Side Money for Prepping - Inbox Dollars

 

I've used Inbox Dollars for a long time. In fact, I think I signed up with them sometime around 2005. Back then you had to work your way up to $30.00 before cashing out and they didn't have a Paypal or Amazon option available. They just sent you a paper check to by mail. 

If I remember correctly they didn't have the Daily List guide back then either. That is a shame, since it has become one of my favorite features. I can always make my own daily list, but to have one right there and available to me on-site makes it so much easier to work off those dollars.

Of course, the best thing about Inbox Dollars is that they have never failed to pay me. This is a great way to earn some extra cash to pay for all your prepping needs. Click on the link below to sign up and start earning today!

https://www.inboxdollars.com?rb=78047206&ref_src=link

Get YoSelf Some Lockpicks!

 

Go get yourself some lock picks and let's get our pickin' on!

 

• DANIU Credit Card Lock Pick Set

• 12 Picks &5 Torque Wrench Transparent Practice Lock Set For Locksmith Practice

• Jason Hanson's Wallet Sized Pick Set  

• Grim Workshop Grim Key Card

• Grim Workshop Lockpick Card

Basic Bugout Bag Essentials

 

Below is a list of things that I recommend for a general 72 hour, all emergency bugout bag. Remember, these are my recommendations only and not an exhaustive list. Feel free to add and/or remove whatever you think is necessary for your particular bags. This is a good starting place. As you learn and practice more, you will become more adept in your skills. You may want to change things up a little, and that's ok. If you are on prescription medications,  make sure to include at least a 72 hour supply of those.

My favorite bag to date is the Rothco Medium Transport Pack. It is tough and it will hold all of the items you see below. Have fun and be safe out there.

Fire

2 Boxes - Coghlan's 940BP Waterproof Matches, 4 pack

1 - Coghlan's Magesium Fire Starter

1 - Coghlan's Waterproof Match Case

4 - UST WetFire Tinder

 

DIY IFAK (Improved First Aid Kit)

1 - Combat Medical Systems Pre-Lubricated Nasopharyngeal Airway

5 - Band Aid 4'X4" Gauze Sponges (25 count/2 in each package) 

2 - Flexible Rolled Gauze Dressing 3 Inches by 2.1 Yards 5 pack

1 - QuikClot Advanced Clotting Gauze - 3 x 24 in (2 Strips) 

1 - ACE 3" Elastic Bandage with Velcro Closure (2 pack)

2 - North American Rescue Hyfin Vent Chest Seal

4 - Exactmed - 12 Pack Sutures 

1 - Orca Tactical IFAK Pouch

 

Food 

1 - Survival Tabs from The Survival Tab Company - Strawberry 

1 - Survival Tabs from the Survival Tab Company - Chocolate

1 - Ready Hour Pouches by Emergency Essentials

2 - Cliff Bars Variety Pack 16 Count

5 - Tactical Hydration Powder

 

Light 

1 - MECO Emergency Flashlight Hand Crank and Solar Power Rechargeable

4 - Be Ready Chemical Light Glow Sticks (12 Pack Green)

 

Shelter

1 - S.O.L. Survive Outdoors Longer S.O.L. Heavy Duty Emergency Blanket

1 - Outdoor Products Plastic Tarp (get the 8'x10')

1 - Extremus True Mil Spec 5040 Paracord (100')

25 - 12" Cable Ties by Strong Ties 

 

Tools and Misc

1 - Rothco 4 Piece Canteen Kit with Cover, Aluminum Cup & Stove/Stand

1 - Morakniv Craftline Basic Fixed Blade Utility Knife and Combi-Sheath

1 - Gerber Suspension-NXT Multi-Tool with Pocket Clip

1 - Best Glide ASE Survival Sewing and Repair Kit   

1 - Gorilla Tape Handy Roll, 1-Pack, Black 

1 - Cobra Products 4-Way Sillcock Key

1 - Esky 3 Emergency Radio

1 - Pocket Lock Pick Tool  

 

Water

4 - Levi's Men's 100% Cotton Multi-purpose Bandana Gift Sets

1 - Nalgene Wide Mouth Tritan Water Bottle BPA-Free

1 - Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System

20 - Aquatabs 100 Count

 

Foods For Your Bugout Bags!

  

Below, you will find links to a couple foods that I like to include in my bugout bags. I usually catagorize my foods according to the time it takes to consume them. For example, Survival tabs and Cliff Bars are the quickest to eat. You tear open the bags and pop the products into your mouth. Done Deal. Those would be the foods that we would eat on the move. 

On the other hand, Mountain House and Emergency Essentials both require preparation before eating. You have to boil water for the Mountain House meals and you have to cook the Emergency Essentials meals. So, these are the foods that we would eat after the smoke clears and we have a little more time to calm down, assess our situation and plan our next move.

I also like to keep a variety of drink combinations in our Bugout bags. Some are for comfort and some are for hydration.

 

Foods

Survival Tabs 2 Day 24 Tabs Emergency Food Survival Food Meal

Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki With Rice

Emergency Essentials Survival Food 

CLIF BARS Variety Pack 16 Count

Mountain House Beef Stew, Pouch

Matt's Coffee Packs

Coffee Mate - Original 3 Gram Single Serve Packs 50 Count Box

Nescafe Single Serving Instant Coffee Packets

Domino Sugar Packets 500Count

Drink Choices

Swiss Miss Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Mix, (30) 1.38 Ounce Envelopes

Bigelow Wellness Teabag Variety Pack

Twinings of London Earl Grey Black Tea Bags, 100 Count

Tactical Hydration Powder (Variety Pack, 25 Stick Packs)

 

Preparing for Long Power Outages in Cold Climates

 

 

Below are a few links to some products that I recommend for dealing with long power outages in cold climates. These are just general recommendations and not an exhaustive list. Add to these anything else that you think you might need.

Don't forget about water and extra blankets! Remember that every member of your household should have AT LEAST one gallon of water per day. However, I would highly recommend three gallons per household member, per day. That helps cover drinking, washing and food usages. Pets can usually get away with one gallon per day.

 LIGHT

• Shop4Omni Black Hurricane Lanterns

• Pengxiaomei 12 Foot Oil Lamp Wick

• HYOOLA Pure Lamp Oil

• Shabbat Candles - Traditional Shabbos Candles - 3 Hr. - 72 Ct.

• Hand Crank Solar Powered Flashlight

• Emergency Hand Crank Radio

•  AGPTEK Hand Crank LED Camping Lantern

HEAT 

• Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Portable Propane Radiant Heater

• Coleman Brazos Cold Weather Sleeping Bag   

• HotHands Hand Warmers

FOOD

• Mountain House 3-Day Emergency Food Supply

•  Datrex Emergency Survival Water Pouch

My Favorite BugOut Bags

The Reebow bag on the left is my all time favorite. These are tough, roomy and budget friendly. At about $40 bucks a bag, you can't beat them. The Oakley's bag on the right is like the bag that Denzel Washington used in The Book of Eli. I like it. Unfortunately, with the $250.00 price point, I couldn't tell you if it would make a good bugout bag or not. It sure does make a great talking point though.

Either one can be bought at the links below.

 

REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack <--CLICK HERE!

Oakley Men's Kitchen Sink Backpack <--CLICK HERE!

 

 

A Bug Out Bag for Your Cats or Small Dogs

 

Pet Magasin's soft sided pet carrier makes a great bug out bag for cats and small dogs. I throw in a leash and harness, a sleeping pad, a 2-in-1 feeder, a three day supply of the food that they are already used to in vacuum sealed bags, snacks and cat nip, at least one bottle of water, favorite toys and a favorite blanket.

You can pick up your Pet Magasin in blue or pink from one of the links below:

Pet Magasin Soft Sided Pet Carrier - Blue

Pet Magasin Soft Sided Pet Carrier - Pink

The Esky Emergency Radio!

 

 

I grew up in a land torn by tornadoes and rocked by dreadful thunderstorms. Maybe I'm being a little over-dramatic. It wasn't quite that bad, but you can bet your bottom dollar that we would live through at least one tornado and multiple thunderstorms every year. Power outages we common and there was no way that you would catch my family without an emergency radio. Of course, the emergency radios of my day were as big as an Xbox 360 and ran off of batteries only. Today's emergency radios put those old battery operated monsters to shame. They are slightly bigger than a smart phone, include AM, FM and Weather band transmissions and have a variety of ways to keep them up and running. 

Take this sleek little Esky Emergency Radio for example. It can run off of one 9V battery, but it also has an internal battery that can be charged by the solar panel on top of the unit or by the hand crank on the back of the unit. It includes AM, FM and Weather Band, doubles as a flashlight and triples as a phone charger. They are durable and won't break the bank at around $16 bucks! At that price, I put one in each of our bugout bags, another one in the car and one in my hiking pack. I love this little radio and I know you will love it too.

Please click the link below to get your own Esky Emergency Radio from Amazon

The Esky Emergency Radio  <---Click Here!

101 Uses for a Bandana by Monster Rangers

 

 

 

Monster Rangers has a great list of practical uses for bandanas. Go check it out and remember to carry your bandana on you at all times! 

101 Uses for A Bandana by Monster Rangers: https://monsterrangers.com/101-uses-for-a-bandana/

 

Also, check out these classics on Amazon:

• UST Survival Bandana

• Colter Reflective Survival Bandana 

• Foraging Plants Bandana    

• Animal Tracking Bandana