Preparedness for when

Karmacat

mardatha wrote: »

Catching up here, been busy and out a lot. Not happy at all with the way things are going re the govt, and the amount of hate levelled at the SNP.
Not in here of course, I mean elsewhere. I see things getting a lot worse.

I'm glad you've been getting out, mar - temperatures are better up there now? I remember you were quoting below zero very recently

There definitely seems to be a campaign going on against the SNP ... I watch the Daily Wail picking its pictures and their captions very carefully.

I feel spoilt for choice as to what to do next for preps .... there's so much! I watch out for Greek news too a lot of stuff looks really horrendous, everywhere I look.

moneyistooshorttomention

So - what's "odious debt"?? Is this a subjective thing or is it debt incurred for something that we would all disapprove of or that's been forced onto the debtor iyswim?

How widespread is it that derivatives come first for payment before yer-ordinary-person-in-the-street? - ie would that just apply to Greece or the rest of the EU or us too? Thinks...:think: - an Idiots Guide to Derivatives would come in handy at this point...

I have gathered Deutsche Bank is in trouble if the Greeks default and it does seem wrong for the efficient Germans to be exposed to all this...(sorta feels like the careful being pulled down by the f*ckless and that aint the right way round...).

Frugalsod

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

So - what's "odious debt"?? Is this a subjective thing or is it debt incurred for something that we would all disapprove of or that's been forced onto the debtor iyswim?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odious_debt

Much of the debt was added to bail out the Greek banks, and then the foreign banks and so could be questionable.

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

How widespread is it that derivatives come first for payment before yer-ordinary-person-in-the-street? - ie would that just apply to Greece or the rest of the EU or us too? Thinks...:think: - an Idiots Guide to Derivatives would come in handy at this point...

This is a recent change. It was sneaked in by Citibank in the US budget. There is a good chance that it has been applied here as well.

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I have gathered Deutsche Bank is in trouble if the Greeks default and it does seem wrong for the efficient Germans to be exposed to all this...

The Germans are in trouble no matter what happens. The banks have been reckless for years. German banks were bailed out to the sum of €119 billion by the Irish government alone. If they had to write that lot off they would be in trouble. Add in they have loans outstanding all over Europe and many nations are struggling under a pile of debt. The fact that the German tax payer is now liable because German banks are the big paymasters of German politics means that they passed all their bad debts on to the tax payer. Politicians did this to keep the political funding going and avoid a problem with a backlash when the banks collapsed. Ours did it as well.

Germany also has one of the worst demographic problems in Europe alongside Italy, which will cause poverty there. While you might not hear of it but Germany has quite a significant poverty problem with millions close to the poverty line or below it.

Penny-Wise_4

I started reading this thread a couple of days ago, got up to page 24 and wondered just how many pages I had to go until the end... :eek:

I hope I'm not too late to join the prepping party

I have about 3 weeks food stocked up - well 3 weeks worth of calories - it'd make some odd meals. That's not including the fresh and frozen stuff, my garden and the eggs from our chickens.

I'm building up our dried and tinned foods - to around 3 months worth - we're prepping for emergencies and for if my husband loses his job - he does have pretty good job security - but he can't get life/unemployment insurance and although we could scrape by without his salary a food store would make things a lot easier.

For short/long term emergencies were not in a bad situation we live in a tiny rural village, we have a rain butt, a freshwater spring in our field (tho no pump) a septic tank (no where near the spring fortunately!) and have an lpg tank - so we could cook for quite a while on a gas hob. We always have something growing in the veg garden and I know quite a few wild edibles that grow on our property that can be eaten when the garden is a bit sparse. Lots of rabbits here and we're about 2 and a half miles away from some very clean beaches so we could potentially get mussels, shrimp and clams.

We have a spinning wheel, a loom, can knit, crochet and sew and I have been learning about natural remedies from herbs and weeds.

Everyone we know who thinks about prepping says if anything happens they are coming to our house lol.

A big thing we are missing is a fireplace for heat, but unfortunately we don't have a single one. Can you use a greenhouse paraffin heater inside? Or would we get carbon monoxide poisoning?

daz378

Penny your welcome to join our party....we are an easygoing bunch, always ready with tips and advice if needed or just even saying hello

nuatha

Penny-Wise wrote: »

I started reading this thread a couple of days ago, got up to page 24 and wondered just how many pages I had to go until the end... :eek:

Yep, we can talk - some days we can add quite a few pages to that moving target.

I hope I'm not too late to join the prepping party

Its never too late.

I have about 3 weeks food stocked up - well 3 weeks worth of calories - it'd make some odd meals. That's not including the fresh and frozen stuff, my garden and the eggs from our chickens.

You're better placed than many, and access to a spring makes me jealous - buckets were invented long before pumps.

A big thing we are missing is a fireplace for heat, but unfortunately we don't have a single one. Can you use a greenhouse paraffin heater inside? Or would we get carbon monoxide poisoning?

I wouldn't use a parafin heater without very good ventilation. As a child the family used a parafin lantern to prevent the pipes freezing in the downstairs loo, but only because it was well ventilated. Even during the 3 day week and the major coal shortage that went along with it, the paraffin pressure cooker was only used outdoors and the greenhouse heaters stayed in the greenhouse.

One effective simple heater you'll come across while reading the thread is made from terracotta flower pots and some stainless bolts, the heat actually comes from a nightlight candle.

Welcome to the madhouse.

Frugalsod

Penny-Wise wrote: »

I started reading this thread a couple of days ago, got up to page 24 and wondered just how many pages I had to go until the end... :eek:

I hope I'm not too late to join the prepping party

The only time it is too late is when you see the SHTF on the news, and then you start to think about it.

Penny-Wise wrote: »

I have about 3 weeks food stocked up - well 3 weeks worth of calories - it'd make some odd meals. That's not including the fresh and frozen stuff, my garden and the eggs from our chickens.

I would opt for preparing for a longer period. Though if you have just started that is a good start, better than most. If you fear hyper inflation then you probably need a couple of years of food to get through most hyper inflationary spells with minimal impact.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperinflation

Penny-Wise wrote: »

I'm building up our dried and tinned foods - to around 3 months worth - we're prepping for emergencies and for if my husband loses his job - he does have pretty good job security - but he can't get life/unemployment insurance and although we could scrape by without his salary a food store would make things a lot easier.

Best thing to do, would be change things now to cut your normal weekly expenses. This has two benefits. First if you had to live off the dole then you are better prepared as your weekly expenses are lower. I try and keep my normal expenses to a level low enough that having to live off the dole is manageable. Any excess money over and above that can be used for prepping or fun.

Second it allows you more funds to boost food stocks pay down debts and fix things while you can.

The most likely outcome should your OH lose their job is that they find a job at a much lower pay level. So by cutting your overheads now you will find that you will be able to cope with a drop in pay far more easily.

Penny-Wise wrote: »

For short/long term emergencies were not in a bad situation we live in a tiny rural village, we have a rain butt, a freshwater spring in our field (tho no pump) a septic tank (no where near the spring fortunately!) and have an lpg tank - so we could cook for quite a while on a gas hob. We always have something growing in the veg garden and I know quite a few wild edibles that grow on our property that can be eaten when the garden is a bit sparse. Lots of rabbits here and we're about 2 and a half miles away from some very clean beaches so we could potentially get mussels, shrimp and clams.

Maybe get a pump to get some water into the house?

Penny-Wise wrote: »

We have a spinning wheel, a loom, can knit, crochet and sew and I have been learning about natural remedies from herbs and weeds.

Keep going. You might discover a few more and be able to grow more medicinal plants as well.

Penny-Wise wrote: »

Everyone we know who thinks about prepping says if anything happens they are coming to our house lol.

As long as you make it clear that they need to bring something useful to the party then they are welcome.

Penny-Wise wrote: »

A big thing we are missing is a fireplace for heat, but unfortunately we don't have a single one. Can you use a greenhouse paraffin heater inside? Or would we get carbon monoxide poisoning?

Personally there are other options. If you have insulated your home as much as possible then the needs for heating can be reduced significantly. The most efficient homes do not need heating at all and normal body warmth is sufficient though maybe look at getting tea light heaters. These can be very cheap to run as well.

Solving all your draught problems will also have a very high rate of return so should be the first priority.

If you have access to some fuel then a wood-burning stove or multi-fuel stove could be handy. Something like an Aga could solve many such problems, plus heat water as well.

jk0

I've got one of these:

http://www.riverswayleisure.co.uk/catalytic-portable-portable-gas-heater-3-4kw.html?gclid=CjwKEAjwtYSsBRCDx6rM1v_uqmsSJAAZgf2qui9Clgo1DUy16F7cb1Of8-k5nRgBW_yrle3fllp8sRoCal7w_wcB



I think they're far preferable to paraffin. Mine is still in its box though as it's just for emergencies.

Penny-Wise_4

Frugalsod wrote: »

Best thing to do, would be change things now to cut your normal weekly expenses. This has two benefits. First if you had to live off the dole then you are better prepared as your weekly expenses are lower. I try and keep my normal expenses to a level low enough that having to live off the dole is manageable. Any excess money over and above that can be used for prepping or fun.

Second it allows you more funds to boost food stocks pay down debts and fix things while you can.

The most likely outcome should your OH lose their job is that they find a job at a much lower pay level. So by cutting your overheads now you will find that you will be able to cope with a drop in pay far more easily.

We've already done this as much as we want to, right now. When we get an increase in income, we decide what we want to do with the extra money - and very rarely is it to increase our personal expenses. We keep our household bills and debts to a minimum, and are hoping to be mortgage free in 5 years, (4 years off a 15 year term).

There are places we definitely would tighten our belts if OH lost his job before those 5 years are up, or if something else happened, but we don't see the need to do that now - because you need to enjoy life not just survive it.

Frugalsod wrote: »

Maybe get a pump to get some water into the house?

We have thought of this but the spring is at the bottom of a hill & we are at the top - that's a lot of pumping if you have no electricity - and I wouldn't like to rely on solar power in Wales. One thing we can usually rely on is rain though, so we're more likely to set up a lot more rain barrels and have the spring & buckets as a backup.

Frugalsod wrote: »

Keep going. You might discover a few more and be able to grow more medicinal plants as well.

I've started a herb garden some culinary, some medicinal - and some soapwort for cleaning

Frugalsod wrote: »

As long as you make it clear that they need to bring something useful to the party then they are welcome.

It's mainly my sister who says that - and she has her own 'Armageddon cupboard' under the stairs.

Frugalsod wrote: »

Personally there are other options. If you have insulated your home as much as possible then the needs for heating can be reduced significantly. The most efficient homes do not need heating at all and normal body warmth is sufficient though maybe look at getting tea light heaters. These can be very cheap to run as well.

Solving all your draught problems will also have a very high rate of return so should be the first priority.

If you have access to some fuel then a wood-burning stove or multi-fuel stove could be handy. Something like an Aga could solve many such problems, plus heat water as well.

We gutted the house when we bought it, and converted the loft, & anywhere we could shove insulation, we did - in the walls, ceilings, roofspace etc. The outside walls have cavity insulation and the windows and doors are all double glazed. But we have big rooms with tall ceilings and they are difficult to heat. When we gutted it though, we were living in it still (to save money) and we spent a couple of winters without much insulation and without central heating. We did have a couple of oil filled radiators and electric blankets though. We know we could do it, we just don't want to. lol.

We always have fuel just nowhere inside to burn it, and though we have places we could put a stove, there is just nowhere to put a chimney - and though I'd love one, our kitchen budget doesn't stretch to an aga .

Penny-Wise_4

jk0 wrote: »

I've got one of these:

http://www.riverswayleisure.co.uk/catalytic-portable-portable-gas-heater-3-4kw.html?gclid=CjwKEAjwtYSsBRCDx6rM1v_uqmsSJAAZgf2qui9Clgo1DUy16F7cb1Of8-k5nRgBW_yrle3fllp8sRoCal7w_wcB



I think they're far preferable to paraffin. Mine is still in its box though as it's just for emergencies.

I think we actually have one of these at the back of the garage. I'd forgotten about it.