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

Being self-sufficient is not [necessarily] doing without but, rather, adjusting our expectations and methods. 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 paying 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. If you can't "do it yourself", Barter with people who can. Reduce your public exposure (off the grid actions). 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. Being prepared for an emergency is more than a gathering of stuff sitting in a duffle bag on a shelf in a closet. It's a mindset that must be fed by everything we do; a habit that must be developed so it's second nature. Don't fear and don't act like a whack job, just visualize everthing, everyday as an opportunity to be ready for anything.

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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. Skills become more than just knowledge, they become instinctual. Live everyday as if it is "the day before" by developing 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 Live Everyday Like a Prepper

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10 Commandments of Survival The world is still scary. At best, all we can do is to continue to learn to be self-reliant and independent to keep our sanity and ability to think rationally under stress. These 10 commandments of survival were set down to help cope with the anxiety and sense of uncertainty about our future as citizens of the world. #1: Have the will to live, no matter what. #2: Be self-sufficient and self-reliant, without wanting or needing excessive government assistance. #3: Seek truth and knowledge (research) as a tool for solving problems. #4: Adapt to the surroundings, wherever they may be. Embracing change as an adventure will reduce stress. #5: Embrace decisiveness as a core value. Doing nothing, or procrastinating, is simply not acceptable. #6: Channel fear into positive actions. Fear translates into submission which results in being controlled. #7: Defend your right to freedom and the tenets of the US Constitution. #8: Respect others and their right to privacy. The time will come when you will want them to respect yours. #9: Pursue love and laughter on a daily basis. Embrace survival as essential, not consuming. #10: Be authentic and real to yourself and to those around you. Don't be spoiled by life, deceit and lies.

Everybody has a plan 'till they get punched in the face. -Mike Tyson- Complacency leads to the death of planning. Reinforcing Prepping Habits increases awareness. When you think you have enough, stockpile more When you think you know it all, learn more When you think you're ready for anything, plan more When you think you have a backup plan, plan another backup When you think your plan is perfect, practice more When you think you're ready, think again When you believe someone will help you when things get really bad, you better reconsider When you think all is well with the world, complacency is setting in

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   [Alt Link] : 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 section, below, 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

Never Stop Learning New Survival Skills: Must Know Skills: Just because the children are in school, doesn't mean you're off the hook! Whether you consider yourself a prepper or not, it's a good time to review some skills, learn some new ones, stock-up on supplies, get prepared and help your children learn the need to prepare for emergencies. Survival Hacks And Skills for Adults and Children: So what can be the most useful survival hacks and skills that can get you out of any hitch? There just isn't one, not two but a lot of them. We will never know what nature, or humans, can throw at us on any given day wherever we are and whatever we may be doing. That's why we should learn to be skillful in so many things and pass them on to our children for their safety. 365 Skills to Learn. Learn how to use manual and electric/battery hand tools for all sorts of repair jobs, DIY projects, and general upkeep. Half the fun of embarking on a DIY project or maintaining your home is choosing the best tools for the job. As the years go by and your projects get more ambitious, you'll likely accumulate hundreds of tools. But these are the essential tools you can't live without, and will turn to them time and again for general upkeep and specialized jobs like a saw, jig saw, drill, wrench, pliers, needle-nose pliers, socket wrench, allen wrench, different types of screwdrivers, claw hammer, chainsaw, clamps, vise, tire guage, wire cutters, tin snips, pocket knife or multi-tool, ladder, soldering iron, sander, and others. 10 Tools Everyone Should Learn to Use 50 Tools Everyone Should Own Videos Skills Every Homesteader Must Be Equipped With. To be an ultimate homesteader requires a set of homesteading skills essential for success. Homestead living, off-grid living, or self-sufficient-living is flat-out challenging. But getting to know these practical homesteading skills will save you from half the trouble of this amazing journey. How did the Native Americans survive? How were they so deftly able to sustain themselves in the unforgiving North American wilderness? Learn here. Community Footwear Tracking, traversing, and hunting stealthily Preserving Meat Clothing and shelter from animal rawhides Observation of nature to predict weather Use plants, herbs, and other life found in nature to heal wounds and treat illnesses Crafting materials from their environment Body Paint for camouflage Clothing for every purpose Hunting and trapping skills and tools for food Water and fire Shelter Nomadic lifestyle to follow food and avoid harsh weather Aquatic Survival: When thinking survival, igniting fires, building shelters, and hiking miles of wilderness may come to mind. While these skill are important, many people don't think about the importance of aquatic survival skills people need to know in order to survive places like rivers, oceans, and other larger bodies of water covering over 2/3 (70%) of our planet. [Aquatic Survival Skills]    [Survive The Open Ocean] Shirt/Blouse as Floatation Device: Tuck shirt into pants. Pull shirt collar snuggly toward your neck as you blow several times into the shirt collar toward the armpit so the air goes to the back of the shirt and inflates the shirt. Keep the collar sealed in front after each blow. Keep hips back (don't stand straight). Pants as Floatation Device: Remove [long-legged] pants. Tie the pant cuffs together (Video 1), button the waist and close the fly, put the pants over your head (cuffs behind and fly under your chin) and fill the waist area with air by holding the waist upside down and quicly splashing into the water. An option (Video 2) is to tie each cuff shut, button the waist and close the fly and fill the pants with air.    [Video 1]    [Video 2]

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, get an old-fashion lawn mower, use old hand tools that don't use batteries or electric, raise/grow your own food. Start, and reference, a personal library of resources on various topics of "manual alternatives" to technology. Are you victimized by technology; is technology controlling you? When technology fails, will you stop functioning like the machines you rely on or will you have the skills and tools to live life as usual? Get back to basics and off the techno-insanity. Online Book: When Technology Fails Gut Instinct vs. Data Take Back Control of Your Time - Social Media Detoxification    [Alt Link] Consider Old School [Blog Link]

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: Things to Stop Buying and Start Making to Save Money Ultimate DIY List Of Survival Hacks, Projects and Recipes [Self Sufficient (Farm) Living]    [Planning a One-Acre Farm]

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.

• 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"
• Learn Ham Radio Operations for emergency communications.
• Identifying, gathering and preparing Wild Edible Plants for food
• Gardening: Soil, Aeroponics, Hydroponics
• Hunting, Trapping and Preparing animals/fish (rural and urban) and raising livestock for food
• 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
• 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.
  
• Educate Your Children at Home or Online
  Other Ideas

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 would 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 by learning to visualize things, not only for what they actually are, but what they could be. Some examples are making a "D" battery from a "AA" battery, a rain poncho from a garbage bag, a medical stretcher from clothes, a bed from cardboard boxes, an arm sling from a grocery bag, and many more ideas explained in the links below. Resources: [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] [Make Primitive Survival Hunting Weapons] [Primitive Tools and Weapons]

While most Americans may not need to learn military time, it's actually quite useful and very easy to learn. Unless you work in an international industry, such as a global airline, most Americans never fully grasp military time. Military time is based on a 24-hour clock, which is why the numbers on the clock go from 00 to 23. Most people, however, use the 12-hour clock, which is why the numbers do not go past 12, and the "a.m." and "p.m." must be used. Basically put, once the hour hand passes 12:59 PM, the military clock starts; 1:00 PM becomes 1300 (thirteen hundred [hours]), 3:45 PM becomes 1545 (fifteen 45 [hours]) and so on. Use the Reference Link below for more details. Reference: Military Time Made Easy

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 own. The possibilities are endless. Furniture Projects Shelters Garden Projects

Vinegar & Salt As a Weed Killer - 1 gallon of white vinegar (acidic to plants) - 1 cup of table, Epsom or rock salt (dissolved completely in the vinegar) - 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap (acts as a surfactant to adhere the vinegar/salt solution to the weeds) P.S.: Salt alone will kill most plants. [Video]    [Concentrated Salt Water to Kill Plants]