With the Personal Incomes and Outlays report coming out this morning showing an increase in spending, increase in costs (i.e. taxes) wages flat and savings dropping dramatically an idea that is spreading on the web seems rather timely. No Buy February.
This weekend I heard about Xan’s No Buy February Challenge. Since I’m a big fan of saving money and being thrifty I joined up. Mr Chiots and I did a no buy year 5-6 years ago and it was a wonderful thing, it really helped us get off that treadmill of buying stuff we didn’t need only to get rid of it a few years later and replace it with more stuff! It was a turning point for us financially, it really made us think about needs vs. wants and as a result we were able to pay off our house last year.
I'm going to give a try and see how much I can save. The real trick will be trying to push the idea onto my teens. Prepper wise, this is probably a good way to rotate through some items, as well as, getting a feel for how dependent we are on the easy supply of items in the different stores.
A chance for you to push the button. You pick the size bomb you want and blow up what ever part of the world you would like. See what happens. Just follow this link.
Could the decline of the honey bee and now the bumble bee have been a warning? Massive die offs aren't unusual except when cross species occurs such as birds and fish. The planet has experienced mass cross species die offs, but usually they are theorized to occur with a massive global disaster.....is it not quite that obvious? This is the question that is beginning to nag in the back of my mind.
I thought I would start the new year off with something usually overlooked....sanitiation during times of disaster. Many stock up on loads of TP and then really don't think about the issue after that. So what to do when the water stops running and the TP runs out? This is a subject many don't like to breach, but it a daily issue that must be addressed.
Sanitation after a disaster is a huge issue. The potential for disease outbreak is massive...the present situation in Haiti is a great example. Bugging In: People on sewer systems, especially low lying coastal areas face a serious issue. Though toilets can be flushed by pouring water into the tanks, when flushed it goes no further than your area lift station holding tank. With the power off these lift stations stop working and the holding tanks fill up. Either the waste will begin to flood the streets or it will back up into your house. Neither is a good option. Those on septic systems can continue to flush...though this is a huge waste of water.
If it is a short term disaster solutions are easy...probably the simplest is the 5 gal toilet. Available for purchase from several suppliers or you can make your own. This is also a good option for those bugging out via BOV.
A great book for waste composting...-The Humanure Handbook: A Guide to Composting Human Manure, Third Edition - Joseph C. Jenkins .
Bugging out: Ok so you have to bug out. If going BOV, most think heck I'll just pull over and go (which is exactly what the masses will do). This again sets up the potential for disease spread as well as water contamination. With the BOV you can carry a 5 gal bucket...but I suggest you have one with the bottom cut out...dig a hole and presto..mini loo. But is is good to be responsible..a great book that addresses going in the wild and applies to any mode of bugging out.
-How to Shit in the Woods, Second Edition: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art - Kathleen Meyer
Holy Smokes I'm out of TP?!...now what? Fortunately, someone has already done a study. Though a bit on the 'bold' side, they try several different substitutes...I'll let you read and decide for yourself.
Florida Preppers Network Est. Jan 17, 2009 All contributed articles owned and protected by their respective authors and protected by their copyright. Florida Preppers Network is a trademark protected by American Preppers Network Inc. All rights reserved. No content or articles may be reproduced without explicit written permission.
