How to build a Storm Readiness Kit
Here's an argument for the government sheeple that proclaim all is well if a weather event comes, because FEMA is there to help us! Well, not really. You see, even FEMA has asked that all families have enough food, water, and medicine on hand for three days (link at bottom of article).
Here in Florida we face a strong chance of being effected by hurricanes, storm surges, and the near daily onslaught of late summer thunderstorms that can sometimes kick up winds near 55 mph without notice blowing down trees and flooding streets. I'm sure the same or similar holds true in one way or another for other areas of the country. So for instances where the power goes out for a few hours or a few days, the water main breaks, or trees come down on your car, you could use a simple collection of supplies to make yourself a little more comfortable.
A Storm Kit does not have to be as readily portable as a 72 hour kit or Bug Out Bag and can be in a stocked bunker if you so choose as the goal is to pass the time as comfortably as possible in your own home and minimize damage if you can. However, if you plan on using a vehicle to bug out it might be a good idea to keep a small portion of this kit in rubbermade bins or something similar so that they can be carried to the vehicle by an able-bodied adult to compliment your Bug Out Gear.
Your basics in any kit will always include food, water, and medicine/first aid. While we assemble portable BOBs we place a premium on weight savings and prefer to carry dehydrated goods and limit actual water carry in favor of filtration devices. In your Storm Kit weight and space will not be such as issue. So make sure to have plenty of ready-to-go foods that do not need complex preparations and gallon jugs of potable water. That way your time can be spent on repairing any damage to your home, keeping the kids calm, or assisting in clean up.
Next is light, if you like candles or open flames in the fireplace, great! Just remember that they are serious fire hazards and in a worse case scenario, Fire Resuce will already be plenty busy. If you go this route please remember a fire extinguisher or three. You should have one on hand anyways, but as a reminder, get one! Flashlights are of course an awesome tool and are portable. I prefer Petzl LED headlamps for hands free use and low power draw. I also prefer ones that can strobe for signaling and have selectable brightness settings such as my E41 Tikka. In any case, have plenty of batteries on hand. We use all AAA flashlights in our storm kit so that we only have one kind of battery to stock up on. It is best to buy quality lights as those wally-world specials usually have low-output and high power draw. To add, the bulbs are junk that will break with one drop. I'll do a review of my headlamp soon.
This may sound ridiculous but in a Storm Kit having some luxury items on hand is a necessity, especially if you have children. If you have kids don't forget a few simple entertainment items for them. Some board games or stack of UNO cards won't be space hogs when we're talking about several bins of preps. Children are extremely perceptive as you already know and will sense your stress level. Help to comfort them by engaging them in fun activities to create a sense of normalcy. It's also a great idea to include items you use as vices to help keep yourself off edge. If you smoke or dip, make sure a bit of tobacco is packed away somewhere. A few Hostess cakes are also a great idea for those with a regular sweet tooth.
If you have medicines that must be kept cold get a small cooler that fits on a shelf of your fridge/freezer . Hopefully you have a freezer capable of making ice. If you do, keep it active. If you don't make sure to keep a few bags of steamed veggies instead. When the power goes out dump some of your ice into the cooler, put your meds inside the cooler and stick it at the bottom of the freezer (or fridge if it can't be frozen). This will keep your meds good and cold after the fridge/freezer has raised to room temp. Your freezer should stay cool for 24-48 hours after lights out if the door is closed. This should be plenty of time but then again, I can remember 4-5 days of lights out for some "small" storms. So better safe than sorry. You can adjust this method for the fridge if meds can't be frozen.
Note: Some people think the cooler-in-freezer method works like a pot-in-pot cooler and thus, the interior of the cooler will be significantly colder than the freezer. This isn't so. Assuming the freezer is running, the cooler will only be as cold as the ambient air in the freezer. There is no evaporative effect because of the moisture being removed in the cooling process. If you want to understand the process search How a Freezer works on e-how.
If your budget and HOA (if you have one) should allow, invest in a simple propane grill and an extra tank of propane. It may not fit into a bin or be easily transported but its usable in the best of times and is a lifesaver for meal preparation should you get tired of Chef Boyardee or know the meat in your freezer will go bad if not cooked now. Not to mention that a hot meal is a great morale booster. Just make sure to get two tanks with one full tank always at the ready. Rotate the tanks and get the empty refilled ASAP. Of course there are many iterations of this idea, Coleman/camp stoves, charcoal grilles, fire pits, etc. and all of them are viable options. But you'll need to think about which one you'll get more value from.
I will assume that if you're riding out a storm at home that clean clothes will be available, but suffice to say, you should keep some hand-wash type detergent available and a bit of cordage for hang drying. This way should you by chance run out of clean clothing, you have options. If you plan to assist in clean up you will need some rough use clothing similar to what you may wear in the bush, or maybe just a good set of old jeans and a long sleeve cotton shirt. Think of what you see landscapers wearing, 'cause that's essentially what you'll be doing.
Note: Keep a few 2"x4"s about four feet long in closets near entrance/exit doors. If security becomes an issue wedge the wood under the door handle and a nail in the floor. Of course your windows and sliding glass doors are potential weaknesses but this method is great for a cheap and easy kick-proof door.
An often overlooked portion of kit is tools. Not just a Gerber multi or some screwdrivers but things to clear tree hazards and dig a quick latrine (if the water main breaks). A pair of work gloves, a two handled axe, a saw, machete and shovel can be had for less than $100 at any hardware store and should be more than ready for this kind of use. I wouldn't consider your camp hatchet and e-tool a good fit for heavy clearing work so if you have the cash and see the need, jump on it.
As found out when the power goes, the TV just doesn't do so good. Sometimes the cell towers work, sometimes they don't. So to keep updated about when the linemen may be out or any relief efforts available you may want to purchase a radio with internal power ability. You'll want something with the weather band but also AM/FM. Battery powered is fine if you plan on stocking the batteries, but crank or solar combined with a battery would be better. Be careful you don't get suckered into a whiz-bang set up from walgreens that will just as soon break as work, do your research and get a good unit. A small unit with solar would be a great piece of kit for the BOB, as well.
Depending on specific types of weather threats you may want to include some pre-fabricated supplies to harden weak areas. In Florida if you have the cash storm shutters are great. If you don't, it would be a good move to measure your windows and cut solid PT board to fit over them. Store in your garage or shed and never worry about that mad rush to home depot again. It'd be even better to leave brackets in place so that you and a buddy or spouse can put up the boards in an hour or so (assuming there's any warning) and not worry about sealing the holes left when you inevitably take the boards down. A roll of duct tape comes in handy if storage space is an issue. Taping a star or asterisk-like pattern on your windows should help with keeping glass from shattering but won't protect anything from impacting the glass in the first place. Moving large pieces of furniture against weak doors and windows is good should debris start flying into the house, but in a worst case scenario can slow rescue crews. If the storm is overhead it is best to seek a hallway or room in the center of the home, preferably with as few windows or doors as possible. There is some debate as to whether windows on the opposite sides of the house should be opened for cross winds and to keep the interior pressure in the house from being susceptible to a vacuum effect, but I have never seen a final word on it from a scientific point of view. You'll need to use your best judgment. Most important is to have a plan of procedures, and yes I know no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, but a plan helps with organization and presence of mind. Keeping one's wits about them is as important as any material prep.
Generators are a great source of debate. The good ones are expensive when things are good and priceless when things are bad. They are targets of theft either way and when running are loud and emit exhaust, thus are usually kept outside where some two-legged predators can hear, smell, and see. They aren't small either and for most people have little to no use when things are good. So please evaluate your possible uses of a generator before putting down $500 for one you may never have need of. If your principle uses of a genny would be charging phones/radios/running a hot plate maybe a good jump box with an inverter might be a better bang for your buck as it should be part of a solid vehicle kit anyways and will run silently.
So as a minimum you should compile a kit with -
1xGallon jug of water per person, per day
Food with atleast 3500 calories per person per day
Can openers and utensils
A good first aid kit with pain relievers, fever reducers, antibiotics (if available), bandages and dressings, scissors and tweezers
A surplus of prescribed meds
A tool kit with all the greatest hits
Light sources - candles, flashlights, batteries
An emergency procedures plan
Optional but highly recommended -
Fire extinguishers
Rubber bins for storage and portability
Weather band radio
Materials for hardening weak areas like doors and windows
A non-electric grill with fuel and starter
Heavy-work tools - saw, axe, machete, work gloves, shovel
Toys/games for kids
Extra clean clothes/work clothes
Generator or power inverter
Copies of important docs - insurance, ID, bank accounts (see Critical Documents Kit)
Toiletries - soap, TP, shaving kit, toothbrush/paste
This list is in no way all-inclusive. You should evaluate your own unique circumstances and identify possible areas of weakness in your preps.
For more information on what FEMA says about the matter, check out this link - www.ready.gov/america/getakit/
My first deer – a story in progress
I'm new to a lot of forms of hunting. If you can believe it, I've never hunted from a stand and up until this year, had not hunted legally (I recommend you get your safety course and licenses done now, during the off season). Sure I've been big into fishing, some basic trapping/snaring, and I'm a decent recreational shooter, but I've never gotten serious about harvesting meat until now.
My father and uncles have wanted me to come up to their lease in South Carolina for a while, where they tree stand hunt for whitetail. Well sure enough this year I am going to pull the trigger and get involved with "normal" hunting. Maybe even put some meat in the non-existent freezer, I suppose we'll have to do another write up when the time comes to buy one.
So saddle up because I'm going to detail step by step my process of getting started in tree stand hunting for whitetail from licensing process to gear selection to my first official deer. Please recognize that this article will be a work in progress until I come back with my first whitetail.
1. Safety Course and Licensing
2. Hunting Clothing - camo and such
3. A good rifle and Scope (Just bought a Savage 110 package - article coming soon)
4. Prep day - work weekend and scouting
5. The first hunt (later this fall)
6. My first deer (only God knows when)
Critical Documents kit
Who are you? Oh, yeah? Prove it.
The only way we can insure that we properly present ourselves to be who we are, own what we own (or have financed), are insured for, and have attended such education and training as we have, is to have proper documentation at the ready. But how is this possible when your drivers license, social security card, college degree, etc. have been destroyed, left behind, or stolen?
Think for a moment that you wake up, smell smoke, and realize the house is on fire. You rush the family outside, thinking to yourself" thank God everyone is safe."Now come the day after and you're on the phone with your insurance agent who says, "Do you have a photographic record of the contents", "is there a copy of your I.d. and social security card?" And on this goes. Then you say "Oh, no. They were destroyed in the fire. That's why we called you."This could be avoided fairly easily with a basic document kit.
Warning: Now, please note that this article is not entitled "What to do in case of fire". The scenario was generalized and is used for dramatic imagery. Fires are serious threats and I recommend you build a proper evacuation plan for your family today! (Article being researched)
Enough with the imagery. I choose to layer my document kit by scanning all critical items. Then I create physical copies to kept in the house should the originals be damaged. I keep electronic backups in Google Docs at an account used for nothing else, and I have been carrying an encrypted set of documents on a memory stick attached to a keychain in my vehicle kit. This way I have all bases covered. Should something happen to the house, destroying all physical copies I have Google Docs or my keychain set. Or if my keychain has been lost/stolen they are encrypted. And if I have to Bug Out unexpectedly leaving everything behind including my vehicle I can later access Google Docs - assuming internet access.
Now of course, your physical copies (especially originals) should be kept in a safes. Preferably fire safes, and in atleast two locations. But who has the money for a good fire safe, let alone two? Later on this year I will post a write up of a $150 closet safe. However, if you don't have the money available right now, I recommend you place originals in a "fire box". These small safes can be had for less than $40 at most big box stores. Keep the fire box near your bed where you will think to grab it before exiting the house.
In this kit you should include any and all documents pertinent to your assets/possessions, finances, health, emergency contacts, education, and identity. This means if you think it should belong, scan it and protect it. Another thought is to scan treasured photos. Though they may not be critical to your survival its a great relief to know that there is a level of insurance out there.
A basic look at my kit is (for wife and myself) -
All I.D.'s, licenses, certifications, and permits
Vehicle info w/pictures, truck loan docs, registrations, and insurance policies
County registry for home ownership, records of sale, realtor/escrow agents contacts, etc.
All bank info with member, account and routing numbers
Records of credits/loans including (especially) those paid off or closed
Educational/training certificates, diplomas, and degrees
Resumes and work histories
Past tax info (w-2's, 1099's)
Health insurance policies
Emergency contacts
You may have more or less to document and may choose to employ more safety measures than I do. In any case make a plan to get this prep done ASAP. There are too many day to day threats that could let Murphy rear his ugly head and show you the error of your ways. If nothing else, use the experience to get your documents organized. I mean, who doesn't appreciate a little order in their lives?
The beginners Every Day Carry
If you recall the principles discussed in The first five layers you'll remember that the first layer is always you, your person, and what is immediately available for your use. Since we all live such busy and mobile lives , it would be far too inconvenient if not impossible to carry all our preps with us everywhere we go. But what we can do is develop a system that allows us to address most immediate issues wherever we are that will help us eventually fall back to our vehicles, homes, or other position of strength. This is why it is necessary to develop a small arsenal of tools to be carried on person or close by, every day.
Women have carried handbags, purses, clutches and the like for how long? And why do they do so? If you ask someone like my wife not only is it fashionable, but she can have "the things she needs" when she "needs" them. Things like make up and other "necessary" feminine items. Now, I can sit and argue what defines necessary all day, but with a woman, this would be futile. However, the idea behind this is fantastic: to carry with her the tools for all the "what ifs".
That is the focus of this article, the what ifs. Now, your daily environment may be completely different than mine and some of the things I may recommend for carry may not fit your needs or may not be legal. So please check local laws before carrying, 'cause "Tyson from TCSG said so" is not a proper legal defense.
To start, carry basic items that have multiple uses if possible. The less you carry the more comfortable you will be and the more likely you are to continue. You might also notice that most of these items will fit into a "survival kit" as well.
The first thing every good prepper needs is a blade. A wise man once said all you really need to get by is sharp wits and a sharper knife. At a truly minimalistic sense almost anything you may need post-event can either be procured or fabricated with a knife and raw materials found in nature (we just usually don't have the luxury of time). Do not cheap out here. Now, I regularly carry two knives. On person and in pocket is a benchmade osborne rift for daily tasks like cutting cordage/twine and opening boxes. I also carry it as a secondary weapon. This is supplemented in my Go Bag by a Rat Cutlery Izula for heavier uses. And as always, if you carry a knife, carry something to sharpen it - like a Lansky or Smith's pocket sharpener.
If your needs don't require a stand alone blade (I recommend you carry one anyways) a multi-tool is a great option. I use mine frequently for small repairs I come across and for nail trimming when nothing else is going on. They have so many uses in day to day and survivalist scenarios that it would take a series of articles to cover just the basics. I have had a Gerber Diesel for a few years and consider it indispensable. I have become a fan of Gerber products (other than knives) after watching Dave Canterbury videos. Lately, I have been carrying a small Gerber Clutch (the one with pliers) in my back pocket and leaving the Diesel in the Go Bag. It seems to be working just fine.
The next thing is quite important and carried by most people right now, but is rarely viewed as a prep. That's a cell phone. Considering the scope of an event is limited (not TEOTWAWKI) and electronics are usable you should be able to use your cell for basic communications. For vehicle breakdowns you can't handle why not call AAA/a tow, you can coordinate rendezvous for bugging out, or contact emergency services. In addition most phones can be used to carry a back up set of critical documents, contacts, and access map systems or the internet for directions. I believe in a modern world, a good cell phone is a required EDC prep.
I may be a little bit controversial with this next prep, but in my heart of hearts I believe it to be absolutely necessary not only for self-preservation but as an exercise of freedom and reverence to God for the gift of America. Carry a firearm. No matter how big the thug there is no greater equalizer than a gun pointed at his chest. I'm not saying you need to become a modern day gunslinger. Its just that it has been shown time and time again that the presence of a firearm has prevented the commission of crimes. If you don't feel comfortable with a firearm, fine. I can't convince you any different and thus, you present more harm than good by carrying one. So carry a less than lethal weapon like a taser, spitfire spray, a tiger light, or kubaton and get training. My wife and I both carry Spitfire brand OC spray on our key chains - I like to have options and agree with the argument of "if you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail". So I carry a less than lethal in addition to my concealed carry.
For you gearheads I EDC/CCW a Kahr PM9 in a Crossbreed Mini-tuck or a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster. An extra mag usually tucked in my front left pocket. I find these setups to be comfortable and easy to conceal. My preferred load is the 115 gr. Speer Gold Dots, they seem to be the best feeding round in Kahrs and have great defensive ability for a 9mm. As always, I urge you to seek professional training before engaging in any kind of carry.
Beyond these items I like to have a few extra tools like a small torx wrench, pry bar, and a Petzl headlamp close by. Couple that with a first aid kit (FAK), a few Clif Bars/water, some smaller items to round out a survival kit like paracord and a whistle (more on Survival Kits to come soon) and it becomes quite difficult to carry all this on person. So I like to have a bag close by to carry this other stuff. I call this my "Go Bag" to remind myself that at any point I can pick up this bag and start walking. With this gear (and God's grace) I should be fine for about 24 hours or 20 miles. Note that this is not my Bug Out Bag as it is fairly limited and is focused on my daily routine, distances/terrain traveled, and other foreseeable problems I may encounter.
For this I use any one of a myriad of bags. My favorite bags so far are made from heavy duty nylon cordura, usually 1000 denier. To date I have not found the perfect bag for all situations although I prefer Maxpedition products over most others. They have great durability and organizational capabilities, but most of their products are geared to tactical uses and break from my usual "grey man" approach. I'm still waiting for them to put out a more plain back pack like their Glen Eagle line. For right now my Go Bag is the LAPG Bug Out Bag which is relatively inexpensive and works fine considering I carry it to my desk and back to the truck. It appears to be business like, but I'd like something a little less "tactical" with two straps for comfort over distance and hands free carry. I feel that a single shoulder strap limits mobility. Don't feel that maxpedition or Lapg are your only options. There are great bag makers out there like 5.11, Condor, Spec Ops gear, and Mountainsmith to name a few.
So to reiterate you should carry on person a blade, multi-tool, cell phone, and self-defense weapon. As well as having close by a collection of tools you may find useful for your daily life, coupled with a FAK and survival kit. Remember to check local laws and always seek professional training before carrying any weapon.
Some of my EDC gear -
The first five layers and The rule of threes
Let me preface this article by saying the layered prep philosophy is not a unique concept and that you can see many takes on layering your preps elsewhere. I definitely reccomend you check other sources and develop a discipline that works for you. This just happens to be my view on the matter.
The concept here is that we build our preps from "the inside, out". Beginning with immediate threats to our person and radiating out based on level of threat and it's immediacy. The obvious first layer is you and your physical survival. I'm talking let's keep you sucking air. Then it will develop into more complex contingency planning involving everything from self defense to debt elimination. Obviously due to the scope of each layer, its contents, and their applications this article will be a brief overview with more specific and in-depth studies to come soon.
Our obvious needs from a physical standpoint can be broken into a very basic "Rule of threes". That is, we can survive three minutes without air, three hours exposed to most elements, three days without water, and three weeks without food. Yes, that is a very general outlook that doesn't exactly factor in the totality of the circumstances. But its good enough to start a basic preparations discipline as we will always default to our most basic of needs.
Considering our new rule the first layer must always address these most basic needs and our tools or stocks to fill them that must be readily accessible. Enter our first layer - EDC or every day carry. This is the gear and stocks we keep either on person or close at hand wherever we go. My on person EDC includes a folding knife, small multi-tool, cell phone, keys with OC spray, and a concealed firearm kept on my person. These tools enable me to perform most day to day tasks without slowing down and can help in basic survival and woodsman tasks. My on person EDC is supplemented by a small "go bag" or "carry bag" which carries additional tools, some Clif bars, water bottle, and small items like a firesteel and compass. This bag isn't always on me but is kept at my for work or in my vehicle (which also houses a larger kit) when around town. We will soon be going into detail of EDC with a full length article so forgive me if this is too general. You'll get your gear fix soon enough!
The next layer is the Bug Out Bag, or as I prefer, the 72 hour kit. This kit should be capable of supporting a hasty retreat to a safer location or a short "quarantine" if travel becomes unreasonable or unsafe. Some people have many different names for this layer such as fight bag, war bag, onboard armory, etc. and as many different ways to assemble this kit. Some Bug Out Bags are scarcely more than my own EDC while some broach upon INCH status (I'm Never Coming Home) and are almost impossible to remain mobile with. I prefer a kit that is fairly easy to carry on foot in case of hasty retreat and addresses basic physical, medical, security, and identification needs. While some focus on the big three, bullets, beans, and band aids, I believe we should include I.d., educational, and financial documents as well as some basic camping supplies.
I will also add that a version of this kit should be kept in your vehicle with the fourth layer detailed later.
While again, I don't plan to go into too much detail of contents here, I do want to impress upon you the idea of this kit. Its an 'all out everything you need to exist without the world for three whole days' kit. So it should include enough water (or purifiers and maps to water sources), food, and medicine for that time. Its a good idea to throw some cash money and quarters in there as well in case electronics are down but stores are open. Also, a $20 bill is a good "look the other way" tool. We will examine the bail out bag/72 hour kit in depth fairly soon in a full-length article.
The idea with the first two layers (and fourth) is that at any time I can use EDC items to fight back to my Go Bag and/or vehicle and the items in my go bag/vehicle to make it back home. This is all made much easier if an EMP hasn't made modern cars incapable of movement.
So you've made it home. What if evacuation isn't a possibility, or the best option, and three days just isn't enough? History will show us that if government is still in place, aid is usually organized inside of a 30 day window post-event. So we plan our third layer as a one month "Bug-in" or "stay-cation" kit. This prep usually has the least debate associated with it as it almost always centers itself around food, water, and medicine. The idea of not evacuating is certainly not new and in most cases is probably the best option, that is, unless you have a stocked retreat (Bug out location) that is within easy traveling distance. Being that in your first two layers you have addressed a quick evacuation you can focus on what you might need to keep your home in order for 30 days. This should include long-term storage foods like canned goods and tools to prepare them, water, medications, and communications equipment (emergency band radio, FRS, cell phone, CB, etc.). Then depending on your living conditions you may want to include some materials to harden your home against storm damage and break ins (4x4 wedged between the door handle and a nail in the floor is a great inexpensive, thug-proof prep), and if money allows, a generator to keep appliances like your refrigerator (very important for diabetics) and television running. I have helped assemble this type of kit several times and with some smart shopping will not break $200 (minus the generator) for a family of four. In fact, the most expensive items are usually medications and a radio. Almost everything else comes from big box stores where buying in such bulk is fairly inexpensive.
This third layer is often overlooked as its not as appealing as "tacti-cool" toys like maxpedition bags and CCW gear. However its usually the simplest to build if you have a little closet space and is often the easiest to convince your spouse to support. The argument of having a 30 day supply of food on hand at any given time is usually a no brainer. You're going to be buying the food anyways, why not buy it now? And to boot, use it! Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast says it best, "eat what you store and store what you eat". Simply, buy foods your family actually consumes. If you don't use condensed or powdered milk, don't buy it. Tuna helper with a can of albacore white an every Thursday night staple? Put it on the list. Then once you have in stock what you want, rotate stocks based on expiration dates. Some people even use the Bug in kit to jump start the fifth layer - financial readiness. As having the foods you use on hand makes it easier to hold off purchasing new stocks until the items are on sale = expense reduction.
Now, I should detail the fourth layer here as most of us commute away from the home to work and use a vehicle to do so. However, the vehicle kit is really just a car specific 72 hour and roadside repair kit. I'm sure we will cover it at length in the future, but as I am currently overhauling my own vehicle kit I think its best to hold off for right now so I can give you all a detailed synopsis of the process. For now, just consider a small tool kit, a spare tire and jack, and maybe a jumpbox or cables as a minimum coupled with a 72 hour kit kept in the vehicle.
The fifth layer is the most difficult subject, finances. As you may have noticed already, preps can be quite costly, but that's not the only reason finances factor in here. Think of the honest to goodness most immediate threat to your lifestyle and well being. Its probably financial especially when we consider that if we don't produce our own food, clothing, medicine, and shelter we must rely on monetary income. So now let's break down some serious financial threats - what about job loss, unexpected medical expenses, vehicle breakdowns. These things are fairly common and can destroy us financially. I am no legal expert or financial advisor but can you see where things like debt elimination and expense reduction can be considered common sense preps? I can't tell you how to approach this from a technical standpoint as each persons financial status is quite unique. But I can say from a frustratingly basic and rhetorical sense that the simple mathematical 'raise income, reduce debt/expenses' is the only way to become financially free. Since I'm no CPA I can't give you professional grade advice but I do plan to write some articles dealing with my own fight to get out of debt and create more income. If this is an immediate issue for you I urge you to check out Dave Ramsey and his financial peace educational products right now!
Are you overwhelmed yet? Don't be. There are plenty of resources on the internet and in print to help you on your journey. And of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more out there you might need to truly be prepared. But note that we will be here to help guide you and soon to provide much more detailed information and get you started on the "baby steps".
In the meantime, slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Do just one thing at a time and you'll be surprised at how quickly you'll progress.