Category: Contributed Posts

Take Control of Your Finances When You’re Struggling

A key focus of my blog in Financial Literacy/Money. A significant part of your personal success and quality of life is your personal finances. Taking control of your finances is particularly important when you’re struggling. The following contributed post is entitled, Take Control of Your Finances When You’re Struggling.

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Everyone experiences money troubles of different kinds. Even when you’re financially comfortable, you can have times when you’re trying to work out how to stretch your money further. There are also times when you can feel like you’re really struggling and you don’t know how to get back on track. Your money problems are ruling your life, but you don’t know how to make them go away. You could be in a lot of debt or struggling to pay the bills, and you feel like you have no control. If you want to start getting control of your finances, have a look at these steps.

Make a Plan for Your Debts

Most people have some kind of debt, whether they’re paying off a phone, have a credit card or have a mortgage. Some debt is good debt, but there’s also plenty of bad debt, and it can weigh on you heavily. Making a plan to pay off your debts should be a priority if you’re having financial problems. You might need to look into tax relief options if you’re struggling to pay off a tax bill or consider debt consolidation if you have a number of debts. Look at different strategies for paying off debts too. You might pay off the cheapest or the most expensive first.

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Create a Budget

Everyone who wants to get their money under control needs to start budgeting. When you set a budget to stick to, it helps you to control your spending. The first thing that you need to do is take a look at what you’re currently spending. Work out how much your fixed expenses are, then come up with a reasonable budget for more variable expenses, such as groceries and clothes. Once you have a budget, you can track your spending, and you’ll be more conscious of whether you’re sticking to your budget.

Review Your Spending

After creating a budget, you might be able to start saving some money by lowering both your fixed and variable expenses. For example, review your bills to discover whether you could save any money. Find any subscriptions or services that you no longer need or that are wasting your money. Do you really need cable TV? Do you use that Netflix subscription? Getting rid of unnecessary spending can help you pay off debts faster, save more or have more money to spend on things that you want or need.

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Go Cash Only

If you feel like you need to reconnect with your money, consider using cash only to pay for things. You can set up automatic payments for bills, but when you do things like go grocery shopping, withdraw a set amount of money for the month so that you know exactly how much you have left. Stop using your credit card and even debit card for a while, and slowly start to use them again if you feel comfortable.

You can take back control of your finances. Start taking a close look at any debts, your spending and how you could save money.

Why Better Communication Is Essential After Covid 19

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Current Events. In the aftermath of Covid 19, communication is going to be critical for businesses of all kinds. In addition to the human health crisis it caused it arguable caused business crises as well. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Better Communication Is Essential After Covid 19.

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Because “organizational change” is now in the daily vocabulary of companies and – due to the Covid 19 crisis, it often acts as a synonym for adverse surprises or has an unpleasant effect on employees. The importance of proper communication stands out as the overriding priority because now more than ever, businesses need to ensure, across all industry niches, that they are working as a team to override the issues caused by Covid. It may also be that you need to branch out and look at seeking legal representation to ensure that you are getting back on track.

Photo: Unsplash

Careful analysis and communication

The first principle of a good strategy is to make tough choices for the best use of limited resources and not try to communicate everything to everyone at the same time. A message that is general and not two-way, rarely stimulates the mood for a change in behavior or way of working. The questions that need to be answered is: “who, when, why”. Which means a careful analysis, with whom we want to communicate, at what stage and for what purpose. Of course, each stage of change requires its own specific “audience” and it’s important to know who you’re wanting to target. In the initial stage, the audience is numerically small and exceptionally high.

Internal marketing

It is also recommended to avoid “internal marketing” of change through the Intranet, with posters, slogans and related messages, which may increase the information, but do not convince anyone in favour of any change. Instead focusing on better campaigns and better use of social platforms to spread awareness and implement changes, including new ideas, ways to connect, ways to market research and promote better services.

The wording matters

In large organizations it is not possible for the CEO to be extensively involved in communication which is why the email and phone systems used are vital. It is also important to look at ways to improve your business such as custom wire manufacturers to ensure that your connection is impeccable. Look at what your staff need. Do they need new technology? Do they need to have better schedules and reassess what they need to do in order to achieve new goals following Covid 19. Do they need upgraded systems or better security to protect the business?

A proper process of change gives employees the opportunity to ask questions, to disagree, to provoke opposition, in order to finally assimilate the need for change. In short, make the change part of their business because often it is the employees that can see the workings of the company better and may be about to troubleshoot more effectively. Communication with its advantages to balance and bring the best quality and financial results for the business, reducing costs, saving time and increasing productivity and efficiency. Be sure to set new goals and problems to solve all the current issues before moving forward. Covid 19 may give you the chance to shake up the business and reset it to achieve a healthy and successful future.

3 Benefits of Working and Planning for the Future

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. They say that those who plan have many, many advantages over those who do not. Planning and looking into the future is in fact mentioned in many, many wealth building books. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Benefits of Working and Planning for the Future.

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There are various different ways in which we can all choose to live our lives, across a variety of different dimensions.

One of the key differences in how people can choose to live their lives is that they can either decide to be focused on pursuing pleasure and satisfaction in the immediate to short-term, or they can be focused on working and planning for the future, and aiming for longer term and more enduring prizes.

Of course, as with all things in life, there needs to be a balance. There’s no point in being so future-focussed that you never stop to enjoy the present moment, or to be mindful of the blessings that are right in front of you.

But, here are some of the benefits of working and planning for the future, as a general rule, whether that means investing in universal life insurance, keeping up a regular fitness routine, or working on your own business.

Deferred gratification can lead to greater and more stable long-term happiness and reward

There’s some evidence in the field of psychology that suggests that a focus on short-term gratification primarily involves the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with craving.

As a general principle, it’s impossible to “satisfy” the dopamine mechanism, but only to continue chasing after the next “hit.” Doubtless, this is why dopamine is highly implicated in the addiction cycle.

Deferred gratification, however, typically involves working on making progress towards desired and longer-term outcomes that are more carefully thought out, and that engage systems of the brain associated with the drive for happiness and fulfilment, rather than the satisfaction of craving. Such as, perhaps, the neurotransmitter serotonin.

The future is uncertain, by planning for it, you can potentially counteract some of its troubles

The future is always uncertain, and there are unfortunately bound to be struggles, troubles, and unpleasant events that we all have to confront down the line.

Working and planning for the future, however, can go a long way towards helping you to potentially counteract some of these troubles – and to at least reduce the sting a bit, if not to vanquish the potential trouble outright.

Being mindful of proper nutrition, exercise, and regular health checkups, for example, might save you from having to battle a tragic health condition later in life.

Efficacy is almost always built incrementally – but by keeping your eye on the prize, you can stay consistent in your daily habits and systems

With few exceptions, efficacy – skill, effectiveness, and insight – is always built up incrementally, rather than as a result of one-off, short-term actions.

Whether you want to become the best you can at some sport, or as a professional blogger, writer, entrepreneur, or anything else, keeping your eye on the future prize can help you to remain consistent in your daily habits and systems, so that you can keep putting in the steady and regular work that gets you to where you want to be.

If, on the other hand, you keep a much more short-term focus, those more ambitious goals and skills are likely to remain out of reach.

Six Ways To Deal With Muscle Soreness

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. If you’re very active in terms of exercise and in some instances competition, you will likely deal with some form of muscle soreness. It’s critical to understand how to manage this soreness so that it doesn’t impact your quality of life, and so that you can continue doing the activities you enjoy. The following contributed post is entitled, Six Ways To Deal With Muscle Soreness.

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Have you ever done an amazing workout and then really regretted it the next day because of DOMS? You’re not alone. DOMS – or delayed onset muscle soreness – is one of the most difficult things to deal with when you are exercising regularly. It can feel awful to put all your effort into exercise only to be in too much agony to even walk the next day. Muscle soreness is the difficult part of exercise, but if you know how to combat it, you can manage your regular day to day activities even after a heavy workout.

You need to remember to warm up and cool down with every workout, but more than that, you should check out these six ways to deal with muscle soreness after working out.

Image Source: Pexels

Invest In a Foam Roller
You can find these anywhere at a low cost, but foam rollers could be the help you need when you’re in pain after a workout. Foam rolling is a good way to recover when you’re in pain after a workout, and it works by compressing and rolling the muscle tissue to move the fluid and help you to heal. Yep, it’s going to hurt, but go slowly and focus on the tight areas of the body.

Go For A Massage
Whether you ask your partner to use a Sports Massage CBD Oil on the achy areas of your body, or you book in a proper sports massage, you can do so well with getting rid of muscle soreness this way. Massage manipulates the muscles and helps you to feel relaxed afterwards, too.

Eat Well
Your muscles tear during a workout, and they require the right nutrients to recover properly. You need to remember that your muscles have to recover, and you can do that when you eat well. Bananas and other proteins and slow-release carbohydrates can be excellent pst-workout choices. You can go for protein shakes, too, if you want something quick and easy.

Embrace Epsom Salts
Epsom salts come with magnesium, which will be absorbed through the skin and reduce the muscle soreness you’re feeling. Everyone loves a hot bath after a workout, and when you add salts, you’ll feel much better.

Get Some Sleep
Sleep is healing, and it’s the most overlooked aspect of healing when you are dealing with muscle soreness. You need to try and have at least 8 hours of sleep a night if you want your muscles to recover properly after a workout.

Hair Of the Dog
We’re not suggesting a drink, but we’re suggesting a workout to recover. Yoga and Pilates offer you the chance to recover your muscles after a heavy workout. If you do it right, you can stretch the muscles and keep them warm. You want to go slowly and not rush too much – this has to be carefully done so you don’t do more damage.

These six tips will help you to get your recovery going properly after you workout – why not try them today?

4 Things You Need to Know Before Starting a Cannibus Business

Two of focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Today the Cannibus business is very lucrative for those who know how to successfully work in it. It’s not all fun and games though and there are some key aspects to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Things You Need to Know Before Starting a Cannibus Business.

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The cannabis industry has seen continual growth over the last several years, especially as it continues to become legal in more states. It’s becoming so popular that about 14% of Americans now use CBD products on a regular basis.

So, it’s no surprise that people who are passionate about the benefits of cannabis are considering starting their own businesses. It’s important to keep in mind that because of the long history of cannabis, there are still some stereotypes and specific schools of thought on it. Needless to say, for the time being, it is still a niche business, which needs to be taken into account as you get started.

But, if you’re willing to educate yourself and know what to expect before you get started, you can absolutely start your own successful cannabis business from the ground up.

Let’s take a look at a few things you should know before you decide to jump in headfirst.

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1. Understand the Rules and Regulations

Cannabis still isn’t legal in every state. In the states where it is legal, there are typically a lot of rules, regulations, and strict guidelines to follow.

The last thing you want is to get started only to get shut down right away because you’re not compliant with one of those rules.

It’s important to educate yourself on every aspect of the law as it pertains to your business. You may even benefit from hiring a receivables management crew that specializes in the cannabis industry, so you can put your focus elsewhere.

2. Choose Your Niche

Saying you want to start a cannabis company simply isn’t enough. You actually should think about making your niche even smaller in order to be more successful. Think about what you’re most passionate about within the industry and where you think you would sell.

You can either choose to be a grower/cultivator or sell retail products. You can even create your own variety of cannabis-infused products and get into the manufacturing side of things. Once you have a better idea of how you want your business to run, you can start to work faster toward getting it off the ground.

3. The Right Name Will Go a Long Way

Because the cannabis industry continues to grow in popularity and more businesses continue to pop up, it’s important to stand out. That starts with the name you choose for your business. While it can be tempting to turn it into something humorous or even “edgy,” think about who you will be marketing to, in the long run.

Your goal should be not only to draw in customers who are already interested in cannabis. Instead, it should be to make everyone realize that cannabis isn’t a “dangerous” or bad thing, and it can actually help with a variety of different ailments.

So, choose a name that reflects who you are and what you want your business to represent. Make sure it’s memorable without being crass, and make sure it describes what you have to offer so no one gets confused.

4. Be Careful With Marketing

Again, because of the laws and regulations in place, marketing can sometimes be an issue for cannabis business owners. One of the easiest and safest ways to market your business is through social media.

Simply creating accounts on various platforms and staying active on each one is a good place to start. You can also purchase sponsored posts or advertisements. That allows you to target specific age groups, locations, etc., so you can focus on bringing in the right audience to help your business grow.

As you do start to become more popular, social media marketing will start to do even more work for you. Once people know who you are and the quality of your business, they will leave reviews, recommend your place to friends online, and be more willing to interact with you on social media. Marketing experts know that word-of-mouth advertising simply can’t be beaten, and that includes online. So, even if you don’t know much about social media, don’t be afraid to get your feet wet, or hire someone who has experience working on those platforms.

Is a Cannabis Business Right for You?

Though the industry is rising in popularity right now, that shouldn’t be the only reason you consider starting a cannabis business. It should be something you’re genuinely interested in or passionate about. That will give you the drive to make sure everything is legal and compliant, and it will motivate you to market your business well.

If you do have an interest in the cannabis industry, keep these tips in mind as you consider starting your own business, and you’ll have a better chance of reaching success in your community quickly.

The Top 5 Pros and Cons of Watching Sporting Events Live

Two of the focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Current Events. Because Covid-19 it’s it’s not possible to watch sports live right now. At some point though, we will get back to a point where we can flock to arenas and venues to see our favorite athletes and teams compete. Which is better? Watching sports live or on TV? The following contributed post is entitled, The Top 5 Pros and Cons of Watching Sporting Events Live.

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Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels

Because of Covid-19, the thought of watching a sporting event live might feel like a lifetime away. But it will return in the near future, when it’s safe to do so. And because of this, there’s no reason why you can’t get excited ahead of time for whatever event you’re planning on attending.

So many people love to attend sporting events, whether it be an NBA game, a tennis match or the MLB. Which is why it’s no surprise that the global sports market is sitting at over $400 billion. So what are some of the pros and cons of watching these sporting events live?

The pros…

There are so many plus points of watching a sports event live. Enjoyable no matter what your age, it’s an experience that you’ll remember forever.
Immersed into the atmosphere

When you attend a sporting event live, you’ll be quickly immersed into the atmosphere around you. From the moment you walk through those stadium doors, you’ll be met with a crowd of loyal sports fans, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn and the excitement of seeing your favorite players live.

When you walk into the court itself and find your way to your seats, the energy of the crowd will start to rub off on you, getting you excited for what’s to come. Unlike watching it through live streaming on the TV, you’ll be in the heart of the action instantly.
Part of the game

Following on from the above, instead of being a spectator through a screen, you’ll be part of the game seeing it unfold as you take in the sights and sounds. Whether it’s a college game or a national event, it’s the ultimate experience for any sports fan – and one that you’ll want to experience again and again.

Seeing your favorite players in real life

Seeing your favorite players in real life is incomparable. Only a few feet (or a few hundred feet depending on where you’re sitting) in front of you, you can admire their physicality and sporting skills in person rather than through a screen.

The cons…

There are, however, certain cons that come with watching sports events live. And while these aren’t terrible for everyone, they are important to consider before you look for tickets to the next planned event in the calendar.

The cost

It’s not cheap to go and see sporting events live – especially if they are a big match that’s notoriously popular. Therefore, it simply might not be feasible for everyone. On top of the cost of the match/event itself, you’ll also have to factor in the cost of food and refreshments and whether you will wager on it.

For the latter, even though it can be a quick way of earning money online and there are many sites to choose from (see the best NFL betting sites here), you could end up losing a significant amount of money.

The seats

Not only does the cost of the tickets affect where you can sit in the stadium, but the popularity of the event itself. If you attend a game and find out that you’re sitting right at the back of the stadium, you might not have the same experience that you would have closer to the players. Not only will you have a struggle seeing each detail, but the atmosphere might not be as electrifying.

Final Thoughts

Those are just some of the pros and cons associated with watching sporting events live. At the end of the day, it’s up to you whether you opt to see it in person or in the comfort of your home/a local bar. But no matter how you watch the event, it’s bound to be an incredible experience.

Can Small Businesses Work Internationally

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Many people want to establish small businesses domestically, but what about internationally? In some instances this can work but there are some considerations. The following contributed post is entitled, Can Small Businesses Work Internationally.

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Expanding and growing your business is always an important part of its lifecycle. The larger you can make your venture, the more money you will be able to make, and this is an aim that most companies share. Of course, though, many businesses find themselves struggling when they restrict themselves to a single country. Working internationally can solve this issue, though there will always be some challenges that come with this approach. To help you out, this post will be exploring some of these issues, giving you the chance to overcome them before you even start.

The Law

The law can be a tricky customer for small businesses, and working in another country will only make this harder. Not only do you have to follow the rules in your own country, but you will also have to follow any rules that come from the places you’re selling to. This can create problems if these laws contradict one another. Getting the help of a lawyer that understands international law will be a good way to approach this.

The Language

Next up, it’s time to think about the languages spoken in the countries you work in. You can’t expect your customers to deal with communication barriers like this, and you need to find ways to be able to talk to them. A bilingual answering service can often be the best tool to use when you’re trying to solve problems like this, and you can find other services out there that will make it easy to handle affordable translations. This can cost a small fortune if you hire someone for the job.

The Culture

The culture of a country can make a big difference in the way that you market your products. This can be seen when you compare adverts in countries like China to those found in the USA, with elements of each culture shining through in their marketing efforts. This shouldn’t be too hard to nail down, but you may need to start posting to more social media accounts, ensuring that you can reach out to all of the places you’re trying to sell to.

The Competition

Finally, as the last area to consider, it’s time to think about competition. You will always have to compete to sell your services, though this can be much harder when you’re having to deal with local companies in different countries. Hiring a dedicated marketing company can help with this, taking the pressure off of your shoulders while ensuring that all of the work that is done will have a positive impact on your company.

Selling products in different countries will always be a challenge. No matter how hard you work, you will always come across issues that make the whole thing harder, and you need to be prepared to take them on before you get started. This will be a trial, but the results could be well worth it for your business.

The Best Advice To Keep Your Vintage Car In Tip-Top Shop

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Many would argue that a car is a liability and not an asset. A vintage car though if maintained could be a valuable item for resale at some point if you maintain it properly. The following contributed post is entitled, The Best Advice To Keep Your Vintage Car In Tip-Top Shop.

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While some people prefer a brand new set of wheels every couple of years, others have a different attitude – why fix something when it’s not broken? You may feel nostalgic about a certain car, and want to keep it going as long as possible. Or perhaps you prefer the look of older cars. Maybe you’ve got a classic car or antique beauty you still want to take for a spin! Older cars can be great assets if they are well kept. Taking care of your vintage car means much more than simply keeping it looking aesthetically pleasing and today, we’re going to give you the best advice on how to keep your vintage car in tip-top shape!

Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels CC0 License

Regular servicing

All cars need servicing at least once a year, but with your vintage car you’ll have to do this much more often. Many of the internal mechanisms on your car will be very old – perhaps even older than you – and will need regular check ups to ensure it continues running for as long as possible. Speak to your mechanic about the possibility of using arc spray to aid the prevention of wear and tear, and generally to help keep your car together for longer.

Lots of waxing and buffing

The paintwork on your vintage car is going to be more susceptible to damage, so you’ll need to take extra care of the paintwork. Waxing and buffing the paintwork on your car will help protect it from general damage when driving it around.

Use your car!

One mistake that many vintage car owners make, is leaving it in their garage or on their driveways for too long. They then struggle when trying to take it out for a spin. Taking your car out for regular drives will help keep all of the components working to the best of their ability.

Source car parts wisely

Vintage cars are going to be harder to source parts for, especially if the manufacturer doesn’t make parts anymore or worse, isn’t in business. Shop around for car parts to find the best quality parts for your car. Many vintage car owners have purchased parts for their car that actually depletes the value in the long run! Speak to a professional before buying parts to avoid this happening to you.

Tuck it in at night

If you don’t have a garage at home, it’s advisable to tuck your car in under a protective cover to help prevent weather damage ruining the paintwork. You can find car covers easily online and fairly priced too.

Keep an emergency fund for repairs

Finally, you should consider keeping an emergency fund for repairs on your vintage car. As mentioned earlier, it’s harder to source parts which could mean repairs will be much more expensive. Your mechanic may need to charge more than a ‘modern’ car for repairs and part sourcing too, so it’s always useful to have some spare money to ensure your car is back on the road in no time!

The Raw Truth: Making Big Bucks From Startups Takes Time

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Whether you’re the business owner or the investor, a lot of money can be made from start companies also known as “startups”. The truth however is that these ventures in all likelihood won’t started generating significant cashflow early on. The following contributed post is entitled, The Raw Truth: Making Big Bucks From Startups Takes Time.

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A few companies start generating profit immediately. But almost always, the most financially rewarding enterprises make practically nothing for the first five years of operation. There’s a long ramp between setting up the firm and actually getting a return for all that hard work.

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Take Square, for instance, a company heavily involved in payment systems. The firm, operated by Jack Dorsey of Twitter fame, was lambasted by investors in 2013 for failing to make any money. That year it lost nearly $100 million after taxes and depreciation, and many thought it would fail. Furthermore, the company had already been operational for four years, meaning that such losses were even more difficult to bear. Investors wanted to see a return, but they weren’t getting it.

Just a couple of years later, though, all the doom and gloom disappeared. The company turned things around. And now, it is part of practically every investor’s stock portfolio. You can’t afford to leave it out.

What happened? Essentially, Square spent the first five years of its existence looking for long-term profit opportunities. It didn’t try to satisfy investors by the quarter. Instead, it made decisions that were costly but would set it up for market dominance in the future. These bold decisions then attracted more investors who kept the enterprise afloat until it started making money.

It’s not the only example, either.

Amazon

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994. The company increased its sales to around $150 million by 1997 and over a billion in 1999. Unfortunately, it wasn’t making any money over this period. In 2000, the company borrowed billions from investors but had less than $350 million in cash on hand at one point.

It took the firm until 2003 to turn a profit, but it was a weak result. Many people believed that Amazon would never make any serious money.

Bezos, however, had a plan. He decided to invest all additional revenue into the firm to develop its technologies and systems. Eventually, it became the market leader, able to do things other eCommerce brands couldn’t. Ultimately, it came to dominate the market, even managing to beat out rivals like eBay.

Tesla Motors

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Something similar is happening with Tesla motors. The company began in 2003 and yet it didn’t manage to turn its first profit until 2013. After that, it continued to make losses, only making serious money towards the tail end of 2019. That’s a long time to wait!

According to fintech industry experts, something similar is happening in their sector. The InsurTech Accelerator, for instance, provides security for firms with a long ramp. The hope is that the sector will see success stories similar to those of Amazon and Tesla.

Making big bucks, therefore, takes a long time. When you reinvest profits in a firm, you’re essentially compounding your advantage (as you might with a stock portfolio). The longer you leave it to take money out of the company, the more it’ll eventually make (so long as you make smart business decisions).

Are You Prepared for When All Hell Breaks Loose?

A key focus of my blog is Current Events. We are living in unprecedented times with unprecedented challenges. If you haven’t thought about what you would do should things break down into a larger crisis, now is the time. The following contributed post is entitled, Are You Prepared for When All Hell Breaks Loose?

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The world is in a state of unrest and most of us don’t even realize. Media companies can no longer be trusted, countries are fighting invisible wars and riots are breaking out in many different parts of the world. In America alone, protests and riots are gripping the country and causing a divide between two distinct political stances. Shootings and crime rates have risen drastically, and we also have to deal with a deadly virus that claims the lives of thousands every day.

But how prepared are you for when all hell breaks loose? Are you prepared to defend yourself when there’s civil unrest? Do you have enough supplies to weather the storm?

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There are only two options when unrest happens

You either run or you bunker down–there are no other options.

If there’s civil unrest and you’re prepared to defend you and your family, bunkering in place can be one of the safer options assuming you have enough supplies for at least a week. For some, this can include keeping clean water and food supplies in the basement. For others, this could mean a personal shelter for their family.

The other option is to grab your most important belongings and go. This is known as a bug out bag, go bag or emergency survival kit. It usually contains essentials such as clean water, hygiene items, spare clothing, vital documents and self-defense items. The idea is that you simply grab the bag when there’s trouble and you leave immediately. You can think about your destination later.

Regardless of what you pick, it’s important to have a way to communicate with your friends and family members to stay in touch and potentially assist them should they need help.

Be prepared to defend yourself

Depending on the situation, you may be required to eventually defend yourself. Nobody wants to fight with another human being if it can be avoided, but riots are unpredictable and you may need to defend your business or property at some point. This is where tactical training can come in handy. Self-defense lessons may also give you peace of mind and, in some cases, you may want to consider owning a weapon or firearm depending on your stance on violence. Again, nobody wants to fight if it can be avoided, but having something for self-defence can offer you safety and comfort.

If you find yourself having to defend your business, then it might be worth having a plan to board up your windows and take important possessions before things get dangerous. For instance, having a safe with important belongings and business-related documents could be the difference between saving and losing your business.

When things get bad, there’s nobody you can rely on but yourself. We’ve even seen some instances where police are too demotivated or physically unable to help with crime. It’s a nightmare scenario that could lead to the total collapse of society, but it’s a very real possibility that we all need to be ready for.