Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at some 2025 market predictions. Precious Metals: 2025 Silver Price Predictions. o  o  o Gold set for brightest year since 2010 on rate cuts, safe-haven demand. o  o  o Matthew Piepenburg: Gold in 2025? Tragically Predictable. o  o  o Gold Price 2025 Forecast: Rising Support Sets Stage for Second-Half Breakout. JWR’s Comment:  With …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — January 2, 2025

On January 2, 1492, Muhammad XII, the last Emir of Granada, surrendered his city to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile. This ended both the Reconquista and centuries of Muslim rule in the Iberian peninsula. — January 2, 1890: A record 19.2 foot-long alligator was shot in Louisiana by American businessman Edward Avery McIlhenny. — Today’s feature article was too short to qualify for the judging in the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. We need more entries for Round 116 of the contest. More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, some news on the prepper development of the former Black Hills Ordnance Depot (BHOD). Bunker Residents Raise Financial, Safety Concerns Over at the leftist Yahoo News: Trouble in ‘prepper’ …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — January 1, 2025

On January 1, 45 B.C., the Julian calendar took effect for the first time, by edict of Roman consul Julius Caesar. — January 1, 1583 was the first day of the Gregorian calendar in Holland and Flanders. — On January 1, 1600, Scotland first began its numbered year on January 1st instead of March 25th. — And on January 1, 1788, Quakers in Pennsylvania emancipated their slaves. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Have you heard that the best-selling 1949 survivalist novel Earth Abides finally became a television miniseries?  All of the episodes are now available over at MGM+ and at the computer virus-plagued www.lookmovie2.to. The script writers and producers took some considerable liberties with the storyline, but at least the novel’s basic premise is …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

 “As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow-citizens, the people are confirmed… in their right to keep and bear their private arms.”  – Philadelphia Federal Gazette and the Philadelphia Evening Post, June 18, 1789, commenting on the draft of the Second Amendment, which was then a proposed amendment.


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 31, 2024

On December 31, 1564 William I of Orange demanded freedom of religious conscience for his subjects in a dramatic speech to the Dutch Council of State. — December 31, 1776: Rhode Island established wage and price controls in a failed attempt to curb inflation. The state limited daily wages to 70 cents for carpenters and 42 cents for tailors. — Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog’s founder and Senior Editor James Wesley, Rawles (JWR). — We are in need of entries for thr second month of Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $935,000 worth of …


Demographics, Dollars, and Our Destiny

The United States and many other Western nations are facing a demographic disaster. As I’ve mentioned before in SurvivalBlog, birth rates have fallen below the population replacement rate. In this essay, I will spell out some root causes of these demographic shifts that might surprise you, as well as some practical solutions. The primary cause of the current negative societal trends goes even deeper than a liberalized academic system, an activist mass media spouting progressive blather, entrenched D.C. “Swamp” politicians and bureaucrats, and uncontrolled illegal migration. The taproot of the pernicious weedpatch of our societal problems is monetary.  It all …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, news that some avalanche watches are in effect.. Region-Wide Owyhee protection bill passes U.S. Senate. The article begins: “The Owyhee Canyonlands are one step closer to gaining federal protection. On a Friday voice vote, the U.S. Senate passed the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 30, 2024

December 30, 1865 was the birthday of Rudyard Kipling. December 30, 1903: An electric arc lamp set fire to the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, leaving 602 dead in one of the deadliest single-building blazes in American history. December 30, 1933: A low temperature of -50°F (-46°C) was recorded in Bloomfield, Vermont. (A state record.) — Ready Made Resources is running a big End of Year Night Vision Sale is here! From now until midnight Central Time on December 31st, you can take advantage of some great deals. Stock is extremely limited, so don’t wait—secure your gear today! Plus, every …


Recipe of the Week: No-Alcohol Eggnog

The following recipe for No-Alcohol Eggnog is from SurvivalBlog reader T.W. in New Hampshire. Ingredients 6 egg yolks ½ cup sugar 1 cup heavy cream 2 cups milk 2 cinnamon sticks 2 cloves ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 30 mls Lyre’s American Malt (optional) Whipped cream for topping (optional) Whipped cream and cinnamon for topping (optional) Directions Whisk the eggs and sugar together until the mixture lightens a little in color and goes creamy. An electric beater makes this easier but a traditional handheld whisk works fine. Place cream, milk, ground nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves in a saucepan …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic is a map showing The Loss of Local News: America’s Growing News Deserts. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit. This map was created by Taylor Maggiacomo, Local News Initiative, Northwestern University.) The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       — Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.