The new year means it's time to get organized. It's a great time to take stock of what remains of your preps from the year before and start planning the budget to shore up your supplies for 2024. 

One of the primary items to inventory is your go-bag or evacuation pack. Throughout the year, things get used and taken out of the back. Throughout the year, things get used and taken out of the bag. Items like old crunchy protein bars should get rotated. Items like tampons do have a life span, so they need to be switched out as well. Things like masks or underwear with elastic may have gone bad if your bag was exposed to heat and cold. 

If you have children, you should have a go-bag for each of them. However, children grow... and grow... and grow. You need to switch clothing. Also, as they grow, they mature.  It might be time to start putting more advanced survival items into their bags. 

Another item you should think about is your electronics and batteries. It may be time to switch batteries out. Are your rechargeables still functioning well? It's time to get stocked back up. 

Each year maps update. Your supply of paper maps and downloaded maps will need to be updated. You should not rely upon maps that are only available with an internet connection, but they need to be accurate as well.

For those of us in the south, it is time to get winter plants planted and start plans for the garden. The planting season will get here quickly. If you are going to plant starter plants, you need to start planning now. 

It's time to rotate long-term food stores as well. You don't waste when you use things up. Anything that may be expiring soon should be put in the getting-used areas while new products are stored away. Prices of food are still going up, so any investment you make in food today will be worth it tomorrow. Also, ammunition supplies are getting expensive and starting to disappear. 

Many of us, including myself, are entrepreneurs operating under an LLC. This year the federal government has passed a new law requiring all small LLCs to register with FinCEN, a federal database. You will have to report all of the owners' personal information, and if any one of those individuals moves, you must report it within thirty days. Existing LLCs have a year to comply but new LLCs will only have thirty days to comply. 

This is something you will need to prepare for if you run a small business. Unless you write your congressperson to have this law repealed (which I pray you do). 

2024 is a year that will go down in history. Stay prepared so you can dream, survive, and thrive!