The other day I asked Mom if she was willing to buy a more expensive Hanukkah gift if it is survival related. She said yes. I'm not sure if, at the time, I had a more exact dollar amount. Just for the bag that I prefer to have (still not 100% clear on the quality of the Echo-Sigma bag) and the starter kit, I'm looking somewhere from $190 to $195.

When I mentioned the approximate amount, she sidestepped a bit stating that kind of money would be better spent on bugging in.

I'm glad she's prepping to bug in. That's better than most people. I don't want every egg in one basket.

She wants me to get out of debt before I spend any more money and there is certainly a lot of logic to that.

Jeanette Isabelle