Preparing for Economic Instability: Six Ways to Ready Yourself For the Inevitable

SHTF Plan ^ | 3/28/14 | Tess Pennington

[Kartographer]

It’s Not If, But When

We’ve all heard the reports and seen the tell-tale signs of the storm brewing on the horizon. As a whole, we cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand and ignore the ever-growing issue of our economic instability. Start taking steps to lead a more self-reliant lifestyle and invest into your future wellbeing. The tips provided above can help you gain a greater edge in readying yourself for the uncertain future.

[Kartographer]

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

Please consider this our weekly Preppers’ Thread to post progress, questions, good buys, DIY ...

[willywill]

that has to be wrong because ben Bernanke and cnbc have told us inflation is in check.

[Jane Long]

Great article. Thanks, Kart.

Five out of six ain’t bad ;)

[familyop]

Did you see what happened with propane prices this last winter? They doubled in an instant and are now back to nearly what they were before. ...some sort of market tolerance trial, perhaps?

rocket stove mass heater
http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp

$2K Solar Space + Water Heating — One Simple DIY System
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/DHWplusSpace/Main.htm

The Cabin Stove – A Small Masonry Heater at Aprovecho Research Center
http://www.firespeaking.com/portfolio/the-cabin-stove/

[greeneyes]

We have a start on all six. Paying off debt and bartering have the most room for improvement. I have 20 acres paid for. A house and 2 acres paid for.

Unfortunately, We live in the house and 1 acre that is not paid for. I have been considering selling the house and 2 acres to pay off all the debt on our existing home place, since it is a 3 1/2 hr. drive from here.

We have always kept a well stocked pantry, and alternate heating and cooking methods since we have bad storms and electrical outages fairly often.

However, when the gas prices spiked and the market crashed, I knew that food inflation would soon be coming, so we increased our pantry space by 200 sq, feet, and began to immediately stock it up with as much of our basic food stuffs as we could use by the use by date.

Then we started adding fruit and nut trees, and increasing our garden spaces and skills so that we could grow food that would provide all our nutrition needs for a year.

We also bought staples for long term storage of 20-30 years, but have learned how to grow and harvest wheat, corn, sorghum, etc so that even these could be grown and processed as needed.

We stashed some silver to help pay the property taxes as they will rise, once inflation gets worse, as well as other uses.

The one thing I didn’t see in the article was reference to ammo and guns, but I ain’t talkin about that either other than to note that it should be on the list.

[familyop]

GMO = Eugenics (!!) (video—10 parts)
https://www.youtube.com/user/MonsantoMovie/videos

[familyop]

That was in regards to food monopoly, possibilities of famine, etc.

[familyop]

Vortex Stove (building details and photos)
http://donkey32.proboards.com/thread/703/vortex-stove

Drawings for the Vortex Stove
http://www.vftshop.com/images/others/Stove/Vortex%20Stove.pdf

[yorkiemom]

“Unfortunately, We live in the house and 1 acre that is not paid for. I have been considering selling the house and 2 acres to pay off all the debt on our existing home place, since it is a 3 1/2 hr. drive from here.”

I consider having money to pay off a debt the same thing as being debt free. Here’s where Dave Ramsey and I part ways, apparently.

If I have the money in a safe place to pay off my mortgage when need be, even if there is hyperinflation, since the mortgage is a contract, it can be paid off. So I don’t worry about that issue.

[greeneyes]

I look at cash the same way. However, having a house and several lots is a different matter. Just look at the last several years. I wouldn’t want to be forced to sell at an unusually depressed price.

Right now, there has been a bit of recovery in that area, so I am thinking that it would be good to sell it at my asking price, and pay off our current mortgage and home equity loan. Then I could stash the rest for future use and other investments.

I would be able to stock up on more food items, add to the setup for growing food year round, and maybe put in a cystern for additional water storage etc. etc.

[Ellendra]

My sleepy meds are kicking in, so I won’t say much, but I came across this article by a woman who practically lived on potatoes for several months:

The 20 Potato a Day Diet versus the Nearly All Potato Winter
http://www.caroldeppe.com/The%2020%20Potato%20a%20Day%20Diet.html

I thought that might be relevent for staving off pallette fatigue.

(Apologies for any typoes. AsI said, my sleepy meds are kicking in.)

[yorkiemom]

Sounds like a good plan. That would give you some peace of mind.

I’m trying also to figure out how to best balance the potential catastrophes that could happen. If our home is paid for, having rentals with a loan - and renters that cover the mortgage- could be a hedge against hyperinflation. A situation like that helped many during the Weimar Republic days.

To change the subject, how many acres would it take to be self-sufficient? we’re looking at properties between 20 and 50 acres. There is a lot of variety in the percent wooded and pasture, however. I’m partial to wooded for heating and the beauty of it. But I know I’ll need a large garden and areas for animals.

[trebb]

that has to be wrong because ben Bernanke and cnbc have told us inflation is in check.

I think he meant that the facts/truth on inflation were being held in check - another unexpected surprise...

[avenir]

I know the Scriptures speak of planning and saving and prudence. My impression is that many in the Apocalypse business sell satanic fear (having no personal faith themselves and being under the devil’s control). Faith can take you where no amount of planning can, so I’d put faith in Christ as number one! Fear properly defanged, one can proceed with reasonable planning, etc.

“For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, shall save it.”

Every time I read those words of The Lord my spirit lifts, and at the same time wilts. HE is the entire point of our existence. Being born again through faith in Him assures a resurrection from the dead to eternal life! Yet I can fritter my days away in so many trivial things and distractions.

Everyone needs the rest that trusting in His finished work provides. As for planning? Today, if you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts! THAT’S a living AND a dying plan!

[Kartographer]

My take has always been that planning, saving and prudence are acts of obedience. Not they alone do not save us, but in conjunction with faith they place us far along the path the Lord wish us to walk.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18

Anyone who has read my Preparedness Manual knows it to be Faith based. I encourage all to make themselves right with God as their first act. I always felt that teaching planning, saving and prudence is an act of obedience.

[Ellendra]

To change the subject, how many acres would it take to be self-sufficient?

I'm afraid that's a bit like asking "How long is a string?" The answer depends on so many different factors that it's hard to narrow it down. Personally, I'd look for a mix of wooded, open, and in-between. Wooded areas can provide not just fuel, but food for both people and livestock, depending on what's growing there. Wild game tends to like the in-between areas.

Speaking personally, I'm working my way up to a 10,000 square foot garden eventually, with most of my 5 acres planted in useful trees and bushes. I should be able to raise rabbits and poultry, as well as enough food for them and veggies for me, on that amount. I'm not sure yet if that would also support a couple of dairy goats. But my soil is fairly rich, and some places might mot produce as much.

[yorkiemom]

“I’m afraid that’s a bit like asking “How long is a string?””

LOL! Very true. I had one prepper tell me was self-sufficient on 11 acres, so I thought I’d get a consensus of how much wooded and pastureland I’d need. I don’t know what this fellow had. The house I’m looking at is 30 acres, mostly wooded. It does have a nice hill with grass for goats though.

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like you have a lovely place!

[avenir]

Sounds wise to me. Glad you have your priorities straight.

[Kartographer]

Now I stay up all night trying to figure out how long string is!!