PREP Add a little money to your emergency savings or buy preps

[nomifyle]

Once a year I get a few dollars from my 401K. Last year I put it all in my emergency savings. This year I'm torn about spending it on prep stuff. So far I've spent about 30% on preps and want to use a little more. I've got some holes I can mostly likely never fill, but some smaller ones that I'm working on.

I've not added to my emergency savings since last year, but I've also not taken anything out of it either. It's not much, but a heck of a lot more than nothing.

Judy

 

[erichtmobile]

I would say it depends how much savings you have. I like to have at least three months expenses in savings. Unless its full blown PAW/SHTF, then rent and utilities will still have to be paid

 

[Michigan Majik]

I would buy the preps that you know will go up in price soon.
Save at least 30%.
You know how to live inexpensively which is the most important prep IMO.

 

[nomifyle]

I would buy the preps that you know will go up in price soon.
Save at least 30%.
You know how to live inexpensively which is the most important prep IMO.

Thanks, the 30% is a good guidepost. I do have a good three months living expenses put back and a little more than 30% would add an extra month. Plus I could do away with a couple of things, although they would be the last thing to go.

Judy

 

[dogmanan]

preps hands down,especially food.

 

[bluelady]

And it depends on what kind of preps you need. If you still have holes in some really basic things (as I do) then more would go to that. Maybe you could balance savings/preps; you have 3 months savings, but if you don't have 3 full months preps then do that first.

 

[Dozdoats]

Preps that will last long term will hold their value. The money will not. However, with inflation factored in, the three months' expenses you thought you had, might not cover three months' worth of bills any more. A re-calculation might be in order.

But it's still your call, you know what you need more than we do.

 

[Nina]

After my grocery store trip this morning, I will have to agree about the preps. The same money I spent last month will not stretch nearly as far this month. I would say to get what you need today, for tomorrow it might not be available.

 

[naturallysweet]

s there anything that you can buy now, that will not go bad, that you will use over the next year?(and of course the place to store it?)

One example is toilet paper. If you found a sale for tp, and bought a years supply now, then you could take the money that you would normally spend on that each month, and put that in your emergency fund.

That way you could have your preps and emergency fund.

 

[Ravekid]

I would say that for those who don't have a large sum of cash sitting (five figures and up) and no debt, it would be wise to make a real list of things that would be useful to have in terms of preps. Start with the basics and work from there. Maybe build a pantry or additional shelves to store additional food? Buy some sort of grain processor and other items to make homemade bread? My aim would be for three months of supplies. If things got bad, like we are seeing in Greece, I would go into cutback, minimal use mode. During the lulls, I would hope to restock the best I could.

 

[nomifyle]

The basics, such as beans, rice, wheat, corn, oatmeal, salt, sugar, well, I've got a good supply of these things. Canned goods I'm in good shape. Basic goods I'm good to go for a year. I've just added some extra quinoa and organic popcorn. I need to add more oils (coconut and Olive), more apple cidar vinegar (although I do have several gallons, but how much is enough if you don't live in apple territory). Resupply nuts (expensive). I can make sprouted grain bread (got the right grinder to grind the sprouted mass) and tortillas, not a big bread eater. I'm checking my supply of vitamins, not sure I have a year's supply there of the things I take.

I have decided to add some (at least 30%) to my emergency savings and the remainder goes for preps.

Judy

 

[Shea Grey]

Once a year I get a few dollars from my 401K. Last year I put it all in my emergency savings. This year I'm torn about spending it on prep stuff. So far I've spent about 30% on preps and want to use a little more. I've got some holes I can mostly likely never fill, but some smaller ones that I'm working on.

I've not added to my emergency savings since last year, but I've also not taken anything out of it either. It's not much, but a heck of a lot more than nothing.

Judy

Judy,
i dont know your circumstance, NOR am i asking, but if you're a woman alone, you insure your security first. Forgive me for stating what you probably already know, but thats paramount, of vital importance...and the ability to switch on a cold heart that can act with instant unfeeling lethality, should your security become endangered, God forbid.........as well as the art of learning how to step on fear, as if it was a bad bug, which it is.

since thats foundational, and there's a lot of smart folks here, let me just leave my counsel at that.

 

[Nina]

Shea Grey, I guess I need more spelled out. Please expound on the security first. What should one do to stay more protected in our own homes? I understand arms, but there is more to it than that. I would appreciate suggestions. Thank you for the help.

 

[Lurker]

Shea Grey, I guess I need more spelled out. Please expound on the security first. What should one do to stay more protected in our own homes? I understand arms, but there is more to it than that. I would appreciate suggestions. Thank you for the help.

(Not stepping on Shea's toes, he'll probably give more detailed stuff but just throwing this out there)

Strengthen Doors.

Lock things, make sure the locks work.

Understand your property, how to defend and/or make barriers or funnels so anything approaching has a very narrow field to maneuver in. (This makes it easier to kill what you may have to)

Understand your arms, get used to them, how they feel, how much they weigh, how loud they are without hearing protection.

Practice, practice, practice with your arms. Make sure you know how to fix them and have spare parts. Make sure you have spare ammo (LOTS).

If you're in good with neighbors talk with them about defending your AO.

Make sure your family is aware of what to do when/if something goes wrong; i.e. the wolf is at the door.

BE ALERT and NOT AFRAID; confidence may win some situations so you can live another day.

Keep it simple with your arms; common calibers and gauges. I'll assume from your question that you won't be getting anything to exotic.

Mindset, mindset, mindset; be prepared to actually pull the trigger while aiming the working part of the gun at a HUMAN. Paper targets are one thing, a living breathing 'human' trying to kill/harm you or your family is something different.

Know your laws or be prepared to S.S.S.

 

[Nina]

Thank you Lurker. I have a couple of doors that are half glass, so had better get them changed out. What do you do with windows? I have been burgled before, so know that there is really no sure way to protect everything, but I would like to try.

 

[Lurker]

Thank you Lurker. I have a couple of doors that are half glass, so had better get them changed out. What do you do with windows? I have been burgled before, so know that there is really no sure way to protect everything, but I would like to try.

Do what I'm going to do soon; place alarms on the windows. Yeah, yeah some will say the batteries will die (they can be checked and replaced) and that it doesn't stop them if you're not home; but it's something. Better pro-active than just sit there and take it.

There was a thread here or somewhere about 3M security glazing or film for windows. YOU apply it and it stops baseball bats, etc. Might want to look into that.

Our lower windows are locked and blocked with curtains closed when we're not home. Yeah, if someone really wants in that won't slow them down but it's something - try not to make it easy.

May want to talk to a local security expert too about what to do with your windows. Too many variables to know on the internet (your AO [city, thug land, country, 'burbs] ground level, age of windows, lock condition, etc).

If you don't have one yet you may want to consider a dog, a little yappy one; easy on food and 'clean up' but will bark at just about anything and loudly. No it won't protect your like a Dobbie will but you'll be alerted and that's half the battle; awareness.

 

[Nina]

After my home was cleaned out, I got a rottweiler, and her patroling has helped me sleep better. Several have told me that I need a yapper to hear things and do the warning, and then let the rottie take care it. I am working on that. I will get me some of those window alarms...I saw them at Walmart, I believe.

 

[Dozdoats]

Go to your favorite search engine and look for 'hardening your home.' You should find some good suggestions from a number of sources.

Look at your own house/lot with the eyes of a criminal, in both daylight and dark. How could you approach unseen? Where would you hide? What door/window is the most secluded and easiest to break in by? etc. When you spot a weakness, fix it. Trim back trees and shrubs, add lights, especially motion activated lights, etc. Enlist neighbors to watch your place, and agree to help them by keeping an eye on theirs.

 

[Lurker]

Go to your favorite search engine and look for 'hardening your home.' You should find some good suggestions from a number of sources.

Look at your own house/lot with the eyes of a criminal, in both daylight and dark. How could you approach unseen? Where would you hide? What door/window is the most secluded and easiest to break in by? etc. When you spot a weakness, fix it. Trim back trees and shrubs, add lights, especially motion activated lights, etc. Enlist neighbors to watch your place, and agree to help them by keeping an eye on theirs.

For some reason all I can think of is pouring that chocolate sauce you put on ice cream all over the house when the house is cold and then you have a hard shell over the house.....

What can I say - I'm weird.