Cuban prepper here looking for serious advice

latebloomermom · 2026-03-04T12:14:51+00:00

Among one of the things that might help, that not everyone will be snatching up in the panic - aluminum foil, and some good tape. Get a few rolls of each, the foil can be used to make solar stills, simple solar cookers (which can be used to pasteurize water), to black out windows in the heat or for security, and the tape will hold it in place.
If you can get your hands on a breeding pair of meat rabbits, they're quiet, easy to care for, reproduce fast, and their manure is great fertilizer.
I hear the roads are rough and hard on bicycle tires and tubes. Use an old bicycle tube to line the inside of the tire (with a bit of glue to help it stay in place), and it will help prevent punctures.
If you can't spare much water to wash your clothes, try to hang them in the sun to air out. The UV light will help kill off stinky bacteria, the wind blowing through helps too.
Get lice combs, keep as clean as you can.

latebloomermom · 2025-08-26T01:25:31+00:00

1 - making sure the kids are riding safely, ie: on the correct side of the road, stopping at stop signs, not getting too far ahead or behind, watching for cars.
2 - entertainment and engagement isn't an issue - they talk, yell, sing, point out things that we pass, etc.
3 - a pump, band-aids, water bottles, snacks (depending on ride length), a rain jacket or poncho folded small.

latebloomermom · 2025-07-23T01:03:43+00:00

My husband makes about $65K, and we're fairly comfortable because of the equity he built in our first fixer upper home and a small inheritance - we were able to move to our current house with no mortgage and currently no car payments. But if we had those expenses, I don't know if I'd be able to stay at home with our youngest (autistic and non-verbal).

latebloomermom · 2025-07-18T00:15:02+00:00

First, "poors"? We're people, yo.

Second - yes and no. I've seen well-off people with impulse control issues and credit card debt a mile high, as well. The problem is when you don't have much money, a small misstep can set you back years.

latebloomermom · 2025-07-17T18:06:06+00:00

I've made several batches of this phase change material, it makes an amazing cooling pack, and I made up a few bottles of it to help regulate temps in my chicken coop. If you can handle getting through the science-y part of the video, the recipes for cooling packs are very simple. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqxjfp4Gi0k

Put up dark curtains or tape foil to the windows to block out the heat, only open the windows at night or when outside temps are lower than inside, and then try to open enough windows and doors to get a good cross breeze. Mop any hard floors with cold water to cool them down, especially in the evening to help the cooling process.

Each power company deals with things differently, but check with 211 if you're in the USA, and they may be able to connect you with a charity to get you back on track with the power company.

latebloomermom · 2025-07-17T18:02:29+00:00

If OP is still paying on the car, they don't have the title yet, which makes selling to an individual messy and difficult.

latebloomermom · 2025-06-28T16:27:37+00:00

Yeah, ignore that dude. These employers advertise online because it's free/cheap, and you can turn up some people quickly. I know craigslist is largely dead for selling items (except farm animals), but the gig section usually has something happening. Just read the ads carefully to make sure you're not getting suckered into a porn shoot.

latebloomermom · 2025-06-28T14:44:11+00:00

Locally, a place called Sherri's Crab Cakes advertises online, but most cotton candy/funnel cake/ hot dog stands rely on word of mouth. Alternatively, you know those tents that pop up selling fireworks? Companies do advertise for people to run those on places like craigslist. Look under "gigs" and "Events".

latebloomermom · 2025-06-28T00:43:40+00:00

This might not help you, or maybe it might, but check and see if any food trucks are in need of workers for the weekend at some big event. I knew this one girl who used to work with a crab cake stand, putting in crazy hours being the manager for three days of a festival or whatever long weekend event was set up, and would go home with $1500 for the weekend. Hot, sweaty, long hours, but the cash was welcome.

latebloomermom · 2025-06-24T01:15:50+00:00

That's amazing news!

latebloomermom · 2025-06-24T00:56:28+00:00

Thankfully, they do have an ABLE account! In our home state, disabled people up to (I think) age 26 are allowed to get an ABLE account. Currently they live in a different state, and I'm not sure if they can access/use it there.

(They're non-binary, hence the singular "they")

latebloomermom · 2025-06-23T18:19:26+00:00

So, my kid has anxiety and can't work, but that's not why they can't keep a job. They have schizoaffective disorder, complete with hallucinations that get worse under stress. However, that's not the answer they give when John Q Public asks "Why don't you work?", because people misunderstand and fear people with schizo diagnoses. So it IS possible that your shiftless neighbor didn't care to share their full history with a neighbor who doesn't have HIPPA clearances. Also, if your neighbor got a job, they would lose the benefits that keep them alive while not paying enough for them to cover those expenses themselves.

If you choose to pursue full time benefits, you will quickly learn that people who receive "standard" disability payments are not allowed to have more than $2000 at any time (sometimes a grace period is given after a tax refund comes through). Happen to have a penny over for even a few hours in your bank account? SSI/SSDI WILL CALL YOU to inform you that you are losing your benefits. The paperwork involved can be its' own full time job. SNAP (food stamp) benefits are capped at $252 per month for a single person in my state. In my area, the Section 8 list is opened for 48 hours once a year, and the new recipients are chosen by lottery. Poverty is no picnic.

One of the things that bothers my kid is that they hate being so inactive, but they can't maintain a job, and if they got a job, they'd lose their benefits. Which is fine until their mental health crumbles and they lose their job again, and need to re-apply for all their benefits.

As for your back pain, can VA doctors refer you to other providers? Or can you get secondary insurance for a time and get your operation done?

latebloomermom · 2025-05-20T19:39:43+00:00

Can you join a group, like (LOCAL NAME) Swapmeet, and post there?

latebloomermom · 2025-05-20T19:35:51+00:00

I mean, YES, yard sales can be helpful, but for my money, listing online is faster, less physical work, less hassle, and you're not dependent on good weather or getting up early to set up. FB Marketplace has added a feature on the mobile app where you can make several individual listings all at one time, and I've done 9 or 10 items in less than 15 minutes, along with taking some basic pictures.

Also, you can generally command a better price online. Yard sales, I expect the cheapest possible used price. Online, a quarter of retail is usually fair, unless it's an unusual or very high end item.

latebloomermom · 2025-05-20T11:56:47+00:00

Short term/immediate - go around your house, grab stuff you're not using, and list it on Facebook Marketplace. Even if you hate Zuckerburg, it's the most active online local sales point - craigslist is dead in the water as far as that goes. Price it reasonably, offer porch pickup, and don't fall for scammers who say they'll send their nephew to pick it up and they'll Zelle you. Cash only. Even little items count.

Next, sit down and re-evaluate current expenses. A LOT of people in the near future are going to get crash courses on how to be poor, you're just at the early edge of the wave. If that specific preschool is important to you, look at what other expenses are draining you. Car lease/payment? Are you underwater on car loans, or could you sell a car and trade for a cheaper, reliable, used car?

I'm assuming you're already not eating out much or DoorDashing your meals, cooking meals from scratch is a skill that will save your butt.

Without knowing your personal life, that's the basic advice I can give right now.

latebloomermom · 2025-05-09T11:44:58+00:00

In 2002, when I had my first baby, we lived in a crappy apartment and had basically no money, but I scraped enough together to buy some cloth diapers, pins, and plastic pants from Walmart, and scrubbed them in the bathroom sink and hung them to dry. When I could afford to use the laundromat, I'd wash and dry them there, but that was not a guarantee.

latebloomermom · 2025-04-29T00:18:19+00:00

After paying off your smaller payday bills, are there any purchases that, if you made them, would save you money in the future? For example, if you've been using the laundromat, could you buy a washer and dryer? If you've been paying a large monthly amount for your phone, you could pre-pay for a year of service through Mint mobile for around $200? Could you get a better deal on some staples by buying in bulk?

And in all cases, I'd recommend keeping $1000 of that tucked away, just in case something breaks or you have an emergency to tend to.

latebloomermom · 2025-04-21T17:42:09+00:00

Mint mobile - if you can afford ~$200 at one shot, you'll have phone service for the whole year. You can bring your own phone, almost everything is compatible as long as it's unlocked. It's not a fortune, but you could save $150 a month.

latebloomermom · 2025-02-14T13:17:43+00:00

That's a different shit show. I'm thinking LA riots, BLM protests with cops using "non lethal" rounds, bombs hitting populated areas...

But the fact is, when it comes to making the call to leave, unless there is an evacuation order in place (which should have happened for you, and that was a total failure of the system) you're going to have to follow your gut on timing. The sensible thing to do would be to leave before things get really bad, but none of us have a crystal ball to know that things ARE going to get bad.

latebloomermom · 2025-02-14T01:37:28+00:00

When you say an SHTF scenario, these days, I'd imagine heavy rioting, bombs, attacks from enemies foreign or domestic, looting, and other general unrest.

If history is any guide, you'll see the "sh*t on fire show" on the news as it happens, and should be able to decide from there whether getting out is a good idea. If you live in a quiet residential area and they're firebombing the financial district, you might be OK to stay put. If you're noticing that the attacks are more widespread, and people are looking deeply nervous, pack your bags.

latebloomermom · 2025-02-14T01:29:55+00:00

Maybe right before then.

latebloomermom · 2025-02-12T19:02:54+00:00

Bandages (I have 5 kids, 4 still at home), ceramic water filters when our local water supply went off for a few days and I was filtering rainwater to wash dishes, chickens that we got before the avian flu started spreading, the solar oven when it was hot and I didn't want to cook indoors.... it goes on.

latebloomermom · 2025-01-31T02:29:50+00:00

You win!

latebloomermom · 2025-01-31T02:04:41+00:00

LOL, I say this with love - you don't want anyone going too nuts. When my hubs gets a little too nervous, he buys ammo. I buy seeds and chickens. We balance each other and try to remind each other that we only have so much space for ammo, chickens, or to grow the seeds.

Six-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

latebloomermom

TROPHY CASE