Tag: stock supply

Emergency Gear to Carry in Your Car

Posted by The Team –

by Misty S Bledsoe

What would you do if you were unexpectedly stuck in your car?//Photo courtesy of gracey/morguefile.com

You never know when you will be stuck in your car. Maybe there is a blockage on the freeway or a road gets blocked and you feel as though you may be stranded. If you have the kids with you, do you have snacks on hand? How about medications and water? What about warm weather preps?

  1. Start a box that is designated to stay in the trunk of your car or truck that is designated for emergency gear. Rubbermaid containers with snug lids work well for this.
  2. Put the jack and all necessary accessories to change a tire in this box or tub. Make a list of other things you could need.
  3. Include a first aid kit, a large water bottle for each passenger your vehicle can carry, and a spare change of clothes. The most important changes of clothes should be extra underwear, plenty of socks (in case they get wet) and t-shirts. Extra t-shirts/sweatshirts can be layered for passengers in the winter months or can be used to hang in the windows to block sun in the summer months depending on the situation.
  4. Carry things like a small bottle of aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Imodium. You can usually find these or their generic equivalent at your local dollar store. Carry extra medications you may be required to take in case of an emergency.
  5. Pack candles, flashlights and a fire source such as matches or extra lighters. Keep matches and lighters away from children. These can be used for light or to start a campfire if you’ve gotten lost in the woods or are trapped in a blizzard. 
  6. Consider word puzzles, coloring books and crayons and other fun type of games for kids and adults alike.
  7. The last important item: Toilet paper.

Even if you only have water, toilet paper and snacks you will be better off than if you had nothing. Do your best to be thorough however and customize the box to meet the needs of your family. Carry your emergency box whether you ever use it or not. You will find over time you will end up using at least one item and you’ll be glad you took the 30-60 minutes to prepare for your families safety.

Important!

**This list is not all-inclusive. Nothing can ever prepare you 100% fully for every conceivable emergency. You are still in charge of making your own decisions. Be as detailed as you can think of will only help you in the long run. Consult expert survival advice when preparing for dangerous trips or otherwise may run into dangerous rather than inconvenient situations while traveling.**

Being Christian and Acting like a Survivalist: the Debate

Posted by The Team –

by Misty S. Bledsoe

What if your stockpile doesn't end up helping you? Photo courtesy of earl53/Morguefile.com

What if your stockpile doesn't end up helping you? Photo courtesy of earl53/Morguefile.com

This day and age, it’s wise to have a stockpile of food and other supplies. The Department of Homeland Security recommends having enough food for two weeks for each person in your household. However, how much is too much? Moreover, when does stockpiling food, supplies, and cash conflict with the faith you have in God and all the promises available to His people in the bible? When does stockpiling cross that line?

Some Christians believe survivalists act only out of fear by stockpiling or saving as much as they do. They especially have chided those that build secondary “shelters” or other places of safe haven in their home. Their logic and argument: “God will always take care of us. Why are they so afraid? Besides, other people who don’t know Christ will need His comfort and message of salvation during that time. How can they help others if they are cowering in some underground shelter for three weeks or what have you? Those people [those that stockpile] are selfish and acting cowardly for behaving that way.”

Personally, that shocked me because the bible also states that a wise man sees trouble coming and prepares for it. Noah prepared an ark with lots of food for his family and all of the animals. Others laughed at him during that time, believing he was crazy, etc… until disaster struck. Men and women of the bible took preparations with them prior to traveling in most cases and there are other scenarios too where people were told to save.

God tell us to not be afraid and yes, He will never leave us nor forsake us. However, it is OK to stockpile and save as long as you have the attitude that disaster might strike when you aren’t at home. Then what? Believe God. Act on what you do know to do to survive. If disaster strikes and you’re at home, then hopefully you’ll have access to your supplies. There is no reason to be afraid. Jesus warned us during His time of the things to come to play in this world. We are not to fear it. Know that stock piling is wise, just don’t trust in the stockpile itself to help or save you. Only God does that.

Also, consider the possibility that your stockpile and surplus may not be for you. If you feel led to stock up, then stock up. If not, then don’t. Both are OK as long as you have the proper attitude and trust in God. If disaster strikes and you do not live or cannot make it back to your home, understand that God may use your stockpile to help your neighbors or others that do not know Him. Maybe God will use it to help those people stay alive long enough to hear the message of Jesus Christ they will so desperately need.

Friend, if you are on the side that believes stockpiling is cowardly, don’t judge your brother or sister that does. Instead, remind them of God’s graciousness, mercy, and promises to help keep them in the proper attitude towards God, the supplier rather than the supplies. Let the supply issue go. Friend, if you are on the other side that stockpiles and believes others are unwise for not doing the same, don’t judge your brother or sister that doesn’t. Instead, rejoice with them knowing that no matter what, God will see you through, keeping your arms, hearts, and resources open to those you have an opportunity to help, believer or not.

Stocking Up on a Budget

Posted by The Team –

Stocking up on a variety of canned goods is never a bad idea. Sideshowmom/Morguefile.com

Stocking up on a variety of canned goods is never a bad idea. Sideshowmom/Morguefile.com

by Misty S Bledsoe

You never know when an emergency is going to happen. Having provisional supplies on hand could mean the difference between life and death depending on your situation. Stocking up on stuff is great, but how do you do it when you live pay to paycheck or have just a little bit to spend here and there?

  1. Stretch your grocery bill. This is a top priority. Use coupons, watch the sales, shop generic brands, and buy in bulk when necessary. Buy things when they are on sale. Visit discount grocery stores like Winco, Grocer’s Outlet, and Food4Less. Depending on your area of the country, you probably have a store that sells off brands, misprinted labeled can foods, or takes extra inventory from the bigger stores and sell these items much cheaper.
  2. Buy extra toiletries and household products too. This includes feminine products, toilet paper (all brands are not equal), bars of soap, dishwashing soap, laundry soap, batteries, candles, matches, lighters (storing them in safe place, of course,) and toothpaste. Don’t forget deodorants and razors.
  3. Buy generic brand medicines. Buy the large bottles of ibuprofen and Tylenol. The same goes for bandages, Neosporin, cold, and cough medicines.  
  4. Use your Dollar stores. I always get 4-5x more time dishwashing soap for the same price as I would have spent in my local grocery store. Go to the dollar stores first and gather as much as you can from your regular shopping list. Get the rest at discount grocers. This will always save you money.

As your supplies grow over time, you’ll notice certain products you’ll purchase in bulk more often. Some of these could be bar soap, toilet paper, rice, oats, band-aids, and laundry soap.

Keeping it simple and building your supplies consistently will lead to a successful storage of extra supplies. Every time you go out, ask yourself, “Can I get this at the dollar store?” remembering if you can you will often get way more bang for your buck. Ask yourself, “Am I low on this item?” If it’s on sale, buy 1/3 more than you think you’ll need. Putting a little thought and effort into gathering your supplies will go a long way to making sure you actually achieve your goal of doing so on a budget.