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Premium Membership Q&A Recordings

Transcript

They’re in the middle of the Mojave desert. It was wild. Oh, it all worked out, but people need to have their car kits. It happened to my daughter and I, when I was driving her to school in Idaho, we got rerouted off the 15, just outside of North of Vegas. And took mountain roads for seven hours from Vegas to Cedar City.

We, we knew that was going to happen though, but, so we were, we were prepped for it. But anyway. Well, and that’s not even like a huge emergency. It’s just life. Like, yeah, that’s crazy. My, um, was it two Christmases ago? Three? Maybe? When there was like, I missed my sister’s wedding, my flight was canceled. Like I did not go to my sister’s wedding.

It was crazy. There were those crazy storms a couple of years ago. And my kids were driving home from Utah. Um, and it took them 23 hours. They were stuck over the past, like

before you get to Reno. Um, but they had two dogs and six kids in this apartment, one of whom was a one year old. Oh my gosh, like, I can’t even imagine. Um, like, my daughters were peeing on the side of the road. Like, it was crazy. People were running out of gas. It’s wild to me because we see that all the time, whether it’s like a roads closed or the weather or whatever.

It’s shocking to me that people still don’t think they can get stuck in their car somewhere.

How’s your info hub coming in, Lisa? Um, we, we’re still working on it, where it took us a long time to get our trust up then. So I need to You got it. We just got, we got, we got it done. In fact, we just got the documents back this week, so I need to get it inputted and still working on that. Yeah, summer, I think it’s done in the summer, isn’t it?

So kids start school next week. Maybe then I’ll get something done.

have you done anything, To prep your house for earthquakes, bolted down and all that stuff. Yeah, some, um, we’re not amazing at it, but like we have, we do.

And I like when we moved in, um, I had my husband that one that one actually tied for this food storage inventory one So I wouldn’t be surprised I can’t decide if I want to keep resetting the voting every month Because the pool isn’t changing a whole lot like people are coming in but not a ton And so i’m kind of like should I just take the last?

you know whenever there’s a tie I feel like I should just set the next month because I could Next month, you know Um, but yeah, we have things bolted down there’s I, we are not like crazy about it or anything. I don’t, I mean, this is rich coming from me, but we aren’t like our area. Yes. Where we would feel stuff.

I feel like there’s, there’s not like. You know, by the time it gets to us, it’s not as huge of a deal. Does that make sense? We’re not like on a huge fault or anything. I feel like, or at least I haven’t heard of, I guess not. Cause you’re probably like, um, there’s a huge one that goes right through Sacramento, but, um, you know, there was like, when I lived in the Bay area, we grew up, I grew up in the Bay area.

And when there was an earth, like the 89 earthquake, like we felt that huge, that was, that was a big deal, but like in Sacramento, it wouldn’t have been, you know what I mean? So. Um, I guess I’ve gotten a little complacent. We definitely review, like, what you should do and where you should go, and we have our spots in every room, things like that.

But as far as, like, preparing our home, we have some things bolted down. Um, I am really conscious about where I keep glass jars of stuff. Like, my glass jars in my pantry are all on the bottom shelf, and they’re all in totes. So that if they were to fall, hopefully the mess would be a little bit, you know, like just little things like that that probably aren’t life or death.

Um, but I do think about things like that. I don’t hang anything over our heads in our bedroom unless like a poster, you know, my kids or something, nothing heavy. Um, I’ve never been comfortable doing that. So there are a few things like that that I’m just like earthquake minded about. But not like crazy gung ho or anything.

We just have felt a few in the last couple of weeks and because I’ve always lived here and it’s, they never amount to much knock on wood. I don’t, we don’t really do very much, but I’m wondering if I need to be more mindful of that. Well, and even people in Utah thought they didn’t need to be until, wasn’t it during COVID?

Was it 2020? Yeah, it was like a week after COVID. It was like one of the first few days of homeschool and, We had an earthquake. It was like everything hit all at the same time.

Where do you live? I I’m in Salt Lake County.

Well, yeah. I mean, you think you don’t need to, and then it’s just like with anything else. Right. I guess there’s always a possibility. So, um, well, and what’s so interesting. I had a girl message me. I screenshotted this too. I just need to share it It’s like I screenshot stuff and i’m like, oh, okay I’ll find the perfect time to show that and then I forget about it.

I just need to share it right then but Um, she messaged me just a couple weeks ago and said hey, we’re traveling We’re taking our kids to disneyland and we don’t get earthquakes where we live. Um, but i’ve been feeling like a really strong Urgency to like prepare for earthquakes and whatever and maybe it’s because of this trip Anyway, there was an earthquake while they were there You And so she messaged me and she was like, Oh my gosh, I had just reviewed with my kids what to do and blah, blah, blah.

And, and like, it wasn’t, it wasn’t like it was this huge earthquake or anything like they weren’t in danger, but she was just like, how crazy? Like it was just, and I have said that every time earthquakes come up, I say that. I’m like even if you don’t live somewhere where you get earthquakes Have you ever been to disneyland because disneyland gets earthquakes, you know, or whatever like who’s to say your kid Isn’t going to end up on a trip going somewhere or whatever like everyone should still know what to do in an earthquake It’s not a waste of your time, you know Um, I don’t care where you live like There are some basic things you could at least be reviewing with your family and for yourself.

I mean, when I was growing up, you were supposed to get under a doorway. You’re not supposed to anymore. You know, I mean, that’s new, that’s changed. So even for adults who think they know or whatever, still a good thing to review. So, so yeah, maybe we’ll do earthquake, uh, next month.

Well, any questions of anything else you’re working on, like any courses or. Um, 52 weeks, any of that stuff, like any, any things you’ve come across or

I just love that. I feel like I know you guys, it’s kind of fun. I don’t have any questions. I just need to finish up what I’ve.

Same. I’m just trying to get things done. I kind of gave myself a. And date of the election, just not because everything will be done by then. But I, I’m more motivated by a date. I’m like, yeah, it’s like a good time. I love it.

Well, Hey, thank you. Have a great day. Have a great week. Thank you. Bye.

Transcript

All right.  Sorry, I’m a little late. We were just wrapping up the workshop. Elisa, I saw you in there, towards the end. It was, so you missed their, um,  like just their stories where I had them introduce themselves and just kind of go through their experience. Definitely listen to the replay.  Crazy.

Especially Francis’s story. It was just crazy. Absolutely crazy. Um,  okay, so what do you have, Elisa? I think you were one. Maybe, no, maybe it wasn’t you.  Maybe it was someone else who asked about cash,  but maybe you have asked me about cash before I was, I was actually hoping for,  it turns out these people didn’t really use their cash, which is interesting.

Um,  so that wasn’t, that didn’t really accomplish what I thought it was going to accomplish on the cash side.  So my little one liner of the people that, that I know of who were on an island, um,  That’s the most, you know, discussion about cash. I feel like we had, other than they, they didn’t use theirs because they didn’t even have places open to use it at.

Um, so I thought that was really interesting.  Um, but I can’t even remember if you were one who asked about cash.  Okay.  

Um, I have a question. Okay. We are filling out our estate stuff on the hub.  Oh, yeah.  And so we were in the process of making our will and our trust.  So I’m actually on the like, Life planning I guess part.  How on earth did you do that and decide? 

Where you’re going to be buried and what?  

It’s it’s rough program.  

I know. I um, well that stuff has been interesting. I took notes. We haven’t made final  I mean, but at least we’ll have notes to go off of, right? We’ve, we’ve addressed the topic together. We’ve, we do that on road trips. I’ll probably bring it up this Sunday when we’re driving on a road trip.

Um, because I feel like things like that are going to change,  right? Um,  the big one for us is  where do we want to be buried? Because we don’t live near our parents,  and that  feels like you should, right? Like, well, where are you from? Or where, you know, where are your parents? Well, we’re us now. We are parents of children.

Like, why can’t we start our own thing?  But to me, I’m also kind of like,  I don’t really care,  like, I want to be somewhere where my kids would be able to visit my grave if they cared,  but also,  how do, we can’t anticipate where our kids are gonna end up when we’re dead, like, I don’t know, that’s where my brain goes, so I’m just like, okay, I don’t care for me, I have zero care,  put me in a state I’ve never been to in my life, I don’t care for me where I am, because I’m dead. I don’t care.  And so then it’s for anyone who’s left,  who might want to visit me. And so, and then I just think, and I cannot begin to guess where my kids are going to end up, you know?  And so, we’ve both just kind of said, I don’t care. I guess maybe where we’re living, or if one of our parents really feels strongly, like, we just don’t care enough to care.

Like, the process of like, going to a cemetery and purchasing a plot and we haven’t done that way.  Yeah,  that’s a little bit more feasible. 

And I feel like, I mean, It would be great to have that done for a surviving spouse or if you’re surviving children so that they didn’t have to do that. But until we are a lot older, like what if we buy a plot here and then we retire across the country?

Like  I kind of, I just don’t feel like I’m ready to do that because we don’t want to live here forever. Like, we’re here until all our kids are 18 and move out and then we’re out of here, you know? So like, I don’t feel like I want to make that decision right now. And of course, if one of us were to die while we lived here, fine, we’ll figure it out.

But like, I’m not ready to say,  you know, we don’t know where we’re going to end up yet, you know?  Yeah, that’s kind of how I, that, those are my feelings were like, my grandpa was in his eighties. So, yeah, I mean, he had bought a pot, so his kids didn’t have to deal with it and he had everything lined up and ready to go.

So I feel like I, we’ve made enough plans  for our,  Our situation right now, I guess, you know, like, do you want to be cremated or buried? What would you want to be buried with? Do you care about a coffin? What are your favorite flowers? Like, those type of things are going to be wherever we go. And so the more decisions we can make for the other person to not have to worry about or think about, great.

But like, if they have to buy a plot because we didn’t, We didn’t anticipate dying when we still lived here, then they have to buy a plot, you know, you can’t do everything for them. Yeah.  That’s where we’re at. We’re not crazy about  filling every single thing out right now. We’re not.  

Okay. You know. 

Just a general idea.

Yeah. Yeah, because even on the trust, like we have a 20 year old,  but, um, I didn’t want to put him in charge of everything  because I’m like, that’s all him to deal with. So we actually still stayed with my sister and my brother in law because my youngest seven and I thought, I can’t have my 20 year old.

He’s not going to be able to take care of my seven year old.  So we didn’t even put him on,  you know, being in charge.  

No, that totally makes sense. And you know, that may change given 10 years, you know, and you might feel differently. So I think, I think for that one, I mean, just like with most stuff in the, in, in the info hub in general, things will change over time.

One at a time, little by little, you know, um, you’re not going to have like this major, okay. We, our kid just turned 30 or we just turned 60. Now we’re going to redo our whole info hub. I think things just like,  Constantly evolve. And so just like revisiting it every six months. every year, something like that.

And adding the new car that you got or the, you know, the, this or that, you can also just skim over the estate plan and think, okay, you know, you had so and so as your pallbearer, but like you haven’t spoken to him in five years. Would you still want that? Or is it time to switch this up? You know, that’s kind of how I view  stuff like that  personally.

I don’t know. That was part of my second question. Cause this estate is our last section we have to fill out. And then. What, you know, how often I was going to ask you, how often do you review it to see changes from somebody who’s an expert and knows what they’re doing,  but I’m not,  um, I, I have it on the six month checklist  that, um,  Like review, I think what I have there because I don’t, I don’t, I want it to be applicable to everybody.

Like, you’re testing your smoke alarms. You’re rotating your water if needed. Right? Like, some people have a 5 year treatment plan on their water. And so they can skip that on the 6 months and they only have to do it every 5 years. But I have kind of, do you have that checklist?  I think it’s, 

I think so. The six months I do.

Yeah. Um, so reviewing your important information, I think every six months is really good, especially when your family is changing. So often, if you’ve got a lot of kids still at home, I feel like there’s always going to be something that you could add, you know, someone got a cell phone, so they’re going to have a lockscreen password.

Someone started volunteering here or did sports there or switched baseball coaches here. So I feel like every six months or so doing a quick. M of it is  Is probably, you’re probably going to have something to change or add every six months,  but you know, as you move on and your kids grow up and stuff, I would anticipate,  um,  the changes to be fewer and further between personally, I don’t know.

I’m not there yet, but I anticipate that. Um, but I think that every six months, it’s just good.  It would be good to just do a quick skin, personally, that’s why I put it on there, like, you don’t, if you decide it’s, you know, once a year,  and at least it’ll be on that list, and you’ll say, oh no, this is the fall, we do that in the spring, okay, whatever, you know, just,  I’d rather have it on a checklist than not, so that it doesn’t get forgotten. 

Um, But yeah, I think six months is good,  but then something like auto maintenance, you know, every time I get my oil change, I open up the vehicles and I update it right there because I’m going to forget that six. I’m not going to know what the mileage was. And, you know, um, so some things I open it day of, you know, when I bring home my receipt from the oil change, I record it and I toss it, you know, and it’s done. 

So,  so yeah. 

Okay, good. Just a few tips moving forward. That’s great. 

Yeah, that was my only thing I had. 

So  you’re meeting like with an attorney and you’re, you’re doing this.  My, yeah, my husband’s work, um, they offer a discount and do it. And it’s been on our list for forever. And we had one done when we just had our two older boys, but our two little boys who are now 10 and 7.

So when he got this job, um, he’s at  the end, I was like, we should do it. I know they’re home. Running around.  I get it. I get it. It’s fine. It’s fine. I love it.  So, so we just set aside some money and  are doing it so that they’re included now. I mean, he’s one of my older adults, so he,  yep. But we didn’t want him to make any choices and  want him to enjoy adult adulthood and 

yeah 

So he’s not even in the house so it would be hard for him to deal with anyways 

Yeah  Well, that is just awesome good for you guys. Look at you. 

Well, when did you release that? Like Last summer before last summer 

only it’s been like one year. Yeah, because I remember talking about it 

To get it filled out 

You know what? That’s pretty darn good Um, i’m actually considering I don’t know if i’ve told you or not i’m considering  It would just be more work, but I think it might be beneficial. 

I am considering  Making it  Not really a monthly thing, like more like a month, uh, more like a payment plan for it,  where you’re charged, like, let’s say 15 a month on the first and you get a new section. And you only get one section a month.  Like, I’m wondering if that would  feel easier for people and help keep them on track better, almost like, okay, I got my new one or my new one’s coming, I should really try to get this one done this month, you know, and kind of like keep them on a,  I don’t know, because it’s so important, but it’s also so time consuming and so hard to prioritize. 

And so I’m trying to come up with different, you know, it would make the price tag.  Less scary, I guess. I mean, I don’t feel like it’s, I don’t feel like it’s overpriced at all, but I feel like if you’re going to spend a hundred bucks on something, you have to stop and think, right? Like it’s not just like, Oh yeah, sure. I can do that all day, every day. You know,  um, where like, if it was like, okay, yeah, 15 bucks for a few months. And by the end of it, I will have  my entire plan, you know, I don’t know.  

Yeah, we just went when you were doing the monthly, um, at the beginning when you first released it, that helped because I was like, hey, that month I have to get this done or I’m going to be behind. 

We would do it, but you know, if it was just me filling it out, it would have been so easy, but there’s so much, I didn’t know that I needed my husband to like help and now I do know it, but I didn’t at the time. And so it was waiting for his time.  Yes. Be more available since he, I only work part time and he works full time, you know, so it just took us  a long time to get it all together. 

Yeah, and then I want to move on till I had  Had the one section  I’m the same way like I I do the highlight feature  One thing at a time and then I can move on to the next thing 

That is so so me and it’s like no, I’m gonna force myself to get this done If not, it’ll be really easy to just keep going and never go back to those Blanks, you know, so yeah.

No, I’m the same way. I totally get it. Totally get it So  I don’t know if month or just all at once. I don’t know what advice  give you on that. ’cause obviously I bought it all at once, but we just kind of just,  yeah.  

Well I’m so glad that you’re doing this. Oh, so great. 

Done. And I’ve printed out what we’ve done, so we have a hard copy and then the digital copy  and  itll be nice. All done. . Yeah. Wow. Essentially. So on the last section,  

oh, that’s so  exciting. So exciting. I’m excited for you  

That’s all I had so thank you. 

Okay. Yeah, of course Of course, of course. Are you okay if I share this recording for the q a?

Since it was like a little more personal and no one else is here. Would you rather me not?  Because I don’t know if anyone’s gonna watch it to be honest, but  I don’t know how much these get watched.  

All right. I did go back and watch the last month because I missed it. I was working that day. Okay. So I try to go back and watch them when, because last month was the power outage questions, right? 

Yeah, yeah, it was following that was a good discussion. I feel like we’ve. We kind of went through  a bunch of questions that someone had emailed me. So, okay. 

Yeah, that’s right. Yeah. Yeah. So go back and listen to it. Okay. Well, this one will be short.  Yeah. Okay. Well, thank you so much. 

Yeah. Thank you. Okay. Good luck.

Hey, have a good day. Bye. You too. Bye. 

Transcript

I don’t know how you’re doing it with kids and sports and school and everything because I would like lose my mind.

I am. Oh, I Um, I was going to say, I didn’t, I didn’t want to interrupt. Cause I wanted you to cover your stuff. But one of the things I was going to say about the power outage and only because I’ve hit that lovely age where menopause is hitting, um, I keep fans like battery powered fans in my power outage kit, because for the same reasons you want to avoid cold, I think heat can be a problem.

Yeah. So I keep, we, they’re like little fans that we usually take to like Disneyland or when you wear around your neck. And then I even have, I have two, they’re not quite as big as a box fan, but they are bigger than a handheld fan that run on batteries. So I keep those with my power outage kit just because I’m in California, I don’t want to deal with hot summer.

I thought you were in Texas. No, I’m in, I’m in Orange County. This entire time I thought you were in Texas. Uh uh. I have you mixed up with someone else. No, California. So anyway, I have, I keep that in my kit. Kit. Um. And, uh, we’ve used them a bit. The other thing I keep is, uh, we are, I’m sharing a lot of personal information, but we are a family of girls that have terrible periods.

And, and, uh, my girls are both out of the house now, but I went and bought, uh, like a plastic heating pad. You know, the ones like the old ones that you fill with water, because my girls are like, if there’s ever a power outage and I can’t plug in the heating pad, I’ll die. So I put, I have one of those in my.

Thank you. That wouldn’t be an everybody thing, but I think people just need to think about what they would need and you know, no, I like those. I have, um, hand warmers in here and I didn’t even, I was so rushed at the end with the heat thing, but like these feel like, um, like extra things. And it’s like, no, really, I mean, they can make or break your experience, you know, um, I think the heating pad is good.

Would you mind, I mean, if you. If you got them online, your fans, would you send me links? Yeah, I’ll look for them right now. I just really, if I’ve, I really like having tried and true stuff, you know, like, Hey, this one isn’t crap. This, you know, these fans actually really do move a lot of air versus like, I got these, I was going to show these again, like.

I had fans on my list, but I skipped over it. Um, like I got this for camping. I mean, I guess it’s better than nothing, but it’s garbage. Like, Oh, it’s not, it isn’t good. No. Um, I mean, it’s fine if you have it like right here next to your face. But at that point, my little mini handheld one that I take to baseball games is way better, you know?

Yeah. Like it’s, it gets, you know, Way more cooling and it’s not nearly as large like this I mean this has a light too So like the idea is to be able to hang it and you have light with like a ceiling fan But it’s not that great. So, um, I mean, it’s fine. It’s better than nothing, but I wish I had a better one to recommend Yeah, so So yeah, if you have links to anything specific that you have liked and would recommend, please send them and I’ll include them.

Yeah, I’ll send them right now. Okay, perfect.

Um, does anyone have any questions? I mean, about power outages or anything? I mean, this is the place, you know, where you can, Ask questions about the courses you’re working on. Um, whatever.

Denise, I pulled up your email of questions that you sent last time. I think I’m going to do away with the evening Q and a literally zero people came and it’s not a convenient time for me. I much prefer mornings. Um, and I liked the interaction, you know, So, yeah, or maybe I’ll do two morning ones. I’m not really sure, but does anyone have any questions here?

If not, I’m going to read through Denise’s from last, last Q and a that we didn’t do. I don’t even remember what I said. Well, I got it. I haven’t forgotten about you. I just, some of them, like I said, some of these are like, oh, yeah, that’s a whole word. Some of them was communication, which I think I feel like you do is overwhelming to me and I’m not sure.

And that’s just, I literally don’t have like, I don’t feel fearful about things because it’s like whatever is going to happen is going to happen and I’m as prepared as I can. But the thought of not being able to get in contact with my kids wigs me out a little bit. Mm hmm. Me too. I, I mean, it’s, it’s real.

It wigs me out to think about my husband works three hours away most days, you know, what if we couldn’t communicate? And I don’t know, what if he couldn’t get home? Has anyone here read One Second After? Yeah, I mean, that book will freak you out and it’s, it’s, it’s a very real possibility scenario. So it’s, it’s something that we don’t pay attention enough about, I feel like to, um, and so I would like to get someone because I would like to learn about it.

I would like to learn from somebody. And that’s part of, like I said, like I really want to have a guest soon. Um, just because like, I feel like if you do follow me and if you have followed me and taken courses and. See what I have to share on Instagram or get my emails. Like a lot of what I have to say, sure.

I’m, I’m compiling it all into one spot, which is helpful, but like, I would love to get some different perspectives, especially with some of those topics that I’m not as familiar with. You know, you just you can’t do it all you can’t know everything like you said I have lots of kids I’m in a really busy phase of life So I’m not gonna lie and say I know all that there is to know about some of this stuff You know or any of it for that matter.

Um, so communication was one of Denise’s questions that she submitted and I kind of touched on What I know and other than ham radio or like satellite phones, I don’t know. And so I’d like to get someone else on here. And unfortunately I’m not sure they’re going to have much else to say other than that.

Um, but they could give more insight into like ham radio and what it actually is really like, and what kind of a learning curve and how much money and, you know, all of that, because if that really is the only option, then. Maybe we should learn about it. You know, I don’t know. I mean, I really I it’s it’s such an overwhelming topic to me So communication I’m gonna hold off on but I’m gonna like I said I’m gonna switch up the options for voting on workshops and I’m gonna put that on there for one Cooking off grid was another bullet point on your in your email.

You said you have a solar oven A camping stove, a Dutch oven, but I’m always eager to hear how other people plan to cook without power. You hit the, you hit the ones, plus the ones I talked about today, barbecue and um, and a gas stove, and then the canned heat for like, boiling water. I also have a solar oven, I’d love to talk to you about that.

Have you used it much? Um, I’ve used it cause I tried it out. Mine is a weird one. It’s not like a big normal one. It’s a tube. I, um, maybe go son. I can’t remember the name of the company. It has to look, it literally is a big long tube with a handle and you stick it in this glass tube. So you can’t cook for as many people.

I think I can make like for three, but it just was better. It was more, um, it was cheaper and it just was a little bit more compact and it’s what we needed. Like gotcha kids wanted to take it to the beach and like thought it was fun to put food in there while they were at the beach during the day or whatever.

So, um, you know, it’s not going to feed a family, but it, you know, you can get. people fed from it. Okay. I’d like a bigger one. There’s a brand that I’ve looked at, but I can’t, I don’t know what it is without looking at my, I don’t even know what mine is. It’s in the box in the garage. I’ve, I played around with it when I got it 10 years ago and I haven’t touched it since.

So that, that would be motivation if that got voted on for a workshop for me to, but I’d rather pull someone in who has a lot of experience. Right. So, Dutch oven cooking. I have a rocket stove, but um, again, it’s just one little small open flame. You know, I mean, there’s lots of options like that that we could get into.

So that could be an interesting workshop. Sorry, what?

Oh, no. Okay. Um, so cooking off grid, like, yes, those are some ideas. Solar oven, camping stove, Dutch oven, like I said, rocket stove. Um, like there are some things. But that would be a whole workshop and that would probably look different. Like I would want to go outside and have some stuff set up and, and stuff like that.

But that would be kind of fun and I would need to do more research on that to, to really talk. About that. Um, okay. I’m gonna read this because I have a feeling everyone will relate Um cash on hand. I know people don’t always love sharing things about money But i’m curious what people think is a sufficient amount of money to keep on hand for an emergency I’ve got kids at uvu and byu and the school emergency plan suggests students have enough cash to get them home in an emergency So cash for gas flights hotels, etc.

I think that is an excellent comment I’m so glad that they’re advising that. Um, and I’ve done the same for us. If we had to evacuate in an emergency, I can guesstimate how much money we would need to get where we are going. So that’s what I keep in our emergency kits. I’m more curious about how much people keep on hand for a stay at home emergency.

Power is down, ATMs don’t work, card readers at the grocery store don’t work, et cetera, and we’re paying cash for things. Maybe there isn’t a good answer since we are all in such different family and financial situations, but I think about this question often. Sorry, I hope you’re okay with me reading that.

Yeah, I don’t care. I just realized at the end when you were like, we’re in such different family situations, I’m like, oh yeah. No, I don’t care. I just, it’s not even that I want to know, like, precisely what people pay, but I’m like, is 500 enough? Is 5, 000? Like, like, what’s the ballpark that people are shooting for?

Or are people not worried about it? Um, I love the question. I love it. I love it. I, I have talked with, unfortunately, a friend of a friend. Actually, it’s my friend’s daughter had a guy in her church congregation who was talking about it. So, um, and she shared with me, you know, Oh, my daughter told me that they said this, right?

Um, and so I personally have not spoken with anyone who has lived through something where they lived months without being able to use. Credit or cat or ATM or any of that. Um, but I would love to find someone if someone has a, you know, like I might just need to put on Instagram, like if you know anyone, please have them contact me, you know, because I would like to talk to someone, I mean, I can give you ideas, um, and things I, I remember I talked about this on stories forever ago.

There’s a highlight somewhere, probably like three or four years old where it was all about this. And basically. They were on an island. I think they must have been like mission presidents or something like, um, you know, um, for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and because it just sounded like they were in charge of a lot of younger.

I think that they were a mission president and, um, so they were in charge of all of these like single young adults. Um, and helping them navigate things and, you know, heavily involved in service with the church and stuff. And, um, they all, all this woman said was they had several thousand dollars in cash and they wished that they had several thousand more.

And that really freaked me out. Now, they were on an island that got totally, like, annihilated by a hurricane. I mean, it was horrible. They were living with. curfews and they were only allowed out of their house for like four hours a day. And lines at the gas station were just like crazy. I mean, you know, it, it was, it was nuts.

It was, it was not a normal situation. Um, I mean, this was very extreme, but unfortunately, like, these are the times that we’re living in. And when you turn on the news, you realize that someone is experiencing an extreme situation all of the time. So, um, other than that, I can’t really give you any like personal experiences.

And I know that for a lot of people, thousands of dollars in cash is not feasible. And then you also run the risk of Well, gosh, if I do that to prepare for this kind of scenario, what happens if my house burns down, right? Like I’m gonna really regret having 10, 000 in cash. Yeah, because it’s gonna burn up.

And so then do you keep that in your fire safe? Even that isn’t, you know, do you keep it in your 72 hour kit? Because you would want that in an evacuation. Do you keep it in your car? What if your car gets stolen? There’s just, there’s so many factors. And just like with anything with emergency preparedness, when you decide to prepare for one scenario, for a specific scenario, You are taking resources away from another scenario that you could prepare for.

And that’s just the reality of emergency preparedness. I think where cash comes into that and plays in even more so than other topics is it’s like this limitless, you could always have more cash, right? And so there’s like this, Question of like, when is enough enough? And when should I start preparing for these other emergencies and vice versa?

And I feel like food storage feels a lot the same for a lot of people. I mean, until you have a couple of years worth of food storage, even that doesn’t feel like enough when you think about some scenarios, right? So like, I guess my point is it’s just like with anything diversify. And so, you know, if you’re in a financial position where you can have multiple thousands of dollars of cash in your home, I think it’s a good idea.

But you, I don’t think it’s a good idea to put all of your eggs in that basket before moving on to other things. I think it’s just kind of like with everything. You need to have some water, you need to have some food, you need to have some financial, Backup, you need to have some cash, you should have some, you know, light sources and alternative cooking methods.

Like you should have a little bit of everything and then grow all of those little bits to medium bits and larger bits, you know? I think now as I’m listening to you talk, I’m having the realization that I think in my mind I was compartmentalizing, like, this is my money. If I need to, Like if we need to leave our area and go to my mother in law’s, right, this is my travel money.

And then I’m thinking, well, what if I have to stay home? How much money? And I’m realizing, if I have to stay home, we have all that money we’ve set aside to travel. Like I had, you know, in our 72 hour kits and our car kits, cause I’ve divided it up cause I don’t want it in one spot. We we’ve put enough money for gas and food and lodging.

If we had to travel any distance and then you will, That doesn’t stay that if I stay at home now, I have multiple resources in my home, right? I have food, I have water. And so that cash is all extra now that doesn’t have to go to lodging and food because if I’m home, I have those. So maybe my problem was I was compartmentalizing them as two separate.

Things like what if it’s this scenario? I need this money. And now I’m realizing as you were talking if I stay home I just use that money. It’s not right. I use that. So yeah, well And I I love that you bring that up because that also goes for a lot of other scenarios with a lot of other topics to food storage is not only for Quarantine situation or for a food shortage or for supply chain issues If you lose your job, you still have food to feed your family, right?

So like there, there are so many different things that cash can be good for and helpful for. And just like I pulled this foldable stove out of a 72 hour kit to use in a power outage at home. Yes, exactly what you’re saying with the cash, you know, I have cash in each person’s 72 hour kit. Yeah, we could definitely pull that out and go get gas.

Um, in a situation where we were needing to stay here. Um, and ATM machines were down and credit card machines weren’t working. So absolutely, and that cash could be used to buy gas. Even not in a power outage, but if we were tight on money that month or if my husband lost his job or whatever. So yeah, I think that’s a really good point.

Um, it, it’s easy to compartmentalize it, especially by like location. 72 hour kits and that is our travel money and car kits and all of this. And yep, you’re right. It can, that’s cash is cash. It can be used for any, lots of different scenarios. So, and as long as you have your. Whatever feels right or comfortable or achievable to you, when you add all of that up, then I think, you know, you’re okay.

So yeah, I have a, like, I have a place, I have a lot of kids and they’re all earning money at this point. Even my youngest is umpiring baseball right now. And so he gets paid cash every game he umps. And he brings me cash. And then I transfer money from my checking account to his checking account and savings account, just for simplicity sake.

And so I have a lot of cash coming in right now because it’s baseball season and he’s umpiring a lot and I, you know, I’m trying to challenge myself right now to not deposit that cash into my account. Like, okay, maybe I can grow, you know, and that’s something I’ve done for years. When I get cash for anything, I try not to deposit it.

And that is how I have grown My cash here at the house and it’s funny because like you get a lot of smaller bills from stuff like that but small bills are actually Really highly recommended for a lot of you know, because yeah, that’s a great idea Just hold on to your cash when you get it. Mm hmm. Yeah cash in a birthday car I mean a lot of people get checks and that’s fine.

But anytime cash comes in Um, my daughter works at a restaurant. She gets tips that are cash. She comes home and I say, do you want me to cash you out? And so she gives me her cash. I transfer it from my checking to hers. And that goes in our safe, you know, as our safe. As emergency cash. So yeah. And then it’s really convenient to have when my next teenager comes up and it’s time to buy a car with cash and we have it and we don’t have to go to the bank.

I mean, you know, like it’s just a circle of cash. Um, but yeah, any cash in your home for whatever reason can be used for any emergency scenario that you find yourself in. So it’s a great topic. I think it would be a really great discussion to have with someone who had lived through something. Um, and I’d like to recruit somebody, but I also don’t want to recruit somebody if it doesn’t get voted on.

I’m kind of starting to get in that, like, okay, I’m gonna need to, like, find someone. For some of these topics, so I’m kind of trying to navigate that there might be some workshops every once in a while where if I have someone lined up, I’m just going to decide the topic that month because I’ve got a guest who’s willing to come, you know, um, but that is one that I think would be, that would be a fascinating conversation for the cash perspective, but also for a lot of other perspectives, you know, um, to talk to someone who’s lived through something like that.

So, If you know anyone, let me know. Okay, you’ve got, I believe you have a daughter graduating. If she’s going away to school, what preparations are you doing for her, if any? Yes, I have a senior. We’ve done 72 hour kits for our college kids, but I haven’t done much in the way of food and water storage for them since they live with roommates and space is severely limited.

Agreed. I mean, my first is leaving for college this summer. Um, I remember in college, for me, I put my bed on cinder blocks. It was a big, it was a thing, though. Like, um, At the place I went, a lot of people did it for extra storage, I don’t know if that’s, like, allowed, I don’t know if that’s totally dorky, if that’s unheard of these days, I have no idea, I guess I’m about to find out, um, but I did put my bed on cinder blocks, and I, this was not because of my parents, this was me, because, I’ve always had the preparedness bug.

Um, but I had cans of food and a flat of water under my bed at all times. And my roommates would always knock on my door and ask to borrow stuff. So that is a way to get some extra space. I guarantee you my daughter won’t be willing to do it though. So she’s not going to have food storage there. No food under her bed.

Nope. She’ll be like, mom, oh my gosh, you’re so ridiculous. My family is not very supportive. Even my husband, like he deals with it, but he’s not super supportive. Um, and I just have to do a lot of things on my own. And I just say one day you’ll thank me. And maybe one day you won’t. And i’ll have to live with that.

But anyway, yeah, I don’t think my daughter will do it. Um, I don’t even know if she’ll take her 72 hour kit to be completely honest because she’s sharing a room in a dorm and I I don’t know. Um, we haven’t discussed that so. My kids leave their 72 hour kit in their car which I know also poses problems because it’s hot or it’s It gets broken into, but yeah, they just have it and, you know, cause they don’t feel like they have room in their apartment.

Yeah, that would be a really great, um, Jessica with the faithful preppers. She lives in an apartment. Sure. Her husband’s a grad student. They have two kids, but she’s very good about, um, just talking about, you know, preparing in small spaces and, um, and being creative, I guess. And she actually has, we’ve spoken a lot about how she really wants to try to help college students.

Um, and so I wonder if she has any ideas kicking around. You know that she’s thought of she hasn’t really made very many products or you know things specific to college kids Um, but that would be a really interesting question to ask her if she’s you know She’s done any brainstorming or things she did because she you know, they’re kind of like they’re not in a dorm.

They’re married They have a couple kids. They live in an apartment, but you know, she’s not too far from the college life either and so Um, I’d love to kind of pick her brain on that too, so I could bring that up to her. Yeah, that would be good. So, okay. Um, and then your last question is what, oh, I’m the wrong person to ask.

What have you done or seen that would help with non lethal security? No political slant in this at all, but I want to know. Uh, we will never be a gun owning family. But I’m grateful for close friends who are I’ll buddy up with them and share my food. What are ways that I can still have some level of security and safety in my home or when evacuating without having a gun?

These were all my questions after I read the book.

Um, I mean, these are great questions. Like I said, you can’t prepare for everything, Denise. Um, I know we have a gun, but I’ve talked to my husband often about it. Like, But if you use it, it’s basically a death sentence, especially here in California. Like, you can’t shoot anyone for any reason. You’ll get sued.

You’ll get thrown in prison. Like, it’s crazy. So, um, I don’t know. I do have a couple of people in mind that I would love to bring in for this though. Um, and talk about guns, concealed carry, um, self defense, just situational awareness. But also, you know, when you’re out, but then also, um, home stuff. So I don’t have a lot.

I will admit when we were moving into this house, I’ll tell you one thing that I looked into. And if money were not a thing, if money didn’t exist, if I were on no sort of a budget, I would have done this. And that is like, but my husband also probably would have vetoed it because he thinks I’m a psycho.

But, um, you really do start to think about this stuff when, um, When you think about how and I’m not talking about like zombie apocalypse movies But this book that Denise and I are talking about one second after it’s about a very real scenario of real things And and it’s just about an EMP and The things that people do when they are worried about being able to feed their kids Or save their kids lives with medication that requires refrigeration or whatever it might be.

You want to think that you wouldn’t go there, that you wouldn’t act a certain way, that you wouldn’t do a certain thing. Um, and maybe you wouldn’t, but a lot of people would. And it’s almost like you see in this book that like, When you really take a long hard look at yourself, you know, um, you’re not really sure how you would react either, you know Um, so anyway, that’s kind of this is not zombie stuff, but I really do think about security especially With people knowing that we have food storage, that we have a water tank in our garage, that we have things that we have prepared somewhat.

Um, and so it really should be a part of at least your discussion about preparedness. I’m not saying everyone who has food storage should have a gun. And if you don’t, you’re an idiot. No, but it should be part of your plan and your discussion with your spouse or with your household about, Is this something that we want to tackle or not and are we okay with not or yes, let’s do this.

Um, anyway, I was looking into like these security screens, you know, how they have those, um, they’re, they’re a big deal here. I don’t, I don’t know if they’re big everywhere else, but they’re big here in, in the Sacramento area in California. It’s, I think it’s called a security screen and it’s like a metal door.

I think they are horrible. I hate them. When I come up to a door on it, because you can’t see in, but they can see out. It’s almost like a two way mirror, but it’s a metal door and it has tons of teeny holes So people do it to like get airflow, you know through their house. I mean, I would love one to be honest I just hate being on the knocking side of it because it’s so uncomfortable because it’s like I can’t see anything on the other side But they can totally see me and I know that so it’s just like this weird feeling.

Um, but I think they’re great I think they’re awesome because they lock they have a deadbolt and so it’s like you’re it’s it’s It’s like, as secure as your front door, but it’s a screen. So anyway, they basically like, there’s this company, I don’t even know, I just like, thought of this when, when it was more like, okay, non lethal, like, how are we gonna stay safe in our own home, kind of a thing.

And these security things, it was kind of crazy, but, you know, I mean. I’m sure they do stuff for like government buildings and stuff, not for like just a house. But I was like, wouldn’t it be cool if we could afford this for every window in our home? And I like figured out how much it would be. And it was ridiculous.

I mean, it was like more expensive than solar would have been to like power our entire house. You know? I mean, it’s just not feasible, but you could think about things like that. Do you have plywood? Do you have plywood at your house or, um, any sort of, you know, if you needed to, Um, not just for hurricane or tornado things, but for security reasons, I mean, if things came to it, if people were smashing in windows, um, to try to, you know, steal stuff out of your home, um, do you have the supplies at home to be able to secure those holes now in your home?

Um, so even just having. Nails and hammers and wood, um, is something to think about, uh, that I have thought about often. And again, it doesn’t mean this wood is set aside for if we have a hurricane, we’re going to need, but gosh, we don’t have wood to secure our windows if someone were breaking in, all the same wood.

Um, but that might be something to think about just to be able to kind of like bug in, right? And just keep your family safe in your home. Um, and that’s certainly non lethal. It’s not even, I don’t know, you know, it’s just barricading yourself, basically. Um, so wood is an option. Um, and then, yeah, like taking, just like a CPR class, you know, taking some self defense type classes, um, a taser, pepper spray.

Those are two things that I have. I’m actually not a fan of tasers. Um, I guess I realized I used to carry one in my purse and I gave it to a friend who thought she wanted one. I’m like, that’s fine. Because honestly I actually had my friend tease me. It was a girl’s night. I peed my pants. Okay. It was, it was funny, but it was an interesting experience because yes, while you’re being tased, you’re incapacitated.

Um, but as soon as the taser is removed, You know, you might be disoriented for a second or two, but I could get up again. I peed my pants While I was being tased But I could get up again And you know and tackle the same person and do whatever I wanted to do to them And so I know police have tasers that are more um that are stronger But i’m talking about the little handheld ones that women carry around in their purse I personally am just like, I would much rather have pepper spray, because the effects of that last longer.

I can spray it and run and that person is still freaking out, while the Tay’s, I have to literally be touching them for it to be effective, number one. So I have to be close to them. With pepper spray, I don’t have to touch them to have that work. Um, although, something with pepper spray is it can spray back on you.

It definitely affects you. Um, and so, there, you know, nothing is perfect. There’s no perfect solution to anything in life, I feel like. But, um, those are some ideas and things to think about. And I thought a taser was just such a great idea. And then when I actually tried it, and I really put myself in situations and ran through some scenarios, I was just like, I don’t even want this taking up space in my purse.

Where other people are just like, I love having a taser, it makes me feel good, I think it would be totally great, I think it would be totally effective, I’m like, that’s fine, you do you. I like the pepper spray idea. I even have a thing of pepper spray hanging by our front door, and all my kids know it’s there.

Because I’ve heard and seen enough stories and, you know, Things on the news of, you know, someone opening the door and you think it’s the guy from your utility company and then they try to come in and um, So I have pepper spray hanging there that at least, and sometimes when I’m not sure, I seriously put the pepper, I, I twist the little pepper spray thing and I have my hand on the pepper spray when I open the door.

Call me paranoid, but you know, um, that’s something that’s really easy, cheap, no training required, you know, um, so no, it’s not gonna stop someone from robbing you necessarily, but it might, it might buy you enough time to get your door closed again and lock it and whatever. So anyway, those were my like quick ideas, but I would love to get like a self defense person in or some more ideas.

Does anyone have any ideas of security? I’ve been talking for a long time. And this needs to be done. I need anyone else have anything to say? I

think that’s a really great topic to put on the, um, for voting for a workshop. Thanks for answering all those questions. You’re welcome. I told you we’d get to them. I just didn’t want to talk to myself that one night when no one was there. Basically, all of your questions, we can do a workshop on. So, I’ll throw them all up there, um, and I’m gonna pull a couple out for now that aren’t getting a lot of traction, and we’ll have a brand new slate for June’s workshop.

So, go vote on that after tomorrow, after it’s refreshed. I’ll have it labeled so that you know it’s been refreshed, um, so that you can vote on that. And hopefully we’ll, we’ll get one where I’ll be able to bring someone new in.

Does that sound good? Yay! Okay. All right, cool. Any other questions from anybody?

Any issues with the membership at all?

Well, as always, you can email me, send me a DM on Instagram, submit a question right there in the question box in the um, courses if you’re working on any of those. I’m here, barely surviving, but we’re here. We are here.

May has never kicked my butt so hard. I think theater. I, I blame theater. We added theater since the last. Time and it’s no joke. Okay. Well good discussion. This will also be up in the Workshop or in the Q& A section of the membership. I redid the workshop Like navigation and stuff. I’m hoping that it’s easier let me know if something is like too much clicking or there’s too many tabs here or there’s not enough or I’m trying to find a balance in all of them and it just takes a lot of time to restructure stuff but the workshop Layout was not working for me.

I hated it. So, um, like I hated it as a user putting myself in your, so I hope that the workshops are a little bit easier to navigate through. Cause like as we get more, I want them to be more like accessible and not having to scroll so far and all that. So anyway, let me know if you have any suggestions, problems, questions, anything.

Okay. Thanks for being here. Have a great day. Thanks. Thank you. You’re welcome

Nobody showed up for this Q&A, ha! See you next time!

Transcript

So one of my questions was a long term food storage. So, um, I have been like slowly buying like food storage.

Um, but it doesn’t ever get used. Like, how do you implement yours into your life? Because I’m afraid it’s just going to sit there for the 30 years and it’s not going to get used. I mean, it’s stuff that we’ll eat, but like the powdered milk that I buy. I mean, my kids, I mean, we just buy gallons at the store.

So I don’t know. Um,

I, I mean, honestly, I only have a couple of things that are like getting close ish to their expiration date, even now, like, cause egg powder is one that does not lie, I think it’s seven or 10 years for the eggs. Um, and we, I mean, a lot of my food storage is about 10 years old right now. And so I’m, I am coming up on some things here and there that, um, That I’m needing to rotate.

And so I’m looking ahead a couple years and I start implementing those things into so like, for instance, milk, I haven’t had to yet because it’s because I get it. It’s expensive. You don’t want to use it all the time. Like, I don’t, um, I don’t, we can’t afford that. And so I totally get that. But at the same time, you need to do it soon enough to where yeah, you would be through it before its expiration date.

So, um, again. It’s another plug for adding a little bit at a time so that it’s staggered, right? Like if you make a huge purchase, it’s all going to expire at the same time. So what are you going to do? Just not buy normal groceries for two years while you’re going through all of this stuff. Or so, um, so I really have, like, I start, what I do with my stuff is I put a whole can in my pantry and that reminds me to be using it.

So, you know, like if it’s fruit. I would put it on our snack shelf and I would put it in Ziploc bags for kids to grab and take to school. And you know what I mean? Um, but yeah, you do kind of have to track that on your own. Like, okay, this is coming up in a couple of years. We, we want to get that box down and start working through it or start rotating, you know, let’s take one fruit from each one and then replace it.

So to be fair, I haven’t had to do that yet with the majority of my food. And it will be messy when it’s time to do that because right now I try If the budget is there I try to buy a case of stuff if I can because it’s so much cleaner to store in boxes for me Because of our situation like I don’t have a place where I can just spread it all out and line up all my box Or all my cans all pretty and so i’m trying to store i’m like here’s a whole box of numbers number 10 cans of You This vegetable, you know, and then the next month I try to buy a case of something else and I you know Um, and so when i’m pulling one can out at a time that plan is gonna get real messy So, um, I think right now I have a spreadsheet This is one it actually tied with long term food storage in the voting.

Um was Like tracking and organizing your food storage for like a workshop vote. So I’m going to see how close it gets this month. Cause I reset the voting for Mays, um, for Mays. But like, I have a spreadsheet with all of my food storage on it and it says when it expires. And so I need to just like revisit that once a year or so, and just see like what’s on the horizon kind of a deal.

Like that’s how I would do it. But I don’t know, that would be interesting to get other people’s perspectives. Denise?

I love that. You think I’m some guru. I don’t know what I’m doing. Well, I don’t know. You’re just, you always like, you always have something to add. So it’s cause I have anxiety and I think through everything cause I’m worried about everything. How do you do a bunch with your church group though? Like I used to, yeah, I used to not anymore with the, with the longterm foodsters.

I kind of do what you do in that. I kind of, Either I’m opening it out of desperation, right? We’re home from vacation and we didn’t go to the grocery store and I have to open my powdered eggs or no one’s going to get breakfast or I look ahead at the date and, and then I just, it just sits in my pantry.

So I remember, and I try to use it beyond like. I maybe don’t use milk just for milk. Maybe I make some and that’s what we’re throwing in our craft mac and cheese, or that’s what I’m throwing in bread. So it’s getting used, um, more often instead of just it’s intended purpose, but I kind of just do the same thing.

It’s either opened out of desperation or open because I know the dates close. And if it’s in my pantry, I see it and then I can, um, use it. And another thing, another idea is. Like if you don’t want to full on start, you know, like doing this for a month to rotate through some milk When you’re when your normal milk from the grocery store gets about half full You mix up a quart and you just dump it in your normal milk and shake it Um, I mean, it is milk.

It, it’s, it’s 100 percent milk. Like, that’s, that’s all this is. So it’s, it’s not like you’re adding some weird thing and they’re not gonna mix. They mix just fine. Um, and so that’s an idea. Same with the egg powder. Like, if, you know, if you have a problem with powdered eggs, scrambled, Add add a few in add some in with normal eggs and move them around, you know in your pan And if you have super picky kids or kids who would notice i’m telling you though the milk My teenage son doesn’t notice And he would notice i’ll tell you that he drinks straight milk every morning So any but you know, like the eggs have a teeny bit.

It’s like a like a buffet That you have, like, you know, at a hotel. It’s like that. They’re, it’s powdered eggs. So, if you want to throw a couple normal eggs in there to, you know, make it a little less, you know, conspicuous. So yeah, those are some ways to do it. But yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, you’ve just got to track the expiration dates and kind of, um, guesstimate.

I would definitely start using it sooner. Um, obviously then you would, if it were your only option, because if you’re going to be mixing it with your milk, you’re not going to go through it as quickly as if it were your only milk. Right. So you’re going to want to look ahead and start rotating it probably, I don’t know, up to like Three years before it’s expiration date so that you can get through it at a natural pace.

Instead of just like shoving all of this into your lifestyle. And again, having to repurchase all of that in a, in a year’s time, you know? So there’s no like a huge magic wand. Right. No, I just need you to be better at like tracking it. Maybe I need a spreadsheet There’s there is an app i’m not a fan of it like I I hate to say that um I think it it’s probably great for some people So if you are an app person, you could test it out.

I don’t like it Um, it’s just it’s too much for me. Like i’d rather just open a spreadsheet and have it all there, you know, um But there is an app it’s called the preparedness project You I just don’t think it’s very realistic how they expect you to use it. Like they want you to document your whole pantry and update.

I mean, it’s a good idea in theory. Um, update, you know, like every time you make dinner and you use a can of beans, you’re going to go in and decrease your number. I don’t have time for that. That’s like, no, no one’s going to do that. So like I don’t think that the app is very realistic, but for food, for longterm food storage, You know, you get your Thrive order once a month.

I think that that is feasible to open up the app and type it in, just like I do on my spreadsheet. I prefer to see it all in one, so I prefer my spreadsheet. Um, but, if, if an app is more your style, I think that their app could be useful for long term. I don’t think that it is feasible for, for your pantry.

I just don’t. I think it’s too much work. I don’t see anyone doing that long term, personally. I don’t know. Nobody has time for that. Yeah, and like my kids, like maybe when my kids were super tiny and they weren’t getting into stuff, but like, I have no idea what my kids are using. Like, they’re in the kitchen all the time.

I have teenagers. Like, it, yeah, it just, the app didn’t work for me. But I think if I were starting over and I didn’t already have a spreadsheet that I was used to, I Like just being fair and objective here. I might try out the app, you know, because it is convenient. I don’t know. Um, I like I don’t I don’t know like I said, I like having my spreadsheet I can see everything at once I can print it off on paper Which is so much bigger than a phone, you know and walk around my house and take inventory I just I don’t know.

I like my spreadsheet Um, but i’m also old school like that. I also like a paper calendar So a lot of people know that’s how I am too. So, so it just depends, but that is an option for you. Um, if you don’t have a way to track it yet, that would be something other than a spreadsheet that would work. So perfect.

Thank you. Yeah. Do you have other questions? You said you had a few. Do you have any more? Yeah, I, I, I have one more. So I’m almost done with the personal preparedness. Um, I just need to sit down with my family and do the last week and teach them. So I, yeah, yeah, I’m excited, but I tried to start the 72 hour and you said it like, it doesn’t like you to jump between the, like the ones, but it’s, it like won’t let me at all go to set.

It says I don’t have access to it. But your premium. Yeah. And so I, yeah, I don’t know. Okay. I’ll look, you might be missing a tag. It’s probably from the very beginning and some people tags didn’t get updated. I’m so sorry. No, that’s okay. And I haven’t, I haven’t tried in a couple of days. We got busy. Um, but yeah.

Okay. I will take care of that as soon as this call is over. It’s just simply. I just have to go in and and redo your tags. So okay. Thank you within 15 minutes after this call I’ll do that. Okay. Thank you. Sorry This was quite a nightmare getting started. No, it’s it’s great. And thank you for doing this because it’s awesome

Um, how how are you guys with q a’s? Do you like them in the mornings? I feel like in the morning right after the workshop is so easy because everyone’s already gathered in here. I agree with that. I forgot last month’s workshop, but I remembered this month. So it was easy to jump right over. Yep. There’s too much going on at night.

That’s how it is for me. But you know, I just thought well what if someone works like a normal eight to five, you know, I want to give them An opportunity to come live. But yeah, there was only one person and I was at a baseball game. So I had to like go to the car and bring my husband’s hotspot. And, you know, I’m like, but I want to be available if people are going to utilize it, but yeah, there was only one girl.

So I was like, okay, we might need to switch this to mornings. How about you Stacy?

Sorry, I’m chasing around my grandbaby who just barfed all over the floor. Okay, little man. Come here. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Um, I like the morning ones on the other side of the country from you. Okay. Um, is noon for me when, when the, like when the workshops start. Okay. And then the Q& A is right after that. So mornings were great for me, but if there’s other people who like the evenings, that’s good too.

I know, evenings were hard too, because it’s like, who wants to do it before six? You know, but that’s where I’m at. Like it’s dinner and kids home. I don’t know. It’s tricky. It’s tricky with three hour time differences and can’t please everybody. But. Okay, well maybe I’ll, I’ll send out a survey or something.

Do you have any questions? I do have, I do actually have a question for you. Um, okay. I have a little story, so if that’s okay, bear with me. Um, so, it’s kind of gross, but this is real life, like why we prepare, right? Yeah. Where we live, sourced from reservoirs that are around, you know, the area. Or they collect the water and, you know, clean it and all that.

It’s in a reservoir. In one of the reservoirs, not the one that services my, but one that services my kids, they found a dead body in the water.

After finding it, whatever, they, you know, boil water, order, and all that sort of stuff. The short story is, they discovered that the body had been in the water for a while. A month. As

my son puts it, so we’ve been drinking cadaver tea for a month. I feel like I am dying at this point. Like, did anyone get sick? Not.

Ugh.

It even grosses me out.

So my question was Okay, so, I mean, they had a boil water order, just to make sure, they were pretty sure the water was fine. Because they test it all the time, right? They test the water to make sure it’s safe, but nonetheless, really, come on.

So my concern is, like, I don’t have, like, a Berkey filter that I use all the time. Maybe I should. I do have the filters to kind of do a DIY Berkey filter in the case of an emergency, where we needed to, you know, to purify or clean our water. And doing some research. Those filters don’t clear out microorganisms.

Is that correct, or is that incorrect?

They talk about clearing out, you know, all of the, like, the chlorine, and the lead, and the, you know, those kinds of toxins. Okay, there’s a cadaver floating in my Water source. Thank you. Um, Uh, You know, I’m more concerned about some microorganisms than I am some of those other things. I don’t, I don’t know.

Do you have any thoughts there on, you know, if I needed to, to clean? My water, what’s the best way to do that boiling? That’s probably the number one. Yeah You know, what if I’m in a situation where boiling water is not an option?

I’m looking for

I was feeling pretty good about my water situation But then when this happened and I was looking into the filters, okay I’m just gonna double check and see what they filter out. I’m like, oh, I don’t I don’t think they’re filtering microorganisms I thought they did Do they? I could be understanding it wrong.

Denise, did you have something? No, I, I don’t know if they do or don’t. I was gonna say, I would make sure first all, I’m dying . I, but , I would just make sure I had a way to boil water even if the power was out. Like I have a, yeah, I have a Kelly Kettle or like. In that situation. I mean, here’s the thing, though.

They wouldn’t have known. I mean, yeah, you’re drinking it and you don’t know. But in the case of if you knew and a filter, I don’t know. If the Berkey does or doesn’t filter it out, I would make sure that I had some type of, you know, fire cooking apparatus that I could boil, even if I didn’t have power or something because, you know, and you’re going to have your bottled water and everything, but still you want Access to that water.

So I just make sure you have something that you can boil with

and maybe that’s I agree. Um, in fact, I’m sorry. I’m distracted because I’m looking now whatever I might need to get back to you on that. Um, I mean, here’s because I looked at the, um,

I looked at the Berkey site or where, where there was some reports of what the Berkey filter filters out. I’ll tell you, trying to navigate, you know, you, I’m sure you know, that’s trying to navigate all that stuff on the interwebs to find what is the real truth and what is accurate is a nightmare. I’m kind of, I don’t know, I’m kind of losing patience with them.

Um, just, they’ve been out of, um, They’ve been out of stock for so long and they say, we’re not going out of business. So it’s like, well, are you, or aren’t you? Cause you need to give a timeline, an approximate timeline for people, or else we need to go find a different option. That’s kind of how I am feeling.

Um, well, so even Berkey stuff says. Like if you know that your water is horribly disgusting, it would be great. Like the more, the cleaner, the water you can put into it, the better. And the longer your filters are going to last. And so, yeah, I guess if you knew that you were taking, you know, water straight from a moldy river or something, it would be smart, you know, to treat it before the Berkey.

But my understanding was, but you can put it in and trust it. And trust the Berkey, um, to do the work, you just might tear through your filters a lot quicker, you know, because which makes sense, they’re having to work harder and, and sure, sure. More nastiness, but I don’t know, I’ll have to look at that. Um, And you’re absolutely right.

It’s really frustrating to find your answers online and I would, in fact, I called and talked to people because when I was writing my blog posts on Berkey, you know, like, what can I trust? What can I not? Some places say you don’t want to filter pool water through it because the chlorine. And then, you know, I called and the guy was like, no, absolutely you can.

Are you kidding me? That’s what it’s for. Like this is your emergency water filter. So if you have a pool, yeah, use it up. Um, he was like, it’s just gonna burn through your filters quicker because chlorine is so tough. It’s it’s It’s gonna eat through your, you know, basically blah blah blah. Yeah. Yeah chlorine is yeah, so My understanding was just like yeah, you don’t want to do it every day day in day out because Your filters are gonna go bad, but absolutely, like, you can trust it.

That was, that’s always been my understanding of it. So, and that’s why I initially got the filters, because I don’t filter my water every day. Maybe now that we have cadaver tea evidently, I might need to start doing that, but Yeah, you might want to reconsider that. Yeah, I might need to rethink that, but, um, But, have them more as an emergency thing to use.

You know, if we needed to clean our water in a, in a more long term situation. Yeah. You know what I mean? I have bottled water and that sort of thing. Well, I will look into that. I’m also kind of loosely on the hunt for another option. Um, in fact, I just talked to a girl yesterday. She got one from the UK.

And I’m waiting to see how she likes hers. Like, I’m, I don’t have a ton of time to dedicate to it, but I know that it is so important. And right now, you cannot get a Berkey, even, you know, even if that’s your choice. So, um Well, I’ve seen Right. I mean, I’ve bought these filters a couple of years ago. Oh my gosh.

Yeah, if you have filters, you can buy the, you can buy the actual Berkey. It’s the filters that aren’t available. Well, and there’s now those, New, I’ve seen advertisements for the, the Borough B O R O U X filters. I don’t know what to think about that either. I don’t either. That’s why I’ve been holding off.

Because I don’t know. I don’t, like, this is not my, this is not my forte. I do not like, um, all of the different things that can be in water. And being responsible and having to track it all. And so that’s why when I found Berkey, I was like, this is it, this is what I’m going to recommend and I’m not going to compare it to, you know, like, I’m not going to worry about what other things filter, what other things, because Berkey does it all.

And so that’s the one I want. And that’s just kind of where I left it. And now that they’re unavailable, it’s like, well, crap, now I got to go back to being confused and you know, whatever. So I, like I said, I’m, I’m looking for another option. Um, there’s just, yeah, but yeah, you could actually get, uh, something to house the filters in.

It’s the filters that you can’t get right now. So, and do not get the white, like stare. I forget what they’re called. Sterosil or whatever. The ones that they’re one of the it’s USA Berkey white ceramic filters. They’re crap. Don’t those do nothing like the, um, the car, the black Berkey filters. So don’t get the white ones.

They’re not worth it. Um, I called and talked to them about that. I’m like, are these? And they were like, Oh no. I’m like, well, you should probably take them off because they’ve got the Berkey name on them now. And now people are going to think that they’re just as good as the black ones. That’s what I mean.

Like it’s getting sketchy, you know? Cause I think they’re getting desperate because people are mad that they don’t have stuff to sell. So anyway, it’s tricky. Well, and it’s starting to sound fishy. Like, what are you trying to hide? What are you Well, yeah, it, well, I don’t think they’re trying to hide.

They’re just, they don’t have inventory. And so they came up with these other ones, but it’s like, that’s not better to have something that’s inferior to take the place of it in the meantime. Like, because look at me, I just called. I was like, are these just as good? I had to call you to learn that, you know, anyway, it’s weird.

Um, I will look that up though, just so that, you know, since you already have the filters, I’ll try to find an answer for you on the microorganisms and just know that I am currently. I’m working on it. Awesome. Thank you.

In all my spare time. I still feel that on a deep level. I mean, that’s how we all are. That’s why I was like, when my friend said she was getting this one, cause she hadn’t got a Berkey yet. Um, I was like, Hey, I’m going to wait until you get it, see what you think, you know, and we’ll go from there. So. We’re hopeful, though, that this one’s a good one.

So, we’ll see. Field testing, I love it. Yeah. Yep.

Awesome. Thank you for listening to my really disgusting story. Of course! That’s a disgusting story. And I’m so sorry.

Nasty. Yeah. Okay. Well, on that note, any other questions?

Oh, so gross.

Alright, well, another, another month. Here we go. So, keep going. You guys are doing great. And, I guess I’ll see ya in two weeks maybe, or else definitely in a month for the next workshop and Q& A. Thank you for all your help. Of course. Thank you. Thanks for your questions and your input and everything. This is fun.

Okay. Bye guys.

TRANSCRIPTION

Please excuse the angle and the background. I was at a baseball game!
Okay, so the only question that was submitted ahead of time was this.

I would be interested to know what kind of things you keep with you day to day, running errands, going to games, which is currently where I’m at, because I’m at a baseball game, etc. And what you take with you and get on arrival when you travel. Um, just a little precursor to this, she says, I recently read One Second After, which while probably not the most likely scenario, made me worry about the transportation piece of things.

This is Angela, the other person on the call. And she’s the one who submitted the question. So, first of all, I love One Second After. I think it’s a great, like, just eye opening read in general. For those who haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. Um, and that is honestly one of the biggest, uh,

biggest problems. that came out of that book for me was the fact that cars stall and die. And yeah, I mean, what do you do? Um, people were just stuck on the highway, just on their way home from work. And most of them never even made it home because they weren’t even near where they were, their destination was.

So, um, I don’t like to think about that because. Honestly, there’s, I mean, you can’t just build a new car. I, you know, you’re going to have to figure out how to survive where you’re at, um, if that were to happen. But yes, it does make you think like what types of things, um, could I keep in my car? Would I want to keep in my car for a scenario like that?

Like worst case scenario. So there are a couple of different ways you can approach the car thing. Like there’s the traditional car kit, um, which of course has. Um, you know, is recommended that you have enough food and water, not just for one person, but for however many people are normally traveling in your car.

Um, and then of course, like jumper cables and flares and you know, like all of, all of those types of tool type things. And I drive a pilot now. I used to drive a Suburban. And so I had a huge, it was like a, a huge tote, a huge, like sterile light, Rubbermaid type, you know, tote in my trunk all the time, because I mean, there’s like a whole house back there in the back of a Suburban.

And so I just felt like. I’m always going to carry this and I do have, I did have a lot of stuff in that. Um, but since I have downgraded my trunk space to a pilot, um, I don’t have that luxury anymore. So, I mean, I have a fire extinguisher back there and then the basic car kit stuff, and I keep an emergency sweatshirt for everybody, um, that we.

We haven’t used in like an emergency situation. We’ve never been like stuck anywhere or trapped anywhere, but those sweatshirts come in handy at things like baseball games or, you know, just places where you’re out later than you expected or it got colder earlier than you expected or whatever. And so those have been really functional.

But past that and cash, um, I don’t, I mean the flashlight, the seatbelt thingy, I guess I could just go over, well, I don’t know. I just feel like since you brought up one second after, I’m like, it’s a, it’s a bigger, Thing to cover than just like a traditional car kit. So, um, do you want to go over just a normal car kit and what I recommend, or do you want to stick with like, I think that would be helpful.

I’m trying to get stuff together and think of what to put where and what I need. Okay. Then I’m going to just, I will put this in the chat here. Once I find the link, I have a blog post for it. Okay,

I have a summer car kit and then just a straight up emergency car kit that also covers winter. So I’m going to put that in the chat so that you can pull up the blog post if you want. Um, I do not have a printable list made yet, but I want to. Eventually. Um, okay. So,

oh, here it is.

Okay, cool. Yay. Okay. Um, okay. So, this is the blog post that I have on my website. About a car kit how to make an emergency car kit. So going through it. Um, I always start with things to consider You don’t just want to dive in and start buying stuff because one really big thing for me to consider Is my trunk space And that really plays a huge role in what is feasible for me to keep in my car.

Um, so that’s just like an example that I had already mentioned, but what phase of life are you in? So do you still have babies and toddlers? Um, and that’s right. My assistant told me that she used to keep like one of those training potties in her, uh, trunk, even after her kids were potty trained, because.

It’s, it’s somewhere to go if you need to go, you know? Um, my kids actually were faced with that two winters ago. We live in California, but we have a lot of family like out in Utah and Idaho and those areas. And so, um, coming over the pass back into California, they were legit stuck. Oh my gosh, for 22 hours, 22 hours in a car.

They had six kids and two dogs in a suburban for 22 hours. And so anyway, it really makes you think like this happened to my kids a year and a half ago, you know, and it wasn’t life or death, but my gosh, like there are some things like going to the bathroom that become an issue in a situation like that.

I mean, they had to turn off their car so that they weren’t running out of gas. There were people running out of gas and anyway, crazy. So what phase of life are you in? Now with that, though, take some comfort, I guess, if you do have babies and toddlers, and or toddlers. You have one, right? Yeah, I have a four year old.

A four year old. Okay, so more like with babies and toddlers than a four year old. I don’t know if you still carry really like a diaper bag or, but more of like just a bag of stuff. I don’t know if you carry snacks with you, throw something in the car. Um, But having something that doesn’t necessarily live in your trunk and take up permanent trunk space But that you really do like I said just throw in the car not necessarily in the trunk But like on the seat next to him or or her it’s a it’s a him.

He said son. Um Next to him or whatever. Um, and then same with a diaper bag. You actually do have some stuff Um that you would have with you all the time like when you have a baby You You don’t leave your house without your diaper bag in tow. And so you can also think about things like that. Like you don’t have to pretend like you have absolutely nothing necessarily.

Um, because whatever you carry with you on a regular basis. So again, if you take your purse, every time you drive your car, you’re going to have whatever’s in your purse with you too. So that’s just important to think about. To keep in mind so that you’re not wasting precious space in your car for things that you will already have Um, so keep that in mind Um, generally speaking.

So number two here generally speaking. How extreme does the weather get where you live? um You know and she we we have the example here if it’s warm 10 months out of the year. You probably don’t need hand warmers If you live like in a super cold area, you might want hand warmers. I mean those can seriously Generally Um, save your life depending on, you know, your situation.

So, um, what are the most common natural disasters in your area? So what are the things that would possibly, that, that are the most likely that would make you stranded in your car? Um, and then, yeah, the room thing. And then can you keep these things in your car, not in your garage, right next to your car?

Okay. So I do want to go back to my tote. That I talked about having in the suburban. The problem with the tote was every time we went on a road trip My husband would take it out because we didn’t have room for it and i’m like this is the time when we absolutely Need a car kit, you know, like we can’t leave and travel hundreds and hundreds of miles Without the very car kit that I packed for like this is the most likely scenario where we’re gonna get stranded somewhere You know, and so again like that is a real You know Thing to consider.

So if you want to have something that you do pack, um, for different Not only different seasons, but different trips, different lengths of trips. The problem is it’s like a catch 22. Like you have all the room in the world when you’re not on a road trip. And those are the places, those are the quick trips where you’re closer to home and you’re most likely not going to get very stranded, you know, versus a road trip where you use every square inch of that trunk a lot of times, you know?

Um, so again, it’s, it’s a personal thing. There’s no, um, There’s no like magic fix to this problem. So you can drive yourself crazy and just be terrified to leave your house, or you can do the best you can and just kind of move on and just think, I hope that doesn’t happen. The likelihood of it happening is pretty low.

Um, but I have given it some thought and that’s better than the next guy. You know, I mean, at least I have thought of this. Um, one thing that does not take up a lot of room is cash. Okay. And cash is absolutely something that I recommend keeping a decent amount of in your car. So putting aside one second after for a minute, because that is extreme.

If you were to get stranded, a lot of the situations that would cause you to be stranded in your car, like If it, if you couldn’t get started because it was too cold, let’s say, or you were snowed in somewhere or, you know, right? Like, or you got in a car accident because of what slick roads, um, snow, ice, these are all weather related things.

And a lot of times those cause power outages. And so you may find yourself in a situation where you’re stranded somewhere And the nearest gas station also doesn’t have power, but you really need some food or, you know, whatever. And so, um, cash in that regard is going to be the only way you’re going to be able to buy stuff.

Um, because a lot of credit and debit card machines would be out at that point. I know there are some like backup generators and blah, blah, blah, but it’s just never a bad idea to have cash. Um, and then for a more serious scenario, like one second after. Um, you could be hundreds of miles away from your house, and in that scenario, so for those who haven’t read the book, if you’re watching the replay of this.

I just need to make sure that we don’t have, I would, oh crap, there is, there’s someone waiting. It’s me. It’s my screen share. Never mind. I was like, someone has been waiting this whole time. How embarrassing. Oh my gosh, I feel so bad. Nope. It’s still just us. Okay. Um, what was I saying? Okay. For those who are watching the replay, if you haven’t read One Second After, um, or listen to it cause I do audio books.

Um, It was an EMP, which is an electromagnetic pulse, which is basically one of the worst things I can possibly imagine having to live through. So it’s in this scenario, it was an enemy of the United States and they had detonated a nuke above the atmosphere, um, you know, with all these scientific calculations and everything.

And it basically, um, wipes out anything electrical. Um, so power, power grid gone. Cars passed like 1980 ish. I don’t know if there’s a specific year, but when they started like running heavily on computers, well, they just stopped mid freeway. Um, it literally knocks out anything. No refrigeration anymore. No lights or, you know, no power, no power.

It’s crazy to think about. Um, and, but, so, my point with this is, eventually, money doesn’t even mean anything anymore in a scenario like that. I mean, this was like, end of the world, almost. It’s not end of the world, but it’s end of the world as you know it scenario. And, um, And you’re basically thrown back into the stone age.

And so eventually, honestly, no one has a need for money because. All people need at this point is food, you know, and shelter and things, and no one has any food to buy anymore after it all runs out. And so, um, but my point is, even at the beginning of something that huge, like EMP, people don’t know what’s going on.

And so even if you found yourself miles away from home, your car turned off on the freeway, cash would still be able to get you a lot at the beginning. You know, because people just think it’s a weird fluke. People don’t know what’s happening. And so cash still means something for quite a while in a situation like that.

Um, another thing to think about with cash is to carry small bills with you. Like different size bills so that you have kind of like exact change, um, and things like that. And so even if right now you don’t keep cash in your car and that’s a change that you make, I think that’s huge. That’s something that’s, it’s, it’s a, it’s a really easy thing.

Um, it doesn’t take up much space and you can really feel good about, you know, about having that. And a little, like, sidebar. I’ve used that a couple times in a pinch when I forgot my purse or something and I was going to the gas station and I needed to fill up. Or I’ve paid a babysitter out of nothing for.

I still remember it. Like, I don’t have babysitters anymore. My kids are older. But I was like, dang it. I don’t want to have to stop at an ATM on the way home. And, you know, I was like, oh, you know what? I’m just gonna pay her out So, I mean, not life or death or anything, but convenient. You know, um, to have cash or like if you show up and you have to pay for parking somewhere and they’re only taking cash It’s kind of nice to have anyway.

Um, so it’s it’s just not a bad idea The only thing is you don’t want to be super vocal about where you keep it Now everybody who watches this replay knows that I keep some cash notice I’m not telling you an amount and I mean I don’t keep a thousand dollars or anything But I think if you can if you can afford it I think a couple hundred bucks is not a bad idea to keep in your car.

Someone else is coming in. Hold on.

Okay. Um, so cash is a really easy one. Anyway, let’s move on in this. Sorry, I’ve been screen sharing this whole time and haven’t realized it. Okay. So, um, these are kind of like the tools. So just a quick run through here. Jumper cables, flares, tire repair kits, um, a tow rope or chain. Now, like something like a tow rope or chain.

If I am, I feel like I have like 12 chins because of the angle. I’m like, I’m like, this is as far back as my seat goes. I could just move to a seat without a steering wheel, but that would be too easy. Um, so I wouldn’t know how to like hook up a chain or a toe rope or anything like that. But. If you have it in your car and you have the tools, someone else can help you do it, you know, but you can’t the, you can’t do it if you don’t have the stuff.

So it’s just not, so just, just things to keep in mind as you’re, you know, curating your own, um, car kit. List, um, think about that too. Like you wouldn’t be able to tow your own car by yourself anyway. You’re going to need another person. And so if you have the tools for somebody else to help you, that’s helpful, that might be helpful.

Um, a shovel, work gloves, a tarp, um, duct tape, stormproof, waterproof matches, a compass, extra quart of oil is a really good one to keep in the trunk of your car. lower, like lower in this blog post, I’ve got like antifreeze if you, especially if you live in a really cold place. Um, so those are like the basic things that I think anyone should have just no matter where you’re going.

Um, and then some safety things, a fire extinguisher, absolutely. Hands down. You should have that. And then, well, how handy that I’m in my car. Let me show you, um, this within reach of my car. The driver always. So this one, I think this is the one that I normally link. I have two that I link. One of them is like bright orange.

But that’s in my daughter’s car. So this has a seatbelt cutter right here, but it’s like, it’s heavily, sorry, I keep forgetting where the camera is. Cause I’m looking at you. It’s heavily protected so that you wouldn’t just like slice yourself open or anything. You know, if you grabbed it, this is a glass break, which.

By the way, sidebar, um, it’s not going to break plexiglass. So you can see on your, um,

on your windows of your car. Okay. Can you even see that right there? Boom. That’s where my, you probably, okay. Anyway, it will say, and. Don’t assume, like this one says tempered, and that one says lamisafe. Lamisafe? Does that mean it’s laminate? I don’t know. Whatever. This will not work on some windows, but it will on others.

So, um, just be aware of that. Like if you’re in a, if you’re in a car accident and you need to break a window to get out for whatever reason, um, if one doesn’t break, try another one because not all of them are created with the same materials. Isn’t that interesting? Just the more, you know, um, so a glass break, a seatbelt cutter, flashlight, um, and then batteries, if you need it, this one is solar powered.

And so I just keep it, um, with the solar panels like facing out somewhere on the side of my, the door of my car, and then it’s always charged. And does this one have a USB? To charge your phone. Yep. This one has a USB too. So, you know, an extra power source if your phone is dead or whatever. So pretty cool.

Cut this here. Um, so this is good. This is, I believe this is the one I have linked in this, um, in this blog post. And then a first aid kit, a radio, um, Maps. Think of maps. If you don’t have GPS, if, if maps are down, you know, do you know, if you’re on a road trip, do you really know how to get there? Like, at least the general freeways of where you’re going or whatever.

If, you know, GPS is down, but you’re still able to travel, you know, um, like your car is still working. Pocket knife. N95 mask. I mean, it could happen. If there were a fire, you know, where you were. Boing. Pepper spray! I always keep that in my car. Always, always. I drive Uber sometimes and so I definitely keep pepper spray in my car.

Um, but that’s a good one. And not just for people, but like for, um, like, animals out there. I had never thought of that for quite a while and then someone said that I was like, duh! So anyway, um, and then an emergency contact list. Again, um, this is like related to the family emergency plan, um, just so that everyone knows where you would go, who you would call, and if your phone is dead, it’s really good to have printed phone numbers in your glove box.

Just everyone has the same one. And if you update them, you update them in all of your cars. If you’re, you know, if you have multiple cars, um. Just with that list, without even comfort items, we’re getting to be pretty heavy, you know, um, it’s a lot. And so, I tend to prepare in those ways, because those aren’t for end of the world scenarios, you know, like the EMP is.

If we get hit by an EMP, we’re all gonna be a disaster, basically, unless we’re huge, huge time preppers. You know, with like serious tactical gear in every square inch of our lives. So, like, I just, I don’t really, I, my car is full with the things that make sense for basic car emergencies and being stranded in a normal scenario.

Not an, not an EMP scenario, you know? But a lot of these could be helpful in an EMP situation. I mean, you’ll be glad you have a lot of this anyway. So, um. Then we go into comfort items. I’ll let you, you know, I’ll let you read through this. It’s pretty self explanatory. I have like a sentence explaining each one.

Um, I mean, since there’s no other questions though, I feel like, I feel like this can count as our car kit workshop. It’s really helpful. I don’t know. Um, this, this blog post will be helpful for you to just kind of look through. Like I said, I don’t have, oh yeah, food and water. I mentioned it at the beginning.

I just, we hadn’t gotten here. Um, I mean, that would be helpful in an EMP situation for the first few days until you figured it out, right? Like eventually you’re going to have to figure something out further than just living out of your car for the next 12 years. So, you know what I mean? So food and water are recommended anyway.

And so, yeah, feel good about that much food and water, but you can’t take 12 months worth of food with you in the car everywhere you go. So it’s just. It’s not, you know, it’s not feasible. Um, and then here’s some winter items. So depending on where you’re going, um, or where, depending on where you live, but then also consider where you’re going and see, like, I see snow boots here and I think, oh yeah, that’s nothing that we would ever need.

Well, those would be In our luggage if we were going somewhere where we were going to be crossing snow, you know Like we take snow boots with us that fit us when we go to my in laws cabin for instance And so we would have those so no, I don’t need to worry about keeping those in my trunk all the time You know, I live in california But if we ever are on a road trip during snowy months, we most likely will have packed those anyway So that’s great.

So like I think sometimes we can freak ourselves out. Um a little bit more You Because, like I said with the diaper bag with babies, we’re already going to have some baby stuff with us regardless, just by default, because it’s what you do when you have a baby. Um, if you live in total snow country, and you tend to, um, run your kids to school in your flip flops because it’s easier, I get it.

Maybe it might be worth getting, you know, a pair of 5 ones to keep in your trunk. Because what if you got a flat tire or ran out of gas and you had to walk? I don’t know. I’m just saying, like, that, that’s a scenario where it would make sense. But for me, I’m not gonna keep snow boots in my trunk year round for that once a year trip that we take in the winter to somewhere with snow.

We’re gonna have them with us anyway, you know, so, um, Anyway, yeah, so by the time you get there, oh, with pets. Do you have pets? Yeah, we have a dog. Okay, a pet kit, like a pet 72 hour kit, um, if it’s kind of more of the bare bones, that could probably live in your trunk all of the time. And, um, so that might not be a bad idea, you know, to just keep there instead of in your home with your 72 hour kits, if you have 72 hour kits.

Um, but especially if you, if your dog is in your car a lot with you, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have. You know, to have a kit for your dog there. This is like a collapsible food, water, food and water bowl, you know, and stuff like that. Anyway, um, I’m just seeing if there’s any other things I want to like touch on or talk about.

Do you like this note in big bold? Everything on this list will not fit in a normal trunk. You’re going to have to make cuts. Um, and that’s just, oh, and then under related posts, oh, I don’t have the summer one. I have a summer one as well with, with just, I mean, it’s basics. You could probably, whatever. But anyway, um, okay, I’m going to stop sharing now,

but yeah, I guess my point is by the time I put together a, a decent car kit and some of it is spread out, like I said, like the flashlight isn’t going to do me any good in the trunk if I need to cut my seatbelt. So I can’t, you know, I keep this up here. So it’s not all in one, one little package in the trunk necessarily.

Some of this stuff is spread throughout my car. But the point is, like, EMP,

just go like this and pray that you’re not in your car. I mean, seriously, there comes a point where it’s like, I just can’t. I just, I just can’t, I can’t stress about that anymore. Like I have some food, I have some water, I have some cash, I have some sweatshirts.

I don’t know. I’m, maybe I should have been more thoughtful with my answer. Um, No, that’s really hopeful. It’s just unrealistic. It really is. Like, I mean, I’m very forthcoming with the information of I am not a doomsday prepper, so I, I’m not the best person, you know? I would love to hear this, this question asked, and if this is something, um, if this is something that people really do are ready for the information that would be given, that’s the thing, um, I’d love to find a guest to come on and talk about EMP in a workshop, but I also don’t, I also don’t want to stress people out.

I feel like that could stress people out and like make us totally shut down. And it’s like, there’s plenty of other things that are lighter that we can prepare for and they would all be beneficial in that scenario. And so that’s where I tend to focus. But yeah, I think that makes sense just a pair, you know, a pair of, I think in that book, that woman was wearing heels, wasn’t she, I want to say she was wearing heels and I thought that’s, that’s a really good like plug for me to keep an old pair of shoes in my trunk, you know, um, just little things like that.

I feel like I picked up on in the book. Um, But like, how often am I driving in heels? Like, I don’t dress like that. Once a week, I go to church, and I’m wearing heels. And so it’s like, when I really analyze the situation, you know, you’ve gotta do what works for you. For you, for your family, for what your most likely scenarios are gonna be.

And, um, for you, for the size of your car, I mean, like I said, that big tote really worked for me for a while and I felt really awesome. And now that big tote is sitting in my garage, you know, and so it’s totally useless and I just had to pick things out of that big tote that now are in my, my, you can’t even call it a trunk.

It’s ridiculous. It’s so dumb. Honda pilots are ridiculous. It’s fine if you never need your back seat, you know? But then why did you get a pilot? Like, I don’t know. It’s just so silly. This was one of those compromises with my husband when our van died. Our van died during COVID. Like literally stranded on the side of the road.

And there were no cars. It was, we could not find a van within 200 miles of us that was for sale, that was in our price range, you know what I mean? It was crazy. I had such a weird time. So we totally had to settle. And so, I mean, I blame my husband. It was actually because we couldn’t find a van and he really liked, he didn’t want a Suburban again.

So we got the Pilot. And it’s great, as long as we don’t need to take anything with us anywhere. Laughter. Fair enough. Anyway, hopefully that was helpful. I don’t know. No, that’s that’s really helpful. Um, we are gonna travel like for spring break soon and like TSA and like being in a new place and like being really limited on What you can and can’t take and things like that.

Do you have recommendations for like a must? Like this is super important or it’s just kind of whatever you can fit. Not really. I don’t, I always carry some cash, like, like in the car because it’s small and it’s possible and it’s quick. Um, and the only other thing that I really like always make sure I have with me, because again, if I’m traveling, I already have toiletries, I already have changes of clothes.

You know, so when you think about it, like I already have a lot of the things that I would want um But a first aid kit In fact, I made, is it on? I think it’s behind me. Um, it’s, and I can’t move or else this whole situation will collapse. Um, but it’s just like, I mean, it’s like this big and it zips up and it’s just shoved full of stuff.

Um, and I do always put that on in my checked luggage, um, just so that I have it wherever I go. Um, I’m trying to think of and prescriptions instead of just taking exactly, you know, as many days. I know it’s tempting to do that, but I always just take the whole bottle. Um, because if we were to get, you know, and we don’t even have any like life threatening medication that we, you know, like, um, but it’s like, why not?

I’m just going to take the whole bottle instead of just, you know, putting three pills in my little whatever. Um, so just thinking things like that. Um, and then I do have, if you’re staying in, are you staying in a hotel or like with family or friends? We’ll be in a hotel. So if, um, security is ever a concern for you, like if staying in a hotel freaks you out or whatever, um, I do have an Adalock that I take with me only when I travel alone.

It’s funny. I don’t take it when I’m traveling with my husband. I don’t know why, but if I’m staying in a hotel alone, I take my Adalock and it’s like, I have it. It’s in my, um, My classroom lockdown kit post. I know that’s not helpful for you, but it’s like a, it’s an extra way, like it’s a way to lock any door, as long as it’s a door that opens.

Um, and it has like, you know, it, it can’t be like a push handle or anything like a huge door, you know? Um, but anyway, that can like add some security. I know that that’s not like serve, I don’t know. It’s a different part of preparedness though. So if you’ve ever been concerned with that type of scenario, Um, it’s very small and it’s not like a weapon or anything.

It’s like a chain and a, you know, I’m in my car, so I can’t show you because I’m not at home. I don’t have it with me, but that would be something that’s, again, it’s a very, like, feasible thing to fit in your luggage, and it’s not going to take up a ton of room. Um, but yeah, other than that, I personally don’t stress about taking other, like, 72 hour kit type items.

We are, we would already have, like, A lot of the things with us, you know, minus like fire starter and you know, you know what I mean? Freeze dried food. No, I don’t, I don’t take that stuff with me. I just don’t. Again, I just kind

what are the odds? , I’m so bad. No, I, that’s, that makes sense. You know, I’m the type of person where I would literally just drive myself insane if, if I allowed myself to stress out about. All of those type of things, you know, I have my 72 hour kits for when I’m home and most likely, you know, 51 weeks of the year I’m home, you know what I mean?

And so I have to, at some point I have to just be okay, you know, I don’t know, but there are little things that I still do, like cash first aid kit, you know, a few things, a few basic things. So

it’s also, I also have Unbeknownst to my husband, because he would just make fun of me, to look ahead at where we are traveling and to find like the nearest hospital, um, and urgent care, just because that makes me feel better having, especially when I had little kids, I was more diligent about that. Um, And like checking out insurance, you know, just, just a quick check.

It wasn’t a huge deal, but just like for my peace of mind to know that and to know, like, okay, does our insurance, is our insurance accepted at that, you know, here or there or whatever, just so that I knew. Um, so those are kind of more of the preps, you know, for vacationing that I do. For what it’s worth.

That’s helpful. Thank you. Okay. All right. Do you have other questions? I don’t right now. Those are, those are my big wins for, for this time around. Okay. Well, turns out morning looks like it’s a more popular time, for sure. Yeah, turns out. This is crazy. I don’t know. Do you work during the day, or would you be able to come to a morning one?

Um, I work during the day, um, but, like, I’m, I’m in Ohio, so, like, there’s a, a big time difference, so it ends up, if you do something, like, in the morning, it’s more afternoon for us. Yeah, I can. It kind of depends on the day. I could do either. Okay. I’m curious. That’s the only reason I did. I don’t think we need to a month necessarily because there’s so much to be working on in the membership, but I wanted to have, you know, I wanted to have live interaction with, with people who aren’t available in the mornings and who aren’t available in the evenings.

And so that’s why. I did it this way, but I’m always open to adjusting or just slashing cutting one out if it’s not necessary or whatever But I’ll give it a few months to kind of you know, see yeah, it goes Okay. Well, that was helpful for me. I got it. I got a one on one We touched on car kits we touched on one second after a little bit Like those are two other workshop topics that I have in there But so I feel bad because we didn’t like do a deep dive necessarily, but this is just a q a so, you know You There’s some resources for you.

Um, if you go to justplanforawesome. com and type in car kit, you’ll see, you’ll get, you know, you’ll get the one that I just screen shared. And then also the summer one and some other car stuff for travel. Um, so that, you know, that might be helpful. Yeah. Okay. Absolutely. Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, have a great night.

Thanks. Thanks so much for your time. Of course. All right. We’ll see you later. All right, sounds good. Okay. Bye.

TRANSCRIPTION

This editable transcript was computer generated and might contain errors. People can also change the text after it was created.

Melanie Papworth: And eventually that didn’t record because now I’m recording.

Melanie Papworth: Yeah. shoot is right.

Melanie Papworth: Okay, All right. I’m not really sure what I’m gonna do about. it was Great. my I can’t believe this if any of you have any follow-up questions from the workshop, I think all of you were there so you can ask him in here.

Melanie Papworth: I’m just gonna get right started because I already started.

Melanie Papworth: I am going to

Melanie Papworth: screen share and explain a couple of things

Melanie Papworth: I seriously can’t believe I didn’t record that.

Melanie Papworth: Someone wants to join. so if you have questions awesome, you can type them in the chat and I will get to them. Or you can unmute and just ask me but first while people are coming in and all of that. I want to get to

Melanie Papworth: show you this. all of my tabs. All right, we’re going back out to

Melanie Papworth: The membership. So I super apologize about all of the crappy glitches that we’ve had. We’re Most of them worked out. I hope everyone who’s on this call is either a premium member or you possibly maybe had a guest pass. to this first Q&A just to see what it’s like. so for you premium people

Melanie Papworth: I just want to explain a couple things. So this is obviously where you’re going to go for each thing. that’s self-explanatory. Here’s what is tripping people up. I don’t know why this one is bigger today wasn’t yesterday. I don’t know what’s going on guys. The struggle is real. do you see all this one is great. It shouldn’t be great because I’m premium everything should be colored if you are a premium member, so something is still glitchy with mine. but I want to show you Start switch to this course. Yes, that is okay. This is not changing your membership at all. The reason that is showing up is you can only have one course open at one time. So if I want to work on quick and easy course, I just need to say okay.

Melanie Papworth: My progress is going to be saved in my 72 hour kit course because that’s where I was last. My progress will be saved. Everything’s good.

Melanie Papworth: Okay, and so I switched in here there should after you watch the video. And check these boxes. If you’ve done all of that for reals, I only want you checking those boxes. If you’ve actually done it, then you will click the next button and it should allow you to go to the next step. All of these days are showing I’ve done the whole course. So I have access to everything already, but I just wanted to show you if you don’t have that next button, please email me. There is a glitch and I need to refresh your account. so when you get into work on an actual course and whether it be the quick and easy preparedness course or 72-hour kit course

Melanie Papworth: you need to make sure you have a next button there because whoops. On the wrong one.

Melanie Papworth: Okay, so Is the course things? 52 weeks of growing your food storage is an extra. This is bonus. I recommend if you want to be working on your food storage this year. Give it a try. Go ahead use this like this is for you. This is not something that you should only focus on when you’re in the membership because

Melanie Papworth: that would be silly to leave all this other information on the table. However, if you are gonna work on the quick and easy course or 72-hour kits course, I would recommend not working on other things other than 52 weeks ago growing your food storage. Does that make sense this 72-hour kit course, it’s heavy. There’s a lot it It’s gonna take some money and so don’t spread yourself too thin and try to do quick and easy preparedness and 70 to our kids at the same time, but you can absolutely do 52 weeks of growing your food storage. It’s just one quick video in case you’re unfamiliar with it. It’s one quick video every week. And so here are the weeks that we so We have weeks one through seven. I need to add eight and nine here and there will be a summary. a video and a transcript

00:05:00

Melanie Papworth: and that’s it. You can binge these the idea though is to watch one a week and add something to your grocery cart every week and then you’re done for the week. And so this is bonus material. I put it in here. This is a separate course that you can purchase for 52 bucks in my shop and I email you the transcript and the video and you get an email every Sunday morning for me of what to purchase that week. I just decided to throw it in here as bonus. You don’t have to use it, but you’re welcome to use it and just don’t let it occupy all of your time because that’s not the main goal of this membership if that makes sense. Now we get to these Niche topics. This idea has been. Horrible, I think it’s just horrible. So basically

Melanie Papworth: hold on. It sounded like someone was trying. No.

Melanie Papworth: I thought I heard a noise. Where am I? Okay? all seven of these came from either quick and easy preparedness or 72-hour kits. The reason I pulled these out separately. Was to give you smaller topics to cover without feeling so overwhelmed. ask a firefighter. every six months and family emergency plan. Belong to the quick and easy preparedness challenge. So this is a bonus within that challenge. It’s not a specific day. But family emergency plan for example is day 12 of the quick and easy preparedness challenge. So if you start here.

Melanie Papworth: You’re actually gonna see at the beginning of the video that it says day 12 see that it’s because it’s part of the quick and easy preparedness challenge. So when you finish this instead of clicking next just go back. To your membership home. You finished your family emergency plan. You watch the thing. You print it out you do the stuff. Go back and now start quick and easy preparedness. And when you open that program when you get to day 12, it will already be checked off for you. So as you go through, you check the boxes you go to day Go to day two check the boxes. Go to day three when you get to day 12. These will be checked off and you can just skip it because you already got it done. so that is really confusing I think to people. But I did it to help you.

Melanie Papworth: So I want your feedback here. do you like that then? so these first three are from quick and easy preparedness the last four fireproof box first aid kit grab list and pet preparedness. Those are from the 72-hour kit course because I’m super thorough and I didn’t want to stop at just your kids. You should have a fireproof box that you evacuate with. You should have a first aid kit that you evacuate with. You should have a grab list and you’re gonna evacuate with your pets. So you need kits for your pets. So these were just really easy.

Melanie Papworth: I keep going in the wrong one here. What just happened?

Melanie Papworth: I think that’s the eternity view that they were saying.

Melanie Papworth: Did I just admit that person I think I did. So those were to help you. And I think that they’re confusing you so I wanted to show you that and I want your feedback do you guys like that or do you think I should just have the two courses and you just do the courses in order?

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: I like it.

Melanie Papworth: And now that if you’re not really ready to tackle 72 hours, but you’re like, I could get my pets ready. that’s something that my brain can handle that you can do that and…

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: you’re actually doing your future self a favor because when you get to step 14, it’s gonna be done, so yeah. I want you guys to know that it was not communicated. I’m really sorry. There was a lot of stuff that was not Set up the way I was anticipating it to be set up and so it just caused a lot of Confusion And I super apologize.

00:10:00

Melanie Papworth: Are there any other thoughts don’t be shy if you disagree if you had just ditched him like it’s weird. or

Melanie Papworth: and also if you have an account that is not functioning properly whether your next button isn’t there or if things are not like if it redirects you to a sales page or if it redirects you and says you don’t have access to Switch your membership. Let me know because you absolutely have access to everything on there except for coaching unless you paid for that and if you’re a premium member, so if it’s giving you a wacky message, please email me. You’ve got to let me know so that I can fix your account something like it’s all fixed. It’s just some accounts didn’t update with it. And I have no way to tell which ones didn’t update. So I was checking them all by hand and each one was taking 15 minutes.

Melanie Papworth: And that’s a lot of accounts to spend 15 minutes each on and there’s no way to tell that it’s all working properly even like I can’t just click on it be like, yeah, that one’s working. I have to do all of the checks on it. So it’s just better if you just let me know if your account is malfunctioning. What’s Good question. It is Melanie at plan for awesome.com. And I put it in the chat. you can also just reply to any emails you get the one this morning that had the link to this call just reply to that. That’s my email. So

Melanie Papworth: over over a message to pin it. That’s I’ll pin in my email address do you guys have questions?

Melanie Papworth: It’s gonna be a really boring Q&A of course. Although I don’t know maybe today is just getting started.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: I was just looking at my account and it says under the workshop membership canceled current membership and switch to the workshop membership instead. is that

Melanie Papworth: Es so that’s like if you want to downgrade. so it’s always there for you…

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Okay.

Melanie Papworth: because I didn’t want people to have to Look around for it. But I agree. I think in some ways it’s confusing. what do I need to do? I need to switch if I want to go to the workshop. using

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah, I think that is a little confusing to me. Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: I think so too the girl who set it up for me was trying to make it super user friendly and I think in doing so she confused it.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah. Maybe…

Melanie Papworth: a little bit

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: if it’s smaller. Not like red.

Melanie Papworth: Mm- okay.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Because it almost seems like something’s wrong. I mean a color that’s like caution.

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: No, that’s super helpful to me and I almost feel like get rid of it all together. And if you want to make changes go to your account page intuitive.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: yeah, I think that’s how a lot of other programs are like.

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah. Or reach out if you want to. That’s just me personally what I so,…

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: but that is it confusing.

Melanie Papworth: It’s really really good feedback. shoot.

Melanie Papworth: okay. Are there other questions?

Melanie Papworth: you can ask about problems you’re having but also just in general preparedness questions like This is for you, Follow-ups to the workshop that we just went to or things you’re working on in your course’s or topics or something unrelated like it doesn’t matter.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Sorry, I thought I’m talking too much so I can stop if you need me to talk.

Melanie Papworth: It’s fine.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: I think.

Melanie Papworth: No one was talking.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: I think I feel overwhelmed a lot with emergency preparedness, which is why I joined the membership. I’m like

00:15:00

Melanie Papworth: Okay.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: I get overwhelmed with the month the cost of all that’s the last workshop with all the water all the different options. I feel there’s so much that just it’s like we can’t afford right now, maybe we could do a little bit but some of the big things that’s essential I just feel overwhelmed with

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: So yeah, I don’t know. but I like how you have where should I start? Any break it down in that way. I think my brain is like I just want to do everything all at once. Which is what? helpful

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: yeah, I know it’s hard because you have to prioritize so something like Okay,…

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: so you can look at something.

Melanie Papworth: About and you just said you have a ton of water bottles under beds and…

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Uh-huh. Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: whatever you’re okay. you guys Wouldn’t Die Tomorrow, right so Now that you do want to get something. I don’t know what you think is best for your family. I don’t know whether it be water bricks or tank or 55 gallon drums or jugs, whatever but you already have quite a…

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: It sounds like and so I would say Yes, that’s a priority and that’s a goal and you should probably start tucking a little bit away every month or something if you can towards whatever it is that your goal is or

Melanie Papworth: I know several years ago when we bought our tank and our can Rotator we had some really big purchases a generator. We did those with tax returns. I know some people don’t get tax returns. We always did and so instead of that going towards a vacation or something like that a tax return was basically the only time my husband didn’t get bonuses ever but a lot of people use a bonus, to do a bigger ticket item like a water tank or something but a tax return was a really good way to do that. So that’s something to keep in mind and also gifts like I know that I know it’s not exciting…

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: but we’re adults and sometimes our gifts aren’t exciting and I get really excited about things like food storage anyway, so whatever but you could also ask parents or

Melanie Papworth: That’s good question. We’ll get there in a sec and ask parents or your spouse or whatever. I just want money towards this if it’s something that’s out of the price range of a gift or whatever. And so that’s another idea just to kind of get creative. But also to Not freak out and not be so stressed out that you’re beside yourself because you have water under your beds.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: You got water bottles. You’re good girl. you guys you have probably enough to figure it out right to get you through a few days And you would figure something out. So I don’t know if that’s in fact, I wanted to say that and I never did if something is Out Of Reach and you’re not able to buy what you absolutely want right now go grab a few cases of water right now because everyone can do that right now, right and it’s something and that is something that you could use in your home if you needed to and it’s something that you could evacuate with if you needed to and so you’ve got a really versatile water storage right Are probably…

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Okay.

Melanie Papworth: right now. what your end goal should be but it’s very versatile for what you have right now. So that’s great. It’s not big enough.

Melanie Papworth: 

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: 

Melanie Papworth: Sleep well tonight and be working towards it.

Melanie Papworth: That quiz that I have, for everyone to take. It’s not really quiz. But if you don’t have this start here, but if you do have that then do you have this, start here if you take it, know what I’m talking about. that is I kind of designed that with a few things in mind and one of them was. cost Because something like a family emergency plan super essential and…

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: don’t

Melanie Papworth: it’s free. And so you can look for things to balance out, different things. I will admit 72 hour kids is a cost for sure like that’s gonna if you’re doing it for several people, which you have some kids and all of that that’ll be a cost for sure. so I personally would recommend doing quick and easy preparedness before 72 hour kids because it’s a bigger bang for your buck.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: okay.

Melanie Papworth: You can buy a fire extinguisher for 20 bucks 72-hour kids even thousands right?

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah.

00:20:00

Melanie Papworth: So it kind of depends there as far as money is concerned. But I get it and you can’t do everything.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: I don’t know.

denise baker: Can I and…

Melanie Papworth: I don’t know.

denise baker: I share something really quick Melanie. I’ve been doing this a lot of years and…

Melanie Papworth: Yeah, please.

denise baker: so I remember being in that beginning stage where you just don’t have money and I think so much of what would be a part of a 72-hour kit or our emergency preparedness. A lot of us have lying in a junk drawer or buried somewhere that we just don’t know where it is. and so I think the idea of going through our homes and do we have a couple boxes of matches or a lighter or I can’t think anything. I’ll tell champ top of my head but throw it in an emergency preparedness box just so it’s all there and as you find things to your house or if you go to a community fair and they’re giving away whistles or whatever just start finding those free things and…

Melanie Papworth: Yes.

denise baker: throwing them in and build up slowly because like she said with the water You have more than you think I think we have more.

denise baker: Preparedness items than we even know. It’s just combining them into one place where we know they are and it might not be the coolest and best kit. But if something happens tomorrow, you’re gonna be dang glad you have that stupid whistle from a bank in a plastic box…

Melanie Papworth: bit

denise baker: where it is.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Thank you. That’s very helpful.

Melanie Papworth: I love that. absolutely, and in the 72-hour kit course just and much like Denise just said I have little budget tips throughout and they have a little dollar sign so that what you’re looking for and that is something I say, don’t stop this course if you’re out of money keep going because

Melanie Papworth: the course is me giving you little tips and tricks and lists and things to think about but your job is to look at your family your needs what you’re preparing for and to cross things off that list to add things to that list to make it your own that’s what I believe in. I don’t like predom kids because one’s gonna have what your kids need I can tell you that right No pre-done kit is gonna have anything close to what your kids should look like, So You can do all of that for free well.

Melanie Papworth: For your 1499 a month, you’re already in the membership. So use it go through that course don’t stop just because you’re out of money that month keep watching the videos editing your list, looking around your house like Denise said, like toothbrushes and toothpaste do not get those at Target from the travel spot. Are you kidding me? You get them from your dentist for free and you always have the latest one because you’re getting a new one every six months for everyone of your kids and stuff like that. And so yeah go through that course and it will give you even more ideas of things that you should be looking out for and throwing in that spot putting on your list. And another plug for those Niche topics grab list is one of those

Melanie Papworth: it’s also part of the quick and easy preparedness course because it’s free a grab list is just the things that you would grab if you had 10 minutes 20 minutes a half hour one hour notice whatever, to evacuate. If you at least have everything written down that you would want to grab that doesn’t cost you any money, but It will serve you so well, if you get put in a position and then you can grab your toothbrush because it’s on your list, it’s not something that you necessarily had to buy you. Just I mean, you’re not gonna put a toothbrush on a grab list. There’s more important things but you know what I mean and so a grab list is a good place to start and that is something that we build on throughout the 72-hour kit course as we’re Like for instance medication, that’s something really expensive a lot of times. We can’t pack away

Melanie Papworth: A 72 hour kit with all of our prescription medications because we just don’t have extras. So that’s gonna go on a grab list. even if we have 72-hour kids built, we’re still gonna have a grab list. There’s gonna be things we can’t fit in our backpacks at all times. It’s not feasible and so start with a grab list and you’ll be somewhat mentally prepared for an evacuation with just the things you have without buying anything. So yeah love that thought Denise was really good.

Melanie Papworth: agreed Ashley are you okay?

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Yeah, totally sorry. Yeah, absolutely.

Melanie Papworth: If I go to the next question?

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Absolutely. No,…

Melanie Papworth: No, I just like I don’t want you to feel like

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: it’s helpful.

00:25:00

Melanie Papworth: But yeah, it’s a very personal thing. It really is evaluating where you live the emergencies you might face the natural disasters that are most likely to happen in your area. and honestly if you’re religious. I mean taking it to Lever, your higher power is following your gut. I can’t tell you what the most likely scenario is in your future, but if you believe in God or you what I mean, speak with your spouse about it. you can’t do everything. You just can’t. so

Melanie Papworth: so Carli asked after water. What is it most important thing? It’s hard there. I can’t tell you.

Melanie Papworth: necessary for survival and pass that food I guess right but

Melanie Papworth: It depends. I mean the most important thing is whatever your next emergency is going to be so food and water aren’t gonna do you any good if your house? Catches on fire tonight, so I mean, it’s a very loaded question. What’s the next most important thing? But yeah, I mean I think food is up there for And going back to that 52 weeks of growing your food storage content. The idea of that is not to have you spend every last penny on food And get a year’s supply as quick as you can it’s just to show you that you can do it little by little and the people who went through. 52 weeks of growing your food storage last year

Melanie Papworth: have so much food now, but not a ton nothing close to a year’s supply but they have spent 52 weeks of buying something a few different things every week. And so they will now be able to make full meals with their food storage with the stuff in their Pantry rather than just focusing on a couple key ingredients that catch their eye in the grocery store or whatever. They have the whole spectrum of food and then you build that from there and also,

Melanie Papworth: For long-term food storage. You don’t need to wait until you have a really big tax return or someone gets a big bonus or an inheritance or something. You can buy a couple cans at a time and that adds up like Denise said I don’t feel that old. I’m 40. I don’t feel like I’m boring but I’m 40, but I remember when I started this. Almost 20 years ago,

Melanie Papworth: it really does accumulate one can at a time it really does and the stuff that I was getting I mean I feel like we really started preparedness really heavy into it. I don’t know about 15 years ago. and there was one time when we made a really big food storage purchase of a couple thousand dollars, but other than that, it’s been one Canada time couple cans at a time or even like a case. Sometimes I’ll stretch it and I’ll try to get a whole case. Hi, and whatever but I don’t know. Carli I feel like you just got to decide Honestly though My canned answer would go with your gut. you just don’t know if everything feels equally important I think water and food.

Melanie Papworth: Are really important to be at least on your mind and then I really did design the quick and easy prepared Challenge to cover a lot of little basic stuff. That’s either free or pretty cheap and can make a drastic impact in your preparedness. So I don’t know for what it’s worth. Okay. yeah.

Melanie Papworth: And if something’s super catching your eye go put it in the workshop, but we can also talk about it here. Because it doesn’t seem like very many people have very many questions. So I cash is a really good one to compare you can’t eat your savings account. So, you should have food storage, but then also if you have to evacuate you’re not going to be able to take a year Supply worth of food with you, and you cash might be your only way to whatever so really diversifying your preparedness is the best answer. and all of them build up little by little I say that after just saying we have a 500 gallon water tank. But very few topics are a one and done. Most of them are just adding little by little and whatever and like Denise said

00:30:00

Melanie Papworth: most people have a lot more than they think. in your pantry is all the food in your refrigerator and freezer. All of that is food storage. It might not have a 25-year shelf life, but it’s food that you can eat so

Melanie Papworth: You’re doing better than you think I think most of the time.

Melanie Papworth: other questions

Melanie Papworth: Yeah, I know. Okay. Without crazy the world is getting I agree.

Melanie Papworth: freaking out a little or aren’t like prioritizing preparedness, I don’t know. It’s crazy. but you’re doing better than you think.

Melanie Papworth: questions

Melanie Papworth: I’m looking back up here.

Staci Derhak: I have a question.

Melanie Papworth: Yeah, guys, I’m gonna have to do that Workshop again. Yes. Yeah.

Staci Derhak: so Now all my thought to my head are going a million miles an hour. emergency Heating

Staci Derhak: That’s probably a huge topic on and…

Melanie Papworth: Okay.

Staci Derhak: of itself. But my specific question is, those buddy heaters that use the little propane tanks a little green ones. I see I have done a lot of research on those that they say they’re safe to use indoors.

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Staci Derhak: You crack a window or whatever so you’ve got the ventilation, but are they really safe to use anymore? I just wondered…

Melanie Papworth: I know.

Staci Derhak: what your thoughts were about that.

Staci Derhak: Nope.

Melanie Papworth: Wasn’t you who asked me this on Instagram? somebody just recently did and I had a whole conversation in DMS And I kind of feel the same about it as you do. I’m skeptical. They say it safe. So you want to assume that they’ve

Melanie Papworth: that they can say that legally and that it must be okay. But you’re also not supposed to use anything. With that type of fuel indoors, so I have the same question honestly, and I don’t think we’re gonna get an answer. Because if you read the box, it’s safe. And however, I will say so this is a loaded question and topic and so In the firefighter Q&A in the quick and easy preparedness challenge, it’s just bonus stuff. It’s also a niche topic. There’s a question about

Melanie Papworth: your carbon monoxide

Melanie Papworth: the thing your smoke alarms a lot of us have them where they’re combined. And so it’s a two in one alarm and others have them separate doesn’t matter. And he was talking about how low the parts per million or whatever it is when you’re alarm goes off. They are set to go off way early in the game. So I guess as long as you have working carbon monoxide.

Melanie Papworth: Alarms, that’s a good one. that’s definitely important to have and I would think yes.

Staci Derhak: Good idea. That’s a good idea.

Melanie Papworth: Yeah, I mean there’s that and I know that you get accustomed to the smell and So, I don’t know. It’s a good question. I have one but I have it for baseball games like to take with me outside.

Melanie Papworth: And so I’ve never had a reason to use it inside and I think it’s better than freezing to death. So, I think at that point we would weigh the risk and I mean we don’t have a fireplace. we don’t even have an electric one. We have no fireplace in this house. So it would be safer than building a fire in our living room. So, you know what? I mean? I guess I don’t know.

00:35:00

Staci Derhak: I mean that’s just an area that I Kind of am struggling with …

Melanie Papworth: It’s a great. Yeah, where do you live?

Staci Derhak: what are the options? I live in upstate, New York. and cold is a real thing not this winter,…

Melanie Papworth: yeah.

Melanie Papworth: It is.

Staci Derhak: but in some Winters it’s got really really cold. I mean,…

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Staci Derhak: we have a fireplace but actually I have two one is not usable. But even with that the fireplaces don’t really provide heat they suck more heat out. than they provide heat into your house

Melanie Papworth: interesting, I wouldn’t have thought that

Staci Derhak: I don’t and unless you have a fan and all of this stuff to help keep it warm,…

Melanie Papworth: 

Staci Derhak: to move the Heat. Our one fireplace that we cannot use has the fan and stuff and when we could use it.

Staci Derhak: Are the fan too? to work The other fireplace that is usable,…

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Staci Derhak: but it’s just an Fireplace I guess but it doesn’t have Any of that fan or anything like that to move the heat so you have to get really close to it. in order to maybe…

Melanie Papworth: Interesting. Yeah.

Staci Derhak: if it’s that cold that Any increase in the temperature would be of benefit. I don’t know.

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Staci Derhak: But I have lots of questions about that. what are the best options? I don’t know. I don’t have any answers.

Melanie Papworth: It’s a tricky one Denise just said we bought a little portable carbon monoxide detector, and we keep it in our power outage kit. I love that. That’s a really good idea to have a little portable one.

Staci Derhak: That’s a good idea. Yeah.

Melanie Papworth: I mean there are things in fact, I’m working on a blog post right now on that because it’s a Hot Topic right now.

Melanie Papworth: So I’m currently. In the throws of researching it. I mean there’s little stuff like everyone go to one room put blankets over the windows set up a tent, I mean, there’s things like that that are definitely helpful and they do make a difference as far as things you can do without necessarily

Melanie Papworth: like any Heaters, but just smart ways to trap heat and use body heat and things like that. But yeah,…

Staci Derhak: right

Melanie Papworth: it is a topic. I’m researching right right now

Staci Derhak: awesome

Melanie Papworth: but yeah, and I don’t know does anyone else hear and since I live in California, it definitely has not been top of Mind here for me, we get cold we put on some socks and a sweatshirt. We’re fine in our house. So If anyone here has any suggestions or experience with anything, let us know. I’ll add it to my blog post.

Melanie Papworth: But yeah, that’s a good one. In fact put that in the

Melanie Papworth: or I can just write it down but The workshop that would be a good one. I’d probably just put it with power outages though. Unless it got too big,

Alisa Didenhover: So just piggybacking on her thought I guess when I signed up for the premium,…

Melanie Papworth: Okay.

Alisa Didenhover: I thought it would be more of these Advanced things because I’ve done the quick and easy. I’m almost done with the 72 hour. I just updated my first aid kit on there. Is that kind of what you’re in the workshops to be is a little bit more advanced like that.

Melanie Papworth: Yeah.

Alisa Didenhover: I don’t have a stuff like that. So I’m just kind of Wondering what if that’s…

Melanie Papworth: Yes. Yes,…

Alisa Didenhover: what this is going to be.

Melanie Papworth: that’s what the workshops are for. So.

Melanie Papworth: That’s right, because you already had the courses before the membership, right? Okay,…

Alisa Didenhover: Yeah, yeah.

Melanie Papworth: so you should have got premium for the price of the workshops. Right? So basically just making sure you use your code.

Alisa Didenhover: Yes, I did. Yeah. Yeah. Yes.

Melanie Papworth: So basically if you want the Deep Dives. that is workshops and I wanted the premium to be the same price as just workshops straight up would be and so yeah, there’s not gonna be a ton more for you here other than the normal workshops and then you get to come to the q&a’s but you’ve already done the courses, which is the in between stuff. So yeah.

00:40:00

Alisa Didenhover: Yeah, that’s what I was kind of hoping for was kind of more these Advanced that she just talked about heat…

Melanie Papworth: Yes.

Alisa Didenhover: because I don’t have a buddy whatever you were talking about, so.

Melanie Papworth: they have them at Costco here but yeah, yes, that’s what the workshops are gonna be for and I don’t know. I mean we’ll just kind of have to see how this whole membership plays out, just with anything you got to kind of put it out there and see how it works and functions and

Melanie Papworth: I think it’s too early to tell but yeah, that’s my intention with the workshops and Then you’ll be able to go back and watch any of the ones that you were a member when they happened during does that make sense? So you guys will always access now to the water storage Workshop, which didn’t record so I’ll be recording that solo right after this call, I guess.

Melanie Papworth: so you’ll be able to access in theory So yeah.

Melanie Papworth: Any other questions?

Melanie Papworth: this one’s recording so I’ll have this one up lickety-split. and then the workshops gonna take a little longer so Okay, and then as a reminder, you can email me you can submit questions in the question box in the courses, within the challenge or the courses. And please please please email me.

Melanie Papworth: Your account is malfunctioning. Okay?

Melanie Papworth: All right. Have a great day everybody.

Ashley Rattanasengchanh: Thank you.

Melanie Papworth: This was fun. This was of course. Okay Carli, I will go take care of you right now when I hang up. Have a good one guys. See you later.

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  • Note: Does NOT included access to monthly workshops
  • One live workshop each month
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  • Transcription available with replay
  • Purchase previous workshops for $9
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  • Access to niche topics: Ask a firefighter, Grab lists, First aid kits, Pet preparedness, Family emergency plan, Fireproof box
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