10 Elements of Practical "Prepping"

A friend of mine was telling me recently how she was concerned because her father has become hooked on shows and literature surrounding the topic of "doomsday prepping". At first I didn't see the big deal. What's the harm in keeping some canned food in the basement? We could all learn something from these "preppers", couldn't we? Well I finally got around to watching the National Geographic show "Doomsday Preppers" and I immediately understood her concern.

The whole concept of "doomsday prepping" is based around the idea of a complete collapse of society due to some cataclysmic event. It's a mentality that is fueled by anxiety and often hatred toward a particular group that these individuals deem as their biggest threat.

Despite these concerns the show did get me thinking. After seeing the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, and the impact of long term unemployment after the market crash in '08, there is something to be said for maintaining a reasonable level of preparedness.

Regardless of what it is that is most likely to affect us, there are practical steps we all should take to help minimize the risk and disruption of such events.

1) Savings Account
The first step toward preparedness, and something that is almost never mentioned by "preppers", is having a healthy savings account. I think "preppers" often ignore this because they're usually focused on preparing for a doomsday scenario. Realistically though, income disruption due to job loss, disability or natural disaster is a much more likely scenario. Most experts recommend having at least three months of savings at any giving time. Most of that should be in an insured savings account; however, it is also a good idea to keep at least a couple of weeks worth of cash on hand in a secure location in the event that a disruption compromises your bank account or limits access to your funds.

2) A Well Stocked Pantry
Whenever a storm is predicted in my area, and I'm sure many other areas, people flock to the grocery store to stock up on groceries. Save yourself the hassle and keep a well stocked pantry to avoid the last minute rush. Now there is a lot of marketing out there for kits costing upwards of thousands of dollars for pounds and pounds of survival food. Spare me the freeze dried spaghetti, please! We should purchase food we will actually use and rotate it out. Don't forget the bottled water or a water filter.

3) Basic Supplies
Every home should always have basic supplies appropriate to their area such as flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, back up cooking methods, cleaning supplies and simple hand tools. If it's affordable and an available option generators and wood stoves can help add additional comfort, especially in cold climates. It wasn't all that long ago when a fire place or wood stove was considered a necessity in a northern home. Given the uptick in severe weather resulting in extended power outages, this may be a feature worth adding if you can. A small boat or blow up raft should also be considered as well for flood prone areas.

4) Documents and Records
Disaster or not, it's a wise idea to keep tangible copies of all essential records in a secure location. This should include birth certificates, marriage certificates, deeds, titles, insurance policies, wills, trusts, etc.

5) Cyber Security
We also need to make sure we're not too complacent with digital records. The unfortunate reality is hacking and cyber terrorism is an ever growing threat and could feasibly turn out to be the modern battlefield. Make sure to download your most recent account statements as they become available. If your bank or investment accounts are compromised this could end up being the only way to prove what you had in the event of a discrepancy. Also, create strong passwords and change them regularly.

6) Home Security
Many of these "Doomsday Preppers" love to show off their home artillery. While I consider the use of weapons for home defense to be a personal choice, it is not a decision that should be taken lightly or made without some serious practical education. Even the military puts the most elite soldiers though what is known as the "S.E.R.E." training program - an acronym that means "Survive, Evade, Resist, and Evacuate". Engaging with the enemy is seen as a last resort. For homeowners in some states, it's even the law. There are many practical deterrents that we can use to protect ourselves and our property such as home alarms and defense sprays before resorting to deadly weapons.

7) Awareness and Education
Even if we stock pile thousands of dollars worth of food and supplies, we still need to have practical knowledge and skills. Not everyone is handy with a hammer, but everyone should have some general awareness of their home, how it functions, and what to do if something goes awry. Whether living in an apartment or a house we should all be aware of what type of HVAC system we have, what kind of fuel it uses and how to shut it down in an emergency. Vents, drainage, roofs, exterior doors and the immediate perimeter of the building should be kept as clear as possible. House numbers should also be clearly visible from the street. Most importantly, if utilizing a generator or other back-up energy sources we must be sure to educate ourselves in their proper use to avoid potentially fatal injuries. Hunting, fishing, gardening, self defense and wilderness survival are also practical skills that would be useful in the more extreme cases where long term survival became necessary. Or, even if we found ourselves unexpectedly in a survival situation as two young snowmobile enthusiasts in my area recently did.

8) Housekeeping and Organization
There is nothing worse than fumbling around through clutter looking for flashlights. While almost no-one can keep their house clean at all times, having a reasonable level of organization will help reduce stress when faced with an unexpected disruption. Stock piling supplies won't do much good if you don't know where anything is!

9) Vehicle Prepping
The possibility of having to respond to a high risk situation can occur not only at home, but also while on the road. First, try to keep the gas tank above half full so you'll be prepared if a power outage knocks out electricity to all of the gas stations in your area, or a quick evacuation is necessary. Also, keep some basic supplies in your vehicle such as snacks, blankets, flashlight, flares, and a first aid kit.

10) Conclusion - Keep it Simple and Practical
The "Doomsday Prepping" approach can seem extreme and overwhelming and may discourage us from taking any action at all. By focusing on realistic scenarios and breaking down preparedness into simple tasks we can better formulate a practical and personalized preparedness plan. Focus on the free stuff first, such as organization and compiling important documents and then do the rest, such as obtaining supplies and stocking the pantry gradually and as you're financially able.

Alos, check out other available online resources, but be wary of those trying to cash in on hysteria. There are some great checklists and tips available from the CDC, the Mormon Church, FEMA, and The Red Cross.

For a quick and more specific check list of things you should be considering, visit my new "Practical Prepping Check List".


Be Well!
Nicole

31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero - day 7

Ok, so maybe I won't post every day. Anyways, I'm back to post about my family's progress toward the zero spending goal. So far it's going very well. I don't have any non-essential spending to report. We did end up doing a rather large grocery shopping on Saturday at the club store we belong to, but that being said we stayed focus on buying only essential ingredients and avoided snack food and beverages.

Day 4: The homework for day 4 was, "plan a meal swap" with the main focus being to cook in bulk. We don't really have anyone locally that we can practically do this with, so we opted to not participate in the swap but definitely did take on the recommendation of cooking in bulk. We've done this before and we're always glad we did. It's also one of the reasons we went to the club store. on Day 4. We stocked up on large quantities of meat and produce which facilitated the created of several portions of Potato Leek Soup, Shepherd's Pie and Pot Roast with fixings. What I liked best was that last night instead of rushing through making dinner I was able to come home, pop the pre-made Shepherd's Pie into the oven and then enjoy a game of Candy Land with my daughter. Not to mention there was far less clean-up after dinner.

Day 5: Day 5 was "eat out at home" day. We haven't done this yet, but I definitely plan on trying the home made Frapucinos!

Day 6: Day 6 was "get a free education" day. This goes back to my #1 money saving tip - "instead of buying something, do something. Personally, I'm working on building my skills on the two musical instruments I play. I'm also taking some time to brush up on my industry knowledge using the free classes available on Coursera. My husband will be back out in the woods hunting next week. Whatever it is, whether the re-invigoration of a once favored pass time or taking up something new by not wasting our days shopping we will find that we have much more time to build more fruitful skills.

Day 7: Day 7 is for "Week 1 Reflection". So far it's going really well. Personally, I'm not a big shopper to begin with. I loath shopping actually, but there are still silly little ways we all waste money even if we're not mall dwellers. I think for my family the biggest realization was that we have to do a better job meal planning, and also to stay away from the coffee shops. We love our mochas, but not enough for them to be a line item on our budget.

The next two days are all about cleaning the house. While I appreciate the gesture, the author of the blog hosting this clearly does not work a 9-5 like I do. Hauling out the house in the middle of the week doesn't exactly fit my lifestyle. So, I'm going to work that in where it works best for me. My husband and I actually did a pretty big cleaning a couple of weeks ago, so I might come up with some alternatives for the next couple of days. Stay tuned!

Be Well,
- Nicole

31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero - day 3

I know I said I would post every day and have already missed a day, but in all fairness I was down for the count yesterday with a bad head cold and didn't have the brainpower to formulate a blog post. I'm back on track though and ready to move forward with the challenge. Here's a a bit of a recap.

Day 1 - Went very well. We did send the dog to dog daycare, but if you knew my dog you would know that is a necessity. If he doesn't go at least once a week he becomes impossible. Some might disagree, but I'm calling that a necessity.

Total unnecessary spending - $0

Day 2 - Could have been better. I mindlessly bought some ice cream and a bone for my dog, both which were certainly not necessities. Especially considering I have all the ingredients for brownies and/or a variety of cookies at home if I really wanted something sweet. 

Total unnecessary spending - $8.18

Today - Today is going well. There is one major thing I should mention, however. My husband is buying a new truck today. It's something we have been going back and forth on for a while. He really needs it for his line of work and as much as we have tried to make due with our current vehicles, the time has come for him to make this purchase. To be fair though, we began researching and arranging this before we knew about the challenge so I'm giving us a pass on this. 

Now the homework for yesterday was to clean out the pantry and today's assignment was to do some meal planning. I will be working on both of those tonight. This part is especially interesting to me because I think a lot of people have the misconception that eating well is expensive. I joke, however, that my husband and I ate the healthiest when our income was at it's lowest. When we were first married I was a full time college student. We spent a good amount of time living primarily on oatmeal, beans, cheddar cheese, vegetables and rice. It's actually amazing how many great recipes you can make with these simple foods as a base. Not to mention that your wallet and waistline will thank you for it.

So that's my task over the next 24 hours. Go through the cabinets and see what's for dinner this week. While I don't keep a lot of back stock, I know I have an abundance of dried beans that are waiting to be cooked up. Off the top of my head I'm thinking I have the fixings for Potato Leek Soup, Mung Dal, Vegetarian Chili, Beans, Rice & Tomato (one of my favorite budget meals) and Shttp://www.livingwellspendingless.com/31-days/livingwellspendingzero/paghetti. I'll update tomorrow and let you know if I find any surprises!

Be Well!

- Nicole

Embracing Autumn; The Other "New Year"

There is something about the cooler weather and shorter days of late August that never ceases in offering me a sense of pleasant anticipation. For me, the feeling of fall brings with it a sense of "returning to normal". I know that my perspective does not apply to everyone, but I know there are others out there who can relate to what I'm saying here. While I love the summer with it's warm weather, cook-outs, camp-outs and swimming, the hectic frenzy of weddings, family reunions and late nights celebrated in a haze of humidity can also be very draining. By this time of year I'm ready for a change in pace.

More than any other time of the year, fall has always presented as my best time for renewal. Maybe it's my introverted nature or years of being habituated by the rhythm of the school calendar. Perhaps it's the fatigue that comes from the sense of urgency created by the short New England summer to cram in as much fun as possible. Whatever it is, the sense of everything slowing down offers me the best opportunity to reexamine and re-energize.

Items to consider...

Intellectual Development - With the coming school year we are all inundated by the marketing messages of, "back to school." Regardless of whether or not we ourselves are students, or parents of one, this is a good time to think about where we're at with our own intellectual development. I use the term intellectual development instead of "education" because I think when we hear the word "education" we are apt to think of classes and textbooks. While taking a class is certainly part of this, it's not the only means of working our minds.

On a professional level we may work in a field that requires continuous education in which case we may be meeting this need by happenstance. For others we may not have this requirement and may need to make more of a personal effort to gain additional expertise in our profession. If your line of work does not require specific continuing education requirements, see what's available for literature, quality web content and conferences to help keep you up to speed in your field.

On a personal level, exploring areas such as our own spirituality, hobbies and interests are other avenues where we can experience intellectual development. It could be as simple as reading the biography of someone we admire, or as in depth as attending a retreat or going back to school.

Why is this important? - If we don't occasionally look outside of our own world we can become very self-centered. Before we know it we don't see past our own little world of self, children, spouse, job and all of the little in's and out's of our daily lives. By taking some time to learn something new we make connections with the world around us and are better able to balance our own sense of being with that of others.

Housekeeping - Nothing bogs us down practically and spiritually more than unnecessary clutter. It's time to get organized! There are few things in life that offer as much instant gratification as cleaning out a closet or cluttered desk. Yet we will always tend to put these sorts of things off if we don't set aside the time to deal with them.

If your not sure where to begin the best first step is often going room by room and seeing what can simply be tossed or donated. Closets and basements are usually the best places to start. From there it's a matter of going from space to space to sort out what goes where. The goal should be for everything to have it's own place and to avoid just sticking things in random places. If you need supplies to assist with storage and organization discount stores like Big Lots can be a great place to obtain containers and shelves. there are also TONS of great blogs solely dedicated to home organization.

Finances - As an extension of housekeeping, examining our finances using the "Prosperity Check" is a must this time of year. The stretch between summer vacation and the holidays is a great time to sit down and see where we're at financially. It's also a good time to plan a budget and savings plan for Christmas shopping, holiday parties and other year end obligations so we're not having to do financial gymnastics at the last minute to cover these expenses if we choose them.

Our Health - With access to fresh produce at it's peak and cooler temperatures prevailing, the fall is an ideal time to take a look at our diet and fitness habits. While I'm not a health and fitness expert I do feel confidant in saying that whatever approach we take it should be moderate and sustainable. Avoid fad diets, harsh cleanses and quick fixes. Sending yourself on a physical roller-coaster will inevitability be felt mentally as well and in the end will only prove to do more to move us away from our goals than toward them.

We also need to consider our mental health as well. What's working? What's not working? Are we taking time to decompress throughout the day, or are we frenetically bouncing from one task to the next? Are we embracing our spiritual practice or pushing it aside? There is nothing like a cool, rainy fall day to take some time for prayer and/or meditation.

Make Your Plan - Whether we choose to focus on one of these things, all of these things, or subjects not even covered here the most important point to all of this is that we're checking in with ourselves to make sure we're on track toward personal growth and that we're not holding ourselves back with procrastination and excuses.

Be Well,
Nicole

Practical Stuff - Quarterly Propserity Check

With the first three months of the year behind us, now is a great time to take a look at how we're doing managing our money thus far. Why now? Most businesses review financial data quarterly. It's a cycle that works well as it is not so frequent as to become tedious, but is often enough to keep us on track.

The first items I recommend looking at are reoccurring expenses. These are things like housing costs, utilities, car payments, child care costs, etc. Really take some time to make sure your list is complete. Everything that you are regularly billed for that has a due date should be on this list. For examples, see the quarterly budget review tab on the home page.

The next step is to take this total and compare it to your net monthly income. This is the amount that you actually receive after any deductions like taxes, health insurance and 401(k). How is it looking? Do you have a lot of money left over and you're scratching your head, wondering where it's going? Or, do you have more bills then you thoughts and are running a deficit? 

If you find that you have a deficit: First and foremost, don't give up! Many of us have been there. The first thing you'll want to do is go line by line and see what can be eliminated or negotiated. Are you paying for a land line and a cell phone? Have you shopped your insurance recently? Are you mindful of utility usage? Are you driving a vehicle that is beyond your means? Are you overpaying taxes? 

A lot of bills can be negotiated, such as insurance, cable and credit cards. If you rent, you may want to shop for a new apartment or look for a roommate. If you talk honestly with your friends, you might even find someone who's ready to take this journey with you. If you have a mortgage, talk to your mortgage company about options that may be available if you're struggling, but want to stay in your home. Or, depending on your level of equity, consider if continuing to live in your home still makes sense.

If you’re at a point where you’ve cut everything you can and you’re still struggling to meet basic necessities like food and housing, there is no shame is seeking out assistance if you really need it. In this situation it may be best to contact your local social services office to see if you are eligible for any benefits that will help you get back on your feet.

If you find you have money left over: You may be surprised that you have more expendable income then you realized. This goes back to mindful spending. You might not even think of yourself as a big spender, but a few nights out, buying lunch every day or a latte addiction can really eat away at your bank account. Or maybe you are a big spender who has that next big ticket item all picked out as soon as payday comes. Either way, we're going to need to dig into the day to day spending to determine where that money is going. It's not that this spending is bad necessarily, but it needs to be understood.

There are a few ways you can do this. If you're like most people and use a debit card. You can use a software program like Quicken or web/app based programs like Mint or Mvelopes which will quickly pull data from your accounts and categorize it so you can get a nice visual snapshot of where your money is going. Another option would be to go through your bank statements and manually sort out your spending. Some online banking systems offer sorting options to help make this task easier. If you don't want to deal with learning new software, or if you don't use a debit card, you can make up spreadsheet to estimate and list out your more variable expenses.

Once you have all of your financial data laid out some obvious patterns and waste will likely emerge. From here we want to enter a four part action plan.

1.    Reflect - Think back on the topics we have discussed and reflect on what areas most reflect your spending behavior.

2.    Budget - You can make a budget using a number of different methods, electronic or otherwise. Whatever system works best for you is fine.

3.    Track - I also recommend a checklist for your bills where you can easily keep track of what has been paid and what is outstanding to help avoid overdue payments and nasty late fees. For day to day spending, I recommend Mint and Mvelopes, but even a simple notebook that you can keep with you is fine.

4.    Automate - Lastly, look at what payments can be automated. For most of us coming up with money for items like taxes and health insurance are a non-issue because the money is taken out of our paychecks before we even see it. The best way to start is with smaller bills and those which provide a discount for automated payments. You may want to consider opening a separate checking account where the amount needed to cover these items is segregates from our other money to avoid overdrawing your account.

Let’s talk more about checking accounts. I actually recommend having two to three checking accounts; one for bills (two if you maintain separate funds for automated payments) and one for daily spending. In fact, it’s best if we don’t even keep a debit card for the account set up for bills. By separating out the amount we have allotted for daily spending we are less likely to dip into those funds.

If you're ready to start a savings plan it's best it’s best to open a savings account at a place other than where we keep our checking account. At the least we should avoid having our savings and checking accounts linked together to prevent us from making transfers on a whim. This may all seen a bit overwhelming, but it can also be very empowering. By taking ownership of our current financial situation we control our money instead of allowing it to control us. When we document our bills and spending we can stop walking around with financial stress rattling around in our heads all of the time. Did I pay this? Do I have enough money for that? By writing it all out we know exactly where we're at. Even if our financial situation is not great, I promise that just getting rid of those nagging thoughts will be a relief.

For further reading I recommend "Financial Peace" and "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey. His radio show is fantastic as well and very motivating. His blunt style can take some getting used to, but his advice is simple, practical and solid. Also, "The Automatic Millionaire" by David Bach. This book dives more into the benefits of automating our finances as much as possible. The These books have been out for a while so they're readily available through libraries or as second hand copies.

I will be setting up a page specific to budget work as a reference to help you get started. The more budget work you do will help determine what systems work best for you. The most important thing though is to be honest with yourself and follow through. At the same time, even if you find you don't stick to the plan you set up, keep trying. Just having quarterly check-ups can help us from spinning out of control.

Be Well!
-Nicole