Basic Survival Skills Series: Part 1 - Temporary Shelter

Before I begin Part 1 of this Basic Survival Skills Series, I want to tell you that no matter how many skills you have in a time of complete chaos, not a single one will help you out if you don't take a deep breath, pull your head together, and keep your thoughts straight. Knowledge, practice, and confidence will get you through almost any ordeal, it's just a mater of getting it before you have to use it. This series is intended to provide you with the knowledge you need to practice and master (sounds cheesy) skills that will be most important for your survival. Then when the time does come to put them to use, you'll have the confidence to do so because you were already prepared. Now that that's out of the way, let's get started.

Basic Survival Skills Series: Part 1 - Temporary Shelter

It's probably a good idea to have a semi-permanent alternative shelter set up in case you have to leave your home for any worst case scenario, but there's still a possibility of not being able to reach it in events like natural or man-made disasters... or if some group of crazies take it over before you get there and you just don't know if you can fight them off (some may try, I probably wouldn't, I have kids). Anyway, knowing how to build a temporary shelter is vital if you're on the move until you can get back home, or if you're on foot seeking out your next semi-permanent/permanent shelter in a time of extreme crisis or collapse. There are a lot of temporary shelters to chose from, but instead of trying to make myself familiar with all of them or trying to load more weight into a backpack that I can already barely carry, I've watched probably hundreds of  tutorials and practiced building quite a few different kinds. Of all the different shelters I've tried out, there were two that were so simple and quick to construct, I just started focusing on them. One uses a few man-made materials, but none that weight much or take up a lot of room, and the other is constructed with natural materials, you probably won't even need a hatchet or anything. I've practiced building these numerous times and can construct either type in 30 minutes or less (although some suggest these take a couple hours to make). I'm hoping to be able to make a video tutorial of both of these temporary shelters in the near future, but for now these are just drawn out step-by-step.



Temporary Shelter #1: Tarp Tent

I guess this is the name for this shelter, this seems reasonable enough since it is just what I called it, a tent made out of a tarp.


What you'll need:

Terrain - of course you need an area, but try to scope out one that is relatively elevated and as flat as possible, also try to pick an area that has some sort of additional trees or boulders around to help block wind.

2 Trees - try to locate two trees that have branches low enough to tie onto, taking into consideration that these will need to be far enough apart to ensure your tarp fits in between them, but close enough together to be able to tie your rope/cord from one tree to the other.

Tarp - the size depends on you and how many people are with you, these aren't meant to be some luxurious and large shelter, remember it's just temporary.

Rope or Cord - again, this is somewhat your preference. I feel like having 100+ feet of whichever type you chose is way more than enough to set up with.

4 Stakes - there are lots of sizes, weights, and price ranges to chose from, just make sure they're strong enough to hold your tarp in place if it's windy.

A Rock - I'd hunt out a rock about as big as my hand to use to pound the stakes into the ground because I don't want to carry more than I have to, you could do the same or bring something to hammer the stakes in with, your choice.

Now that you know what you'll need, here's how to do it. (Get your giggles out now, I made these pictures on Paint... I really need a camera.)


Step 1:

Find the area you plan to set up in and clear the grounds in between the trees you plan to use.


Step 2:

Tie your rope/cord from one sturdy lower branch to the other tree's branch. You're going to have to know how to tie a good knot. This isn't my video, but you should still check out how to tie these three easy knots.


Step 3:

Drape your tarp over your rope/cord. I like to try and pull both flaps so they touch all the way to the ground, but sometimes the branches are too high. If this is the case, pull the side that blocks the most wind to the ground and then pull the other as far as it will go.


Step 4:

After you have your stakes out, you need to get the tarp tied up...

You'll need to tie the longest wall of your tarp to two of the stakes (one at each corner) and use something to hammer them into the ground. Tie the other wall's corners to the last two stakes and hammer them into the ground as well. Lay your bedding out inside if you have any and that's it for the tarp tent. let's move on to the next temporary shelter.



Temporary Shelter #2: Debris Hut

I've seen a couple different versions of a debris hut, but the one I'm going to lay out for you is my favorite and seems sturdier than the others. No man-made materials are needed for this, but you may or may not need a hatchet, I usually don't. It depends on what kind of debris is laying around.


What you'll need:

Terrain - again, try to find something relatively flat and as elevated as possible.

A tree - find one with a lower hanging branch, similar to the ones used for a tarp tent.

A Spine - a long branch, not connected to a tree of course, the longer the better and aim for one that's about 5+ inches thick.

Ribs (Loose branches) - you'll need a variety of sizes and lots of them, they'll need to be able to rest against your spine branch and ones that have twigs and leaves on them are ideal so you have some sort of texture to make covering it easier.

Leaves and Twigs - as many as you can scrounge up, these will be used for the outer walls and you may even try to find some kind of moss or something that you can use for better insulation too.


After you gather your materials, here's what to do.


Step 1:

Find a tree similar to the ones used for a tarp tent and clear the grounds around it.


Step 2:

Find a long branch that is at least 5 inches thick to use as the spine of your hut. The longer this branch is, the better. Rest one end in the V of a lower (sturdy) branch, giving about 8 to 12 inches of overhang if possible and then position the other end of the branch as far out onto the ground as it will reach.


Step 3:

Starting with longer branches first, rest one branch as close to the V as you can with at least 5 or 6 inches extending past the spine branch, branches with twigging are ideal because it gives texture and makes covering the walls easier. (Again, I wish I had a way to make a video but since I don't and am using Paint to do this, the branches will be odd colors so you can see the overlapping pattern you need to make).


Step 4:

On the other side of the spine branch, butt another long branch as close to the V as you can. Again with at least 5 of 6 inches overhang, and preferably with twigging branches for texture.


Step 5:

Continue to cover the entire spine branch, rotating sides, using shorter branches as you go, until you have completely walled both sides.

Step 6:

Starting with the tallest end of your hut (the entrance), begin laying small branches, loose leaves, twigs, weeds (make sure it isn't poison ivy), and dead grass over the rib branches (we'll call them ribs, I'm just making names up as I go).


Step 7:

Finish covering the outer walls of the hut. The more debris you put on, the better insulated it'll be. Your entrance will be at the tallest side of your hut, right under the V of the tree branch. If you choose to leave that entrance opened, I would so heat and light from a small nearby fire can come in, you'll be finished at this point. Otherwise, you can use additional branches, leaves, etc to close it in the entrance more using the same steps you did to create and cover the walls. All that's left now would be to throw your bedding in if you have any and your debris hut is ready to go.

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Although these step-by-steps look a little silly because they were done with the poor Paint program, I hope they are descriptive enough to understand how these two shelters are constructed. I'm hoping to get a camera soon so I can start making tutorial videos, but until then I suggest looking up tutorials on how to make these two shelters on YouTube or something. There's a good variety of preppers and survivalists who have excellent videos. Take some time to go out and practice building these, the more you practice the quicker you'll get. You'll also build your confidence enabling you to keep a calmness to you if 'S' really does ever 'HTF'...




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Please be sure and return for the next two posts in the Basic Survival Skills Series where we will be covering ways to start a fire and then options for making water drinkable. I really hope you'll find them all useful. Skills are much easier to lug around with you, rather than trying to carry a heavy backpack or bug out bag. Remember that I'm interested in checking out other prepper blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share your favorites. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.

Intro To Basic Survival Skills

The last two lists I posted barely made a dent in all of the foods and supplies available that should be discussed and considered for your stockpile. We'll definitely have to come back to those in future posts. We'll also need to discuss things like re-packaging, canning, and storage options for your things, but right now I want to discuss a few basic survival skills. Having a little knowledge and know-how will not only allow you to provide shelter, light, warmth, food and water, medical care, and protection in almost any situation, but it can be also be used for bartering after things begin to settle back down again and communities start to rebuild themselves. The three posts following this one will be covering three very basic, yet critical, survival skills that everyone should have: shelter building, fire starting, and water filtration and sanitation. If you haven't subscribed to this blog yet, I encourage you to do so, so you don't miss out on the Basic Survival Skills Series... these basic skills could save your life.

I'd like to hope that in a worst case scenario I'd be able to hunker down in my home until things clear up a bit, but I know (and so should everyone else) that the possibility of having to leave for an alternative location (whether temporarily or permanently) is very real. With that being said, scoping out a variety of areas that you could go to would be a plus, but without knowing exactly what, when, or where anything will happen, setting up just one specific location could be a waste of time. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great idea to have a designated shelter ready for events like civil unrest, but you never know what that place will be like or if it'll even be reachable in the event of something like a natural or man-made disaster. Knowing how to build a temporary shelter is crucial, especially if you're on foot searching for a new location because your pre-planned place is unreachable. In part 1 of this Basic Survival Skills Series we we'll be discussing two kinds of temporary shelters that are simple and quick to construct. One using mostly man-made materials, and one that requires none at all.

To me, temporary shelters and being able to start a fire go hand in hand. If you're in a situation where you actually have to stay in something like a tarp tent or debris hut, you're going to need a fire for everything from warmth and light, to protection (from animal predators depending on where you're at), to making water drinkable and heating food. You could always carry lighters or matches, but since things sometimes get lost, wet, or broken, having alternative ways to start a fire is an important notch to add to your survival skills belt. Part 2 of the Basic Survival Skills Series will provide step-by-step instructions on how to prepare an area for a fire, how to make a tinder nest, a variety of ways to start a fire (with and without man-made tools), and of course how to put a fire out. Also included in that post will be instructions on how to waterproof wooden matches. These not only come in handy depending on the areas you have to travel through as your matches and other supplies may get wet, but you'll be able to prepare your matches for much less than it would cost to purchase them already waterproofed. After you know how to start a fire (you'll have to practice), it'll play a major role in the next part of the series.

Since a human can only survive about three days without water and it weighs too much to carry a decent supply of, being able to provide drinkable water is pretty high up on the survival skills list. Depending on the water source, in order to avoid drinking contaminated water that could cause anything from diarrhea to death, you're going to have to know how to filter and purify it. The easy way out is to buy some fancy survivalist purification device, but just like anything else that gets packed in a bug out bag, these things could get broken or misplaced while you're on the move. Even if you brought a bit of bleach or purification tablets, you'll eventually run out if you 're trying to provide drinkable water for yourself or your family for any length of time. In part 3 of the Basic Survival Skills Series I'm not only going to give you tips on finding and gathering water regardless of where you're at, but I'm also going to provide information on how to filter and purify water in a few different ways.

If you still haven't subscribed, I hope you will take a second and do so now. Being able to build a temporary shelter, start a fire, and making water drinkable are the three basic skills that could very well save your life. We'll discuss additional skills in the future, but these are the first three that anyone who wants to attempt to survive a worst case scenario need to have.





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If you have any questions about a specific skill that I mentioned, please be sure and return for the 3 part Basic Survival Skills Series, or you can ask now to ensure that it gets addressed as I write the content. I will describe all the options that I'm personally familiar with, and I'll be as thorough as I can in the step-by-step directions to each one. I really hope you'll find them all useful. Skills are much easier to lug around with you, rather than trying to carry a heavy backpack or bug out bag. Remember that I'm interested in checking out other prepper blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share your favorites. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.

Cheap Non-Food Supplies To Stock

As mentioned in the last post, I'm going to share a list of non-food items that I buy regularly. I'm going to share the original list, but first I'll explain how I use it. This may not be perfect for everyone, but it's a good start and very affordable.

Here's how it works:

First off, if you don't have a dollar store near you, I suggest finding one in a surrounding town. Remember that I said I'm not talking about Dollar General or Family Dollar, I'm talking about a store that has everything for $1.00 or less. The one I shop at is called Dollar Tree and everything on this list is regularly stocked there. I can't say whether or not all these items will be of decent quality at a different dollar store, but I know that the ones at Dollar Tree in particular are worth getting. After I get everything off the foods list I previously posted, I work my way through this list, then back to the foods list, and so on.

Each week I choose one group of items and buy them in the quantities listed. These groups are made according to how many come in a package, where they're located in the store, and of course they stay in my $10.00 weekly budget even after tax. Again, whatever change is left goes straight into a savings jar.

1- 3pk bar soap
2- body wash
2- liquid hand soap
1- plastic shower curtain liner 72'x70' (packaged small so it's easy to carry and good for quick rain shelter)
1-3ct travel size hand sanitizer
1- feminine pads (before you blow this item off because you're a guy, pads can be used as wound dressings)
1- tampons (tampons can also be inserted into a gun shot wound, you should also stock both of these feminine products for bartering)

3-20ct or 30ct antibacterial wipes (they always have one or the other in stock)
3-30ct exfoliating facial wipes (no water needed, simple face wash)
3- facial tissues (I just get whichever has the most in the box at the time)

1- petroleum jelly 4oz
1- after sun soothing gel 6oz
2- SPF30 sport sunscreen spray with aloe vera
1- women's Secret 1.7oz antiperspirant & deodorant
1- men's Speed Stick 2oz antiperspirant & deodorant
2-women's or men's 10ct disposable double blade razors
1- sensitive skin shave cream 12oz

3- 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner (you could get shampoo & conditioner separate, but if there's a water shortage the 2-in-1 will cut water use in half, maybe more)
1- hairspray (largest I can find in aerosol spray can, it's great for other things, spraying on thread before trying to stick it through the eye of a needle is one)
1-12ct plastic assorted size combs
1- hair trimming scissors
1- 500ct mini rubber hair ties
1- 30ct elastic hair ties
1- 6ct elastic head bands (even if you don't have long hair for accessories, you'll have plenty of things to use them for)

1- bottle brushes (not just for cleaning bottles)
2- baby oil
2- baby lotion
2- cornstarch baby powder
1- baby powder
1- 70ct baby wipes

1- 250ct cotton swabs
1- 2ct cotton swabs in travel case
1- 100ct cotton balls
1- 80ct cotton rounds
1- 30ct assorted emery boards
1- any basic manicure set
1- any basic pedicure set
1- 3pk travel size facial tissues
1- 4ct metal nail file

1- 2pc small mirror and tweezers set
1- multi-pack toothbrushes (sometimes I see 10pk)
2- toothpaste
2- kid's toothpaste
2- mouthwash
1- 115yds dental floss

1- 2ct lip balm
2- 40ct extra strength acetaminophen caplets
2- 40ct ibuprofen tablets
1- children's liquid acetaminophen
1- 12ct anti-diarrhea
1- 60ct chew-able antacids with calcium
1- digital thermometer

1-instant cold pack
1- air activated heat wrap
1- 2ct hot & cold pain relief patch
1- arthritis & sport wintergreen rub
2- anti-itch cream
2- anti-fungal cream
1- medicated body powder

1- 4oz alcohol free cough syrup
1- 12ct non-drowsy severe cold caplets
1- 35ct cough drops
1- vaporizing chest rub
1- multi-vitamins
1- 36ct allergy tablets
1- children's liquid allergy relief 4oz
1- 24ct nasal decongestant caplets
1- 10ct disposable medical masks

1- dry eyes eye drops .5oz
1- reading glasses (you may not need glasses or know what strength to get, but if you just get random strengths every time you come to this item on the list you'll have a variety to try out if your vision gets weak in the future)
1- adult sun glasses
1- kid's sun glasses (you can leave these out if you don't have kids unless you want them for bartering)
2- 40ct antibacterial adhesive bandages
2- 25ct waterproof adhesive bandages
1- 6ct dressing bandages

1- 15ct gauze pads
2- roll gauze
1- first aid paper tape
1- first aid sport tape
2- elastic bandage
1- pain relief pack
1- antibacterial wet wipes

2- triple antibiotic ointment
2- hydro-cortisone cream
2- A&D cream
1- hydrogen peroxide
1- isopropyl alcohol
1- witch hazel

2- 2ct pack bandannas
3- plastic rain poncho
2- 3ct pack of socks (every size from infant to adult comes in 3ct packs, just remember to get the right size or larger size for growing kids)
2- 100ct assorted safety pins

1- concentrated dish soap
1- laundry soap
1- bleach
1- Ajax or Comet
1- scrub sponges
1- charcoal moisture eliminators 9.8oz tub
1- plastic spray bottle
1- small wastebasket trash liners
1- large trash bags

1- 3qt plastic storage box with hinge lid
1- plastic storage box with lid (just look at what they have and choose one)
1- plastic canister with lid (again, just look at what sizes and choose one. you can never have too many storage containers)
1- 3ct L storage bags with handles
1- 2ct XL storage bags with handles
2- XXL storage bag with handles
1- two-section plastic storage containers with lids 23.5oz
1- mesh laundry bag with drawstrings

1- aluminum foil
1- plastic wrap
1- 2pk round foil cake pans with lids
1- 2pk square foil cake pans with lids
1- 2pk aluminum grill toppers
1- large stainless steel tongs
1- 4pk stainless steel paring knives
1- kitchen scissors (pass over this if they don't have the Betty Crocker brand in stock, the others break too easy)
1- measuring cup/spoon set

1- 500ct toothpicks
1- 3pc funnels
1- magnetic can/bottle opener
2- cheesecloth
1- 2pc hot pad set
1- oven glove
2- kitchen towels

1- 2pk dishcloths
1- 2pk microfiber scrubber 12" towels
1- 4pk medium round plastic storage containers with lids
1- 4pk medium square plastic storage containers with lids
1- 10pk foam 3 compartment trays with hinge lids
1- 40ct paper lunch bags
1- quart size zipper storage bags
1- gallon size zipper storage bags
1- sandwich baggies

1- 32oz plastic storage container with screw on lid
1- 6ct plastic tumbler cups 8oz
1- 48ct assorted plastic silverware
1- 10" solar powered garden stake lights
1- 11' butane lighter with plastic handle
1- latex grip-knit gloves
1- work gloves
1- emergency candles (have seen them in 7ct and 5ct)
1- 16ct tea candles (for short periods of light, but also for waterproofing matches)

1- wooden matches
1- 8oz glass jar candle (commonly recognized as prayer candles, can be left lit hours hours on end)
1- refillable long reach butane lighter
1- 9x12' plastic drop cloth
1- silver utility tape
1- black electric tape
1- 3pk rolls of utility twine
1- 420ft roll of cotton twine
1- 50ft poly rope

1- 3ct rolls steel wire
1- 10ct disposable filter masks
1- 8-in-1 multi tool
1- 8-in-1 screwdriver tool
1- utility knife (will have a few blades inside)
1- LED travel flashlights with carabiners (clips)
1- LED flashlights with adjustable beams
1- LED book light (these are great for hands-free lighting, they can be clipped on almost anything and then bent to focus light in a specific small area)
1- portable/wall mountable lamp (battery operated)

1- 4pc screwdriver set
1- padlock with key
1- slip-joint pliers
1- adjustable wrench
1- safety glasses or goggles (there's usually a couple different kinds to chose from, I get glasses one time and goggles the next)
3- battery powered window alerts (you'll want to know if someone gets a open instead of being caught off guard because they've already snuck in)
1- 100ct pack of cable ties

(not many things on this last group, I just buy these and save the change in a jar)
1- 80ct envelopes (good for storing seeds)
1- pencils (there's usually 12pk, sometimes 24pk)
1- pencil sharpeners 12pk (not just for pencils)
1- 2pk legal pads

As I work my way through this list, if something isn't in stock that week I just skip over it completely. I don't grab something else to make up for the item I wasn't able to get and I don't try to make up for it by grabbing it when I see it in stock later. I just put the money that it would have cost in the savings jar.

One more thing before I go. There are a lot of other things at Dollar Tree that I've seen and purchased thinking they'd be good to have, but I have found that a lot of the items aren't worth the dollar that I paid for them. You get what you pay for at this store. Batteries for instance. While there are loads of them, all different sizes and quantities for just a buck, I don't buy them. I've bought them before, but half of them don't work and the other half only work for a couple hours. It's just not worth buying them. Keep saving change, eventually you'll have enough to stock up on batteries and other higher priced (and quality) items.




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I hope this list comes in handy, especially if you have to shop on a small budget like I do. If you can think of any other decent quality non-food items that are available at a dollar store, please comments below so I can check them out and add them to this list.  All questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. If you're curious about a specific item on this list, don't hesitate to ask. I'm interested in checking out other prepper blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share your favorites. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.

Cheap Foods To StocK

If you've gathered enough information from my first few posts (or elsewhere) you should be ready to get started with your first plans. It's pointless to try and include every aspect in just one plan, so you should begin with a small and quickly achievable goal. By doing this you not only prepare yourself a little more than you were before you started, but you build your confidence to create and complete larger plans and goals.

Shelter, security, and food are all equally important when it comes to prepping, but when I sat down to write out my first plan I decided to start with food and water, and being a mother of 5 children I had to set a small $10.00 per week budget. Instead of trying to plan for 30 days of food and water or anything like that, I thought about the foods that had a long shelf life, were easy to prepare or could be eaten right out of the package, and were regularly low priced without them being on sale or having a coupon. I'm going to share the original list, but first I'll explain how I use it. This may not be perfect for everyone but it's a good start and very affordable.

Here's how it works:

First off, if you don't have a dollar store near you, I suggest finding one in a surrounding town. I'm not talking about Dollar General or Family Dollar, I'm talking about a store that has everything for $1.00 or less. The one near us is called Dollar Tree. The other place I shop is Walmart. I don't buy these specific items at any other store.

Each week I buy two things on this list, just starting at the top and working my way down, or sometimes I decide to go once a month in which I'd take $40.00 and buy 8 of these listings instead. Either way works. After I get everything on this list I work my way through a similar non-food items list that I have, then back to this after that one's done, and so on back and forth. Sometimes the things on this list go on sale or you can find a coupon for them, but without any sale going on and without a coupon, you can get each listed thing in the quantity stated from any Walmart or dollar store for $5.00 or less including tax.

4 cans pinto beans
4 cans re-fried beans
4 cans black beans
4 cans kidney beans
4 cans white navy beans
4 cans black-eyed peas
4 cans chick peas
4 cans of baked beans
4 cans beef stew
4 cans chili
4 cans of Treet (generic Spam)
2 cans of chicken
6 cans of tuna
8 cans of Vienna sausages
4 pounds dry pinto beans
4 pounds dry black beans
4 pounds dry kidney beans
4 pounds dry white navy beans
4 pounds dry black-eyed peas
4 pounds dry chick peas
4 pounds dry split peas
4 cans of generic condensed cream of mushroom soup
5 cans of condensed tomato soup
6 cans of mixed vegetables
6 cans of corn
6 cans of carrots
6 cans of green beans
6 cans potatoes
5 cans of fruit
15 cans tomato sauce
5 cans of diced tomatoes
5 cans sweetened condensed milk
8 cans evaporated milk
4 cans of spaghetti sauce
5 pounds of white sugar
3 pounds of brown sugar
10 containers of iodized salt
4 boxes of black pepper
8 boxes of baking soda
4 bottles dry seasonings
8 small plastic seasoning envelopes
2 pounds chicken bouillon powder
2 pounds beef bullion powder
2 pounds tomato bullion powder
5 bags of dehydrated onion flakes
5 bags of garlic powder
8 packets of gravy mix
8 pounds of flour
3 pounds of cornmeal
3 pounds of powdered milk
4 bottles of barbecue sauce
5 pounds of rice
4 pounds popcorn kernels
6 pounds of dry pasta
20 packs of Maruchen (Ramen) noodles
1 box 10-pk macaroni and cheese
2 containers quick rolled oats
4 boxes 12-pk instant flavored oatmeal
4 boxes saltine crackers
4 boxes cereal bars
4 boxes granola bars
4 packages of 8pk raisins
2 jars of peanut butter
4 small jars of jelly
4 bottles ketchup
4 bottles mustard
8 boxes of instant pudding
4 boxes 24-ct family size tea bags
4 boxes herbal tea bags
4 canisters of iced tea mix
4 canisters sweetened drink mix
4 packs of 10-ct generic Kool-aid mix
4 bottles apple juice
4 gallons fruit drink (generic Hawaiian Punch type)
1 case of bottled water + 2 gallons
5 gallons water


Like I already mentioned, these things can be bought in the quantities listed for $5.00 or less after tax. Every time I go on my shopping trip I take only what I can spend and not a penny more. All the change left over after checking out goes straight into a savings jar that I cash in once it gets full. This is how I save for larger supplies that cost a bit more and it ensures that I won't spend more than my $10.00 a week budget at any time. It may not seem like much at first, but soon your shelves will be getting full and your savings jar will too.

Don't be tempted to add another thing on to the quantities listed because it's 'just going to make the total $5.27 and that 27 cents isn't that much.' If you do this every time you're going to be blowing past your weekly budget... just as quick as savings add up, so do spending overages. Do NOT go over your budget, no matter how tempting it is.

With all that being said, I'll leave you with three food storage tips and then let you be on your way.

1. Light, oxygen, and heat are your foods' worst enemy. Avoid all three to give your stash the longest shelf life possible.
2. In most cases, the food's expiration date pertains to the specific packaging it's in. Some things can be re-packaged to extend their shelf life for up to 20 years, in some cases even longer. (I'll discuss re-packaging foods in a future post.)
3. Remember to always rotate your stock. First food in is the first food out, just like rotating stock in a store, so you don't have waste due to expiration dates. 

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I hope this list comes in handy, especially if you have to shop on a small budget like I do. If you can think of any other foods that store well and cost less than $5.00 for a decent amount, please comments below so I can check them out and add them to this list.  All questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. If you're curious about brand names or which store I buy a specific item at, don't hesitate to ask. I'm interested in checking out other blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share your favorite if you have one. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment. I'll be sharing a non-food items list similar to this one in the next post, so be sure and come back to check it out. Until next time my friends.

Take Notes, Make A Plan.

Yesterday I shared some links to information that would help you understand the world of prepping. I know it didn't cover everything, but it should have been a good start. I hope you took some times to actually check out the links, and I hope you did some extra research of your own. If you did and feel comfortable with the information you do have, you should probably get started. Making a plan is the first and most important step after a bit of research. If you aren't sure where to start, here are a few key things to think about. Planning is fairly simple, grab a notebook and a pen.

Can you answer all of these?

1. Who all will be included in your plans?
2. Do you own or rent your home?
3. If you chance losing your home due to unemployment, where else you could go?
4. Do you have a exit strategy if you have to relocate?
5. What means of transportation would you use?
6. How big is your yard if you own your home?
7. Can you plant a garden or some fruit trees to provide additional food sources?
8. Can you have food animals? Even if it's just some chickens.
9. Do you know how to hunt or fish as a means of providing meat?
10. Do you know how to properly clean and prepare meat animals for storage if you don't have access to a freezer due to power outages?
11. Can you stock enough food and water to provide until order is restored or until your can start providing through gardening or raising animals?
12. Do you know how to store water?
13. Do you know how to purify water so it's drinkable?
14. Do you know how to store foods so they have a longer shelf life?
15. Where will you stash your stock of food, water, and supplies?
16. How will you cook?
17. How will you heat your home?
18. How will you provide light?
19. How will you keep yourself clean?
20. How will you clean your clothing?
21. How will you protect yourself, your family, your shelter, and supplies?
22. Which guns are better for protection and which are better for hunting?
23. Do you know how to break down, clean, and reassemble your gun(s)?
24. Do you know how to assemble your own ammo if it came down to it?
25. How will you keep up on information or communicate with others?
26. Do you have any survival skills?
27. Can you start a fire without a lighter or matches?
28. What kind of first aid supplies can you get your hands on?
29. Do you know how to provide medical care in a minor situation? What about something more critical?
30. How are your bartering skills?
31. How much can you afford to spend on prepping per week or month?

I am going to leave you with these questions for now. Answer as many as you can, and answer them honestly. The things you answered no to or can't answer at all are the first areas you need to focus on. Knowledge is free and the more you have, the better off you are. If the last question is a tough one because you're on a tight budget, don't worry. Prepping can be done on the smallest of budgets. We'll get to that in a future post.




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I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope the questions guide you as you take your first steps to getting prepared. I'm as eager to share my story with you as I am to hear your story. All questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. I also invite well seasoned preppers to ask any questions that I may have forgotten, share some hints and tricks with us, and definitely make edit suggestions if I post something that's not quite right. I'm also interested in checking out other blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet. Please take a second to subscribe, share with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.

Back To School My Friends.

What exactly is the first step to wading out into the world of prepping and where did everyone start? Before all else... before any planning, purchasing, or practicing... you'll need to do a bit of research.

 

Back to school my friends.

Just like everything other aspect in life, whether it be school, a job, or a hobby, you can't really start doing anything new unless you know what it is you're supposed to be doing. Just because you find out that the neighbors have years worth of food stored in their basement, hoards of weapons and ammo, and some mad survival skills doesn't mean that you need to just start going crazy gobbling up everything that comes in bulk or that has a survival sticker on it. While that may benefit you somewhat, you'll still be wasting a lot of valuable time and money. You need to create a method to this madness just like everyone else has, a plan if you will. Do you even know what everyone is preparing for? What will you need to actually be prepared for these things when the time comes? There are mountains of information online, in books and magazines, and even on movies and TV programs. I hope you'll take some time to go through the links below, I found all of these useful when I started taking baby steps into the prepper world. I hope you will find them informative and useful as well. This may take a while, so grab a cup of coffee (or drink of your choice) and settle in for a minute.

• This is the first thing I read when I heard about preppers (remember I started a couple years ago so this isn't a new article), it will give you the basics of what exactly it is everyone is preparing for... Why Are Millions Of Americans Preparing For Doomsday?  
• 'This is a 2 part series that will give you the basic fundamentals of how to start prepping, help you gain an understanding of why you need to have certain disaster supplies in place, and give insight on where to get those supplies.' (ReadyNutrition.com) Here's Part 1 and Part 2. Please read them both.
• Times of crisis aren't unfamiliar to us. Whether you have been through one yourself or seen it play out in the lives of others on the news, they're very real and very possible. It isn't a matter of if you will ever face one, it's a matter of when. Please read Food And Water For Short And Long Term Survival. Everyone has to eat, even in worst case scenarios. Read Ten Tips That Will Guarantee You Have Food If SHTF, 11 Emergency Food Items That Can Last A Lifetime, Food Preservation, Ten Most Common Food Fails, and Food Storage 101: What To Store.
• When the time comes, will you choose to bug in or bug out? It's good to have a plan for both. Urban Survival and Bugging In and This Is How You Make Real Bug Out Plans are both good articles to start with. No need to panic in either situation, you just need to know how to go about them.
• Of course we need food to survive, but there are some non-food items you should stock up on too. Non-Food Preparedness Items To Stockpile and Easy To Store Non-Food Items gives you a basic rundown.
• You can find guidelines for stocking a basic first aid kit here and you can check out trauma kit basics right here. You could always check out the Red Cross kit suggestions too. Whether you decide to buy a pre-made first aid kit or make your own, you are going to need at least one that is well stocked.
• While the list for needed tools is probably endless, Tools To Consider For Your SHTF Plan will give you a good idea where to start at.
• So many skills will come in useful when it comes time to providing for and protecting your family. Here are The 6 Most Valuable Survival Skills After SHTF.  You should also look into some Native American Survival Skills.
• Since you've clearly gained an interest in prepping for the inevitable, it's time you get your family in on the action too. Not everyone will see threats the way you do, but trying to open their eyes is well worth a try. How To Get Your Spouse On Board With Prepping and Prepping With Children: Managing Expectations. At least if you can't get them into the mind-set you are in (or will soon be in), you can prepare them mentally for what may eventually happen.

I hope you took some time to look at these links. While these don't completely cover every aspect of prepping, it's a very good start in understanding the basics. If you feel comfortable with what you have already learned, feel like you understand it and are ready to actually start prepping, now's the time to start making your plan. Please don't blindly dive into this without some proper planning. I suggest starting with a small prepping goal, such as 30 days of supplies for everyone who will be included in your plans. Keep reading up on other preppers and what they do, and don't get overwhelmed by the plethora of information you'll find in general searches on these topics. Remember, baby steps.



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I hope you enjoyed this post. I also hope the information you find here will interest you enough to keep coming back, and I pray it guides you as you take your first steps to getting prepared. I'm as eager to share my story with you as I am to hear your story. All questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. I also invite well seasoned preppers to share some hints and tricks with us, and definitely make edit suggestions if I post something that's not quite right or if there's something else I should have included in this post. I'm still learning to ya know. I'm also interested in checking out other blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet. Please take a second to subscribe, share with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.

Prepping Is Crucial.

Prepping is crucial. How prepared someone is, or isn't, will definitely make or break anyone in any worst case scenario. Whether it be for the possibilities and fears of unemployment, government collapse, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, pandemic threats, or a forever talked about zombie apocalypse (In my mind zombies are classified in 2 groups, those who aren't prepared and individuals devoured by some spreading pandemic, not actual flesh and brain eating zombies like the movies... but who knows), now is as good a time as any to get started if you haven't already. But how?

If you're anything like I was a couple years ago, you may not know where to begin, but you know for sure it's time to get started. I began by focusing on five main areas that are important for survival. You need to think about and familiarize yourself with forms of shelter, food and water, health and hygiene, protection and defense, and last but most definitely not least, valuable skills. Sounds pretty basic, right? Keep in mind that each one of these main areas have numerous topics, each of those topic have sub-topics, and so on down the prepping and survival line. You just need to begin with the basic version of each, and work your way in. Remember, an abundance of knowledge and preparation can never be a bad thing, but lack thereof can only lead to failure (in worst case scenarios, failure could very well be death).

One more thing before we get started, and any well seasoned prepper knows this. There are numerous ways to go about everything you do, for example purifying water. You could just stock up on bottled waters, and get some purifying drops and tablets, right? Wrong! While this is good for making it through a short period of time, what are you going to do if things take longer to get back in order and you run out first? You better figure out how long you have to boil water in order for it to be drinkable, and check into some filtration and purification system too. It's better to have multiple options that you can use, even if you don't end up needing them. You never know what you'll face until it smacks you in yours... by then it's probably going to be too late to try and figure it all out.



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I hope you enjoyed this post, which is the first of many to come. Not only am I going to share the steps I have taken to ensure my family's survival, but I am going to share some great content from other prepping and survivalist blogs. I hope the information you find here will interest you enough to keep coming back, and I pray it encourages you to take your first steps in getting prepared if you haven't already. I'm as eager to share my story with you as I am to hear your story. All questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. I also invite well seasoned preppers to share some hints and tricks with us, and definitely make edit suggestions if I post something that's not quite right. I'm still learning to ya know. I'm also interested in checking out other blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet. Please take a second to subscribe, share with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.