I subscribe to a blog by the Survival Mom.  She usually has some great tips on prepping and although I am not what I consider a hard core "prepper".  Her insight does make sense.  This is why I decided to share this article by her.  I have to agree we are in a grace period and I plan on going through some of the steps she has here and make sure our household is on the right track.

In a recent interview with the Outback Doc, he made a passing comment that we are living in a grace period.  I couldn't agree more.  A Day of Reckoning is coming, but until then, we can prepare, prepare, prepare and do our best to mitigate the impact that Day will have on ourselves and our families.  How do I know that day is coming? Consider these stats:

During 2011, U.S. debt surpassed by 100% our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for the first time ever in history. The unemployment rate for young people is downright depressing.  Depending on where you live, it's more than 20% and in some places as high as 33%.  The poverty level in the suburbs has climbed:

And I thought this observation was good too.

But the best indicator of what is happening with our economy is your own observations.  What do you see in your part of the country?  Are you seeing "Help Wanted" signs everywhere and full sections of jobs available in the classifieds?  Are new businesses and restaurants opening or do you see one after the other closing their doors?  What is the vacancy rate in the strip malls that you drive by every day?  Are families dropping out of costly extracurricular activities for their kids or is business booming for music teachers, dance studios, and tutors?

http://thesurvivalmom.com/2012/01/19/the-secret-of-the-grace-period/

Toy

She is soo right, it will not get better before it gets worse. The question is how bad will it get?

Quote from: Solar on February 20, 2012, 09:00:36 AM
She is soo right, it will not get better before it gets worse. The question is how bad will it get?

Probably worse than we can imagine.  I was at blaze.com when I came across this article "39 things you need to store" or something like that. Said the video would last 5 minutes so I clicked to watch. He went on and on and on and never did get to the items I needed to store. Guess it was a gimmick to get me to buy a video or something so I clicked him off. Grrr.......

Quote from: Holly on February 20, 2012, 12:22:43 PM
Probably worse than we can imagine.  I was at blaze.com when I came across this article "39 things you need to store" or something like that. Said the video would last 5 minutes so I clicked to watch. He went on and on and on and never did get to the items I needed to store. Guess it was a gimmick to get me to buy a video or something so I clicked him off. Grrr.......

Holly if you get a chance do check out the SurvivalMom site.  She has a lot of suggestions of how to get started.  there are quite a few great topics on here as well.
Toy

Quote from: Solars Toy on February 20, 2012, 12:24:43 PM
Holly if you get a chance do check out the SurvivalMom site.  She has a lot of suggestions of how to get started.  There are quite a few great topics on here as well.
Toy

Thanks...will do....

Quote from: Holly on February 20, 2012, 12:22:43 PM
Probably worse than we can imagine.  I was at blaze.com when I came across this article "39 things you need to store" or something like that. Said the video would last 5 minutes so I clicked to watch. He went on and on and on and never did get to the items I needed to store. Guess it was a gimmick to get me to buy a video or something so I clicked him off. Grrr.......

You see, that's the thing, it won't be all that bad for ST and me, but that isn't to say times won't get desperate for someone in my area looking to rob someone like me that did prepared.

In turn, making it bad for everyone.

Hey ST thanks for the link.... ;)

I wouldn't call it a grace period I don't think.... then again,,,who knows.  I would call it a get ready to boil up some mountain dew cuz its gonna get bumpy...
I watch gas prices as a sign of things to come.... right now they are climbing,,,later it will go nuts with price hikes to even that out. I've also kept my ears open for crops.  I know olive oil is going to go up.... things like that. Its better to have then to have not in alot of things. I live in Illinois so I am thinking my state is headed straight down the economic flush probably sooner then some other states...
As it is now,,,my pantry has been (family member) shopped to where I am forced to  start the major refill,lol.... I can laugh,,,,but that's another indication....

Quote from: Elfie on February 23, 2012, 07:36:55 AM
I wouldn't call it a grace period I don't think.... then again,,,who knows.  I would call it a get ready to boil up some mountain dew cuz its gonna get bumpy...
I watch gas prices as a sign of things to come.... right now they are climbing,,,later it will go nuts with price hikes to even that out. I've also kept my ears open for crops.  I know olive oil is going to go up.... things like that. Its better to have then to have not in alot of things. I live in Illinois so I am thinking my state is headed straight down the economic flush probably sooner then some other states...
As it is now,,,my pantry has been (family member) shopped to where I am forced to  start the major refill,lol.... I can laugh,,,,but that's another indication....

We are heading to town today for meat.  Time to stock up again on that.  I try to keep the rolling stock going on the canned goods etc.  Other than Solar's brother, who I occasionally give things to, we are pretty safe from the family scavengers.   

Quote from: Solars Toy on February 25, 2012, 06:25:47 AM
We are heading to town today for meat.  Time to stock up again on that.  I try to keep the rolling stock going on the canned goods etc.  Other than Solar's brother, who I occasionally give things to, we are pretty safe from the family scavengers.   

ah yes "meat" the never ending battle..... I've just need more of all of that,lol....  My cling-on's aren't bad bad,,, just there...  I had to laugh the other day,,, youngest grand daughter is thinking about both dates in December for the world's end.   According to her,,, the Mayans just didnt have enough math to count any more days but the scientists say  Dec 12 is going to be where we will be sucked up into a black hole and then we'll die.  Well I had to calm that one a bit,,,, and then I asked her just what would she do if the Mayans were smarter then she thought.   She looked at me with that kid matter of fact face and said,,,I'm coming to you and grampas,,,, I asked her why, she said grampa can kill food and you know to much about what to eat from the woods and how to make it really good and can keep it in that glass you keep stuff in.....
Guess I'll be doing up some more of those glass jars,lol

Elfie, I swear I have not been shopping in your pantry. By the way, you need more zip lock bags.

Quote from: Eyesabide on February 25, 2012, 03:29:59 PM
Elfie, I swear I have not been shopping in your pantry. By the way, you need more zip lock bags.

I wish she'd fix the flat on the wheel barrow, I hate making all those trips...

Quote from: Eyesabide on February 25, 2012, 03:29:59 PM
Elfie, I swear I have not been shopping in your pantry. By the way, you need more zip lock bags.

I heard she is making meatloaf Eyes.

It's a Trap!

Quote from: Eyesabide on February 25, 2012, 07:50:15 PM
It's a Trap!

ROTFLMAF