Try mending clothes and removing stains before you toss the item and purchase a new one. These are simple things that can prolong the life of your clothes.
9. Polish your shoes and iron your clothes. This takes very little effort yet makes you look like a million bucks.
10. Make your own laundry soap. http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-make-your-own-laundry-detergent-and-save-big-money/

Cleaning: This is another area where spending a lot doesn't make much of a difference. It doesn't matter what you use or how you clean as long as the end result is a clean house.

1. Make your own cleaning products. This is better for the environment and your wallet. http://www.pioneerthinking.com/homecleaning1.html
2. Use old rags for cleaning instead of paper towels.
3. Use newspaper to clean glass instead of paper towels.
4. Air out your house on a regular basis instead of using chemical air fresheners.
5. Never wear shoes in the house--use slippers in the kitchen and bathroom and use socks or bare feet in the rest of the house.
6. If you want to save the electricity and the cost of the vacuum, have only wood, tile or linoleum in your house which can be cleaned with a broom and mop.
7. Shop at the dollar store for cleaning supplies.
8. Clean up messes immediately so stains won't have time to set in.
9. Wash dishes efficiently by hand and let them air dry.
10. Use half the amount of dish soap that is recommended and dilute with water. This works on all but the greasiest dishes.

Kids: Often people equate how much they spend on their kids with how good of a parent they are. Usually it is just the opposite. Kids do much better with lots of attention rather than lots of things.

1. Actually play with your kids. You can do all kinds of fun, free things like going to the park, kicking a soccer ball around, or making forts out of blankets at home.
2. Babies don't need all kinds of toys. They do just as well with pots and pans, plastic bowls, big empty boxes, and other safe items that you already have on hand.
3. Give your kids lots of attention from the time they are born through their teen years--this saves on restitution, court fees, and other penalties for them acting out.
4. Consider not letting your kids drive until they are 18. This saves insurance costs, car debt, and maybe even their lives, as the part of their brain that makes judgement decisions is not fully developed until they are in their early 20's.
5. If you have teens, or even pre-teens, you don't need a housekeeper or a gardener. Kids need to be relied upon to help the family, it makes them feel needed and part of something larger than themselves.
6. Have your kids earn their own money to purchase their "wants". With larger purchases we often went half with our kids.
7. Teach kids good money management skills--how to spend, save, and give a portion of each chunk of money they earn.
8. Start a "Hope Chest" for each of your teens. This is an old fashioned idea but it is a great way to get your kids set up in their own place without having to break the bank at WalMart and Macys when they move out.
9. Teach you kids the basic skills of living so that they can rely on themselves instead of others. They should know how to cook, sew, make basic car repairs, do some basic plumbing and electrical work, etc.
10. Get your kids on track to a paid-for college education when they are freshmen. Some programs will allow them to attend their first two years of college while they are still in high school at no charge. Make getting scholarships a top priority, and if you can't pay cash, don't spring for an expensive, private college over a good (cheaper) state school.

Debt: Can you save money on debt if you are in debt? You betcha!

1. Call all of your credit card companies and ask for (demand) a lower interest rate.
2. Refinance your mortgage if there is a significant cost savings (ie: you are changing to a fixed interest rate from an ARM or if the interest rate is significantly lower than what you have now).
3. Pay cash for everything--even cars. Especially cars.
4. Have an emergency fund. This will be your cushion during a crisis instead of going to the Payday Lender.
5. Get rid of your debt as soon as humanly possible. This means all credit cards, loans, car debt, and even your home mortgage.
6. When you do have a crisis, take a minute and devise ten ways to meet the crisis without spending money. Often when we are in a panic, we tend to pay first and think later.
7. Live below your means. Duh.
8. Have a monthly budget. Use the envelope system if needed. Better yet, give the family a challenge--if they can, for example, buy groceries and feed the family for the month with less than the amount budgeted for food, they can keep the rest and spend it on a family activity.
9. Have a garage sale or sell stuff on EBay to fund a vacation or other large family purchase.
10. Budget for annual or unexpected expenses such as a new roof and painting the house.

Necessities: These are things we all need and usually all spend an arm and leg on over the course of our lives.

1. Stock up on necessary items when they are on sale (ie: toilet paper, school supplies, etc).
2. Do without. Do you really need ten different hair products? Eight different shades of eye shadow? Four Carhartt jackets? Try not to buy something unless you absolutely NEED it.
3. Reduce. If you are on debt's door, reduce the number of pets you have, the number of cable channels you have, the number of sports the kids participate in, etc.
4. Periodically compare prices on your monthly bills such as cable, insurance, cell phone plans, etc.
5. Recycle as much as possible. Use newspapers to clean windows and to line the bird cage. Use worn out towels for cleaning rags.
6. Buy larger quantities if it mathematically makes sense and won't go to waste. Sometimes buying three months of prescription meds at a time can save a significant amount of money. Obviously if there is only one or two of you, you may not need or want to buy huge bulk sizes at Costco. Always do the math to make sure you are getting a good deal.
7. Save money on food. http://codenameinsight.blogspot.com/2008/03/51-ways-to-save-money-on-food.html
8. Save money on transportation. http://codenameinsight.blogspot.com/search/label/fuel%20savings
9. Consider cheaper ways to go about your daily tasks (ie: put left overs in reusable plastic containers instead of wrapping them in foil).
10. Reconsider what is "necessary" and look for ways to give you the same outcome. Starbucks isn't necessary but coffee is, so brew your own and take it in a thermos.

Entertainment: The bottom line is that "going out" to be entertained whether it is to a restaurant, the casino, the night club, or the movies is going to cost you. Being entertained at home is usually much cheaper.

1. Rent a movie and watch it an home instead of going to the movies. Better yet, check out a free movie from the library or watch an old movie you have taped.
2. Have a weekly family game night. It's more fun than it sounds. We used to have Monopoly marathons that would last all weekend.
3. Exercise for free at home with the whole family. Play soccer, do aerobics, play basketball at a local court, etc.
4. Have potlucks with extended family and neighbors.
5. Go on a picnic with the family. Home-cooked food and a fun area to play in at the local park equals a lot of fun for the whole family.
6. Go to the library for free books, music, children's activities, and other free, fun entertainment
7. Research free events in your city. Museums, zoos, and other venues often have free or reduced cost nights once a month. During the summer look for free outdoor movies and music events.
8. Volunteer as a family. This can be done nearly anywhere--the zoo, the theater, local trail groups--your help will be greatly appreciated and your family will bond over the work.
9. Go dancing--at home. Teach your kids all of the "old" dances (waltz, cha cha, boogie) while they teach you the "new" dances (crunking, hip hop). This promises to be amusing for all.
10. Take up hobbies as a family. Go camping, fishing, hunting, play darts, and do other "hobby" type activities as a family.

Clothing: This budget item can break the bank depending on how style-conscious your family members are.

1. Set a basic clothing budget for each family member and make it a requirement that if anyone wants something more expensive, they will have to kick in their own money to get it.
2. Shop at thrift stores and the Goodwill. I know it sounds "yucky" but some basics such as T shirts to sleep in and raggedy jeans to work in the yard in can be had for a song at these places.
3. Organize a "clothes swap" with other parents who have kids about the same age as yours. You can also do this with friends who are about the same size as you.
4. Stock up on items at the end of season for the next year. Styles don't usually change that drastically from year to year so what is cheap this fall can be easily worn next spring.
5. Buy the classic styles and avoid overly trendy items that so be "so over with" within a few months. Dress up these basics with cute, cheap stuff from the dollar store.
6. Do the hand-me-down thing. Any kid who was raised more than a few decades ago has probably lived through this stage where you get clothes from the next bigger sibling.
7. Buy and wear clothes in layers so that they can be mixed and matched throughout the seasons.
8. Don't gain or loose too much weight so you won't grow out of your clothes.
9. Check out trendy/expensive stores and then go to a discounter (Ross, TJ Maxx) and put together similar outfits for a fraction of the cost.
10. Use add-ons to stretch clothing. Fringe around the bottom of pants that are getting a little too short, embellish an old jean jacket instead of purchasing one brand new.

Expensive Items: With smaller, cheaper items, you can save or lose a little bit of money on each purchase, but with larger expensive items, the possibility of saving or losing big can be huge.

1. Buy a slightly used car instead of a new car. The value of a new car drops like a rock as soon as you drive it off the dealer's lot.
2. Wait for the price of new technology to drop. I don't even want to be reminded about the $1,000 VCR and $3,000 computer I purchased when this technology was brand new.
3. Don't get an extended warranty. Others may disagree but I have never had any problem when I purchase a quality product that has a basic manufacturer's warranty on it.
4. Buy the kind of product you need, not necessarily the top of the line product. A basic computer works fine for my needs--I don't do video editing or video games on it, therefore I never buy a top of the line computer. For me, this makes sense.
5. If it still works, don't replace it. I often wondered why my grandparents had "old" things like an old TV, and old radio, and an early 1940's vintage refrigerator. Now that I am getting older, I realize that my stuff may be considered "old" because, like my grandparents, I see no reason to replace a perfectly good TV to get the latest version.
6. Buy less house. You know the lyrics of that country song that says "love grows best in small houses"? Well it seems to make sense. When people grow up in tiny houses they seem to be closer than families with huge houses where each person can segregate themselves in their own part of the house and not have to interact with the rest of the family.
7. Don't fall for scams and rip-offs. Do the math! Time shares, high interest credit cards, a sudden offer from someone in Africa to give you money...if it doesn't make sense it probably is not something you should get involved in.
8. Don't have vices. Smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling, prostitutes, drugs...if you have a vice, get rid of it and bank the money--you will shocked at how much money you end up saving.
9. Stay out of trouble. Speeding tickets, DUIs, fines, legal problems, a gold digger girlfriend, a drug addict boyfriend...if you see trouble coming, go the other way--it will save you an armload of money.
10. When you do purchase something, consider the maintenance and long term costs associated with the purchase as these can add up quickly.

Preventive Maintenance: There is more to saving money than watching how you spend. Taking care of what you already have can also save you lots of cash.

1. Take care of medical/dental problems before they become huge (expensive) problems.
2. Take care of your overall health with plenty of exercise, nutritious food, and fresh air. This keeps future medical costs down.
3. Keep things clean and in good repair to extend the item's life (such as appliances, the roof on your home, your car).
4. Nip problems in the bud. If things with the spouse are getting tense, fix the problem now rather than when she has her lawyer on speed dial. If your kid is a manic at the age of nine, don't wait until he is 16 to address the problem. If your dog is excavating your back yard with his digging, fix the problem sooner, not later.
5. Spend a little to save a lot. Regular oil changes, keeping your furnace tuned up, a regular chimney cleaning will cost a bit of money up front but can save big bucks over the cost of ignoring these things.
6. Take safety seriously. Cost of a bicycle helmet, $10, cost of a traumatic brain injury if you get hit by a car while riding your bike without a helmet, $1.8 million. You do the math.
7. Don't scrimp on insurance. Basic auto, home, health, life, and disability insurance can really save your bacon should a disaster happen.
8. Take a vacation. All of the work and stress of everyday life can lead to burn out. Taking vacations on a regular basis can chill you out and recharge your batteries so that you continue to strive towards your goals.
9. Keep up to date in your field of expertise. Just because you are an expert now, doesn't mean you will stay that way if you coast. Stay on top of what is happening in your field so that you can continue to make a living at what you do.
10. Relationships take work. Doing a little preemptive work isn't a bad idea so that family problems don't get out of hand. Divorces are expensive.

Random Tips: Here's another ten ways to live frugally.

1. Don't be shy. Speak up if you have a problem with a product or service you purchase, you should either get what you paid for or be compensated for what you didn't receive.
2. Never pay retail. I try to always buy on sale, with coupons, when at item is on clearance, or otherwise get a discount in order to save money.
3. The things you do buy should do double or triple duty. A newspaper can be read, then used to line the bird cage or clean window. A T shirt can be fashionable this year, a sleep shirt next year, and a cleaning rag the year after.
4. Set an example for friends and family and also set standards. Don't make excuses for bad behaviour.
5. Consider becoming a single-income family. Do the math and also figure in the cost of daycare savings as well as the care your children will receive by having a parent stay at home.
6. Spend less so you will need to earn less so you will have more time to enjoy your life.
7. Work like a maniac for a short period of time so you can retire debt free.
8. Set up as many passive income streams as possible. Passive income=little or no actual work by you--your money is doing all of the work.
9. Consider becoming self employed. You get a lot more freedom and a lot more tax breaks as your own boss. Remember to start small, not with a huge business debt.
10. Do the math for your job. How much are you really making after expenses are deducted?

Tip #101: Learn to enjoy the things that money can't buy--clean air, your body's ability to exercise, friends and family...all of the (free) great things in life.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July everyone! I know people seem to bash our country on a regular basis but I have yet to find a better country in which to live. A special thank you to all of our men and women in uniform who are serving here and around the world--thank you for protecting this wonderful country so that the rest of us can live in peace. I hope you all have a happy and safe 4th.