There was a time when prepping was about doing things that other people didn’t quite understand for reasons that seemed virtually implausible. The world has seen so much in the last 3 years that our society is rapidly morphing from, “you are crazy to be prepping,” into “You’re crazy if you aren’t prepping.”
Everyone felt the effects of the pandemic and now everyone is feeling the effects of this economic crisis. 2023 has been one of the ugliest years in recent memory from a cost living perspective. It would be one thing if prices were increasing alone but the quality of service and product is also overwhelmingly declining.
Listen, Pfizer is making 3.5 billion dollars in budget cuts from a plan that was proposed in October. If Pfizer, the most successful drug dealer in the world, is struggling then it’s getting really bad.
Americans are realizing that the JOBS reports have virtually nothing to do with quality of life. Our government is content with you working a terrible job and being broke so long as they can count you as a “job’” in their report to make us all feel better about being broke and watching our nation crumble.
Inflation Sticker Shock
Incredible data has been collected by the World Economic Forum on the subject of US inflation. I know. I know what the WEF has been cooking up but their take on inflation is as bleak as it should be.
For that reason I am citing this article that shows inflations effect on 20 different items and services in the US.
Here are the ones that are hitting Americans hardest…
- School Lunches up 254%
- Fuel Oil up 66%
- Eggs up 49%
- Butter/Margarine up 35%
- Flour up 34%
- Coffee up 14%
It’s one thing to have prices rising but what about incomes? The consumer has little choice in the matter when it comes to paying for things like heating oil but if wages are keeping up or at least revving up then it can go a long way.
Unfortunately, that is just not the case.
Crushing Income
The US Census Bureau tells us that the median household income, after taxes, has dropped 8.8% from 2021 to 2022. This is not what we need out of wages at a time when inflation is surging.
It now takes nearly 41% of the median household’s monthly income to afford the payments on a median-priced home, according to research from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The last time housing payments cost that much was in 1984. (Source)
The average person’s dollar is not doing what it used to, and we also have less dollars to work with! For the people who are making decent money with some savings, this equates to a tightening of the belt across the board.
Related: 11 Unexpected Ways to Earn Money in the Next Depression
For those who were barely scraping by in 2021, this means a new kind of life is taking shape. This could be the difference between getting groceries every two weeks or visiting a food bank to keep your family fed. American food bank usage has increased around 60% in 2023! (Source)
No matter what is reported about GDP or Job Growth, if the Food Bank lines are around the block, then our economy is not working for the people. Another sure sign of this is the rise in “hardship” withdrawals from 401ks. These are costly withdrawals that are taxed coming and going.
The Future of Cheap Fuel
One of the things that could pull us out of this economic nightmare would be cheap fuel. The cost of fuel impacts every level of goods and services. Everything that ships must account for fuel cost. We know that America has the capacity to be completely energy independent.
However, cheap fuel has no future in our nation. American’s all over the nation need to buckle up for things like regulated usage of power and higher power bills. That is the last thing we need right now.
The Biden administration has made it clear that coal burning power plants are public enemy number one.
In 2022 coal fired plants were responsible for 1/5 of the nation’s electricity generation.
How exactly do we go about replacing that?
What’s Your Path Back to Stability?
Lately, it feels like nothing is stable underfoot. Trust in our fellow man and our institutions is at an all time low. This means it is up to us to establish trust and stability.
Truthfully, it has always been the responsibility of the people. We were just duped by the government into believing they would “handle it” for us. Handle it they have…
Let’s look at some ways to combat this crushing economic nightmare we simply cannot wake up from.
More of Life Off Grid
Electricity and powerful internet have changed so much but we do not need these things to control every aspect of our lives.
The more we can learn to do off grid, the more time we spend off grid, the more off grid options we build on our property, the less affected we will be by the current economic crisis.
No Grid Survival Projects is the Bible for achieving what I call an on grid/off grid balance. This book offers step by step instructions for over 70 off grid projects.
Learn to Cook
One of the fastest ways to financial ruin is to try and keep up with the rising costs of eating out nightly or for multiple meals a day.
I took my two children to Chipotle the other day for lunch. I spent nearly $30 on two entrees that were made up primarily of rice and meat.
To put that into context, you can buy a 50lb bag of long grain rice for $20!
Learning how to cook from scratch, at home, will not ensure that you always eat at home, but it will give you the ability to forgo eating out on a regular basis.
You can spend $200 on a week of groceries and eat well. Or you can spend that in two nights of dinner for two with drinks.
Buy and Store Food in Bulk
Buying in bulk always saves money. It’s moments like these where long-term food storage can really come in handy. Things like flour, sugar, rice, beans, and pasta can be put away in bulk for much cheaper than you get them at a supermarket.
Related: 7 Stores Where You Can Buy Cheap Survival Food
You might also crack some buckets of food storage open on a tough week to save money. It’s a lot better than taking a 401k hardship withdrawal.
You can buy field corn at most feed stores for around $10 for 50lbs! This can be ground into cornmeal to make things like cornbread and grits. It’s time to think outside the box.
Join Anything
In times like these it is important to have people. People can help you and numbers always count when it comes to protection as the world becomes more and more uncertain. The good news, these days, is that everyone knows things are crazy and prepping is more of an aspiration than a punchline.
It’s true that a lot of economic issues are just out of the hands of the common man or woman. Let’s be honest, we cannot stop congress from spending money. They are going to spend the US dollar into oblivion (they already have) and the debt will continue to rise and rise.
That said, this is not 1930. We do have lots of options, freedom and, for now, resources. There has never been a better time to get prepared. Moreover, there has never been a better time to gather up a group of people who would like to be prepared.
Surviving an economic downturn requires a LOCAL focus. The people and businesses who produce things locally are the ones to make inroads with now. Local farmers markets are your ticket to locally produced food that can fill the gaps in your own homestead or food storage plans.
If we look to the government to reduce inflation, increase GDP, and bring job numbers up then times are only going to get harder. Get locally minded and start growing food, producing energy, and standing on your own two feet.
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GET READY TO RUMBLE…
EVIL WILL INTENSIFY but when will it crash.?
Just like everything else, we will be on pins and needles for the rest of the time, watching every thing going on.
We will need to put on our thinking cap, inorder to stay alive this yr.
Going to see major changes coming to your Door Step
When you see wrong going on. Go dark
Remember Trust WILL be everything.
You will know them by there actions.
I’ve, been seeing it and watching them as much as they watch us.
Stay Gray, get ready to fight or, you know…
Good morning. Staying grey is always the way to go.
A lot of you preppers that are liberal voted for Bidenomics instead of Trump. Prepping is not just for conservatives.
Many of the social economics is due to Biden’s open southern border and letting Mexican drug cartels run the southern border. Hamas and Hezbollah are networking fentanyl into America from south America as we write in the comment section.
The Chinese nationals and foreign military age males are forming up terror cells for things to come worst the Pearl Harbor, 911 and Israel’s October 7th attack.
While CA gov Newsom and his radicals have placed an anti-gun law into effect, making all of California a gun free zone. Gun free zones are what the liberal mass shooters do their business. With their go to AR15 that liberals prefer to use.
Happy New Year AmeriKa!
Grey maybe when you are dead, room temperature. More likely black and blue will be the standard color if Trump is not elected and Bidenomics wins, 2024.
Carbon footprint and credits are BS a control issue. Green energy, solar an wind mills are a form of enslavement with the digital currency.
We live in the Twilight Zone in the era of Bidenomics globalism. Wokeism is a cult religion, another branch splinter religion is climate change. Next stop the Twilight Zone, ha, ha!
Never any recipes for cooking . Though I’m exceedingly skilled in this area. You. Might just bring some light to those that are starting out thinking about what to have on hand!
There is a way that seems right to mankind
getting rid of any and everything which make them feel good, NO conscience so they can do whatever and feel is ok
That is the days of noah , when God who is holy Destroyed all of the earth
this will come shortly and as the bible predicts , there will be mass death and starvation
Because thinking themselves to be wise , they the people did what was right in thier own eyes
getting rid of anything which Said NO , NOT acceptable , Evil
God, Ten Commandments, Restriction s , Self Control , And Religeon to stop them
They mankind believed the LIE , Chose the Fake, False Religeons , served the Creation , not the Creator , God
This is and will be what is coming
Pray, Pray , Pray Seek out Truth , Gods Truth , the only way , only truth , only life
It is time to Evangelize the Invasion who will take over your country , and possess the land you worked hard for
God s Blessings removed for those who reject Him, His ways , His Word , and Serve Self, Pleasure, as the new gen of corruption slips down the slippery road of distruction
Plan , Prepare, get ready
Evil has set in place for the end
God is in place for salvation , repentance, forgiveness, and a way of escape
We don’t need to bible thump. Jesus Christ once said all we need is the belief in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is all you need. the rest is all organized religion distraction.
God Bless America, Amen!
You forgot repentance
2 Chronicles 7:14
If MY people, which are called by MY name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek MY face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.
So says God.
REPENT and change mind to BE obedient to God, this is what We the People NEED. This is not religion nor distraction. This is God’s own words.
To receive blessings MUST be obedient to God ALWAYS. All disobedience reaps curses as is playing out around us now. There is only one God and He expects us to be holy as He is holy. Choose God by choosing Jesus His Son as our only Savior, because He is! Time’s short seek God He’s seeking us!
America (Manasseh – Jacob’s oldest grandson) IS definitely reaping his curses as He’s sown. If sow weeds weeds will be reaped every single time. Cannot sow bad seed and expect good harvest. You’ll always get what you’re sowing.
Deuteronomy 27 – 28 Cursing and Blessing choice offered here. Reading studying both chapters thoroughly for several months I see NOTHING that says this has time limit. In other words God means your choice is for ALL time – infinite.
Choose ye this day to be cursed or blessed. As for me and my house we choose BLESSING & we WILL serve The Lord infinitely.
His Word is true, His gift of salvation is free. His promises are sure, If He’s rejected His judgment is final.
Fortunat to have a way to store food. I’ve been doing it for years, so I’m somewhat good. Prepping/survivalist since a child, off-gridding for me is a past time. But life has many curbs/surprises that can be thrown at you. Be it acts of God or human; you cannot ever be 100%. Folks, be vigilant and informed. Happy New Years to all. health and the rest follows. And ending, ” May the best of your yesteryear be the least of what’s to come”.
Even the 25 year survival food will expire, then what?
That depends on 1) how fast you consume it
2) how much you replace as you consume what you hav and…
3) how old you are now. 25 years may be more time than you have left in any circumstances.
IF you are a prepper, you’ll figger it out.
What is a prepper?
Prepper, prepping is a worn out generic term. Preppers are the 2.0 of the seventies survivalist that followed their current political events. We are paralleling the same events, presidents Carter and Biden are politically the same. Biden is the open door to China taking over America.
Thank you liberals for giving us hell on earth, your not forgiven.
These companies say their food can last 25 years.
Is there a process to extend what people have stored of those foods?
Or can those 25 year foods last longer as some studies have seen the expired date on RX meds can last a few years longer.
Many people who bought these survival foods are now retired on fixed incomes and replacing their longterm food may no longer be feasible.
Is there a study on how to extend our stored foods, thank you.
Anyone know for sure?
Cannibalism
Cordoba do you light or dark meat?
Do humans taste like chicken?
You neglected to mention gardening! My garden made up for the increase in food prices this year.
This year we converted our heating system from an outdoor woodstove to a smaller, more energy-efficient indoor woodstove. We are using much less wood this year and will already save several hundred dollars in wood alone. Also, our electric bill for this winter is down 30%! The stove may pay for itself this year!
This is truly the way to guarantee 25 years ++ food supply. Stock up on Heirloom seeds like its ammo … because it is. Sure fired way to protect against supply chain shortages. That shit is coming this year. Its coming frens, and thats not ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ prepper talk. Its as real as it comes. Brace for impact or get thrown though the windshield.
It will happen if you believe their propaganda, like commercials repeated over and over until you believe that is true gospel truth.
We are many they are few, with all the marvels stolen from us.
Everybody wants to do Wood burning, however I just picked up a small coal stove that does burn small chunks of wood and have sourced coal locally and am burning it as well. I use the wood to get a good bed of coals then add the coal till it’s to the top of the burn area. It kept my shop (20 x 14) warm last night at 63 degrees with no insulation and a tin roof. Temp last night was 32 degrees. Coal burns longer and for those of you prepping it generates no smoke so helps you stay hidden better. If you buy a wood stove, get one that is able to do coal too. Something for all to think about.
How does coal do in a Liberator rocket stove?
Would burn to hot.
Coal burns slow.
Hello! I live in coal country. I have all my life except service time. We have had coal heat all my life and I have never seen coal that didn’t smoke. It also has a very different odor that seems to travel farther than wood smoke. In this day and age when few people use coal for home heat, if you were burning it you would be easy to find even in the dark. Just as wood will eventually burn down to hot coals with very little smoke, coal will do the same and produce very little smoke at that time but when adding new coal or wood to the fire it will smoke. Did you ever see a steam locomotive that never smoked? What do you think they burn?
The idea of a stove that will burn either is probably a good idea but the idea of no smoke is just not true.
Coal is more heat efficient because it has more BTUs in it than wood. That is why generating plants burn coal instead of wood, efficiency. For the average person it is harder to come by and handle by hand when using. Location plays a big part in choice of fuel for home use. If you want smokeless and odorless fuel choose natural gas. Access too this is controlled by location also.
To me the ideal location would be a remote area with very limited access, few or no neighbors. a gas well near by, an operating coal mine within a few miles, and a large forest where fire wood would be handy. You also need to have a good supply of clean water and shelter. All this would be a waste without good survival skills, hunting, cooking, scrounging, gardening, and learning to live off the land just to name a few. A loyal soulmate would big a big plus to help. Don’t forget to have a bible too.
@Broke ole Grandpa: So, where can I get a coal stove? In Oregon, and where do I get the coal? I have NEVER heard that coal burns cleaner!!! EVERYthing I have ever heard about coal is that it is a very dirty option for heat and that it produces so much soot that it isn’t a viable option for heating your home…..
Why not ask those greenie protesters and ACLU where that stuff is located. Environmentalist try to shutdown our gas stoves, propane in Lieu of commonsense for an all electric world of control.
Radicals know where the good stuff is.
Carol L, If you do not have a source for coal in your area then getting a coal stove wouldn’t make much sense. Some coal burns cleaner than other. It depends on the seam it was mined from. When I was of grade school age many businesses and homes in my area used coal for heating. The junior high school and grade school that I went to used coal. It had a large boiler and piped hot water to radiators in the rooms. The furnace room made some smoke out the chimney but the hot water heat was very clean. Coal was much cheaper then. about $3.00 per ton. Many homes including the one that I was raised in was heated with coal. WE enjoyed sitting around the fire place during winter months and watching TV or doing homework or what ever. That was in the 60ies. Coal has some suit but I don’t know anybody that had to go dirty or with dirty clothes because of coal heat. My Great Grandmother didn’t have indoor plumbing ever. She had a coal cook stove to cook on and bake in all her life. a coal heat stove to warm the house. She raised 6 kids in that house who all tuned out to be successful in life and none of them ever went dirty because of coal heat in the house. My Great Grandfather was killed in a train accident when the children were young so she had her hands full. She lived to be 88.
If fossil fuel is eliminated the world, and especially the US will die. Those resources were put here on earth to be used. This Democrat green deal is a scam for the money just as climate change is. It is Intended to take your money and control you. It is a good thing that there has been some climate change or we would still be in the ice age. That happened before man was here. Who is to blame for that change?
People need to wake up. The liberals main objective is to control you. If you believe anything that the liberal news tells you then you must be a happy sheep going to slaughter. Go ahead and give them your money that you worked for. They will gladly tell you that they know how to spend it better than you do. Career politicians have never written a pay check, only cashed them. How come there are so many multi millionaires in politics that weren’t before they were elected or installed???? It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that one out!
Anthracite burns cleanly. Very little smoke once the first fire is established. Bituminous (aka soft coal) burns with more smoke.
Look first to see if you can get coal where you are. An I ternet search would be a good first stab. Tractor Supply sells coal, although I’m not sure that every single store carries it.
If there are any reenactors who show how to be a blacksmith near you, more than likely they’ll use coal for their forge. Find out where they get their coal.
As for soot, it depends upon how and where you dump the ash. The same goes for woodstoves, too. Ideally, you can dump the ash pans outside in a somewhat enclosed space so no burning embers escape. Dump straight into a metal trash can with a tight fitting lid and any dust that kicks up will be outside instead of inside.
If you need to dump the ashes inside, dumping them slowly generates less floating ash.
You would have to be a very stupid person not to know this world’ is the last days ! The Great Tribulation Has Started
Turn to The only one that can save you❓ The King Jesus Christ???????
Every time we have grave events with leaders like Bidenomics everyone clutches their pearls and cites bible versus of doom and gloom.
This has gone on since Jesus Christ left the planet earth.
No one knows the time or day when the second coming happens.
Keep and clean nose and chill. If you kept your faith in God you should be all right in God’s eyes for the faithful, period, end of story
Happy New Year and God bless America, excluding the illegals here breaking our immigration laws by Bidenomics.
There’s more to it then that.
Sad Sad…
The bible says we are not of this earth, yet after the second coming the earth will still be here and built to God’s kingdom on earth.
We must die one way or another, then get a new body. Some will go to heaven some not. Some will stay on earth, after the second coming.
The bible never states where heaven is specifically. We have blind faith according to the bible written by the hand of organized religion. So what is the truth?
It hasn’t started yet but Mathew 24 is
Well we are not in tribulation yet.
However we are in Mathew 24
Pfizer was mentioned in the article for cost cutting. Why? Its not bc they made billions with their Mrna vaccine. Its because the FDA just made it possible for individuals and families who’ve lost a loved one and/or were injured by their vaccine. They are cutting because they are about to be sued, among other pharmas. The msm isn’t saying that of course. Real news is not on the tell-a-vision.
If you think food prices are high now, just wait. Climate change will make growing food much more difficult. Too wet to plant, you plant and massive rains rot the seed, warm early spring makes trees blossom then a freeze destroys the crop, drought, crops burn from intense sun or won’t set fruit, hurricanes, tornados, death of pollinators… you can’t hide from this problem. This isn’t about politics; it’s science.
Boohoo!
It is all about indoctrination hooie, climate change is a made up belief.
Don not drink their kool-aid anymore.
Does anybody know how I can list a property on a prepper network?
Check out Survival log – the blog owner’s son is a realtor specializing in properties for preppers.
Sorry…that should say Survival Blog – or look up James Wesley, Rawles
I have a very heavy wood stove that indeed can burn coal. It defiantly smells different than wood.
Food is pretty easy if it grows. Many including farmers here had a bad last year. I managed something’s and lost plenty also. Odd season. I’ve seen similar and never so poor a harvest. What I grew inside on window ledges did great. That at least gives m a clue how to grow some in crazy off seasons.
As for scratch cooking that’s easy. Been doing that since preschool. Have improved over the years. Can make something good out of almost nothing or a new dish from leftovers. Love foraging and growing. Too old to be worried about years ahead. Time runs out on all of us sooner or later.
As a long term prepper I realized that I have to cook meals and heat shelter. So I have acquired coal when the opportunity presents itself. I buried it on the farm. It will not rot like wood and is quieter than splitting wood. Will save a lot of time. Being part of a group is both good and bad. Each of us must decide for our selves. I think the rabbit not seen doesn’t get eaten! So, our group is just family,so the dozen of us live and work the farm together.
Okay’all,
First off, NOBODY knows how to fix the border or it would have been done. Walls only work when they are manned. See Roman Empire.
Neither the govt nor the press will announce when the food will be gone as that will start a mob/ panic/looting.
Study the Ag reports for each state. Look at the drought maps for the country. That will give you the real info.
Leave religion out of it. God is not going to feed you. Only you can do that. Do plant. If it dies, plant again. Never give up.
As for heat, be flexible. Look at your options. Make do. Passive solar was used in pre-history. Think earth homes which can be imitated with straw or hay bales. It also cuts down on fuel usage.