Category Archives: Shopping

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A while back, I wrote about Jerry Cans and how valuable they are for storing and transporting liquids.  The article focused on fuel storage, but Jerry Cans are also a great way to store water and other valuable liquids.  Because the contents are important, it is crucial that you purchase high-quality, durable containers that will last for years and be ready when you need them.  The good news is, you can now buy new, all-steel, NATO-spec Jerry Cans through Smart Suburban Survival.

NATO Steel Jerry Can

Continue reading →

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On the internet, every day can be Cyber Monday so be sure to practice safe online shopping.

Credit: DefenseTalk

Now that the long Thanksgiving weekend is over, thoughts turn from football and turkey to shopping and gifts.  More people are doing their shopping online, but there are risks involved.  Criminals can use a variety of means to steal important information from unsuspecting internet users.  Here are some simple security tips that you can use to secure yourself:

  • Keep a clean machine.  Make sure you have updated all your devices with up-to-date security software and patches.  A lot of legitimate websites don’t know they are hosting malicious code, which puts your system at risk of infection.
  • Think before you act. Got a great deal via email, tweet, posts or online advertising? If it’s suspicious, even if you know the source, delete or junk it. If you don’t know, don’t click on the link – instead, go directly to the site and look for the deal there.
  • Make sure the site is legitimate before you pay.  Look for a closed padlock in the address bar or the URL, and ensure it has HTTPS or SHHTP in the URL, before you enter your credit card or private information.
  • Use safe payment options.  Credit cards, PayPal (or similar) are your best option over debit cards. Note that some banks will not cover debit card transactions if there is a problem with the purchase, or fraud, on your debit card.
  • Protect your personal information. Understand what kind of information is being collected and how the merchant will use it. While it may not stop you from purchasing, you may be able to reduce spam or unwanted emails and texts.
  • Use strong passwords. If you create an account for an online merchant, don’t reuse the same passwords.  Never share your passwords with others.
  • Store your passwords by using a password vault program  from a trusted source (e.g. Microsoft, Symantec, Apple which usually have them pre-installed, or download and use KeePass or PasswordSafe programs)
  • Be careful about Wi-Fi Hotspots.  Don’t share personal or financial information over an unsecured network connection (if a password isn’t required, it’s not secure). Using direct web access over the phone (3G/4G) is safer than an unsecure wireless network when on your mobile device.
  • Keep a paper trail.  Print or save your online transaction records, this way you’ll know you got and paid for, what you ordered. Check the receipt against your credit card statement.

And always remember to practice safe online shopping!

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Wondering what to give during this holiday season?  Here is the first annual Smart Suburban Survival Holiday Gift Guide to help you out.

Credit: Country Living

If you and/or somebody on your gift list is interested in preparation, here are some gifts to consider:

Hopefully the items you give this season will serve a purpose and allow someone you care about to become better prepared.  The gift you give this holiday season may really come in handy sometime in the future so choose wisely.  Happy shopping!

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A while back I wrote about the importance of hardening door jambs and hinges against break-in attempts.  Since we’re on the topic of holiday gift ideas, why not give EZ Armor to homeowners on your list?

Armor Concepts EZ Armor

Why give EZ Armor?

  • It reinforces all the weak points of your door;  the jamb, the hinges, and locks
  • All pieces are made from powder-coated galvanized steel, making it resistant to corrosion
  • Police departments have tested it and recommend it
  • EZ Armor is Made in the USA

I have these installed on both my front door and garage door.  Its a quality product that I believe in and recommend to everybody who has a house with wood door frames.  EZ Armor provides a robust layer of security that you can add to your home protection plan.  For less than $80 per door its affordable too.

You can learn more about the full range of Armor Concepts products by going here.  Once you have determined the right products, click here to order them.  Give the gift of better security this holiday season, you will be glad you did.

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Need another gift idea for the holidays?  Consider Smart Cap TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors) by Ride-On.

Ride-On SmartCaps

These are a great accessory for any vehicle that uses pneumatic tires since they flash when air pressure drops by 4 PSI.  The tire(s) can then be inflated to their correct pressure.

Why is this important?

  • Underinflated tires have higher rolling resistance which can result in a loss of fuel economy of 1-3%
  • Proper tire pressure extends tire life, improves handling, and reduces tires failures
  • Low tire pressure can cause blowouts which leads to vehicle damage

Smart Caps have some great attributes including:

  • They install in seconds and provide years of service
  • Self-calibrating, no false alerts during high or low ambient temperatures
  • Metal construction means long life and durability
  • Integrated anti-theft protection

I’ve had Smart Caps installed on my car for just over a year and they are great.  My vehicle doesn’t have a built-in Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors installed so these allow me to quickly check my tires to ensure they are properly inflated.  This gives me peace of mind knowing that my vehicle is safe and that I am saving money at the pump.  For around $20 per wheel position, they are a great investment.

You can order LED Smart Caps by clicking here, they make great stocking stuffers.

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The holidays are upon us and that means figuring out what to give people on your list.  It can be a daunting challenge, especially for those who seem to have everything they need.  If somebody on your list has a wheeled vehicle with pneumatic tires though, consider giving them Ride-On Tire Protection System.

Ride-On has been around since the mid-90’s and has been popular in the powersports market, especially with motorcycle riders.  However, Ride-On has formulas for automobiles, trucks, SUVs, construction equipment, tractors, quads, ATV/UTVs, trailers, RVs, armored vehicles, and even bicycles.  While the different versions of Ride-On are formulated for specific applications, they all share common benefits and attributes.

Benefits include:

  • Increase tire life by up to 25% or more through air pressure maintenance and balancing
  • Maintain set-point tire pressures 3 to 4 times longer by reducing porosity loss
  • Make tires virtually impervious to flats by reducing tire-related road failures by 85-95%
  • Balance tire/wheel assemblies
  • Improve fuel economy 1-3%

All Ride-On Formulas are:

  • Biodegradable
  • Non-hazardous
  • Non-flammable
  • Non-toxic
  • Free of VOCs and heavy metals
  • Chemically inert
  • Ozone-safe
  • Made in the USA

I’ve used Ride-On on the last two sets of tires I’ve had on my car and I can vouch for its effectiveness.  I initially installed it in a set of Michelin LX4s that had over 50,000 miles on them.  They lasted another 13 months and over 15,000 miles before I had to replace them.  During that time, I had to put air in my tires ONCE.  All four survived a hot Arizona summer without any problems and ran smoother due to the balancing effects of the Ride-On.  When I went to get a new set in May, I discovered that I had a nail in my left rear.  There was no air loss due to that wound!  Needless to say, I installed Ride-On immediately after getting a new set of LX4s.

To order, click here or go to the link on the right-hand side of the page.  Select the correct formulation along with the correct quantity.  To calculate the correct dosage, go to this page and enter the tire information.

After all, this is a site nobody wants to see.

Credit: Tire Rack

Ride-On!

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I’m sure more than a few people said “oh snap” at Wal-Mart the other day.

When the EBT card system went 404 the other day, chaos ensued.

Now imagine if there was an EBT outage for a day or a week or even a month.  Bob Owens notes that agitators will use outages like this one to stir up trouble through disinformation and paranoia.  This made the problem worse and caused unnecessary waste as products were damaged or spoiled during the outage.  As Monty writes over at Ace of Spades, the nightmare scenario is when the cards stop working permanently because there is no more money to give out.  Think about what that would entail…

There is a larger issue though, that being the definition of “compassion” and the role of government in people’s lives.  As we saw with the EBT outage, there is a multifaceted dysfunction in government-run programs that is corrosive to independence.  Jon Gabriel over at FreedomWorks stated it best when he wrote:

It is immoral that so many poor Americans feel like they must rely on an incompetent government to provide their daily bread. There is nothing compassionate about turning able-bodied adults into helpless wards of the state or grocery store looters…A truly compassionate system would allow businesses to grow and hire, providing our fellow citizens with paychecks instead of handouts. A compassionate system would allow Americans to devote more of their money to effective charities instead of having so much seized by an incompetent government.

So what should a prepared person do to mitigate situations like this?  Here are a few actions you can take that will make you more resilient during an interruption:

  • Stockpile food, water, and other necessities now.  Have a supply (3-days worth, minimum) of essential items on-hand so that you don’t have to go to the store.
  • Have extra cash at home, preferably in a safe.  Electronic payments are great…when everything works correctly.  When they don’t, have some money in various denominations so you can get through the interruption.
  • If you find yourself in a food riot or other civil disturbance, be ready to leave the area as soon as possible.  Crowds can get violent when they are hungry and scared, you want to get away from them immediately.
  • Be ready to protect your home and family if there is a civil disturbance.  Take steps now to protect your domicile by purchasing high-quality locks, installing stronger doors, motion-activated lights, and reinforcing your door jambs.

There is more you can do, which I will cover in other posts.  The key takeaway is to know that civil unrest can take place anywhere when there is an interruption and to make plans now to deal with it.  You can ride the storm out by becoming better prepared and taking the initiative to plan for unplanned outages of all sorts.