In today’s society, you can not be too careful. You never know what could happen to you. While we like to think that bad things would never happen to us, that is certainly not the case for many people. Some situations could have been avoided with a little foresight and preparation. Some situations would never have happened if the victims had been paying attention. While that may sound cold and harsh, it’s the truth. Even though I never have wanted... Read More Read More The post 10 Tips That Could Improve Your Odds of Survival and Save Your Life first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

The holidays can be a fun time to give and receive presents. Many people like to fill stockings for their loved ones. That can be challenging, especially if you are filling stockings for adults. I like to fill stockings with food like candy or something interesting that I found at the store. I also like to fill them with practical items as well as something a little kitschy. My adult kids still look forward to this every Christmas, and it... Read More Read More The post 50 Holiday Stocking Ideas For Preppers (and Non-Preppers) first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

I have written a lot of articles over the years about saving money, frugality, and generally living as a tightwad. I have even touched on the history of the Great Depression and the subsequent World War II. I studied those two areas in particular because I knew history was doomed to repeat itself.  Are we facing another Great Depression? There are definite signs that we might be headed toward a stock market crash or higher inflation. There are also indicators... Read More Read More The post Are We Facing Another Great Depression? first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

Food storage can be daunting and takes time to figure out what you need to have in your stockpile. While I believe you should have the basics, your food storage should be personalized. Often we see lists on the internet telling us to stock up on this or that. I know because I have written several of them. I stand behind those lists because I firmly believe you should have well-rounded food storage for daily use and long-term use. I... Read More Read More The post 30 Pantry Staples I Must Have In My Food Storage first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

Once upon a time when groceries were much cheaper, canned meats were an inexpensive way of adding proteins to your food storage. Nowadays, not so much. Canning your own chicken can save you money. You can take advantage of good meat sales and have another option besides freezing or smoking the meat for preservation. Having canned meat is a great source of shelf-stable protein which comes in handy when the budget is tight or meat prices go sky high. Canned... Read More Read More The post How To Can Chicken (and Save Money!) first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

Did you just wake up one day and realize that a system that you have relied on for years is no longer working for you? I did. I had a lot of food in my food storage that I have termed as “cheap, easy, survival food”. I am not talking about MREs. I am talking about the cheap foods I kept on hand for easy suppers when my kids were younger and we were in survival mode all the time.... Read More Read More The post 8 Ways To Make Over Your Food Storage – The Need To Improve Your Food Storage first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

Being mostly self-sufficient, I like to think ahead about where my food will come from. For many people (me included), that means food storage and preservation. I also think about my gardening and what I could do now to have food later. Planting garlic is generally accepted by most gardeners to plant in the fall. You can plant garlic in the spring and still have a good harvest. I have better harvests when I plant in the fall. I tend... Read More Read More The post Start Your Spring Garden Now by Planting Garlic, Onions, and Shallots first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

National Preparedness Month is upon us. I love that a month is devoted to helping people prepare for natural disasters and more. As a prepper, I really want other people to be prepared so I do not have to worry about them. I want to encourage everyone to have a plan and supplies in place to be ready for whatever life throws at them. Being prepared means covering the basics of what you need to be ready. The basics of... Read More Read More The post National Preparedness Month: Getting Ready for the Future By Covering the Basics first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

Fresh peaches are truly a summer delight! I usually buy a few bushels for eating, baking, and preserving throughout the summer. One of my favorite ways to preserve peaches for eating later is to can them. Canning peaches is pretty straightforward. You can use your water bath canner which makes the process easier. Supplies: PeachesWater bath cannerJars, lids, and ringsA pot for blanching the peachesA large bowl of cold water to cool the peaches downA large bowl to put peeled... Read More Read More The post How To Can Fresh Peaches first appeared on Living Life in Rural Iowa ..read more

Do you know someone who has many things in their house that they don’t need but may need ‘someday’. They purchase items they will never eat or use, but they would rather have them than be without them. They believe having rooms stuffed with things would help them get through the next Great Depression. These actions come from having a scarcity mindset. Having a scarcity mindset develops from being obsessed with a lack of time, items, or money in your... Read More Read More The post Scarcity Mindset and Hoarding: Two Trauma Responses That Can Derail Your Prepping first appeared on Living Life in ..read more