I live very frugally. The $900/month I get from CPPD covers all my needs. It also covers my cigarettes, and $100/month I spend on shooting. I survived over 2 years without ANY income off less than $20000 in savings. Only once that ran out did I apply for disability.

I don't own a car, house or flat screen tv. I buy everything secondhand, my notebook and cell phone are both over 10 years old... don't be a slave to consumerism. I am the happiest person I know. I have friends who buy and buy, new cars, new I-phones, new flat screen tvs, have 6 figure incomes and have less savings at the end of the month than I do. 99% of the population battle to keep up with the Jones. You will never be satisfied unless you appreciate what you have now.

I carry no debt and have NEVER owned a credit card nor applied for one (except when I was tricked into it by filling out a survey). It's funny how I am the most responsible person I know with money yet was denied the CT credit card I was fooled into applying for 😆 I refuse to pay interest on anything.

Without a second thought I can leave all behind knowing that I will be ok.

Can one brag about having nothing?? I guess I just did 😀

For me, prepping is not about preserving what I have, but being able to live with nothing.

Because you are "living" prepping you are way ahead of most. You know what it is like and make it work. Most just try to imagine.

ranger - I know how you feel. We were in over our heads by a mile but with the help of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and LOTS of hard work we are finally on the other side! Don't give up. Find someone who can teach you the basics. Then find some motivation get on a plan!! If we can do it so can you! (really - I didn't think so either)

M590a1, your not married either, I suppose...

Kinda getting a mixed message from you M59O. On one hand you say don't save, spend the cash now to buy things for the future. Then later you say how you lived off your twenty grand savings for 2 years.

I do think that if we have a truly SHTF event and cash is soon to be obsolete, there will be still many people that will gladly sell you things for cash in the near term. Simply because they don't see the event as real. And if the S never hits the F then you still have your money for the other thousand little emergencies life throws your way.

A prudent prepper will always make cash a part of their prep strategy. I challenge anyone who hasn't started a stash to do it this weekend. Start by tucking a twenty dollar bill in your wallet or purse. Build on it.

I'm kind of a new to prepping and have sort of neglected this part. Spending cash on food and food preservation gear right now. Feeling overwhelmed juggling all the competing priorities.

I'm kind of a new to prepping and have sort of neglected this part. Spending cash on food and food preservation gear right now. Feeling overwhelmed juggling all the competing priorities.

Pace yourself. I haven't been at this for long, perhaps eighteen months, and have built up food and water stores by adding here and there as I did regular grocery trips. Building an emergency fund goes much the same way. Smokers are somehow able to squander $50 - $100 a week on their habit despite their income levels; see if you can put $25 a week aside in an envelope somewhere safe.

Kinda getting a mixed message from you M59O. On one hand you say don't save, spend the cash now to buy things for the future. Then later you say how you lived off your twenty grand savings for 2 years.

I do think that if we have a truly SHTF event and cash is soon to be obsolete, there will be still many people that will gladly sell you things for cash in the near term. Simply because they don't see the event as real. And if the S never hits the F then you still have your money for the other thousand little emergencies life throws your way.

A prudent prepper will always make cash a part of their prep strategy. I challenge anyone who hasn't started a stash to do it this weekend. Start by tucking a twenty dollar bill in your wallet or purse. Build on it.

I used to be a workaholic with a good paying job... then 4 years ago I got sick, had an operation to try and fix it but have been left with residual but improving issues, lived off my savings 2 years before going to the gov't for help and haven't returned to work yet.

I now collect CPPD and the measly amount that provides me (which I am thankful for) covers my food, rent and preps. I could still save plenty of money, but for what I'm preparing for, the situation would not require cash therefore I spend it on constantly upgrading to better and lighter gear.

I never started prepping until last year.

You can't eat money.

M590a1
I understand your position much more than most here, very similar, very similar story myself.

Peace and good luck to you.
contact me offline if you would like.

I just edited out the juicy bits heh. Too much information!

You cant eat money...TRUE, but its nice to have on hand if the ATM's go off line and you want to buy food , gas, ammo.....
😈

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this point. 🙂 And if you turn out to be right then I owe you a coke.

I take mine with Capt. Morgan. 😉