Modern Self-Reliance

Teaching Homesteading and Preparedness Skills

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Fitness: Working Out as Physical Preparedness

Are you fit? No seriously. Can you walk a few miles if your car breaks down? Can you do it while carrying your child? Being physically fit is also a part of physical preparedness. I don’t just mean running from zombies, and outrunning your slowest friend. I mean the day to day activities that might come up, that require physical effort. I work out to be healthy, but it also will allow me to be that much more ready in emergencies.
I break my workout in body sections, to focus on each. The other option is to do every day as mixed, and work them all together. I like this method because it works for me. Your body, your choice.
“A thing worth doing, is worth doing at least poorly.” ~ not sure where I heard it first. Lifting a tiny 2lb weight is better than lifting nothing. Starting small is a place to start, and since I think exercise is worth doing, it’s at least worth doing poorly to start. Because some day, poorly may become passable. Passable may become acceptable. And acceptable may become success! It won’t happen overnight, it takes work, but I think it’s worth doing.

My Workout Plan

Monday: Arms Day

Push yourself until failure. What I mean is…do bicep curls until your muscles give out and fail to curl. Then move to the next exercise. One the second set, you may have to move down in weight, or stay the weight but do less. This way you are pushing your muscles to give it all you got, and then on the next round, asking for more.
I aim for 10 repetitions of each exercise, at the highest weight I can do and just barely do the last 1-2 repetitions.
I am for 2 sets, given time allowances, maybe a 3rd set with lower weights.
** insert list from card **

Tuesday: Core Workout

  I usually do 2 sets of this workout on a normal day. 1 on bad day, and 3 on a really good day. But this is where I am at, modify to prevent injury.
  ** insert list from card **

Wednesday: Cardio Day (Mental Willpower Day)

Cardio means working your heart. It will depend on your condition, and preferences of how your like to work your heart. For me, Cardio also means working your will power. I prefer to run most of the time. When running, I would hazard a guess to say 90% of the time, your brain wants to give up before your heart does. When this happens, ask yourself this very important question: What hurts? What wants to give up?
Do your legs hurt, and want to quit? Or is it just your brain that is tired of pushing, and wants to quit? Most of the time, my brain wants to quit first. Hence, I see cardio as strengthening my heart, but also my willpower.
“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.” ~ Dory

Thursday: Leg Day

Leg day is hard. No getting around it. Legs are *usually* our big powerful muscles, we use them to walk around, and they generally burn more when used. I don’t know why, but squats and lounges hurt me more than bicep curls and ab crunches, even when pushed to failure.
However, that being said, Leg day is also when I pick up the biggest weights to add to my squats or calf-raises.
  ** insert list from card **

Friday: Make-Up Day

I use Friday’s as make-up days. What isn’t sore? Is the big question on my mind. Alternatively, if I missed another day due to life interruptions, I’ll use Friday to replace one of the other designated days. If everything is sore, I’ll add another cardio day.

Saturday: Cross-Train

On Saturdays I am usually active, like doing yard work, hiking or playing sports with friends. This isn’t a dedicated workout day, but often just life activities that active and encompass all parts of my body.

Sunday: Rest Day

I’ll admit, I don’t hit the gym on the weekends. So when I say Rest day, some people use rest days to recover and rebuild. Other people say rest day to mean, they were lazy or had to do laundry…

Conclusion:

** insert conclusion **
Do you have a physical fitness plan you use? Have you tried and loved any of the commercially available plans? P90x, CrossFit, FitnessBlender, internet video workouts? Let us know in the comments below.
Disclaimer: I have to add a disclaimer about this physical fitness advice. **insert standard words**

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Preparing for Hard Times: 6 Steps toward Financial Preparedness

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Preparing for Hard Times: 6 Steps toward Financial Preparedness

We, and many other before us, have thought long and hard about how to prepare our homes and families for the worst. We think about natural disasters, human-caused tragedies, and general emergencies.

Just as important perhaps is the small disruptions to your personal life, not wide scale hurricanes but the loss of a job. There doesn't need to be a terrorist attack for your car to break down and need repairs. Societal collapse is not the only thing that could cause you to want a little extra cash on hand.

Financial Preparedness is about preparing your finances for the small disruptions and emergencies that come with everyday life. This will be hard for many people, especially those living paycheck to paycheck.

But in reality, most people it seems are only 1-3 paychecks away from homelessness. And I would guess that even if it isn't true now in their life, most people could probably point to a time in their life when it was true.

How can you financially prepare your family?

6 Things for Financial Preparedness

# 1 Have Extra Cash on Hand

Cash is good to have in emergency when the bank is closed, or when there is a power outage at the ATM. (Prepare for power outages here.) Or even just when you are running late and need cash now!

I keep it stashed away, $40 in the back of my phone case. $60 in my glove box. $100 in small bills in my 72-hr bag (learn more here). $20 in my dresser (mostly for laundry). I didn't go and take out hundreds of dollars in cash all at once. It happened over time, over many paychecks.

#2 Set aside emergency funds

Are you 1-3 paychecks away from homelessness? Or at least 1-3 paychecks away from not being able to pay rent? Financial experts say you should aim for at least 3 months of your paycheck set aside if you lose your job.

But really, you should have how ever many months you think it would take to find another job. If you expect it to take 6 months to find a new job in your town, then try to save up 6 months worth of salary. It's really hard. I know, especially with debt.

#3 Get out of Debt

Getting out of debt is hard. For some people staying out of debt is hard too. But if we are thinking about hard times ahead, it's much easier to smooth through a job loss in the household if you aren't controlled by debt.  I mean credit cards, car loans, student loans, private loans, etc.

Debt traps you and robs your of your freedom. It also robs you of money as you pay interest on the loans. So work at paying down your debt, and focus on not creating more debt.

I understand you may need a car to drive to work, to pay for the car. But you could drive an older car vs a newer car. The older car will cost less in the loan, while it burns the same gas and gets you to the same place as the newer car.

Mortgage: good debt vs bad debt? There are folks who think your home is good debt, since that money would otherwise be going to a landlord and with a house you are building equity in the home.

However stop paying your mortgage and the bank comes after you. Housing market crashes and your house is worth less than you own, that isn't good debt. Can't sell the home, and your "equity" is useless (although it is land, and they aren't making more of that).

There are other folks who say the only good debt is debt you take on to purchase an asset that makes you money. Does your home make you money? Does it provide rent from a tenant, or allow you to run a business from within? If it doesn't, it's not making you money, and it's a liability. The debate continues, you will have to find what you are comfortable with.

#3 Get Insurance

I live in Massachusetts, where you need car insurance if you own a car. You will also be charged a fee come tax time if you don't have health insurance. I also hold renter's insurance in place of homeowner's insurance. But would I buy these insurances if I wasn't legally obligated to?

Yes I would. You hear terrible stories of family going into massive debt due to an injury, even with health insurance. Car accidents can be partially expensive, especially if you are found to be at fault. Homeowner's/renter's insurance covers damage to your property and accidents inside.

I would say, you worked hard to get these high expense items, you should protect them. But really read your insurance, know what is covered and what isn't.

Pet insurance? Hm...not sure. These days vet bills can be as high as human medical bills, but come less often. But your pets are family too.

#4 Save for Retirement

Alrighty, this is something of a touchy subject in politics lately. That aside, let's assume, that social security doesn't exist, as this is something of a worst-case scenario for many. You want to retire? What does it take to get there?

Many "professionals" say you should save 10-15% of your salary towards your future retirement. This is all well and good, but the real answer is more nuanced. It requires understanding you current and future lifestyle goals.

The benchmark "professionals" say is you need around $2 million in the bank in order to live off the interest. If you have a pension or expect social security, this counts toward your $2 mil.

If you withdraw 3% in interest a year to cover your expenses, without taping into the principal this gives you with $60k a year. Of course we are talking about future dollars (account for inflation).

Can you live on $60k a year? Don't forget you have to pay taxes, and likely increased medical bills. You may or may not need to pay rent/mortgage or children tuition. You may also want to travel more or spend more money at hobbies with your new free time.

So the questions becomes, does 10-15% of your salary get you to $2 million in time to retire?

(Of course, I am not financial professional nor a wizard capable of seeing the future.  But I am a mathematician, and I can calculate compounding interest.)

# 5 Invest in Yourself First

Education is the most important thing. Period. You can't learn to start a fire in the rain without taking the time to learn. While many consider their education finished when they leave school, this should never be the case.
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Remember when you sat in high school and said; "Now when am I ever gonna use this?" Now you're a bit older and think; "Man if they only taught me useful things in high school, like doing my taxes and the difference between a Traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA)." Right here, is proof that school didn't teach you everything, and that you need to keep learning.
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Invest in your own education, and the invest will never be wasted. Of course, this doesn't mean taking on $200k in debt to get a degree in Underwater Basket-weaving.
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But there are many ways to continually learn, investing in yourself and your future:
  • Free library resources (see my book list below)
  • Community/Adult Education Centers
  • Local community colleges
  • State schools with night classes
  • Online teaching websites (Cousera, KhanAcademy, etc)
  • YouTube
  • Blogs, online content, webinars, etc

I believe firmly in the power of books, and that a library card is the best gift you can give a child. Today's library card also unlock online resources, eBooks, e-audioBooks, free/discounted museum passes, movies, tax preparation help, knowledge of community resources, and free internet access! Most libraries also have book sharing programs with other local libraries, giving you access to more than your local library's collection.

Financial Books To Read:

# 6 Multiple Income Streams

Protect yourself against the loss of income but having multiple income streams.  You could lose your job any day, it's not protected. Companies these days often have little or no loyalty to their employees, even long-term employees. Turn a hobby into a side business or invest in a rental property.
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Of course, I completely understand that this is much easier for those who already work better-paying jobs. A person who works 2 or 3 jobs or works for low pay, or 80-100+ hours a week, doesn't have much time left over for hobbies. After an exhausting day, one just wants to eat, take care of other obligations (children, chores, etc) and sleep. It's hard to make time for hobbies, investing, or creating small businesses.
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I completely understand, but those folks living in this situation need to even more. They don't have the same job security as others, and need multiple income streams to ensure a paycheck each week. This is where education comes in and makes this easier, it opens up options.
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Multiple incomes, doesn't necessarily mean multiple jobs. It could also be traditional stock-market investments, gigs off Craigslist, rental properties, blogs, YouTube channels, farmer's market crafts, babysitting the neighbors, etc.
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Discussion: Gold and Cigarettes as the New Currency?

I have read other preppers recommend stocking up on gold or cigarettes or grain alcohol or bullets or *scarce commodity*. They claim that it will be the new currency, after society has collapsed and paper money becomes worthless.
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However, paper money won't go away the minute a hurricane hit. We know this, after a snow storm you can still walk to the nearest hardware store and pay for a snow shovel with cash. Even if they don't have power, they will still take your cash.
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You can't eat gold. I am firmly in the stock what you use camp, and trade for what you don't have enough of. I have no need for gold, I can't eat it. Other people can't eat it. I don't stock cigarettes because I don't smoke.
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Sure they would be good in a  trade, but they take up space in my apartment in the mean time. I would rather stock things I could possibility use, thus reducing the need to barter rather than stock things I won't use at all.
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If you want to spend your money rather than let it sit vulnerable in an electronic bank. Buy land, buy durable goods you will need in the future. Buy boots, snow gear, buy long-term foods, buy a second pressure canner, buy extra blankets, extra clothes.
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Buy an second axe, extra chainsaw blades, things you will need that may be hard to get if Amazon stops delivering...
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But this is just my 2 cents.
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How are you preparing for financial uncertainty? Help the community be more prepared together, share below.

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The 2-Ingredient Homemade Toothpaste

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The 2-Ingredient Homemade Toothpaste

Most people don't give a second thought about the toothpaste they use in the morning. It's just a substance bought and used, and likely even forgotten while you are brushing and pondering the day's schedule ahead.

But what if you couldn't get toothpaste? What other alternatives could you use?

What if you don't want to load your mouth up with tons of chemicals? You don't have to think Fluoride is the terrible and prevents the absorption of minerals by your teeth, to want a simple homemade toothpaste recipe. (Medical News Today: Why do we have Fluoride in our water?)

I have used this for many years, and my teeth are just as clean as with commercial toothpastes.

Recipe

2 parts baking soda

3-5 parts coconut oil

5 parts calcium powder (optional bone builder)

essential oils for flavor (optional flavor)

xylitol (optional sweetener)

Directions

  1. Mix all powders in a bowl.
  2. Add coconut oil until the toothpaste is to your desire consistency.
  3. Optional: Mix in essential oils for flavor.
My Homemade Toothpaste
My Homemade Toothpaste

Homemade Toothpaste: Ingredients Revealed

Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)

This is the cleaning agent. It is either naturally mined or created from sodium carbonate. It is a mild alkali, which causes dirt and other particles to dis-attach from their surface and enter the water. The dirt, food particles, etc can then be removed easily with water. Baking soda is only mildly abrasive, so it can remove stuck-on particles without damage to your teeth.

Coconut Oil

Consistency and anti-bacterial. Coconut oil is often used by itself (calling oil pulling), without anything else as tooth cleaners. Coconut oil is amazing versatile but here we are using it for it's anti-bacterial properties. It also creates a good consistency to hold the powders together into a paste-like substance.

Calcium

Bone builder. Your teeth can absorb the calcium to make itself stronger right from your saliva. You don't need to wait for the calcium to hit your stomach, then be absorbed in your digestive track and passed to your teeth. I listed this powdered calcium as optional because it doesn't clean your teeth, and it can be a little more difficult to find. You of course can order it on amazon (Powdered Calcium), or you can ground up natural sources of calcium like eggshells.

Essential Oils

Flavor. I don't use essential oils in my toothpaste, but one could add mint. I don't mind the subtle coconut flavor, so I choose not to add any addition flavorings. Some essential oils have other properties that should be considered before using orally.

Xylitol

Sweetener. You may find other homemade toothpaste recipes that include Xylitol as a sweetener to counteract the potentially bitter taste of the baking soda. I don't find this to be an issue, as it only tastes mildly of coconut. So I leave the sweetener out, but that is personal preference. Some may take beef at using xylitol at all, but I just mean to list it as an option.

The 2-Ingredient Homemade Toothpaste
The 2-Ingredient Homemade Toothpaste

Conclusion

We hope we have equipped you to consider other alternatives to commercial toothpaste. Or just know what other options may be available if standard toothpaste is now. Mix and change ingredients to fit your preferences; it may take a few times to completely switch from "real" toothpaste.

Would you consider creating your own homemade toothpaste? Let us know below.

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