Category Archives: Holidays

Criminals are Targeting You

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GrinchWhile everyone is busy trying to make a bright Christmas, criminals are targeting people, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting.

  • At a time of year when people are ordering and sending a lot of gifts, thieves are stealing delivery boxes sitting in front porches.
  • Women are being victimized as they are putting gas in their cars by “sliders.”  The thieves park in the next space, quickly open the unlocked front door, grab the purse and drive away.  
  • Even large stores are not safe:  a Walmart at a large intersection was robbed during busy daytime hours, as the pair peppersprayed a cashier and grabbed the cash out of her cash register.

Don’t let your joy be stolen by taking a few precautions:

  • Many apartment buildings have leasing offices that will accept deliveries; let them know you are expecting a package and pick up your items as soon as you get home.  If that is not possible, use “Signature delivery” for orders or gifts that are being sent for delivery.
  • Always lock all your packages in the trunk.  Thieves walk around parking lots looking for cars with packages that are left on the seats in plain view.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and don’t be walking around texting or with a cell phone stuck to your ear.
  • Don’t wear flashy jewelry or carry a large expensive purse when you are out and about – this will just attract unwanted attention.
  • If you are paying cash, be discreet about it and keep your cash in your front pocket.
  • Don’t announce to social media such as Facebook or Twitter that you are planning big purchases, going out shopping or leaving for the holidays.
  • When you park your car anywhere look around to see who is hanging around the area
  • Pay attention to the ATM machine that you are using.  There have been several cases of ATMs being altered to capture passwords and account numbers.  In all the cases, the ATM machine is described as slightly off or different from others.
  • When arriving home, shut your garage door quickly before unloading any packages.  You are still vulnerable in your driveway, as you start to let your guard down.
  • Lock your car at all times, even if you are just running in to pay for gas, or even if you are standing next to your car filling up the tank.
  • Tear up all boxes especially big ticket items such as TVs and computers.  Don’t just leave these boxes in the curb during trash pickup; this is advertising to thieves that you just unpacked some fresh loot.

Some people may say this is paranoia but I say it’s not being paranoid you if you really are being targeted.  Christmas is a time of goodwill to all, but it is not the time to drop your guard.  Pay attention to safety and security at all times.

 © Apartment Prepper 2013

Looking for a last minute gift?   Consider The Prepper’s Pocket Guide!  Great for beginners, and lots of great tips for everyone:Bernie’s Book is Available in Amazon

Remember to Give Thanks for all Your Blessings

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thanksgiving-centerpiece-with-silver-pumpkins-bhg

As we celebrate Thanksgiving 2013 in the midst of a difficult economy,  multiple natural disasters in recent months, worldwide protests and unrest,  we are grateful to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends.

Having a preparedness mindset, I realize all the things that can fail in our system. But I am grateful for things that have not failed.  We have a roof over our heads, water in the tap, gas in our cars, and are able to find a variety of food at the grocery store.  In this day and age of commercialism, people tend to forget what this time of year means.  It is time to give thanks to God for all the good things that have gone on in your life.  I hope Thanksgiving is not eclipsed by all the emphasis on Black Friday and marathon shopping days ahead.  We should not take anything for granted.  Let’s be thankful for what we have and be mindful of our blessings.

I’d like to thank our sponsors, whose support helps maintain the blog.  My greatest thanks to you, dear readers, for taking the time to share part of your day with me.  We hope we can all celebrate many more abundant Thanksgivings to come.  

I wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday.

 

Sing to the LORD a new song, a hymn in the assembly of the faithful.  Let Israel be glad in their maker, the people of Zion rejoice in their king.  Let them praise his name in festive dance, make music with tambourine and harp.  For the LORD takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory.  Let the faithful rejoice in their glory.     

Psalm 149

Happy Easter to All

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Bluebonnets

For God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3:16

I wish you and your families all the joys and blessings of Easter.

 

How Preppers Help their Communities

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Today as we celebrate Martin Luther King Day our thoughts turn to Dr. King’s life and legacy.   I wanted to focus on what  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Unlike other holidays, the King holiday is celebrated as a day of service.  Not just a day off from work to sleep late and go shopping, it is a time to remember King’s dream for all people and his life of service.

What’s this got to do with prepping?

Well, negative publicity and comments in the media have implied that preppers are selfish in only looking out for themselves and their own families.  This mistaken idea that prepared people don’t care about others is far from the truth.   Many preparedness and survival experts recommend setting aside some of one’s own supplies to give to others who may be in need.   You may do it without fanfare, and anonymously, but it is giving nonetheless.  Many preppers who have stockpiles choose to donate to to food banks and other charities and share the bounty.

Other preppers get involved in groups that help their communities be more prepared, or actually get involved in disaster relief efforts.

At the same time, many individuals choose to give of their time and knowledge by showing others how to be more self-sufficient and prepared for the next disaster.   Free information on how to prepare for disasters or acquire skills is freely given.  You don’t need to spend money to be charitable.  Just the simple act of showing someone who is willing to learn how to do things is helpful enough.

As we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy, let’s consider using this day to do some something for others.  To all the preppers out there doing service to others, not just today, but everyday:  thank you and please keep up your great work.

Quick Update:

Promising new additions to Blog Links:

I was contacted by Dennis Evers about his new resource for “hands-on” preppers.  Below is a description of his new site:

Preppers are typically “hands-on” kind of people, and with that in mind, a new website; “Preparedness is Fundamental”, has just been launched that features articles and short how-to videos on prepping for anyone that doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. One video shows you how you can secure as many perfectly good batteries as you want for free while another walks you through the easy construction of a super bright, rugged 12 Volt LED prepper light for around $6.00.

Other information includes how to build a solar generator, gardening, free prepper materials and discount codes, while upcoming videos and how-to articles deal with a serious homemade smoker for under ten bucks, LED security lighting, long term food storage, seed preservation and more.

To the first 50 visitors “Preparedness is Fundamental” is offering a free eBook; “How to Handle a Crisis” (a $4.99 value) which deals with all types of disasters, terrorism, CBRNE, medical crises and survival.

 To visit, go to http://proficientprepping.wordpress.com/

 

I’ve also added a link to Prepper Next Door, the blog companion to one of my favorite preparedness books:  The Prepper Next Door: A Practical Guide For Disaster And Emergency Planning.

 

 

 

For beginning preppers

 

Rotate your Food Storage for your UpcomingThanksgiving Feast

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Rotating cansThis week before the Thanksgiving holiday, while you are planning your Thanksgiving feast, consider inspecting your your food storage and see if you need to start rotating some of your items.  I’ve only been prepping for a couple of years, but have found a few stored foods are starting to approach expiration dates.

So why not include some of your food storage items for Thanksgiving?

A few ideas:

  • Canned corn and green beans can be added to casseroles
  • Mountain House Noodles and Chicken makes a tasty meal all by itself
  • Use rice, chicken bouillon, dehydrated celery and dehydrated onion in your stuffing
  • Use your stored vegetable or olive oils before they go rancid.  Oils only last about a year in storage before flavor starts to degrade
  • Canned pineapple or peaches can be used for pies.
  • Flour and yeast can be used for your artisan bread

Conversation Starter

It’s a good bet that at least 80% of your guests will not be preppers, and may have misconceptions about stored food.   A lot of people still think that emergency food is mostly dry nutrition bars that no one likes.  While your guests are raving about your dishes, and talk turns to recipes and ingredients, casually mention that some of those tasty foods are actually from your storage pantry.   This may change their minds about the benefits of  storing foods:  convenient, delicious and cost-effective.

Review your Recipes Ahead of Time

As with any meal planning, you need to be familiar with the recipes you are making ahead of time.  Making something new that you have no idea how it’ll turn out may cause regrets.  I’ve had a few failures trying out new, untested recipes for a big event, so I don’t recommend it.  Use tried and true recipes especially if you are using food storage, and leave experimentation for another time.   Some good resources for planning meals:  The Prepper’s Pantry: Building and Thriving with Food Storage by Anne Lang and 100-day Pantry: 100 Quick and Easy Gourmet Meals by Jan Jackson.

Rotate your Stocks

I hate wasting anything, and using some food storage for a nice meal would be worthwhile.  Remember to replace what you just used with more recently purchased items.

 

 

For more preparedness tips, read my book:

Good ideas for building a food storage plan can be found here:

 

Happy Independence Day!

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I wish everyone a Happy 4th of July!  As we celebrate our country’s independence, let us remember all the heroism and sacrifice that went into gaining and maintaining our freedoms.  At the same time, it’s a good time to consider our own personal independence from whatever keeps us from living our best life:  freedom from debt, consumerism, destructive habits or even over-reliance on the system.  We can’t all be off-grid, but we can all learn to be a little bit more self-sufficient as our freedom loving ancestors had been.

Enjoy!

Easter Blessings to Everyone

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Wild flowers

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead … 1 Peter 1:3

Amidst all the eggs and bunnies galore, let us all remember what we are truly celebrating.

I wish you all the joy and hope of Easter!

Happy New Year from Apartment Prepper

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Fireworks

The much anticipated (or dreaded) 2012 is here!   Even if you tried, it’s hard to miss all the doom and gloom apocalyptic themed shows with all sorts of predictions on 2012.  It’s also hard to discount that there have been all sorts of grim economic news, unprecedented natural disasters and a plethora of threats.  But let’s remember one thing:  we’re still here.  We’ll do the best we can to prepare and survive whatever comes along.  Best of all, we’ll do it together.

I wish you all a prosperous, safe and blessed New Year!

 

For fast and easy tips to become more prepared, read my book:

 

Preparedness and Providence

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Winter scene

photo from localweatherjournal.blogspot.com

I read with interest the story about the Texas family who got trapped beneath a snow drift in New Mexico.

From what I read in the story, the family appeared to have come prepared.  They had plenty of water, food, and warm clothing; supplies that any of us would have acquired.  However, as time went on, they began to lack the most crucial, yet least controllable item in the survival rule of three: air.   Luckily, they were rescued before they completely ran out of air.  The story has a happy ending.

I believe Providence was evident in the fortunate turn of events.   We can prepare as much as we can and plan for various possibilities 80% of the time.  And I have no doubt the family’s emergency supplies sustained them during their long ordeal.   However there is still that 20% that is unforeseen and uncontrollable.  That’s where God’s grace come in:  He’ll give us the strength and fortitude to get through anything.  It is said God helps those who helps themselves.  We can prepare what we can, He’ll do the rest.

This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, it would do us well to remember to prepare ourselves on the spiritual side as well.   Let’s be grateful for all our blessings, do good works, and pray for God’s grace.  With His help, we’ll be ready for anything.

Thanks for stopping by on this holiest of days.  I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!