The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. Check out Wranglerstar’s new firefighting tractor setup! Firefighting Tractor With this years fire season devastating much of the American west coast, this video from Wranglerstar comes in at a critical time. He has basically taken his fire-skid and strapped it down to the forklift attachment of his tractor, giving him the ability to put firefighting gear where it is needed quickly. While he spends time detailing the features of this particular rig, …







Preparedness Notes for Friday – August 03, 2018

August 3rd, 1846 is the day that the Donner party found a note warning the emigrants that their expected route through the mountains ahead was nearly impassable. Hastings, an unscrupulous trail guide had created his own “short cut” route and wasn’t even at the meeting place at Fort Bridger, but had left word for the part to continue on. Hastings had claimed easy passage through the rugged Wasatch Mountains, but had left a note attached to a forked stick for the party explaining that the route was more difficult than he thought. Eventually reduced to cannibalism, only 45 of the …




How To Be A Financial Prepper- Part 3, by Brandon

No matter the crisis scenario for which a prepper prepares, the financial side of preparedness is unavoidable. Items are necessary and they are costly. Most of us have very limited resources, but I know that we can still prepare. I’m sharing the lessons my wife and I have learned. In the first two parts, I talked about budgeting, assessing your financial situation, saving, and now we have begun to talk about the step of living below your means. Saving and living below your means needs to happen concurrently. Reason For Living Below Your Means Living below your means serves several …




Letter: Comments on “How to be a Financial Prepper”

Hugh, I try to read just about everything I can find concerning personal and family finances, not because I am a prepper but because I have responsibilities as a husband, father, and grandfather. As it happens, I am also a prepper and have been one before there was a specific term for the practice. Finances remains one of the single most difficult aspects of our existence for preppers and for those who are not. One of the largest problems is that many of us, as a society, have a dysfunctional relationship with money. Modern society has been constructed largely on …




Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on the effect of higher interest rates on stock markets. (See the Stocks section.)   Precious Metals: Fed Does Nothing To Help Gold o o o Video interview of chartist Gary Wagner: Gold To See “Fireworks” From Trade War   Stocks: Stock Market Outlook: Choppiness Ahead? …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“We’ve forgotten much. How to struggle, how to rise to dizzy heights and sink to unparalleled depths. We no longer aspire to anything. Even the finer shades of despair are lost to us. We’ve ceased to be runners. We plod from structure to conveyance to employment and back again. We live within the boundaries that science has determined for us. The measuring stick is short and sweet. The full gamut of life is a brief, shadowy continuum that runs from gray to more gray. The rainbow is bleached. We hardly know how to doubt anymore.” – Richard Matheson, in “The …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday – August 02, 2018

August 2nd was the birthday of Peter O’Toole (1932–2013). When his name is mentioned, Lawrence of Arabia immediately comes to mind. o o o Praise the Lord! Tommy Robinson is Home! o o o SurvivalBlog Writing Contest This has been another entry for Round 78 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used …




How To Be A Financial Prepper- Part 2, by Brandon

While skills and abilities are invaluable and arguably the most important part of preparing yourself for any disaster, it would be naive for a prepper to decide that it is unnecessary to have “stuff”. No matter the scenario for which you prepare, the financial side of preparedness is unavoidable. In part 1, I talked about the benefits of living debt free and importance of developing a budget and sticking with it to better use resources for preparedness efforts. Now, let’s move forward. Evaluate What’s next? Now that you have your budget, what is the next step (whether you choose to …




The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. There is a great deal on PVS-30s today. PVS-30 I just noticed that Ready Made Resources has a sale on Mil Spec AN/PVS-30 clip-on night vision weapon sights. This is factory reconditioned sight from Knights Armament is only $4695 and comes with a new certificate of compliance. It has the latest Gen 3 light intensification tube and is appropriate for front line, long range scopes. This unit will mount on a rail …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Let me say for the record, Mr. Speaker, not one human death or injury resulting from a grizzly bear attack is acceptable to this Congressman. In fact, it should not be accepted by anyone who values human life. I do not want to have to stand up before a spouse, a parent, a child, brother, or sister who have lost their loved one because of a rare occurring brutal grizzly bear attack and explain that this tragedy would not have occurred had we not introduced this dangerous animal into Idaho in the first place.” – Congressmember Helen Chenoweth




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday – August 01, 2018

August 1st is celebrated as Swiss Independence Day, in recognition of the signing of the Federal Charter of 1291, which united Switzerland’s first three cantons. As of 2018, Switzerland has been free and independent for 727 years. Having a well-armed populace has assured that. o o o SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today marks the first entry for Round 78 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to …




Round 77 Non-Fiction Writing Contest Winners Announced!

We’ve come to the end of Round 77 and these are the editors picks for the winners. If you are one of these winners, please make sure you have sent in your UPS and USPS addresses to SurvivalBlog so that the prizes can be shipped. Any article submitted but not published will be automatically rolled over to Round 78 of the contest. If you are the winner of any of the prizes this contest, please send us your USPS and your UPS/FedEx mailing addresses. First Prize: First Prize goes to B.M. for “Getting Home Long Distance in the Event of …




How To Be A Financial Prepper- Part 1, by Brandon

There are many parts of being a Prepper that do not involve money, or much money. And skills and abilities are invaluable and arguably the most important part of preparing yourself for any disaster. But it would be naive for a prepper to decide that the stuff part of preparing is unnecessary, useless, or just something to be overlooked. No matter the scenario for which you prepare, the financial side of preparedness is unavoidable. Finances, A Very Important Part of Any Prepper’s Life With this in mind, it would seem that having our finances in order would be a very …




Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on 3D Printers. (see the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Gold Bullion Rebounds After US GDP Data Released o o o GOP Congressman Investigates Undisclosed Gold Market Intervention by China and the Exchange Stabilization Fund   Bonds: CNBC reports: This unusual move in the bond market …