Recipe of the Week: Non-GMO Biscuit Mix

The following recipe comes to us from SurvivalBlog reader SaraSue. It is for a homemade non-GMO biscuit mix powder. It is intended to replace commercially-made mixes such as Bisquick, that could include some genetically modified organism (GMO) grain. SaraSue notes: “If you read the packaging on a box of Bisquick, it will state that there […]

A 12-Month Preparedness Checklist – Part 2, by Reltney McFee

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) June June is the month to assess the animals: are their vaccinations current? How is that Veterinary Medic Bag coming along? In addition, while I am out and about, June might be a nice month to function test my generator, and, following the thought that a power […]

Save Money While Preparing for a Crisis

Inflation is in full force. For many of us, money is scarce right now and we’ve had to tighten our belts.

But here’s the irony. Stockpiling emergency supplies including food is more important than ever. So, how do we prepare for an uncertain future without spending a lot of money?

The answer is to spend smartly. And that’s what today’s communication is all about. I’m going to give you some budget-friendly ideas for stockpiling food you’ll need for the next emergency.

And in addition to having the benefit of a food supply with a long shelf life, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re prepared when disaster strikes.

Focus on long shelf lives

Following an emergency, it’s likely the electrical grid will not be functioning properly. So, you want to make sure a vast majority of your food items are non-perishable and have a long shelf life. In the meantime, for items that don’t, rotate them out periodically so they don’t go bad.

Among the philosophies that must become part of your daily life regarding food are the following:

Never pay full price for anything. Always look for bargains. Watch for flash sales. These one-day events offer great savings, but you have to act quickly.
Buy items in bulk at places such as Sam’s Club or Costco. Or when they’re on sale in regular stores.

Cut and use coupons.

Find and use in-store-only offers.

Grow your own food and preserve it. There is tremendous savings in growing fruits and vegetables. And storing some of them for the colder months of the year.

Watch for the best deals on websites such as Amazon. They could have exactly what you’re looking for, at a price much less than what you’d spend at a local store.

Other tips & tricks

One of the first places you want to look at to save money is your weekly grocery bill. If you’re not paying attention, it can really add up. These days, the average couple spends well over $500 a month on groceries. Let’s look at a few simple ways to save.

Make a list. Grocers know how to position products so shoppers will purchase them. If you have a list, you know just what you need (and what you don’t). And of course, if you avoid shopping when you’re hungry, it’s that much easier to resist tempting displays.

Also, choose foods your family will eat. Variety is important, both physically and psychologically. You could buy some of the healthiest food in the store, but if your family won’t eat it, you’ve thrown your money away.

Shop at Aldi. This no-frills chain offers a smaller variety of products. Usually one store brand of each item. If there is an Aldi in your area, you can easily save money on your grocery bill. Prices are often even better than at Walmart.

Aldi stores now offer imported foods, fancy cheeses and lots of fresh (even organic) produce. And you’ll save a few pennies by taking your own grocery bags.

Buy store brands. Buying store brands alone can take a huge chunk out of your grocery costs. Sometimes there will be a brand name item or two you can’t do without. But more often you won’t notice the difference. Except when it’s time to check out.

Buy in bulk. I’m not talking here about warehouse stores, which have membership fees. And usually a minimum price tag of $10 per item. Even in a regular grocery store, you don’t want to buy large amounts of just anything on sale.

It’s about buying more of things you already use often when there’s a significant sale. If it means you shop less often, this can add up to even more savings.

Another item to purchase in bulk is produce. Onions, potatoes, apples, and lemons are almost always cheaper when you buy the bag. Just make sure you actually use them so they don’t go to waste.

Buying beans and grains in bulk can also stretch your dollars while providing hearty, healthy meals.

Use digital coupons. Many stores offer digital coupons not available in the weekly newspaper. To acquire these savings, you’ll likely need to set up an account and check off the coupons you wish to use each time you shop.

Doing this ahead of time as you scan the weekly circular can help you write your shopping list around items with the biggest savings.

Stick to the store perimeter. Center aisles have many expensive, processed foods full of salt, sugar, and other additives. The outside ring of the store is where you’ll find more foods such as produce, meat, and dairy.

You’ll still need to visit the center aisles for a few things. But focusing on the perimeter will give you more bang for your buck. Try leaving your cart at the end of the aisle, and just dash in for the item you need.

Freeze meals. If you’re buying in bulk, you’ll want to make sure things don’t go to waste. You can freeze many items including bread, milk, and chopped vegetables, as well as whole meals. Just remember your power could go out in a crisis.

There are cookbooks with recipes for freezing meals in bulk. When you make a meal, cook enough for two meals so you can serve one and freeze the other. It requires almost no extra work, but will save you time and money.

Use fewer ingredients. Sometimes the simplest food tastes best. But you wouldn’t always know it looking at some of the complicated recipes out there.

Sites such as Allrecipes are great for finding different options for your favorite recipes. And usually the top reviews will include tips on how to make them even easier.

Even more ideas

Here are a few more money-saving strategies when food buying:

Eat before you go to the grocery store. It’s amazing how much more food we buy when we walk the aisles with an empty stomach.
Buy plenty of groceries. Wait, I thought we wanted to save money. We do. This is a good way to do it because it will lead to eating in instead of eating out or ordering in. Just make sure to consume what you purchase.
Watch for daily deals. Websites such as dealnews.com and dailysteals.com offer prices you rarely see anywhere else on a variety of items. Just remember not to buy anything you wouldn’t have otherwise bought.
Look for free food offers and BOGO deals. Usually with free food offers, you only pay shipping and handling. In addition to getting free food, you can determine whether you want to buy more survival food from that company.

We’ve all learned that preparedness is crucial. Regardless of how tight our budgets are. By following some of the suggestions above, we can all afford to be prepared for whatever life throws at us.

3-Month Survival Food Kit

Here’s a great way to add to your stockpile quantity at an affordable price:

The 3-Month Survival Food Kit from 4Patriots comes in two water-resistant, stackable totes. Inside, each food item uses top-of-the-line Mylar pouches – the same material used in NASA’s space suits – to keep air, moisture and light out. So your food stays fresh.

And this is the perfect time to purchase our 3-Month Kit because it’s back in stock. It’s bigger and better than ever. With tons of variety. This is the “done-for-you” solution to your survival food needs.

Designed to last 25 years, this Kit features 688 family-favorite servings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That’s 135,440 total calories.

Plus free gifts including a 72-Hour Survival Food Kit and a Victory Garden Seed Collection, free shipping, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Here’s how to get yours…

Simple Ways to Organize Your Survival Stash

As far as I can tell, there’s only one downside to collecting a wide variety of survival gear. And that’s dealing with the challenge of where to keep it.

Don’t get me wrong – the more you have, the better. But when you start accumulating survival products, they have a tendency to become scattered around your home. And when it’s time to find a particular item, you don’t want to spend a half-hour searching for it.

Today I’d like to talk about some ways to organize your survival stash. Regardless of what it includes.

And that means everything from survival food and water to flashlights and batteries, clothes and medical supplies, and baby and pet items.

Avoid the enemies of survival food

Most survival items you’ll obtain don’t require special storage treatment. But food and water are obvious exceptions.

You want to keep both away from heat, light, moisture, oxygen, and pests. You’ve heard me call them the enemies of food and water, and that’s exactly what they are.

Those enemies can deplete food of nutrients and minerals, and facilitate bacterial growth. And, of course, pests such as rodents and insects can gobble up everything you store if your containers are not secure.

Depending on the shelf life of your food, time can also be an enemy. Keep items that will expire first in the front portion of your supplies so you can easily access them before they go bad and then replace them.

A place for everything, and everything in its place

Once you’ve protected your food and water supplies, turn your attention to organizing them. That way you’ll know right where to go in your basement or other storage areas for exactly what you need at the time.

You also want to organize the stuff you can’t eat. Keep batteries together in one place, as well as flashlights. You probably want to have a flashlight in several different rooms in your home, not to mention your car, but also have one central location for them near your other supplies.

Same with your survival seeds, emergency radios, solar cookers, solar lanterns, power cells, water filters, camp stoves, and generators.

Also have a dedicated space for extra clothes, boots, gloves, hats, and anything else you’d want to wear if the heat goes out or you have to bug out.

Are you using vertical space?

One of the best ways to store a variety of survival items is using vertical space. When you look around most basements, a vast majority of items are no more than a few feet off the ground. If that. Everything above that area that’s not in use is wasted – but very available – space.

Vertical shelving will enable you to store plenty of food items with long shelf lives. Keep heavier items on the bottom shelves and lighter items up higher.

Some of your stash may not fit on shelves, but you still want to get items off the ground to conserve space. You can do this by installing hooks on the walls and rails on the ceiling.

While a basement is ideal for food and water due to its consistently cool temperatures, your garage might be preferable for non-food items that don’t require much in the way of temperature control.

Devote one closet to your stash

In addition to your basement and garage, a closet could be a great place to store some of your survival items.

Depending on how many closets you have in your home, perhaps you could devote the largest one to your survival stash.

Of course, even a closet can get cluttered before long, so formulate a plan for how you’re going to organize it. Then obtain enough bins and other containers to keep items separate by category. And be sure to label your containers so you don’t have to guess what is in each.

That way, when you need a freeze-dried food bag or a water purification item, you’ll know exactly where to look. Same with your energy sources, light sources, first-aid kit, mess kits, and general items.

Check out these done-for-you bundles

It’s very seldom that just one item can fulfill all your survival needs. That’s why 4Patriots offers survival sets and bundles to take care of a variety of needs. These are “done-for-you” offers that start as low as $64.95.

I’ll just quickly mention a couple of them. Our Survival Starter Bundle includes a Patriot Power Cell to charge your electronic devices including your phone, a HaloXT tactical flashlight to light your way and so much more, and a 72-Hour Survival Food Kit to feed you for three days in an emergency anytime over the next 25 years. All for only $79.

Another is our Family Survival Essentials Bundle, priced at $399. With this bundle you get a 4-Week Survival Food Kit, 4 Patriot Power Cells that charge in the sun, and 4 Patriot Pure Personal Water Filters.

There are plenty more choices, so I hope you’ll check out the selection here.

A Get Home Bag Alternative, by Rick S.

Anyone who leaves home should bring a Get Home bag with them. We regularly hear of incidents in which people leave home expecting a 30-minute jaunt in their climate-controlled vehicle only to find themselves in a grim, hours-long ordeal without even a bottle of water to tide them over. In some instances the individuals could […]

Radio Frequencies You Need to Know for Emergencies

I can’t recall the last time I saw a bug-out bag list that did not include an emergency weather radio. It’s a crucial item, and that’s why we at 4Patriots make one available to our customers.

Extreme weather alerts have saved lives on many occasions. Sometimes those warnings have come from a television or a standard radio. Or perhaps through a frantic call from a friend or loved one. Or from a siren.

More often those alerts have come through emergency radios. And they’ve arrived prior to media coverage of weather emergencies.

Sometimes just those two or three minutes can make the difference between life and death for anyone facing an immediate weather crisis.

NOAA emergency radio

Your best bet with an emergency radio is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) radio.

NOAA is a government-operated administration that sends out broadcasts every five minutes 24/7/365 related to storms. Including tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards, as well as solar flares, nukes and other major problems.

Here is a list of NOAA emergency radio frequencies:

163.275
162.55
162.525
162.50
162.475
162.45
162.425
162.40

Following is a list of other emergency radio frequencies you may need at one time or another:

163.5125 – Military national disaster preparedness frequency
163.4875 – National Guard emergency communications frequency
156.80 – International maritime distress channel
156.75 – International maritime weather alerts
155.475 – Emergency communications for police
155.160 – Used by various agencies during search and rescue operations
154.295 – Used by firefighters during emergencies
154.28 – Used by firefighters during emergencies
154.265 – Used by firefighters during emergencies
138.225 – Disaster relief channel used by FEMA
121.50 – International frequency for aeronautical emergencies
47.42 – Nationwide Red Cross channel during humanitarian aid missions
39.46 – Inter-department emergency communications by police
34.90 – Nationwide National Guard frequency during emergencies

CB radio

One way to communicate with family members during an emergency situation when cellphones are not working is through CB (Citizens’ Band) radio.

No license is needed to send or receive communications. Combined with a family disaster plan, it will aid you greatly if cellphone towers stop working.

There are 40 separate channels that CB radios operate on. The only one to avoid is Channel 9, which is reserved for the Emergency/REACT channel.

One thing to keep in mind is that your conversations while using CB radio will not necessarily be secure. Outsiders could be on the same channel at the same time.

Among the other channels are:

Channel 37 – Unofficial Prepper 37 (USB)
Channel 36 – Unofficial Survivalist network
Channel 19 – Used by truckers headed east or west
Channel 17 – Used by truckers headed north or south
Channel 13 – Typically used within campgrounds and marine areas
Channel 4 – Unofficial American Preppers Network
Channel 3 – Unofficial Prepper CB Network

Ham radio

You don’t need a license for CB radio usage, but you do need one for ham radios. It’s an effective way to communicate when other sources are down in an emergency. Not to mention a fun hobby.

Ham radio (also called amateur radio) has its advantages over other communication forms, but it requires some study. And you need to pass a license exam.

A total of 26 frequency bands are used for ham radio. It provides long hours of communication during emergency situations.

It can be used for experiments with easy configurations anywhere. And it can be interfaced with computers for data transmission and reception. Believe it or not, ham radio operators can even communicate with astronauts at the space station.

On the downside, ham radio operations can be affected by weather and terrain conditions. And ham radios require a power source.

Cellphones and weather apps

Simpler but sometimes less reliable ways to receive alerts or communicate during an emergency are cellphones and weather apps. Most cell phones have the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) feature. It sends out a loud tone to warn you of an impending emergency.

These alerts work. Don’t disable them just because the screeching and beeping noises can be annoying. That’s so they will catch your attention. They are designed to only activate phones connected to a local cellphone tower.

There are a number of weather apps you can download onto your cellphone. They include Storm Shield, iAlert, AccuWeather and The Weather Channel. As well as weatherUSA, ping4alerts! and The Emergency Email & Wireless Network.

With Storm Shield, wherever you are, storm-based alerts are available. It does not use GPS, so it shouldn’t wear down your phone battery. iAlert provides weather warnings via text or email. You can select the alerts you want for any of 30,000-plus U.S. cities.

Ping4alerts! delivers alerts regarding weather, traffic and school closures. Plus natural disasters, power outages and more.

Liberty Band Solar Radio

As discussed, a NOAA weather radio is a great way to learn about – and avoid – threatening weather. Having access to critical information is key to surviving in any emergency.

4Patriots has created the ultimate tactical information hub. It’s the Liberty Band Emergency Solar Radio. This lightweight radio features NOAA weather alerts. And it recharges with the sun.

It has seven 24/7 weather channels and AM/FM and shortwave radio. Plus LCD display clock with alarm and an ultra-bright flashlight. It can even power your cellphone when you need it most.

Winter means snowstorms, blizzards and a variety of other severe weather. The Liberty Band will provide you with the advance notice you need to seek shelter.

Get yours here >>

Upgrade Your Bug Out Bag’s Batteries, by Kevin Berg

I recently finished reading another set of doom and gloom novels. I like these stories as they give me ideas of what to do or options to consider if the need arises. After I put the book down, I thought about the equipment that was used and if it was relevant to my needs. I […]

A Young Man’s Preps – Part 3, by St. Leibowitz

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.) Assembling Your Kits You should have or be in the process of getting some kind of long-range weapon and one or two blades for various tasks. These are going to be integrated into your preparedness primarily as hunting and survival tools, though defensive use is of course […]

Ready Made Resources Ultimate BOB Versus a Home-Built BOB, by Tunnel Rabbit

Examining Bob’s Big Bug Out Bag Ready Made Resources lives up to its name in more than one way as a collection and outlet of some of the best prepping equipment and supplies. In total, it represents a substantial body of knowledge and experience, wrapped and stuffed onto a single website. Given that fact, no […]

You Can Stockpile Survival Food While Budgeting

Do you have a stockpile of survival food ready in case of emergency?

If your answer is no, I’ve got a great, free way to get you started. And if your answer is yes, I’ve got a great, free way to add to your supplies. Either way, you win. More on this in a moment.

Winter is on its way. And while there’s never a good time to be out of food, winter is the worst season for this to happen as far as most of us are concerned.

There are a number of problems that could cause additional food supply chain issues this winter. Extreme weather, a pandemic, a rail strike… But when you have a survival food stockpile, you don’t have to worry about that stuff. You have peace of mind.

Nearly 2/3 of Americans living paycheck to paycheck

Now, it’s easy to say, “Get a stockpile of survival food.” It’s another thing to be able to afford it. Inflation has hit all of us very hard.

According to a recent report from CNBC, 63% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That’s nearly two-thirds of us.

Why? Because rising prices are outpacing income gains. There is less cushion in monthly budgets. Anuj Nayar is the financial health officer for the LendingClub report. Here’s what he says.

“Consumers are not able to keep up with the pace that inflation is increasing. Being employed is no longer enough for the everyday American.”

Things are tough; we need to be tougher

As a result, many people aren’t even thinking about trying to stockpile food. They’re focused on surviving until the next paycheck.

And if they are thinking about it, they’re saying they’ll start or continue stockpiling food when things improve.

Well, that seems like faulty thinking to me. There is no guarantee things are going to get better in the near future. In fact, there’s reason to believe they could get worse.

The way things are going in the world, we need to be prepared. Fortunately, there’s a way to prepare for an uncertain future. Even on a tight budget.

Watch for long shelf lives

Today I want to discuss the importance of stockpiling healthy, nutritious food for an emergency. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to do this. There are some simple and inexpensive things we can do now to get ready for a crisis.

Following an emergency, it’s likely the electrical grid will not be functioning properly. If at all. So you want to make sure a vast majority of your food items are non-perishable.

In addition, we don’t know how long an emergency will last. So it’s best to have as much food stockpiled as possible. And make sure most of it has a long shelf life. In the meantime, for items that don’t, rotate them out periodically so they don’t go bad.

If you’re not already in budget mode, try to get there. That means always thinking about how you can spend less and save more. Among the philosophies that must become part of your daily life regarding food are the following:

Never pay full price for anything. Always look for bargains. Watch for flash sales. These one-day events offer great savings, but you have to act quickly.

Buy items in bulk at places such as Sam’s Club or Costco. Or when they’re on sale in regular stores.

Cut and use coupons.

Find and use in-store-only offers.

Grow your own food and preserve it. There is tremendous savings in growing fruits and vegetables. And storing some of them for the colder months of the year.

Watch for the best deals on websites such as Amazon. They could have exactly what you’re looking for, at a price much less than what you’d spend at a local store.

Tips and tricks

Aldi stores now offer imported foods, fancy cheeses and lots of fresh (even organic) produce. And you’ll save a few pennies by taking your own grocery bags.

It’s about buying more of things you already use often when there’s a significant sale. If it means you shop less often, this can add up to even more savings.

Another item to purchase in bulk is produce. Onions, potatoes, apples and lemons are almost always cheaper when you buy the bag. Just make sure you actually use them so they don’t go to waste.

Buying beans and grains in bulk can also stretch your dollars while providing hearty, healthy meals.

Doing this ahead of time as you scan the weekly circular can help you write your shopping list around items with the biggest savings.

Stick to the store perimeter. Center aisles have many expensive, processed foods full of salt, sugar and other additives. The outside ring of the store is where you’ll find more foods such as produce, meat and dairy.

Freeze meals. If you’re buying in bulk, you’ll want to make sure things don’t go to waste. You can freeze many items including bread, milk and chopped vegetables, as well as whole meals. Just remember your power could go out in a crisis.

Use fewer ingredients. Sometimes the simplest food tastes best. But you wouldn’t always know it looking at some of the complicated recipes out there.

Sites such as Allrecipes (AllRecipes.com) are great for finding different options for your favorite recipes. And usually the top reviews will include tips on how to make them even easier.

We’ve all learned that preparedness is crucial. Regardless of how tight our budgets are. By following some of the suggestions above, we can all afford to be prepared for whatever life throws at us.

Free 72-Hour Survival Food Kit

Earlier I promised a free way to get you started on your food stockpiling journey or a free way to add to your stash.

Right now, you have access to a FREE 72-Hour Survival Food Kit from 4Patriots. All I ask is that you pay shipping and handling, which I think is fair.

This kit features a total of 16 servings, with Grammy’s Sweet Oatmeal for the morning, America’s Finest Mac & Cheese for noontime and Creamy Rice and Vegetable Dinner for the evening.

Simple to prepare, this delicious and nutritious food will carry you through a rough 72-hour stretch. And it’s designed to last 25 years under proper storage conditions.

Here’s how to get your free 72-Hour Survival Food Kit…

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