Go to the source: Totally Ready

It’s finally here. The information show you have all been waiting for! I’ve been canning all day so this show will be very laid back. Please stop by and say hello.

Tip # 7: Since a crucial part of self reliance is information your tip for today is the listen to READY OR NOT. If you can’t listen tonight the show will be available for download at the same link as the live show. Hope to hear from you tonight!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/09/08/ready-or-not–carolyn-nicolaysen

Review…Tips

#1:  Find an out of area contact.

#2: Gather maps.  Get several different colors of highlighters and mark at least three different routes out of the city and  ending at the home of your out of area contact.

#3: Collect all your flashlights. Check  to make sure they are all working properly. Make note of any batteries you need to purchase.

#4 Post important phone numbers and your own address by each phone.

#5 Place a pair of good shoes under each bed where they can be reached in the middle of the night.

#6 Place a glow stick next to each bed.

Back tomorrow with number eight!

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Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

September Newsletter:

Let’s Play…a look at things to do during a power outage to keep sane.

Food Safety…keeping foods safe during a power outage.

Frozen Food During a Power Outage, when to save and when to throw away.

Dutch Oven Cooking…How to Control the Temperature

Haybox Cooking…one more way to cook when the grid goes down.

Recipes: This month all the recipes are from 1850. They are fun and easy to make and perfect during power emergencies, after all our great grandparents didn’t have electricity!

Go to the source: Totally Ready

**ONE** day until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

*****I am looking for callers who would like to participate in an online consultation.*****

Get all your questions answered for the needs of your family, not generalities, specific to your family size, needs, budget, and space.

Send me a note and we’ll make it happen! carolyn@TotallyReady.com

To call in the number is: 347-326-960

Listen 6:00pm Pacific time every Tuesday at Preparednessradionetwork

Saturday I spent the morning gleaning tomatoes and the afternoon making salsa out for about 1/5 of them. That leaves the rest for today! Yikes! I decided I didn’t want to post over the weekend as it was a holiday and I know people never check their email on those days. Then I asked why post on the weekend at all? Since I promised you thirty things to do to prepare this month I will post three things to do each Friday and then you can do them all on Friday  or Saturday and still have Sunday for church and family. So..new plan. I have been far too distracted trying to get everything organized for the new radio show TOMORROW night. I can’t believe it! Please be sure to turn in and call and say hello or ask a question.

We are not going to ignore our General Store this week. As I picked up items for my salsa I noticed again, as usual all the picnic supplies are on sale this week. Ketchup was 40% off! We will take advantage of that be adding ketchup, mayo, and mustard to our General Store this week. You should know how much to store if you have marked your bottles with the date so you would know how much you actually use during the course of a month. Use that as a guide as to how much to purchase. If you have not done this yet purchase at least one of each for now.

For those working on year two we are adding non food items this year. This week add deodorant enough for three months. Add enough for each person in your home. Again, this is an item you should have dated so you know how much you actually use during the month. Now multiply that by three and you will have a three month supply. now, for out tips.

Review…

Tip #1:  Find an out of area contact.

#2: Gather maps.  Get several different colors of highlighters and mark at least three different routes out of the city and  ending at the home of your out of area contact.

#3: Collect all your flashlights. Check  to make sure they are all working properly. Make note of any batteries you need to purchase.

New tips:

#4 Post important phone numbers by each phone. Numbers should include: Doctor, dentist, optometrist, poison control, animal poison control, hospital, police, fire department, clergy, trusted neighbor, and out of area contact. Be sure to include your address as in an emergency you may not be placing the call and a visitor to your home or babysitter, won’t know your address.

#5 Place a pair of good shoes under each bed where they can be reached in the middle of the night. Whether it be an earthquake, tornado, sudden flood or wildfire, or a home fire you will not want to be walking around in bare feet.

#6 Place a glow stick next to each bed. Glow sticks are perfect for seeing your way around should there be a power outage or other crisis during the night. You will need to teach the kids only to use it in case of emergency but you can make a deal with them and have others available, just in case. Flashlights batteries may run down if the kids decide to play with them or read after lights out but you will be able to tell if a glow stick has been used. You can often find these at the dollar store and online.

Back tomorrow with number seven!

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

September Newsletter:

Let’s Play…a look at things to do during a power outage to keep sane.

Food Safety…keeping foods safe during a power outage.

Frozen Food During a Power Outage, when to save and when to throw away.

Dutch Oven Cooking…How to Control the Temperature

Haybox Cooking…one more way to cook when the grid goes down.

Recipes: This month all the recipes are from 1850. They are fun and easy to make and perfect during power emergencies, after all our great grandparents didn’t have electricity!

Go to the source: Totally Ready

Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can’t or think you can, you are right”

Many have fallen into the trap of thinking they can’t when it comes to self reliance and emergency preparedness. That is just not true. Anyone and everyone can and should be setting goals and becoming better prepared to handle life’s challenges. When we fail to prepare and an emergency hits that challenge is magnified by the fact that we just don’t know what to do. Some give up and let the government or family worry about the problem. Some sink into deep depressions and make very poor choices. The truly wise call a friend and ask for help in pulling themselves out and preparing so a crisis can never catch them off guard again.

I am often told by people that they don’t have the money to prepare. Many preparations don’t take money, just a little time. I have been told they don’t have room to store food or supplies. Sure you do. I have discussed this at length here and in our newsletter and it is always a huge part of the discussion when I do a personal consultation. You just need to learn to think like those designers on TV who redo small apartments. I have seen them do wonders with 400 square feet. You can do the same and we can help.

Yesterday was a very upsetting day for me. My computer was giving me all sorts of trouble and my newsletter was lost. I apologize to all our subscribers for being a day late and also to you that I did not get our second of 30 tips posted. I do not want to get behind so today you get two!

Review…

Tip #1:  Find an out of area contact.

Today’s Tips

#2: Since we are still worried about hurricane Earl hitting the east coast today we are going to gather maps. Take time today to go through the glove box, file cabinet or other hidden places and pull out all the maps you have lying around. Get several different colors of highlighters and mark at least three different routes out of the city in which you live and end at the home of your out of area contact. If you can’t find maps call you city Chamber of Commerce or check your state’s government website and see if they can mail you free maps. You can also go on line and print maps there.

#3: Collect all the flashlights in your home, car and and hidden recesses. Check  to make sure they are all working properly. Make note of any batteries you need to purchase. Remove the batteries from all except the one you use often and store them with the flashlight but not in it. In the car your batteries should be in a plastic bag inside your auto kit along with the flashlight but never inside it. Batteries can explode or leak ruining your flashlight. I always keep two sets of batteries just in case one set has a leaker. I have had this happen twice within the past year and one of the batteries was in a flashlight I used often and it was ruined.

Our September Newsletter is out and I think it’s a great one! In this edition:

Let’s Play…a look at things to do during a power outage to keep sane.

Food Safety…keeping foods safe during a power outage.

Frozen Food During a Power Outage, when to save and when to throw away.

Dutch Oven Cooking…How to Control the Temperature

Haybox Cooking…one more way to cook when the grid goes down.

Recipes: This month all the recipes are from 1850. They are fun and easy to make and perfect during power emergencies, after all our great grandparents didn’t have electricity!

If you are on the east coast of the United States be sure to check out the preparing for Hurricane Earl post!

**Five Days** until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

*****I am looking for callers who would like to participate in an online consultation.*****

Get all your questions answered for the needs of your family, not generalities, specific to your family size, needs, budget, and space.

Send me a note and we’ll make it happen! carolyn@TotallyReady.com

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

Go to the source: Totally Ready

Yes, there actually is a National Emergency Preparedness month. Why? Because the government and relief agencies understand they can not meet the needs of everyone after a hurricane, wildfire, tornado, EMP, solar flare, earthquake, terrorist attack or any other national or local disaster. As I listened to the media coverage of the five year anniversary of Katrina the one thing that really stood out was the statement by Michael Brown, the head of FEMA during Katrina. He lamented that although communities and the government have made changes and are better prepared, individuals have not taken steps to prepare and they have not learned from the experiences of Katrina. That baffles me. I don’t understand how anyone could have watched all the media coverage and not wondered what they would do if it happened to them. Oh…I know the problem. It won’t happen to them!  We assume we will be the exception and even though we have seen thousands crying for lack of a drink of water we still this someone will swoop in and save us. Emergency preparedness month is all about learning to care for ourselves and our family. We must understand we are responsible for our own destiny and would we really want it any other way?

Yesterday I had a discussion with my niece who told me her friend found this site had too much information and was too confusing. I am sorry for that. I will work harder to simplify for those who are just beginning. If you have suggestions please share them with me at: carolyn@TotallyReady.com I desperately want to get the message of self reliance to all I can and to make it easily doable for any and all who understand the importance of taking control of their own future.

****Be sure to check in every day this month for an Emergency Preparedness Action Item, most of them free things you can do today to avoid heartache later.

****There will be prizes you can win throughout September.

****I will be asking for your tips and advice and we will do lots of sharing.

This is the time to commit to ramp up your preparations. Just DO IT !!

Action Item # 1

Choose an out of area contact person. Call this person today and ask them if they are willing to have you and your family evacuate to their home if the need should arise. This person should live a minimum of fifty miles away. Natural disasters often cause serious disruptions to life as we know it even fifty miles from the heart of the disaster. After Katrina there were power outages more than 5o miles away from the heart of the storm. When the wind is right air that is dangerous for those with respiratory ailments can easily drift 50 miles from a wild fire. If you evacuate too close to your home others will be there in great numbers and competing for goods and services, thus, quickly emptying shelves and filling insurance offices and hospital waiting rooms. With Hurricane Earl threatening those on the east coast you  may find the need to evacuate tomorrow! Do know know where you would go if this were you?

If you are on the east coast of the United States be sure to check out the preparing for Hurricane Earl post!

Six Days until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

Go to the source: Totally Ready

I’m changing all the recommendation for our General Store today  aware that the east coast should be preparing for hurricane Earl to make landfall, just in case. Right now Earl is a CAT 3 hurricane and by the time most of you read this I am sure it will be a 4. I remember living through a hurricane as a child in New Jersey.  Hurricanes are not as frequent in that area but I remember hunkering down in the basement for hours as the storm passed and then going out to see trees down and a huge mess of branches, debris and neighbors’ belongings in our yard. At present weather forecasters are still concerned that all east coast residents, especially those further north than North Carolina review their evacuation and other emergency plans. The storm may turn east and the worst may go out to sea but even a nor’easter will leave plenty of damage. What should you be doing right now to prepare?

1. Review your evacuation plan. If you are near the coast and the storm does pass over you evacuation will be necessary to avoid the tidal waves and damage from flooding as well as winds. You may also be ordered to leave if the eye will pass over your area. Prepare to leave.Get out those maps now and mark several routes out of town so when the order comes to evacuate you are ready to pack up and go. Your GPS should not be counted on for guidance.

2. Remove everything from your yard that may blow away. A category 3 hurricane can lift heavy tables, flower pots, swing sets, out door lighting, just about everything, be aggressive and remove anything that may become air-born and fly through a window. Outdoor solar lightning is a great light source during a power outage. Gather them into one place and leave them in the sun to charge as long as possible, just don’t forget to  bring them in before the blowing begins.

3. If you have trees with limbs that could potentially reach a window if blown hard, trim them now.

4. Move your cars into the garage.

5. Collect flashlights, glow sticks, and candles. Get out your solar, crank or battery radio. Be sure you have enough fresh batteries to last several days.

6. Gather your important papers (mortgage, insurance, birth certificates, pink slips, etc.), family photos, heirlooms, 72 hour kits, clothing and hygiene supplies so they can be quickly moved to your car.

7. Backup your computer files to a disk or off site.

8. Fill your gas tank.

9. Wash all the laundry so you start out with clean clothing and bedding in case the power is out for an extended period of time.

10. Cook. Make a few meals such as soups and stews that will be easy to reheat on an improvised cooker or camp stove. Freeze them so they will last longer. A well stocked freezer will keep foods frozen for up to three days. If you have room in the freezer add plastic containers of water to keep the temperature colder longer. These can then be used for drinking or cooking as they defrost. There are directions in past newsletters and on the blog for making paint can cookers and tuna can heaters. If you have not done that and do not have a camp stove with plenty of propane look up those directions and get busy.

11. Get some cash in small denominations. When the power is out so are ATM and credit card machines.

12. Discuss your plans with your family and prepare them. Be sure they understand what to do if they are at school or work when an evacuation is ordered.

13. Notify your out of state contact and inform them of your plans to evacuate to their home. This will give them time to stock up on a few extra supplies.

14. Renew any prescriptions that may run out in the next two weeks.

15. Gather your cleaning supplies and fill in any gaps. We will add a few to our General Store this week but you will need more so check your supplies carefully.

16. Fill everything in your home that will hold water with water. Wait until just before the storm hits to fill your bath tub. You can use this water to clean and bathe but not drink. Purchase bottled water if your water storage is low.

17. Check your pantry and make sure you have plenty of easily prepared canned foods. Remember dehydrated and freeze dried foods need water to be reconstituted and you may not have water. You will also not want foods that don’t need to be cooked but rather store those that just need heating. You will want to conserve your fuel sources. Sandwiches, canned soups and stews are good. Don’t forget snack foods, especially if your have children. They will help keep the peace. Never, Never use your barbecue inside your home! If you must use a barbecue only use it in the garage with the door open and the cars pulled out.

18. Plan for sanitation. How will you handle bathroom needs if you have no water to flush. If you have a camping port-a-potty or a potty seat and a bucket get them out and set up an area in the garage. If you are in an apartment then set it up in a bathroom but the garage will keep the odors at bay.

19. Pull out that old plug in telephone. Portable phones will not work when the power is out. Cell phones will be jammed and are often taken over for emergency purposes.

20. Check with elderly and disabled neighbors and friends and make sure they have a plan.

If you have never thought about some of these things don’t you wish you had? You still have a few days to prepare so take that time to ask questions and learn. Ask friends. Ask our yahoo group. Ask me (carolyn@TotallyReady.com). As the storm gets closer store shelves will empty very quickly so please don’t wait.

This week we will be adding work gloves, at least one pair per family member, and disinfectant cleaners to our General Store. After a storm water will be contaminated and everything that has been touched by storm water will need to be disinfected before use.

For those working on the food shelves of their General Store we were going to add condiments this week since they are on sale for Labor Day picnics but I noticed we have not added gains yet and those who may get caught in this storm will need those more than condiments.  This week add six pounds of grains per family member. If you are on the east coast make some of them bread and crackers that can be eaten without cooking. For others add oats, rice, wheat, barley, pasta, any grain your family likes to eat. Variety is important to avoid appetite fatigue so don’t purchase just one variety.

Please tweet, facebook, email or share this post in any way possible with your family and friends on the east coast. They may think you are a little nuts but they will be grateful later or they will be ready to listen next time! We will hope and pray the storm turns out to sea, but just in case…

Eight Days until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

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I have been giving lots of thought to the housing market the past week and just why we should be concerned about it’s highs and lows. Last month the housing market crashed with existing home sale at a 15 year low and new home sales at an all time low. As I pondered I considered why houses are not selling. Some are upside down on their mortgage which means they are stuck. Even those who are ready and needing to move up can’t. Those who are ready and willing to downsize can’t. Then there are those who are ready to buy for the first time. They have the opportunity of a lifetime to buy low but with the job market in a stall and banks more cautious than ever they can’t qualify for loans or unwilling to take the risk. There are plenty of foreclosures but those often need expensive repairs as the former owners have taken fixtures and appliances or just because an empty home creates lots of problems quickly due to lack of attention when  problem is small.

Why should the housing market be a concern? The obvious answer .is the construction industry. There are no job. Even those with homes are not investing in improvements. Who wants to invest in a property if you may never get the expense back out? Those workers are not shopping the way they were so, restaurants and retailers suffer. Those who supply parts and building materials are cutting back on workers because orders are down. Now those workers are not eating out or spending. Appliance manufacturers are not selling appliances because there is little building and little remodeling. Now those employees are not spending. No building means less income to school districts who charge fees for new building. That adds to the problem of no new students moving into the district and in lots of areas shrinking class sizes which means less money coming in from the state…..When will this end? I have no idea. When will people feel confident to invest again and not worry that the property they are buying could be worth less in a few months? I have no idea.

Last week I asked for your suggestions for a reader who is struggling with some serious financial challenges. I really appreciate all you suggestions and I’m sure she does also. What do you do when you have tried all those things? You have cut your bills, don’t have a cell phone, don’t have cable, don’t eat out, eat mostly rice and beans or breakfast foods for dinner and you bike to work? It’s tough, especially if you don’t have a good support group of family, friends and your church. I am grateful I have that support but I realize some do not.

All this reflection made me think again about earning more money. If we can’t save any more how can we earn more? I have found it to be impossible to hire a teenager to mow my lawns. Really! I can not believe it but the kids don’t want to work. Boy, do they have a wake up call coming and will they ever be angry with their parents when they realize they have been cheated out of the opportunity to learn to work and budget. This does leave an opening in my area for the unemployed or under employed. Moms and dads could fill the void and pick up a little extra money. There are other opportunities.

My 12 year old grandson has decided he loves to bake. His mom belongs to a yahoo group with her friends in the area and he decided to send out a notice that he was baking that week. He listed the items that could be ordered with their prices. The next Saturday he and mom baked all day and delivered the goods . After paying for the ingredients he made $25.00. Everyone purchases bread and with bread at $3.00 a loaf or more wouldn’t you be willing to pay $3.00 for homemade bread? The same is true of birthday cakes. They cost a fortune and the grocery store variety taste awful. Wouldn’t you rather purchase one at the same price or even a little more, that tasted great?

So what could you do to make extra money? I opened an ETSY store and that was a disaster! I tried….I do have lots of great baby gifts now for future showers. I know others who are making on line stores work but it just wasn’t meant to be for me.

I would like to know what you are doing or what friends have done. Please share your ideas. Baking bread may not be the answer for you, but it may. Mowing lawns may not work, but it may. Let’s throw out some ideas and maybe we can help someone who is struggling discover a solution that will work for them.

Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear on the radio show! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

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I am so excited! I have been working on a plan to do my own weekly blog talk radio show for some time now. That should explain a littler of the reason I have been distracted and not posting as often as in the past. The new show will begin on September 7th at 6:00pm Pacific time. Shows will include information on every aspect of emergency preparedness and self reliance. If there is a guest you would like to hear or if you would like to share your experiences and become a guest please let me know. If you have an area of preparedness you would like help with please comment here or send me a note.

Have any of you been watching the TV show The Colony? I was just wondering what your opinion is of the show and what you wish they were doing that you have note seen done yet.

It’s time again to add to our General Store. This week we are adding permanent markers and note books. With school supplies on sale right now these should be found at the best prices of the year. Permanent markers can be used for many things but for our purposes we will be using them to date the foods we purchase. I try to keep one in the kitchen for items that are stored there or for items I tape before storing. I also have a marker stashed in all the places I have items stored. If you are wondering what I tape. I use packing tape to seal everything that comes packaged in a box. I seal all the flaps and edges so if the item does have larva for those pesty little moths they can not get out and infest everything else. If I should get them in the cupboard they can also not get into anything on the shelves and infest them.

For those who are new and storing food this is week 5 and you should be adding 6 cans of fruit per person. Again, put out the word that you are looking for free fruit and can or freeze that.

Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear on the radio show!

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

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I am leaving this post up for the weekend because I really feel this is an important question that we must answer. Times are getting tougher and there are so many who have never had to consider how to provide for their family during a tough time. We have more and more single moms and dads trying to raise good families. We have more and more grandparents raising their grandkids. We have more and more multi generational households combining resources to keep going. Even in these dire situations food storage and emergency preparations can not be ignored. Yes, there are times when we will just eat through what we have but as soon as there is a positive change we need to refocus on rebuilding.

I had another note from my new friend this morning and I have posted it in the comments section. It has been her experience that when she needed help all anyone wanted to do was give the kids toys. Even her family will only give toys as gifts. Yikes!! So that is the kind of help we can expect? Seems another good reason to prepare. Please read through the comments and add your own insights and advice. Now is the time to share what you have learned when your crisis can.

Yesterday’s post:

There was a huge jump in the unemployment rate last week with 500,000 people applying for unemployment for the first time. That is truly frightening to me. As I listened to the bad news this morning I received the following email from a woman who has just discovered this blog. I felt it was a good one to share with all of you and I hope you will add your suggestions for her. I know there are many more like her struggling to provide today and still prepare for tomorrow.

We are just coming out of a 3 year family financial emergency, have a bit of debt from car/home repairs (after the emergency fund died) and our long term storage is very depleted. I have one totally paid off credit card. I HATE debt of any kind and have been paying to down a best I can. I also seem to equally HATE not having a stash of long term food.

Should I use the paid off card to make a bulk order of emergency food & replace broken water containers to restore our stock before winter ( I checked & what I need to get is about $300 – this would not max out the card) or Should I wait & pay off all the debt first (it’ll take a year & half yet unless I get a wind fall from some where).

I get paid once a month so we get groceries once a month – I don’t have time (single Mom) to do a weekly grocery run to grab some cans to gradually build up since 3/4 of my monthly pay check goes to bills right now… so things get pretty thin a week or two before payday.

Note: She is 5 hours from a place where she can buy in bulk and there is one grocery store in town.

I would pay off your credit cards as quickly as possible. I do have a few suggestions for building a food storage while doing this.

First, I would start having breakfast meals for dinner at least once a week. I know Dave Ramsey says beans and rice but I like breakfast better. French toast, pancakes, waffles, even scrambled eggs and hash browns are very inexpensive and will free up grocery money to start adding food storage. If you follow my blog on Mondays I post things to purchase each week. This week was protein so add a jar of peanut butter or some tuna or beans. If you follow along you will build a stash. Just do as much as you can afford to do. If you shop once a month just keep track of what you should add each week and purchase a few things from each category each month.

Second, if you have older children get them involved and all of you save your change each night in a jar. Make it a practice not to spend your change. At the end of the month take that money and spend it on food storage. We have had as much as $40.00 in the jar in a month.

Third, shop the sales. Add items to your storage, here we call it a General Store, when they are on sale. If I suggest you get protein for example, this week look for a protein that is on sale. If there are none add veggie or fruit or grains that are and then in a grain week you can add the protein. Does that make sense? Everything goes on sale, usually every 12 weeks or sooner. Remember canned foods are good at least two years past the expiration date.

Fourth, do you know any Mormons in your area? There is a Mormon cannery in Omaha and they have great….prices on bulk long term storage foods like beans, rice, pasta and powdered milk (there is more). You don’t have to be a church member to buy from the cannery. You do have to go and can it into #10 cans or mylar pouches but most congregations make regular trips to the cannery. If you call a friend who is a member of if you call the church they would probably just bring back stuff for you when they go if you can’t get there. You can also just purchase a whole bag and put it in a 5 gallon bucket at home.

Fifth, Get the word out at work, with the kids teachers, your email list,  or at church that you are looking for fruit and veggies that anyone in trying to get rid of. This is the time of the year people have too much in their gardens and on trees for their own use. Eat, can or freeze everything you can get.

Sixth, ask for gifts. Have the kids make a list of items they would like in food storage and you make a list also. Ask for that from family and friends for Christmas or birthdays. The kids will want popcorn and brownies but they should be included in a good food storage program. Comfort foods are a must!

I could keep going but that should give you a few ideas. Hopefully other readers will add more. You should know how much I admire what you are doing. Your family is very lucky to have someone who is so focused on caring for their needs.

OK everyone now it’s your turn!

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Go to the source: Totally Ready

There was a huge jump in the unemployment rate last week with 500,000 people applying for unemployment for the first time. That is truly frightening to me. As I listened to the bad news this morning I received the following email from a woman who has just discovered this blog. I felt it was a good one to share with all of you and I hope you will add your suggestions for her. I know there are many more like her struggling to provide today and still prepare for tomorrow.

We are just coming out of a 3 year family financial emergency, have a bit of debt from car/home repairs (after the emergency fund died) and our long term storage is very depleted. I have one totally paid off credit card. I HATE debt of any kind and have been paying to down a best I can. I also seem to equally HATE not having a stash of long term food.

Should I use the paid off card to make a bulk order of emergency food & replace broken water containers to restore our stock before winter ( I checked & what I need to get is about $300 – this would not max out the card) or Should I wait & pay off all the debt first (it’ll take a year & half yet unless I get a wind fall from some where).

I get paid once a month so we get groceries once a month – I don’t have time (single Mom) to do a weekly grocery run to grab some cans to gradually build up since 3/4 of my monthly pay check goes to bills right now… so things get pretty thin a week or two before payday.

Note: She is 5 hours from a place where she can buy in bulk and there is one grocery store in town.

I would pay off your credit cards as quickly as possible. I do have a few suggestions for building a food storage while doing this.

First, I would start having breakfast meals for dinner at least once a week. I know Dave Ramsey says beans and rice but I like breakfast better. French toast, pancakes, waffles, even scrambled eggs and hash browns are very inexpensive and will free up grocery money to start adding food storage. If you follow my blog on Mondays I post things to purchase each week. This week was protein so add a jar of peanut butter or some tuna or beans. If you follow along you will build a stash. Just do as much as you can afford to do. If you shop once a month just keep track of what you should add each week and purchase a few things from each category each month.

Second, if you have older children get them involved and all of you save your change each night in a jar. Make it a practice not to spend your change. At the end of the month take that money and spend it on food storage. We have had as much as $40.00 in the jar in a month.

Third, shop the sales. Add items to your storage, here we call it a General Store, when they are on sale. If I suggest you get protein for example, this week look for a protein that is on sale. If there are none add veggie or fruit or grains that are and then in a grain week you can add the protein. Does that make sense? Everything goes on sale, usually every 12 weeks or sooner. Remember canned foods are good at least two years past the expiration date.

Fourth, do you know any Mormons in your area? There is a Mormon cannery in Omaha and they have great….prices on bulk long term storage foods like beans, rice, pasta and powdered milk (there is more). You don’t have to be a church member to buy from the cannery. You do have to go and can it into #10 cans or mylar pouches but most congregations make regular trips to the cannery. If you call a friend who is a member of if you call the church they would probably just bring back stuff for you when they go if you can’t get there. You can also just purchase a whole bag and put it in a 5 gallon bucket at home.

Fifth, Get the word out at work, with the kids teachers, your email list,  or at church that you are looking for fruit and veggies that anyone in trying to get rid of. This is the time of the year people have too much in their gardens and on trees for their own use. Eat, can or freeze everything you can get.

Sixth, ask for gifts. Have the kids make a list of items they would like in food storage and you make a list also. Ask for that from family and friends for Christmas or birthdays. The kids will want popcorn and brownies but they should be included in a good food storage program. Comfort foods are a must!

I could keep going but that should give you a few ideas. Hopefully other readers will add more. You should know how much I admire what you are doing. Your family is very lucky to have someone who is so focused on caring for their needs.

OK everyone now it’s your turn!

Another Talk with Halli

Tomorrow morning 8:00am mountain time

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/profile.aspx?userurl=idahotalk

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Go to the source: Totally Ready

With the economy continuing in a downward spiral we are all looking for new ways to save money or for reminders of the things we may have done in the past but forgot when times were good. Today let’s look at just a few.

Put Down As Much As You Can

When you are purchase a large ticket item on credit put down the largest deposit you can afford. Don’t be swayed by the sales person or real estate agent, who reminds you that you only need to put $—— down and you can take the rest of your cash and use it on something else. You will pay hundreds or thousands of dollars more over the life of your loan in interest charges when you make a small or no down payment. This same principle applies to all purchases. If you are buying school clothes you don’t have to put it all on your credit card. In reality you should not be using a credit card at all but if you have to don’t forget your cash. If you have $50.00 in your budget for clothing and extras this month but school clothing comes to $100.00 give the clerk your $50.. cash and have them place the remainder on your card. Lesson, put as little on your card as possible.

Eliminate extra charges

Examine your insurance policy, retirement funds, bank accounts, etc. and eliminate any extras you do not need. You may be paying for a policy which covers braces but you don’t have any children. Banks, cable companies, cell phone carriers, utility companies, all have hidden fees for things you are charged for but never use.

Determine the real cost of an item

If cable, for example is $20.00 per month it is really $240.00 per year. What could you do with $240.00? What about the newspaper? If you read it by all means keep it but if you don’t have time to read consider only getting the Sunday edition. With Hulu and Net Flicks there are so many options now to eliminate cable and still get your “fix”.

Cancel private mortgage insurance

Once you owe less than 80% of your home’s value your lender no longer requires mortgage insurance. Keep a close eye on when you reach this level and cancel the insurance. With many upside down on their mortgages this is harder to do but if you are lucky enough to have equity take advantage of that.

Now, go and do some serious examination and save, save, save.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends