Become More Self-Sufficient; Do It Yourself (DIY)

A lot of emphasis is put on survival products and building a storehouse of stuff for an emergency. But, what happens when our funds are used up and the storehouse is bare? What's left? This posting is focused on what you can't get in the store - Experience! When skills are learned, self-reliance is the byproduct. Instead of picking up the phone and pay someone else to fix that leaky faucet, get some tools and a book and learn how to do it yourself. Instead of buying food, learn how to grow it at home. Instead of doing what we all take for granted, begin to realize that you can do it yourself. Little by little, self-sufficiency will emerge and expand to every area of life.

Qualities of a Prepared People are expressed in the way they spend their time before an emergency; the real keys to survival. It is something that no amount of money can buy; the small daily habits that become an innate part of their everyday lives – habits that may not even be noticeable to someone outside the lifestyle. Habits like: Thinking beyond "Plan A" to accept an unexpected setback and adapt another plan to it on the fly. Reacting calmly in a crisis. The ability to calmly accept the event, make a speedy plan and act on that plan. Panic kills. Thinking critically to assess information provided to them and distinguish the difference between facts and manipulations. Carrying a basic emergency kit with them everywhere, everyday, knowing that disasters don't usually give warnings. MacGyver ingenuity. The ability to be inventive, resourceful and imaginative. Thinking outside the box. Living a skills-based lifestyle that focuses on productive hobbies and skills that is closely related to their SHTF plan. Being physically active; working some kind of fitness into their day-to-day lives to stay in good physical shape. Purchases must be multi-purpose to avoid unnecessary stuff. Duct Tape, Vinegar, Baking Soda serve many purposes. Not wasteful by stretching leftovers and supplies, reuse of things that others simply throw away. Always practicing situational awareness where they are to react quickly to a potential threat they have already noticed. Resources: Qualities Of A Real Survivalist

Having bad habits that stand in your way could be just as detrimental to your survival as not arming yourself with the proper skills and equipment. Habits are not limited to addictions but the things we do to waste money and stifle self sufficiency. ALL habits can be overcome starting with and admission and then a determination to win the battle to overcome. Determine to overcome these bad habits: Addictions: Seek professional help but you must admit the addiciton and determine to overcome it. Consumption of unhealthy foods Trash vs Recycling: Reconsider what is "trash" and what is "recycle". We throw out things can can be reused or repurposed. Idle Time can best be used to learn a new skill or improve others. Get off the computer, TV, game console, smart phone and get out and learn. Dependency on Grocery Stores is a waste of money and time that can be used to plant a garden or raise livestock. Hiring "Professionals" instead of using your intelligence to DIY (Do It Yourself) wastes money and stifles your creativity. Learn to DIY! Relying on Medical Aid (doctor or hospital) for every ache, pain and sore ignores our personal understanding of our body. Find natural healing options. Relying on Technology (see the next section on technology) Trusting Too Many People: Choose carefully who you will help and who you will trust to help you to use or obtain resources wisely. Being out of Shape will put a significant strain on your body in a crisis if you have to walk long distances, lift heavy loads, do without food and water. Being sloppy/ unorganized can mean the difference of grabbing the necessary supplies, in a hurry, for survival or doing without in a crisis. Resources: Bad Habits that WILL NOT Help You During an Emergency Bad Habits That Will Kill You

Massive power outages and data systems failures are a result of an aged grid in the US. Additionally, it is very susceptible to terrorism. Unfortunately, most citizens are too reliant on technology. Getting back to basics once in a while will help prepare for the inevitable. Use a map and compass instead of GPS. Start, and reference, a personal library of resources on various topics. Online Book: When Technology Fails

Learn to be self-reliant; the alternative is being one of the hoards of victims/users/takers that will exist, and may be knocking on your door, when an emergency happens. If you are browsing this and similar blogs, you have the potential and interest to be self-reliant BEFORE that day comes. Here are some suggestions to start the journey: [46] Things to Stop Buying and Start Making to Save Money

• Take baby steps. Taking on too much at once, can be discouraging. Do one project at a time; a small one at first; then progress to larger ones to build confidence.
• Get all the details before starting a project so frustration doesn't set in by having to start and stop because something was omitted. The Internet (and library) is filled with resources to help. YouTube is my friend.
• The formulation of independent solutions will emerge. In time, doing for yourself will modify your thinking patterns. Instead of being told what to do and how to do it, your brain will starting figuring it out. For me, it can take quite a while before I start a project. I plant the idea in my head, gather all the information I can, and let it stew in my brain until I have all I need to start the project. Think beyond store-bought solutions.
• Forget the notion that government is the solution. You are the best one to prepare for your individual needs and condition.
• Stay in good physical shape. Diet, exercise and staying away from smoking, drinking and drugs are your first-line defenses to survive a disaster situation.
• Be prepared. Document an emergency plan. At the very least, build a 72-hour Emergency Kit.
• Develop intuition (gut feelings) instead of relying only on rational thinking.
• Develop a survivor personality (flexible, cool-headed, don't give up, accept mistakes and move on). Be adaptable and flexible to change, even in your emergency plan. Life itself is already unpredictable. An emergency will only make things less stable and predictable.
• Build personal survival relationships based on moral and upright principals and character and not on their skillset or what they have. People without morals and upright principals will abandon or turn against you.
• Expand your information sources to different opinions (than what you may like to hear), news broadcasts (foreign and domestic) and cultures
• Learn First Aid
• Learn self-defense
• Secure your premises
• Take a hands-on, practical, basic survival course or go camping and hiking regularly. Occasionally get away from your creature-comforts zone. Know how to build a fire, how to build a primitive shelter, how to find water and how to purify water.
• Learn the "Universal Plant Edibility Test"
• Identifying, gathering and preparing Wild Edible Plants for food
• Learn Ham Radio Operations
• Gardening: Soil, Aeroponics, Hydroponics
• Produce your own electricity without the use of fossil fuels: Solar - Wind - Water (Hydro)
• Staying Warm in the Winter and Cool in the Summer - Naturally
• Hunting, Trapping and Preparing animals/fish (rural and urban) for food
• Soap making from scratch with fat and lye
• Making Ethanol to use as fuel in combustion appliances (after modification), beverage (moonshine), antiseptic or deodorant
• Make your own Personal Care Products
• Making natural Yeast
• Making your own Antibiotics from plants or Medical cures or treatments from Colloidal Silver
• Food Canning and Preservation
• Entertainment and Fun Stuff - Survival doesn't always have to be work. More fun stuff
• Learn how to make your own weapons from common items
• Reloading ammunition
• If you own or want a firearm, take a personal/home defense firearms training class and not just a class that only shows you how to shoot.

With every emergency or natural disaster that comes, the know-how and tactics of survival are improved, based upon ideas and knowledge handed down from survivors. Anyone can find themselves in a sticky situation without all of the gear they'd like to have. But just because you aren't prepared doesn’t mean you can't save the day. Don't let MacGyver have all the fun. Consider these projects to become more self-sufficient in a survival situation; thinking outside the box. Imagination is your best tool. Here are some examples: [Craft Safety Videos]    [Video of Survival Tools Crafted From Ordinary Items] [Prepper Tools]    [Everyday Items You Can Repurpose in a Survival Scenario] [Making Improvised Survival Gear] [Homemade Survival Gear Projects That Could Save a Life] [Search for DIY Survival Gear Projects]

From sheds to furniture, the re-use of the simple Wooden Pallet is limited only by one's imagination. Generally, they are free and come with the nails needed to reshape its next life. Pick your project then search the web for designs or come up with your. The possibilities are endless.

The Self-Sufficiency Standard determines the amount of income required for working families to meet basic needs (including taxes) without public subsidies (e.g., public housing, food stamps, Medicaid or child care) and without private/informal assistance (e.g., free babysitting by a relative or friend, food provided by churches or local food banks, or shared housing) at a minimally adequate level, taking into account family composition, ages of children, and geographic differences in costs. Most U.S. states have designated resources to help its citizens reach a level of self-sufficiency.