Posts Tagged ‘stuff’

Altoids Survival Tin Kit Contest

Posted: January 22, 2014 in Contests, Freebies, Giving Back, HD Videos
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Produced By Cameron McKirdy

Learn all about the NEW contest from Survival Bros, and Cougar Ridge Knives!  Visit, or ship your Altoids Survival Tin Kit to the shop for review at: 3348 Hwy 101 N. Seaside OR 97138 USA  Call Rick Smith at (503) 738-9812 for additional details on this giveaway.  There’s incredible prizes on the line.  Lots more soon, so keep checking back on this blog post.  Good luck preppers.  

*Good news:  

This contest has been extended, and is now running until May 1, 2014.  So get those entries in.  If you are shipping them, please include money for return postage.  Thank you.

Here’s the official rules:

1.  All contents must be legal commercially available products.  All contents must fit inside an Altoids tin and close.  Paracord can be used to wrap the tin.

2.  Entry submissions can be returned with provided postage, or pickup within 30 days after the contest end.

3.  Contest will run from 3/15/14 – 5/1/14.  Entries will be judged on practical use and creativity.

Prizes:  

1st Prize – Gerber emergency survival pack valued at $60

2nd Prize – Coast emergency lantern valued at $40

3rd Prize – CRKT Eat’N Tool valued at $8

 

survival tin contest prizes

Survival Bros visits a fine knife shop on the Oregon Coast.  Stop by the store when you take a trip to the beach. 

Owner Rick Smith tell you how you can create a knife with expert guidance at his shop Cougar Ridge Knives in Gearhart, Oregon. 

How To Get FREE Stuff in Life

Posted: January 22, 2014 in Cooking, Freebies, Frugality, Grub, HD Videos, Health & Nutrition
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By Cameron McKirdy

There’s many freebie sites online that link to forms where you can request free samples from companies.  In this video I show you all the stuff I’ve received in the mail, plus items I have taken from stores myself.  You can also complain about product you don’t like to a company’s hotline, and they will send you a replacement, or a voucher redeemable at a shop near you.  

New video of freebies I received this week including a $10 Starbucks gift card

First, I want to discuss how to get free samples by mail.  It’s easiest to find a website like http://www.freebieshark.com which links to the latest promotions around the web.  Generally, you just have to fill out a short form with your name and address to get a complementary trial size of whatever.  Sometimes, you have to like a company’s Facebook page, Tweet about their business, or something like that before you can request a free sample.  It takes a few seconds to complete most forms, especially if you allow your internet browser to auto fill in your information.  As you can see in the Survival Bros video above,  I’ve scored tons of things by quickly filling out forms online.  I think my favorite gift was the four Keurig coffees in a sampler box.  It’s not much, but freebies add up, and save you lots of cash in the long run.

In the video I also mention how I complain about items I’m not satisfied with to the company over the phone.  These comment lines are always grateful I call, because my input helps make their product better.  They apologize for my inconvenience, and send me vouchers good for a replacement item, and valuable coupons for the future.  I said Planters sent me $15 to get a new item of my choosing, and here’s what the manufacturer coupons looked like before I spent them at UnSafeway.

https://youtu.be/kcmbm0cUNa0

product vouchersThe final and simplest way to get free stuff is to take it.  Go to a business, such as a convenience store, and get packets of sugar, salt and pepper, honey, sauce, etc.  Or if you’re eating at a fast food restaurant, politely ask for extra sauces.  You can take home additional ranches, mustard and ketchup, or crackers.  They won’t mind, and you rarely have to pay for these, so have fun, and use your imagination.  Soon you’ll have a huge stockpile of goodies like me.  This is what I had on hand to show today.

free stuff onlineNow you know three ways to get free stuff.  You can find an offer and fill out a form online to request a free sample, call the company directly if you are not satisfied with a product, or take a few extras from restaurants and stores.  You have to embrace being a hoarder, and become a scavenger.  I believe this is the essence of being a prepper.  It’s good to have extra just in case.  It’s free, why not take it?  If I can get all these items in a few weeks, so can you.  You just have to do some urban, and online hunting.  Please comment if you have any questions and I will get back to you.

Having My Car Broken Into and Stuff Stolen with Tips

Posted: January 5, 2014 in Automobiles, Emergencies, Everyday Carry (EDC), Gear, SB Tips
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By Katnip

2013 Chevy Camaro

How the Grinch stole MY Christmas. Two days after Christmas my beautiful, 2013 Chevrolet Camaro was a victim of crime. I thought I lived in one of the safer apartment complexes here in town. My bedroom is directly over the top of my carport on the second floor. I have a direct view of my car from the window. While I was sleeping, these thieves somehow managed to unlock my car without the alarm going off. (Apparently they make remotes to do so these days…thanks hackers of the world.) Why they chose MY car I will never know. One would naturally assume that a brand new car like mine would have a perfect lock and touchy alarm on it like Fort Knox. Well, my precious vehicle wasn’t well protected.

I’ve had my previous car broke in to before, and seen my things rummaged through. I’ve felt what it’s like to have your documents strung all over your car, and find your gear M.I.A. It’s awful. I should have taken the extra precaution like I have every other night and removed my valuables from the vehicle before locking her up for the night. I didn’t. I did have EVERYTHING out of sight. If you were to walk past my car, you couldn’t tell it’s a daily driver. I know better than to leave valuables out for prying eyes. I thought my stuff would be safe for one more night. Here’s a list of things I am kicking myself for, prepare to cringe:

– Canon Rebel EOS DSLR Camera with Lens, accessories, LowePro Camera Bag, and Cameron’s beloved camera tripod.

– iPhone 4S with car charger

– TomTom GPS with car charger

– Tool Box (Wrenches, Screw Drivers, Ratchets, etc)

– Jumper Cables

-My prized Bug Out Bag (As mentioned and pictured in this previous post)  Now I will create a new Everyday Carry bag with emergency supplies, and bring it inside no matter what.

In addition, who knows if they could steal my identity, as I had some sensitive documents in the glove compartment that they rummaged through too.

I’ve since taken proper measures to protect myself since, and hopefully regain my property again. I would like to share these tips with you so this same thing doesn’t happen to you.

– Keep ALL valuables in your home. Don’t take the chance like I did and assume that things are safe in the trunk and out the vision of creepers.

– Download the “Find Your iPhone” application and TURN ON YOUR LOCATION! (I had previously turned the location off the day prior because I felt it was nuking my battery. Dumbest thing I’ve ever done, because I had this app on my smart phone, and because I turned the location off, it wouldn’t lead me or the local police to where my possessions were.)

– If you find yourself in this predicament of having your things stolen from you, contact your local police department, file a police report.  Note: They wouldn’t come out, and recommended I fill one out online.

– Write a list of the items that were stolen from you, with serial numbers if available, and take this list in to the second hand shops, cellular stores, and local pawn shops.

– Contact your phone provider and register your phone as “Lost or Stolen.” If someone is dumb enough to try to activate the phone, the provider should confiscate the cell immediately and turn it over to either the police department or contact you to let you know your device had turned up.

– Scour all outlets of items for sale, such as eBay, Craigslist, Facebook sale pages, etc. Eventually, your stuff may turn up on one of those.

– Keep receipts of ALL expensive purchases that you have in your possession, my home owners insurance wouldn’t cover the items stolen from my car at my apartment, as I didn’t have proper sales receipts for these items….(They were gifts.) Things can’t be replaced if insurance can’t prove you never had them to begin with. 

I can recommend from personal experience that having your stuff stolen is not a pleasant thing to have happen. It detracts from valuable time I could have spent using my nice things to make my life easier. If you’re a car thief, I would like to leave you with this final note: You should be ashamed of yourself.  Work hard for your money so you can purchase quality belongings for yourself. Why steal from others that have actually earned their way in life? Karma is a bitch. Happy Travels!

Getting FREE Samples at the Mall HD Video

Posted: December 2, 2013 in Adventures, Frugality, Fun!, HD Videos, Health & Nutrition
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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

Watch me get as many complementary samples as possible.  SPOILER ALERT: I score a free trial of sausage, cheese, lotion, cologne, ice cream, vitamins, purified water, and even ukulele entertainment.  I also considered using the mall’s power to charge my cell phone.  At a larger shopping center I’m sure you could eat the equivalent of a meal by sampling grub at all the food court’s restaurants.  This was simply a fun exercise of frugality.  Cheers!

free ice cream sampleCam poised to strike the ice cream vendor for freebies

Visiting The Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show At The Portland Expo Center

Posted: February 7, 2013 in Adventures, Product Reviews, SB Tips
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gear

The Portland Expo Center is hosting the 38th annual Pacific Northwest Sportsman’s show from February 6 – 10, 2013.  I went on opening day.  It was $8 to park, and another $12 for admission.  I made the trip worthwhile, checking out every booth and demonstration.

This show has something for every adventurer.  There’s boating, rving, and fishing exhibits, to name a few.  So if you’re looking for gear, or ideas on where to travel, this is for you.  I was impressed with the high amount of outfitters around.  There’s a guide for everything under the sun.  Most were for hunting trips, but I saw whitewater rafting experts offering their services too.  I liked talking up the small, mom and pop vendors with interesting, lesser known products.  My favorite item I found is called Squat Strap (www.squatmonkey.com).  It’s a strap that wraps around a tree, or rock to help support you while you go poop.  Brilliant.  Now I can read a business book outside, while doing my business.  I had to get a strap to test.  More on that soon. 

I also talked to a local inventor named Andy Gorman.  He developed the Retractable Tool Tether, so you stop dropping things (www.retractabletooltether.com).  I picked up a few of these to review also.  I’ll put one on my jacket, and one on my EDC backpack.  Maybe I will stop losing things.  Doubtful.

There was lots to peruse, and stuff to sample.  I tasted storable foods, oils, jams, meats, and energy drinks.  Skoal was giving away cans of chew, put I passed.  The Expo was serving beer as well.  And at one booth you could try panning for gold, or buy a small nugget.  Fun, but I will be panning outside.  I shopped knives too, and picked up product catalogs to browse later.   If you like the outdoors better than the indoors, visit this show before it’s gone.   

truck

Save Money – Don’t Pay Full Retail Prices

Posted: December 28, 2012 in Frugality, Health & Nutrition, SB Tips
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By Cameron McKirdy

Survival Bros shows you all the stuff that is half off in the back of a Safeway grocery store.

Retail is for suckers. Don’t pay full price for anything, ever again. Store owners get everything wholesale, and you can too.

I often start my shopping trip by going to the back of the supermarket. That’s where you can always find items 50% off, because they are discontinued, damaged, or close to their expiration date. You’d think these products are no good, but I’ve found the sale goods are usually organic, and simply not well known, so they go unsold. Don’t be too good to save money. People pass on these deals because they are too proud, and must feel like the product is inferior to what’s on the regular shelves. It’s silly.

Think about getting a membership at a wholesaler like Costco. It will save you cash, and probably pay for the card on the first trip. Be on he lookout for an asterisk on the price sign at Costco. An * means the item is being discontinued, and it’s not coming back, so the price is usually reduced. Buy more then if needed. Not that I support big box stores, but it’s worth going just for the free food samples. I will have to produce a video on that. And my friends that work there seem to be happy.

You can also compare prices online. Additionally, I like to practice patience, and use eBay auctions to save money. Plus, check out smart phone apps like ShopSavvy that get you the best deal possible. The only time I pay jacked up full retail prices is when I’m buying local. Even then I will haggle. Prices are made up. Things are worth what you pay for them.

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The clearance rack at Safeway in the back

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