THE
RESILIENT HOUSEHOLD
Anonymous
FINANCIAL
Essential
· Keep enough cash on hand for at least one months' worth of family expenses.
· Diversify your bank accounts.
Good Idea
· Convert cash and other financial assets now to:
o Items that you would have to purchase anyway in the next year or two
o Tools, supplies, and other useful things, especially for food production
o Things that can be easily stored and can be traded for necessities (anything from gold and/or silver to liquor or salt)
· Minimize (or better, eliminate) debt, especially debt where being unable to pay would result in forfeiture of an essential asset.
FOOD
Essential
· Maintain a "buffer supply" of food equal to at least three months of your family's consumption. [Be sure to rotate this by using it and replacing it, so it doesn’t go bad.]
Good Idea
· Convert as much of your yard as possible to garden beds for food production. References:
o http://citizengardener.ning.com
o http://www.backyardfoodproduction.com
o http://onemilliongardens.ning.com
· For purchased food, find local sources – organic if possible – and buy as much as you can from them.
WATER
Essential
· Store at least several days’ worth of drinking water.
· Install a high quality water filtration system on your kitchen sink; make sure it can filter biological pathogens.
Good Idea
· Have sufficient rainwater capture capacity to supply your family with drinking water for three weeks – and have the means to treat or filter that water.
· Install additional rainwater capture capacity that can also be available for watering your garden plants during dry weather.
ENERGY
Essential
· Have sufficient battery or generator backup to keep your refrigerator(s) and freezer(s) running for at least a week.
Good Idea
· Reduce your energy requirements!
· Add solar hot water and/or solar Photo-Voltaic.
· Begin learning and using passive solar techniques.
HEALTH
Essential
· Keep a broad range of basic health care and first aid supplies on-hand. References:
o http://www.redcrossstore.org/Shopper/Product.aspx?UniqueItemId=524
· Get in shape!
Good Idea
· Address any lingering or long-ignored health or habit issues.
· If you are on medication but think you could be off medication by modifying your diet and exercise habits, or other natural means, do so. References:
o http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/tc/healthy-eating-overview