Survival Buzz #198: Do You Think Setting Short-Term Goals is a Good Idea?

This week in the Buzz I want to focus on looking forward and setting short-term preparedness goals.  Do you think setting short-term goals is a good idea?  After all, who hasn’t set long-term preparedness goals?  My guess is no one.  I know that I have, and my endless list-of-things-to-do proves it.

The problem as I see it is that a close examination of that list of preparedness goals reveals lofty, broad brush things such as “take another firearms course, learn to use my All-American Canner, and build a rocket stove out of cement bricks”.  These are admirable and doable goals but will they get done this week or even this month?  Maybe, maybe not, especially if work, time, and social schedules get in the way of good intentions.

Keeping that in mind, this week I set down some short term preparedness goals for myself.  These are goals that I plan to accomplish this month, no matter what.  As simplistic as they might be, I am listing them publicly for the world to see.  And if I don’t meet those goals?  I will have to hang my head in shame lest I have some pretty darn good excuse for not getting them done.

9 Short Term Prepping Goals for the World to See

Here are my goals for December:

1.  Gather at least two additional buckets of desert biomass to use in my rocket stoves.

2.  Purchase and re-package 20 pounds of sugar.  With all of that holiday baking that folks do this time of year, sugar is dirt cheap right now. Note to self:  do not use oxygen absorbers with sugar unless I want it to become as hard as a brick of concrete!

3.  Purchase and package 20 pounds of oatmeal to add to my food storage.

4.  Fill the second 160-gallon barrel of the 320-gallon water tank kit I purchased in October.

5.  Learn to make DIY toilet bombs for ease in cleaning toilets without the use of chemicals.

6.  Read one new book in the “post-apocalyptic” fiction genre.

7.  Bake bread in the Sun Oven.

8.  Acquire paper maps of the surrounding area so I can find my way back home if there is a disruptive event while I am in Arizona for the winter.

9. Tune up our bicycles so we can start riding again with the mini goal of increasing physical stamina

As you can see, none of these goals are difficult, expensive, or unattainable.  They are my own personal Month Twelve of 12 months of prepping!

Speaking of expensive, for 2016, austerity and frugality will be the buzzword in my household.  Hopefully I have already spent what I needed to spend to set up the major preps at my winter home (such as those two large water tanks, Royal Berkey, freeze-dried food storage, Volcano 3 Stove).  I did budget for these things but still, everything added up quickly.

The good news is that if you are interested in penny pinching, there will be a lot more of that on Backdoor Survival in 2016.

Okay then.  Now you know my goals for the month.  As you continue to read the rest of the Buzz, start thinking about your own short-term goals because I am going to ask you about them.

News Flash!  Articles from Around the Web

Just like the old days.  Coming soon!

Current Backdoor Survival Giveaways

I am back with some giveaways this week.  First up, from one of my favorite prepping authors, Jim Cobb.

Prepper Book Festival 10: Prepper’s Survival Hacks + Giveaway

In this next giveaway, there will be three winners, one for each of the OxyLED emergency lighting items.  This is a fun one!

Emergency Lighting Ideas for Your Holiday Survival Kit + Giveaway

With all giveaways, winners are notified by email and have 48 hours to claim their prize or an alternate will be selected.  Once selected, the names of winners are also displayed in the Rafflecopter on the original giveaway article.  This usually happens on the Friday following the end of the giveaway.

A Word From Our Sponsor: Sun Ovens International

The SUN OVEN is a fantastic solar cooker and the one that I own. As I mentioned earlier, baking bread in the Sun Oven is one of my goals for December.

Do you want to learn how to use the Sun Oven?  If so, you can watch the replay of my recent solar cooking webinar here: Backdoor Survival Solar Cooking Webinar.  There is a lot to learn in the webinar, even if you already own a solar cooker.  This is good stuff!

When the webinar first aired, a fully equipped version of the Sun Oven was offered at the discounted price of $315, shipping included.  That is a discount of $133.  The package included almost every single item offered by Sun Ovens International and is a tremendous value.

I am thrilled to let you know that for a short time, that discount is once again available. You don’t even have to watch the entire webinar to take advantage of this offer, especially if you have already seen it.  If you want to see what all of the hoopla is all about, click here to take advantage of the Backdoor Survival webinar discount on the Sun Oven!

Other Announcements

This is the time of year when gifting is on everyone’s mind. If you are struggling to find the perfect gift, take a peek at the Backdoor Survival Prepper’s Holiday Gift Guide.  The items in this guide are items that I personally own as well as a few DIY surprises.

By now I am sure you know that on many of your purchases, I earn a small commission. In addition, some of the links on this site support the great companies that pay to advertise on BDS.  It goes without saying that by clicking on the links and beginning your shopping experience from this website, you are supporting my work and for that I am grateful.

And what if you are not an online shopper?  That is okay too.  There is never a requirement to buy a single thing in order to take advantage of the material I provide.  And, as I like to say, that is all I am going to say about that.

The Final Word

One of the bummers of authoring a blog is that there are a number of technical aspects that need constant care and feeding.  The mishegoss includes creating perfect headlines, eye-popping photos, and proper SEO.  All of that is W.O.R.K. and not much fun at all.

And then there is content theft.  Can you imagine?  Last week I was accused of stealing someone’s article when in fact, that person had stolen mine.  The original posting date on Backdoor Survival was before the Brand X website had even been started.  It is things like that that drive me nuts.

Call me old fashioned but methinks I will pay less attention to all that stuff (well maybe not the content theft part), and go back to the fun aspects of blogging, namely the writing part. After all, the “backdoor” part of Backdoor Survival is an invitation to come around to the backdoor (usually opening into the kitchen), have a seat at the table, and share a cup of coffee as we chat.  Isn’t that the way it was done in gentler times?

That about covers it for this week.  So what about you?  What are your preparedness goals for the rest of the month?

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye

If you enjoyed this article, consider subscribing to email updates.  When you do, you will receive a free, downloadable copy of my e-Book, The Emergency Food Buyer’s Guide.

You can also vote for Backdoor Survival daily at Top Prepper Websites!

Bargain Bin: You know the drill.  Here are the items mentioned today.  In addition, I really really really want you to think about useful and practical gifts this year.  Here are some ideas from the Holiday Gift Guide.

60 – 300cc Oxygen Absorbers: This is one area where you want to make sure you are getting a quality product. Currently, a pack of 60 (in three 20 unit packs) is about $11 with free shipping.

Royal Berkey Water Filtration System w/ 2 Black Elements: This is the first purchase I made when I came to Arizona.  Forget about reverse osmosis and other systems.  The Berkey is the gold standard when it comes to in home water filtration systems.

Volcano 3 Collapsible Cook Stove: The Volcano Collapsible cook stove is so versatile; it works with  charcoal, wood, or propane.  I like that it collapses down to 5” making it transportable.  I also have the older model, the Volcano 2.  Anytime I own two of something, you know it is a favorite.

All American Pressure Cooker/Canner:  This is my big beautiful canner.  One of these days I will become proficient at using it.

Luci EMRG Inflatable Solar Lantern:  This is the original Luci EMRG Solar lantern. I have put mine through its paces and it is one tough cookie.  It has weathered both a wind storm and rain storm while hanging outdoors for a month.  Lightweight, waterproof and shatterproof, Luci EMRG provides ultra-bright, reliable light to guide your way indoors and out, through blackouts or extreme weather conditions.

TaoTronics Collapsible Lantern:  This TaoTronics Lantern is collapsible, super bright, and water resistant.  It is powered by 3 AAA batteries that will provide brightness for 40 hours. To use this lantern, just pull it open; there are no power switches to mess with.

Live Fire Original Emergency Fire Starter: This emergency fire starter is compact and a cinch to use. Completely waterproof! I know because I tried to drown my tin in salt water.  The Live Fire Sport is the same product, but in an even smaller, 1 inch by 2 inch tin. Both would make excellent gifts.

Blocklite Ultra Bright 9V LED Flashlight: I first learned about Blocklites from a reader.  I am impressed with how long they will run on a single, 9V battery.  I now own 8 of these spread out in drawers, emergency kits, the car, everywhere.  This is my number one pick for a small, but effective flashlight.

BaoFeng UV5R Dual-Band Two-Way Radio:  I own two of these.  Something to keep in mind that if you are just planning to listen, you do not need a license.  This is the prepper’s choice when it comes to emergency radios.  Special Note:  BaoFeng and Pofung radios are one and the same.  Some units are branded as “Pofung”. Need help setting them up?  Read How to Set-Up and Master Ham Radio Without Going Crazy.

Amprobe BAT-250 Battery Tester:  I do not know anyone that is sorry they purchased or gifted an inexpensive battery tester.  Mine sits in my desk drawer and is used 3 or 4 times a week.  This newer version is an upgrade from the BT-200 and well worth the extra couple od dollars.  I  especially like the redesigned side cradle that holds batteries securely in place during testing – no more erratic battery readings from movement off contacts. Even if you do not want to purchase one as a gift for someone else, do get on for yourself.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter:  The LifeStraw contains no chemicals, no batteries and no moving parts to wear out. It features a a high flow rate and weighs only 2oz. It works quickly, taking roughly 3-5 seconds of sucking to start the flow of water through the filter. It’s ultra-light and inexpensive but effective.  There is also the LifeStraw Family that will purify up to 12 liters per hour.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Check Out the Cyber-Week Specials from Emergency Essentials

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Need something from Amazon (and who doesn’t)? I earn a small commission from purchases made when you begin your Amazon shopping experience here. You still get great Amazon service and the price is the same, no matter what.

Amazon has a feature called Shop Amazon – Most Wished For Items. This is an easy tool for finding products that people are ‘wishing” for and in this way you know what the top products are.  All you need to do is select the category from the left hand side of the screen.

Amazon Gift Cards
The Amazon Top Most Wished For and Best Selling Outdoor Items
Emergency Preparedness Items from Amazon.com
Shop Amazon Tactical – Great Selection of Optics, Knives, Cases, Equipment

Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Essential Oils: Deal of the Week

Each week I update a special page with the Spark Naturals item of the week?  You can find it here:  Essential Oils from Spark Naturals – Weekly Deals. Every once in awhile there will be free shipping or a free gift offered as well as a product discount.

And remember, you can always use the code BACKDOORSURVIVAL for an additional 10% off your entire SN order.  When it comes to saving money, every little bit helps.