Category Archives: Frugality

Bartering For Preppers

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Bartering for Preppers is a Guest Post by Robert Creech

As everyone who engages in some form of prepping knows, it’s expensive. Most of us will never have all of the gear and resources we want, instead we prioritize and get by with what we can. However I’ve found that many people are leaving money on the table, so to speak, because they have skills (and maybe resources) that they aren’t fully utilizing. Yes, I’m talking about bartering.

You have to remember that every other prepper is like you; they’re trying to acquire skills and resources on a limited budget, to learn everything they can about self-sufficiency. They’re also people trying to make a living and get by, so any opportunity they have to barter, to gain something, is almost always welcome. How about you? Are you willing to teach someone a skill, or trade a service or resource you have?

Do you have a particular skill set that others might be interested in? Maybe you’ve become quite adept at apartment gardening and have perfected ways to grow essential plants in a terrace garden or from balcony planters. You would be surprised at the number of people in your area who would be willing to trade something they have for you to teach them how to start gardening, one of the fastest growing areas of interest among city dwellers.

Maybe you know how to can or preserve foods, how to reload ammunition, how to set snares for trapping, how to secure an apartment from intruders, how to make primitive weapons… almost everyone has skills or knowledge that others would like to have. If yours is academic knowledge, then you can put it in a guidebook or e-book, and offer it that way. And it may not even be prepping related, the skills or resources you have to barter. If you’re a mechanic or plumber you’ll almost certainly find people willing to barter their resources for your time or guidance on a project.

So how do you set it up? Craigslist is perhaps one of the greatest resources people have… the Barter Kings use it for a reason. You can list your skills or resources in two different sections… the first is the For Sale – Barter section, and the other is under Services. Simply write in what it is that you have to offer (or what you will do for them), and what it is you’re looking for. If you want someone to help you set up a solar oven, then say so. Perhaps you are looking for a new backpack because yours is too small, simply tell the reader what you can offer and what you’re looking to get.

More times than not people will contact you offering something other than what you asked for, but that is fine. Bartering is always good and maybe they have something else you can use, or that you can trade further. In fact you might be surprised to find that you like the art of bartering and meeting new people, and at how much you are able to learn along the way. Since you live in an apartment, maybe you’ll be fortunate and meet someone out of town who has property that you can use… for gardening or target practice.

And the final point to this whole bartering activity is perhaps the most important… you will be actively engaging in networking, building contacts and resources along the way, many of whom will be like-minded preppers. Before you know it you’ll be amazed at how much you can acquire and learn through bartering.

About the Author   Robert Creech began a career in law enforcement in the early 1990’s, culminating in serving as the elected Sheriff of his county for two terms. He’s a graduate of two state law enforcement academies as well as many executive level training programs for law enforcement administrators. Robert writes almost exclusively on Squidoo; check out his latest article about Prepping.   http://www.squidoo.com/prepping-preparedness

 

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Short on Cash for Preps this Month? Here are a Few Ideas

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I had to do a double take when I noticed my paycheck this year has gotten much smaller. No, I am not working less hours, in fact, I have had to put in some late nights finishing up projects.  I compared the deductions line by line to see what had changed from last year:  health insurance went up, and mostly, taxes went up.  The country may have stepped away from the dreaded fiscal cliff, but for many workers, payroll taxes have taken a chunk out of their take home pay.

If I am feeling the pinch, I am sure a lot of other preppers out there are feeling strapped for cash as well.  But we don’t want to stop prepping.  Here are a few ideas to help you cope if you find yourself short on funds:

  1. Even apartment dwellers accumulate unwanted items and clutter:  Go through your home and find items you can sell easily such as books, CDs, XBox games.  List them on E-bay or on Zumu.   I have no financial affiliation with them but I have tried selling off items at Zumu myself and was happy I got rid of un-needed items and got a check after a couple of weeks.   I cashed the check soon after and used it for bulk food storage.
  2. Save up for more expensive items such as a good water purifier by setting aside the budgeted amount for the current month to carry over to next month.
  3. Have a no-spend week where you buy nothing that week.  It’s not as painful as you think;  I tried it and described the turn-out here.
  4. Devote the entire month to learning skills instead.  Each weekend, choose one survival skill to try out and devote a couple of hours to learning that skill:  filter and purify water, build a fire without matches, cook over an open flame, build a shelter
  5. If you feel you are already experienced, practice something you haven’t done in a long time.  It doesn’t cost you anything to map out at least three routes out of your city, take a free refresher course at a hospital or Red Cross such as CPR, basic first aid, etc.
  6. Visit your local library, get a library card if you don’t have one.  Check out emergency preparedness and survival books.  If you already have a library card, check your library’s website online.  Most city libraries allow you reserve books that are already checked out.  If you plan ahead, you’ll avoid wasting gas.
  7. Instead of buying more stuff, do a thorough inventory of all your emergency supplies and get yourself organized.  You may be surprised and find things you forgot you had, or find items that can be repurposed for prepping.  How much camping equipment do you have around?  I found some nice sleeping bags we used for a camping trip five years ago that were perfectly fine and only needed freshening up.  We also used the sleeping bags as additional comforters when we had an unexpected cold snap last month.
  8. Even if you have only $5-10 to spare, you can buy emergency supplies at the dollar store
  9. Have you considered barter?  A lot of Craigslist users are not in it for cash, but prefer to barter instead. Again you would have to get yourself organized and find items of value that you no longer need.  Make a list of survival or emergency items that you need.  Then list your items for barter.   If you do try Craigslist, make sure you are mindful of safety at all times.
  10. Sign up for free samples.  Use the free samples to supplement your bug out bag, office emergency kit or personal care buckets.  First, you must set up an email address just for signing up for free samples.  Do not use this email address for anything else.  Google “free samples” and sign up for the sites that look good to you.  Even Target and Walmart have sites designated to give away freebies.  Checking early in the morning seems to glean the best samples as they usually run out later in the day.

Being tight with cash is nothing to be depressed about.  Instead, think of things you can do, instead of what you can’t.  With a little creativity, you can continue to prepare for any emergency whatever your financial situation might be.

 

Learning to Repurpose Items

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Plate

Dessert platter made from mismatched plate and candleholder glued together

It’s no surprise that with prices for food increasing, and income shrinking, families are having to cut back on expenses and find even more ways to save.  Lately, I have been trying to avoid buying new stuff, but rather finding ways to reuse items in other ways:  repurposing.  Not only am I trying to save space, but also trying to save money by giving old items a new use.

So far it’s been very interesting and rewarding to be able to find new uses for old items.  Here are some things I have around:

Old office pencil holder now holds combs and hairbrushes
Old office pencil holder now holds combs and hairbrushes

 

A discarded paper towel cardboard  now holds trash bags reused as trash can liners

 

Old worn out car mat now protects the floor  beneath the cat litter box

I’ll post some more as I find new uses for things.  Not very exciting, but repurposing items can help you save money and time.  And it keeps useful things out of the landfills.  If the economy worsens, then it may become a necessity to rethink of other ways to use stuff.  Might as well start re-purposing now.

 

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Prepping Supplies for 99 Cents

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I hadn’t gone to a dollar store in a while, but on my search for bargains, I decided to check out a few.  Reviews from frugal sites are mixed:  about half of the frugal bloggers like the savings, but another half question the quality of items.  I wanted to see for myself if there are worthwhile items for preppers.

I went to a 99 Cents Only store, a Dollar Tree, and a Dollar General.  I really liked the 99 Cents Only store that I visited, which included produce and a huge variety of items.  The Dollar Tree also had a decent selection.  I was not crazy about the Dollar General, as they had many items that were more than $1, and were actually more expensive than what I normally find at a grocery store.  Your area stores may vary, so I would recommend visiting and comparing before buying.

I bought these commonly stocked prepping items at the 99 Cents Only store:

  • Baking soda (2 for $.99)
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Hydrogen peroxide (large)
  • Bottled water – 1 gallon
  • Bleach
  • Toothbrushes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Matches
  • Disposable gloves

They had a large variety of named brand name canned goods.  However I did not purchase them there as I think I can find cheaper prices for certain items like tuna and tomato sauce when they go on sale at the grocery store.   I also did not pick up items like toothpaste unless they are made in the U.S., as a personal preference.   I bought only consumables.  I did not buy any tools, such as can openers or knives, as I would prefer these items to be long lasting and dependable.  I’ve had some success finding good quality items at Goodwill, but that is for another post.

In conclusion, there are good deals to be found at dollar stores for commonly stocked consumable items.   If you make a note of prices as you shop, you will get a good feel for which items are worthwhile.

 If you haven’t submitted your entry to win 6 #10 cans of Mountain House Chicken and Rice, you still have a few days. Just submit your best preparedness tip for apartment dwellers by emailing apartmentprepper(at)yahoo.com, with “Contest” on the subject line.

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Self Sufficiency Experiment: Make your Own Cleaning Supplies

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In an effort to become more self-sufficient, I decided to try making my own cleaning supplies.  Keep in mind, I am used to having multiple cleaning products under the sink:  grease cutter, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, air freshener, etc.  If it wasn’t a known name brand I avoided it.

THE PLAN:  Use only home made cleaners for one week, no harsh detergents and see if there are any notable differences.

PROCEDURE:   I acquired the following:

Clean spray bottles

White vinegar

Baking soda

Dishwashing liquid

RECIPES I MIXED UP:

All purpose kitchen cleaner:

1/8 cup dishwashing liquid

1 cup of water

Add dishwashing liquid to the squirt bottle, add water and shake well.  Spray on surfaces and wipe down with rags.  Rinse with plain water if necessary.

Scouring Powder

Use plain baking soda as a scouring powder.   Just scrub with a sponge instead of Ajax or other cleanser and rinse with plain water.

Disinfecting spray

1 tablespoon plain bleach

1 gallon of water

Mix the bleach and water and spray on surfaces to disinfect.  This mixture will keep its potency for 24 hours.   You will need to make a new batch for the next cleanup.

Bathroom Cleaner

Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup of water.  Spray on glass,  tub, tile and sink surfaces.  Spray on mirror and use crumpled newspaper to wipe down.

THE RESULT

Surprisingly, the home made cleaners worked well.  The dishwashing liquid/water mixture was actually pretty effective in cleaning greasy stove and counter tops. Scrubbing with baking soda and a scouring pad took out pan crud. One trick that really works is to leave the pans soaking in with warm soapy water before you start scrubbing. (Note: DO NOT use soap on your cast iron pots.)

The vinegar was effective in cleaning the bathroom. I did get a few complaints from the family about the vinegar smell, but they conceded it went away after an hour or so. I used to be really skeptical about using newspaper to clean mirrors, but my mom convinced me to try it. It actually works. It took a bit of elbow grease to make the mirror shine but it did not leave streaks.

I was able to keep the house clean without using commercial brands and harsh detergents.  It took a bit more scrubbing to get rid of certain types of dirt, but everything was just as clean.  I also noticed less sneezing and skin allergies on my part.  Best of all, I saved a few bucks.  Overall, I would call this experiment a success.  I may never go back to buying commercial cleaners again.  Next time, when I am feeling even more ambitious, I will try making home made detergent.

 

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Self Sufficiency Skill: Basic Shoe Care

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One of my earliest memories was of my grandfather showing me how to shine our “church shoes.”  He was very particular about his appearance, but was very frugal so he kept his shoes looking new for years.   In my free spending days, I never bothered to shine my shoes as I got rid of them as soon as they showed signs of wear.  I was not alone in this, as our throwaway society encourages us to replace things as soon as possible.  When I realized the folly old ways, I started taking better care of my footwear and began to utilize the services of a cobbler.   Alas, the lack of customers drove many of the shoe repair stores out of business.   There are still a few around town, but they are a distance away.   As times get tougher, it is worth our time to learn some basic shoe care.  I also believe footwear is important enough to warrant some attention, in case you every have to walk out of the city in an emergency, so you might as well take care of them.

Preventive Care

  • When you buy a new pair of shoes, spray them with waterproofing spray.  We sprayed all our hiking boots with this and they have held up pretty well so far.
  • Alternate shoes between wearings.  Shoes that are worn daily will be susceptible to moisture and odors as they do not get a chance to dry out.  Wearing socks and hose also prevent moisture from seeping into the shoes.
  • To avoid odor problems, swipe the insides with rubbing alcohol and let dry (avoid getting this on the leather) OR dust lightly with baking soda between wearings.
  • Clean the exterior of your shoes as soon as they get dirty.  Even kids’ athletic shoes will benefit from regular cleanings.
  • Polish leather shoes periodically to keep them from getting cracked.

How to Polish Leather Shoes

The steps are pretty much the same as what my grandpa had taught me.  A basic shoe care kit includes:  shoe polish closely matching the color of your shoes, horsehair brush,  rags, old toothbrush.  Here are the basic steps:1.  Line your work area with newspapers.

2.  Clean the surface area of the shoes so they are free of dust.  Use the old toothbrush to clean the edges between the upper and the sole of the shoe.

3.  Lightly apply the shoe polish to the leather in a circular motion.  You will want to get the wax into any cracks as this will condition the leather.  Let it dry for a couple of minutes.

4.  Buff the shoes with the brush using a light back of forth motion, following the grain of the shoes.  You will notice the shoes getting shinier as you keeping brushing.

5. Optional:  Lightly spritz the shoes with plain water and buff with a soft cloth such as an old t-shirt, using a back and forth motion.  This will give the shoes an additional “spit shine.”

5.  Carefully pick up the newspapers as they will have greasy black specs on them from the cleaning process.

Quick Repairs

Complex repairs such as replacing a sole or a broken heel are best done by a cobbler.  Some quick repairs can be done successfully at home with a strong adhesive such as Shoe Goo.  I’ve had some success repairing athletic shoes with Shoe Goo so it is worth keeping the stuff at home.

 

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An inexpensive but helpful gift to keep track of supplies (Iphone or Ipad users)

 

When You Don’t Have Time to Cook

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One of the biggest reasons people give as why they do not cook their own food is, “I don’t have enough time.”  I wonder, is it they don’t have time, or they don’t want to make time?  No time to cook, but has enough time to sit and watch the latest Snooki shenanigans or who got kicked off ____ (fill in reality show name here).  Hmmm…

For those readers who truly want to start cooking more, but feel they do not have time, here is a good solution:  the crockpot!  I recently rediscovered mine and I am using it nonstop.

When I first got it, I was afraid to use it as I had a fear of leaving things plugged in.  But the crockpot uses such low heat, it is not like leaving an iron or the stove on when you leave.  Make sure it is on a flat surface, and not touching anything else, like plastic that can melt.

You set it to cook on low when you leave for work in the morning; by the time you get home you have a meal!  It’s even easier that stopping off at McDonalds!

Another reason I did not like to use it was:  Not enough time to set up in the morning.  My solution is, set up the crockpot ingredients the night before.  Then all you have to do is throw them into the crockpot, set it on low, before you run out the door in the morning.

If you have one, dust it off and try it out, while it’s summertime with no school and less kids’ sports and activities.  Now is the time to experiment with it.  If you are clueless about slow cooker recipes as I was, check out this cool website that posts pictures of what the dishes look like:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2007/12/alphabetical-listing-of-recipes.html  I think is was previously known as A Year of Slow Cooking website.  Another good resource is the Fix It and Forget It Cookbook by Phyllis Pelman Good.Most slow cooker recipes are very easy and quick to set up.  And if you do it consistently, you’ll be rewarded with a hot meal when you get home.

 

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Powdered Milk Experiment

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I ran out of regular milk and was waiting til the weekend to restock.  So I decided to try using one of my powdered milk supplies.   A real emergency is not a good time to be testing unfamiliar food items or supplies, since you cannot afford to waste time or resources at that point.

This brand is a whole milk product.  I followed the instructions and mixed the powder with water and tried out the finished product.

When served cold with some ice, the resulting milk is actually pretty good.  It had a slightly different flavor from fresh milk, but not bad or weird at all.  I used warm water per the directions then added ice.  I thought it would be harder to mix, but the dry powder dissolved pretty well.

Next came the kids’ taste test.  Serve the milk from the fridge, with no ice, just like a normal glass of milk.  They actually liked it!  Also tried it with cereal and it turned out well.

The last test was when I tried mixing the powder with coffee, just like non dairy creamer.  Can you tell I use my favorite Christmas mug all year long?  :)

On hot coffee you had too mix it a bit longer to get rid of any lumps.  But once you mix well, the coffee tasted really good, just like with regular milk.  For folks that like cream in their coffee, powdered milk is not a bad substitute at all, and I am sure it is healthier than nondairy creamer.

I would recommend trying out powdered milk.  Use it for emergencies, to stretch the budget or for use when you run out of regular milk.  But start with a small can first.

 
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Money Saving Ideas for Building your Mini First Aid Kit

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Last post I talked about the contents of “My Pocket Sized First Aid Kit” http://wp.me/p1dmhM-mj .   You can assemble it as inexpensively as possible with the following tips:

  • The main container can be a recycled or re-purposed item, in my example, I used a discarded coin purse.   You can check Goodwill or discount store like the Dollar Store and pick up any small zippered pouch or container:  small camera case, cell phone pouch and reuse it as a mini First Aid kit.
  • You can get a lot of freebies at health fairs, conventions or even at company sponsored charity events such as 5k runs, walk-a-thons etc.  I am not advocating free-loading or taking stuff that is not meant to be given away.  If you are a participant in an event, the sponsors are happy to give out free stuff.  Most of the time they are health related samples.
  • Another way to get freebies is by calling the customer service line of your favorite brands and commenting about the product.  A lot of times, the companies give out free samples.   Also check websites of products you want to try; I’ve received free samples by signing up for their newsletters or filling out a quick survey.  Before you give out your email address, set up a separate email account just for this purpose.
  • Use coupons when buying First Aid supplies; or take advantage of sales combined with coupons at pharmacy discount stores such as Walgreens or CVS.
  • If you have friends or family who are similarly interested, you can buy the supplies in bulk and split the cost with them.  For example, Costco and Sam’s both carry boxes of Band-Aids and single use packets of medicines that usually have too many in a pack for one family.   But if you get together with others, you can spread out the cost and still have a lot to split amongst yourselves.
  • Take advantage of offers to transfer prescription drugs.  You have to buy the prescription anyway, so why not check the Sunday inserts for offers for new or transferred prescriptions  One time, I got a $25 gift card for transferring a prescription I needed a refill for.  I used the gift card for buying First Aid and emergency supplies.
  • I have purchased a few generic aspirin or acetaminophen at dollar stores and found them to work fine.  However, others may disagree and prefer to stick to name brands, pharmacy or store brands.  Just be aware of expiration dates when buying from dollar stores.  “Let the buyer beware,” applies wherever you buy.

 

Savings vs Safety

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Now that gas prices keep rising rapidly, most of us are looking for ways to save money.  Well, that was the idea I had in mind the other day when it was time to fill up my gas tank.

I should mention that due to a preparedness mindset, I try not to go too far below half a tank of gas, maybe a quarter tank at the very least, when I go fill up again.  This way, if something happens that we have to leave quickly, we don’t have to worry about stopping for gas right away.  So I was not desperate to find gas.

I thought I’d try finding a cheaper gas station than the one in my area by using one of those gas price shoppers.  The gas station in my area is very clean with nice amenities like paper towels, window squeegies, and glass cleaners always filled up and ready.  I like that gas station, but lately, their prices are at least .10 per gallon higher than everywhere else.   So I kept driving a few blocks past my familiar areas until I got to the gas station I found on the website.  This one was the exact opposite:  the trash cans were overflowing, with litter strewn around the sidewalks.  The area was also run down.  But it was .15 per gallon cheaper, so I was willing to put up with the inconvenience.  I looked around and saw there were a couple other cars over at the next aisles filling up.  I went to pay for my gas in cash.  Because I don’t like to attract attention I left my purse in the seat, covered with a jacket, with only my cash and my pepper spray in my pocket.  As I was filling up the tank, a beat up looking truck pulled up really close to my car.  A burly man in a white tanktop and loose overalls came out of his truck and approached me.  There was no place to go, all I could do was keep my pepper spray in my hand.  He asked me if I was from the area, I said no.  Then he said, can I spare a few bucks so he can get some gas, and I told him sorry, I spent my last dime on the gas I just put in.  He seemed to hesitate, got in his truck and went to the next aisle where the other people were filling up.   I quickly replaced the nozzle and took off.

Whew!  I sure was lucky he was just “asking” for money!  I would not have been so lucky if he was there to rob me.  He could have blocked me with his truck and threatened me somehow where would that  have ended up?  I had the pepper spray which gave me a bit of confidence but you still never know.

I told my husband about my misadventure and he asked me how much as I saving.  I told him, to which he said, at $0.15  per gallon, even if you put in 20 gallons, you would have only save $3, is that worth your life?   That certainly puts it into perspective.  Now I am not so gung ho about saving a couple of bucks if it means compromising my safely.  This just goes to show, some money saving tips my sound good on paper, but not so great in the real world.

Still, I have not given up in my money saving quests, I’ll just be more choosy about which tips to try next time.