Sunday, November 30, 2008

The Power of Habits and Goals

Tell me what your habits are and I will tell you how your life is today and how it will most likely be in ten years. Your entire life revolves around your daily habits (which will lead you to your goals) so it only stands to reason that no goals and bad habits can lead to challenges, problems, and loss whereas a set of good habits and firmly entrenched, positive, goals will probably lead you to success, health, wealth, and all of those other nice things.
The reason I am writing about habits and goals today is because I decided to start my New Year's resolutions tomorrow, December 1st, instead of January 1st like everyone else. I guess it really doesn't matter when you begin to work towards improving your habits and moving towards your goals, so the sooner, the better right? I can't remember the day I began walking three miles a day on the treadmill, EVERY day, first thing, as soon as I roll out of bed in the morning; I just got tired of being out of shape, lumpy in all of the wrong places, and unable to look in the mirror without thinking that I used to have a rock solid body...and now look at it. Anyway, in an effort to develop some better habits and work towards some significant goals, I will start doing the following tomorrow:
  1. Health: continue walking three miles a day, every day and NO MORE caffeine (daily exercise and cutting out Starbucks will go a long way toward improving my health)
  2. Wealth: become debt free by April 30, 2009 (I'm close...just need to keep forging ahead)
  3. Home: renovate home, yard, and out buildings by August 30, 2009 (the house is fairly new but hasn't had a lot of attention paid to it over the past few really busy years; by this summer I want it to be in pristine condition)
  4. Travel: take four multi-country vacations by December 31, 2009 (one of my life goals is to visit all 315 countries/places on the Travelers Century Club list)
  5. Serving others: serve others with a positive attitude whenever possible (I recently found out there is a difference between "helping" others and "serving" others)
  6. Productivity: answer all calls and email daily (I'm lazy...I don't always do this but should)
  7. Learning: study a different language each day of the work week--Spanish, Japanese, Tagalog, Chinese, Arabic (again, I'm lazy and while I have varying degree of fluency in these languages, I need to practice regularly...which I have been slacking on)
  8. Preparedness: update the CNI website daily, update the CNI blog daily, participate in two preparedness training opportunities in 2009 (I haven't decided what these will be but a week at LFI, Tom Browns place, or Blackwater would be fascinating)
  9. Business: either make my businesses a lot more hands off or sell them by December 2009 (another life goal is to have a very portable business--such as writing--so that I can travel and enjoy a wider range of learning opportunities)
  10. Do a WOW project: this may be biking from Canada to Mexico, doing the 88 Shikoku Temple Trek in Japan, or organizing another huge family reunion (we do this every few years at some location around the world and usually have 30 to 50 family members and friends show up...it's just that it usually falls to the spouse and I to organize it...and like I said, I am a bit lazy...)

Anyway, those shall be my goals which will require a good set of daily habits in order to reach them. Have you made your list of New Year's Resolutions yet?

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Homelessness--Some Thoughts

I've never actually been homeless. The people I have known who were homeless happened to be so by choice; generally they were travelers who had no home but did have money, a way to earn more money, and a purpose (usually getting to the next country or the next experience). However the topic has fascinated me ever since I followed the blog of a guy who was homeless at NYU quite a few years ago. Recently I read the book "Breakfast at Sally's" and also had the opportunity to interview some illegal immigrants who came here with nothing and were basically homeless. I did a bit of further research and the following are some thoughts I have on the topic:
  • Anyone can become homeless...a divorce, long term injury or illness, fleeing from violence, losing a job...all of these can move a person from a 3000 square foot home in the 'burbs to a downtown alley.
  • Alcohol, drug, domestic violence, and mental health issues seem to exacerbate such situations.
  • Stuff to have if you're homeless: a PO Box, ID (passport, ID card, driver's license), a prepaid cell phone would be nice, a bank account, social skills, a monthly bus pass, a monthly membership to the Y or a gym (for showers), a library card (for free computer use), contacts in the community for couch surfing opportunities also would be nice.
  • Stuff to be if you're homeless: presentable (if you look homeless you seem to be hassled and targeted much more often), creative and clever and able to identify and take advantage of any opportunity that arises.
  • Challenges: finding a dry place to sleep every night, the possibility of violence, social stigma, being shunned by society/friends/former coworkers/family, not being able to trust anyone in your new circle of associates.
  • Resources: free meals in the community for the homeless, social service benefits (food stamps, maybe housing, etc), discounts (low income bus passes, low income cell phone service).
  • Cars: some homeless have cars or motor homes which adds a bit to the person's safety, dry sleep environment, and ability to get around however paying for gas, maintenance, repairs, and insurance can be a challenge.

I guess the best way to avoid becoming homeless would be to stay sober and sane, have a wide variety of contacts who would help you out if needed, keep money in an emergency fund (especially if you are in a domestic violence situation or if your job is in a tenuous situation), and be proactive in whatever situation you find yourself in (ie: some people see their job being more finite than expected yet they still keep shopping and spending like they will have the job forever or they know they are losing their house but make no concerted effort to find another place to live or a bundle of new jobs to pay for it).

Friday, November 28, 2008

The Mumbai Attacks--Some Lessons Learned

If you've been anywhere near a newspaper or television news over the last couple of days, you will have heard about the terrorists attacks in Mumbai. While the horror and tragedy of it all usually make the top of the headlines, I was pleased to read the following article, as instead of giving the gristly details (ie: 'if it bleeds, it leads'), it provided a number of lessons on what to do in such an event. Here's some lessons and some commentary:
Some caveats...
  • No matter what these people did to survive, it doesn't mean that the people who died in the attack did the "wrong" things. Living through an unexpected attack has a lot to do with luck and only a little to do with skill. You can have the best military training in the world and die in such an attack, or the worst survival skills possible and still live, so like life, surviving such an ordeal is a crap shoot.
  • Just because the attacks happened in Mumbai, it doesn't mean that one should never travel to this beautiful country or that one should never travel overseas; you can just as easily be killed in your Barcolounger in your living room should a tree fall on your house or a stray bullet hit you. Random attacks are, um, random, which means you never know when or where such a thing will happen.
Some lessons from the people in the article...
  • They used their cell phones to text for help. I always bring a not so new (so the unlock codes are available) cell phone with me when I travel. Simply pay a few dollars in nearly any country to have the phone "unlocked" and buy a local sim card for it and you are ready to call or text.
  • They had the contacts they needed in their cell phones. Another travel lesson, as soon as you get to said country, save a bunch of numbers to the phone memory including a number for the nearest US embassy, the number to the local CNN or other news outlet, the number to emergency contacts in and outside of the country, the number to your hotel, etc.
  • They stayed put during the attack. This could have gone either way but generally, if it is safe to do so, you should stay where you are at, as running through a barrage of terrorist bullets and grenades is likely to get you kidnapped or shot. On the other hand, staying put could make you a sitting duck--you need to use your best instincts at such a time.
  • They did some simple things such as locking the door and barricading it, putting tape over the peep hole so the light wouldn't be seen by the attackers, putting towels around the door to block out light and smoke, and keeping the curtains closed. I would also consider checking into the hotel with a local-sounding name (or at least one that doesn't scream "American tourist!').
  • Be ready to be mobile. Some people travel with a few heavily-laden suitcases and fancy dress shoes. I, for one, like the one-backpack and sturdy shoe method of travel. As it said in the article, they could only leave with what they could easily carry.
  • They devised a plan. The only way they would know if the person who was knocking on their door was a rescuer or attacker was with a code word. Good idea.
  • They had food and drinks on hand. I never travel anywhere without a bag full of food--you never know how long a layover will be or how long it will take to reach a decent restaurant.
  • They weren't armed. While I am all for being armed in the US, I highly recommend against such a thing in a foreign country. You think it is a major hassle if you shoot someone here, you ain't seen nothing until you get into an armed combat situation overseas. If you feel the need for added protection, hire a local (trusted) security detail.
  • Some other ideas not mentioned in the article: stay away from the tourists spots, they make a prime target for this type of attack as well as for local pickpockets, kidnappers, and the like. Develop relationships in the area you are staying at--become known to the hotel staff, the local restaurant staff, etc--in a time of trouble these people will be much more likely to help someone they "know". If possible, have a local contact who can show you around the city/act as your bodyguard/show you where to and where not to go/introduce you to the local culture; they can be found through friends and relatives, associations, etc. and can teach you how to stay safe (or at least haul your ass to the embassy in a hurry if need be).

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Giving Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US. If you are reading this, you have a computer and internet. You probably also have a home, heat, and food. If you are a regular reader, you may also have cash to tide you over a rough spot, a stockpile of food, and a network of friends and family members to depend on in an emergency. Many people don't have some of these things, while others in your own city may have NONE of these things. Thanksgiving, fortunately one of the least commercial holidays of the year, reminds us to be thankful for the things that we do have. Here's some things to do on this special day:
  • Write a list of what you are thankful for and keep it in your wallet. Sometimes when things are going to crap, you may want to take out the list and remind yourself that things aren't as bad as they seem.
  • If you are going out to eat, leave the waiter/waitress as big a tip as you can ($10, $20. $50, even $100!). More than likely they would rather be with their family but really need to work--this gesture would make their day!
  • Give to the homeless. I don't mean writing a check and mailing it to an organization, I mean cooking up some food or gathering up some warm clothes and going out to find where the homeless are gathered in your city (usually churches, the Salvation Army, etc) and giving them tangible items such as food or clothes that they can use.
  • Vow to have a great attitude and exceptional patience today. The holidays can get crazy and stressful, just for today, don't let anything bother you.
  • Volunteer. If you are alone, or want to experience the holiday with your family in a different way, consider volunteering at a local homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or other place that serves the hungry. It will be an enlightening experience for all.
  • Take a plate of food or a special dessert to an elderly neighbor, the single mother with a passel of kids, or the family whose mom is ill or father is jobless; a little giving will go a long way to make the day better for all.

We all have a lot to be thankful for. While most of the other days of the year we are all about preparedness for us and ours, do something out of the ordinary to make this day something to remember for ourselves and others in our community.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Road ID--Suggestion From a Reader

Here's a suggestion from a reader...
I was finally putting my "30 must carry items" together and I want to tell you of a great product that I use. It is called the Road Id from www.roadid.com. It is a wrist band or necklace that you wear for emergency personnel to better assist you. In it you list your name, address, phone number and emergency contacts, etc. You also list your doctors, medications/dosages, allergies etc. You can maintain it by changing what ever needs to be corrected by simply going online. On the bracelet it lists your name, city, state and the call number and/or web address for the emergency personnel to gather your info. On the back of the bracelet lists the serial number and pin number for them to look at your info on the spot while you are being treated. The band is also reflective for nighttime protection. It costs 19.95 a year but I unfortunately need this and the emt's said that it was a HUGE help to them. I swear by it. Plus, it is less you need to carry and has more information for those critical situations. Take a look, I think that it would make a great post. I bought one for my whole family because they work!
Since preparedness is all about learning from others so we don't have the learn via the 'school of hard knocks', suggestions from readers are very much appreciated. Having worked in the EMS field, I can tell you that the more information the medics have when they arrive on scene, the better--whether it is known allergies or medical conditions or who to call when you are being carted off to the hospital or morgue. It never fails that someone will be jogging, biking, or in a car load of people and won't have ID on them when they get in an accident, thus delaying the notification to the family, sometimes by hours or days.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

10 Reasons to Have a Cash-Only Spending Plan

I am a big fan of having a cash-only spending plan. Here's some reasons why:

  1. You can't spend more than you have like you can do with credit cards.
  2. Credit card air miles are a joke--nearly impossible to use due to all of the rules you need to follow to use them (plus you have to book almost a year in advance to get a seat!).
  3. Cash can't be declined like an over-extended credit card.
  4. You will spend less by using cash than with a credit card--it's a proven fact.
  5. You can be confident that you can handle any financial emergency if you are carrying a wallet full of cash instead of nearly maxed out credit cards.
  6. You will often get a better deal at stores and gas stations if you pay with cash.
  7. Using cash means you don't have to pay interest on your purchases.
  8. Cash can't be refused (yet) unlike certain types of credit cards (some places don't take Discover or AmEx cards due to the type of precessing company they use).
  9. There are no "surprise" fees when you use cash such as over limit or an NSF fees.
  10. Using cash means your purchases can't be traced like they could be with a credit card trail.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Hope When You're Feeling Hopeless

We're living in trying times. Job loss, investment loss, business loss, home loss...and the list goes on. Usually after traumatic financial loss, things like divorce, depression, and suicide go up too. For all of the times when you are feeling hopeless remember that there is always someone in a worst situation than you, remember that things are always changing and eventually they will change for the better, and seek solace in learning how others have handled what at the time seemed like hopeless situations. Here's some good books:

Friday, November 21, 2008

25 Ways to Fly Under the Government's Radar

Say you want to avoid being tracked by the government. Obviously doing one or two things won't make a difference because there are a multitude of ways to track you, and because we are all so intimately tied into easily accessible surveillance systems, it is getting easier by the day for the feds to track your every movement (and therefore more difficult by the day to avoid them). Should you want or need to avoid surveillance, consider these ideas:
  1. Pay cash only; no credit/debit cards or checks.
  2. Shop way out of the way stores where they do not have surveillance systems. In a similar vein, don't patronize casinos or other locations with surveillance systems.
  3. Don't have anything registered in your name (boat, car, house, phone bill, etc).
  4. Have a couple of separate identities with full documentation (btw this is illegal).
  5. Don't travel with a passport; don't have a passport.
  6. Don't travel by plane, train, or bus (most of these modes of transport require positive identification when you buy a ticket or before you board).
  7. Don't have a driver's license.
  8. Don't make calls from a phone (cell or home) that is registered in your name.
  9. Use only disposable cell phones purchased with cash; turn off the phone and take out the battery when it is not in use.
  10. Don't get involved in the legal system (no arrests, lawsuits, etc).
  11. Don't apply for anything (credit cards, public welfare benefits, concealed carry license, etc).
  12. Home school your children.
  13. Be self employed.
  14. Don't join the military or work in any field that requires a security clearance/biometrics/etc.
  15. Pay your taxes on time. Better yet, be able to live an a tiny income which would preclude you from needing to pay taxes.
  16. Only access the internet surreptitiously (ie: from unsecured signals on a computer that is not registered to you).
  17. Don't regularly drive a car that has GPS/On Star capabilities.
  18. Don't use store loyalty cards or join membership type stores (ie: Costco).
  19. Have a doctor and dentist on call who can treat you without documentation (some of these providers will treat you if you pay cash and don't need anything major (narcotics, an operating suite, etc).
  20. Don't have any registered firearms.
  21. Don't have a bank account or other financial accounts.
  22. Don't be registered anywhere online (ie: PayPal, EBay, Amazon, etc).
  23. Do your own home and car repairs (don't get into anyone's 'system').
  24. Don't get any tattoos/piercings/other identifiable marks on your body.
  25. Don't vote, serve on a jury, or do anything else that would get you registered in a government system.

After reading this list, you may deem a task such as avoiding government surveillance impossible. You may be right. There are a very few, however, who can do this. They don't have conventional lifestyles and don't do a lot of things that we consider "living a normal life", however this is the choice they have made for whatever reason.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Way Primative Skills


We get along just fine when things are working well...electricity, plumbing, furnace, etc. What happens if none of these things work? For most Americans, angry calls to the service companies and indignance, then desperation and eventual panic if the services stay off long enough. Today take a wander through your home and make a note of what things you would need to be able to do if all of our modern conveniences were unavailable. Here's some ideas:

  • Laundry Room: wash clothes by hand and hang to dry; make your own laundry soap; repair or make your own clothes/shoes.
  • Bathroom: compost your own waste; wipe with water; heat water for a bath or shower; make your own soap; make your own toothpaste; make your own medicines; make your own personal hygiene products (women); provide basic medical care.
  • Bedroom: create a safe sleep environment.
  • Living Room: heat your home; light your home; clean your home; defend your home; entertain your family; teach your children; communicate with others.
  • Kitchen: make/process your own food; cook your food; wash the dishes; preserve your food (without a fridge or freezer); obtain potable water.
  • Outside: grow a garden; repair your home; make your own ammo; have basic transportation; raise/butcher animals for meat.

For most people in first world countries, these skills have been lost long ago. Machines and services that make our lives hum along are the norm. There are millions and millions of people in third world countries, however, who still use these skills on a daily basis. Take the time now to try some of these things just to get an idea of what you would/could do if TSHTF and life as we know it changes dramatically.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Hiding Stuff Around the House--20 Places

Say you need to hide something, either to retrieve it later or to pass it off to someone else at a later time. Let's say the item is small such as money, a document, a key, or a thumb drive. With a ziploc bag and some duct tape, you can hide the item in the following locations (just remember where you hid it):
  1. Behind the wall switch plate or electrical outlet plate (take off the plate and stick it on the back side of the adjoining 2x4).
  2. Inside the case of your desktop computer or television.
  3. Under the carpet and pad (be sure to restretch the carpet back to the tack strips).
  4. Inside the exterior mainline drain clean out access port.
  5. Buried in a sealed plastic container in a non-obvious place in your yard (use GPS coordinates to remember exactly where it is).
  6. Remove the toilet, stick it up under the toilet in the crevice, replace the wax ring, and reinstall it.
  7. In the attic under the insulation.
  8. In the heavy seam of a blanket (re-sew the seam of course).
  9. In the hollow leg of of a modern desk (some are made with hollow steel tubes).
  10. Inside the closet perched above the sliding door rollers.
  11. Buried in the dirt of a potted plant (not under the plant pot but buried in the dirt, the larger the plant the better).
  12. The kids have a large gumball machine; when it is full of gumballs you cant tell what is hidden in the middle of it (keep the gumballs full).
  13. Underneath drawers (drawer under the over, freezer drawers, etc).
  14. In a bottle of shampoo, can of paint, etc. (you may want to use a plastic heat sealing device for absolute water-proofness).
  15. In between the slices of bread in a frozen loaf in the freezer or in the center of a frozen chicken.
  16. In a custom-made collar for your Rottweiler.
  17. Under your 150 gallon aquarium (before you fill it with water).
  18. In a decoration (we have those big bottles of decorative vegetables in water that do noting more but sit on the counter and be decorative).
  19. In an old hollowed out tree.
  20. In an old shoe.
All of these places are temporary of course, and you also need to be careful that the place you hide them item doesn't walk away, be given away, be thrown away, or be stolen.
Here's some more ideas...http://www.cockeyed.com/lessons/hiding/hiding2.shtml

Monday, November 17, 2008

An Economics Poll

Our last poll took a look at personal economics. The question: How has your spending changed in recent months? Here's how people answered:
  • 36% (11 people) have cut back on spending
  • 23% (7 people) are paying off debts
  • 23% (7 people) are saving more
  • 16% (5 people) have not made any changes

Apparently the economic slamming on of the brakes has caused many people to make changes in order to boost their bottom line. Recession or not, depression or not, simple things like reducing unneeded spending, paying off debts, and saving more money are just common sense measures that will help you no matter how bad (or good) the economy is.

On a side note, I'm quickly running out of poll ideas. What kind of questions would you like to see in our polls?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Flood!


Last week there were quite a few areas flooded around where we live due to heavy rains which caused local rivers to overflow their banks. Of course I was feeling a bit smug at the time because we live in an area that is fairly high and dry, however, the smugness went away pretty quickly yesterday morning when the spouse did a load of laundry and water started pouring all over our downstairs. Although we hadn't caught the floods from the heavy rains, a backed up main line gave us a taste of what many thousands of people go through each fall and winter around our country when floods hit their towns. It wasn't pretty. Here's how (again) being prepared helped out quite a bit...
  1. As soon as we realized what happened, we were able to stop even more water from flooding the basement by stopping the washer, however 20 or more gallons of water poured out before we realized what happened. Granted in a flood, you can't stop the water from going where it wants, however, if you do live in a flood-prone area, having sand and sandbags at the ready will help with the situation.

  2. We quickly assessed the damage. The only things that were in the water were the washer, dryer and a small bathroom. Some carpet in the family room also got wet which we immediately tried to block with towels. If there would have been furniture or other items that would be permanently damaged from the water, our first priority would have been to move these items to higher ground. During an actual flood, people often have to gather as much as they can and move the items upstairs or up on counter tops/other furniture--obviously a bad situation if you live in a one story home and ALL of your stuff is wading in the water.

  3. Good: we had a plumber friend on speed dial. Bad: plumber friend was out of town. We debated between doing the work ourselves which would have entailed renting an auger, taking out the toilet, auguring the main drain line, and putting the toilet back on. I called around and for a fee of $250 we could have the work done. Good: we had an emergency fund so paying for the work instead of doing it ourselves was the option we were able to chose. Bad: the random plumber out of the phone book did a not so great job. I can't imagine how people handle major reconstruction work after a serious flood when you have to deal with a variety of sub-contractors, many of whom know you are desperate and thus can easily take advantage of the situation.

  4. After the line was cleaned and things were put back together, clean up was our next task. Fortunately we had the items on hand to clean up the mess (a shop vac, lots of old towels, rubber gloves, cleaner, and fans to help dry out the wet carpet) but it still entailed a lot of work.

What we learned:

  • It's good to mitigate the damage as much as possible; the less damage, the less that needs to be fixed/repaired.

  • Preventive maintenance is a good thing. We thought there were some problems with the drain but dismissed them until something big happened. Dumb.

  • Even though we had one plumber we could call, it makes sense to have a back up in case the person you are relying on is gone instead of picking someone randomly out of the phone book.

  • The bigger the emergency fund, the better your options.

  • I should have probably just done the work myself instead of being lazy and hiring it done.

  • Even if you don't live in a danger-prone area, the more organized and together your important things (papers, art work, antiques, etc) are, the easier it is to pick it up and move it or evacuate with it.

  • Clean up is hard work. Everything is a mess and each item you pick up needs to be washed/sterilized/etc which really brings home the importance of helping others when disaster strikes.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Never Say No to a New Experience

One of my goals is to enjoy as many experiences as life has to offer; not only do you learn a lot but usually you find yourself having a really good time too (or on the opposite side, you have a harrowing experience which means you have a helluva a story to tell once you survive the situation).
There are a lot of ways to find new experiences, one way to do this is to never say no to any invitation...which led me to a tamale factory this afternoon, which led me to helping make about 500 tamales, which also allowed me to practice my Spanish, which also gave me enough tamales to feed the family for the next week and a half. By saying "yes" when someone says "do you wanna...", I have been able to experience an amazing number of unusual situations. Exchange student to Japan? Yes. Skin dive in the South China Sea? Yes. Backpack a good-sized chunk of the Pacific Crest Trail? Yes. Break bread with a group of mercenaries long before Blackwater made them socially acceptable? Yes. Bring medical supplies to a tiny, remote South Pacific Island? Yes. Overhaul an engine? Yes.
New experiences have everything to do with being prepared. They teach you how to be open to anything, how to close mouth and open ears in order to learn from others, how to be flexible in your attitude and your schedule, and often how to improve the way you do things in your normal, everyday life. From backpacking I learned how very little I actually need to survive. From Japan I learned that food can come from many unexpected sources. From travel I have learned that I can survive anywhere. From overhauling an engine, I may not be a good mechanic but at least I have a general idea about engines which makes me less likely to be stranded by the side of the road with a dead car or get ripped of by a mechanic.
It always surprises me when people would rather sit on their couch than go out and do something. When they would rather believe only what they believe instead of listening to the view points of others and allow the possibility that something they learn could actually change their entire outlook on life. When people decline an invitation that could teach them something new, present them with a future spouse, or introduce them to a new career.
The bottom line is to open yourself up to new experiences by taking every opportunity that comes along. Did working side by side with factory workers all day change my life? No. But it did allow me to meet a bunch of new people, appreciate how people work together for a common goal, learn how this tasty product is made, and change what would otherwise have been a boring day of meetings into something fascinating and interesting. Go out and DO something!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Annual Budget Development

Tis the season for annual budget development, at least for businesses and organizations with fiscal years that run from January through December. The process, whether it is for a major organization or for your family household, is actually quite simple...
  1. Estimate your annual income for next year based on your current salary along with any anticipated bonuses or raises.
  2. Next list all of your expenses for the coming year. Things like house payments and car payments are fairly straight forward while things like gas and food can be much more difficult to anticipate so this may require a good guess the first time around. If you keep this information in some sort of spreadsheet, it will be much easier to gather each year. Don't forget to include annual expenses such as post office box rental and other anticipated, one time expenses such as a new roof.
  3. Subtract the amount you came up with in #2 from the amount in #1.
  4. If these numbers look frighteningly close, or worse, the number you come up with is a negative amount, it's time to do some tweaking.
  5. Consider ways to increase you annual income. Can you get a part time or seasonal job? Can you ask for a raise or look for a higher paying job in your company or field?
  6. Next consider ways to decrease your expenses. Look at every single expense on your list and look for ways to make cuts. Can you refinance your house to a lower interest rate? Can you sell an unneeded car so you can drop the insurance and gas expenses? There are ways to slash almost every expense on your list with a little research and creativity.
  7. How do the two numbers look now? If they are still too close or a negative number, more drastic steps may need to be taken such as selling a house you cannot afford and moving to a cheaper place. You may need to cut cable all together. Whatever changes you make, the numbers need to make sense. You need a bit of positive room between your income and expenses that will allow you to both save some money and still have money available to pay down debts.
  8. Get buy in. While you may be the number cruncher, like any organization that puts together a budget, you will need to get buy in from the people it affects if you want to have a budget that is both supported by all involved and realistic to meet everyone's needs.
  9. Live within the budget. If you have $400 budgeted for gas each month, it is necessary to make every effort possible to stay within that amount. You may need to look into carpooling or grouping errands together to stay within the budget. If the budgeted amount is not realistic and you are continually over budget, you may need to make adjustments by expanding the category that is over budget and subtract money from another category.
  10. Periodically review the budget, perhaps quarterly, in order to make sure all is going along well.

It sounds simple to budget when you are reading about it, but whether it is a budget for your home or business, the bottom line is to be able to control exactly where your money is going so that YOU will control your money instead of your MONEY (or more likely your DEBT) controlling you.

p.s. Get started on this process now so you can hit the ground running in January!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

In Honor of Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day. If you know someone who is a Veteran or who is currently serving in the military, give them a call or an email and say thank you. Because of what they have done or are doing for our country, all of the rest of us get to live in one of the best countries on the planet. We have a number of freedoms that most people on the planet will never get to enjoy, we have one of the highest standards of living anywhere, we have unlimited opportunities, and we have a relative peacefulness that is virtually unknown in many other countries. A lot of the time, I rant about all of the problems I see in our country, but on the whole, this is one of the better places in the world in which to live and the reason is because we have an outstanding group of Americans who make up our military. Thank you Veterans and all of the members of our military for what you do to protect us each and every day.

A special note to my son who is deploying to Iraq today...I love you son and I am proud of you. I have faith in your training, your leadership abilities, and your common sense. I won't lie and say I am not afraid to see you go but I know you are man enough for the job that needs to be done. I will pray every day for your safe return.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Houseguest Preparedness 101

We've had more than a dozen house guests over the past couple of weeks and it looks like some of my preparedness efforts have been justified to the sometimes disbelieving spouse. Here's how:
  • We have cash on hand which allowed us to purchase things at the last minute which we hadn't anticipated such as a few extra tanks of gas to drive the guests around with, a half dozen pizzas for late night snacks, a couple of extra runs to the grocery store for perishables, and a birthday gift for one of the guests who celebrated their birthday here.
  • We have lots of food stored for a disaster. When this many people descend on you it can feel like a financial disaster, but lots of meals can be created easily and cheaply if the bulk of the food you need is sitting in the garage instead of having to be purchased when it isn't on sale at the grocery store.
  • We have extra blankets and sheets stored in the garage. Although we no longer use these items, we keep them aside in case of a power outage during the cold days of winter (at least we will be warm); as a bonus, we can issue all of the guests blankets and sheets and they can pretty much bed down anywhere.
  • We have plenty of disposable goods stored too. Since it is usually just the two of us, it is hard to image how much toilet paper and paper towels a big group can go through on a daily basis (and it's a lot!). Also, a forgotten toothbrush didn't mean a run to the store and some coloring books we keep in our game box worked well to keep a couple of the littlest guests occupied.
  • Maps came in handy. We have a variety of maps for our city, county, and state. One family (the low maintenance house guests) pretty much take care of themselves as soon as they get here. They rent a car, stay at the house to sleep and take showers, then borrow some maps and they go off and explore the sights around our area. Simple.
  • I keep poster board and markers on hand as a basic communication tool that can be used during a disaster. We used one poster board to set a schedule so everyone would know what was coming up: Tuesday at 6 birthday party at a local cousin's house, Saturday at noon lunch at a local restaurant. This way people could plan their days but still meet up for group events.
  • We had a de facto leader. It can be pretty scattered when you have 15 to 20 people all coexisting together even for a short period of time. With a sister who used to be an actual drill sergeant, she tends to assume the leader role and makes sure everything remains relatively clean and organized and chaos is minimized (so I can kick back and enjoy my guests).
  • We made some preps as soon as we heard everyone was coming. One group flew in about the same time as another couple so they were able to ride together from the airport which saved some extra trips. Another group was interested in visiting a particular tourist destination so we suggested another couple who had never been here go with them--basic logistics that made planning less confusing.

Overall we have had a wonderful couple of weeks. A little bit of planning ahead rewarded us with a nice time for everyone and lots less stress than we would have had if we weren't prepared.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

If You Find Yourself Heading Towards Financial Oblivion...STOP

We've had a house full of guests over the past week which makes for little time to blog but lots of stuff to write about. Today's topic is about one family who visited recently. The names have been changed to protect the guilty...

A family which is distantly related to us came to visit for a week. They are wonderful people and lots of fun to be around but I have a very big concern with them. They have told us quite plainly that they are in debt, to the tune of a high six figure number. Now I don't know about most people, but common sense would dictate that if you are in a financial free fall and your very financial future is at stake, that you would take drastic action to correct the problem...like...um...not spending money that you don't have. Much like if you are flying a fighter jet with your family aboard and you are heading straight for the ground. Would you turn you head so you don't see the ground coming or would you bring the nose up so fast the entire family would have whiplash (but avoid certain disaster)? Here's some of my observations:
  • Why did they pay to fly a family of five to visit us for a week? Although they get a free place to stay, they paid for airfare, food, lots of shopping, etc. It wasn't like there was an important event or anything, they just wanted to take a trip. My comment (which I am writing here but had to restrain myself from telling them): if you are in debt, cut out all unnecessary expenses...like VACATIONS.
  • Food is a social bonding thing but I have serious food issues with them, beginning with the fact that each meal requires them to drive to three different fast food restaurants to please each child. I'm sure I had an incredulous look on my face the first few times this happened although I didn't say anything under threat (actually it was a glare) from the spouse who knew exactly what I was thinking. Back in the day--which wasn't so long ago with our own kids--dinner was cooked and you either liked it and ate it or didn't like it and went hungry. The second thing is that they don't buy cheap food. A meal out for the spouse and I is usually a $5 foot long from Subway which we split; costing us $2.50 per person to eat out. In the case of this family, not only do they eat out for nearly every meal even though we cook lots of food for them, they usually head for the most expensive restaurant AND take us, some friends, and other relatives out as well. Last night's dinner cost them over $200 (!).
  • I don't know if you are familiar with Coach handbags but many of them cost about as much as a car payment. The lady of the family has a new, this season Coach handbag which retail costs about $500 (!). For a purse....something to carry around your junk...ayayay.
  • As they lament about their financial situation, they also toss in comments about their two new cars, their housekeeper, the latest and greatest appliances they have recently purchased (on credit), and other things that make me wonder if I'm in the Twilight Zone.
  • Oh, and they have already purchased their tickets for their vacation coming up in a couple of months; they will be hauling the whole family to Australia for a couple of weeks.

I guess the main point is that I don't much care how people spend their money. If you want to buy a diamond studded collar for your pooch I don't care (I'll laugh at the ridiculousness of doing such a thing, but I don't care). As long as you can afford it. As long as you meet your responsibilities which include not doing things that in the end will make your family homeless. As long as you teach your kids how to be decent human beings and good with money so they won't grow up to be swamped with debt. As long as you take responsibility for your actions. And as long as that when disaster is on the horizon, you do your best to correct the problem, rather than letting the situation explode in your face then ask 'what happened? duh', or worse, blame others for your dire situation much like the many people who took out huge home mortgage loans that they couldn't afford then blamed the banks for their foreclosures, but that's another post. ...I'll stop ranting now...

Friday, November 7, 2008

News Roundup

It's been a busy news day...here are the high (actually low) lights...

All of this...in one day...I think I need a news fast...good thing preparedness is at the top of our to do list...

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Defense Poll: Run and Hide or Blow Their Heads Off?

Well according to our poll, many voters chose the latter. The question: What is your preferred method of self defense? Here's a breakdown and some comments:
  • 24 chose firearms
  • 2 chose non-lethal methods such as a Tazer or Mace
  • 3 chose hand to hand fighting methods
  • 4 chose to run and hide

All of these methods make sense and all of these methods should be a part of a common sense self defense plan.

Firearms are an obvious method of self defense due to stopping power and the ability of a firearm to "level the playing field". If you are smaller or weaker than your attacker, your attacker is armed, or you are being attacked by a group of people, having a firearm will even up the odds of you coming out ahead of the situation; without one you don't have much of a chance. Note, however, that firearms are not always the perfect self defense choice. In situations where firearms are illegal (military bases, some foreign countries, etc), using one may land YOU in prison and thus the wisdom of having one would be in question. Also, once you shoot someone, there is no taking it back and many a tragic situation has occurred when the shooter (who obviously wasn't following basic firearms safety rules) killed someone (friend, relative, neighborhood kid) because they shot through a door, into the dark, when they were drunk, or angry, ending with a death on their hands that they will have to live with (and often pay for) for the rest of their lives.

Non lethal methods such as a Tazer or Mace are another option for self defense and, when used properly, can work wonders when it comes to defending your life. On a positive note, non lethal methods can give you time to escape your attacker without killing them. Causing an attacker pain (always a good thing) with a jolt from a Tazer or shot of Mace to the face will both render them unable to proceed with their attack as well as give you time to run away from the situation or call the police. On a negative note, you need to be fairly close to the attacker to use these items and in general you don't want to let an attacker get that close to you. They could take these items from you and use them on you and there is always the possibility of YOU accidentally using them on you. Many a public building with a good HVAC system has had to be evacuated due to an accidental release of Mace.

Hand to hand combat skills should be a requirement of everyone who is physically capable of such action. The reason military and law enforcement personnel are trained with firearms as well as in hand to hand combat is simple--sometimes an attack happens so unexpectedly you don't have time to pull your weapon, sometimes you need to need to wrestle your weapon away from an attacker, and sometimes you are in an unarmed situation where you still need to defend yourself with what you have, basically your two hands. Obviously, there are a number of negatives associated with this method of self defense, namely you don't know how skillful the other guy is, he may overpower you, and you could end up injured or dead, but if you have no other option either because you don't have or choose not to have a firearm or other weapon, at least having a bit of physical skill could save your life.

The final poll choice, running and hiding, is a viable self defense option. In a situation where the attacker is armed and you aren't, no amount of macho is going to save your life if you are standing there like a firing line silhouette. Better that they can't find you or can't catch you so that they can't shoot you and you will live to fight another day. This is also a great option for children who don't carry weapons. In an anthropological sense, games aren't just something to kill time, the purpose of games is to teach survival skills. Hide and seek, for example, is a playful way for kids to learn how to use one of their best defenses which is to hide since an attacker is almost always larger and more powerful than them. The ability to hide oneself or run away from a situation has also been used quite effectively by Ninjas, American Indians, and to this day by specially trained combat troops.

Which ever method you choose, or if you choose to make all of these methods a part of your self defense plan, the most important thing is to practice often. The benefits of muscle memory combined with developed skills can, and will, save your life in a dangerous situation.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Results

No matter where you stand in the political spectrum or how you feel about this evening's election results, the basic things that matter in your life, and the things you can do to improve your life, remain the same:
  • Keep up your preparedness routine. Since you are responsible for you and your family, being prepared with food, water, alternative power/heating/cooking, and all of the other things you need to take care of yourself for a period of time is of the utmost importance no matter who is president.
  • Get out of debt, stay out of debt, and increase your savings, investments, and money making skills.
  • Make your voice heard and hold your politicians accountable--they work for you.
  • Make the family you want to live in, make the community you want to live in. Often when there are social problems in a group, people start pointing fingers and fixing blame (which doesn't change the situation). Be the leader in your home and community, set an example, and keep high standards; you may not be able to change the world but you can change your little corner of it.
  • Hold tight to your rights. They are being eroded on nearly a daily basis because most people a) don't know what their rights are so they b) can't defend these rights.
  • Chill out and relax. Overdosing on political news, like stressing over any topic, can give you high blood pressure and anxiety issues. Sometimes you need to just turn off the news and focus on some of the simple things in life--family, quality ice cream, helping others, etc.

Monday, November 3, 2008

20 Things I Need to Do Before the End of the Year

Being a listy-type person, I keep myself organized with lists on a daily basis. Here's are some random things I need to do before the end of the year (some of which you may need to do as well):
  1. Vote (I already voted by mail...this is a reminder for our readers)
  2. Finish funding my Roth IRA (although this can be done into the next year for 2008)
  3. Replace the batteries in my CO detector (tis the season for carbon monoxide poisoning)
  4. Do all the year end/new year business stuff (box 2008 files, new 2009 files, all financials updated, etc)
  5. Change all of my passwords
  6. Do my annual home inventory
  7. Break a bad habit (for me, this is a daily Starbucks Frap)
  8. Get out of the country for a couple of weeks (the only way I get a vacation is to go where no one can find me and I am not online/available by phone/connected to CNN 24/7)
  9. Do something odd (I've been kicking around an idea for a Dave Ramsey 'Plastectomy' video, I may even apply for Survivor or Amazing Race)
  10. Surprise the spouse (sometime between our anniversary and Christmas I usually come up with a good surprise)
  11. Flesh out a new business venture (I have also been kicking around a couple of new business ideas. My goal is to be able to support my lifestyle with passive income only so that is one of my main projects now)
  12. Practice tracking in the snow when we get some; this may coincide with a ski trip
  13. Start learning a new language (I'm debating between Arabic and Chinese)
  14. Visit my son (he will be deploying to Iraq by the end of the year; even though he is well trained I wish I was going instead of him)
  15. Find the perfect 2009 calendar (I don't do electronic calendars, I like to see a whole month at a time so I need the perfect paper calendar which I will use every day for a year--this is often more difficult to find than it seems)
  16. Ratchet back Christmas exponentially (this holiday is usually an EVENT--food for half the community, presents for a very large and extended family--it's craziness. A more manageable event would be nice)
  17. Find a beater pick up truck (a friend bought an old truck with a strong engine that looks like hell but functions fairly well for a grand total of $500. I want one too. I can think of a hundred and one uses for such a truck)
  18. Revamp the storage system in my garage (I think a reworking of the shelving could yield more storage space for food, water, and supplies)
  19. Stash more cash (always good to have lots on hand)
  20. Review my investment portfolio when the market quits being so schizophrenic

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Sheltering in Place...

Oddly enough I can't figure out how to place a post which I just finished up, under today's date. It will only post under the date I started working on it which was last week, so if you want to see the latest post on sheltering in place, scroll down a couple of days...