Prep Genrl Brainstorming thread for ways to prepare for economic hardships

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
The whole 'reset' thing has me curious. I mean we all really know that the more money they print, the harder the crash, and time is probably very short.

When the pandemic started, I started to watch a LOT of the videos Chris Martenson was putting out on Peak Prosperity related to the virus. Anyway, along the way, he revealed he had purchased land and was working on making a farm. Suggesting people think about putting their wealth into physical items instead of fiat.

I am also thinking about the possibility that new underground economies (or more of them) will start to spring up. Are you preparing yourself to enter these markets? Do you have any skills that you can use to be a source of income or barter? If so, do you have the supplies on hand to carry you further in your goals?

For me and mine, as I stated elsewhere on TB, we have started to make improvements on the homestead. I have also started to buy some bulk spices that we enjoy that cannot be grown in my location.

Since I sew and have a huge fabric stash, I have thought about the possibility of making some clothing for children as we know they grow and grow quickly or possibly using the embroidery machines to create gifts for those special occasions. Possibly veggie stand, tons of ideas swirl around the brain.

Are you thinking about this? If so, care to share ideas as we might awaken other possibilities within one another.
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
We ran through this process a few years ago. We tried to determine where we were most venerable. The first thing that came up was DEBT and expenses.

So we cut debt as fast as we could and then looking at every expense trying to reduce or eliminate that.

Then it was our jobs. so we have worked to try and make sure we have jobs that are somewhat recession proof. They are not 100% but if we use the covid as a test run, we both were are able to maintain our income at 100% levels. That is not evidence against all things, but that did help us.

Then it was food, so we have been working at increasing our canning / growing food / etc.

After that as you pointed out skills.

Your order and needs will differ, but this is what we have looked at.
 

Cag3db1rd

Paranoid Pagan
I am looking at all of these things...


...and hubby is not.

Instead, he and his bestie are trying to start a business. And with the way the economy is going, it is 100% unsustainable.
Off
Road
Recovery
Yeah, their plan is to go out and get guys unstuck and back onto pavement when they go wheeling. The vehicles are V8 gas guzzling offroading rigs with tonnes of gear and mods. If the expected $5 gas happens, no one will be able to afford to go wheeling for fun, and this venture will dry up.

Did I mention it is all under the table? No permits. No licensing. Just 2 guys trying to make a buck rescuing ppl from bad decisions. If it were not for the danger that the fedgov poses, my little anarchist/agorist/voluntaryist heart would be happy about this. As it is, I fear what this will bring down upon our families.
 

raven

TB Fanatic
I . . . don't . . . know
It is a reset with the them of you will not own anything and be happy.

If one cannot own anything how can you prepare?

Unless, you can own something and that slogan is to convince you to go head over heels into debt.
 

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
Personally, I have zero debt and haven't for about 15 years ago, so I cannot offer any solutions that way. This household started working on that a couple of decades ago.

I know that the o-bummer passed some EO (sorry to lazy at the moment to look it up -- so do your own research) about food. Since that time, I have HOME CANNED/PRESERVED (or what appears that way) items in my pantry. Do your research on this as well.

I will say, that depending on the business -- it could be a fantastic time (as long as you are not putting your family security on the line). Even in most economic hardships, there are those that prosper. One has to look at their current area (say 20 mile radius) and see how they could possibly prosper. What can you offer that you have not seen in your local location?

Vegetable starts are always popular in the spring -- just sayin'. Explore ALL options.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
I am looking at all of these things...


...and hubby is not.

Instead, he and his bestie are trying to start a business. And with the way the economy is going, it is 100% unsustainable.
Off
Road
Recovery
Yeah, their plan is to go out and get guys unstuck and back onto pavement when they go wheeling. The vehicles are V8 gas guzzling offroading rigs with tonnes of gear and mods. If the expected $5 gas happens, no one will be able to afford to go wheeling for fun, and this venture will dry up.

Did I mention it is all under the table? No permits. No licensing. Just 2 guys trying to make a buck rescuing ppl from bad decisions. If it were not for the danger that the fedgov poses, my little anarchist/agorist/voluntaryist heart would be happy about this. As it is, I fear what this will bring down upon our families.

Er... it sounds like they are *making* a bad decision.

Unless they've figured out how to be covered by insurance despite being unlicensed. They are *much* more likely to get sued by someone whose off road vehicle was damaged in the rescue process than they are to get the Feds involved.

Summerthyme
 

Txkstew

Veteran Member
I was going to start a thread of it's own, and I will soon, but I bought an electric poultry net fence the other day. I haven't had time to put it up and try it out yet. It was rather pricy for the kit with an extra 100 foot roll of netting, for a 50' x 50' padock. The idea is to move this fenced area every week or less, so the chickens have a fresh, free range area to move into, and eat the grass, weeds, and bugs for their complete diet. The netting is real easy to move. Only takes a few minutes, and one person can do it by themselves.

This is a solar powered charger, so no grid power is needed, but it can be charged by plugging it into a wall outlet. Total cost was around $650. It was money I really don't have, so I sold 30 pieces of silver. Actually it was 6-5oz bars.

My plan is to follow Joel Salatin's methods, but on a smaller scale. He has lots of YouTube videos on his Polyface Farms, how he manages and grows grass fed Chickens, Rabbits, Pigs, and Cattle. He uses no fertilizers, pesticides, or medications. He's pretty radical in his methods, but listening to him, he seems to have good ideas and practices.

RT=56:25
 
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Cag3db1rd

Paranoid Pagan
Er... it sounds like they are *making* a bad decision.

Unless they've figured out how to be covered by insurance despite being unlicensed. They are *much* more likely to get sued by someone whose off road vehicle was damaged in the rescue process than they are to get the Feds involved.

Summerthyme
They think a waiver is going to save them from this.
 

etdeb

Veteran Member
I was going to start a thread of it's own, and I will soon, but I bought an electric poultry net fence the other day. I haven't had time to put it up and try it out yet. It was rather pricy for the kit with an extra 100 foot roll of netting, for a 50' x 50' padock. The idea is to move this fenced area every week or less, so the chickens have a fresh, free range area to move into, and eat the grass, weeds, and bugs for their complete diet. The netting is real easy to move. Only takes a few minutes, and one person can do it by themselves.

This is a solar powered charger, so no grid power is needed, but it can be charged by plugging it into a wall outlet. Total cost was around $650. It was money I really don't have, so I sold 30 pieces of silver. Actually it was 6-5oz bars.

My plan is to follow Joel Salatin's methods, but on a smaller scale. He has lots of YouTube videos on his Polyface Farms, how he manages and grows grass fed Chickens, Rabbits, Pigs, and Cattle. He uses no fertilizers, pesticides, or medications. He's pretty radical in his methods, but listening to him, he seems to have good ideas and practices.

RT=56:25
My danger to my chickens is from above during the day, owls and hawks. I hated to have to pen them.
 

raven

TB Fanatic
get out of debt
if you can't get out of debt, pay off debt that has collateral required to live and work.
pay off your car so the repo man does not take it in the middle of the night and prevent you from working
pay off your house so they cannot foreclose when you miss a payment.

notes:
If you have a auto loan, the lender requires you to have insurance. If you do not have insurance, the lender can get force-placed insurance and add it to your auto loan increasing your monthly payment. Force-Placed insurance can be twice the amount it costs you.
If you have a mortgage, the lender requires you to have insurance. If you do not have insurance, the lender can get force-placed insurance and add it to your mortgage payment increasing your monthly payment. Force-Placed insurance can be twice the amount it costs you.
If you purchased a house years ago and your mortgage was greater than 80% loan to value, the lender added PMI to your monthly payment. It is likely that a) your home has increased in value and b) your monthly payments have reduced the mortgage. If, today, your mortgage balance is now less than 80% loan to value, then you can request the lender remove the PMI - saving you money.
If you are less than 80% loan to value, you no longer have to escrow insurance and property taxes. this can reduce your monthly mortgage for a short term - but you MUST remember to make your property tax and insurance payments.
 

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
I have no debt other than the normal property taxes (low here for our shabby little house) and utility bills. My prepping has been to figure out ways to back up our lighting, refrigeration, well pump, and so on. The next thing on my list is to get the chimney inspected and repaired, if necessary, and then get our little wood stove hooked up. The other big thing on the list is to get the garden going this year. I've got dairy goats who feed themselves year-round unless we have an unusually bad winter storm (there's some hay in the barn in case that happens), and chickens who are almost self-feeding as well. Planning to add meat rabbits this year. With the garden, we'll be able to mostly feed ourselves. If everything shuts down, the utility bills will go away, so we won't have much to worry about other than the property taxes, and everyone will have to deal with that.

Kathleen
 

philkar

Veteran Member
My danger to my chickens is from above during the day, owls and hawks. I hated to have to pen them.
[/QUO


We too have chickens that have had aerial attacks in the past. we put a "lid" on part of the pen. Surprisingly those chickens are smarter that we gave them credit for. 3 years now since we put a cover on and no losses. Large pen approx an acre in our fruit orchard so there are small trees there. But even our new crop of chickens hatched last August know how to head for the cover. Might work for someone else!
 

parsonswife

Veteran Member
Re building relationships with skilled people.
Sometimes it's not what you know but who you know and who you have favor with or who owes you. Since covid our church has been scattered and our relationships are with mostly elderly now.

I have started a skills list and have been praying for increased favor with tradesmen and younger/strong able bodied folks Since then we now have added two contractors and one appliance repairman to our
circle plus two young men have come to live with us.
 

JF&P

Deceased
I've got a spare bedroom that is half filled with Mountain House....plus some oil lamps with extra oil...and a fresh water creek that runs through my property.
 

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
We have just put up 72 of our raised eggs as FD eggs, and they are in 1 1/2 gallon and almost a quart. Opens up a WHOLE new world to us, and possible future income as things to titsup. I have another 72 eggs that I will ready, but the next is 10 pounds of sausage. Heck ... I am so thankful that I won't have to worry about lack of power and a full freezer anymore. Just purchased about 50 lbs of cheese that I will freeze dry to put up (and some powder). I see myself making my own blends to flavor say eggs, pasta, meat, etc. The best part is that it will outlast me. :D
 

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
Re building relationships with skilled people.
Sometimes it's not what you know but who you know and who you have favor with or who owes you. Since covid our church has been scattered and our relationships are with mostly elderly now.

I have started a skills list and have been praying for increased favor with tradesmen and younger/strong able bodied folks Since then we now have added two contractors and one appliance repairman to our
circle plus two young men have come to live with us.

I live in a rural area now, and would encourage you to foster the relationships with those that have skills now so that you have time to learn and share. If it were to become a true SHTF situation, you may find that those that were once eager to share knowledge will clam up tight. During very trying times, the inner circles tighten up to those most close and most secure.
 

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
We have just put up 72 of our raised eggs as FD eggs, and they are in 1 1/2 gallon and almost a quart. Opens up a WHOLE new world to us, and possible future income as things to titsup. I have another 72 eggs that I will ready, but the next is 10 pounds of sausage. Heck ... I am so thankful that I won't have to worry about lack of power and a full freezer anymore. Just purchased about 50 lbs of cheese that I will freeze dry to put up (and some powder). I see myself making my own blends to flavor say eggs, pasta, meat, etc. The best part is that it will outlast me. :D

How do FD eggs & cheese do?

I figured eggs would be a lot of moisture and take forever to process.
 

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
My danger to my chickens is from above during the day, owls and hawks. I hated to have to pen them.
Three options: keep them in the pen, wire the top of their run or get geese. Are there shrubs they can duck under incase a hawk flies over? Do you have roosters?
 

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
My chickens 'free range' in an acre area that I allow. We do have one hen that daily jumps over the fence and goes beyond the area that we would like to keep them in, so she may be more easy prey than the others. I have hawks and owls that show themselves frequently in the days, but given the proper cover, the chickens are pretty smart about getting to an area that the birds of prey can't easily get into. I do have coyotes, but they are rare in the day. About 5 months ago, I did lose a chicken to a bobcat (it was HUGE), and other than trying to do a 'cover' over an acre I am not sure how I can eliminate that threat. The bobcat saw me, with the bird in its mouth, and wasn't threatened at all. Unfortunately for me and the rest of the flock, I didn't have a gun on me when I saw it. I haven't seen the bobcat since, nor have I seen any evidence it has been around. Due to some 'road' construction, I feel they were being pushed from their normal area, but kept on moving. Only time will tell, but thus far the flock have not alerted me to anything other than the occasional hawk/owl overhead which they know where to go to protect themselves.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Birds of prey tend to be pretty paranoid about getting trapped in something or hitting a wing and getting injured. You don't need to cover the entire pen or area... but if you have structures or trees/fence posts that you can string fishing line (or mylar ribbon) across sections, it will deter all but the most determined or desperate bird. If possible, you'll have the best luck if you can form a grid with the fishing line (braided or monofilament... *not* fluorocarbon, which doesn't reflect light- perfect for stealth fishing, but not in an applicationwhere you WANT it seen and noticed!)

Summerthyme
 

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________
Opsec and increased situational awareness. Building relationships is good, just don’t forget that humans are jealous creatures. Even if the adults are trustworthy and unlikely to spread your business around, it doesn’t mean their kids, your kids, or any other 2nd and 3rd tier individuals wouldn’t do it. Especially if there is some type of incentive to do so.
 

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
My eggs - I blended and put in the freezer to freeze before I put in the freeze dryer. In putting in the harvest right, I indicated that they were pre-frozen, and it took about 15 ours to freeze dry over what some say is 30 hours not pre frozen.
 

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
Opsec and increased situational awareness. Building relationships is good, just don’t forget that humans are jealous creatures. Even if the adults are trustworthy and unlikely to spread your business around, it doesn’t mean their kids, your kids, or any other 2nd and 3rd tier individuals wouldn’t do it. Especially if there is some type of incentive to do so.

Everyone living under this roof, and a few select friends are free to consume all that we produce. ALL of them know that others should be considered as a potential income resource, and know exactly when the 'potential' means, thus their lips are sealed. We already have a pre-determined place to established sales.
 

ivantherussian03

Veteran Member
I am working hard to keep the house warm. Storm track is fired up, storm after storm after storm. The good news cargo and mail came in. Thinking about buying new window, house is drafty During wind storms.
Fur market is collapsed. i am still trapping, processing fur.
 

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
I am working hard to keep the house warm. Storm track is fired up, storm after storm after storm. The good news cargo and mail came in. Thinking about buying new window, house is drafty During wind storms.
Fur market is collapsed. i am still trapping, processing fur.
Drafty house -- consider putting bubble wrap or some type of plastic over your windows with painters tape to cut down on the majority of the draft. Old houses and the like. I dealt with it in a previous home, and did that one winter before the windows were replaced. You'll be amazed at how much it helps.
 

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
I will say, if you are able to, and are on the fence about getting a Harvest Right -- spend the $$$. We've done pounds of dried pre-cooked crumbled hot sausage. OMG... eating it is like crack. We did put them in jars and vac sealed them. We've got 72 more of our home laid eggs pre-freezing to start in the morning. Next is about 10 pounds of cheese.

WORD TO THE READING: I heard that Reuters put out a story about some new disease in the China pig enterprise that they are culling in a MAJOR way. It isn't the swine flu. Anyway, they will be buying tons of pork from the US (via Smithfield which they own), in the coming months and leaving us with what they don't 'want' ... ie the crap part. So if you like your pork, might want to get it now before the price skyrockets. Remember the beef prices last year? Pork will be doing that later on this year. I know I am thinking sausage, bacon, ham, and loins. I may do a few pork shoulders/butts to do pulled pork, and all will be freeze dried. :D
 

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
My chickens 'free range' in an acre area that I allow. We do have one hen that daily jumps over the fence and goes beyond the area that we would like to keep them in,
You could try cutting the flight feathers on one wing. Depending on fence height some chickens can jump to the top or over them. If the later is the case it may be time to make some chicken broth.
 

ivantherussian03

Veteran Member
I like the book “prosper”. I incorporated a lot of the author’s ideas.

I try to be multi talented and try my hand at many different skills.
I cut all the hair in the family, learning from YouTube. I have done appliance repair. I build fences, paint, drywall repair a lot basic skill stuff. I change oil. I do this to be resourceful and save money. You can learn a lot from YouTube.

I shop EBay to find deals. This week I found leather shoes for work for 35.00 bucks, looked for weeks. when I saw them it was easy decision. Saved at least 50 percent, maybe 80 percent.

we grow, fish, and hunt our food. And we haven’t talked about survival skills.

it is a lot work learning and practicing the skills; in many ways it is life style.
 

Doc1

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I am looking at all of these things...


...and hubby is not.

Instead, he and his bestie are trying to start a business. And with the way the economy is going, it is 100% unsustainable.
Off
Road
Recovery
Yeah, their plan is to go out and get guys unstuck and back onto pavement when they go wheeling. The vehicles are V8 gas guzzling offroading rigs with tonnes of gear and mods. If the expected $5 gas happens, no one will be able to afford to go wheeling for fun, and this venture will dry up.

Did I mention it is all under the table? No permits. No licensing. Just 2 guys trying to make a buck rescuing ppl from bad decisions. If it were not for the danger that the fedgov poses, my little anarchist/agorist/voluntaryist heart would be happy about this. As it is, I fear what this will bring down upon our families.


Hmmmm. Sounds to me like a couple of guys looking to justify their hobby by calling it a "business." If you really wanted to do the same thing on a low budget - at least to see if the idea would take off - you could invest in a couple of 100' bolts of 3/8" chain, a couple of three ton chainlink-type come-a-longs and a box full of shackles and other rigging. That and an old pickup will allow you to pull almost anything out of almost anywhere. Yeah, it'll take longer than a new truck with fancy winches, but it'll get the job done.

Also, though this is out of my field, I think a better option would to start a conventional tow service and add the specialty of off-road recovery. If there was enough call for the latter, you could expand it over time. But that's not as much fun, is it....

Best
Doc
 

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
So it's winter. Snow, ice and yucky weather in most of the country? Can't garden? Fishing and hunting right now is only for the truly needy, hard core or maybe those of Norse descent.

There are skills that could be learned and things that can be done. Having all the gadgets is fine but knowing how to use them safely is better.

Home Check:
Do an inventory. Having the right thing during an emergency will not help if you can't find it.
Check emergency, medical, safety, tools and prep equipment to verify it's all in working order.
Check fire extinguishers are operation and in date.
Do all family member know where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them? Do they know what extinguisher to use for what type of fire?
Do they know how to put out a small kitchen fire without an extinguisher?
GHB up to date? A bag set up for a toddler isn't appropriate for a preteen or older.
First aid kits refurbished?
Check pantry to make sure food is used before best by date.

Family:
Verify safe emergency meet up place and alternative(s) with all family members.
Have a relative/friend outside of area called for contact source if local contact can't be made during an emergency.
Verify family emergency passwords/codes and comms with each member.
Review, test and update as needed emergency procedures and protocols. An emergency procedure for a toddler may not be appropriate for a preteen or teen.
Operational test for power outage during bad weather?
Home fire drill. Check safe escape routes and review with family members.
Download and/or print out all that import information you've been putting off doing.

Skill check:
Sewing?
Canning? I'd hate to have a freezer die and have to try and save the contents with a pressure canner I'd never used before.
Tying a leader for a fish hook.
Salt meat?
Experiment with recipes for shelf safe foods.
Small engine repair?
First aid training?
CPR training? It's not going to do you any good if you have the heart attack and you're the only one who knows CPR.
Cross training other family members. I wish you better luck with that than I've had.

Most of the above is stuff put off until we can get a "round to it". The problem is we never find that darn "round to it". It would probably be better to do it before and economic emergency than after.
 
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