Friday, July 27, 2012

Build Your 72 Hour Kit in 52 Weeks

This is a great site for putting together a 72 kit.  I know a year seems like a long time but your can use the schedule as you like.  If you are starting from scratch in can be a little intimidating.  Hopefully this will ease a little stress.  The best thing you can do is just get started.  http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/07/build-your-72-hour-kit-in-52-weeks.html

Pay an honest tithing

“The payment of tithing is a commandment, a commandment with a promise. If we obey this commandment, we are promised that we will ‘prosper in the land.’ This prosperity consists of more than material goods—it may include enjoying good health and vigor of mind. It includes family solidarity and spiritual increase. I hope those of you not presently paying your full tithe will seek the faith and strength to do so. As you discharge this obligation to your Maker, you will find great, great happiness, the like of which is known only by those who are faithful to this commandment” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 119; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 81).

Evacuate Your Home

9 checklists to help you prepare for evacuation  http://www.apinchofjoy.com/2012/07/evacuate-your-home-9-checklists-to-help/

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

118 Ways to Save Money in College

So you have already looked for scholarships, grants, and loans and are still finding it hard to pay your way through college? It goes without saying that the typical college student is either broke or financially hanging in the balance most of the time. We’ve assembled a long list of both practical and creative ways you can save some green while you’re going to campus.  Not all of them apply to LDS Students but others are worth thinking about.  This information comes from College Scholarships.org.  The web address is: http://www.collegescholarships.org/student-living/save-money.htm

Are You Prepared?

Some great ideas from 72hours.org   Check out their site:  http://72hours.org/

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Food Storage Smoothie


  • 1 cup Fruit(be sure it is freeze dried and not dehydrated)
  • 1/3 cup dairy (instant milk or yogurt bites)
  • 2 T. Drink Mix 
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cup ice
 Place first three ingredients in a blender. Pour the water over it all. I let it soak for about 10 minutes and then blended it well. Once blended well, add the ice and blended until smooth again

10 Essentials for Your Roadside Emergency Kit

Do you have a roadside emergency kit in your car? Have you ever wondered exactly what you should have in that kit? I have. Here is a list from a great blog...      http://loveyalyn.blogspot.com/2010/07/10-essentials.html

Monday, July 23, 2012

Natural Disaster Emergency Preparedness Resource Library

Natural disasters impact thousands of people's every year. Each disaster has its own specific effects on property and people, though disaster-relief organizations may try to help you in the event of a natural disaster, you must have your own plans in effect as well. Being prepared for a natural disaster reduces anxiety, fear, and the potential for loss. To learn more about how your family can prepare for the various disasters that may strike, consult the link below.             http://www.insurancequotes.org/2012/02/13/natural-disaster-emergency-preparedness-resource-library/

How to Make an "Everlasting Candle" from Crisco

 Good idea when the power is out:
 http://greatnorthernprepper.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/how-to-make-an-everlasting-candle-from-crisco/

What's Your Net Worth?

Have you ever wondered how to begin managing your money? The first step is to calculate your net worth. This is an eye opening exercise and will give you a good picture of your financial standing. After you have determined your net worth, you can set some goals to improve your financial future. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you do so:

1. Add the sum of all your assets:

  • Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash, Money in your bank account, savings accounts, etc.
  • Real Property: Market values of owned real estate, automobiles and other personal property
  • Investments: CDs, Stocks/Bonds, Mutual Funds
  • Retirement Accounts: IRA, Vested Pension Fund, 401K
  • Any other asset not mentioned above
2. Subtract what you owe on the following liabilities:
  • Mortgage
  • Other Debt: Home Improvement Loans, 2nd Mortgages, Student Loans, Car Loans, Credit Cards
  • Owed Taxes: Federal, State, Local
  • Contractual Obligations: Tuition, Leases
3. Net Value of Assets minus Net Value of Liabilities equals your Net Worth.

Here is a link to a simple worksheet which will help you easily calculate your net worth: http://www.financialliteracymonth.com/30Steps/Step8.aspx

Don't Become A Victim of Fraud

FRAUD WARNING SIGNS

  • Sounds too good to be true
  • Pressures you to act "right away."
  • Guarantees success.
  • Promises unusually high returns.
  • Requires an upfront investment--even for a "free" prize.
  • Buyers want to overpay you for an item and have you send them the difference.
  • Doesn't have the look of a real business.
  • Something just doesn't feel right.
PLAY IT SAFE
  • Never click on a link inside an email to visit a Web site. Type the address into your browser instead.
  • It's easy for a business to look legitimate online. If you have any doubts, verify the company with the Better Business Bureau.
  • Only 2% of reported identity theft occurs through the mail. Report online fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.
  • Retain your receipts, statements, and packing slips. Review them for accuracy.
  • Shred confidential documents instead of simply discarding them in the trash.
FRAUD FACTS
  • Your bank will never e-mail or call you for your account number.
  • Don't wire money to people you don't know.
  • Be cautious of work-at-home job offers.
  • Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau.
  • There are no legitimate jobs that involve reshipping items or financial instruments from your home.
  • Foreign lotteries are illegal in the U.S. You can't win no matter what they say.
  • Check your monthly bank statements for charges you don't recognize.
  • Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus once a year from annualcreditreport.com.
GET INVOLVED
  • It's never too early to become an informed consumer. Point out "too good to be true" offers to your kids, and teach them to be skeptical.
  • Take an active interest in the financial activities of your aging parents.
  • Share information about scams with friends and family. Use social networking to help keep them safe.
If you've received a suspected fraud through the U.S. Mail, or if the mail was used in the furtherance of a crime that began on the Internet, telephone or in person, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service:

U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Criminal Investigations Service Center
ATTN: Mail Fraud
222 S. Riverside Plaza
Chicago, IL 60606-6100
postalinspectors.uspis.gov
1-877-876-2455

The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, works to prevent fraud and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid it. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Emergency Preparedness for Couples


It seems to me as if a lot of the resources for emergency preparedness are directed to families...with houses...with extra freezers...and lots of storage.

I don't have any of those things.

BUT-- that is no excuse! I still believe being prepared is super important, even for couples still in school, young professionals, etc. It's taken me a while (and a few times of doing it wrong) to finally figure out how to make this work for us (in our small apartment). Hopefully some of you young couples can use this to your advantage and get your emergency supply organized!

30+ Family Home Evening Ideas

Family Home Evening is a time set aside each week to focus on the family and learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This month I will be attending a bridal shower in my neighborhood. Each guest was asked to give a specific "first" to help the couple in their new life together. My assigned "first" was their first LDS family home evening together. So, I decided to make a list of ideas for this young couple.

"When couples arrange their lives to include quality family home evenings, they invite the Spirit into their marriages and build a solid foundation of love. Consistent, quality home evenings, combined with obedience to other gospel teachings, will help form a strong foundation of love, joy, and peace that can bind a family together forever."

From Living Our Dream Life:

  1. Pick any article from the Ensign and discuss it together. Summarize or read it together.
  2. Basically the same idea but use the current Conference Ensign. Each week discuss/ read/ present a different talk.
  3. Learn how to study the scriptures together. As great as a scriptorian as you/ your spouse is, I’m sure there is still room for improvement. Share ideas of how you study (not just read) the scriptures. Use Preach My Gospel for additional ideas.
  4. Discuss your mission if one of you served.
  5. Make an emergency plan together. Figure out what you would do if there was a fire/ earthquake/ flood/ tornado/ etc. Get old backpacks and start building 72-hour kits with old clothes. For the activity, go shopping together to buy some food (granola bars, peanut butter, tuna fish pouches, crackers, fruit snacks, water bottles, etc) to put in the 72-hour kits. Loved this!
  6. Go to the temple grounds and walk around and see how beautiful it is. Figure out ways you can make your home more like the temple.
  7. Spend the night showing your love for your spouse by serving them. Do each other’s chores (or do them together). Maybe make a chore chart together of who is going to do the dishes/ laundry/ etc.
  8. Write letters to your parents/ grandparents. Thank them for their sacrifice they made for you. Another idea instead of each writing a letter to their own parents how about you switch and each write the letter to your in-laws.
  9. Start a Family Journal. Write in it together about the joys and struggles you are facing and how your family has been blessed.
  10. Make a movie of your lives. Show where you live, what a typical meal is like, talk to your future posterity about what your life is like as a newlywed.
  1. Write letters to missionaries.
  2. Take food to local food banks
  3. Donate blood at the Red Cross center.
  4. Take cookies or treats to neighbor.
  5. Research a topic you want to learn more about such as auto repair, cooking, decorating, yard work, food storage, or home maintenance.
  6. Help others learn English.
  7. Reading good books together.
  8. Have a game night, riding bikes, throw Frisbees at the park or go on a hike.
  9. Invite new couples or single sister with kids over to share family home evening and build friendships.
  10. Write in journals or work on family research.
  1. Interview an older family member.
  2. Install the LDS Church's PAF (Personal Ancestral File) program and begin entering your family history in your computer.
  3. Adopt a grandma or grandpa from your church or neighborhood.
  4. Prepare a musical program to take to a foster home, hospital, or nursing home.
  5. Plant a tree or some flowers. Discuss faith in Alma 32:28-43.
  6. Learn about this history of your local temple by printing its picture and story from LDS.org.
  7. Attend a local orchestra production. Discuss the effects of good music on your thoughts from Elder Packer.
  8. Make an ethnic meal and learn about that country. Here are a few recipes from various countries at InternationalFreeway.com
  9. Attend the dress rehearsals of your local ballet, opera, or theater. Many times tickets are extremely low priced, or even free.
  10. Why do good people suffer? Watch and discuss a video from mormon.org, and study adversity.



72 Hour Kit

1. Container: Use back pack, suitcase, duffle bag, etc. It's a good idea to keep a list of what's in the pack on the outside. Also put expiration dates on list, or on foods themselves. A good time to rotate food would be when you change the clocks. Store in a place where you can grab it quickly if necessary.

2. Important Information and Money: Keep a little money (small bills), and some change for phone calls or bridge tokens. You may want to have a phone card. Keep your car filled with gas, and perhaps have spare keys in your pack. Have important information such as name, phone numbers for emergency (one local, one not), list of phone numbers you may want to call, medical problems, allergies, medications, etc. You may want to keep a 3-day supply of medicine in your pack, rotate when you getyour prescriptions filled. Some people like to include copies of important papers such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, credit card list; family pictures; genealogy; inventory of house items in case of fire emergency.

3. Water: A minimum of 1 quart per person per day for drinking. Can buy water bottles, or fill 2 liter soft drink bottles, or plastic gallons such as cranberry juice. Some have handles for easy carrying. Plastic milk bottles are not suggested because they will eventually disintegrate. Change water at least once a year. If you fill your own water bottles, put 4 drops of bleach for each 2 quarts of water. you may want to carry water purification tablets in your pack. You may also carry a small water filter.

4. Food: Whatever you like which would keep you alive for 3 days. Tuna fish or chicken in packages, crackers, nuts, granola bars, energy bars, fruit in plastic cups. Don't forget a can operner if you stored canned goods. Be sure to rotate, maybe at General Conference time. You can eat the food while you watch conference.

5. Clothing: Sweat pants and sweat shirts are good-can be cut off for summer. Dry socks, change of underwear, extra shoes. Grab winter coat, etc. on way out of door. For children, change clothing as they grow.

6. Personal Items, First Aid Kit, Misc.: Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, deodorant, lotion, kleenex, toilet paper, anything else you can't live without. First Aid Kit: bandaids, alchohol wipes, etc. Misc.: Battery powdered radio and extra batteries, flashlight and extra batteries, emergency candle, duct tape, twine, paper towels, pad of paper, pencil, sewing kit (thread and needle, safety pins, small scissors), aspirin, scriptures, sleeping bags.

Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month


Did you know if you cut your spending by $13 a day, you’ll save $400 a month and $4800 a year! Pay attention to the little expenses because they really do add up.

Check out   http://www.thebudgetdiet.com/cut-your-spending-by-400-a-month   for 72 ways to cut your spending.


The tips come from The Budget Diet at   http://www.thebudgetdiet.com/what-is-the-budget-diet

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Prophets Counsel

"Avoid the philosophy that yesterday's luxuries have become today's necessities. They aren't necessities until we make them so. Many enter into long-term debt only to find that changes occur; people become ill or incapacitated, companies fail or downsize, jobs are lost, natural disasters befall us. For many reasons, payments on large amounts of debt can no longer be made. Our debt becomes as a Damocles sword hanging over our heads and threatening to destroy us."
- President Thomas S. Monson, April 2006 General Conference

Personal Finance Help Website created by BYU

The purpose of this Web site on Personal Finance is to instruct members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and others around the world about personal financial management from "another" perspective. This instruction is provided through a series of lessons delivered over the Internet and available through free personal finance manuals. While there is no college credit given for reviewing this material, there is a wealth of information provided that can help you learn about personal finance.

The web site can be accessed at:  http://personalfinance.byu.edu/

15 Ways to Do Date Night on a Dime


Fun doesn’t have to equal lots of dollars. Check out these Nesties' date-night ideas!
1. Go to the movies for cheap. There are ways to do movie dates on a budget: "Find second-run theaters. They cost about $2 per person per show. Or go to a matinee of a current movie." --SUE_SUE
2. Make it a lunch date. "Order from the lunch menu -- it's cheaper than dinner and the portions aren't that much smaller." --MATTESMAGIC
3. Go to a cooking class. "Go to Williams-Sonoma and attend one of their cooking demos." You'll have some new recipes to try instead of going to a restaurant, so you'll save even more money. --DARINGMISS
4. Rethink tool time. Cooking stores aren't the only places with free how-tos: "Hardware stores like Lowe's and The Home Depot have DIY seminars. You can both learn to fix things, and it's fun and free!" --QPIX
5. Make a reservation -- for dessert. "We go to our favorite ice-cream shop and get sundaes, then drive around town and get in some quiet time." --OSUWIFEY09
6. Have a Wii night. You've already invested in a Wii, now use it for date night. "We have date-night Wii tourneys and make some interesting bets to spice things up. Anything goes, from doing dishes to sexual favors!" --ENICLAIRD
7. Hit the links. "A really fun date is going to the golf course and playing just nine holes. I did that recently with my husband. Even if you guys aren't good, it's still fun." -- BRIGHTEYES888
8. Volunteer together. For a feel-great date: "Volunteer together somewhere. One of my favorites was volunteering for a local farm to harvest veggies that are then sold at ridiculously low prices to people in need. We had a blast and felt great about helping. Cost: gas money." --SPINCAT9
9. Step up to the plate. "My husband and I take a bat and a ball to a local school and play around." Get into it with knee-high socks, baseball hats or even your favorite team's jersey. --BRIDE2BNVA
10. Get crafty with your home improvements. Decorate and date! "My husband and I do silly, crafty things. For example: We'll go to A.C. Moore or Michaels craft store and buy things that we can make to decorate the outside of our house!" --KLASALA318
11. Go on a field trip. Soak up culture free of charge: "Our neighborhood library has free passes to local museums. You can check out the passes like a library book." --DARINGMISS
12. Read all about it. "If you look in any local paper, you can usually find an entertainment section full of cheap activities in the next few days." Stick to your own neighborhood so you won't have to use extra gas or waste travel time. --DERNIERMOT
13. Pack a picnic in the park. Pack a picnic basket: blanket, bottle of wine, cheese, fruit, etc. -- but be warned: "We did this once to be cheap, and ended up spending about $70. So, make sure it's an inexpensive bottle of wine and cheap cheese." --ANHG80
14. Take a staycation. You don't even have to leave the city limits: "We live in San Francisco, so we visit the Japanese Tea Garden and pack a lunch. You'll get to experience a little bit of another country right inside Golden Gate Park." --BRITTNEY
15. Have a theme night. "Schedule a theme dinner and movie night at home." Create a menu based on the movie you're watching (i.e., spaghetti for a Francis Ford Coppola flick) and make it together before watching. --MELLY_BELLIE

From the nest       http://ideas.thenest.com/love-and-sex-advice/anniversaries-dating-ideas/articles/date-night-on-a-dime.aspx

Seven Baby Steps by Dave Ramsey


Baby Step 1
Baby Step 1

$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is for those unexpected events in life that you can’t plan for: the loss of a job, an unexpected pregnancy, a faulty car transmission, and the list goes on and on. It’s not a matter of if these events will happen; it’s simply a matter of when they will happen. Learn more
Baby Step 2
Baby Step 2

Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball

List your debts, excluding the house, in order. The smallest balance should be your number one priority. Don’t worry about interest rates unless two debts have similar payoffs. If that’s the case, then list the higher interest rate debt first. Learn more
Baby Step 3
Baby Step 3

3 to 6 months of expenses in savings

Once you complete the first two baby steps, you will have built serious momentum. But don’t start throwing all your “extra” money into investments quite yet. It’s time to build your full emergency fund. Learn more
Baby Step 4
Baby Step 4

Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement

When you reach this step, you’ll have no payments—except the house—and a fully funded emergency fund. Now it’s time to get serious about building wealth. Learn more
Baby Step 5
Baby Step 5

College funding for children

By this point, you should have already started Baby Step 4—investing 15% of your income—before saving for college. Whether you are saving for you or your child to go to college, you need to start now. Learn more
Baby Step 6
Baby Step 6

Pay off home early

Now it’s time to begin chunking all of your extra money toward the mortgage. You are getting closer to realizing the dream of a life with no house payments. Learn more
Baby Step 7
Baby Step 7

Build wealth and give!

It’s time to build wealth and give like never before. Leave an inheritance for future generations, and bless others now with your excess. It's really the only way to live! Learn more

Simple and Foolproof Honeywheat Bread







Honeywheat Bread

3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast

1/3 cup honey

5 cups bread flour

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1/3 cup honey

1 tablespoon salt

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups white bread flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.

2. Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky - just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.

3. Punch down, and divide into 3 loaves. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely

Variations:

To make cinnamon raisin bread, roll it out, sprinkle a little water on it then sprinkle about 1/2 cup cinnamon / sugar mixture and lots of raisins on top. Roll it back up tightly and pinch the ends together.

You can also have put a little more whole wheat flour and less bread flour to make it healthier.

Source: Allrecipes.com, STibbs photo

Finances: Do you own them? Do they own you?

Learn to manage money before it manages you.  Quoting ONE FOR THE MONEY: Guide to Family Finance by Elder Marvin J. Ashton, " Financial peace of mind is not determined by how much we make, but how much we spend.  We live in a self-indulgent, me oriented, materialistic society.  It is said, self-discipline and self-restraint in money matters is more important than courses in accounting."  The key to financial peace is to budget.  Yes, a budget.  Know what you have, where you spend it, and how much you have 'left over'.  Track your spending; you might be surprised where it is going.  BE cautious in expenditures and follow the admonition.....Use it up.  Wear it out. Make it do, or...Do without.

7 Mistakes of Food Storage

If you are going to store food, make sure that the food you store is adequate for the need you and your family anticipate. This may not be as easy as to achieve as many people think, because the facts are that most people make serious errors when storing food—errors that will come back to haunt them when the food they’ve stored is the only thing that stands between them and their empty, dissatisfied, bellies.
There are seven common mistakes people make when storing food. They are:


1. Variety
Most people don’t have enough variety in their storage. 95% of the people I’ve worked with have only stored four basic items: wheat, milk, honey, and salt. Statistics show most of us won’t survive on such a diet for several reasons. a) Many people are allergic to wheat and may not be aware of it until they are eating it meal after meal. b) Wheat is too harsh for young children. They can tolerate it in small amounts but not as their main staple. c) We get tired of eating the same foods over and over and many times prefer to not eat, then to sample that particular food again. This is called appetite fatigue. Young children and older people are particularly susceptible to it. Store less wheat than is generally suggested and put the difference into a variety of other grains, particularly ones your family likes to eat. Also store a variety of beans, as this will add color, texture, and flavor. Variety is the key to a successful storage program. It is essential that you store flavorings such as tomato, bouillon, cheese, and onion.

Also, include a good supply of the spices you like to cook with. These flavorings and spices allow you to do many creative things with your grains and beans. Without them you are severely limited. One of the best suggestions I can give you is buy a good food storage cookbook, go through it, and see what your family would really eat. Notice the ingredients as you do it. This will help you more than anything else to know what items to store.


2. Extended staples
Never put all your eggs in one basket. Store dehydrated and/or freeze dried foods as well as home canned and “store bought” canned goods. Make sure you add cooking oil, shortening, baking powder, soda, yeast, and powdered eggs. You can’t cook even the most basic recipes without these items.


3. Vitamins
Vitamins are important, especially if you have children, since children do not store body reserves of nutrients as adults do. A good quality multi-vitamin and vitamin C are the most vital. Others might be added as your budget permits.


4. Quick and easy and “psychological foods”
Quick and easy foods help you through times when you are psychologically or physically unable to prepare your basic storage items. “No cook” foods such as freeze-dried are wonderful since they require little preparation, MREs (Meal Ready to Eat), such as many preparedness outlets carry, canned goods, etc. are also very good. “Psychological foods” are the goodies—Jello, pudding, candy, etc.—you should add to your storage. These may sound frivolous, but through the years I've talked with many people who have lived entirely on their storage for extended periods of time. Nearly all of them say these were the most helpful items in their storage to “normalize” their situations and make it more bearable. These are especially important if you have children.


5. Balance
Time and time again I’ve seen families buy all of their wheat, then buy all of another item and so on. Don’t do that. It’s important to keep well-balanced as you build your storage. Buy several items, rather than a large quantity of one item. If something happens and you have to live on your present storage, you’ll fare much better having a one month supply of a variety of items than a year’s supply of two or three items.


6. Containers
Always store your bulk foods in food storage containers. I have seen literally tons and tons of food thrown away because they were left in sacks, where they became highly susceptible to moisture, insects, and rodents. If you are using plastic buckets make sure they are lined with a food grade plastic liner available from companies that carry packaging supplies. Never use trash can liners as these are treated with pesticides. Don’t stack them too high. In an earthquake they may topple, the lids pop open, or they may crack. A better container is the #10 tin can which most preparedness companies use when they package their foods.


7. Use your storage
In all the years I’ve worked with preparedness one of the biggest problems I’ve seen is people storing food and not knowing what to do with it. It’s vital that you and your family become familiar with the things you are storing. You need to know how to prepare these foods. This is not something you want to have to learn under stress. Your family needs to be used to eating these foods. A stressful period is not a good time to totally change your diet. Get a good food storage cookbook and learn to use these foods! It’s better to find out the mistakes you’ll make now while there’s still time to make corrections.
It’s easy to take basic food storage and add the essentials that make it tasty, and it needs to be done. As I did the research for my cookbook, Cooking with Home Storage, I wanted to include recipes that gave help to families no matter what they had stored. As I put the material together it was fascinating to discover what the pioneers ate compared to the types of things we store. If you have stored only the basics, there’s very little you can do with it. By adding even just a few things, it greatly increases your options, and the prospect of your family surviving on it. As I studied how the pioneers lived and ate, my whole feeling for food storage changed. I realized our storage is what most of the world has always lived on. If it’s put together the right way we are returning to good basic food with a few goodies thrown in.

Vicki Tate is the authour of this article. Vicki Tate is the author of the popular book, Cooking With Home Storage, available in the BHM General Store.   http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/tate55.html

Friday, July 20, 2012

FREE Online Quick and Secure Way To Organize All Of Your Bills

Manilla gathers all of the information you need to manage your bills and accounts and puts it in one secure place, available 24/7. With automatic reminders, Manilla lets you know when important bills are almost due, or when rewards points are about to expire.

Check out their web page: https://www.manilla.com/

Thursday, July 19, 2012

For the Youth

6 Things You Can Do Today
  1. Create and follow a budget to save money for a mission and school.
  2. Cook dinner once a week for your family.
  3. Learn a new computer skill that would be helpful in the workplace.
  4. Practice working hard by striving for good grades.
  5. Help your parents with food storage or emergency kits.
  6. Cheerfully fulfill your responsibilities in the family.

Food Storage Song

Performed May 10th 2008 at the Naperville IL Stake Cultural Arts Festival. Mormons are encouraged to keep a supply of food for emergencies, so this is a spoof on food storage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKl2QyHFzy0

LDS Employment Services

Here is the link to LDS Employment Services https://www.ldsjobs.org/ers/ct/?lang=eng  If your are looking for a job or trying to improve your situation this is the best place to start.

Elder Hales - Becoming Provident Providers

This is a message from Elder Robert D. Hales on avoid debt, discern between needs and wants, and live close to God to be provident providers both spiritually and temporally.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?autoplay=true&index=1&locale=0&sourceId=db627cdfa5e67210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

12 Tips On How To Spend In A Recession

During an economic recession we might feel unsure of what is best to spend our money on. It seems that what has applied in the past has somehow changed. At a time when we need to know with greatest clarity how to manage our money, we feel uncertain.

Read more at http://www.providentliving.org.nz/how-to-spend-in-a-recession/

This article comes from a Ward Welfare Newsletter from New Zealand.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Free Woolite


Free Woolite Extra Dark Care Detergent

Free Woolite Extra Dark Care Detergent
Target is offering free Woolite Extra Dark Care detergent, which is just great. It sure is a lot harder to avoid doing laundry when I know I don’t even have to pay for detergent. You should have seen my look of disappointment when I discovered my new apartment was right next to a laundromat.

Practice Thrift and Frugality


The depression era saying of “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” sums up the practice of Thrift. Living thriftily is not a popular concept in our “Staying up with the Jones’s” mentality, but the folly of that mentality is that if one thing goes wrong and your family slips into crisis, you will have to learn all about “Staying above water”. Living thriftily is a very simple, effective and immediate method to increase your spending power. Imagine being, instead of a consumer; a creator, a repairer, or simply abstaining. It is phenomenally financially wasteful to eat at restaurants on a regular basis, in addition to being typically un-healthy, it also takes away from time spent together as a family creating a personal dining experience at home, together. Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything including time and money.
Frugality dictates that we live within our means and “Waste not, want not”. It requires us to be prudent with how we spend our money and to cautiously and guardedly decide how to distribute it. Why do Americans work themselves so hard and as soon as the paycheck comes in, they throw it to the wind as quickly as they can – leaving them with no reserves, no safety and no peace? It is because we have come to accept abundance as our standard. We foolishly assure ourselves that there will be a check next pay period – which there normally is, until there is not. It is the high possibility that at some point something critical will happen in our lives that brings us to the conclusion that it is very likely that at some point, that check will not be there.
One massive waste that Americans have become very comfortable with is living on credit. We have become extremely complacent with our finances in this regard. Instead of doing without for a short time while we save, we finance everything and as a consequence, pay financing fees and interest that we somehow justify as necessary. It is not necessary that we ever pay financing fees or interest for anything, even a house, if we are willing to be prudent. Instant gratification is the bane of thrift and frugality. We Americans have deceived ourselves into believing that we ‘deserve’ to live a better lifestyle than our parents (which took them a lifetime to achieve) – when in reality – we DESERVE to be secure and at peace in our lifestyle. It is ironic that as a society, we will dicker over $3,000 on a new vehicle and then finance it for 5 years – wherein we condemn ourselves to paying several times that in financing fees and interest.
What good have we done ourselves by shaving $3,000 of off $30,000 when we just finance it? If you’re willing to pay astronomical fees for the pleasure of immediate gratification, amortizing $3,000 does NOTHING to our monthly bill. A frugal person would take 3 years and save monthly as much as they would have paid out on their car payment with a little bonus savings here and there over time. In that short period of time they would accumulate enough cash that they could go into the car dealership and lay down a pile of $23,000 in cash and say they want to walk out with either their money or that $30,000 car. They’re going to walk out with the car because the dealer wants the instant gratification of the cash versus selling an amortized note at a discount.
Living a thrifty and frugal lifestyle is truly simple. Use it up. Wear it out. Make it Do. Do Without. Waste Not. These things lead us to not being left wanting when a crisis strikes our family. These two highly empowering tools not only give us the ability to build up our Standard of Living Insurance, they also bring an assured peace and allow us to live a truly abundant lifestyle where we are in control of our money instead being a slave to lenders.
A Prepper who successfully follows this principle for a few years will find themselves in a position where they are able to spend time not working without it affecting the family in an adverse manner.

Taken from the following web site: http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/the-five-principles-of-preparedness

The 25 Documents You Need Before You Die

It isn't enough simply to sign a bunch of papers establishing an estate plan and other end-of-life instructions. You also have to make your heirs aware of them and leave the documents where they can find them.

A site for getting your paper work in order
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303627104576410234039258092.html#project%3DDOC110702%26articleTabs%3Darticle

Price Codes Save Money at Costco


Everyone loves Costco and we all know they have terrific deals, great prices, quality merchandise, wonderful return policy and the best Hot Dogs with a soda for only $1.50.

Did you know that Costco like many other stores runs some of their merchandise at close-out prices, but they don't tell you they are.

Read about how to save money at Costco:  http://lenrapoport.hubpages.com/hub/Secret-Codes-Will-Save-You-Money-At-Costco

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Log Stove


Summer is a GREAT time to practice your preparedness techniques while camping. See below for a cool summer cooking idea to try while Camping.
Who needs a stove?
Just pack a chainsaw!
Stove made in Finland. It takes about 10 minutes to build a stove like this.











Freebies


Score a FREE sample of Head & Shoulders, courtesy of P&G! Simply log in or create an account.
Please note, you are only allowed to order from P&G sampling per quarter. Once you log in, you will see your offers.

Get A Kit



Be Ready Utah  http://beready.utah.gov/beready/family/get-a-kit.html%20%20has%20recommendations%20for%20a%2072%20Hour%20kit.

Use Hulu.com and Cut Out Cable TV Expenses


If you're looking to reduce monthly expenses, try cutting out cable TV. It may seem extreme, particularly if you do like watching TV, but hear me out.

I used to pay over $60/month for cable TV. I'd watch a couple of shows at night after dinner, and then maybe a few shows over the weekend, but I always felt like I was paying a lot for the amount of TV I watched. Then I discovered Hulu.com.

Hulu is a website backed by NBC Universal and News Corp. According to Hulu.com, they have over 900 current primetime TV hits on the site. You can watch any of the shows for free. They still have commercials, but fewer than if you watched the shows on regular television. And you can get new shows at the same time they air on regular TV, so you don't have to wait to see them.

Hulu has a really good variety of shows, from The Office and 30 Rock to Heroes and Lipstick Jungle (all favorites of mine). They also have shows that air on cable networks, like The Daily Show with John Stewart and The Colbert Report. And you can also watch old movies on Hulu (e.g., Men in Black, Ghostbusters, etc.).

I figured that cutting out cable would save me over $700/year. That's a lot of money back in my pocket. Sure, I have to give up some of my favorite shows that they don't carry, but I catch them at friends' houses. My boyfriend is into sports, so he could never cut out cable altogether, but he has cable at his apartment so he can still watch the games there.

All in all, I think it's a pretty nice service. I still have my Internet access, obviously, so I can watch shows on Hulu, but it is nice to know I'm saving a lot of money by cutting out cable TV. And it's also nice that I can still watch new episodes of my favorite shows when I'm traveling or if I'm out to dinner and miss them when they air on regular TV, as I'm not tied down to a schedule and don't have to pay for a DVR service.

Submitted by: 42Emma

Freebie's



Get a FREE sample of Honey Nut Cheerios courtesy of Redplum.
FREE Sample of Honey Nut Cheerios

Square Foot Gardening

Let’s face it: Produce is expensive and, with the economy moving the way it is, it doesn’t look like its going to get any cheaper any time soon. A simple solution? Grow your own.

Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-build-your-own-square-foot-garden-in-10-easy-steps/#ixzz20j0xvghJ

The Basics Of Family Finances


PAY TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Successful family finances begin with the payment of an honest tithe and the giving of a generous fast offering. The Lord has promised to open the windows of heaven and pour out great blessings upon those who pay tithes and offerings faithfully (see Malachi 3:10).

AVOID DEBT
Spending less money than you make is essential to your financial security. Avoid debt, with the exception of buying a modest home or paying for education or other vital needs. Save money to purchase what you need. If you are in debt, pay it off as quickly as possible.

USE A BUDGET
Keep a record of your expenditures. Record and review monthly income and expenses. Determine how to reduce what you spend for nonessentials.
Use this information to establish a family budget. Plan what you will give as Church donations, how much you will save, and what you will spend for food, hous- ing, utilities, transportation, clothing, insurance, and so on. Discipline yourself to live within your budget plan.

BUILD A RESERVE
Gradually build a financial reserve, and use it for emergencies only. If you save a little money regularly, you will be surprised how much accumulates over time.

TEACH FAMILY MEMBERS
Teach family members the principles of financial management. Involve them in creating a budget and setting family financial goals. Teach the principles of hard work, frugality, and saving. Stress the importance of obtaining as much education as possible.

Church Handbook of Instructions 2 The Purposes of Church Welfare

Purposes of Church Welfare

The purposes of Church welfare are to help members become self-reliant, to care for the poor and needy, and to give service.

In 1936 the First Presidency outlined a welfare plan for the Church. They said: “Our primary purpose was to set up . . . a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help them- selves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 3).

Self-Reliance

Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family. As members become self-reliant, they are also better able to serve and care for others.

Church members are responsible for their own spiritual and temporal well-being. Blessed with the gift of agency, they have the privilege and duty to set their own course, solve their own problems, and strive to become self-reliant. Members do this under the inspiration of the Lord and with the labor of their own hands.

When Church members are doing all they can to provide for themselves but cannot meet their basic needs, generally they should first turn to their families for help. When this is not sufficient or feasible, the Church stands ready to help.

Some of the areas in which members should become self-reliant are outlined in the following paragraphs.

Health

The Lord has commanded members to take care of their minds and bodies. They should obey the Word of Wisdom, eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, control their weight, and get adequate sleep. They should shun substances or practices that abuse their bodies or minds and that could lead to addiction. They should practice good sanitation and hygiene and obtain adequate medical and dental care. They should also strive to cultivate good relationships with family members and others.

Education

Education provides understanding and skills that can help people develop self-reliance. Church members should study the scriptures and other good books. They should improve in their ability to read, write, and do basic mathematics. They should obtain as much education as they can, including formal or technical schooling where possible. This will help them develop their talents, find suitable employment, and make a valuable contribution to their families, the Church, and the community.

Employment

Work is the foundation upon which self- reliance and temporal well-being rest. Members should prepare for and carefully select a suitable occupation or self-employment that will provide for their own and their families’ needs. They should become skilled at their work, be diligent and trustworthy, and give honest work for the pay and benefits they receive.

Home Storage

To help care for themselves and their families, members should build a three-month supply of food that is part of their normal diet. Where local laws and circumstances permit, they should gradually build a longer-term supply of basic foods that will sustain life. They should also store drinking water in case the water supply becomes polluted or disrupted. (See All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 3.)

Finances

To become financially self-reliant, members should pay tithes and offerings, avoid unnecessary debt, use a budget, and live within a plan. They should gradually build a financial reserve by regularly saving a portion of their income. (See All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances, 3.)

Spiritual Strength

Spiritual strength is essential to a person’s temporal and eternal well-being. Church members grow in spiritual strength as they develop their testimonies, exercise faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, obey God’s commandments, pray daily, study the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets, attend Church meetings, and serve in Church callings and assignments.

Members’ Efforts to Care for the Poor and Needy and Give Service

Through His Church, the Lord has provided a way to care for the poor and needy. He has asked Church members to give generously according to what they have received from Him. He has also asked His people to “visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief” (D&C 44:6). Church members are encouraged to give personal compassionate service to those in need. They should be “anxiously engaged in a good cause,” serving without being asked or assigned (see D&C 58:26–27).

The Lord has established the law of the fast and fast offerings to bless His people and to provide a way for them to serve those in need (see Isaiah 58:6–12; Malachi 3:8–12). When members fast, they are asked to give to the Church a fast offering at least equal to the value of the food they would have eaten. If possible, they should be generous and give more. Blessings associated with the law of the fast include closeness to the Lord, increased spiritual strength, temporal well- being, greater compassion, and a stronger desire to serve.

Some opportunities to care for those in need come through Church callings. Other opportunities are present in members’ homes, neighbor- hoods, and communities. Members can also help the poor and needy of all faiths throughout the world by contributing to the Church’s humanitarian efforts.

Providing in the Lord’s way humbles the rich, exalts the poor, and sanctifies both (see D&C 104:15–18). President J. Reuben Clark Jr. taught: “The real long term objective of the Welfare Plan is the building of character in the members of the Church, givers and receivers, rescuing all that is finest down deep inside of them, and bringing to flower and fruit age the latent richness of the spirit, which after all is the mission and purpose and reason for being of this Church” (in special meeting of stake presidents, Oct. 2, 1936).

The Lord’s Storehouse

In some locations the Church has established buildings called bishops’ storehouses. When members receive permission from their bishop, they may go to the bishops’ storehouse to obtain food and clothing. But the Lord’s storehouse is not limited to a building used to distribute food and clothing to the poor. It also includes Church members’ offerings of time, talents, compassion, materials, and financial means that are made available to the bishop to help care for the poor and needy. The Lord’s storehouse, then, exists in each ward. These offerings are “to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, . . . every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God” (D&C 82:18–19). The bishop is the agent of the Lord’s storehouse.

Finance Class


A finance class is being taught on the following dates: Wed July 25th
                                                                                        Wed Aug 1st
                                                                                        Wed Aug 8th

The class starts at 7:00 pm and lasts about an hour.  It is a place for exchanging ideas to help each other with a budget.  The class is facilitated by Rick and Vickie Long.