How To Plan For Care Giving
It has been reported that 30 to 40 percent of caregivers will die before the person that they are caring for. That is a sad story. Many of them try to do too much and they get stressed out. They get sicker than the ones that they were trying to care for. They are not aware of the resources available to them for help. Some of these people are spouses that are not physically able to provide the care around the clock that a live in caregiver can help with and they just make themselves sick trying.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 43.5 million Americans providing care for someone who is 50 years old or more and 14.9 of these are providing for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s. That number is going to increase. Someone new is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease every 69 seconds. Unfortunately, as our average life span increases, so do our chances of contracting this disease.
It is a very difficult thing to know when it is time to ask for help. If you are the caregiver, you are not going to want to give up. You may not want to lose your parent or spouse and will do anything possible to hang on to them, thinking that you are the only one who can provide the care that person needs. You might also be lonely without them, knowing that they would have to go into a facility that could provide around the clock care. Or maybe, it is about money. You might not have the resources to hire a caregiver and may not be aware of the services available to you if you were to ask.
Having the adult children involved does not necessarily make the decision making any easier. The children are apt to argue with each other and not agree on a course of action. The Alzheimer’s Association is a good place to start if you need help or want to chart a course for the future. Start with them. If you want to read more, visit preparingtodie.com to get more ideas on how to start planning for the future.
There are some issues such as living wills, end of life care choices, power or attorney, funeral arrangements, bills to pay, safety issues, insurance, and last wills that can be talked about with the family and some plans laid down before it becomes an emergency or before someone in the family becomes incapacitated.
Creating an Emergency Water Supply
Even though you can live a few weeks without food, you cannot live without water. The goal of this article is to teach you how to create an emergency water supply. After air, water is our next most precious resource. Just a few days without it, and were done. One of the most important things we can do to prepare for an emergency is to store an adequate water supply. You can either physically store a short term supply or buy a portable biological water treatment system.
Why You Need More Water Than You Think
At the very least, you’ll want to have 3 days worth of water saved. The first 3 days are the most difficult in an emergency, and after 3 days help has usually arrived. For this critical period, you’ll want at least 1 liter per person, as FEMA recommends. If you have the space, consider more- having 2-3 liters per person per day would allow you some extra water for washing and cleaning, as well as cover you if you’re losing a lot of your hydration through sweat or otherwise over the 3 day period.
For long term storage, you’ll want a little more per person- consider 4+ liters per day. That way you’ll know you have all your bases covered for cleaning and washing.
For more information on making unknown water sources drinkable, read this article on emergency water filtration and purification systems that can be purchased at REI, Amazon, and other fine online stores.
How to Store It?
The easiest method for water storage is just to buy large cases of bottled water. It’s already bottled and sealed, with the shelf life printed on it. It is more expensive than tap water though, so if you have some free time there is a cheaper alternative.
We can fill up old bottles with tap water and use them. Consider old bottles made of plastic or another stable material. Old 2 liter pop bottles are a good choice. Avoid any bottles that had juice or milk in them, as sugar and fats are difficult to fully remove and can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
Wash the bottles out with soap and water, then with 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach and water. Rinse thoroughly. Then fill the bottles with tap water. If your tap water is treated with chlorine, you’re done. If not, add 2 drops of bleach to kill any bacteria in the water. Seal the cap tight, and you now have 2 liters ready for storage!
Where to Store Your Emergency Water Supply?
Store your water in a dark, cool area. Cover it with dark plastic garbage bags, to minimize any light it wound receive. Keep away from fuels or pesticides, as their fumes can penetrate plastic, and avoid placing a plastic bottle directly on cement.
Inspect your water 6 months to 1 year in, looking for changes in color or leaks. You now have an emergency water supply!
Finally, invest in a portable d water purification and treatment system for emergency use like the Sawyer Complete.
Good luck and stay prepared!
Read more from RamboMoe at preparedforthat.com
Where To Sell Your Junk Silver Coins
Personally, I am buying more and more junk silver coins as the price has dropped significantly in the last part of 2011. Junk silver coins are made with 90% pure silver. We see replicas of them everyday in cash registers and when we receive our change when purchasing goods and services. Before 1965, coins such as Washington quarters and Kennedy half dollars were 90% silver! Today, there is no silver left in our coins. They have as much value as a paper Federal Reserve Note. Nada. Nothing. Zero. Yes, you can still purchase something with a quarter or a dollar, but at the end of the day, there is nothing backing up the currency. I guess in some ways, you can actually buy something for nothing because in my opinion, the US dollar is worth nothing.
The question “where do I sell my junk silver and gold bullion coins?” has been asked on many gold and silver bullion forums. There are going to be thousands of opinionated answers to that question because most silver buyers see that it is crazy to sell any junk silver or gold at this time. Many professionals question why people would part with something as valuable silver bullion at the moment that this asset class is going up in value. Many people are confusing the rise in the price of silver with the actual value of the silver. The actual value of silver rarely changes. If silver were still used as money, it could still buy approximately the same amount of goods and services that it did 100 years ago depending on market conditions, supply and demand, etc. It’s a commodity with market driven prices. Scarcity is the only thing that will cause it to go up in value.
The 3 Best Places To Sell Your Junk Silver Coins
- Local coin shops and jewelry stores are a great place to sell your junk silver and put that money into another hard asset class.
- Craigslist or EBay is another great place to sell if you want to get the highest price. You can set your own price and terms.
- If you really need to sell your silver quickly, you can arrange to have your gold and silver picked up discretely at your home and have it shipped fully insured to reputable dealers like GoldSilver or GoldenEagleCoin.
But if I were you, I would buy more junk silver as it is selling for a bargain when you consider it was selling in the $40′s a few months back. When buying precious metals such as junk silver coins, buy for the long term Sell when the asset class starts declining in value and buy a rising asset.
Has Your Silver Really Increased In Value?
Of course silver can and will increase in value. Because it is rare like gold, the price is market driven. Silver has many industrial uses. It’s used in manufacturing consumer electronics products like smart phones, lap top computers, etc. The more the demand, the higher the price. As investors are clamoring to silver, industrial buyers and end users are in direct competition for buying this precious metal. When this happens, the value does increase. Just don’t let inflation fool you thinking that you have made “bank” when your silver shot up in value in 2011.
People confuse inflation with increased valuation. How many times have you heard people tell how much money that they made on their home because they said it increased in value? If you live in California, then you may have been one of the lucky ones that made money by selling and then moving to an inexpensive area like Nevada. But if sold in California and then moved to a nearby city and bought another home, you made nothing.
Assume that a person bought silver for $20/oz. A year later silver bullion is selling at forty-two dollars an ounce. Many people believe that silver bullion has increased in value by $22/ounce. In reality, inflation has increased and the value of the silver bullion has not changed one iota. You need to be concerned that the Federal Reserve has tripled the money supply in the last 3 years. There are 3 times as many dollars chasing the same products. Do not think that the prices of goods and services are going to remain low for extended period as inflation has a way of sneaking up on you and stealing your wealth. As long as the Feds keep the interest rates low, not too many people are complaining because they are getting borrowed money for cheap.
People have this illusion that paper assets are the sign of true wealth. This is a myth because most paper assets are not backed by anything of real value. The rise in the price of your paper assets means that your dollars are worth less.
Many people that sell their junk silver coins are doing so to invest in other assets such as bonds, stocks and real estate. Don’t let the hype of Wall Street suck you into thinking your precious metals are worth exchanging for dollars or stocks. If you want to trade either gold bars or silver bullion coin and buy into the stock market, then contact a trusted fee only adviser and invest in silver & gold mining stocks.
Be wise and keep your junk silver coins as a hedge against inflation. When there is a run up in the price of silver, you can make money if you sell it before it hits the top. Supply and demand are going to dictate the price along with human emotion and greed.
Now that you are armed with knowledge, maybe you are considering buying more junk silver. Check out Golden Eagle Coins as they have great service and a large inventory.
Chaloklum Vacation On The Beach In Koh Phangan
If you looking to vacation in Thailand and want to stay off the beaten path then look to an area that developers have seemed to miss-Chaloklum. My husband and I have taken several holidays on the beautiful beach of Thong Nai Pan Noi in Koh Phangan. We used to stay at either Baan Panburi or Star Huts in one of their better bungalows near the beach. When we discovered that both of these places were knocked down to make way for expensive resort accommodation we decided that Thong Nai Pan Noi was no longer the place for us. So this year for the first time we opted for a different beach in Koh Phangan hoping to discover a place as yet unspoiled by developers. In Chaloklum we found what we were looking for.
From the main town of Thongsala there is a good road that goes directly north to Chaloklum. It is a small fishing village next to a long beach. Chaloklum beach is 2.5 km long. While not as beautiful as Thong Nai Pan Noi we enjoyed the fact that we could stroll down the beach during the day and find a nice empty part to spread our sarongs. The sea was great for swimming. It was also fun watching people kite board farther out to sea.
We stayed a couple of nights at Buri Tara Resort and Spa. It was a birthday present from my husband to me. It was nice having the luxury of a large pool on the beach and an air-con room with cable TV. However, we discovered Malibu Bungalows and moved there for the rest of our two week stay. This was a fantastic place. It had its own private beach – a sand bank just off the coast. It was perfect and easily as good as Thong Nai Pan.
One of the great things about Chaloklum was the convenience. It had plenty of shops, restaurants and a 7-11 where we could pick up drinks and snacks cheaply. We both enjoyed the fact that unlike other beaches in Koh Phangan we were not limited to expensive resort food at Chaloklum.
The curious thing about Chaloklum village is that it is both a working fishing village and a tourist center. Some of the original wooden fishermen’s houses are still standing and it was nice to see that they have not been turned into expensive boutiques as is the case in Fisherman’s Village in Koh Samui.
There are a couple of cool bars in Chaloklum. The Crow Bar in the jungle just off the main drag that has a lively atmosphere and frequently holds parties. Our other favorite bar was the Omega that holds a children’s festival every Wednesday and then has a jam session in the evening. It was great to see live music in Chaloklum and it reminded us very much of the old hippy Koh Phangan that my husband and I had fallen in love with several years ago. The Koh Phangan before the Full Moon Party and luxury developers changed much of the island.
Chaloklum is a real gem of a place and we will definitely be returning next year.
Beach Body Insanity Workout Is Better Than A Retread Tire
It was not a hard decision this morning on whether to go for a run in beautiful 70 degree sunny weather or do a Beach Body Insanity workout. I am all for the fast and furious Beach Body workouts that seem to exercise just about every muscle known to man and ape. But 70 degrees and sunshine in December? No contest! An even better decision would have been to skip the workout and head to the beach in Santa Cruz.
I hit the road rather late this morning around 9 ish for my regular Saturday morning run. I am starting to feel like a retread and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Years ago, over the road truck drivers as well as families that got hit with hard economic conditions purchased retreads or recaps rubber tires to use on their vehicle. The tire casing was still the original with new rubber vulcanized to replace the worn out tread. The tires look nearly brand new when finished. I have been working on giving my body a retread over the last year and I am a work in progress-slow progress!
You may be wondering why I feel like a retread. If you look at me, I don’t look like a 20 something marathoner runner. Things are getting a little gray if you know what I mean. My 2 young boys said that I have 1/8 pack abs rather than 6 pack abs! I am within 10 pounds of my best ever marathon time back in 1985. The muscles on the outside have been replaced with mean and lean muscle that somehow do not seem to perform as well as the 80′s version. But damn do I feel good under the hood!
I discovered a way to perform as well as I did in the 80′s with a well known smoke and mirror technique. I find a few old fat guys on the trail to run by and leave them in the dust. I sneak up on them and then speed up just as I pass them. I turn around and give them a cool nod like I am someone to really contend with. You have to know how to pick your battles. Sometimes it pays to be a mental bully. Aging skinny runners just find bigger runners to pass to look good. If I could pass a younger skinny runner I would. Most of them are passing me and as they give me the wise-ass look.
If I was still racing, I would do the same thing. My strategy would be to start out in the back of the pack with the plodders. I may even give them a few minutes head start so I have more people to pass. It’s not about time anymore. Gone are the sub 5 minute mile pace for 10 k races. Any time under an hour is good for me. Let me re-phrase that-finishing a race is good enough for me. When I hit 70, I will enter races and pick up the t-shirts and skip the race altogether.
Let’s get back to this retread body transformation that I have gone through. Back in high school and college, I hardly trained at all and was able to finish races in the top 1%. As kids, playing was training. I played hockey, soccer, baseball, football, basketball, broom ball, etc. I bicycled after football and track practice. I could not get enough of sports as long as most were neighborhood pick up games. Who needed practice when you played all day?
After college, like many of you, I had the misfortune of having to work for a living. What crappy deal if you ask me. I no longer had the time to play hockey all day at the local ice arena. Just getting to work on time seemed like a work out! I did my hour run every day during my lunch hour and left it at that. By the time I hit 40, things began falling apart because I never cross trained. I bicycled occasionally and inline skated every Saturday morning. But it still was not enough of the right things to do. Plantar fasciitis came alive in stereo as I got it both feet. I completely ripped my calf muscle while doing simple kicks to a padded bag during defensive tactics training. I strained my back while moving an office chair on wheels. To ad insult to injury, I threw my back out while getting a massage!
Last year a buddy let me use his Beach Body Insanity DVD. After just one work out, I felt worse than I did after freshman wrestling practice. The only time that I have ever passed out other than drinking too much alcohol was after wrestling practice and running an ultra marathon. One session of Beach Body Insanity hurt worse than anything that I have ever done. My fingers and toes were sore. Walking up stairs and getting into a vehicle was nearly impossible.
I had to ease into it. It’s a 60 day program. After a week of doing it, I quit because I still liked running better and I could still walk after the run. Then I got hurt and could no longer run. Long story short, I got back on board doing my Insanity work out back in April.
I am on my 180th or so day because I am a little slow at learning and my retread body is taking some time to replace the worn out rubber. Most people that do workouts like Beach Body P90X, Insanity, and Cross Fit do so to loose weight and get in better shape. I started the program at 180 pounds when I first tried it a year ago and I am still at 180 pounds. However, my pants sag, my undies don’t fit, and after nearly 50 years I finally figured out what my “core” is. I feel good and don’t get sore picking up the newspaper on the curb.
As a professional retread, I now run 10-11 minutes per mile rather than 6 minutes per mile pace. A long run is an hour long rather than 12 miles. Who wants to count the miles? Not I! The only weights that I lift are occasional 12 oz beers and exercise resistance bands. I do lots of muscle confusion exercises like Beach Body P90X and Insanity. When I feel like getting more exercise, I watch my kids play. Works for me.
Getting Rid of Acne Scars Fast
I went through my teenage years with acne covering my face, and it was one of the most embarrassing times of my life. Even if people were able to ignore my skin, I always had a deep fear that I was making them uncomfortable. Even worse, I had a secret fear that everyone was making fun of me at the same time. You can hardly blame a teenager for having such fears since it’s a time when we are trying to find ourselves. To put it simply, it was one of the most traumatic you experiences I could hope for and I would not wish it on my worst enemies.
My type of acne was extremely severe, and it is more commonly classified as cystic or nodular acne. To put it in layman’s terms, it was acne that existed deep underneath my skin and caused a lot of damage. After many years of suffering from blemishes, I eventually developed pronounced acne scars. I didn’t think that the situation could get worse until this development. Now I was dealing with redness and peeling, and my skin was undergoing seemingly permanent changes. It made everything worse, and it was a time when I isolated myself from the world.
I eventually saw a dermatologist upon the assistance of my parents. I was rather reluctant up until then because I didn’t want to acknowledge the problem in some way. I thought if I ever visited a dermatologist it would somehow confirm that my problem was so severe that I needed help. But of course that’s exactly what the situation was, and I found that visiting a skin doctor was the best thing that ever happened. I was able to get a better understanding of my acne and access to stronger prescribed medications.
I learned that in order to deal with acne scars, you have to fully handle the initial acne itself. Otherwise you will be dealing with a cycle of acne formation and reoccurring scars that continue to be unsightly. With the help of my dermatologist, I underwent a regime of various acne medications and treatments. I took oral antibiotics and applied various topical creams on maintaining a good washing regiment. It took a few months but eventually my acne subsided.
Now I was left with the problem of how to get rid of acne scars, and it was a horrible reminder of the overall problem. My dermatologist informed me that using simple commercial products wasn’t going to do the job. Most products you see on drugstore shelves or in your local pharmacy will not be able to handle serious acne scars. In order to give your skin a chance to heal, there are other options that need to be administered by a professional.
One of the most popular treatments is getting a glycolic acid peel which gives you deep action on your skin. It helps to get rid of dead skin cells in addition to scar tissue, and that’s something that simple creams cannot do. A beautician or aesthetician can easily apply a glycolic acid peel, but you have to keep in mind that these treatments are not cheap. Another great option comes in the form of acne lasers which is the treatment I eventually received. I was scared at first because I thought it would hurt, but the process was painless and most days I could go on with my day without needing any downtime. While the results weren’t immediate, I did notice some improvement after the very first session. Eventually my scars subsided and the discoloration went away. I am happy to report that today, I enjoy clear skin free from acne and scars, and I fully encourage anyone who is dealing with this problem to find help you qualify dermatologists. More tips on proper treatment and available options can be found at howtogetridofacnehelp.com.
Features That Make a Great Steam Iron
Ironing is a really simple task for most people because they just do what their parents did. If you have an iron, it is probably the old traditional kind. Steam was introduced within the last ten years and is definitely a better product. It doesn’t cause the damage an old iron does to your clothes. It’s a subtle heat to apply to clothes that allows it to be quite effective with delicate fabrics and keeping your clothes looking good. The problem with the steam iron is that most people don’t understand what they need. The big question is what features are required to have a great steam iron? I’m going to help answer that question.
1. Power and Wattage
Power is by far the most important thing you need when it comes to steam. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with an iron or a floor cleaner, you need a sufficient amount of power. The water you put in the iron needs to be converted to steam. But it also has to be converted at a specific rate in order to properly produce quality steam for your clothes. If you take the time to read a few steam iron reviews you’ll notice that a lot of people complain about water spitting out of the iron.
The problem of spitting occurs when you lack power. Basically the water has got to the point where it is boiling, but steam isn’t produced fast enough. This means steam and water come out at the same time. If you’re looking at a steam iron you have to make sure you’re getting 1200 Watts of power minimum. Anything less than that will have a severe spitting problem.
2. Auto-Safety
Since these are newer products you have the availability of newer technology that older irons just don’t have. Irons are one of the biggest fire hazards in your house and this doesn’t change if you have a steam iron. If you forgot about the iron your water would boil until it’s all gone and then the iron would start to burn. Auto on/off is a very important feature. For example, if you didn’t use the iron for 5-10 minutes it will automatically turn off. The same applies for boiling. If it runs out of water to boil it will just turn off. This can be very good for peace of mind.
3. Reliability
Brands are by far the biggest thing people look at when it comes to deciding on reliability. Often people will also look at price. Inevitably most people think buying a premium name at a premium price will guarantee that they get the best steam iron they can get. This simply isn’t true. Rowenta is considered a premium brand that focuses on quality. In all honesty, I think most of their products are cheaply made and are junk. I’ve found that Panasonic makes far better steam irons and they cost a fraction of what Rowenta sells their irons for. Take the time to read reviews and learn what people have to say about the iron you’re interested in. You’ll learn a lot about what works and what is junk.
The Best Gluten Free Coconut Bread Recipe
Do you have a gluten intolerance in your family? Welcome to the exclusive club because you can eat your way around this intestinal disorder and be healthier despite the fact that the American diet revolves around wheat. The Holiday Season is here. Most of us are going to be invited to multiple parties with a plethora of food being served. So what do we, the gluten intolerant people do? We bring hope and tasty foods to these parties. I know that it’s a pain in the rear. Bear with me because the alternatives are often tastier and healthier!
Screw The Facts And Eat Better Without Gluten
Recent findings have found that about 2 million people are gluten intolerant and have celiac disease in the USA. That is about 1 in 133 people. It is believed that European countries have lower rates of celiac disease (Italy 1 in 250 people and Ireland 1 in 300 people). The problem could be even worse in parts of Africa and Asia where wheat, rye and barley are often not traditional staples. For readers confused at this point it should be explained that celiac or coeliac disease is often referred to as gluten intolerance. To be precise it is intolerance to gluten that causes celiac disease.
The disease is caused by the gluten protein that attaches itself to the villi lining of the small intestine. The immunity systems of people who have celiac disease treat this action as a threat and create antibodies that attack the gluten coated villi lining. This leads to villi atrophy. It is the part of the body that absorbs vitamins K, A, D and E. It also prevents the body from taking in iron. The long term results of celiac disease are anemia and bone problems such as osteoporosis.
The Cure For Celiac Disease May Be Easier Than You Think By Eating Tasty Gluten Free Foods
The cure for celiac disease is simple –to remove gluten from the diet. This is an easy cure, but can be inconvenient when traveling and eating in restaurants. At home there are plenty of good gluten free substitutes for wheat, rye and barley. One of the best is coconut flour.
Coconut flour is rich in protein and dietary fiber. It also contains vitamins C, E, B1, B6, B3 and B5 as well as calcium, selenium, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. One simple recipe to use coconut flour is described below.
How To Make Gluten Free Coconut Bread
Need a quick and easy recipe for gluten free coconut bread? It’s simple and delicious. To make coconut bread you need an oven, a bread pan a mixing bowl and a whisk. Take the mixing bowl and add 3/4 cup of coconut flour, 6 eggs, 1/2 cup of butter, 2 spoons of honey and a teaspoon of sea salt. Use the whisk to mix the ingredients together thoroughly until there aren’t any lumps in the mixture.
Finally, pour the mixture in a greased bread pan and put in an oven pre-heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 40 minutes and you have delicious coconut bread that is free of gluten.
Coconut bread crumbles easily and so is better as breakfast bread with jam rather than sandwich bread. This recipe should be added to other gluten free recipes if you have celiac disease so that you can enjoy all the tastes and food you are accustomed to.
The Best Gluten Free Scones Recipe
2 1/2 cups of gluten free flour mix. This you will have to experiment with until you get what is the best for you. This morning, we used a combination of garbanzo bean flour, buckwheat flour, brown rice flour, sorghum flour, and millet flour all mixed with a few tablespoons of tapioca starch. The recipe is very forgiving. We use what ever ingredients we have on hand. Don’t be hung up by lack of ingredients.
1 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup raw sugar such as rapadura, coconut sugar, date sugar, etc. Sweeten to your taste only.
Mix the dry ingredients with a mixer for a minute or so.
6 tblspns of butter or coconut oil.
Hand mix the butter or coconut oil to the dry mix until it feels like little peas. You can use a fork too. Coconut oil works better than butter during the cold months of fall and winter because it has a higher melting temperature. I like the scones better with coconut oil too.
*Wet ingredients:
1/2 cups of nuts and water to make 3/4 cup of nut milk. Blend until smooth.
1 egg. Blend the egg with the nut milk mixture.
Blend the wet ingredients with the flour mixture. Do not over mix.
Use a medium ice cream scoop and place a dozen scones on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
*you can add dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, fresh berries, etc to the wet mixture. Be creative and daring!
For more information on gluten free bakery goods, make sure you go to my wife Idy’s blog, Tealightfullyours to see all of her tasty recipes. We have made gluten free pizza, gluten free scones, pancakes, chocolate cake, etc. I dare say that my gluten free scone recipe is the best one on the planet and is very forgiving. We should be posting that soon at Tealightfullyours real soon.
*We make no health claims about coconut products. Use common sense and consult your family physician about your diet.
Earning a Living with Bulk Vending Machines
Honestly, it’s not that hard to make a little bit of extra walking around cash with vending machines but taking your vending route to the next level is a whole other degree of difficult. Far too many people get into vending and think the moneys just going to flow right to their door, but vending, like most other small business is very tough, especially in the start-up phase. Unfortunately there is a lot of hype in the vending industry and also a lot of unscrupulous dealers who prey on the naivety of the uninformed by making overinflated earnings claims while glossing over some of the tougher realities.
One thing to be aware of when it comes to vending is the sheer numbers involved. Keep in mind that if you’re planning on making any kind of decent income, say in the realm of $4,000 or more a month, then you’ll need hundreds of vending machines, I’d plan on about 250-400. A recent industry study concluded that the average candy vending head makes about $200 a year gross while a gumball head pulls in about $100 a year; this means that the average double head would make approximately $25 according to this industry average.
I’d like to warn people new to the industry that more likely than not this $25 a month average is going to be tough to meet, especially when just starting out. At the beginning you’ll have a lot of bad or unprofitable locations, so you’ll be moving your vending machines around quite a bit which will a lot of times which will not only drag your average down, but may actually end up costing you money in spoiled product.
For people just starting out, I’d say that $12- $20 gross is probably more realistic and obtainable, but this is one of the good things about vending, even if you’re on the low end of this scale, it’s still possible to make a living, plus there is always room for growth and improvement.
Bug Out Bag Essentials For Your Survival
We are witnessing global chaos right in front of eyes. It’s almost surreal. Take a look at all these people on the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. It’s small scale, but do you see the potential? It’s scary stuff! A small group of people are literally defying all the authorities and are causing urban strife. If any of this were to go large scale, then we would have martial law enacted. I used to think what if the stuff hits the fan. Now it’s a matter of when!
Surviving during an emergency situation often depends on your preparations. Sometimes it just comes down to luck, but the more prepared you are, the better your chances for survival are. Some emergency situations won’t require you to flee your home. This will allow you to use your home as shelter, as well as all of the items you have stored inside. If a flood, hurricane, wildfire, or earthquake devastated your area, you might be forced to flee and evacuate your home with your family. If one of these scenarios occurred, what would you do?
One of the best ways to prepare for such an emergency situation is by preparing a bug out bag. A bug out bag is a backpack or other bag that has stored inside all the necessary survival items to keep you and your family alive while away from home. These are often referred to as survival kits or 72 hour kits. The idea behind a bug out bag is to have it ready before the disaster hits. If they are ready, you will be able to grab your bags and go without trying to pack under the stresses of the emergency situation.
The items that you need to include in your bug out bag include: food, water, shelter, clothing, first aid, communications, and protection. The first two items on the list, food and water, are by far the most important bug out bag essentials to include in your bag. Pack as much food and water as you possibly can. If everyone in your family has their own designated bug out bag, you will be able to carry a lot more supplies. The other items on the list at comfort, as well as other tactical survival advantages. One item not on the list that you might want to bring along is a knife. Survival or tactical knives allow you to do a lot of different things while away from home. They not only provide protection from wild animals and dangerous people, but they allow you to cut and split would as well as other survival activities.
Plan with your family the items that each bug out bag should include. Make sure they are not so heavy that you won’t be able to run comfortably. Mobility is an important concept, especially if you are required to evacuate your home on foot. Preparation is the key to staying alive during emergency situations.