10 Frugal Ideas for Valentine's Day, Eating Cat Food in Retirement Years

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

ISSN 2161-5543

A Free Press is the Guardian of a Free People

In This Issue:

1.       10 or more frugal Valentine Activity/Gift Ideas

2.      Quick n Dirty Job Search Tips

3.      Essential Disaster Survival Tips

4.      Will you be eating cat food in your retirement years?

5.      Extreme Prepper TV debuts

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Anonymous

THREE "QUICK & DIRTY" JOB SEARCH TIPS

You need a job to pay for those fancy Valentine Gifts, right?

In addition to checking published job leads, don't forget to run job searches of your own. (With a 60 to 1 scam ratio among home-based job leads, just remember to keep your "BS" - Big Scam - radar on.)

Here are three quick job-searching tips from our tip barn.

1. Use Google Alerts to scan for job leads "while you sleep." On the Alerts page, just enter the words or phrases you'd use in your usual Google job search. Google will continuously scan the web and email you the results. For more, go to http://www.google.com/alerts.

2. Similarly, set up alerts at the big "job aggregator" sites like Indeed.com. Just enter your parameters on the advanced search page at http://www.indeed.com/advanced_search. Then click "Find Jobs," and enter your email address in the box at the bottom of the results page.

3. Beware home-business or home-job "opportunities" advertised on late-night infomercials. Often, these entice buyers with discounted books or other materials. But you'll "pay the price" when your information is passed to salespeople who call you with high-pressure pitches for expensive add-on programs.

Bonus Tip: Be hyper-vigilant when evaluating administrative (i.e., "secretarial") jobs. The scammers know that home-based admin jobs are in high demand, and the supply is low. Hence, the scam ratio among admin jobs is even higher than the norm. Legitimate data entry jobs are especially scarce. (Please pass it on!)

Source:  www.RatRaceRebellion.com, www.PoorManSurvival.com

Instead of using bleach to brighten whites, try a ¼ cup of lemon juice instead.  Add it to the wash cycle.

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

Hey guys - ever come home with those embarrassing lipstick marks on your collar?  Get rid of them by placing the stain face-down on a white towel, then blot it with a clean cloth moistened in rubbing alcohol. 

Frugal Valentine Ideas
Suggestions as to how to make Valentine's Day a special, fun, yet inexpensive dayhttp://www.stretcher.com/stories/980129b.cfm?STT

10 More Fun Low-Cost, No Cost Valentine’s Day Ideas

A festival for love 'n romance, Valentine's Day provides us with a splendid opportunity to spend some quality time with our truelove. Are you looking for some tips to romance your sweetheart on this Feb 14?

http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/10_romantic_ideas.htm

Heineken Serenades on Valentine's Day

Heineken is helping ignite romance this Valentine's Day with the launch of a fun new Facebook application called The Serenade. Based on the brand's second global film "The Date," the new app enables Heineken consumers to send humorous personalized songs to

potential partners, inviting them on a date…

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/01/idUS92447+01-Feb-2012+HUG20120201

Find Local Store Coupons Online Fast

Just type in your zip code at this site and a map of your area pops up pinpointing retailers offering coupons.

Printable.RetailMeNot.com

 Need a fun gift, say for Valentine’s Day?

Frequently one needs a low-priced gift as a thank you or for a little surprise.  Check these sites:

FiveBelow.com

10DollarMall.com

Reciprocal Valentine (or other special occasion) Gift

Take turns giving each other a massage…Swedish research suggests giving a massage boosts mood levels.  In my college days I took a class in massage and used that training to barter for haircuts, dinners and other goodies all through school!

Raise Money for You Favorite Charity

Readers already know we offer a We don’t Need Another Election T-Shirt.  A portion of the profits are donated to area charities (PoorManSurvival.com, click on RevolutionT).  You can design your own shirt, then visit this site where you can get them printed in bulk.  Sell them at special events as a fundraiser.

www.TShirtCharity.com

Know Your Priorities - Basics of Survival

I talked with survival teacher and founder of onPoint Tactical Kevin Reeve for help coming up with a list of priorities for survival in case of a disaster. This is what he suggests:

Immediate security: If the building is on fire, get out. If someone is shooting at you, move to cover. Whatever the immediate danger, get away from it.

First aid: Attend to any medical problems that may have happened in the original event. Check yourself for injuries and treat them.

Self protection: If you are at risk from predators, two-legged or four-legged, you must arm yourself. This might be a sharpened stick, a knife, machete, shotgun, or banjo. Just have something to attack the zombies with.

Physical needs (in order): Shelter, fire, water, food, and hygiene.

It's also worth noting that nearly every survivalist, doctor, paramedic, and teacher recommends one key survival tool everyone should follow: positivity. It seems silly, but it can provide you with the mental endurance to stay safe in any number of situations. A recent study in Psychological Science also suggests that your own perception of illness and the potential for treatment has an effect on the outcome. In short, the idea of mind over matter can help you survive.

http://www.onpointtactical.com/default.aspx?utm_source=Lifehacker+Newsletter&utm_campaign=24f2790f25-UA-142218-1&utm_medium=email

New 'Doomsday Preppers' Show Highlights Extreme Survivalists

It's better to be safe than sorry, which is why FEMA guidelines recommend stockpiling your pantry with three days worth of food in case of a natural disaster. Meanwhile, Paul Range and Gloria Haswell have enough in store to feed 22 people for 15 years — as well as enough guns, bullets and bug-out vehicles to wage a small war. The couple occupies nine steel shipping containers arranged in a castle formation outside Floresville, Texas. A system of windmills and solar panels powers the compound, and human body waste is used to generate methane, which serves as their cooking fuel.

http://news.yahoo.com/doomsday-preppers-show-highlights-extreme-survivalists-214404285.html

Upgrade the safety of your door by replacing the striker plate in the door jamb with a heavy-duty brass variety that requires six screws - makes your door impossible to push in.

The Nanny State Updates…

World War Web

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trademark Agreement, ACTA, is sitting in the wings, as is the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, TPP. All these initials add up to one particular end goal, an internet-centric "anti-piracy" bill that raises concerns for both consumers' privacy and civil liberties.

Protest ACTA on February 11, 2012

Currently, 22 countries in Europe have signed ACTA, but the European Parliament has yet to pass it. Those opposed in Europe are asking for similar help as the SOPA and PIPA protests in hopes to have a similar outcome. On February 11, protests are being organized by Access, a self-proclaimed global movement for internet freedom in an attempt to show the EU that they must ultimately reject the ACTA.

More than the internet is at stake

The ACTA is not limited to the internet; in a scary twist, the crackdown would include generic drugs and a global standard on seed patents that would threaten local farmers and ultimately the food supply across the world, according to Forbes.

The Parting Thought – Better stock up on cat food

Will you and your family be eating cat food soon?

I still marvel at how my fellow citizens get excited over the coming election.  Why?

These politicians offer no solutions to the many problems we face.

The United States has recently passed a new milestone.  A week before Christmas we joined a club.  Our government debt now exceeds our GDP.  Few in the “lame-stream” press seemed to notice our 100%+ debt-to-GDP ratio puts us in the same league as many 3^rd World countries and troubled nations such as Greece.

Despite the political BS taking place in the primaries, no one has addressed this issue.  Of course, this will probably mean a further downgrade of our credit status and force us to borrow even more money, at higher interest rates, effectively diluting even further your spending power.

It will get worse.  Consider that nearly 80-million more baby boomers will be lining up to collect Social Security from a fund which has already been robbed dry by Congress.  Is anyone in Washington doing anything about it?  No!

Regardless of who wins the November election, nothing will change the course of our nation, except perhaps the speed to which we will collapse.

The White House and Congress continually provide dishonest statistics and solutions to overwhelming financial problems.  The media continues to hammer past marital indiscretions of the candidates (Oh boy) with rarely a mention of our national dysfunction.

We, as a nation, are insolvent and the few solutions which are open to us are more than most politicians are willing to discuss. 

So, as inflation continues to blast your spending power, as more cities and states continue to cut services, as the tax man is gearing up to take more of your money, will you and your family be eating cat food soon?

“Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

Remember, remember the 4^th of November…

Get your “We don’t need another election” Protest T-Shirt Now

http://poormansurvival.com/RevolutionTShirt.aspx

Follow us on Facebook

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Keep our services free, visit our sites…

Check our Resources

New self sufficiency books added weekly

http://www.OldBookNook.com

A Shallow Planet Production

Shelf life of Pantry Items, Preventing Assaults, Using Land Trusts

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

ISSN 2161-5543

A Free Press is the Guardian of a Free People

In This Issue:

1.       Know the shelf life of pantry foods

2.      Safeguarding your privacy on facebook

3.      Preventing assaults on women

4.      Freelancers – Know what to set aside for taxes

5.      Earn SWAG by spotting trends, Foreclosure prevention/Land Trusts

Some lawyers and judges may have forgotten it, but the purpose of the court system is to produce justice, not slavish obedience to the law."
-- Charlie Reese
(1937-2011) Columnist

A New Level of Education in Aquaponics

Aquaponics, an innovative method of agriculture that combines aquaculture and hydroponics, has garnered international attention as people around the world look for sustainable, efficient and highly productive methods of growing fresh food.

The Poor Man wanted to try this while living in AZ but no outdoor project seemed workable. As you might guess, it’s too darn hot. I plan to give this a serious look at though this coming summer at our mini-farm.  One always investigates what works best to achieve a self sufficient lifestyle on small acreage.  Goats, rabbits, chickens and ducks are always a good choice and provide a variety of food sources.

A suburban family of four turned an old swimming pool into a greenhouse / fish pond food production system. They grow most of what they eat from this backyard setup.
Here is the link to the GardenPool site and their video with the laundry gray water irrigating fruit trees.
http://gardenpool.org/?p=860

www.GardenPool.org. 

If any of you have had experience with backyard aquaponics, we’d like to hear from you.  If we use your story or resources, we’ll give you a free We Don’t Need Another Election T-Shirt. Send to: PoorManSurvivor@yahoo.com and put “fish” in the subject box.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/sustainable-farming/education-in-aquaponics-zwfz1111zhun.aspx#ixzz1l8JysxBQ

If you live in the Portland area, here’s show worth attending…

Better Living Show in March - Free Admission

Home and Lifestyle show in Portland, OR on March 23-25 featuring green home and garden products, natural health experts, organic food, sustainable energy solutions and more.  Keynote speaker:  Daryl Hannah

www.BetterLivingShow.org

Repurpose outdated baby cribs into herb drying racks…we turned an old baby expandable pen into a compost barrier to keep critters away.

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

The Shelf Life of Pantry Foods  Learn how long foods stay fresh in the pantry, and you'll know just how much to stock up on, and when it's time to replace key ingredients like baking powder and spices. More at: http://frugalliving.about.com/od/stockpiling/a/The-Shelf-Life-Of-Pantry-Foods.htm?nl=1

Free Box of Samples (while they last) - Handcrafted, natural products

Sample box includes info, salve, bottle of wonder spray and organic soap…

www.MyWonderSpray.com

EARN SWAG BY SPOTTING TRENDS
In these budget-tight times, "swag" (free merchandise) can help. If you're good at spotting trends, take a look at Happy Spotting. It's a global network of folks who keep an eye out for new consumer styles, products, behavior, etc.

Free to join, and swag ranges from Amazon gift certificates to netbooks, real books, etc. For details, click here.   http://www.happyspotting.com/

Freelancers -What you should set aside for your annual IRS Squeeze…

IRS rules as of February 2011 state that if you net $400 or more from freelancing, you must file a tax return. This likely comes as no surprise. However, the amount to set aside for taxes varies based on a few considerations. Keep in mind that percentages, credits, exemptions and other factors that may affect tax amounts change from year to year. Keep yourself informed or consult a tax professional experienced in freelance income reporting to verify that your information is current...

http://www.ehow.com/info_7911135_much-set-aside-taxes-freelancing.html

Safeguarding your Facebook and online privacy

If you don't like targeted ads based on your search history, you can just utilize your browser's Do Not Track options (read this to learn how to enable them). Facebook now offers lots of ways to set the level of privacy you want to maintain, which is great, but with all the options it can be tough to learn and get just the way you want. Our always up-to-date guide to managing your Facebook privacy can get you up to speed.

One of the first things you should do with Facebook is prevent apps from using your personal data as much as possible. Signing up for an app can provide the developers with much more information than you may realize as the apps will take information they don't necessarily need. To find out what each app is doing and limit its reach, just click the downward-facing triangle in the upper-right hand corner of your Facebook page and choose "Account Settings." From there click the Apps tab and click the "Edit" link next to any app. You'll see a list of what it is allowed to do plus the information it can access. Some stuff will be required for the app to function, but you'll almost always find something that isn't. Click the "Remove" link to revoke the app's permission to access that information.

http://lifehacker.com/5813990/the-always-up+to+date-guide-to-managing-your-facebook-privacy?utm_source=Lifehacker+Newsletter&utm_campaign=908b92b731-UA-142218-1&utm_medium=email

Assaults happen all too frequently, especially on women.

You may already know:

One out of four women will be sexually assaulted on a college campus.

One out of eight women will be raped while in college.

84% of women who were raped knew their assailant.

57% of rapes occur on a date.

75% of male students and 55% of female students involved in date rape had been drinking or using drugs.

These are the reported figures. There is a lot of data suggesting that most rapes go unreported. One study showed that only 5% of victims of rape or attempted rape report it to college police.

Here are some things you should know to help prevent an assault …..

LOOK. Look around you and be aware of your surroundings, such as hiding places, people following you, etc. If confronted by an assailant, look him straight in the eye so he knows for sure that you will remember what he looks like in a police lineup.

YELL. There are two things about a shout. One, it attracts the attention of others. Second, it deters assailants. They want an easy target, not someone who is going to resist.

SHOW. If you are carrying a non lethal self defense weapon, SHOW IT. Sometimes the sound of a discharging stun gun is enough to frighten them off. Try using a combination of SHOW and YELL. Try something like "back off or you'll get 900,000 volts!"

PAIN. Learn where some key points for pain are and how to inflict as much pain as you can quickly. Eye gouge, pinch or bite under the arm or the upper inner thigh, or the groin areas are all sensitive and subject to maximum amounts of pain. A sharp blow across the bridge of an assailant's nose will stop him dead in his tracks. You want just enough time to escape. Consider using your elbow if you can - it is the strongest point on your body.

INSTINCTS. Always trust your INSTINCTS. Women are usually more insightful than men - use it to your advantage.

CARRY. Always carry some type of non lethal self defense weapon. A stun gun, pepper spray, or a telescopic baton are good examples. Each, if and when used, will afford you enough time to escape and get help. NOTE:  Even non lethal self protection devices are illegal to carry in some states like MI.  Be sure to check for anti-citizen laws in your state before purchase.
http://www.tbotech.com/

Keep your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted with annual maintenance. If your furnace is working at peak efficiency it will use less energy and cost less to operate.

The Nanny State Updates…

If the global economy was a game, America would be losing very badly…

According to Stanford University economics professor Ed Lazear, if the U.S. economy and the Chinese economy continue to grow at current rates, the average Chinese citizen will be wealthier than the average American citizen in just 30 years.

 Nobel economist Robert W. Fogel of the University of Chicago is projecting that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040 if current trends continue.

No Common Sense at schools

At one public school down in Texas, a 12-year-old girl named Sarah Bustamantes was recently arrested for spraying herself with perfume.

-- A 13-year-old student at a school in Albuquerque, New Mexico was recently arrested by police for burping in class.

-- Another student down in Albuquerque was forced to strip down to his underwear while five adults watched because he had $200 in his pocket. The student was never formally charged with doing anything wrong.

-- A security guard at one school in California broke the arm of a 16-year-old girl because she left some crumbs on the floor after cleaning up some cake that she had spilled.

-- One teenage couple down in Houston poured milk on each other during a squabble while they were breaking up. Instead of being sent to see the principal, they were arrested and sent to court.

The Parting Thought – Safeguarding your homestead

Foreclosure Prevention/Land Patent Scam - Land Trust Tool

As most property owners already know, you never truly own your own land as we’re all in perpetual hock to various levels of government.  Get behind on property taxes and your property can be sold off.

These days, many people are worried that their home may be foreclosed on. Scammers are preying on this fear by holding “seminars” in which they sell you a “land patent” on your property. They claim that if you apply for this patent, generally costing between $500 and $15,000, you can prevent foreclosure.

 In addition to paying this large sum, you are required to remove the address numbers from your house, remove all mail receptacles, and “trademark” your name, along with several other bizarre tasks. The people leading these seminars state that, by following these instructions (and paying their fee), you can re-negotiate your promissory notes and trust deeds with your lender. As a result, you will then only be required to pay a percentage of your previous mortgage payment every month.

Scam. A land patent was used to evidence right, title, or interest in real property in the early days of America. Land Patents were usually granted by a central, federal, or state government to an individual. Since then, these tracts of land have been separated, platted, carved up and conveyed through time by deeds.

You’re better off to consider this…

The land trust is a very powerful tool for the savvy real estate investor. A land trust is a revocable, living trust used specifically for holding title to real estate. Each property is titled in a separate trust, affording maximum privacy and protection.

Here are seven reasons to use land trust for titling property to real estate.

Read the rest at:  (Scroll down to 2^nd half of the page)

http://poormansurvival.com/LowerYourPropertyTaxes.aspx

“Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

Remember, remember the 4^th of November…

Get your “We don’t need another election” Protest T-Shirt Now

http://poormansurvival.com/RevolutionTShirt.aspx

Follow us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/PoorManSurvival

 Twitter

http://twitter.com/poormansurvivor

Keep our services free, visit our sites…

Check our Resources

New self sufficiency books added weekly

http://www.OldBookNook.com

A Shallow Planet Production