Things to Worry About, the Basics

Yes, there are things to worry about.
Sometimes it depends on where you live.
In some areas, you worry about earthquakes. In others, tornadoes.
Some worry about a family members health--or their own, or making the mortgage or rent payment.
Some folks worry about paying the utility bills or getting enough groceries to get to the next paycheck.
We all have worries, whether they are big or small.

The thing you have to do is have a thought out plan of action for when one of your worries becomes a reality.

Have a bug out bag readily accessible for each member of your family for natural (or man made) disasters.
Not too far from where I live, over in New Mexico, they have had wildfires. People had to evacuate their homes in a hurry.
In NC and Va., they have had tornadoes and flooding. Again, people had to evacuate in a hurry or seek shelter in a hurry.
Even if you live somewhere where natural disasters are few and far between, you have to think of man-made events. Train derailments and chemical spills. A car flying off the road and hitting your house.
Incidents like that can make it imperative for you to evacuate your home.
Get a bug out bag together. You may never use it, but it is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

If you have a family member in your households with ongoing medical issues, plan ahead. If they have prescriptions, find out the effective shelf life of each one, and, if possible, get the doctor to write 90 day prescriptions. Let the doctor know that you intend to stockpile a bit of the prescription in case of emergencies. Most doctors will cooperate.
Same goes if you or a loved one has a need for specific medical devices, such as oxygen, test strips for a glucose meter, etc. When you can, stockpile a little as you can afford it.


When it comes to regular, ongoing bills, such as rent or mortgage, try to get ahead a month or two (or more!) and make sure you hang on to the receipts!  I talked to someone recently that was worried about their next rent payment and the short hours they were currently getting at work. I asked about the tax refund they had told me about in February. "Oh, we bought a new t.v. and some other goodies for the house. Felt like we deserved them" I asked how many months rent they could have paid with that refund. Two months. They could have been TWO MONTHS ahead on their rent!
Look, I am not saying to go without all the little luxuries that may make life more enjoyable, what I am saying is plan ahead. Some utility bills you can pay ahead as well. Internet sevice or cable t.v., phone, some electric/gas/water companies let you pay ahead on your bills as well.
It can be a huge relief on your stress burden if there is a shortage of income, yet you know that essential bills are paid ahead.

As for groceries, well...anyone that has read this blog knows I am a huge advocate of Long Term Food Storage. It has been a life saver for me in the past! I have gone for two months without grocery shopping. My diet wasn't wildly varied and I supplemented with such things as foraged dandelion greens and wild herbs, but I was well fed and ate healthy.
Also, garden and can/dry/preserve the excess from your garden. Raise livestock if you can where you live.

Remember, too, to have Cash On Hand. Not in a bank. ATM machines don't always work! I learned that the hard way after Hurricane Ike! And because merchants may run out of change quickly, try to have varied bills and coin denominations.
The Cash On Hand can also be tapped for emergencies you just didn't see coming...like when one of the kids informs you of a class trip the night before they have to show up with the signed form and 35 bucks!

I know all of this is common sense to a lot of my readers. But I also know there are new readers out there and folks new to self-sufficiency that don't have a good grasp of the basics yet.