A Comfortable Mess: More Money Savers & Rants from Granny Crabapple!

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…

http://PoorManSurvivor.net

 

ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

A Comfortable Mess

 

Granny Crabapple: Ban bratty kids from public shopping!

 

 

   Whiny little street urchins interrupted my thrift store adventure this week because their mom let them run loose like it was a playground…the manager yelled at the mother three times to mind her brats.  Didn’t happen so he called the cops and they dragged her sorry brood out the door while she screamed some nasties in border Mexican (I think they call it Spanglish). 

 

Too much inbreeding and it taxes my patience. I couldn’t find anything at the Target Reject store so I left and went to eat out at a fancy restaurant. It was a Sunday and guess what?  A family parked their fat ass in the corner with two brats who whined and cried the entire time.  I finally left.  If they can afford the kind of restaurant I was in, they can afford a babysitter or they can head over to the Golden Arches for a kids meal!

 

We need some kid-free zones since so many parents don’t know how to discipline their kids!

 

 Speaking of taxes, how in hell does the government get away with taxing the sales of used, donated goods AGAIN at the thrift shop?  Double dipping bastards need to be coated in oil and cooked slowly over an open pit.

 

I don’t really need anything from a thrift shop or anywhere else in my home.  My home is already a cluttered, comfortable mess.  Decorated in early attic and always filled with stuff I haven’t gotten around to figuring out what to do with yet.  The only time I clean is when company is coming for a visit.  My mother, the original neat freak would not be proud.  She always cleaned as if the President were dropping for a cup of tea and some of her homemade apple pie (although no President ever visited, they would have been happy to have a slice along with some of her motherly advice on how to run the country more efficiently).

 

Mother grew up during the Great Depression when folks were truly poor…no 50-inch flat screen TVs, if they had a phone it was a shared party line and all her clothes were hand-me-downs which had been repaired a dozen times.  No such thing as fancy designer labels made in 3^rd world countries back then!

 

>>Paper Towels are an expensive waste!  I bought a case of them three years ago and still have six rolls.  Why?  Because I use rags which are washable and reusable and more environmentally friendly AND they do a better job for most clean up jobs.  I save the paper towels for cleaning windows and glass (I don’t like using newspapers).

 

>>Making a boxed cake mix better and last longer…

Grab a box of cake mix, say one for spice cake.  Mix the ingredients as indicated and add some raisins and nuts and some extract like Rum for added flavor.  Bake in two round cake pans.  Freeze one for future use and eat the other that night.  Enjoy that dinner out but save this for dessert at home with a cup of joe or tea.  Make your own frosting and add some extract to that as well for more flavor [the extract can be added to store bought frosting too – just mix it in well].

A little health hint before I go.  When I cooked for the Roman Legions a few centuries back, they paid me in bags of salt.  My grandmother preserved all her fish, fowl and game with salt. Today, food companies put salt into everything, too much of a good thing will kill you.  Did you know your really should not take in more than 1500 grams per day!

Controversial Study on Salt Amounts Confuses Diners

 

Stay tuned for future penny pinching insights from Granny Crabapple…Meanwhile, take a peek at all these wonderful gems I’ve gathered for you!

 

What's $100 Worth in Your State?

Because the costs of various essential things vary from state, your dollars can be worth more in certain states than others. In Mississippi, for example, your money is worth 40% more than in Washington, DC. See how the states compare.

 

How to Build an Underground Root Cellar

Your garden has come in and the bounty of it has been dispersed to family and friends. However, you still have more produce than you can consume. What to do? You can process some of it in a pressure canner or freeze it. Some vegetables, though, and a few fruits do not do well canned or frozen. Perhaps it is time to build an underground root cellar.

 http://bit.ly/RzKz0Y

 

http://www.shtfpreparedness.com/build-earthbag-root-cellar-cheap/

 

 

Store Water And Keep It Safe »
If you store nothing else for potential emergencies, store water. Without water, you will die. Period. It's that plain and that simple. So spend a little money and a little bit of time now ensuring that you will have water in the future, come what may. More »

 

Shampoo for Less

You can buy a gallon of concentrated shampoo online for less than $6 and the shipping costs about $10. You mix one part shampoo to nine parts of water. For about $16, you will have ten gallons of shampoo, which makes it only $1.60 per gallon of shampoo.

 

Additional useful gems for making life better…

 

100 Ways to Improve Your Finances (Most in Under 10 Minutes)

 

 

97 New Ways to Save Money (from DR Readers) 

 

 

24 Easy Ways To Make Money On The Internet (Life Hack)

 

 

Find DIY and Homemade ideas here:

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

 

Yours in freedom,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

 

A Shallow Planet Production

Poor Man's Gold, Open Carry Laws by State, If the Police Get in Your Face

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…

http://PoorManSurvivor.net

 

ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

 

Poor Man’s Gold – Silver!

The following post by TDV Contributor, Jeff Clark

Jim Rogers once quipped that he waits to invest until “there’s a pile of money just sitting there in a corner and I can walk over and pick it up.”

In other words, an asset that’s deeply undervalued, widely ignored, with potent fundamentals ready to kick in.

Is there such an opportunity in any of the precious metals right now?

One could make a case for all of them, given the likelihood of high inflation and the mainstream largely ignoring the industry.

But there’s one metal in particular that I think will deliver the most fireworks…

Why The Silver Price Could Double Or Even Triple

Silver is selling at less than half its 2011 high, is ignored more than gold, and as you’ll see, has explosive fundamentals that point to a possible runaway price scenario.

To assess silver’s potential, let's first ignore short-term factors that you might see in mainstream headlines, such as net short/long positions, fluctuations in weekly ETF holdings, or the latest open interest. Data like these fluctuate regularly and rarely have long-term bearing on the price.

Let’s instead consider the big-picture forces that could impact silver over the next several years. Here are the data that tell me “there’s a pile of money sitting in the corner…”

#1: Monetary Abuse. The most significant catalyst for silver is the government’s abuse of our monetary system. In a world of endless fiat money printing and unsustainable debt, silver (like gold) represents a wealth protection against systemic risk.

At no time in history has a government printed this much money. And not one currency in the world is anchored to gold or any other tangible standard. This unprecedented setup means that whatever fallout results, it will be historic and affect each of us personally. Silver will be one refuge from that storm—and given its higher volatility, could rise more than gold.

#2: Inflation-Adjusted Price Has a Long Way to Go. One specific indicator of silver’s potential is its inflation-adjusted price. I asked John Williams of ShadowStats to calculate the silver price in May 2014 dollars (current data are not yet available).

Shown below is the silver price adjusted for both the CPI-U, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and for ShadowStats data based on the CPI-U formula from 1980 (the formula has since been adjusted multiple times to keep the inflation number as low as possible).

Hard Assets Alliance. It really is a better way to buy, store, and sell precious metals.

Jeff Clark utilizes his knowledge of the gold mining industry, a family legacy, from prospecting and exploration to the financial and capital markets to produce Casey Research’s BIG GOLD investment newsletter. Jeff is a  speaker at the industry’s top investment conferences, such as the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, the Silver Summit, and the Sprott Natural Resource Symposium. Jeff is also frequently quoted in the business press, including MarketWatch, TheStreet, Kitco, Hard Assets Investor, and the Washington Post. He’s sought after for his big-picture view of the gold and silver markets, as well as the implications of daily market moves on the underlying fundamentals. He focuses on mid- to large-cap precious metals, ETFs, mutual funds, and of course various forms of bullion.

http://www.hardassetsalliance.com/smart-metals/

Open Carry Laws by State

 

 

 

If you’re not a convicted criminal you shouldn’t require permission from the state to protect yourself

Many in the US think the only reason they are "allowed" to own self-protection aids is because of the 2nd Amendment. That is an obsfucation.  Humans have an inherent natural right to life and the right to defend that life. The US constitution is a piece of paper. If the US constitution didn't exist, the rights expounded therein would still exist... although those natural rights are now actively suppressed by the US federal government itself!

As people on both sides of the debate regarding open carry—the practice of carrying firearms in plain view—have been turning up the heat, more companies are being forced to take a side.

Gun-rights advocates see the practice as a way to normalize gun ownership and deter crime, while gun-control activists believe carrying guns in stores and restaurants is disruptive to the public and encourages violence.

 

Ex-FBI Agent Reveals What to Do If The Police Get in Your Face

Dale Carson, a trial lawyer, former FBI agent, police officer, detective, SWAT team member, undercover operative and private investigator who now defends clients against unfair charges. He is the author of Arrest-Proof Yourself, which is required reading for anyone wanting to avoid unnecessary interactions with the law.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSkl38Qi-y4

Police urge law-abiding residents of Detroit to buy guns to protect themselves

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/046569_gun_ownership_self_defense_Detroit.html#ixzz3BIvVho41

 

 

 

Gunsmithing at Home

http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Gunsmithing-at-Home-New/176936271

 

Home Invasion:  How to Protect Your Homestead and Family

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

 

 

How to Survive the…[Free]

War on Middle Class and All 9 Bonus Reports can be downloaded here:

http://1drv.ms/1d9kfiU

 

Yours in freedom,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

 

 Got a News Tip or Resource to Share With the Poor Man?

Send it to:  PoorManSurvivor@Gmail.com

 

Our Mission: To protect and promote your freedom, civil rights, financial well being and overall self reliance in these turbulent times.   Get more tips and freebies faster at: www.PoorManSurvival.com

 

A Shallow Planet Production

Granny Crabapple's shocking secrets to pinching a penny

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…

http://PoorManSurvivor.net

 

ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

I've done so much for so long with so little, that now I can do anything with nothing…Grandma

 

    

Granny Crabapple tells you how pinch a penny!

 

Old Granny could teach the government a thing or two about saving money and how to balance the budget.  She is famous for making a dime do the work of a dollar!  Here are a few of her top hints…

 

1. Get rid of the kids!  Those little critters are expensive to raise so stop having so many children.  They always want this or that expensive electronic toy and parents are usually dumb enough to race out and buy them something which will be in next years’ garage sale.  Teach them to read and send them to the library for gosh sake. Tell them to go out and mow a lawn for some neighborhood granny like me…maybe they’ll get a tip [or a boot in the but if they screw up]. And they don’t need those distracting cell phones to sext their friends with.  Do you like those $100 a month family plans Verizon offers…put the damn money into an education fund.  Kids don’t need cell phones, period!  [There, I just saved you more than $100 bucks a month].

 

You could always sell the little buggers to some gypsies I know!

 

2. Make your own cleaning stuff.  Dump those expensive paper towels and use a rag which can be rewashed a 100 times and make your own all-purpose cleaning liquid by mixing 40% ammonia with lemon scent, 50% water and drop or two of dish soap.  Put it into a spray bottle and clean your kitchen and windows for pennies.

3. Dump cable TV or get their cheapest plan.  How many stupid episodes of Survivor or the hillbilly channel do you need?  Hell, even the news sucks and the networks are just a mouthpiece for the government and you don’t need any more of their propaganda or kool-aid.  [Speaking of Kool-Aid, it’s a lot cheaper than those sugary sodas your kids are loading up on…plus they might even lose some of those fat bulges they’re carrying around because they spend too much time playing computer games.  Boot them out of the house and lock the door.  They’ll learn to play on their own, it comes natural and beside, you need some time to reflect peacefully on how you can take over the world and make it a better place as our two political parties sure haven’t had any success!

 

 

Average cost of raising a child hits $245,000 (CNN Money)

 

Learning to be more self-sufficient will save you $$$
read more here

 

Stay tuned for future penny pinching insights from Granny Crabapple…

 

 

 

"He who does not economize will have to agonize"—Confusius

 

Getting Rid of Pet Odor

 

We’ve owned dozens of cats over the years and their ‘spray’ can be very annoying.  We also purchase many storage units and lots of items at auctions each year and frequently find animal odors present.

 

Club Soda

Several years ago, we moved into a house where there had been dogs. We had a cat and he was very territorial! He sprayed every corner of our dining room, over and over again. Apparently the doggy smell was strongest there. I was about to give up and have the room removed, since I couldn't remove the "zoo" odor, when a friend suggested using club soda. I bought a liter bottle and poured a generous amount onto the carpet, letting it fizz. When the fizzing stopped I used lots of paper towels to blot up the liquid then let the area air dry. I did every corner of the dining room (it probably looked like some strange ritual by then!). It took a few applications but the odor went away! I hope this works for you as well as it did for me. I also use club soda when someone (or one of the cats) has vomited on the floor. Takes the smell away in a snap!
Donna

Try Enzyme Neutralizers

Have you tried the enzyme odor neutralizers such as Simple Solution or Nature's Miracle? Personally, I've found Nature's Miracle to be about the best. You have to follow the directions EXACTLY though and saturate the area with the product, then leave it there the appropriate amount of time. You also have to treat ALL the areas where the animal has urinated, because if you leave a spot undone, the animal will smell that and think it's still "okay" to go there.

This stuff can be expensive if you purchase it through a place like PetSmart, etc. on a regular basis. I've found the cheapest source of this stuff (and other pet products) to be Jeffer's Pet Supply 1800jeffers.com. They have some amazing deals. They also sell an ultraviolet light to help you "view" the urine stains, but this seems kind of expensive for what it is. Unfortunately, sometimes depending on your sub-floor or flooring, the odors still persist.

Another product I have used are the "Smell-Eze Granules" at no-odor.com and these work fairly well, though are relatively expensive, for getting rid of urine smells. You sprinkle this on your carpet and the granules absorb the odor (different from the grocery store-type carpet deodorizers; these have no smell on their own) I also bought the Smell-Eze bags of granules that you place around your home (for smoke, pet odors, etc.) and they worked great for a while, then seemed to conk out. Whatever you use, it is sometimes a challenge to conquer these smells, but it can be done!

Color Safe Bleach

I moved into an apt where cat urine was abundant. I used Vivid Safe Bleach and it removed every trace of the smell. It did not stain or lighten the carpet, but I would try a hidden area first. I poured the Vivid on the spot, rubbed it a bit, then covered it with paper towels and heavy object. I kept replacing the towels

Finally Tried Odo-Ban

We had two large dogs and still have one cat that had "accidents" in the house. I tried everything, from vinegar to baking soda, to commercial bacteria cleansers from our local pet store. The best thing to use and I strongly recommend it is a product called "ODO-BAN" it is available in one gallon containers from Sam's Club. If you lived nearby, I would be happy to give you a cup of it. Just mix it 1:3 parts water, sprinkle on the spot, (we used a watering can as it was a large area, and let dry) Once it is completely dry, it is impossible to detect any odor. Also you can put it straight in a spray bottle and spray it in the air to get rid of odors too. Take it from someone who used it on a "skunked" dog. IT WORKS!!!
Anna A

Baking Soda Solution

I had a cat who was getting elderly and had kidney disease. She started going into our lower level den behind a couple of chairs and urinating. I think what enticed her was the fact that we had sustained flood damage and the carpet had gotten wet and had a dank smell to begin with. Then she added to it before I could treat the wet smells from the flooding!

After getting the carpeting dried out and cleaned as well as possible using the standard carpet cleaners, I realized the urine smell was very much still present. I have a handy little book called "Baking Soda-over 500 uses..." and here is what finally worked for me. To prevent the lingering smells in a carpet, they advise to clean up what you can, then generously sprinkle the remaining spot with baking soda. Scrub gently, from the outside toward the center, with a stiff brush or sponge dipped repeatedly in clean water (test for colorfastness!). Blot up the moisture with paper towels. Leave a last small layer of baking soda powder sprinkled on the spot and vacuum it later when the carpet is dry. I had to repeat this several times, but it worked! No more smells!! Carpet looks fine! (and this was an OLD carpet)

For general deodorizing, they also advise sprinkling baking soda on carpeting monthly, or as needed, before going to bed and let it set overnight. Vacuum the next day. They include a home-made carpet deodorizer recipe:

1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
15 drops of your favorite essential oil fragrance

Get to the Source

Lift up the carpet and get the affected padding out of there. Cut out a square piece of the padding and replace it, or if it is foam rubber wash the affected piece. You will not get it clean while it's on the floor, a carpet scrubber is only meant to clean the carpet, not the padding. If it is washable, clean in a mild solution of dish detergent and warm water, then rinse in vinegar. Dry thoroughly before putting back down (staple into place).

Once the pad is clean, the carpet should be shampooed. I've done this for people before. A) Spot treat the area with carpet cleaner solution straight out of the machine and let sit for 5-10 minutes. B) Clean the carpet per instructions on the machine. C) Replace the shampoo in the machine with white vinegar and go over it thoroughly one final time just as if you were shampooing the area.

If the cat or any cats are still in the house, this will not be good enough. The cat will still be able to detect the smell, as will cats to follow it, and they will mark the area. If you plan on having a cat again, the carpet and the pad are not salvageable, except in a room the cat would never be allowed into.

Ammonia and Oil Soap

Use equal parts (about a tablespoon each) ammonia and Murphy's Oil Soap and dilute it in a gallon of water. It worked for us…

 

 

 

Additional useful gems for making life better…

 

How To Make Bread In A Crockpot

A Month Of Dinners For Less Than $100

10 Tips That Make You Say...Why Didn't I Think Of That?

How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent - 570 Washes For Only $6

 

Find DIY and Homemade ideas here:

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

 

Yours in freedom,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

 

A Shallow Planet Production

Feedback Friday: Reader Comments-Is anything right about government anymore?

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…

http://PoorManSurvivor.net

 

ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

 

"The deterioration of every government
begins with the decay of the principles
on which it was founded."
-- C. L. De Montesquieu

 

FEEDBACK:  Readers cry foul over fed actions

   If the following sampling from readers is any indication of how fed up Americans are becoming over our dysfunctional government, we’re in trouble.  Everything is making us angry…the invasion of illegal aliens, the militarization of police, domestic spying, our imperial President, the impoverishment of the middle class and more.

 

 Here’s a condensed sampling of the letters the Poor Man is reading.  Let us know what you think.

 

Obamacare is Worthless

 “I’ve been to the doctor for a foot injury for which I was to have an air-cast put on.  They will not cover it due to my insurance as the deductible is $12,700 due to the changes you have made.  This is in addition to the $500 per month my husband pays out of his salary for insurance coverage.

 

I have a choice of paying for this cast or buying food and fuel for my family.  I chose food and fuel.  My son can’t get financial aid or grants for his college because he’s not married has no children nor is he divorced.  He has no criminal background either and makes only minimum wage working a part time job.

 

I work for a small school system who will not hire full time staff due to cutbacks and overly expensive insurance.  My income does not cover the $12,700 deductible.

 

Mr. Obama, you’d rather have the Middle Class pay the medical, food, school, and housing costs for illegal aliens – they pay NOTHING!  I would like the same benefits Mr. Obama!

 

We Americans need to be treated better as we pay your salary and benefits.  You have stolen my rights as a middle class citizen and have lied about this health care plan and you are morally inept.  I will be forwarding all my medical bills to your home on Pennsylvania Ave…the one WE paid for!

--Suzanne B (MI)

 

The Immorality of NSA Spying on US Citizens

Recent disclosures about the NSA illegally spying on citizens without a court order should scare and anger every American.  I suggest everyone read Glenn Greenwald’s book No Place to Hide.  He describes the extraordinary measures our government goes to defile our Bill of Rights and privacy.

In reality, this is nothing new.  Even during the American Revolution Mr. Franklin’s post office spied on the mail of citizens.  What is new however, is the technology the government uses (at our expense, adding insult to injury).  The United States government has perfected a technology which monitors everything we do.

Today’s spy activities have never been worse, wrapped in utter BS telling us it is for our own good.  In my opinion, Snowden is a hero.  He gave up a comfortable lifestyle to expose this government crap.

>M Waller (MI)

 

Transparency International just released its "Corruption Perceptions Index" (CPI) for 2014. This index surveys experts on public sector corruption in 177 countries. The U.S. scored a 77 on the 0 to 100 scale. This places America 19^th on the list. Ten years ago, we placed 14^th. Why have we declined?

 As the personal income tax rate increases, corruption tends to increase. Similarly as government spending and total government tax revenue increased, corruption also increased.

 

Nothing Seems Right About our Government Anymore

Finally, many, many people have written to express their anger over how the feds have militarized police and other agencies as if they were actively planning to attack taxpayers in the very near future…the powder keg near St. Louis has even the world press asking what the hell is going on the USA, Land of the Free?

A U.S. Army document that was released just a few months ago outlines how the Army would respond to "full scale riots" inside the United States.  As Paul Joseph Watson has detailed, this includes potentially using "lethal force" against "unarmed civilians"...

 

A document released by the U.S. Army details preparations for “full scale riots” within the United States during which troops may be forced to engage in a “lethal response” to deal with unruly crowds of demonstrators.

 

The appearance of the document amidst growing unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, with the National Guard now being called in to deal with the disorder, is an ominous coincidence.

 

The 132-page document, titled U.S. Army Techniques Publication 3-39.33: Civil Disturbances (PDF), was written in April 2014 and recently obtained by Public Intelligence.

 

The document makes it clear that the techniques detailed therein are to be applied both outside and inside the “continental United States (CONUS)” in the event of “unruly and violent crowds” where it is “necessary to quell riots and restore public order.”

 

The training manual outlines scenarios under which, “Civil unrest may range from simple, nonviolent protests that address specific issues, to events that turn into full-scale riots.”

The most shocking aspect of the document is the fact that it describes the deployment of a “lethal response” directed against “unarmed civilians,” including “sniper response” and “small arms direct fire.”

Under the heading “sniper response,” the document states, “Ensure that target leaders or troublemakers are targeted,” in addition to a passage which states, “Exploit the psychological effect of an attack.”

 

The recent civil disobedience, rioting and police brutality in Ferguson, Missouri, reminds us of what happens when police states and bad economics are mixed together. Devastated by decades of ruinous economic policies, the economies of many inner cities continue to languish as the self-ownership of local residents is treated with contempt by the police and any attempt at building a small-business-based or wage-based economy is hobbled by government regulation.

 

Watch this CNN Footage about heavy handed police…

New questions about Ferguson police tactics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfZZjMy9mKk

 

Additional useful gems for making life better..

 

A Month Of Dinners For Less Than $100

10 Tips That Make You Say...Why Didn't I Think Of That?

How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent - 570 Washes For Only $6

 

Find DIY and Homemade ideas here:

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

 

 

 

Now free of charge…a gift to my fellow citizen!

Our paychecks are remaining very stable while the cost of almost everything that we spend money on consistently (food, gas, health insurance, etc.) is going up rapidly.  Bloomberg calls this "the no-raises recovery"...

How to Survive the…

War on Middle Class and All 9 Bonus Reports can be downloaded here:

http://1drv.ms/1d9kfiU

 

Yours in freedom,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

 

 

Got a News Tip or Resource to Share With the Poor Man?

Send it to:  PoorManSurvivor@Gmail.com

 

Our Mission: To protect and promote your freedom, civil rights, financial well being and overall self reliance in these turbulent times.   Get more tips and freebies faster at: www.PoorManSurvival.com

 

 

A Shallow Planet Production