Prepper Recon Podcast- With Ed Brown of DCXposed

on May 17, 2013 at 3:32 am
Posted In: Podcast

Prepper Recon Podcast- With Ed Brown of DCXposed

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Today’s guest is Ed Brown of DCXposed.com. DCXposed is a conservative alternative news site that seeks to bring unfiltered truth to its readers. Ed and I discuss current events that are affecting America.

Click the play button below to listen now.

Click Here To Download Today’s Show

 

Ed and I talk about South Carlina’s Governor Nicky Haley’s attempt to block Obamacare for South Carolina. We discuss what happened the last time South Carolina did not want to fall in line in 1861. Governor Haley is standing up to Obamacare by pledging to pay for fines levied against South Carolina residents who do not comply with Obama care. She has proposed to allow the amount of the fine as a reduction State income tax.

We also talked about Adam Kokesh and his plan to march into DC with a group armed with loaded rifles. He states it will be a peaceful protest, but loaded guns are a tender box in such a volatile situation. Ed Brown said he thinks it would be a great idea in another place besides DC. My recommendation is to not take your favorite rifle, because you may not be coming home with it.

We spoke about The Pentagon’s new atheist adviser, Michael Wienstien. He has recommended a court marshal for any Christian  US soldier who is caught proselytizing other soldier. We point out the double standard against Christians in the military. Gays are allowed to proselytize straight men, but a military chaplain can not share the gospel of Christ with a dying soldier on the battle field.

Ed Brown share another article from DCXposed about Kermit Gosnell. We talk about the horrific manner in which he has murdered so many children in his clinic with impunity. You may get away with it in this world Kermit, but your day is coming when you will answer for your crimes.

I hope you enjoyed the show. Be sure to check out DCXposed.com for the latest on all these stories and more. DCXposed is a great alternative to the hogwash you have to sift through in the mainstream media. you can also stay up to date by connecting with DCXposed on FaceBook.

Happy Prepping!

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Bug Out Bag Check Up

on May 15, 2013 at 3:54 am
Posted In: Prepping

Bug Out Bag Check Up

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We recently posted a guest post on the 10 most important items in a 72 hour kit. While the article was good, it was quickly pointed out to me on Facebook by several friends that many important items were missing. These items were not obscure items, they were extremely important items like a good knife and means of starting a fire. I believe the article was well intentioned, but was only an overview of what should be in a good bug out bag.

I am posting the Prepper Recon bug out bag check list which I hope you will find to be more complete. This may also be a good time to pull out your bag and take an inventory. Thanks for reading!

Bug Out Bag

The Bug Out Bag is a ready to go backpack or easy to carry duffel bag. It contains essential items you would need to survive for three days. There are  different schools of thought on what type of bag you should choose when considering your Bug Out Bag. Camping stores have a great selection of backpacks. Amazon has good deals on the old military ALICE packs. While there are similarities in all bug out bags, it is something that will be as unique as you are. It is also something that you can build upon. You don’t have to do it all in one day….. unless the stock market just dropped 900 points, then maybe you should print this out and run to your nearest camping supply store, because it just hit the fan.

Color

Some commentators recommend not buying anything military looking such as digital camo as it marks you as a prepper. It is what they call OPSEC or OPerational SECurity. The idea is that if everyone knows that you are a prepper, they are all going to show up at your door on Doomsday. While a military style bug out bag may mark you as a prepper and compromise OPSEC, it may also make you look like a hard target and would be thugs may look for a softer target. If you subscribe to the OPSEC school of thought and decide against an OD green bag, look for a dark blue or dark grey bug out bag. I think black could have the same effect as green. You want something you could fade into the foliage with if need be. A hot pink Dora the Explorer bug out bag isn’t going to work for that.

Size

Get a big Bug Out Bag. Trust me, it is going to need room to grow. Three days worth of food and a change of clothes is going to take up a lot of room and that’s just the beginning. If things get so bad that you have to leave your home, things are bad. There are some things you are going to want to have with you.

Contents

Your Bug Out Bag will be as unique as you are. Have some fun putting it together. There are several things that need to be in there but many of those things are available in wide variety.

Food-Try to store 3 days worth of food. An adult male needs on average 2500 calories per day. 3 days is 7500 calories. Granola bars have a lot of calories and complex carbohydrates. Nuts also have a high calorie content as well as protein. Dried fruit keeps well and has natural sugar for energy. Canned pastas are far from gourmet but they are high calorie. In a survival situation, you want high calorie, high fat items to get the most bang (energy) for your buck (weight). The Survival Warehouse has a great selection of freeze dried meals and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). A small military style mess kit doesn’t take up much room and will allow you to cook any game you may be able to snare or fish you may be able to catch. It will also allow you to boil water if needed.


Water-You need a half a gallon of water a day to stay hydrated. 1.5 gallons of water  is going to weigh 12 pounds. One option is to carry a half gallon and have some water purification tablets or a portable filter like the Katadyn Hiker Pro. A cheap alternative is household bleach. Eight drops of bleach will sterilize one gallon of clear water or 16 drops if it is cloudy. It won’t taste great but it will keep you alive.

Multi-tool– A good multi-tool will have a knife blade, flat head, Philips head, pliers, and wire cutters. You can get a cheap one for around $10. You get what you pay for, it will be cheap and could break. A Leatherman multi-tool may cost over $50 but will last forever.  Perhaps you can  get a cheap one now and put the  Leatherman on your Christmas list.

Knife-Even though your multi-tool has a knife, you still need a good fixed blade knife. A fixed blade is one that doesn’t fold up. The knife is an essential element to the bug out bag and having a fixed blade in addition to the multi-tool ensures you have a back up. You should be able to find a good one at a camping store for around $20.

First Aid-Band-aids, Antibiotic ointment, Hydro-cortisone, gauze, tape, tweezers, alcohol, pain killers, scissors and a sewing kit are must haves for your bug out bag. Amoxicillin is available online under the label of Fishmox. It is used to treat infections in fish. It is exactly the same thing your doctor gives you a prescription for. I am not recommending this for human consumption, but hey, you want your fish to be healthy if you have to bug out.  The Israeli Battle Dressing is a must have for your first aid kit. It is a sterile gauze attached to a bandage similar to an ACE bandage. Quick Clot is also a valuable addition. It will stop bleeding in a deep wound. Also consider adding a suture kit.Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy from Doom and Bloom made a great video that will teach you to suture. The US Army field manual for first aid is available for a free download  under Prepper Links.

 Clothes– Pack a change of clothes in gallon zip lock bags to keep them dry in case you get wet. In fact keep everything in your bug out bag in zip locks to keep dry.

Shelter– A tent weighs a lot and takes up a lot of room in your bug out bag, but it will be better that going to a FEMA camp. Ask a Katrina survivor. Your other option is a tarp, but that is really roughing it.

 Electronics– You will want two small bright LED flash lights, a small AM/FM radio, and extra batteries for each. A pair of Midland XTG 2 way radios will give you a means of communication as well as NOAA weather alert channel.

Matches and a lighter– You can waterproof ordinary wood kitchen matches by dipping the tip in candle wax. This will gum up your striker so get “strike anywhere” matches if you plan to waterproof them. Magnesium fire sticks last forever and don’t take up much room in your bug out bag. A can of Sterno would be a great addition. You can make your own Sterno by cutting cardboard to the thickness of an empty tuna can, roll it up into the empty tuna can and fill it with leftover candle wax.

Important Documents– Put all of these in a zip lock to keep them dry. Also make copies of everything, including wedding pictures, on a zip drive. Here are some documents to consider.

PERSONAL DOCUMENTS

  • Birth Certificates
  • Adoption Papers
  • Citzenship/Naturalization Papers
  • Military Discharge Papers
  • Last Will and Testament
  • Trust Documents
  • Burial Instructions (pre-paid services, plots, etc.)
  • Safe Deposit Boxes and/or Safes (with keys and/or combinations)
  • Powers of Attorney

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

  • Bank/Credit Union Accounts (Checking, Savings)
  • Retirement Accounts
  • Brokerage Accounts
  • Pension System Statements
  • Deferred Compensation Papers
  • Credit Card Accounts
  • U.S. Savings Bonds
  • Money Market Accounts
  • Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
  • Stock Certificates/Bonds

FINANCIAL PAPERS

  • Real Estate Deeds
  • Mortgage Documents
  • Property Tax Records
  • Inventory of Assets (include appraisal)
  • Vehicle Titles
  • Income Tax Returns for Several Years
  • Rental/Lease Agreements
  • Partnership Agreements
  • Outstanding Loans (either owed to you or by you)
  • Pending Legal Actions/Lawsuits

MEDICAL AND INSURANCE INFORMATION

  • Health Care Provider and Personal ID Number
  • Organ Donor Information
  • Living Will/Health Care Proxy
  • Long Term Care Policy Information
  • Life Insurance Policy Documents
  • Veterans Administration Insurance Policy
  • Mortgage Insurance Policy
  • Property and Casualty Policies

Tools– Think about adding a folding shovel, hatchet and a wire saw to your kit. Always consider the weight when you buy.

Hygiene– A small bar of soap, toothbrush small tube of toothpaste, and a travel deodorant are essential items. Don’t forget toilet paper. Baby wipes  can be used to freshen up when no other form of bathing is available. Sunscreen and bug repellent are good additions, as you may be in the great outdoors.

Miscellaneous Items–  A deck of playing cards can help pass the time. I keep a small New Testament Bible in my bag.  Duct tape is a cheap fix all. Military para-cord holds up to 550 lbs  and can have several uses.  Be sure to include a manual can opener. Your food selections may be all MREs but you may have the opportunity to buy canned food and nothing else at some other point after bugging out. A few large garbage bags can be used for foraging, water collection, waste removal, poncho for you or your gear or several other uses. Small sewing kits are not much bigger than a silver dollar and can come in very handy if you get a rip or tear in your clothing or gear.

You can make a small fishing kit with a spool of fishing line. The spool will typically have 4 hollow compartments in the center. You can place hooks in one, a small bobber in one, weights in one and a few small lures in the other. Cover everything with masking tape and you have a self contained fishing kit.

If you get all of this, you will be off to a good start. Remember, a Bug Out Bag is also a Bug In Bag. Everything you store in there can also be used in the event you are unable to leave; and it is all in one place. This makes it easy to find in a crisis. We will discuss other gear for specific threats like Biological or Nuclear attacks in a latter post. There are some essential things to keep around the house for such incidents but if you try to stick everything in your bag, it will be the size of a V.W. bus.

Ready.gov has a lot of information and things to think about for preparedness and making a kit. They also provide brief explanations of  possible terrorist  threats such as Cyber attacks, dirty bombs, natural disasters and pandemics. Consider that this is a government website; everything in there is sugar coated. If they tell you to be prepared, there is a reason!

Happy Prepping!

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Sunday Prepper Bible Study- Resist

on May 12, 2013 at 4:50 am
Posted In: Bible

Sunday Prepper Bible Study- Resist

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“The people who know their God will firmly resist…” Daniel 11:32

This verse of scripture is part of a very specific prophecy about Judas Maccabeus who led a revolt in  167 BC against Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid Emperor who sacrificed a pig in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. Judas had only a small militia to fight against the powerful offshoot of Alexandr the Great’s army.

Daniel 11:31-32 reads: “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”

Antiochus outlawed the daily sacrifice of the Jewish people in their temple. He set himself up as a god and desecrated God’s temple. His name means God Manifest.  Judas Maccabeus knew he had a far inferior force than that of Antiochus, but he had to do what he had to do. He drew a line in the sand at being told he could not worship his God and fought.

The story of Judas Maccabeus if very familiar to all Jews as this is what they celebrate every Hanuka. It is even some what familiar to Catholics as Maccabeus is included in their Bible. The protestant church fathers did not find the Books of Maccabeus  to meet the challenge of canonization so it is not included in the Holy Bible as the divine word of God. It is, however historically accurate.

Despite the fact that this prophecy was fulfilled prior to the coming of Christ, Jesus speaks about it as also being fulfilled in the future. He refers to it in Mathew 24:15  when speaking of the end of time. Most scholars agree that Antiochus represented a type of Anti-Christ . While there are many anti-Christ, they expect the final Anti-Christ will again desecrate the Jewish temple after it is rebuilt in the future.

When leaders rise up that promote an anti-Christ agenda, it is our job as Christians and patriots to resist. We must pray, stand up and speak out. “The people who know their God will firmly resist…” Daniel 11:32

If you are new to prepping or would like to learn more about how to prepare for tomorrow, please read our 7 Step Preparedness Plan.  The most important prep of all is knowing GOD. Jesus said “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul?” Prepper translation: “What good will it do you to survive the coming economic collapse, nuclear war or even a zombie apocalypse if you don’t know you will go to heaven when you die.” A recent study found that 10 out of 10 people die! On that day we will meet our Maker. It only makes sense to be prepared for that day. Click here to learn more about knowing GOD.

Have a blessed week and happy prepping!

 

1 Comment

Prepper Recon Podcast- Glen Tate

on May 10, 2013 at 2:24 am
Posted In: Podcast, Prepping, Uncategorized

Prepper Recon Podcast- Glen Tate

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Glen Tate is the author of the 299 Days book series. The books depict survival in America after the coming economic collapse. Glen provides a brief summary of the books. We talk about what is causing the collapse and what America will look like in the aftermath.

 Click the play button below to listen now.

Click Here to Download Today’s Show

 

Glen tells us what he thinks will be the catalyst for the collapse. Like many preppers, he sees uncontrolled spending as being a major factor in destroying the country as we know it. We talk about the national debt which is now approaching $17 trillion dollars and how the government will not be able to sustain the current level of deficit spending. Glen Tate outlines the problem of  using US treasuries as a means of financing the profligate spending habits. If we continue to print money at the current rate of $1.02 trillion per year, we are all but guaranteed high, if not hyper-inflation. However, if we end the current monetary policy, interest rates will spike to a level at which the US government will not be able to service the interest on the debt. Borrowing costs for consumers will skyrocket and the economy will come to a screeching halt. There is no way out.

We discuss the problem of having over 44 million Americans dependent on the SNAP card program. Glen Tate has an excellent visual aid to show the amount of SNAP card recipients per Wal-Mart on his website, 299days.com.

Glen is not all gloom and doom. He explains how a collapse will be a reset in which we will have the opportunity to do the right thing. We have the chance to return to our constitutional heritage and to a monetary system that is sustainable. He also points out that silver and gold will likely preserve the wealth of those who hold it. While we do not offer financial advice on Prepper Recon, I am a believer in keeping a portion of my wealth in physical gold and silver. I use JM Bullion as I find them to have the lowest over spot price of any dealer that I have found.

I hope you enjoyed today’s show. Check out Glen’s website at 299Days.com. We have links to purchase all of his books through amazon in the links below.

Happy Prepping!

2 Comments

10 Things Every 72-Hour Kit Should Contain

on May 8, 2013 at 4:28 am
Posted In: Prepping

Today’s post is a guest post from Chett Wright at Food Insurance. I hope you learn a lot from the article and check out all the great deals at FoodInsurance.Com

10 Things Every 72-Hour Kit Should Contain

 

There are so many everyday services that we tend to take for granted. That is, until a disaster strikes. When this happens, we’re often left without electricity, gas, running water, telephones, etc… Emergency preparedness experts know this. That’s why they advise that we be prepared to live self-sufficiently after catastrophes for at least three days.

 

Every household should have an emergency 72 hour kit. It should be stored in an area that’s easily accessible. Your 3-day kit should also be easy to move. Some preppers prefer to keep their kits in a backpack or a tote bag with wheels.

 

10 Things You Must Put in Your 72 Hour Kit

 

If you’ve decided to put build your kit yourself, you need to make sure that everything in the list below is in your kit. Even if you purchase a ready-made 72 hour kit, you need to do an inventory. Make sure these ten things are included:

 

1.      Water – The recommended amount is one gallon of water, per person, per day.

 

2.      Water Purifier – If you need to evacuate your home, it will be very difficult toting around gallons of water. Pack some type of water purifier or filter to ensure that you have clean water when needed.

 

3.      Food – Make sure that the foods you choose for your 72 hour kit are non-perishables. You won’t be able to refrigerate or freeze your food. Some good suggestions are canned foods and freeze dried foods. Both have very long shelf lives and can be consumed without cooking.

 

4.      Cooking Supplies – Be prepared to cook after a disaster with a stove-in-a-can, a sun oven, volcano stove, etc… If you don’t have access to any type of portable stove, you will still need other supplies, such as a manual can opener, if you plan to store canned foods.

 

5.      Eating Utensils – If your food storage is filled with canned foods, all you really need are a few utensils. However, it would be great if you added some plates, bowls, serving spoons, etc…

 

6.      First Aid Kit – Make sure that your first aid kit has the instructions with it. Basic first aid techniques could actually save lives until help arrives.

 

7.      Important Documents – Some of these include a list of important phone numbers, birth certificates, passports, cash money, etc…

 

8.      Clothing – Be sure there’s enough warm clothing, rain gear, heavy shoes and work gloves for everyone in the home. Remember, you’re planning for three days.

 

9.      Personal Hygiene – Don’t forget the simple necessities, such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine supplies, baby supplies, etc…

 

10.  Warmth – In situations like these, who knows where you may have to sleep? Make sure you’re warm at night with a thick sleeping bag or heavy blanket.

 

Author Bio

 

This content was provided by Chett Wright an expert in emergency preparedness. Get your 72 hour kit from the industry leaders today.

Happy Prepping!

 

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Prepper Econ Podcast- Economics Update

on May 6, 2013 at 3:41 am
Posted In: Economy, Podcast

Prepper Econ Podcast- Economics Update

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Today is our first edition of The Prepper Econ Podcast. It is an economic update that we hope to bring you every month. Josh Collier from BeatTheEnd.Com is back today to talk with us about all things economic. Even if economics bore you to tears, this show is for you. We bring you a condensed version of the big stories from the month. The financial state of our country is perhaps the biggest threat to our way of life. If you want to be truly prepared, you have to know what is going on in the economy.

Click the play button below  to listen now and get the information you need to prepare for the coming collapse.

Click Here To Download Today’s Show

On today’s show, we go over the sugar coated unemployment numbers issued by the BLS. We added 165,000 jobs in April which brought the U3 unemployment number down to 7.5% from 7.6%. The news sent the Dow to a new intra-day high over 15,000. It closed just below that level on Friday.

So everything is peaches and cream, happy days are here again. You can sell your bunker and move back into your overpriced McMansion. Let’s look a little closer first. The government doesn’t include people who have completely given up looking for work nor the people who are working part time because they can’t find a full time job. 9.5 million people have given up and dropped out of the work force since Obama took office. The government number that includes those folks is U6.U6, the real unemployment number is 13.9%. John Williams at Shadowstats.com keeps independent economic data and estimates unemployment to be closer to 23%.

Josh and I discuss the Federal Reserve’s announcement that they will continue QE 3 which is currently creating $1.02 trillion in new money every year. Kansas Federal Reserv’s head, Esther George warned the rest of the FOMC members that the inflationary results of this policy will be catastrophic. I am sure they are all well schooled enough to know that already, but they hope to kick the can down the road far enough that it won’t blow up on their watch.

Click the banner below to go on over to BeatTheEnd.Com and get signed up for the gear giveaway.

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If you would like to learn more about prepping, check out the Prepper Recon 7 Step Survival Plan. It will help you be better prepared for everything from a hurricane to the end of the world as we know it.

Happy Prepping!

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Sunday Prepper Bible Study Hebrews 11:6

on May 5, 2013 at 3:30 am
Posted In: Bible

Sunday Prepper Bible Study Hebrews 11:6

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“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 

Faith is the sustaining force for a Christian. It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It is what gives us the strength to say “no” to the things of this world in hope that we will receive a better inheritance in the world to come. Today’s verse also tells us that it is a necessary element in pleasing God. It tells us that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. How does he reward us when we seek him? One way is he rewards us with direction. Do you have a situation that you just can’t figure out? Take some time out every day to read The Bible or listen to a good sermon. You will be surprised at just how specific God can be in giving you the direction that you should go. Another way he rewards us is by granting us peace. Are you feeling anxious about the end of the world as we know it? Turn your attention to God by getting into His word and listening to worship music. As he fills you with his spirit, you will experience  a sense of  peace that no drug could ever provide.

Does having faith mean we shouldn’t prep? Is that a lack of faith when I make an effort to get ready for hard times? If I truly have faith, shouldn’t I trust God to take care of me when the stuff hits the fan? No, no and no. Faith means that I believe in God’s word, so what does his word say? Proverbs 22:3 says “The prudent see danger and take refuge,  but the simple keep going and pay the penalty”. Proverbs 21:20 says “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has”.  That sounds like God expects us to be ready for unforeseen disasters. I would expect God to bail me out if I pay no attention to The Bible. 

Another area of the Bible that encourages me to prep is Deuteronomy 28. It talks about the blessing that God will pour out on an obedient nation and the curses He will pour out on a nation that turns its back on Him. If you think America is an obedient nation, I guess you have nothing to worry about. With the way we have kicked God out of the classroom, out of the courtroom and now out of the military, I tend to expect the curses.

If you are new to prepping or would like to learn more about how to prepare for tomorrow, please read our 7 Step Preparedness Plan.  The most important prep of all is knowing GOD. Jesus said “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul?” Prepper translation: “What good will it do you to survive the coming economic collapse, nuclear war or even a zombie apocalypse if you don’t know you will go to heaven when you die.” A recent study found that 10 out of 10 people die! On that day we will meet our Maker. It only makes sense to be prepared for that day. Click here to learn more about knowing GOD.

Have a blessed week and happy prepping!

 

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Apocalypse 101

on May 3, 2013 at 3:46 am
Posted In: Prepping

Apocalypse 101

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Apocalypse 101 is a new show on National Geographic. It features 4 prior service Marines that have a shop in Colorado. They sell gear and weapons to survive the coming collapse. In each episode of the Apocalypse 101, they teach preppers and survivalist tactics to increase their chances of making it through whatever the future may throw at us.  The tips and tricks that the guys of Apocalypse 101 offer up come from a vast reservoir of knowledge that they have taken from their time serving in the Marine Corps.

Apocalypse 101 is not just another Doomsday Prepper reduex, it is a fresh opportunity to learn from men who have proven they have the skills to survive. Doomsday preppers had a lot of good examples of the different methods of prepping. It is a great show to get the creative juices flowing. On the down side, Doomsday Preppers has more examples of what not to do than helpful information. Another bright spot of Apocalypse 101 is that it really seems geared toward education whereas Doomsday Preppers found some less than well adjusted individuals to represent prepper folks. That poor representation served as material that the left could easily use to demonize our ranks.

 Apocalypse 101 Episode 1

Here is the first episode of Apocalypse 101. In this episode they help a young prepper take his preps to the next level. They show him how to improve his bug out bag and teach him a few hand to hand combat techniques. The guys also go to another preppers 40 acre lot to help him plan strategic defense tactics. They show him how to use the things he already has laying around to fortify his position and harden his perimeter. They test out the new improvements with a mock paintball assault on him and his wife. The couple fights well, but they see how much they still have to learn if they want to be truly prepared.

I appreciate this new production and encourage you to check it out if you are not already a fan. Each week, new customers bring the guys of Apocalypse 101 new challenges. They assess the customers preparedness and help them  develop skills and strategies to be better prepared.

Happy Prepping!

3 Comments

Prepping on a Budget

on May 1, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Posted In: Prepping on a Budget

Prepping on a Budget

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We often see people on the popular show “Doomsday Preppers” who have a seemingly unlimited budget for prepping. Some have bought abandoned missile silos, fully stocked farm, military vehicles and night vision equipment that cost more than many people cars. It is true that those people made priorities out of those preps, but they had to have the available income to make those purchases in the first place. Especially in today’s economy, that just is not possible for everyone.

Learn to Budget and make Cuts

So if you are just barley making ends meet, that that mean you should just give up? Not at all! There are tons of things that you can do put yourself in a better position if things get bad. If you are working with a limited income, it will require some dedication and sacrifice. For starters, you have to make a budget. It is imperative that every household has some means of tracking how much money is coming in and how much is going out. It is not enough to say “there is nothing left at the end of the month so the same amount is going out as is coming in”. That is not an acceptable answer. You have to list all sources of income. Then you must list each individual expense. If you have never done this, it will take some time to get it all together. Check out our “Budget” post to learn more about getting your finances in order. Once you have your expenses listed, you can start thinking about areas that can be cut. Do you need all those channels in the premium cable package? If you cut soda out of your grocery bill how much would you save a month? Are you using coupons? Don’t tell me they don’t have coupons for the things you use. There are coupons for just about everything. When matched with store sales like “buy one get one” deals, coupons can be fantastic. Check out our “Coupon Corner” to learn more about couponing.

Spend it Wisely

Now you have cut the grocery bill by $$10 a week with coupons and the cable bill by $20 a month right? Where ever you have been able to make a few cuts, that money can now be put to good use. First, you need an emergency fund. Dedicate half of the savings to funding that rainy day account. The other half, we can be very frugal and build up a basic survival kit. A cheap way to quickly build up some emergency food is by purchasing dried beans and rice. Dried beans can be as little as $1 per pound and rice can be as little as $7 for a 20lb bag. 10lbs of beans and 20lbs of rice will keep you alive for about 20 days. The total cost is $17. Can you come up with that? Now, water purification. It is worth it to get a good filter, but you can make one yourself. All you need is two buckets, sand gravel and charcoal. One bucket will act as your filter and the other as the catch. Put a few small holes in the bottom of the filter bucket and you are good to go. Arrange the filtering materials as in the diagram below. You can also treat the water with bleach, 8drops per gallon before running it through the filter.

Thanks to Survival Guy for the great diagram!

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Gear on a Budget

There are several places to pick up cheap gear. Second hand stores often get used camping gear which they unload for cheap. Craigslist is always full of deals on just about everything. In these economically challenging times, many people will sell older guns at gun shows. You may be able to pick up a shot gun for under $100. It may not be the tricked out AR-15 that you dream of, but it will make you a harder target if it hits the fan.

Having to get prepared on a couple hundred bucks may not put you in a decked out under ground bunker, but it can significantly improve your odds of survival if you spend it wisely. Keep adding to your preps and your emergency fund a little at a time. Perseverance will take you a long way.

Happy Prepping!

3 Comments

Prepper Recon Podcast with Josh Collier of BeatTheEnd.Com

on April 28, 2013 at 9:47 pm
Posted In: Podcast, Prepping

Prepper Recon Podcast with Josh Collier of BeatTheEnd.Com

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Today’s guest is Josh Collier from BeatTheEnd.Com. Josh and I discuss several different topics related to prepping and potential threats to our way of life.Like PrepperRecon.Com, BeatTheEnd.Com is also dedicated to trying to get people prepared through education.

Click the play button below to listen.

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Josh lives in Arizona and is an active outdoors man. He enjoys bow hunting for deer and elk. In the podcast, Josh explains his unique approach to being prepared to bug out. Rather than the traditional go bag, Josh keeps his truck packed with his essential survival gear. This will cut precious time off the evacuation process for him and his wife should they ever need to bug out. Many people plan to bug in if it ever hits the fan, but you also have to have a bug out contingency plan. There are unforeseen situations that may require you to give up your position to find safety. Besides the obvious reasons that cause people to evacuate, there are situations like bio hazard spills or fires in a near by chemical plant. In those types of scenarios, those who get out quickly may be the only ones that get out at all. Road ways quickly become parking lots when faced with abnormal traffic patterns that are typical of mass evacuations.

We also discussed economic problems that face our country and the world. Josh points out the average debt to income ratio for an American household is 130%. We are a nation drowning in debt on the personal level as well as the national level. Our national debt is quickly approaching $17 trillion and 110% of GDP.

Josh is featuring a give away on his site. Beattheend.com is giving away a ton of cool survival gear. He is giving away a Mini sentry Alarm. It works like a trip wire alarm with a .22 cal blank or nail gun load. He is also including a first aid kit and a NGMO seed bank in the giveaway. Head on over to Beattheend.com  or click the banner below and sign up!

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I hope you enjoyed the show. Leave us a comment and let us know what topics you would like to hear about on future shows.

Happy Prepping!

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