A lot of prepper blogs out there talk about storing information in such a fashion that you can access it easily during an emergency. One aspect of this is by printing out information from websites, blogs, etc. and keeping it in a binder. I have been doing that myself, and I discovered a wonderful browser application that helps me save the meat of a website, and eliminate the useless chaff (advertising).
Check out PrintFriendly. I find that it works for about 95% of the pages I want to be able to save. It creates a printable PDF of the page with the option to remove items. The one thing I don't care for is that on blog pages, it doesn't capture comments.
In any case, with this app I have PDF's on my computer. When I have enough articles on a particular topic to be worth printing out, I collate information into a Word document so that I can eliminate duplication, and reduce the size of the print to save space. Two sided printing also helps me save space.
My topics?
1. Clothing, and textiles (including laundry)
2. Communications
3. Food: Finding Food (foraging, hunting), Growing Food, Preserving Food, Storing Food, Preparing Food
4. Hazards, and security (include defense)
5. Health (including sanitation)
6. Heat, Fuel, Power
7. Income, Skills and Home Industry
8. Shelter (including bugging in)
9. Travel, Transportation (including bugging out)
10. Water
Where do I draw information from? Aside from the many blogs and information sites available out there, I also use the Internet Archive's Text Section to find information on how it used to be done. Currently, the archive houses digital copies of books published up to the early 50s. Another source of info is Scribd. There are a few uploaders who have collated a lot of useful information and posted it there, as well as posting the cream of the crop from the Internet Archive. I also visit thrift stores, and second-hand book stores and find treasures in print, and have scanned many of my own books so that if I can't take the paper copy with me, I still can have my library with me.
Showing posts with label frugality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frugality. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Cough, cough...
Yes, I am yet another victim of the whatever that's going around. Cough, cough, cough. It's getting tedious. I bought some cough syrup, but it isn't helping. Gah, I need relief!
I searched the internet for homemade cough remedies, and most seem to employ honey and/or lemon juice and/or garlic/ginger/freshly ground peppercorns. I have an old Ukranian remedy that calls for vodka, honey, lemon juice and vast quantities of garlic. I don't know if it really helps or not. It tastes delicious, even when I can't taste much else. It also causes a distinct garlicky odour problem after a few doses, right through the skin, and I really don't want to offend anyone.
A nurse told me to put Vick's Vapor rub on my feet every night (covering with socks to prevent staining of the sheets). It definitely helps when rubbed on the part of my chest not covered by mammary glands, and it helps keep the sinuses clear when rubbed on one's nose. I don't know about putting it on my feet. I tried it, and all I noticed was that my feet, and hence the rest of me, were very warm.
When I was a kid, Dad would give my brother and I a little tiny ball of eucalyptus ointment each to swallow when we had a cough. It was nasty, nasty stuff, kind of like eating really thick Buckley's. Well, I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Right now, I'm sipping on hot lemonade with honey. I took an antihistamine and some acetaminophen - that's my "generic" version of Neocitran. All I need to figure out now is something to loosen the congestion. Suggestions anyone?
I searched the internet for homemade cough remedies, and most seem to employ honey and/or lemon juice and/or garlic/ginger/freshly ground peppercorns. I have an old Ukranian remedy that calls for vodka, honey, lemon juice and vast quantities of garlic. I don't know if it really helps or not. It tastes delicious, even when I can't taste much else. It also causes a distinct garlicky odour problem after a few doses, right through the skin, and I really don't want to offend anyone.
A nurse told me to put Vick's Vapor rub on my feet every night (covering with socks to prevent staining of the sheets). It definitely helps when rubbed on the part of my chest not covered by mammary glands, and it helps keep the sinuses clear when rubbed on one's nose. I don't know about putting it on my feet. I tried it, and all I noticed was that my feet, and hence the rest of me, were very warm.
When I was a kid, Dad would give my brother and I a little tiny ball of eucalyptus ointment each to swallow when we had a cough. It was nasty, nasty stuff, kind of like eating really thick Buckley's. Well, I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Right now, I'm sipping on hot lemonade with honey. I took an antihistamine and some acetaminophen - that's my "generic" version of Neocitran. All I need to figure out now is something to loosen the congestion. Suggestions anyone?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Age and the Prepper
Earlier in the month, I was reading a blog entry from down---to---earth's Rhonda Jean about aging (Ageing and death - the final taboo), touching on the modern refusal to be old, as if it were some bad thing. I found it very interesting and thought-provoking, particularly looking at it from a prepper point of view.
I agree with Rhonda Jean in that I no longer feel a desire to look younger than I am. When I hit my fiftieth birthday, as a gift to myself, I gave myself permission to be my age without conforming to stereotypes about what my age should look like, or the new stereotype that if you don't look 20 years younger than you are, there's something wrong with you. This was actually a bit difficult for me as I come from a family of fashionistas.
After thinking more on the subject of age, I came to the realization that being the age I am (51) is absolutely great! I've got a bank of experience and knowledge that is useful in a wide variety of circumstances, and will be useful in a wide array of scenarios, and so does hubby (yeah, the grasshopper has skills). I've lived without the comforts of civilization (outhouse anyone?) at different points of my life, and have learned those little tricks that make uncomfortable situations less difficult. And I still have my health and a measure of strength.
One thing that Rhonda Jean said really sticks with me: "I like the way old people look." I think that a lot of people do. Young people in particular who don't have "old" grandparents like to be around people who are comfortable in their wrinkly skins, because they so often don't feel comfortable in their own hides. I am sincerely am glad that I'm not that young any more. I don't miss the drama at all!
So if you are older, and thinking that it's too late to start prepping, stop that negative energy right now! You are never too old to want to keep on living, and you are never too old to want to look after your family. So if you want to be prepared, get to it! Figure out what you are preparing for: retirement, unemployment, forest fires, tsunamis, earthquakes, zombie attacks. Make a plan. Follow it (very important!).
Check out City Roots, Country Life, specifically their excellent post on shopping around for the best prices here. These folks that took a long, hard, practical look at getting prepared, and not buying into the hype. Price tracking is an excellent way to get prepared, not just for food and food storage, but also hand tools, and other manufactured items that would be useful, but isn't worth going into debt for. I first learned about price tracking from America's Cheapest Family's website. You can even download a copy of their price tracking sheet for grocery items here.
I posted a listing on Thursday about a basic list of staples that one should have on hand, and it jived so well with my own thinking that I posted it, although there are some items that I missed out on. You do NOT have to follow this list; it's just a great starter, and certainly can be adjusted. For example, I will stock more split peas than the list calls for because I really do prefer them to most kinds of beans.
So my two cent's worth on the whole age issue is that this is a great time to be older.
I agree with Rhonda Jean in that I no longer feel a desire to look younger than I am. When I hit my fiftieth birthday, as a gift to myself, I gave myself permission to be my age without conforming to stereotypes about what my age should look like, or the new stereotype that if you don't look 20 years younger than you are, there's something wrong with you. This was actually a bit difficult for me as I come from a family of fashionistas.
After thinking more on the subject of age, I came to the realization that being the age I am (51) is absolutely great! I've got a bank of experience and knowledge that is useful in a wide variety of circumstances, and will be useful in a wide array of scenarios, and so does hubby (yeah, the grasshopper has skills). I've lived without the comforts of civilization (outhouse anyone?) at different points of my life, and have learned those little tricks that make uncomfortable situations less difficult. And I still have my health and a measure of strength.
One thing that Rhonda Jean said really sticks with me: "I like the way old people look." I think that a lot of people do. Young people in particular who don't have "old" grandparents like to be around people who are comfortable in their wrinkly skins, because they so often don't feel comfortable in their own hides. I am sincerely am glad that I'm not that young any more. I don't miss the drama at all!
So if you are older, and thinking that it's too late to start prepping, stop that negative energy right now! You are never too old to want to keep on living, and you are never too old to want to look after your family. So if you want to be prepared, get to it! Figure out what you are preparing for: retirement, unemployment, forest fires, tsunamis, earthquakes, zombie attacks. Make a plan. Follow it (very important!).
Check out City Roots, Country Life, specifically their excellent post on shopping around for the best prices here. These folks that took a long, hard, practical look at getting prepared, and not buying into the hype. Price tracking is an excellent way to get prepared, not just for food and food storage, but also hand tools, and other manufactured items that would be useful, but isn't worth going into debt for. I first learned about price tracking from America's Cheapest Family's website. You can even download a copy of their price tracking sheet for grocery items here.
I posted a listing on Thursday about a basic list of staples that one should have on hand, and it jived so well with my own thinking that I posted it, although there are some items that I missed out on. You do NOT have to follow this list; it's just a great starter, and certainly can be adjusted. For example, I will stock more split peas than the list calls for because I really do prefer them to most kinds of beans.
So my two cent's worth on the whole age issue is that this is a great time to be older.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Snow
I've been reading all of my favourite blogs, and so many of them have the same theme: snow! The novelty has worn off, and everybody would like to see some or even all of it go away. I'm feeling positively guilty that we haven't had much snow here.
Years ago, living on the east coast, I too used to be very tired of snow come January. Fallen trees on the road to our village, white outs and blasts of winds that could knock over tractor trailers, and feeling the house shudder even in the basement when a blizzard came through - I don't miss it one bit. Those were the days when I blessed the wood stove. We'd hang the hurricane lamp from its secure hook in the high ceiling and play cards by its light, and on the wood stove - stew from the pantry would fill the air with a wonderful aroma. Food grown in the garden, canned and stored in the pantry... there's nothing like it. Even when times were tough money-wise, we didn't have to worry about where the next meal would come from.
We didn't think of ourselves as preppers. We thought of ourselves as practical people, knowing that winter happens, electricity going out happens, storms and floods happen, and only a fool would fail to plan for it.
When snow, or other life-interrupting events, force us to slow down or even pause the mad scurry, enjoy it. Take advantage of the opportunity to take stock, re-organize your preps, and practice a few skills. All too soon, the rat race will start again.
Years ago, living on the east coast, I too used to be very tired of snow come January. Fallen trees on the road to our village, white outs and blasts of winds that could knock over tractor trailers, and feeling the house shudder even in the basement when a blizzard came through - I don't miss it one bit. Those were the days when I blessed the wood stove. We'd hang the hurricane lamp from its secure hook in the high ceiling and play cards by its light, and on the wood stove - stew from the pantry would fill the air with a wonderful aroma. Food grown in the garden, canned and stored in the pantry... there's nothing like it. Even when times were tough money-wise, we didn't have to worry about where the next meal would come from.
We didn't think of ourselves as preppers. We thought of ourselves as practical people, knowing that winter happens, electricity going out happens, storms and floods happen, and only a fool would fail to plan for it.
When snow, or other life-interrupting events, force us to slow down or even pause the mad scurry, enjoy it. Take advantage of the opportunity to take stock, re-organize your preps, and practice a few skills. All too soon, the rat race will start again.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Thrift Stores
Recently, on my weekly visit to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, they were having a $5.00 Bag of Books sale on. I was able to pick up some useful books about gardening in my area, plus some other interesting tomes I had previously considered buying such as a book of poetry by Robert Service. I particularly love "The Cremation of Sam McGee" which my grandfather used to recite from memory.
I think that most of us who are prepping take full advantage of our thrift stores as someone else's trash just might turn out to be a treasure that helps us become more self-reliant. Just the other day, I found a hand cranked meat grinder with all the attachments on a mounting board for a fraction of the cost of new. I have also seen a hand-operated knitting machine, treadle sewing machines, and other manual treasures discarded in favour of electric devices; also paper plates and plastic cutlery, canning jars and sealing lids still in the boxes unopened, hand tools of good quality, real wool woolens, kerosene lamps, oil lamps, camp stoves, a wide variety of camping gear, backpacks, and all at reasonable prices compared to buying new.
Another great source for prepper items is yard sales, and even dumpsters. Right now, I have professional pizza pans that were rescued from the dumpster behind a pizza shop in town. Some elbow grease and they were as good as new.
In my town, every spring we have a weekend "swap" event, where folks put out things they no longer have a use for at the curb, and other folks cruise around and pick up stuff they think they could use. After the two day event, the "unswapped" items are collected by the city and donated to a local charity. Check in the papers, or the city's web site to find out if there are events like this where you live.
Remember, prepping doesn't mean going out and spending big bucks on special gear. It means developing the survival mindset that enables you to see the value in someone else's junk and re-using, recyling, re-inventing. It means seeing opportunities where other people see none. It means reaching out and grabbing opportunities to do for yourself instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you. And sometimes it means climbing over obstacles nay-sayers might put in your path.
A great many sites out there are very focused on selling you things to prep with, but really, do you really need to spend a great deal of money in order to be prepared? No, I don't believe so. Rather, if you are frugal, and use your money wisely, you can be prepared for many of the "negative events" that life and the universe can throw at you without spending a great deal more than you did before you realized that you need to become more self-reliant. Rather, you will be spending your money differently.
For this reason, I do recommend that you look not just at prepper sites, but also at sites about how to make your dollar stretch further, on how to simplify your life, and live frugally. Read the blogs by people who can foods for fun, and tell you how to do it. Check out the blogs of folks who camp, and hunt, and fish for fun. These folks don't think of themselves as preppers, but really, many of these folks have a survival mindset.
For example, one fellow who hikes and blogs about his various treks posted about how he started using socks to house a lot of his smaller pack items which allowed him to move more quietly when he wished to be able to photograph wildlife. He also found that socks provided cushioning for delicate gear such as the lens of his cameras; and at need, he also had additional extra socks for his feet, to use as oven mitts, and to carry found items.
I think that most of us who are prepping take full advantage of our thrift stores as someone else's trash just might turn out to be a treasure that helps us become more self-reliant. Just the other day, I found a hand cranked meat grinder with all the attachments on a mounting board for a fraction of the cost of new. I have also seen a hand-operated knitting machine, treadle sewing machines, and other manual treasures discarded in favour of electric devices; also paper plates and plastic cutlery, canning jars and sealing lids still in the boxes unopened, hand tools of good quality, real wool woolens, kerosene lamps, oil lamps, camp stoves, a wide variety of camping gear, backpacks, and all at reasonable prices compared to buying new.
Another great source for prepper items is yard sales, and even dumpsters. Right now, I have professional pizza pans that were rescued from the dumpster behind a pizza shop in town. Some elbow grease and they were as good as new.
In my town, every spring we have a weekend "swap" event, where folks put out things they no longer have a use for at the curb, and other folks cruise around and pick up stuff they think they could use. After the two day event, the "unswapped" items are collected by the city and donated to a local charity. Check in the papers, or the city's web site to find out if there are events like this where you live.
Remember, prepping doesn't mean going out and spending big bucks on special gear. It means developing the survival mindset that enables you to see the value in someone else's junk and re-using, recyling, re-inventing. It means seeing opportunities where other people see none. It means reaching out and grabbing opportunities to do for yourself instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you. And sometimes it means climbing over obstacles nay-sayers might put in your path.
A great many sites out there are very focused on selling you things to prep with, but really, do you really need to spend a great deal of money in order to be prepared? No, I don't believe so. Rather, if you are frugal, and use your money wisely, you can be prepared for many of the "negative events" that life and the universe can throw at you without spending a great deal more than you did before you realized that you need to become more self-reliant. Rather, you will be spending your money differently.
For this reason, I do recommend that you look not just at prepper sites, but also at sites about how to make your dollar stretch further, on how to simplify your life, and live frugally. Read the blogs by people who can foods for fun, and tell you how to do it. Check out the blogs of folks who camp, and hunt, and fish for fun. These folks don't think of themselves as preppers, but really, many of these folks have a survival mindset.
For example, one fellow who hikes and blogs about his various treks posted about how he started using socks to house a lot of his smaller pack items which allowed him to move more quietly when he wished to be able to photograph wildlife. He also found that socks provided cushioning for delicate gear such as the lens of his cameras; and at need, he also had additional extra socks for his feet, to use as oven mitts, and to carry found items.
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