Hello from S Yorkshire

[Morrigan]

Hi everyone, I've been lurking about the last month or so, reading the forums and becoming totally overawed by the dedication so many of you have in preparing for the worst. I feel quite inadequate in my own preparations so figured that if I came direct to the experts hopefully I could get the advice I need.

Soooo, the bad news first I guess lol I'm a 52 yr old female, reasonably fit but never going to win a 100m unless it was against the local geriatric ward and someone had let the tyres down on their wheelchairs. I don't have any skills other than those of a homemaker as my working life has been spent in retail and care work at managerial level and somehow I think knowing about stock control, staff rotas and wage queries are not going to be much use for a survival situation :0(
I don't drive and live in a heavily populated village.

On the positive side I have no dependents as my daughter is grown and self sufficient and shares my desire to prep. I have already accumulated over the last year enough food to feed us both for 6 months as well as building up a store of essentials listed in the survival guide (batteries, matches, first aid, waterproofs, torches etc.,) I am doing self defence classes(as is my daughter) and am proficient in growing my own veg.

My dillemma is this, should I sell my house and release the equity (around 50k) or stay put? If I did sell I could rent as I earn a reasonable wage but if so, what should I do with the money? I can't leave the area as I work nearby but despite it being a fair chunk of money it isn't enough to set me up somewhere else to be self sufficient. I would appreciate any advice,even if its only just to dig a big hole to bury my head in when the time comes lol. Thankyou

[daylen]

Hey Morrigan, welcome to the forum. I'm based in South Yorkshire too (Sheffield).

I think only the foolish feel secure in their preps so you're not alone in feeling under prepared I'm sure. Also, I can't see any 'bad news' in your post!

To try and answer your question I think it depends what you're prepping for. If its total societal breakdown then a place in the country with land is a high priority. If its just things being much as thy are now but going downhill (rising prices, reduced income etc) then making sure you're financially secure and as self sufficient as possible within your current environment is key.

[VSAINT]

Hi , i also am new and this is my first reply .I have been following the Americans and how they make easy money recently .One of ther pet get rich quick schemes is to buy copper pennys in bulk , A box of pennys costs around $26 and can be weighed in for scrap for around $50 ?Also Silver prices are rising but some are warning that it will drop off quite soon .Land has always been seen as a good investment but the current almost trebeling of prices makes it a long term investment , Even the cheap woodlands are being bought at treble or more the price of 2 years ago .This is due to the investors looking at the long term rise in the wood prices and have artificialy ballooned the price .Personaly i would stay put as without transport an envisaged remote location in the country could become a prison for you .I would use the money if it was mearly an equity release to improve the property , Solar panels and good quality inverter to cut down on energy expenditure in the long term and for power in the event of a shortage / shut down .If your not located below sea level then a subteranian safe room / bunker ( i dont agree in them personaly but some find them reasuring ) would not only add value to the property but be of use in an emergency ( Not counting sea level rise ) .An uncle of mine has electric shutters fitted to the down stairs windows and doors of his house .Again saving him money in the long term in insurance premium reductions .Your main problem seems to be your lack of transportation , by investing £1000 in driving lessons should have you mobile , then a second hand 4x4 ( Landrover freelander deisel at around an R to W reg can be picked up for around £1200 to £2400 ) and a cheap trailer tent or caravan would not only provide cheap holidays but aclimatise you to living out doors , And of most importance - Give you an instant home with access to any where you need to goto in an emergency .Though for any situation , an old petrol engined series 3 landrover wouldnt be effected by an electro magnetic pulse from a nuclear weapon or solar flare , would be elegible for classic car insurance , and could be converted to run on wood gas or methane easily in a fuel shortage .And if you have gas central heating , i would invest in a wood burning stove with back boiler , Then your not at the mercy of price hikes and shrtages .
I personaly have 4 differnt locations to use in an emergency plus staying put .But we have a good trailer tent and 2.0L turbo diesel that will give over 50mpg ( 600miles + range on a full tank ).And i wouldnt dream of moving just because of a just in case scenario being played out .But as i say , we can leave within an hour iff we had to .
The problems faced are so complex that a single location just isnt a possibility .
In reality a £5000 loan would be more use to you .Getting mobile is a priority .

[tigs]

hi Morrigan another south Yorkshire tyke welcome to the forum sounds like you have made a great start in your preps , as for selling well the markets not that great at the moment no guarantee it will sell let alone for the price you want ! i would stay put for now and bug in

[gromit]

hi morrigan welcome to the world of prepping im from sheffield (north) so not far away. Ive been prepping far some years now back in the days when we were called `twelveist" as well as many other things The good thing about prepping is that what ever you are preppig for it will cover most events i believe it will be a total financal crash so thats what ive planned for.As for selling your house rents will only increase and your money will only decrease in value the more the goverment print. At a recent meeting the guest speaker made the comment when the crash comes `them with nothing have nothing to lose them with alot have everything to lose'

[gary5wift]

Hi Morrigan - Welcome - I'm from South Yorkshire also - between Sheffield, Rotherham and Worsop.

It sounds as if you've made a good start. Don't under estimate your own skills, in your jobs and home life you are bound to have picked up many useful organisational skills - e.g. Stock Rotation - very valuable to know

Cheers
Gary

[Morrigan]

Thanks so much for the welcome and the advice, to know i'm heading in the right direction is encouraging, my daughter is calling round this evening and I will show her your suggestions and hopefully we can agree on which course to take. I found myself at a standstill and dithering over what to do about the house and at least if we can make a decision one way or another I can start focusing again. Thanks again :0)

[Moony]

A quick note on the Land Rover + trailer tent/ caravan option - licences are changing in jan 2013 (for new drivers) and you might find you need to pass additional tests to be entitled to tow depending on the overall weight of the vehicle. As Land Rovers tend to start out quite heavy you are likely to be in this category. Been looking at this myself and it just all goes to increase cost / complexity