The Prepper Broadcasting Network - Tax TIME! Phoenix Survival

Episode Date: February 10, 2024

You're listening to PBN. You're playing back the stability here. I keep on moving forward. Always getting closer. Marching till it's over. And just like a soldier. I keep on moving forward. Always getting closer. Marching till it's over. And just like a soldier. I keep on moving forward. Always getting closer.

I'm marching till it's over. I'm just like a soldier. I keep on moving forward. Always getting closer. I'm marching till it's over. I'm just like a soldier. I keep on moving forward. Good morning PBNers, it is J-Fur here with Phoenix Survival on this beautiful Saturday morning, February the 10th. That is right. We are into February.

And if you are not following on the chat, the page, the emails, you need to. It is Calm Within Chaos Month for us. Yes. At PBN. So what does that mean for us? right? There's plenty of challenges going on. We're doing a fitness. Follow James, our intrepid commander. He has some amazing things going on in the emails and our members only area. A lot going on here in PBN. So, my title, Tax Time. We all know tax season is upon us to start your taxes, to file your taxes.

Some of us have already been able to. Some of us are still waiting on our information. What does this mean for us? If you haven't already started prepping, now would probably be the time to definitely do so. We say that every time, but there's really a lot behind that. So, and little man here is being as vocal as ever too. He's going to help. But think about this.

For those families who state that money is hard and you have children and you are getting money back, even if it's a little bit, I know in our household, you know, a lot of times I'm either paying in, what little bit does come back, we're paying towards bills because, you know, unfortunately last year has been a hard year for us. That is just the way it is. But what about for those who it isn't? Okay. Take that time to one, get caught up on your bills. I completely understand. I will never tell you to not take care of what's responsible or to get what's needed. But what about the people who are out there buying frivolous things, brand new TVs, a brand new sport bike, you know, sound systems. Are those things you really need? Yes, they're things we want, but are they things that you need? So what should, what am I suggesting?

I'm suggesting you look at paying your bills, maybe putting some money back. I mean, that is more than ideal. Put some currency back, keep it in smaller bills, because God forbid if something happens, cash is king. And yes, it's not going to be good forever, but it will still work. We are so dependent upon a digital banking system and a digital society that once it crumbles, there won't be anything left to use to pay for things. Not really. left to use to pay for things. Not really. So even though you hear that cash has no back end and the value is half of what it is, if not less, in a grid down situation, that cash is still king because someone holds value to it. So, I mean, that's, it's really been something I've been really thinking about, as you see

all these promotions, tax time, big savings, Ashley's Furniture, da-da-da-da-da, come on, folks, yeah, there are things we need, but it doesn't mean you have to break the bank, the brand new shiny toys that, within a week, are going to accumulate dust a week are going to accumulate dust that are going to lose its shine and shimmer or is going to get worn out or dependent on the household, even potentially broken. What is that to you? So, I mean, it really is looking at how can you save I know for some of us tax season is where we have to pay in it is also another thing we need to consider when prepping fortunately we do pay taxes we have to pay taxes I kind of wish Bill was here. He could go on one of his little perfect rants at this, but it's for us as preppers, we prep for all sorts of things, right?

We prep for the times that are going to be hard, you know, loss of work, fire, tornado, I mean, flood and injury. That's what we prep for, right? So why aren't we taking our preps throughout the entire year? And yes, it's not easy. It's definitely not easy. But that's where we have to sit down and, you know, make a list, make a budget. It's not fun. It is annoying.

It can be stressful. But it could make a big difference in how you plan for things. Grocery shopping. I always go back to it because it is a way you can really consider things. Consider saving money. Sorry. I'm dying of thirst all the time anymore. So I go back to grocery shopping because we need food to live.

Food is going to be what gets you through, right? A good shopper will plan out what they're getting, say, you know, look at cost and we'll even see what they can do to budget, right? You want to be able to get as much food as you can for as little cost as possible, which unfortunately a hundred dollars doesn't get you very much. But if you think about it, here alone, the restaurant industry is booming. They don't have people who want to work, hence, okay. But if you look at, so I'm just going to break this down and it's the same for anything else. I know I'm diverting here, but so I have a friend who reached out to me recently who asked about some meals that could feed a family and could be cost efficient.

Okay. I absolutely understand that. For the longest time, I was cooking for a family of five. I made food for six to eight because growing children always are hungry, so are working adults. So prime example. We'll say at cost now, I get my hamburger meat for $7 a pound, okay? Let's say I use one pound of ground beef. I can get a bag of potatoes for five bucks and they're decent sized potatoes. A bag of vegetables for, we'll round it up to a dollar. I think it's 96 cents. Um, if I broke it down on the beef stock or on the bouillon cubes and a oyster shower sauce,

there really isn't much on that one because that's something I use all across the board for a lot of meals, but just for the main parts of the, for shepherd's pie. So $13, right? just for the main ingredients for shepherd's pie $13 this meal I can spread it out if I add extra potatoes if I add extra whatever $13 can feed a family of four to five with no problem. Now, if you're looking at, well, that doesn't look like it's enough. My kids have a bigger portion. Then, okay, you know, add an extra pound of meat. Okay, that's $14 total on meat. So you add an extra seven. So $20 meal, okay? $20 meal for a family of five to eight people. $20, folks, for one meal.

Shepherd's pie has meat, vegetables, and potatoes. You got all three in there. Starch, veggies, meat. $20, okay? When you go out to a person. Okay. So maybe at this tax time this year, I know people are like, I want to go out. I want to eat. Yes. Fine. Budget for it. But look at what you can do. If you looked at how much money you spent in a year on something like this, looked at how much money you spent in a year on something like this, you could be looking at how much you could be saving for your taxes, for your preps, for your extra food in your house. I say make a little restaurant jar, whatever you call it. Throw a little bit in there every now and then and use that as, okay, that's forget me money. You know, I don't have to worry if this is going to affect our finances because there's a lot of times where people go out to eat because it's cheap, as in air quotes, cheap,

but it's convenient and easy. It's not. You are costing yourself more because then, uh-oh, It's not. You are costing yourself more because then, uh-oh, we're a little tight for this bill that came up or, uh-oh, I just got a flat. You know, we don't consider that beyond first world problems and instant gratification. So, I mean, shepherd's pie, $20 at the worst for a household. worst for a household. There are many, many other meals that I make that I can make for the same, $20 or less. $20 or less is what I try to aim for my meals when I cook them. Because if I look at it that way, and when I buy my groceries, I try to stretch it out to no one. I can get this many meals out of this. I can get this many meals out of this.

I think my favorite cheapest meal is a couple potatoes and some smoked sausage. I think smoked sausage has gone up to three or four dollars. So I think between just me and my partner, he and I probably spend, we'll say worst of worst, $8 total. And we have an entire meal, an entire meal, $8 for two people. Come on, folks. I mean, this, this is what it's about because we know, yes, there are going to be days we want to go out. There are days we're going to want to eat. And it's just, that's it. It's cost.

So tax time isn't just a time to look at, you know, oh, what can I buy? What can I get? Sure, there are things I'd love to have. There would be things I'd love to be able to go and get, but when it comes down to it, it's not financially feasible for my household. I've got a little one who's getting bigger, so I've got to make sure I've got a little bit of currency, if possible, put up. Right now, it doesn't seem like that, but that's what it is. So within the chaos of tax time, with how our financial system is going, with how we see the

cost of food rising, it doesn't mean we have to be chaotic in our choices. Doesn't mean we have to be chaotic in what we do. This is your calm. If this doesn't bring you calm, then you need to reevaluate how you're looking at things or how you can make things work for you and your family. Think about what it is you and your family enjoy eating. Think about what it is you and your family enjoy doing. Think about what it is you and your family enjoy doing. You can go out and have fun with your family without breaking the bank. Go to a park. Go for a hike. Take your kids on a nature trail. Teach them the flora and fauna of your region. You know, get your children invested. Pull them away from the TV and these hundreds of dollars gaming systems. Sorry, folks.

I mean, I get it. There is nothing wrong with being able to let your children play every so often. But limit that. Because what are we doing for them? Interact. Engage. Get them active in their own life. Teach your kids financial skills now. Teach them early because unfortunately we are seeing in today's time, and I think this is

really what triggered it, is seeing people my age and even, well, way younger being frivolous. And I get it. They're young, but these kids wouldn't know how to write a check to save their soul let alone how to manage their own money because digital currency is king to them it is a card it is not real it is not viable they don't hold the cash in their hand they don't understand at the same gravity that we do. And see, now you want to be quiet. It's when I'm talking, he wants to talk. So I know I'm going on a rant. I just, I just feel like with everything, come on folks, tax time, take, take a look at this.

time, take, take a look at this. I mean, map out how you can save, make a, you know what? I have a challenge for you, for my listeners. I don't know how many are active or alive at the moment. At the moment, oh, I see Migre. Hey, Migre. Love seeing you. I would love for each of you to sit down and just a challenge. And I know some of you probably already do this and some of you don't. Write out your cost, right? Cost of living.

Terrifying. I hate doing it. But when you're doing that, look at that, okay? Then look at what you set aside for your groceries. I want you to make a week's worth of groceries. Not a week's worth of groceries, a week's worth of meals. I want you to write out those meals. Now, mind you, some of these meals can be leftovers. Well, what about the folks who don't eat leftovers? Fine, make smaller portions. But account for that, okay?

And then look at a month and write your grocery list shaped on that. I promise you, you are going to see a huge cost difference if you plan out for the month than if you plan out for the week. Now, I'm not knocking on anyone. If that's what you can afford, that is fantastic because you've got to start somewhere, but it beats the people I know who buy day to day. Day to day. me great how about yourself is there anything that you find at tax time or this time of the year that you know people could could stretch out no way whether it be financially whether it be economically i'm i'm curious of what you think. Yeah. But I would love to see it. I would love to see what people's insight is on that. Because for me, I have just found being able to go out once a month versus multiple times is the best way.

I don't care to deal with the crowds. Hence, um, Walmart, I think here opens up at 6 30 AM. I think Kroger's opens at seven and then Piggly Wiggly. I forgot what time I've actually just decided to change my shopping schedule so I can get in as early as possible, which does make it a little harder because if you are doing my tip of buying your meat from the meat counter, they typically don't open till eight or nine, depending on where you go to. So I usually save my meat cost for last, or I'll do a separate trip and do my meat shopping first so I can get the best thing for my butt. Because I usually try to have a little more flexibility as far as meat and a little more flexibility

and cost for meat than I do for everything else. All right, folks, I am dying of thirst. I'm going to go to a quick little bumper so I can gulp a bunch of water without it being in your ear. Give me a moment and I will be right back. You're listening to PBN. Your path back to stability. okay so migra did have a great comment in here. He says, The hardest part is coming off the holidays into tax season. So, we're coming off the overreaction to spending of the holidays. You are a bullseye on that. If you didn't think the holidays weren't overly spent as it is,

let's go into a hyperdrive of excess that follows into the tax season. Businesses love that. Folks, come on. When is the best time to buy things? It's after the season, right? So they try to egg you on by saying you've got the best deals with March Madness or whatever they call it. And it's, it's ridiculous. So in our household, we didn't do Christmas. We went and saw his family. We sent my older three gifts, but beyond that, we did not do Christmas. Financially, it just wasn't in the books for us. And we were okay with that because Christmas time, yes i can i make gifts and i did that i did make gifts for two of the women you know our moms but beyond that we weren't really worried about it because we had each other isn't that what the holidays is supposed to be about is closeness and love and one another.

So for us, our gifts, we would rather have handmade versus going out and spinning an arm and a leg on something. Let's see. Right. So as Migre says, we tend to react by getting the best bang for the buck. Buy in bulk and get the best price per pound. Hit the restaurant supply store and get the cheapest chicken, leg quarters, and pork loin. You know what? You are absolutely right. That is what I'm trying to find out here is the best place to be able to buy. And that's the initial bill may be larger, but the price per pound is much less. Absolutely. And I get that because I do the same thing. I'd rather buy all at once, once a month and spend a chunk that when it breaks down,

it actually is great. You'd be surprised that if you plan out a month of meals and you plan out your month of grocery shopping, you will actually have more than a month's worth of food. I know that sounds crazy because when I buy, I attribute to the fact of leftovers and extra because in our house, they can stretch. They can make the difference between one paycheck to another paycheck to getting through the month to the next mill. And that makes a huge difference. So yeah, tax time is for us the time where we sit down and, okay, how much are we going to have to pay in? Are we going to even get anything back? If we do get

anything back, what bill is it going to cover? You know, that for us is how we manage. manage. So it really is coming down to how can you make one of the most stressful times of the year a little less stressful. I don't like tax time. I don't because I usually get penalized hard because I work for another state and live in South Carolina. Yeah. And it is frustrating because the amount of money I end up owing in for the penalties for living in one state and working for another. But unfortunately, it's not feasible to work in that state because of the cost of living. I'm barely making enough money to afford the cost of living in Myrtle Beach, which is absurd because it has skyrocketed. Let's see. Ah, I love what Migre says here is we also have used the scraps from the holidays, turkey carcass in quotes, and older roast freeze dried and fire up the canner

putting up soups. No, absolutely. I'm a hundred percent there with you. A lot of times when I make a meal such as meatloaf, super meatloaf, I got the base of the recipe from my ex-mother-in-law. Amazing cook. Loved her recipe. Did some of my own stuff. I use total in cost, not including the stuff I put into it, just the meat alone, I probably spend about $16 total. I usually buy a lot of meats cheaper. So overall, it's probably cheaper than that. But when I make meatloaf, I make two loaves of meatloaf, two loaves. So we have one for that entire night, you know, and sometimes leftovers, depending on how hungry or less hungry we are. If we put a side with it, if it's just a

meat light, we'll just have the meatloaf. If we want veggies or starches, we'll put that with it. But I will make two loaves when I make meatloaf. I'll let one cool. I will vacuum seal it and freeze it. There's a whole nother meal now because a lot of these meals that you're planning, you know, are going to be more than what your family's going to eat. And sometimes, you know, your family's not going to want to eat it another night or wait two nights and eat it again. And then it's food that's going to waste. There's no point in that. Exactly like me, Gray said, is you can take your leftovers. You can take your scraps. You can take meals that you've made and put them up and put them to good use.

We didn't get to do it. We had talked about it. But we had another family emergency come up. But we were going to take, so I bought a turkey after the holidays for, I got a 20 something dollar bird. I think, oh, it's 50 cents a pound. I got it for $6 and we cooked that up. We ate on it for a few days and then we had decided, you know, there's still meat, there's still stuff left. Why don't we make a broth out of it, break it down into a soup? You know, we were going to take the rest, boil it down, pull the meat off, make it into a chicken

pot pie or a soup base, and then put it up. Unfortunately, we didn't get to only because again, we had some other circumstances that, you know, typically derail everything, but that's okay. So at least now though, we have things set up in our kitchen to where if we do end up doing that again, we can actually implement it immediately versus letting anything go to waste. Because for us, supplement it immediately versus letting anything go to waste. Because for us, that was a bit of a heartbreak that during that time, it ended up going to waste. So that's a big one is when you decide you're going to do something, if it's put up the leftovers, if it is, I'm going to break this down so I can do this.

You do it immediately. And I understand it's, oh, I can't do the whole cooking process right now. No, but go ahead and take the steps to prep it out. So then you make sure you do it within a specific timeline and you get it done. A lot of people are, oh, you know, I'm tired. I don't want to get up. Do it because I promise you that little bit of extra work that you're putting out makes all the change in the world. Oh, shoot, you just made 24 quarts of chicken stock. Oh, and 12 quarts of chili. That's what I'm talking about. So we have to get my pressure canner back out. I do have to drive back up to Jacksonville, North Carolina to my unit and get my cannon jars out because that is something

when I make chili, when I make cabbage soup, I make them in large, large quantities because that is something we can eat on. And for me, I eat soup like it's water. I mean, I can't help it. water. I mean, I can't help it. I will eat not one or two bowls of soup, but more like 12. Yeah. So for me, chili is something we could definitely put up. I know we've made spaghetti in excess and put it up. So, I mean, these are all things you can think about as far as cost. And that's why, you know, with tax season, you don't have to be overdone. I get a lot of people's mindsets also kind of like me, where I said is, you know, Christmas, you were buying for everybody else and, you know, doing this and doing that. Tax time, you want to be able to do for yourself. I'm not saying you can't do for yourself, but plan it out. What, you know know talk to your partner that's the worst thing is having a

partner who goes oh this is our tax this is what I want to do no that's not fair that's not right oh so I do want to check something out real quick because February is also, let me find it. So I'm going to derail for a second while I'm trying to find this, but everybody loves the holidays, right? trying to find this, but everybody loves the holidays, right? Birthdays, Christmases, all of that jazz. Well, if you are anything like me, and I know some of you are, I agree, you may be the same, is when people ask you, what do you want for Christmas? Or what do you want for your birthday? You know what I always say? Gift cards. I kid you not.

I am one of those individuals where gift cards are amazing because it's not currency. I mean, you can ask for currency, but then people think you're being a bit presumptuous. In my household, that's something I ask my mom. What do you want? A gift card, currency, you know, I'll give her a list of preps I like, but a lot of people are very, you know, stand offish with that. So around the holidays, I typically do ask for a gift card, whether it be Amazon, I usually ask for Visa only because then I can spend it where I want. I can use it if I have to

for other, other emergencies, but it's nice to be able to have that without breaking the bank. So I always suggest looking into, you know, if you're going to look into spending money, you know, look into gift cards. I know that sounds odd, but believe it or not, then you're not. The way I always saw it is you can give towards someone without breaking the bank and then worrying that it wasn't what they wanted and then them throwing it away, right? Okay, so I did want to mention February is also a special month because our intrepid commander has a birthday coming up. That's right, folks. Let's see, I'm just going to check something real quick.

Let's see, I'm just going to check something real quick. What are you looking at me? Sorry, old man is just staring all through me. And I think, if I'm right, the intrepid commander's, well, I won't say his age. He's not very old. Let's see. Good morning, garden girl garden girl oh happy birthday see and uh she just said hubby just threw me a surprise party last night and i got so many lowe's gift cards in amazon can't wait

to spin them exactly and for us who are preppers and not excluding you dads, but a lot of us moms understand that. And this is how I was raised. We typically put our wants and needs on the back burner for the rest of our family. We don't, I know I was guilty of this a lot of, I knew my partner or my children really wanted something and we didn't have the cost. And there was something in the cart that I needed or wanted, I'd put it back just so my family could have it. So for me, having a gift card is kind of my way to be able to buy for myself and not feel guilty. I don't have a guilters. What is that word? A spender's guilt. Ah, so glad for you, garden girl. Garden girl, your birthday was just, I'm so sorry. I missed it. Ah, so glad for you, Garden Girl. Garden Girl, your birthday was just... I'm so sorry I missed it.

I'm so... I knew you said you had a birthday. Oh, God. See, I've got a birthday this month, too, and I'm going to be 35. That is right. It was funny to think that we started listening to these podcasts. I started years ago when my son was two. Yeah, he was two. Yeah. And now I have a 14 year old. So that's, that's crazy.

Oh, I'm so happy for you, garden girl. That's wonderful. oh, I'm so happy for you, garden girl. That's wonderful. Let's see. Yes. But, and then now I have a five month old. So see, this is, this is what you got to think about when, when you're doing your taxes, when you're looking at holidays. So you don't have to be excessive, but it's kind of like, like garden girl. She's all excited about her gift cards because guess what? Now she can get what she wants without them. Like she's put out or getting something she didn't want. You are sliding all over the place. You know, to, to be able to do for yourself and not have the guilt to be able to do for yourself and not have the guilt, to be able to do for your family. That is something I saw and maybe for people to consider every now and then when you have a little

bit of currency, put it up. If you know you're going to have someone coming up with a birthday, maybe get a gift card, put it aside and have those to be able to give for gifts. Currency is still good on the card. They don't typically expire. That's why I'm always telling people, you know, Visa cards and other cards usually do really great. My dad is renowned for giving Amazon cards. He'll buy them for me, buy them for the kids, send us the cards, be a happy birthday,

Merry Christmas, or what have you. So it's one of those things where I know every year I'm going to get a gift card $25 to $50, which he doesn't have to do, but I'm very appreciative. Yeah. Yeah. Just like with my mother. I know I can give her a list and then she'll ask, do you want currency or do you want this? I'm appreciative. I don't have to have it. I'm a grown woman who I always tell my family I understand hard times, financial times. So it's not a big deal. I think that's why for me, even though tax time can be stressful, I find it more annoying. Even though tax time can be stressful, I find it more annoying. Yep.

As you hear, he thinks his new skill is when daddy was six. Sorry, I'm being distracted. He now mocks his daddy's cough. And he thought that was funny. And he now says, dada. I have a six-month-. So all right. See, and as a garden girl says, and my mom got me one for the running store. I shopped that. So now I have new running shoes on the way. See exactly because what we typically, as parents, as spouses, you know, we typically put ourselves on the back burner.

I'm right there with you, garden girl. I'm probably needing a good pair of shoes, and yeah, I'm going to look for the best, you know, best thing for my buck, which means we typically kind of put ourselves a little bit to the wayside and it happens. So this is, again, a great way for us to think about each other, to think about ourselves, is do a gift card. If you are bad with currency, then I would suggest if you're trying to save up some money for something you really want, you know, I do what I call kind of like the forget me box is where you put a little cash up and you don't touch it. Forget it's there. Put it in a lock box. Put it in a cigar box. Make sure that's put

up. Every time you get a few bucks, put it in there and it will accumulate. It will add up in the forget me box. You forget it's there, but then when you find it, it's at the right time. And do that every so often. There are ways to financially get ahead without breaking yourself. Plan out your meals. Be conscious of conscient spending of things that aren't necessary. Be aware of things that your family's going to need. There's nothing wrong

with hitting a sell. Don't buy it just because it's on sale, but buy it, you know, if it's on sale and it's something, you know, your family can use or will use or does need, then yes, you know, be, be smart about how you handle things. Look into growing your own food, look into starting a garden. And if you can't start a garden, look at growing a couple pots of plants in your window. You know, our one plant that's been going on for two years now here has been my rosemary. You are scooting off. You know, I use my rosemary when I'm seasoning. I've got Egyptian walking onions that have been doing amazingly thanks to Melinda Lee. She sent me the original ones. I've actually been able to pass that along with the new ones that come off.

I'll clip them. As soon as they start to go to plot towards the soil, I'll cut off the little growth and I'll let those, because I let them dry out, clip them, and then I give them to a friend who is growing hers. So, you know, that's something I can share with someone, something I can pass along that in itself really didn't cost anything but a little time. Your time can be worth so much. your time, it can be worth so much. You know, learn, pick up a new hobby that you can do with your family. Go for walks, you know, take your health into consideration with everything that you do. Look at, you know, there's, you don't have to break the bank to enjoy things, to want to start things.

I crochet. I love to crochet. I spin. I sew. I've loved all of these hobbies or crafts or whatever you want to call them. I've done them since I was a child. And those things have been what have gotten me through tough times. My crocheting has paid for itself. My sewing has helped with being able to pick up odd jobs over the years of doing clothing

alterations and being able to make things for my family. See, these are all things you can take into consideration as you've got talent. You've got skill. Make the time. That's another thing I hear is I don't have the time to do this. You know what? I tell people, give yourself an hour every evening. Just an hour.

Why? I can't come up with 30 minutes then. I know there is a space between when you put the children down and I understand you are exhausted but take an hour for yourself if it's just to 30 minutes to an hour if it's just to sit and read if it is to watch a new tutorial or a YouTube video. If it is to join us here at PBN during the week when we are on air. If it is to crochet or sew or get interactive. Oh, you're wearing it. Then do that.

You know, do that. Be active and take taking time for yourself. And believe it or not, for me, throughout all the years with three children, working a full-time job, having a husband who worked full-time, you know, the demands of being family, I made sure every evening I got one hour to myself. Yes, did that cut into my sleep a little bit? Absolutely. But that one hour made the entire difference of what I was able to get done, what I was able to do for myself, and what I was able to just have a moment to reset. Now, every night it wasn't the same. I didn't relax every night. I did take a night or two where I did have just an even just to

every night. I did take a night or two where I did have just an even just to sit there, but I took that hour, whether it be to clean, to can, to sew, to crochet, something for me, something that I wanted to do that I didn't feel like I could get done during the day. Oh, thank you, garden girl. Yes. Oh, you're wearing, I like how you're wearing that. Okay. That's cool. I didn't even think about putting it on that way. Has it held up to the running? So for you, for those of you who don't know, as I have started, I made a new item that I was crocheting to see how it would hold up because a lot of the people in our group are big into fitness. They run, they jog, they work out. I mean these people are the overachievers. Love y'all. Don't mean that ugly in any way. So I'm gonna add these two in here way so I'm gonna add these two in here and I it's a little like turtleneck with a hood that I'm working on and I sent one out to our girl garden girl to to try because she is very big into

fitness very much out in the weather and running I'm working on what James calls the ninja version that is gonna go out to him here shortly once I get that finished up and his is going to be an all black, I'm sure you will see it as much as you've seen him wear the Ferg, which I have to have to fix. I need to get him a new one. I need to just make him a new one. She says she hasn't ran with it yet, but it's great for walking.

See, and this is what she is kind of my prototype tester for this one. Definitely give me opinions if you are in the group chat. I've got another one just like the one she has made up already. And I'm working on trying to make a smaller size for the littles. But I need to know if there's anything I can improve or change on that. So don't hesitate to tell me. You will not hurt my feelings. I'm all for constructive criticism. But yeah, this goes to show, this is what I do. You know, you don't have to break the bank with what you do i i had this yarn already i'm using

up what i have to be able to make these prototypes to make these testers for people to use up to make items then i will want certain things or decided oh i love it this way then i will start spinning up my wool and making some higher quality and And that's the thing, you know, you're trying to be effective and without breaking the bank. Cause it's, I sure really titled this money, you know, all about the money. And it's, it's just trying to save a buck. It's trying to get by and make ends meet. And that's what we all are doing. All right. So real quick, I am going to play you a commercial. We'll finish up the next few minutes after, and then I'll let you enjoy your weekend. So hold on one moment and I will be right back. On the brink of blackouts again, as power demand reached an all-time record high overnight,

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to enjoy today's show. Be me and family. Your garden is the resistance how sad that how true that actually is i don't know if y'all saw the article where they're saying that home gardeners are making 10 times the carbon carbon fuels or i don't know how they posted it it was ridiculous if, that should be your sign. It is time to garden. It is time to become as self-reliant

and independent as possible. Yep, you heard that. It is time to make sure you do and take care of your family because we all already know, no matter what you do or who you wait on the government is not going to protect us if anything i feel like things are trying to push you to be more reliant upon the government and it has been that way for years oh okay she says i rolled it out to cover the back of my neck to keep warm you know what

garden girl i may have a thought then so we will have to uh to discuss that later i like that though see and this is what i mean is we all are part of this network. We are our own family. Y'all are my family. And this is what this is about, is communication, talking, sharing. MeGray, Garden Girl, MeGray's been there since I started. So that says a lot, you poor fella. But this is what prepping is. We need to make sure during tax time, during not tax time, holidays, what have you, we take the time to slow down, okay? Look into what is vital for your family, for your needs, for what is going to be best for you. I get it.

You know, you hear Christmas is the time of giving. No. Yes, it is. But you don't have to go out and spend thousands of dollars. You don't. I think with how things have been financially, I think I was able to reasonably say I could spend a hundred dollars per child. And my youngest is, you know, was just a few months old, so he didn't actually need a thing. So that wasn't a big deal. So that was fine because, you know, my three older got things. Yes. Did I buy them things that was a little frivolous? Sure. But at least I know that for them, I got them each something they could use. And then something that was cute in my oldest, I gave him some currency because, you know, he's a 14 year old. He's getting at that

age where, okay, you know, he, this kid has learned very early to save money. He's very frugal. So at least then this way I knew he could get exactly what he wanted and I wouldn't have to worry about getting him something that was going to get tossed in a week that, you know, would for whatever reason, wasn't what he wanted. And then he wouldn't tell me until months later. So it's just easier. So keep in mind, folks, you don't have to break yourself in food costs. Well, unfortunately, yeah, you can make it easier. Okay. Yes, it just takes some effort on your end. You do have to plan it out a little bit. You do have to put in an effort, but that is okay. Because guess what?

You need to be active in your own life. You need to be active in your own prepping because no one else is planning for you in mind. I mean, sure, you may have groups, but you're going to have to be able to pull your own weight. You need to be able to think for yourself because until SHTF or whatever you have planned out, you still have to maintain. You still have to thrive.

You still have to go on with the every day-to-day thing. What are you doing? What are you doing? All right, for the group. Let's see. Let's see if I can get a picture of what this child is doing. Okay. So it's just one of those things where, you know, don't let the stress of tax time or everything else that's going on gets you.

Be smart about how you plan. You know, be more proactive. You know, take care of your family. Do what you need to do to make sure your family's ends are met, to make sure that you are planning for your family's needs. I mean, doing something like that can make a difference in the entire world of getting by. a difference in the entire world of getting by. Or if you're the family who's getting money back, buy your groceries, pay your bills,

but also put some aside. You should be putting some aside anyways where you can. We're all guilty of not putting aside like we should. But you know what? You know, try, start. Even if it's just a few small bills anything is better than nothing so for those of you in the chat you do get to see my little monster who has been today my little i dropped it co-host yeah so that being said,

you know, this, this is why I prep. This is one of my four reasons that I prep. And then I want to make sure that no matter what, hell or high water, that I can provide for my family. You know, think about what your goals are. Think about what your goals are. Look at what your motivation is. Take care of your family. Take care of yourself. Yeah, exactly. You hear that? That's what he said.

Make sure you are doing what you need to. I would love to hear back next Saturday. Did you, did you sit down and look at the cost? Did you write out your meals for a month? Did it help? You know, look into that.

I would love to see, you know, where people are with that, what you do on your end. But elsewise, I am going to be coming up on an hour. I am going to end it a little shorter than I normally would. But again, I think I've ranted enough to you. I think I've beat this dead horse long enough that you get it. So PBN, I want you to have an amazing weekend. Go out, enjoy the outdoors, enjoy being with your family, pick up a new hobby, post it. I started the

project room so I could see what we do, so we could share what we do. So if you are canning meat, leftovers from your meal, share that in there. I would love to see what you did with your excess food. I would love to see what craft you're doing. I may even start a room for family projects. Well, no, you can put it in there. Family projects, you know. What did you do with your kids today? Or what are you doing with them next week?

Or, you know, your spouse. What did y'all get up to? Did you doing with them next week? Or, you know, your spouse, what did y'all get up to? Did you start a new raised bed? Did you attempt to plant some seeds and show in the progress? Be interactive here. This is what our group is here for. We can give ideas. We can share. We can feed off each other's energy. And maybe that will be the motivation for somebody else. off each other's energy and maybe that will be the motivation for somebody else. I would love to see your growth in your projects, your prepper projects here in our chat that we've started. If you, for some reason, are not in that chat room, it would not let me add everybody for

whatever reason. I do have to get James to help me. If you are not in that chat room and you want to be in that chat room, shoot me a message via element or however, and I will do what I can to get you in there. And then that way you can share what you're doing. All right, folks, I do appreciate it. I hope you have a great weekend. Take care.

And until next time, I will see you around. Thank you for listening to the Prepper Broadcasting Network, where we promote self-reliance and independence. Tune in tomorrow for another great show and visit us at prepperbroadcasting.com.