I wish someone would show people like us, poor as church mice and disabled, how to “prep” for what’s coming. Thanks.
How to prep on an extremely tight budget – even if you’re on food stamps…
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/prep-extremely-tight-budget-food-stamps/
My folks were dirt poor, but what is now considered "prepping" was their basic way of life.
To the, a trip to the grocery store was like a safari, many miles away.
You buy your canned goods in the fall, right after harvest when they are the cheapest for the year.
You grow a garden and can all you are able to.
Carrots, beets and other root crops go in sand in the cellar.
Brussels sprouts can be picked all winter from the stalk.
Shoot a deer and can or corn the meat.
By my parents standards, YOU are rich.
You obviously have electricity, a computer, and maybe even running water, probably even a phone.
All of these are needless, expensive luxuries.
If you're in a cold climate, better have plenty of blankets.
It got down to 42 below zero inside the former logging company camp where we lived.
As long as your brain, mouth, an ear and hopefully an eye work, you can make more bucks if need be.
My hope is, that should I get down to only those parts functioning, I can still make extra cash.
Of course, the preference is to have more of the body functional!
A good book to read is, "We Took To The Woods", by Louise Rich.
They weren't "prepping", but every winter they holed up in their house on the Rapid River in Maine.
Wish I could help you.
We will be moving cross-country and I could let you have a bunch of my supplies, well, some of my supplies, if you were in Mexifornia. I’m trying to move as much as I can, since to repurchase them would be costly now. I bought wheatberries at $36 a super pail and now I see they are at $56. I’m not willing to part with those babies since they will outlast me, but I have other items. Freepmail me if you are nearby (near the San Joaquin valley, southern CA)
Other than that, anything extra you can buy on sale and squirrel away will help! I’m sure you know this, you are a smart and resourceful guy.
There’s a book called “Poverty Prepping” that might help. And you can borrow foraging books from the library. If you find some nice wild edibles that are going to seed, grab some and scatter them where you like.
Game meats are all over most cities, but you may need a trapping license. Here in WI, those are cheap, and people might pay you to get rid of their racoons for them.
Just a couple thoughts while my sleepy meds are kicking in.
First thing, change your attitude.
Get one extra thing each week. For example, those packages of dried soup vegetables in the dried beans/rice section. A dollar something - can make a LOT of soup with one package.
For meat, canned ham at Walmark - the DAK brand, very good and very affordable - also Spam. Get one can of pineapple at a time. Get one can of spinach.
Keep it simple with just a few different things, like those above. There you have vegetables, meat and fruit. Top RAman is VERY cheap - get one of those every week. If you mix in some soup vegs with it, it goes a long ways. Get bags of popping corn. Good food and filling.
AT the end of one year, you have at least 52 items - plus lots of Raman soup. Better than none?
Do you have a lawn or a porch? Plant some seeds - even if only in buckets. I get dozens of tomatoes from just two buckets.
Poor and disabled. Describes me to a tee.
Well, lets see. I got a fireplace and a supply of firewood. I got two 4-wheel drive vehicles, both obtained used and so cheap. I have a gun collection I started over 50 years ago, many of them pre -1898 or replicas. When I grocery shop, I try to pick up a few extras, especially if there is a sale. I have been camping since I was about 8. I was a reinactor for about 40 years, so I have lots of ‘primative’ equipment and skills. I bought a couple of rain barrels and set them under the downspouts. I keep an eye out for wild food plants: fruit trees, wild nuts, roots and berries sort of thing.
In short, you do little things, but ones that accumulate.
By your handle I will assume you have CQB rifle and ammo, yes?
There are so many things to consider and a lot of good information for free on the net, of course discernment and the ability to separate the valuable from the worthless comes with experience. Again, by your handle I will assume you have a modicum of that.
Learn to barter. Determine your needs and trade for things that will serve you well in the future.
Water is your friend,bring some home every trip to the store. You can go a week on very little food. Two days without water and you will be forced to seek it leaving you and yours exposed and vulnerable.
Read as much as you can about nutrition and supplementation. Food must be removed from your mind as a pleasure or comfort center. Food is fuel for the body and mind. You don’t need bread ,cake,soda,cookies cheese, (although a good source of protein is a luxury) Whole milk. Body building sites have very good diet plans all set up for different budgets. These plans will help you maintain muscle while burning fat for fuel. Age is not a factor in this, healthy nutrition will kick in healing of some nagging injuries.
Exercise daily, slow at first.....Easy. Work around your disabilities. I don’t know you and certainly wouldn’t minimize your particular disabilities.The human body is God’s greatest machine and you will be amazed how quickly your mind and body will respond. While a strong body is very important, it is a quick, clear mind that will save your life more times than not.
It’s late and barely scratched the surface. Hope this gives you some things to consider.
Got cable/sat TV? Cell phone? Internet? Car payment? Eat out? Buy clothes new at the retail store?
Stop. Turn it all off. Buy items that store well. One food item for today, one for an emergency. You can do it w/o being needy.
A little at a time. Baby steps. That is the process i’m using. Do I have a larder of food for a year? Nope. But what I have is accumulating. A few cans here, some water there. Getting close to busting loose for a generator.
Start today. It wont look like much. But do it.