With all the books that help you prepare, few do it in such a way as to be mindful of budgetary needs, DIY mentalities and an encouraging word that you can do this no matter what position you are in life.
The Penny-Pinching Prepper: Save More, Spend Less and Get Prepared for Any Disaster by Bernie Carr is that kind of book. Full of practical, useful advice to get you started becoming more prepared, no matter what your budget, The Penny-Pinching Prepper also surprises you with loads of DIY formulas, recipes and tutorials on creating a more PREPared life.
The great thing about Bernie’s approach is that it’s more than just buying water and food and some flashlights, but about looking at ALL aspects of your life not only to save money, but to make sure that you’re preparing in every single area, financial, safety, food and more! If you’re on a strict budget and living week to week, investing in a lot of expensive PREParedness equipment is daunting – leaving one to give up on the premise before you ever start. And what better way to save money trying to live a PREParedness lifestyle than making things yourself!
Here is one of my favorite DIY tips from The Penny-Pinching Prepper – a homemade slow-cooker.
EASY FIRELESS COOKER
You’ll need:
- old ice chest (must be large enough to hold your cooking pot)
- 2 to 3 old, crib-sized comforters or old comforters cut to 41 x 48 inches, edges stitched
- foam pillows
Directions:
- Line the bottom of the ice chest with the comforters and make room for your pot in the middle of the ice chest.
- Mix your favorite soup ingredients in the pot and bring it to a full boil. Any dishes that involve boiling or steaming, such as soups or stews, would work well.
- Place the pot in the middle of the ice chest. Line the sides and the top with additional comforters. If using foam pillows, fit the pillows around the pot snugly. Make sure the entire pot is well covered. Cover the top of the pot as well, leaving space to close the ice chest.
- Leave it alone for 4 to 8 hours, depending on the ingredients you are using. Use oven mitts to lift out the pot as it will still be hot.
Doesn’t that seem practical and easy to accomplish? You’ve probably got all of that in your home already!!
The book is full of money saving ideas, easy to DIY projects and encouragement that this is something you can accomplish, no matter what! It’s a great book to add to your PREParedness library, too!
FYI: You may know Bernie better as The Apartment Prepper, focusing on family PREParedness in an apartment setting. She’s also the author of The Prepper’s Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster and Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure: A Prepper’s Book for Kids (which I loved and my son reviewed here).
Becky is a wildlife enthusiast and pet and livestock care expert with a diploma in canine nutrition. With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Becky lends her expertise to Simple Family Preparedness through insightful info about pets, livestock, bee keeping, and the practicalities of homesteading.