Prep Tip #5: You Need $1000. Now.

EVERYONE should have a mini emergency fund, in cash, and on hand (which means hidden in your home not at a bank where you may not be able to access the money in the event of a disaster).  With a bit of gazelle intensity and a bit of creativity, you can gather this amount of money by the end of the month.  Sell blood, walk dogs, sell off junk from your house, mow yards/shovel snow...do whatever you have to do in order to put together this emergency cash as quickly as possible.  Do it now.