Showing posts with label debt-free. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Become broke on purpose-Your black belt in frugal living!

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1. Get your black belt in frugal living

2. New materials to capture methane gas

3. DIY blow guns & steel darts

4. Saving Seeds, 32 Ways to save on utilities

5. Overkill: the rise of paramilitary police in the US

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
- Unknown

Being a Black Belt in Frugality – Become broke on purpose!

I suffered some great financial losses in 2011 and 2012.

A triple bypass open heart surgery without medical insurance wiped us out.

We had been living frugally in comparison to many people, but not frugally enough to counteract that personal economic disaster.

Looking back, I’m not sure if any amount of frugality could have really made a difference.

It was a devastating blow, and it came right on the heels of the loss of both my parents and my wife’s parents. To top it off, my brother-in-law cheated us out of $12,000.

We became even more thrifty out of necessity, and I resented the need to do so every single time I wanted to invest in my internet activities, purchase groceries, or having to empty my bank account to keep the utilities on and a roof over our heads, with nothing extra left over for fun, or even secondary needs. I’m thankful we had a bit of a nest egg and no loans…no mortgage, no car loans, etc.

We own but one vehicle and during all of this our transmission went, depleting our resources even more and things like auto and home insurance and utilities are among the highest in the nation where I live.

When my depression began to lift, I saw that not having a mountain of debt had actually provided me with a gift of enormous freedom. I realized we were better off than many others who had lost their home and/or were forced to live in one of many homeless camps which have sprung up around our nation.

I began to embrace my cheap side and my entrepreneurial side as no firm would hire someone of my age or with my health conditions (I take 14 prescriptions a day and am not allowed to drive for any kind of real distance).

Become broke on purpose…

By creating a monthly budget or spending plan, your goal should be to become broke on purpose. That means living below your means, giving each dollar which comes into your home a purpose and direction so that income minus savings and expenses equals zero.

Start by creating a budget.

Figure out what you have and maybe give up some things. Use separate budget lines for recreation and dining out. Account for every penny – your number one goal: Pay off Debt First.

Being a black belt in frugality takes creativity and an optimistic outlook.

Becoming wealthy and staying that way takes a certain level of discipline. Sure, an occasional splurge won't put you in the poor house, but frequent frivolous spending on things that aren't necessities can quickly put a serious dent in your wallet. The frugal habits necessary to achieve financial success and maintain it are often lessons learned early on.

Learn how you can Benefit from the Poor Man’s Self Sufficiency program…

http://www.poormansurvival.com/Pages/selfsufficiencyprogram.aspx

Problem squirrels? Sprinkle a mixture of cayenne pepper and 1 tbsp. of dish soap in 1 qt. of water around the problem area and adios!

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

Want to be a stay-at-home mom? Try this 6 month plan
read more here

Energy
First U.S. commercial enhanced geothermal system connected to the grid

Enhanced geothermal system (EGS) projects capture power from intensely hot rocks, buried thousands of feet below the surface, which lack the permeability or fluid saturation found in naturally occurring geothermal systems. The Energy Department the other day announced the U.S. first commercial EGS project which supplies electricity to the grid.

Scientists discover new materials to capture methane

Scientists have discovered new materials to capture methane, the second highest concentration greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere. Unlike carbon dioxide, the largest emitted greenhouse gas, which can be captured both physically and chemically in a variety of solvents and porous solids, methane is completely non-polar and interacts very weakly with most materials.

Saving Seeds

A good resource and guide to learn about storing, saving and life span of seeds can be found at:

www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07221.html

Blowguns & Cold Steel Darts…Make your own and learn more at:

www.coldsteel.com

www.usblowgun.com

Learn about edible wild plants in your area…by going to YouTube and look for Eat the Weeds or go to:

www.EattheWeeds.nt

The RecordsKeeper 1.1.3 Software

RecordsKeeper helps you keep records of practically anything. It is a repository for anything that you should or might want to keep a record of, either for reference or for historical purposes. Home inventory items, hobbies and collections of virtually anything, personal and medical information, just about anything you can think of.
http://www.fileguru.com/The-RecordsKeeper/download

32 ways to save money on your utility bills
read more here

The Nanny State Updates

Fall of the Republic HQ full length version

I have read in the Bible that near the end, there would be no place to run. Well that sure rings a bell. -MaryAnn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

Need a pick-me-up after gardening on a hot day? Make this cooling energizer: Mix ½ cup lemon juice, ½ cup lime juice, 5 or 6 drops of lemon extract in a bowl (if you have hard water, add ½ cup of baking soda)…pour the mix into tepid bathwater and soak for a spell.

The Parting Thought: Paramilitary images in Boston

Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America

Americans have long maintained that a man's home is his castle and that he has the right to defend it from unlawful intruders. Unfortunately, that right may be disappearing. Over the last 25 years, America has seen a disturbing militarization of its civilian law enforcement, along with a dramatic and unsettling rise in the use of paramilitary police units (most commonly called Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT) for routine police work. The most common use of SWAT teams today is to serve narcotics warrants, usually with forced, unannounced entry into the home.

These increasingly frequent raids, 40,000 per year by one estimate, are needlessly subjecting nonviolent drug offenders, bystanders, and wrongly targeted civilians to the terror of having their homes invaded while they're sleeping, usually by teams of heavily armed paramilitary units dressed not as police officers but as soldiers. These raids bring unnecessary violence and provocation to nonviolent drug offenders, many of whom were guilty of only misdemeanors. The raids terrorize innocents when police mistakenly target the wrong residence. And they have resulted in dozens of needless deaths and injuries, not only of drug offenders, but also of police officers, children, bystanders, and innocent suspects.

http://store.cato.org/reports/overkill-rise-paramilitary-police-raids-america

http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/balko_whitepaper_2006.pdf

“Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

Join others striving for Financial Independence in the Poor Man Survival community on how to take back control of your money. Updated for 2013 and now includes a Will Kit & Simply Money, a software CD that helps make sense of your finances.

http://www.poormansurvival.com/Pages/selfsufficiencyprogram.aspx

Get the No BS – Ready for Anything Survival Files Download-Now includes…

Home Prepping Database Program

This software will assist you and your family in what and how many supplies you will need when you will need to lockdown in your home until things settle down

http://www.poormansurvival.com/Pages/NoBSSurvivalManual.aspx

Keep our services free, visit our sites…

Check our Resources

Survival books & supplies – find them at our ebay store:

www.OldBookNook.com

Follow us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/PoorManSurvival

Twitter

http://twitter.com/poormansurvivor

Romance in a Can – a Cute, Novel Way to Say I love you (Inexpensive too)!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251210702741?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1586.l2649

A Shallow Planet Production

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Shhh-Watch what you say in the USA, DIY Earth Oven, Hard Times

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1. Preparing for hard times

2. Build an earth oven for cooking

3. The reality of water scarcity

4. 5 ways to curb your addiction to shopping

5. Watch what you say or do in America

Economy is the art of making the most of life.
- George Bernard Shaw

7 TIPS TO PREPARE FOR HARD TIMES

1. Practice using less electricity – a lot less electricity

I just finished the audio book version of One Second After . An EMP, tackled the potential of a cyber attack, tell me that it is only prudent to get by with less reliance on the electrical grid. For many, the problem of limited or non-existent electrical power can be mitigated by generators or solar power. Generators are great as long as you have fuel and solar power will work if you have the money to set up a solar system plus, of course, an abundance of sun.

To me, the optimal solution is to try to get by with less electrical power. That means less reliance on my two freezers full of food and more reliance on bulk foods and freeze-dried meals. It also means lots of batteries and some wind-up devices.

2. Maintain a survival library and a survival notebook

The time may come when your online resources may no longer be available. Perhaps, as mentioned above, the grid may be down. Or perhaps the internet will be censored with survival and preparedness sites blocked. It could happen, you know.

Accumulate some preparedness books in print form and maintain your own survival notebook in a three ring binder. Don’t overlook free resources that may be available from your local county or state emergency management department. Even FEMA has some good stuff in printed form (see Free for You: The “Are You Ready Guide to Preparedness”.

3. Make learning a habit

Set aside a brief period each week to either learn a new skill or practice becoming more proficient at a skill you already possess. Better yet, take some time – even a few minutes – each day to find a new trick or tip to add to your survival notebook.

Amazon frequently offers free e-books on a variety of topics. These books are typically only available for one to five days and are a great way to learn something new. Sure, they may not be available if the power is out but if the goal is to learn from them, take notes and put what you learn into action now rather than later.

One of the most important things you can do now to prepare for a crisis or disaster is to always be learning.

4. Grow food

Growing your own food can be so rewarding that I just can not fathom even the smallest apartment dweller not growing at least a pot full of herbs on their window sill. There is something magical about popping a few seeds in a pot and watching them sprout and grow into something that is actually edible.

Beyond the window sill garden, there is the container garden, bucket garden, square foot garden, vertical garden, raised bed garden and the mini-farm. No matter how difficult it may seem, check out some videos on YouTube or books from your local library and start growing some food this spring.

5. Acknowledge that there will be fear and panic

Those of you that have experienced a disaster, poor health, job loss, or civil disobedience and war will understand that fear and panic are inevitable. Realize that in the case of a disaster, there is not a darn thing you can do other than recover. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. A cliché, I know. But that is the truth.

Other woes such as poor health, los of a job or a financial meltdown are a bit more difficult to deal with. Questions such as how will you cope and live will cross your mind as you stay up nights wondering what you could have done to mitigate the situation in the first place.

Acknowledge now that there will be fear and panic and realize this is WHY you prep. Prepping is the insurance policy that will help see you through hard times.

6. Embrace companionship and love

Not to get dopey, but life is more robust when you have someone to hug. I like to say “hug the ones you love, and love the ones you hug.”

I would also like to suggest that you share a modest portion of your bounty with your less fortunate or elderly neighbors. I would also like to suggest that you share your kindness when kindness is shared with you in turn. Life is precious and at the end of our time, it won’t be the fancy cars, the elaborate home, or the diamond rings that count. It is will the feeling of peace knowing that you have lived well with love in your soul and compassion in your heart.

7. Maintain your faith

If you are a religious person, find comfort in your faith. And if not, embrace your inner strength and have faith in yourself and in the miracle of your life. Hold this faith near to your heart – when hard times come, it may be all that you have left.

Did you know that food costs make up on average 6% of a typical middle class household budget? The lower your income, the larger percentage of your budget you’ll spend on groceries. Food costs do not change dramatically as you make more money…

Making good use of an old wash tub...

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

Build an Earth Oven for cooking

Click here to read and view pictures of this project as it progresses:
http://runningwave.blogspot.ca/2008/07/how-to-build-earth-oven.html.

Build Your Own Wood-Fired Oven: From the Earth, Brick or New Materials

How to insulate sliding glass doors
read more here

The sobering reality of water security

Agriculture is one of the world’s most insatiable consumers of water. Yet, it is facing growing competition for water from cities, industry, and recreation at a time when demand for food is rising, and water is expected to become increasingly scarce.

Beating the Drought's Impact on Food Prices
With grocery prices on the rise, it is imperative that those of us stretching our food dollars continue following all of the tips that those in similar situations have been offering during these financially trying times. In addition, it may also be time to include some of these creative cooking ideas along with your frugal shopping tips to further stretch those grocery dollars. Read more.

Five Ways to Curb Your Shopping Urge

http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/2013/02/five-ways-to-curb-your-shopping-urge/

Hearty breakfast ideas that will last you until lunch!
read more here

The Nanny State Updates… Americans are fat n happy while their rights are trampled!

With an $8 budget and no results (except harming kids and invalids) it’s time to disband the TSA…Who do Congressional flatworms continue wasting taxpayer funds?

A review of the performance of the Transportation Security Administration: In nearly a decade there is not a single report of a terrorist having been caught during the TSA screening process. No bombs have been discovered. No hijackings have been thwarted. For the TSA to claim it has made the nation’s skies safer is as absurd as the rooster taking credit for the sun rising each morning. Observant passengers have caught more terrorist-wannabes than the 67,000 TSA employees. Learn more about abuses at:

http://www.patriotactionnetwork.com/featured/disband-the-tsa/

Please help! Well articulated petition on We The People to get rid of the TSA!

http://wh.gov/P015

Basic self-defense: If a chaser does catch up to you, basic self-defense is key. Chances are you're not fighting a ninja and as we've noted before one of the most important facets to staying alive in an assault is knowing where to hit. Go for the head, ears, groin, or knees when you can. Most importantly, don't stick around when you knock them down. Get out as soon as possible.

The Parting Thought- the times are a changing…

The unPatriot Act was just a warmup...

The difference between a welfare state and a totalitarian state is a matter of time.”– Ayn Rand

Watch What You Say or do in the American Police State

An article in the Baltimore Sun reports that the Maryland Transit Administration has installed microphones on some city busses to record the conversations of passengers. They previously had video cameras, but added audio recording capability to the cameras on at least ten busses so far, with installation expected on hundreds more by summer. This measure is meant for security. It is hoped that the recordings will be useful in identifying trouble makers and for reconstructing crimes or mishaps after the fact.

There are signs on the busses that have the recording devices, notifying passengers that there conversations are being monitored and recorded. It is not clear yet if most riders are aware of the devices, though. Privacy advocates point out that even if most passengers are initially made aware of the recorders, it is natural to forget about them after a while, and to then talk freely with a friend or other passenger, or on a cell phone. It also isn't clear just how many people will have access to the recordings and for how long they will be kept.

5-Year Old Girl Labeled ‘Terrorist’ in American Police State

A few weeks ago in the Land of the Free, a five-year-old girl in Pennsylvania was labeled a terrorist threat.

Fortunately for the citizens of Northumberland County, local authorities managed to detain this nefarious kindergartener before she could exact her villainous deeds on thousands of innocents.

Authorities were tipped off after someone overheard a conversation between the girl and one of her classmates in which she mentioned plans to shoot people… with a bubble gun.

Administrators at her local elementary school questioned the girl alone without her parents for 30 minutes. She was then labeled a ‘terrorist threat’ and sentenced to a ten-day suspension.

Now, it’s quite fortunate for the child that she was granted a reprieve, albeit a small one, from state sponsored brainwashing. Public schools stamp out children’s creativity and independence, replacing them with obedience training and state propaganda.

We see far too many instances of children being questioned by police for actions that 20 years ago would have been considered simple horseplay, foolish, or (literally) childish…what is wrong with this picture?

We live under a system where, simply from being born on a piece of dirt, citizens are obliged from birth to pay taxes on our worldwide income, fight and die in foreign wars, pay down the massive debts of our forefathers, etc. None of which we volunteered for.

Today, we pledge allegiance to a piece of dirt, to institutions run by criminally incompetent politicians, to neighbors we’ve never met, and to a society that no longer shares our values.

The Patriot Act turned out to be the warm-up for the main acts that were to follow. Today, the government can intercept Americans' international communications without a warrant as long as one party to the communication is "reasonably believed" to be outside the US, as if being outside the U.S. is probable cause to believe someone is committing a crime.

The government can now search any documents or papers, including the entire contents of laptops and other electronic devices, without any suspicion of wrongdoing whatsoever. Per a secret Department of Homeland Security Report, having a laptop computer or cell phone within 100 miles of any U.S. border results in the complete eradication of your Fourth Amendment right to privacy—and more specifically the right to be free from unreasonable searches.

Once upon a time... to be an American was something to be proud of…

Just another reason why I always say “We don’t need another election, We need another Revolution.”