How To Reduce Your Expenses to (Almost) Nil

Over the past couple of months of traveling I have been able to enjoy something I haven't been able to enjoy for literally decades, namely being able to count my monthly bills on one hand (ie: cell phone bill, car insurance bill, health insurance bill, storage unit bill, and tithe) . Even better, those bills are each under a hundred dollars per month. Add to that the cost of some food and sundry items and we are currently able to live quite well on very little money. While I realize that this lifestyle isn't for most people--and I'm sure we will get tired of it at some point in the future and settle down again--the idea of reducing your bills to the bare minimum will appeal to just about everyone. Here's some ideas for reducing your monthly bills to the smallest amount possible.

• House. When we settle down again, we will buy a small house and pay cash for it. A large house, unless you have a dozen kids running around your place, is not necessary and is a large waste of money. If you aren't at the point where you can pay off your house with cash, get on the Dave Ramsey plan and make this your goal. If you don't have the money to do this, consider really ratcheting back you housing expenses by getting creative (ie: trading elder care for room and board, renting the apartment over someone's garage for cheap, etc).


• Utilities. The best way to not pay utilities is to live in an area where you have a well, septic tank, and have a woodlot where you can cut your own wood for home heating. Having solar panels for electricity would also be nice. (Note that you will trade the cash you would pay for these items in the city for the physical activity and skill necessary to do the labor to keep these utilities working.) If this doesn't sound appealing, you may want to look for housing where utilities are included or live in a place where you can control your utility usage and thus the price you pay for these items.


• Cell phones. If you don't like monthly cell phone bills you can always get a prepaid plan. For something like $100 you can get 1000+ pre-paid minutes on a cell phone plan which, if you don't use your phone much, can cover several months of service. Other than that, it pays to do your research and get the plan that best meets your needs.


• Internet. Most of us can't fathom living without internet. It is possible, of course, because so many places now offer free internet, however, if you must have internet in your home, like I said above, check around and see what all of your options are before you make a decision on what plan to get.


• Car. You should ALWAYS pay cash for your cars. It makes no sense to make monthly payments on an item that depreciates like a lead balloon. If you can't afford to pay $20,000 for a car then pay $2,000 and save what you would be paying in car payments until you have money saved to purchase an upgrade.


• Insurance is one place where I don't scrimp. Things like car insurance, health insurance, and homeowners insurance can save you tons of money in the event that a catastrophe happens. Life insurance is also good unless you have the funds to self insure for the death of the family breadwinner.


• Food. Food will cost you, but the amount depends on you. I know a couple of dumpster divers in Portland, OR who rarely ever spend money on food, but if eating out of a dumpster is a bit off-putting, there are many thousands of pages on the internet that will teach you how to save money on this item.


• Clothing is another area where you can basically spend as much, or as little, as you want. There are plenty of places to get free hand-me-downs (just letting friends know that you like hand-me-downs could probably get you a good haul of newish clothes as people hardly ever tend to wear their clothes out) or you can step up to garage sales, thrift stores, and the Goodwill as well as clearance sales at Walmart and even department stores. If there is one thing I have learned over the past few months, when you aren't working in a professional setting you can pretty much get by with only a few changes of clothes.


• Other sundries. Gas for your car may be at the top of this list, along with Starbucks each morning and other things that seem to take your hard earned cash on a daily basis. Fortunately most sundries that you buy are totally unnecessary and therefore you can work around these expenses (like making your coffee at home and taking it to work, reading the newspaper online instead of buying it, etc). Gasoline is a bit more tricky. If you really need to cut back on this expense and you have the means to take public transit, ride your bike, or carpool to work, these may be viable options to save some cash.


• An emergency fund. No matter how low you can get your bills, an emergency is nearly guaranteed to happen. For homeowners, it may be the furnace conking out, for people who are traveling like I am, it may be an unanticipated layover for several days in the event of a disaster that closes the airport. Bottom line--no matter how low you can reduce your monthly expenditures, you absolutely NEED an emergency fund!

It's been an interesting type of freedom these past few months. Fortunately, as an aid to saving money, the friends and relative we have been visiting have kept us in grand style at virtually no cost besides a few meals out and the spouse cooking up some wonderful food at their homes. What I do know for sure is that the next time we settle down, I will pay much more attention to the overall cost of our monthly expenses (and I already have some solar home plans on my computer that I have been mulling over...).

Website Update

I'll get back to regular posting on the blog later this week. If you check over at the CNI site, you will see that the website is in the middle of a major update. Thanks to all who have helped keep the info current on the website, especially Kevin over at the Knowledge is the Killer of Fear blog has been a huge help providing links and Joe (you can find his business here) for the long list of broken links! There were a couple of others who had emailed some link update info who I didn't get to repond to (email SNAFU) so thanks to you all as well.

The Power of Goal Setting...An Example

Just a quick example of what can happen when you set a goal and reach it: The Family on Bikes just arrived in Ushuaia after a three year, 17,000 mile bike ride from Alaska. Do you have a goal? Is it big enough to be interesting as well as challenging? What are you going to do about it? Make it happen or make excuses?

50 Survival Prep Questions from the Japan Disaster

As you are preparing to survive the next disaster that hits your area, ask yourself these questions (inspired from the Japan disaster):

1. What kind of natural disasters are common in your area?


2. What kinds of natural disasters are uncommon in your area but could still happen?


3. What are potential man-made disasters could happen in your area (ie: chemical plant, nuclear plant, dam that could burst, etc)?


4. Are there disaster warning signals in your area (ie: sirens, reverse 911 calls, etc)?


5. Do you know where your local evacuation routes and evacuation centers are located?


6. Is your bug out bag (BOB) ready to go at a moment's notice?


7. If you've had your BOB at the ready for a while, have you emptied it and made sure everything in it (food, batteries, etc) is up to date?


8. Do you always keep your car's gas tank at least half full?


9. Do you have extra gasoline safely stored in case you need to evacuate and gas is unavailable?


10. Do you have an evacuation plan?


11. Are you able to evacuate both via car and on foot (or maybe on a bicycle/motorcycle)?


12. Can you navigate even if there are no more landmarks left in your town?


13. Where would you evacuate to (near, further, and furthest locations)?


14. How will you obtain water after a disaster?


15. How will you obtain food after a disaster?


16. How will you contact friends and family after a disaster to let them know you are OK?


17. How will you obtain news and information after the disaster?


18. Have you determined additional sources of news and information apart from the regular media?


19. Do you have a comprehensive first aid kit?


20. Do you have a broad base of first aid knowledge?


21. How will you get specialized products that you need after a disaster (baby formula, diapers, oxygen and medications for yourself or others in your home who need it, etc)?


22. Are there specialized medications that you may need after a disaster and how will you obtain them (ie: iodine pills, etc)?


23. How will you care for/transport your ill or elderly relative after a disaster if they live with or near you?


24. Do you have the proper gear to survive outdoors if the disaster happens during the winter?


25. Do you have the proper gear to set up your own shelter in case your home is unlivable?


26. How will you protect your things from looters and others who will want what you have after a disaster?


27. How will you handle unprepared friends and loved ones who show up at your door with nothing after a disaster?


28. Are you in good enough shape to be able to do the physical work required after a disaster (lifting, climbing, moving stuff, etc)?


29. Do you have connections who you will be able to call on after a disaster (doctor, grocery store owner, politician, construction people, etc)?


30. Do you have special skills that will be useful to yourself and others after a disaster?


31. Do you have cash on hand that can be used right after a disaster to purchase available items?


32. Do you have a significant emergency fund in the bank that you would eventually be able to access after a disaster?


33. Are you debt free?


34. Do you need very little money to support your lifestyle (if not, are you easily able to ratchet back your lifestyle on short notice)?


35. Do you have items that would be useful for bartering after a disaster?


36. Do you know how to barter (from experience, not from a book)?


37. Do you have a plan for where to meet with your family if you are all separated during a disaster?


38. Do you have important information in written form (phone numbers, medications, etc) in case you can't access your computer or cell phone?


39. Do you regularly back up your computer files and keep a copy of this in your BOB, at your office, in your safe deposit box, etc?


40. Do you have copies of all of your important documents (including scanned copies on your computer)?


41. Do you have insurance (including specialized insurance such as flood insurance, earthquake insurance, etc)?


42. Do you have a cell phone that allows text messaging as well as access to the internet (this is how most people communicated during the Japan disaster)?


43. Do you have a plan for powering your phone and other electronic devices in the event of a prolonged blackout?


44. What will you do for entertainment after a disaster (there is usually a lot of waiting after the fact)?


45. Do you hold regular fire/lockdown/earthquake/evacuation drills so that your family will know what to do during and after a disaster?


46. Do you have any search and rescue knowledge/experience?


47. Have you considered that you may have to store your own dead, at least temporarily?


48. Do you know what your city, county, state, and federal disaster plans are (so you will know what to expect)?


49. Do you share your disaster preparedness knowledge and skills with others?


50. Do you continue to educate yourself in order to keep up with the latest in disaster prep skills/gear/knowledge?

It's a Disaster Area...Literally

And if you don't believe me, check out this link which will show you in real time every disaster that is currently happening somewhere in the world.

A Few Things You Should Know Right Now

#1--Tomorrow begins Day Light Savings time for most of us in the US. Set your clocks forward one hour tonight before you go to bed.
#2--Just came across this great sounding program for wounded warriors--free houses! Check it out here.
#3--Looking for someone who is missing in the Japan earthquake? Click here. And here.
#4--And if you are looking to donate to help those affected by the Japan earthquake, here's a list of organizations to donate through.

The Earthquake in Japan... What You Need to Know

I was puttering around the internet this morning when I came across breaking news that there had been a big earthquake and potential tsunamis in Japan. Specifically the Tokyo area of Japan. Immediately I sent out a blast email/text to everyone I knew who lived in the Tokyo area as well as a few people I know who are stationed with the military in the Tokyo area. It was a worrisome few hours until the messages started trickling in that everyone I knew there was OK. I also received a frantic call from my sister who was surprised that I answered my cell phone--our original plan was to be in Tokyo this very month so she was relieved to hear that we had changed our plans and would go to Asia later this summer.

Like many disasters, there was little to no warning that such a catastrophic event would occur and most people were far from ready for it (although in Japan they are much more prepared for earthquakes than we are in the US).

I've blogged previously about how to be prepared for an earthquake so that post will be a quick refresher:

• Watch this video to get an idea about how and what to prepare for in the event of an earthquake.


• Then read this FEMA page with a massive amount of links about how to get prepared for an earthquake.


• LA County had a pretty good earthquake preparedness guide. Apparently it has been replaced by this. Still a good read that hits on all of the preparedness topics.


• You NEED a Bug Out Bag. Put one together based on these examples: Example #1 Example #2 Example #3 Example #4


• You need a plan. Here is one example.

And the most important part...practice! Hold regular earthquake drills for your family. Hold regular communication drills with family and friends. Prepare ahead of time by getting your BOB ready, knowing the basics (ie: how to turn off the gas, how to drop cover and hold, how to make safe drinking water in the event of an extended disaster, etc), and have a cushion of cash available should you need to bug out or just buy fuel or food when there is an extended power outage.

The bottom line, as we saw in Japan, is that during an earthquake of this magnitude, luck plays a pretty big role in survival, however being prepared ahead of time can push the luck meter a bit more towards your favor.

Get the Training You Need...Here's How

As a survivalist, or basically anyone who wants to learn a new skill, there are bunch of ways to go about your task of learning. First, you will want to pick something that you want to learn. Obviously it should be able to add value to your current or future situation. In the survivalist arena, some good things to learn may be: HAM radio, emergency medical responder, martial arts, how to fight, outdoor survival, how to hunt, how to fish, animal tracking, how to shoot/improve your shooting skills, how to can food, etc.
This is how you can go about learning said skill(s):

• Take a class. This is the best way to learn something because you will have the opportunity for hands-on practice as well as have someone to ask questions of.
• Read. Go to the library and check out every possible book on your topic.
• Check out YouTube. Here are some examples of educational videos available online that I posted over on the CNI site: Example #1 Example #2
• Find a club or group to participate in. I've belonged to shooting clubs, HAM radio clubs, backpacking groups, etc. The real benefit is being able to tap people more knowledgeable than yourself and learn from them as well as being "in the loop" when new products/items come out.
• Find a mentor. No matter what you want to learn--shooting to business management--there is always someone who has been there before. If you find one of these people that has learned how to be successful at whatever it is you want to learn, plus they have the heart of a teacher, you will have a mentor who can help you get to where you want to be in regards to your skill development.
• Google. There are probably a million and one websites devoted to what you want to learn. Find them and learn from them.
• Practice. No matter what you want to learn, if you don't practice at it you will never be able to optimize your skill. So practice. Religiously.
• Attend conventions, meet-ups, and other gatherings devoted to your area of interest. This is a great way to learn new things and network with like-minded people.
• Put your skills to work. Once you have a good grasp of your new skill, consider using them in day to day life. I know quite a few HAM radio enthusiasts who also volunteer with ARES and RACES. I know quite a few outdoor enthusiasts who also volunteer with Search and Rescue. I know quite a few doctors, nurses, and paramedics who volunteer with humanitarian aid efforts in disaster areas. Again, this is another way to refine your skills, share what you know, help others, and learn new things.
• Teach others. Once you have a good grasp on your new skill, consider how you can share it with others. Maybe you can teach a class, start a blog, start a website, or participate in forums. This will allow you to help newcomers as well as learn new things yourself.
• Compete. HAM radio contesting. Participating in the Dakar Rally. Running a marathon. Scaling a mountain. Participating in shooting tournaments. Entering your canned vegetables at the county fair. Most skills you learn will also have an element of challenge to them if you want to up the ante and compete with others in your chosen field.

Learning something new is not a one time thing. Most skills that you will find useful will require some or all of the above tactics in order to become proficient. The good part is that once you learn a skill, you very rarely forget it, and you never know when said skill will come in handy (ie: a SHTF scenario or just helping your son's Boy Scout troop earn a new badge).

Settle Into a New Location With These 10 Questions

We are currently traveling for a year or so until we decide #1 where to live, and #2 what to do (I have plenty of business ideas percolating right now and will eventually settle on one or two to pursue). As we hop around the country now, then later the world, there is a short period of settling in required at each stop. Here are the ten questions I ask myself at each location:

1. Where are we (as in address, town/city, county, state)? Then pull out a map and see where you are in relation to major cities/towns/etc.
2. What are the major threats (natural disasters, man-made problems) in the area? This relates to number one above. This past week we had just settled in to our new temporary location and the next day, tornado warnings started racing across the TV screen. Having no one to ask since we were new in town, it was a little confusing as to where exactly we were in relation to the areas that were in the storm warning area (that's why #1 is important) and how seriously to take the warnings (I called up a friend from Kentucky who is used to such occurrences and he said "very" so down we went to the basement for about an hour until the storm passed).
3. Take a walk around the neighborhood you are staying in to ascertain: escape routes (there should be more than one way to enter and exit where you are at), water sources (there is currently a small river down the street from where we are), any apparent dangers (in a storm, the small river could become a danger), possible food sources, etc.
4. Where is the local: hospital, grocery store, post office, bank, pharmacy, subway/bus stop, etc.
5. Do you have any contacts in the area? Information, a back up, help in an emergency...having contacts can be quite beneficial.
6. What's going on in the community? This is important to know both for reference, in case you are looking for something to do, and practically (ie: if your driveway will be blocked for an entire afternoon because you live along a parade route, you want to know this ahead of time).
7. What can you learn? There is always something to learn both officially (the local university may have a regular lecture schedule) and unofficially (I have learned how to bake a killer cornbread from the lady next door...we happen to be in the deep south this month).
8. What is the culture like? Even in your own country, the culture changes from place to place. I nearly fell off my chair the other day when the couple who live next door came by and on more than one occasion mentioned something about "colored" people. I seriously hadn't heard that word since I read a Mark Twain book decades ago. So it's a good idea to find out how people are before you start spouting what may or may not be considered your liberal/radical beliefs.
9. If there is a SHTF situation, what would you do? This could be anything from an earthquake to a total government shut down to a wildfire that is coming your way. You need to have a plan, or a variety of plans, ahead of time.
10. What can you take away from your experience? There's always many take-aways from your travels. You may find a good place to bug out to in the future. You may run across some unique training opportunities. You may make friends for life.

The bottom line is to situate yourself as quickly as possible by asking the right questions and getting up to speed on all of the things you need to know sooner, rather than later.