Real Life Survival - When All Else Fails

There will be times when your best efforts and planning will not be able to get you safely through a crisis. This is when you will need to be ready to improvise alternate plans and adapt them to the current situation. This is when experiences and skills will become your most valuable resource.

In a crisis, we all like to believe we’ve covered all our bases but unfortunately this doesn’t always hold true in a survival situation. We sometimes get blown away by any number of little kinks that develop in our plans and we need to be ready to improvise and adapt to the current situation to solve these problems.

Haste Makes Waste

Normally, it won’t be necessary to scrap your plans entirely. Sometimes a simple modification will get you back on track. A good example of this is your bug out plan. Sometimes a minor adjustment is all that is needed before you need to switch to your alternate bug out plan. Don’t abandon a perfectly good plan if it only requires a simple modification. Weigh your options before you change to a totally different plan. This will also cause less disruption and confusion for everyone involved. Remember, a good plan is a terrible thing to waste.

He Who Hesitates Is Lost

Waiting too long to decide if a change is necessary can have severe or even deadly consequences. Sometimes you will have to adapt quickly to a change in your circumstances to avoid a small problem becoming a major catastrophe. This is where the leader of your group must be ready to act decisively to maintain the safety and security of everyone involved.

Being prepared to adapt to changing circumstances should be a crucial part of your plans. When all else fails...find another solution by improvising and adapting to the change.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Financial Survival - Stuffing the Mattress

With an economy that has been on artificial life support for the last five years, it looks like the government is finally going to pull the plug. We are probably going to be in for the ride of our lives on this financial rollercoaster and you may need a mattress to cushion the fall if you get thrown off.

Many of the benchmarks that are being considered to mark the need for the “taper” of stimulus to our economy may actually be false indicators of our true economic status. The jobless rate shows a decrease but is lead by an increase of part-time workers which is probably due in large part to the upcoming effects of the Affordable Care Act, many of which are probably as yet undetermined.

Artificially low interest rates are probably going to increase significantly and good luck in finding a bank that is willing to loan you money. Most banks are still fundamentally under capitalized and even with a rise in interest rates may be hesitant to loan money to the average individual who is likely to be reduced to part-time status in their job.

The low rate of inflation is also considerably inaccurate when you consider that food and fuel costs aren’t included in government statistics. It is hard to believe that the inflation rate can be considered to be under control when fuel prices have nearly doubled in the last few years and food costs are also significantly higher.

Let’s not forget about the significant increase of the number of individuals that now rely on some form of government assistance in order to merely survive. Many individuals have even dropped out of the workforce because the amounts of government benefits are greater that can be obtained from what used to be characterized as “gainful employment”.

The decrease in the median income of most families is not likely to improve, especially if they suddenly find themselves working part-time. A further reduction in income won’t offset the higher costs of individual healthcare that are also likely to occur. Unfortunately, it appears that our economy is still in a coma and has yet to wake up. It may turn out to be a very rude awakening for everyone.

Essentially, like any individual once removed from life support, you will be on your own and your survival will be at stake. It may be time to start stuffing the mattress to cushion the fall.

Got mattress?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Disclaimer: This is not to be considered financial advice of any kind and is only an opinion of this author.

Gambling with Nature - The Uninsured Loss

Life is a gamble. Sometimes you win but eventually you will lose if given enough time.  The cost sometimes out weighs the risks and you will need to be prepared if your gamble doesn't pay off. You need to be prepared for the consequences and accept the fact that your attempt to beat nature has failed.

For a decade and a half my gamble with nature has finally resulted in a big loss. There have been minor setbacks over the years but nature has finally won the battle. A recent storm has damaged my bug-out retreat beyond repair. Having lost more than sixty percent of the roof and close to 100 percent of the contents due to heavy rains that accompanied the storm, there is little left to do other than a salvage operation.

The overall dollar value of the place was fairly insignificant but is still hard to accept. Realizing that the cost of insurance would have been way more than the structure was actually worth, a decision was made to save the extra cost and take a chance. The cost of insurance would have doubled the cost of the structure and now the place is just an uninsured loss.

All my time and savings will now have to be focused on replacing the damaged structure and restoring my bug-out retreat to a usable state. Even though it wasn't a huge investment, it is still hard to accept the consequences of my actions by gambling with nature.

Got uninsured loss?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Paranoia or Prepping - Maintaining a Proper Balance

Everyone prepares to a certain degree but there are those that sometimes let their prepping activities go to extremes. Try as you might, it is almost impossible to prepare for every possible scenario. If you maintain a proper balance in your prepping activities, you will have a better state of preparedness than you might think. Sometimes the simplest things are overlooked because we don’t see them as obstacles until it is too late.

You’ve got a bug-out bag, a bug-out vehicle and a bug-out location but do you have the skills to put your bug-out plan into action. Can you change a flat tire? It’s a simple process but it is also one which many people have never done. Can you change a drive belt on the motor if it breaks? These are simple skills that are easy to practice and develop but which can leave you stranded and vulnerable at the worst possible time if you lack these simple skills. Simple skills can go a long way in helping you be better prepared.

A box of survival seeds won’t do you much good if you lack the gardening skills to make them grow. A stockpile of canned goods and freeze-dried foods won’t last forever and you will need gardening skills to properly balance your food storage program. You will also need to stock your food items accordingly. Excess food storage can increase your chances of having items that expire or go bad before you can use them. Simple gardening skills can help you be better prepared.

Don’t forget to have a plan to maintain the safety and security of your family. Don’t sacrifice your family’s safety or security because simple items were left unattended. Realize that maintaining security should also be a part of your preparedness plans.

Include plenty of family activities that can help to strengthen the trust and loyalty among your group or family members. Make sure to include both younger and older members of your group in your activities. While their knowledge and skills may vary, they can only help to strengthen your efforts. Remember that everyone is capable of making a contribution to your preparedness efforts.

There are numerous aspects to proper prepping and maintaining a proper balance will be critical. You may be unknowingly increasing your costs and utilizing resources you may need elsewhere if you don’t maintain a proper balance in your preps. Know how many in your family or group you are preparing for and adjust your preparedness plans accordingly. Know which skills you are lacking and make an effort to learn them and continue to practice those skills you already have. Balance your prepping efforts with the actual needs of your family or group.

Got balance?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Using Your Sixth Sense for Survival

In the world of survival there is a simple truth that reveals itself. Sometimes you have to trust your instincts if you want to survive. Many times it is a matter of how we react to our environment that helps us to survive. If you can learn to trust your “sixth sense”, you may just survive a bad situation before it happens.

Our sixth sense may be due to the fact that our subconscious mind realizes the danger before we are even consciously aware of impending disaster. It may be that we sense things through our subconscious mind that aren’t readily apparent to our conscious mind. Have you ever hesitated at a green light for just a moment only to look up and see a speeding motorist pass in front of where you might have been? You then realize that your hesitation (sixth sense?) prevented a possible accident where you may have been an unwilling victim. Perhaps it may have been a strange sound that caused you to pause your stride for a moment and take a closer look at your surroundings. This simple action may have helped you to avoid a step in the wrong direction that might have led to a dangerous fall or perhaps even stepping in the wrong place on the wrong thing.

Listening to that inner sense that sometimes tells you something is wrong or isn’t quite right is a challenge for all of us. We may often fail to heed those simple “gut feelings” that are trying to tell us something. Our subconscious mind may hear, smell or see things before we are actually aware of the importance of the message our subconscious mind is trying to tell our conscious mind. If we consciously ignore these feelings, we may be risking more than we realize. Trust is a difficult thing to establish in many cases. Learning to trust your “sixth sense” should be a practice that everyone should endeavor to enhance in their daily lives.

Many of us have experienced those moments where a slight hesitation or a simple pause has had a profound effect on our circumstances. We may have averted a probable disaster. It may just be luck is sometimes with us but I don’t want to put too much trust in luck being with me at the right time. I prefer to believe that it is our innate ability to sense danger through our subconscious mind, even before we are consciously aware of the danger that will quite often make the difference in our circumstances and our survival.

An instinctive reaction may be the only thing that saves you.

Got “sixth sense” for survival?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

We’re gonna need more bullets.

In light of recent events, all the talk about new gun control measures has sparked the sale of firearms to all-time, record high levels. Unfortunately, with an increase in firearms purchases comes an increased need for ammunition for those firearms. It is important to remember that a rifle without ammunition is little more than a fancy stick and can quickly become little more than a club and a pistol becomes a poor substitute for a hammer.

A quick check of almost any outlet selling ammunition will show that the stock of ammunition seems to be drying up faster than a stock pond in the August heat. It is extremely unfortunate that responsible gun ownership may be crippled by the simple fact decent supplies of ammunition are quickly disappearing off the shelves. 

The simple truth of the matter is quite plain...

We’re gonna need more bullets.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

FEMA to the rescue?

Just in case you haven’t made up your mind about being prepared ahead of time, you might want to consider the kind of help that may be available to you from your government in a crisis.

Check this out.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121107/tottenville/staten-island-fema-disaster-center-shuts-doors-due-weather

They could have sent in the military. At least they wouldn't let a little bad weather stop them.

The best thing you can do to avert the effects of a major crisis is to spend a little of your time and some of your resources in advance in order to deal with a crisis when it happens. You may not want to rely too heavily on someone else to show up with a helping hand.

On a more personal note, I don’t care for bad weather either and prefer to stay home when the weather is bad.

Got FEMA?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Is “Doomsday Preppers” Doomed?

While the show has some good points, it’s still TV and needs to be entertaining in order for NATGeo to get viewers and advertising dollars.  The program has created additional awareness about prepping and the need to be prepared but they have also sensationalized prepping to the point where they may have difficulty finding preppers to participate in their program.

After visiting several serious preppers and a couple of beginners in my area, many of my prepper friends seem to be making a decision to avoid the possibility of subjecting themselves to being viewed as extremists on the fringe of society. Many stated they wouldn’t mind talking about their own level of expertise in certain areas. They also stated they wouldn’t mind giving advice and sharing ideas about prepping. They were also pretty clear that they weren’t about to reveal any specific information about their level of preps.  No way! No how!

Even a pretty serious prepper like me has picked up a few tips from the show but there have also been some things that didn’t quite make sense to me from a practical standpoint. The show’s producers may also have realized that the “average” prepper isn’t going to have the “shock” value for their audience. They may have also used their editorial control to the point where the preppers involved may have been seriously misrepresented in their prepping efforts for the sake of higher TV ratings. Not a good thing in my estimation.

There are plenty of gardening and other types of programs that are a more accurate portrayal of the types of basic activities preppers are regularly involved in on TV already. After all, how much entertainment value can you get out of a kitty litter bucket used as a nesting box for your chickens? This might be interesting to people raising chickens but probably not everyone.

Personally there is no problem for me when it comes to sharing ideas and advice with other like-minded individuals, just don’t ask for specific details about my level of preps, my address or my bug out locations. That’s private information and known to only a trusted few.

Perhaps the program will make a turnaround and show more of the “common sense” approach to prepping and focus more on the practical aspects. Including a few more basic prepping tips and the various things that can be done to be better prepared would be a good start. The value of being more self-reliant and better prepared is an important aspect of prepping and should probably be given more attention and focus. They might also want to treat persons involved in prepping with a little more respect and consideration. There are a lot more preppers out there than they may realize and they may be missing an opportunity for an even bigger audience.

In recent months, there has been a significant increase in the number of prepper blogs and websites. The prepper movement is growing and will continue to grow. A more accurate portrayal of prepping may make a more interesting program than they realize.

Even one of the most recent episodes was just a montage of previous shows and may be a sign that they are having difficulty finding preppers to profile. While the need to get others more involved in the prepping community is an admirable goal, going on national TV may not be the best way to do it. It appears that there may be an increasingly negative reaction from the prepper community as result.

Is “Doomsday Preppers” going to survive?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Please feel free to check out the following additional sources of information, resources and websites:

Doomsday Preppers

Preparing to Leave

Traveling to the Bahamas

Atlantis Bahamas Packages

Mayan Preparation

Mayan Palace

Mayan Doomsday Facts

Prepping - Stockpiling or Hoarding?

Negative impressions of preppers and their activities are hard to combat when misinformation leads to a false perception of what it means to be prepared. In order to avoid misconceptions and to better understand the true nature of prepping, an understanding of the semantics involved will be necessary.

There’s an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. This can also happen in an opposite manner as well. A single word can create a thousand images in the minds of misinformed people. Many times this is due to the media showcasing extreme examples in an attempt to secure higher ratings without regards to the damage that can be done or the false perceptions that can occur as a result of their actions.

A thorough understanding of the semantics involved may help you understand preppers and prepping. This requires the terminology used to be defined along accepted guidelines. The terminology can then be used to accurately portray the activity being referenced.

Stockpiling

Stockpiling is a method used to accumulate and maintain a reasonable supply of needed items with a known value for future use should supply be disrupted. Stockpiling helps maintain order. It insures that needed items will still be available for use when required. These items are usually carefully acquired with a specific purpose in mind and thoroughly maintained and upgraded on a regular basis. This is an accurate description of the majority of preppers. It also describes the activities of the government and many businesses that also have stockpiles of various items.

Hoarding

Hoarding is a very misunderstood word that has negative connotations for the majority of people. Unfortunately, the majority of people don't know the actual meaning of hoarder. The actual meaning of hoarding comes from old English and quite literally means “to hide treasure”. In exploring this definition, the key word is treasure (aka, something with great value). This is where extreme examples can create a very real misconception of preppers and their activities. Should your stockpiles of food, water, first aid items or other gear be considered valuable items? Of course they should.

The misconception occurs when things are taken to the extreme. Hoarders are most often viewed in terms of the “media perspective” that showcases the extreme nature of hoarding by a very limited element of our society. Extreme hoarding creates disorder. This is normally associated with several specific elements that apply only to extreme cases. In extreme cases, items may be collected without regards to their value. The perceived values of these items are not apparent to a reasonable person who associates value to items in a meaningful way. Quite often these so called “valuable” items are "not hidden" but are often left on display in plain sight and in a manner that shows no regard for order or reason. When taken to extremes, hoarding is also very detrimental to your health and safety.

Can a prepper be considered a hoarder? If taken in the context of “hiding treasure”, you could very well be considered a hoarder. Many times the way people perceive you is a justification for their own actions. It is well known that there are many people out there who openly admit they will just take what they want. This is simply a way for them to justify this action when they seek to “redistribute” (aka, steal) your preps. They can rationalize this action in their own minds because they perceive preppers as hoarders, which automatically make preppers the “bad guys”.

When it comes to prepping, let your conscience guide your actions. Normally the only people who will view prepping in a negative sense are the ones who expect something for nothing or who expect someone else to provide it for them when something does go wrong.

Prepping is a lifestyle that should create order and serve a useful purpose.

Got preps (aka, “hidden treasure”)? You betcha!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

CAUTION: The practice of any of the following may cause people to label you as a prepper.

Unlike the media’s current sensationalized portrayal of prepping, it is actually a very practical and common sense lifestyle. Ridicule of others is often used to mask the fears of many people. Those people who fail to understand the true meaning of being prepared often seek to belittle the efforts of those who do believe in being self reliant and see the value of planning ahead.

Everyone prepares in different ways for a multitude of events in their daily lives. Some are small events that can cause minor aggravation in your daily routine but others can cause a widespread disruption that can create major problems if you don’t use a little common sense to prepare in advance for that distinct possibility.

It seems that many would like you to think of preppers as a fringe element of our society. This is really pretty comical when you think about it. When you examine some of the everyday things that people do on a regular basis, it is hard to believe that preppers could be considered anything other than an example that others would seek to follow.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of things that are commonplace in the lives of many people and examine just how many of us may be on the “fringes of society” without realizing it. It would be nearly impossible to list them all but a few choice examples should be enough to help you decide if preppers should be considered a fringe element of our society or an example of a common sense lifestyle.

CAUTION: The practice of any of the following may cause people to label you as a prepper.

1. Do you drive a vehicle with a spare tire in case you have a flat?

2. Do you keep a jack in that vehicle in order to use that spare tire?

3. Have you ever built a house using a set of plans?

4. Did you ever evacuate (i.e., bug out) because of a storm or hurricane?

5. Did you ever turn on a flashlight or light a candle when the power went off?

6. Have you ever bought homeowner’s or car insurance?

7. Have you ever carried an umbrella because it might rain?

8. Have you ever caught rainwater in a bucket or a barrel?

9. Do you have a garden in your yard?

10. Do you keep some spare cash handy for an emergency?

11. Ever use a map to make sure of where you are or how to get there?

12. Have you ever cooked a meal on something other than an electric stove?

13. Have you ever eaten a meal straight from the can?

14. Ever bought more food than you could eat in one meal?

15. Ever bought more than one of an item in case one breaks or as a spare?

Labels are sometimes a good thing. They can tell you a lot with a simple word. A label can often give you valuable information and help you make an informed decision. When you take many of the daily activities in our lives into account, being prepared is really just a practical application of basic common sense.

Now where can I get a label that says “PREPPER”?

Disclaimer

This website is not responsible if you suddenly realize you may be a PREPPER.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Stealth Gardening - How to EAT in a SHTF World

Please, Please, Please, do NOT take this article as a general assumption, just as my thoughts on long term planning! I've seen so many posts claiming that many preppers have 500 pounds of rice, wheat and beans or whatever...when it’s all gone, then what? Sure, you may have a year or more supply of basic food staples but let's look at the big picture.

Let's assume there are 3 different types of gun owners. Type A just bought a big black nasty gun, assumes he can kill anything, but never goes to the range. Type B bought a big black gun, but only goes to the range every 6 months. Type C, well he has a gun for every critter on earth and goes shooting every weekend!

    

 In a SHTF scenario, Type A will just scare off the game, type B may get a few, and type C will get the leftovers...not a good plan!!!

Based on the previous assumption that you have 500 pounds of each food staple....have you ever loaded it to bug out? We're just talking the dry stuff, not the camping gear, generator, solar panels, propane, fuel, etc. I drive a 1 ton dually and there would not be room for 30 or more 5 gallon buckets in it, much less the camping gear! So, unless you own a U-Haul or some other kind of big trailer, your stuff just won't fit in there!

   Don't plan on hunting once you get to your bug out spot either, as everyone else will have the same plan because they will be starving for food also. And if you are lucky enough to have a few acres to garden, the zombies will try to take anything halfway ripe. Anything that looks like a plowed field or a garden is an open invitation to be raided.

So, how do we make a garden that won't be raided by zombies??

Plant things they won't see!

Everyone knows what a tomato plant or corn looks like. Any bright color plant will get attention. A green pepper is less likely to be seen than a red pepper, a tomatilla (green tomato) will hide nicely...peas and beans 50 feet away from a trail won't draw attention. Maybe you could use something like an old badminton net for a lattice for the beans or peas to grow on or to camouflage the tomatoes? Think eggplant, potato, carrot....how many non-preppers could spot a potato or carrot top? Root veggies keep better and are never seen by most. If you stumbled across a patch of dandelions, you would know they are edible but would anybody else? The leaves are edible and the roots can be cooked like carrots!

So, in general...my concept of “Stealth” gardening is... the less obvious, the better!

Dean in AZ

Thanks Dean for a great guest post.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Hidden Signs of Financial Collapse - Part Three - Debt Bubbles

Ask any child and they will tell you that all bubbles eventually pop. They will also tell you that it doesn’t take much effort to make them pop.  In a system where we continue to use new debt to pay for old debt, there will eventually come a breaking point and things will have to change. Otherwise, that bubble will pop and there won’t be anything left afterwards.

                                  

Our current financial system is loaded with lots of debt bubbles and eventually they will start to pop. Most everyone would agree that our national debt is the largest one of these bubbles but it continues to be artificially maintained by a system that is systematically increasing the money supply and the level of debt with little or nothing to back it up. Unfortunately, many state and local governments have followed their lead and are now having to deal with debt bubbles of their own. Even the large corporations are attempting to mimic the government in maintaining their own little debt bubbles.

The sad part is that debt bubbles also exist on an individual level. Too many of us have our own little debt bubbles hidden in the closet and are failing to deal with the problem. Any of our personal debt bubbles can pop suddenly and without warning if something goes wrong. It could be the loss of a job or a sudden health crisis. Whatever the reasons, the results can be very unpleasant to deal with when it happens. You may wind up creating an even bigger personal debt bubble. This can make an already bad situation even worse.

Credit card debt, college loans, home loans and various other forms of consumer debt are at all time highs. This is especially true as prices for goods and services begin to creep higher and higher due to inflation which is currently quietly lurking in hidden places within our economy. When lines of credit are being used to finance the purchase of everyday items such as food, clothing and transportation needs, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that our system and we are in trouble.

Will all of these different debt bubbles pop all at once? They probably won’t. Some debt bubbles are going to pop quicker than others, some will just get bigger (the national debt?) and others will remain in place for the time being. It is a more likely scenario that these bubbles will pop at different stages.

Some of these bubbles have already popped and the effects are having serious consequences on individuals everywhere. The housing bubble is just one example. With the number of vacant homes at an all time high (due mainly to foreclosures), many local neighborhoods have been left with plummeting home values. Many of the remaining homes in these neighborhoods have seen dramatic decreases in home values to the extent where the mortgages are in excess of their current home values despite government attempts to solve this problem.  This is despite a rise in property taxes on these same homes as state and local governments continue to try and prevent their own debt bubbles from bursting.

As these debt bubbles start to pop, different segments of the economy are going to be affected. It has already happened in several areas of our economy. It will probably take several years for all of them to pop but sooner or later they will burst. Unfortunately, the old debt bubbles are merely being replaced with new ones. It’s time we learned to avoid debt and stop paying for it with more debt. That debt bubble will eventually pop leaving nothing behind.

This dance has lasted way too long and it’s finally time to pay the band.

Are you avoiding the personal debt bubble?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Disclaimer

This is merely an opinion of this writer and should not be considered financial advice of any kind. Use or misuse of this information is solely the reader’s responsibility.

Preppers, Homesteaders and Survivalists - Gardens, Guns and Gear

Most people are basically gregarious in nature. Our very nature encourages us to want to be around or involved with other people. Labels are simply a way we can identify ourselves with others when we find ourselves struggling with a situation on an individual basis. It is comforting to us when we know that there are others struggling to survive in a similar manner. It is also important when we have encouragement and support from others of a similar mind to help guide us in our struggles.

While there are many paths to reach a destination, we do not always take the same one. This is not a bad thing but is due more to the spark of individualism that can found in all of us. This spark of individualism can grow if it is fed the right fuel into an enthusiasm that can help you reach your goals. The path you take isn’t as important as your intended destination. Although the paths we take may be different, our destination is quite often the same.

Have you ever stopped and asked for directions? Chances are you have done so at some time in your life. Depending upon how many people you have asked for directions, you’ll probably get an equal number of ways to get there. Some ways will be more direct, some will be more confusing and others will leave you wondering why anyone would go in that direction in the first place. You may have even got some really bad directions and found yourself more lost than you were in the beginning. Preppers, homesteaders and survivalists probably have more in common than most of them care to admit. Most all of us seek to solve our problems and reach our goals in our own and quite often unique way. It’s more a matter of the path we take having a different label.

Does it really matter that the road we take is labeled differently? It shouldn’t. There are probably several different ways that you can travel when going to work, the store or to simply  visit a friend or relative. Is one way better than the other? It’s probably not. Are some people going to be more comfortable going in one direction than another? Sure they will. This is especially true if it’s something that may be somewhat more familiar to them or seem less confusing.  The important thing is that you reach your destination and don’t get lost on the way.

Not everyone is going to be a master gardener, a gunsmith or a gear guru. Your first gardening efforts may yield little more than a dead stick in a pot. To some people, a gun may seem little more than a stick with a trigger on it. Others may wonder why someone would need all that gear that’s talked about so much. In truth, all these things have a place and their use is quite often limited only by your experience, your skills and your knowledge.


It’s the experience, skills and knowledge that we have gained as we travel our different paths that will ultimately help us to reach the same destination.

There’s a sign post up ahead...destination... self reliance.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Hidden Signs of Financial Collapse - Part Two - The State of Personal Finances

The current personal finances of a lot of people are woefully inadequate should they suffer even a small life-changing event. There are numerous things that can create a crisis for your personal finances. With the proper planning, these events will have less of an impact. The chances of you experiencing one of these common, everyday occurrences is a lot more likely than you may realize.

Unfortunately, the personal finances of many people are almost a “mirror” image of those of our government. Many people also refuse to take the necessary steps to correct the deficiencies and only do so when forced by the circumstances. They don’t want to give up those “little luxuries” that are now viewed as a necessity.They have a tendency to spend more than they make with little regard to the impact this could have on their lives if something goes wrong. People often complain about the economy as a whole but haven’t taken the necessary steps to get their own “economic household” in shape. Unlike the government, they won’t be able to print more money when a financial setback happens.

So what are the most common occurrences that can affect your financial well-being?  While there are numerous small events (broken appliances, leaky water pipes, etc.) that can happen, there are two basic events that can have a severe effect on your finances. One of these basic events is unemployment. The sudden loss of a job due to cutbacks, layoffs or “down-sizing” can be brutal on your personal finances. The other basic event that can have a devastating effect on your finances is a major health problem(s). Either of these events can have a devastating effect if you aren’t prepared.

Roughly 50% (depending upon whose statistics you use) of all Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. This is not a place you want to find yourself. If that paycheck suddenly stops as result of unemployment, you are going to be in a world of hurt if you suddenly find yourself without an income. Even though you may be able to receive some form or type of unemployment assistance, it will normally be less than adequate to maintain your current lifestyle or provide enough financial stability to get you through a crisis of this nature. Those benefits will also cease to exist at some time in the future. When you consider that 1 out of 3 persons will become unemployed at some time in their lives, it’s only a matter of time till you find yourself confronted with this problem.  

A major health crisis can also be equally as devastating. Even with good health insurance, you may still be confronted with staggering medical bills if the worst should happen. If you find yourself unemployed, you may also lose your health insurance or be unable to continue it due to the high cost of premiums. This can make a severe health problem even more cause for alarm where your personal finances are concerned. When you consider that 1 out of every 4 persons will suffer some sort of major health crisis in their lives, this is something that simply can’t be ignored if you want to be properly prepared financially.

So what can be done to limit the effects of these occurrences? One of the most basic things you can do is to establish a personal emergency fund. The establishment of an emergency fund is of the utmost importance. If your source of income suddenly disappears, you will need a replacement source to help cover routine expenses. Even a small emergency fund to cover your basic expenses for several months, will help you to deal with a crisis until other options can be utilized or additional income can be obtained. This will put you ahead of the game when you consider that most people have little or no savings and limited sources of credit available to them if a crisis should occur. If at all possible, an even more substantial emergency fund that can cover your expenses for six months to a year will be even better.

Another thing that can be done is to improve your job skills. Quite often a lack of skills can affect your employability. If there are layoffs or cutbacks, you may need a different type of skill other than the one you are currently using to take advantage of the employment opportunities that may still be available. A part-time job in another field can also allow you to develop additional skills and may even create an additional source of income. This extra income could also be used to build an emergency fund or make your current one even more substantial. Many part-time jobs also pay extremely well, especially those associated with certain trades such as mechanics, carpenters, electricians or plumbers. It may even be possible for you develop skills in several of these areas.

The other area you may need to concentrate on is to improve the status of your health. Get regular checkups and work to improve the overall state of your fitness. Devote some additional time and effort into improving your health. Don’t wait until the ambulance shows up at your house. Even a minor health crisis can have a big effect on the best of plans.

So why are these hidden signs of economic uncertainty? Chances are you won’t see it until it happens. In general, most people don’t even know the name of their neighbor down the street, let alone the state of their neighbor’s personal finances. You usually won’t know they are behind on their car payments or mortgage until a foreclosure sign pops up in the yard or their car disappears out of the driveway. You may have even read about a big layoff from a company where they may have been working without realizing your neighbor just lost their job. You may even be unaware of other family members who are experiencing financial difficulties because they may be too embarrassed to say anything.

There was a time when friends and family were available to help out during a crisis. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case in the majority of situations. As the effects of a bad economy widen, the vast majority of extended family members or friends may be in worse financial shape than you are. They simply may not be able to offer you any assistance because they are dealing with the effects of their own personal financial crisis.

Disclaimer: This is merely an opinion of this writer and should not be considered professional advice of any kind.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker 

Hidden Signs of Economic Collapse - Part One - The True Rate of Unemployment

Being prepared requires an understanding of the signs to watch for when things may be headed in the wrong direction. This is true in most any crisis. There are even signs that will help you to see the coming danger and be prepared for an economic collapse prior to an actual economic collapse occurring.

The reality of economic collapse in almost any economy can be seen in several different areas. It doesn’t take a “rocket scientist” to figure out that the real state of our economy is not going to be reported in order to prevent civil unrest by the people affected most by this situation. The civil unrest in many countries that have suffered an economic collapse is witness to this fact. In fact, we are seeing some of the early signs of civil unrest in this country due to the weak economy.  One of the major signs to watch in order to realize the actual health of our economy is the true rate of unemployment in this country.

The Bureau of Labor reports statistics on employment on several different levels that range from the U1 unemployment rate to the U6 unemployment rate. The unemployment rate that is normally reported in the media is the U3 (official) unemployment rate. This rate (U3) doesn’t include a lot of the people who are unemployed but represents a more politically acceptable level of unemployment data when reported.

Many people are also unaware of just how many people aren’t included in the workforce as a matter of routine. Our workforce is primarily based on the civilian population 16 years old and over (many of which are still attending school). Persons who are in places such as nursing homes, correctional institutions or prisons, and members of our military on active duty aren’t included as part of the workforce in these statistics. It also doesn’t include retirees. That’s a lot of people who are simply not included.

If you are concerned about the implications of a possible economic collapse as something to prepare for, it helps to know what to look for in advance. Knowing and being aware of the true rate of unemployment is just one of these factors.

Disclaimer: This is merely an opinion of this writer and should not be considered professional advice of any kind.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

  

Survival Philosophy - The Ripple Effect

Your survival is heavily influenced by your reaction to a crisis or a disaster. This creates a “ripple effect” that will quite often determine the outcome. Just like the calm waters of a pond can be disturbed by a single stone, your life can also be disturbed by the smallest of events.

Quite often we fail to realize that even the simplest of actions on our part can create either a positive or a negative effect on our lives. The old saying “the devil is in the details” reveals a serious truth about our chances for survival should the worst happen. Our failure to maintain a proper focus on the simple things in our life can often lead to a situation that will create a catastrophe of our own making.

A failure to properly rotate your food storage, perform simple but routine maintenance on your vehicle or forgetting to leave a note to keep others informed of your whereabouts could all lead to bigger problems. It’s important not to place yourself in a situation where your own actions can create a “ripple effect”.

If you need to “bug-out”, it’s a lot harder if you have to change a flat tire first. Wishing you had left someone a note when you find yourself stranded in an unfamiliar place won’t help your situation. Even a first aid kit with expired medications isn’t going to be very helpful either if you find yourself with a minor medical emergency and a lack of the proper means to handle it.

You should realize that even the simplest of things can have a serious effect on our lives if left unattended. Avoiding the “ripple effect” will only make you better able to handle a major crisis. Sometimes it’s the little things in life that create the biggest problems.

Got ripples in your pond?

Staying above the water!

Riverwalker

Economic Survival - The Slow Downward Spiral

The current economic situation doesn't look very promising especially when you consider the unwillingness of most politicians to deal with the situation. This is due mainly to their fear of losing votes in their next bid for re-election. Maybe they just don't see this slow downward spiral that our economy is taking or simply choose to ignore it. In either case, it's going to cause a lot of difficulties for anyone who hasn't taken some sort of action ahead of time to deal with what is headed our direction.


There are some simple things about money that some may fail to realize if they aren't paying attention. My first observation that comes from "real world" experience is that you can't spend your way out of debt. If you spend money you don't have , you are going to go further into debt. This is pretty simple when you think about it.


My second "real world" observation is that their are only two ways to reduce your debt. You are going to have to make more money or spend less. For the average person, this can create a real hardship because you are going to have to make some sacrifices. Whether it's sacrificing your personal time by working an extra job or doing without a few extras that make life a little easier, it's going to take some tough choices on your part.


Unlike the government, most people can't just print extra money when it's needed or tax their neighbor to raise additional funds.


Unfortunately, our current economic situation reminds me of a sink full of water and the plug has been pulled. There is going to be a slow downward spiral that takes a while but in the end there is going to be this huge "sucking sound" as it all goes away.




Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Survival Solutions - Learning to Solve Problems

Survival is sometimes a matter of being able to solve numerous problems that may happen when you are the least prepared or when they aren’t expected. No one expects or plans to end up in a situation where their survival is at stake. The main problem of survival is finding a solution to these problems. Murphy’s Law always seems to come into play and when something happens it will almost always be at the worst possible time.

The problems that can occur in a survival situation will seem like a dark cloud hanging over you. This is where your best survival tool will be of the most value. Don’t let that dark cloud throw a shadow on your thinking or your actions.

Our main advantage in a survival situation is our brain. We can improvise, innovate and adapt to most any survival situation and utilize any and all resources and our skills and abilities by looking for solutions to our problems. Given a positive mindset and some clear thinking on our part, there is almost always a solution to the problem, whatever it may be.

The process of solving any problem requires several actions on your part. The first and main part is the ability to recognize the most immediate threat to your survival that you are facing. The very nature of the threat may require clear and concise thinking on your part to avoid a crisis that could affect your ability to survive. You may find yourself having to make a very quick decision. It is always important to deal with the most critical and immediate threat to your survival in the most efficient manner possible.

Another important part of problem solving is being able to analyze it in order to find a solution. This is where your ability to innovate and adapt will come into play. In a survival situation, you will always need to view everything as a resource with multiple uses. Your mind should be kept open to any and all possibilities when it comes to using your resources. Your brain is an amazing tool and if you don’t impose arbitrary limits, your thinking will quite often surprise you. It will quite often show you a new and different way to use something as a resource in an innovative manner to solve your problem. Just because something has never been used in a particular manner doesn't mean it can't be done. It simply indicates that no one has thought about using it in that way.

Quite often when we are looking for a solution to a problem, we find ourselves seeing only the big picture. There is an old saying that can help steer you in the right direction. They say the devil is in the details and the details of any problem can be a big obstacle. With a little clear thinking, the details can be worked out and a solution can be found. In a survival situation, it is important to remember that cooler heads will always prevail.

If you suddenly find yourself between a rock and a hard place, you may view that hiking stick in a whole new light.


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Group Survival - The Logistics Nightmare

As with any endeavor, the larger it is; the more problems you will experience. The logistics of providing the proper level of support for any size survival group can literally become a nightmare without the necessary planning and preparation. Providing for the essentials needed by a large group will be a full time job without a lot of time to do anything else unless your efforts are focused and well organized.

It is going to take a well-structured environment to be successful. This involves structural integrity. If all the necessary parts aren’t in place, your survival group will quickly disintegrate into a mass of confusion and disorder. The manner in which your survival group is structured will be of vital importance for its success.

Examining the different areas that will require your attention on a daily basis will give you a better understanding of just how much work will be involved when trying to form a survival group. Remember, the bigger your group is; the bigger the problems will be and the more work that is going to be required.

Consider your food and shelter needs for a survival group. At a minimum, a single person will require at least a 100 square foot of space. This is not a lot of room when you consider sleeping requirements and storage space for personal items (which will probably need to be limited out of necessity) for a single individual. The space requirements for the preparation of meals and food storage will also increase dramatically. Preparing meals for a large group on a daily basis will take a large amount of food, a great deal of planning, man-power and space. The average size kitchen may not be able to accomplish this unless you have things very well planned in advance. It’s going to take a lot of calories to keep everyone well-fed.

Sanitation needs must also be considered as well and the necessary facilities to maintain a proper level of hygiene for members in your group are probably going to be one of your bigger problems. Maintenance and cleaning will also be a very real problem. Things break, wear out or simply refuse to work when needed and will create problems on a daily basis that will require immediate attention. Even doing the laundry will become a daunting task. Considering how big a job laundry is for the average family and you will begin to realize the problems and difficulties that will occur. It will require everyone to do their part and then some.

Another important factor is the decision-makers. In any group there will be those who can lead and are able to make sound decisions that may be critical to your survival. There will also be those who will need leadership and instruction to accomplish things in a timely and efficient manner. Each will serve an important role in the survival of the group depending upon their skill sets. Just as there are those who will recognize what items are needed, there are also those who will be able to create or build the necessary item or items to fulfill that need.

Meeting the health requirements of a large group will also be a very real challenge. Illness and injury can deal a crippling blow to your survival efforts without the proper planning and preparation. This is an area that cannot be comprised when it comes to proper planning for your survival group. People get sick and accidents happen on a regular basis. This is one thing you can rely on to occur on a regular basis.

Of utmost importance is the trust factor. You will need to be able to trust everyone in your group to do their part to maintain the structural integrity of your survival group. It will need to function without the interruptions that conflict or confrontations may cause from differences in personal opinions, viewpoints or beliefs.

Forming a survival group is a lot like building a bridge. It will require a great deal of structural integrity for it to bear the burden of its intended purpose.

Got structural integrity?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Being Prepared - The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Sometimes in our efforts to be prepared we often forget that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It seems like a very long journey but by keeping your efforts focused on the goals you have set for yourself it will result in a positive outcome. There will be times along that journey when your goals may seem unreachable but with a positive attitude and a little determination you will succeed.

We often forget that the process of being prepared should be incorporated into and made a part of our normal lifestyle. A change in your lifestyle can be a good thing if it is done with the proper planning and a reasonable amount of effort on your part. As with many things, it requires a certain amount of determination and a positive mindset to achieve your goals.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker