Home Food Storage - 3 Month Plan

If you haven’t read the post: “Home Food Storage – Start Small”, please begin there.

In that post you were asked to make a plan for beginning or increasing your food storage.  You should know what your weekly budget for food storage is.  You may already have an idea of things you use on a regular basis that you would like to store. 

To assist with your food storage plan, we have an Excel spreadsheet from 'Food Storage Made Easy' that you may use to determine what you would need for a complete 3 month’s worth of food storage.  Click this link and scroll down the page to "3 Month Planning Tools": http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/babysteps/step-3-three-months-of-normal-food/   You will also find a printable spreadsheet further down the page if you do not have Excel.  Fill out the spreadsheet and then compile a shopping list from it.  Watch for sales on items on your list and grab a few extra things each week to gradually build your storage.

Please do not be overwhelmed by the title of ‘3 Month Plan’.  You do not have to buy it all at once.  The spreadsheet is just to help you organize.  If you prefer, start by filling out only 1 week on the spreadsheet.  Or, if you don’t like spreadsheets, get a piece of paper and write down what your family normally eats in one week.  Then plan on purchasing extras of those items next time you go shopping.   The idea is to just do something.

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.  

(The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1)

Smith’s deals:

(good through Feb. 1^st - prices when you buy 10 participating items)

Del Monte Vegetables $0.49

Hunt’s Tomatoes $0.49

Rotel Tomatoes $0.49

Progresso Soup $0.99

Pace Salsa $1.49

Hormel Chili $0.79

Heinz Ketchup $1.49

Kellogg’s Cereal $1.99

Kleenex $0.99

Langers Apple Juice $1.49

Arrowhead Water (24, 16oz bottles) $2.99

Home Food Storage - Start Small

Our next focus on being prepared is Home Food Storage.  Below you'll find some quotes from church leaders and Ensign articles to get you motivated.  At the very bottom (once you've read everything) you'll find some current deals at Smith's this week to get you started.

"Start small and do the best you can. Begin by purchasing a few extra items to add to your storage each week. Strive to build a one-week supply; then expand it to a one-month supply, then a three-month supply. By building your supply slowly, you can avoid financial strain and start down the path toward self-reliance."

(Family Home Storage: A New Message, Ensign, Mar. 2009, 56–60)

"Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage."

(All is Safely Gathered In; Family Home Storage pamphlet, 2007,  2)

"Rotate and use food storage items regularly. Date food items as you purchase or can them, then store new supplies of food at the back of the shelves, moving earlier purchases forward to be used first.

"Do not go into debt. Acquire food items gradually. At the very least, save a few dollars a week for storage items. Using the basic foods in day-to-day menus can cut food costs and allow you to purchase more supplies. Or, as a family, give up some of the nonessentials for a short time until you can accumulate additional foods. Through prayer and concerted effort, you can work out a food storage plan that will provide you with security and peace of mind."

(Home Storage: Build on the Basics, Ensign, June 1989, 39)

No single food storage plan will work for everyone. Each family’s needs differ, as does their financial ability to accumulate the storage items. But by working under the direction of the First Presidency “to concentrate on essential foods,” it can be done. President Ezra Taft Benson has said on at least three different occasions, “The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.”

(Ensign, Nov. 1980, p. 33.)

Kevin and I challenge you today to make a plan for beginning or increasing your home food storage.  An easy place to start is setting up a budget for food storage.  As mentioned in the Ensign, it can be just a few dollars but it will get you started and will make a difference. 

Here are just a few of the deals at Smith's caselot sale to help you get going.  These are great food storage items and will be on sale until Tuesday, Jan. 18th.  Caselot sales are an easy way to stock up on everyday essentials. 

*Note that Walmart will price match the caselot prices for single items even if you don't purchase an entire case from them (must be same brand).  If you have any trouble, ask for Patti and she will approve the price match.

* Quaker Instant Oatmeal (box of 10 single serve packets) $1.67 a box, $20.00 for case of 12

* Maruchan Ramen Noodles 8 for $1, $3.00 for case of 24 - see, just a few $

* Starkist Tuna 2 for $1, $24.00 for case of 48

* Libby's Vegetables 2 for $1, $6.00 for case of 12

* Hormel Chili $0.88 each, $10.56 for case of 12

* Spaghettios $0.55 each, $13.20 for case of 24

* Kroger 4 lb. Sugar $1.89 each, $18.90 for case of 10

* Link to Smith's full ad: http://smithsfoodanddrug.inserts2online.com/customer_Frame.jsp?divID=706&drpStoreID=00107

We know as you make a plan and move forward as a family the Lord will bless you and provide for you. - Kevin and Kammi

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." - 1st Nephi 3:7, emphasis added.

 

72-Hour Kits Week 12 - The End

Add to your Kits:

· Baby Diapers/Wipes

· Baby Formula/Bottle/Food

Tips and other Info:

· If you don’t have kids in diapers, then congratulations, you are off the hook this week. Either way, this is the final week of the 12 Weeks to a 72-Hr kit. So everyone gets a high five for completing this course.

FHE 3 Fire Safety Packets

Every family should have received a fire safety packet at church today - sent home with your oldest Primary child or priesthood member.  Please do the activities in the packet for FHE.
Activity 1: Make a map of your house.  Plan fire escape routes.  Practice your plan.  Have 1 member of the family be the 'fire' and another be the fire alarm.  Have other members of the family figure out which way they would need to go to get out of the house and not run into the fire.
Activity 2: Do the 'Home Fire Safety Checklist' with your family.
The Primary children have been promised a treat if they complete these activities with their family this week.
Please report your experiences by leaving a comment on the blog.

Week 11

Add to your Kits:

· Canned Tuna—2 per person

· Canned beans or meat—4 per person

· Basic First aid kit—1 per person

Tips and other Info:

· Maybe you don’t like tuna, so you can grab another kind of meat.

· Basic first aid kit should have some medicine (Tylenol or Ibuprofen), band-aids, cotton balls, needle and thread, and some alcohol. (not for drinking)

12 Days of Christmas - Financial Preparedness version

1st Day - Pay your tithing.                          

2nd Day - Pay a generous fast offering.

3rd Day - Budget.  Make a Christmas budget for each person you are buying gifts for (including extended family).  Assign a reasonable amount to each person and then track what you spend on your budget.  Make sure to write down what you buy as soon as you buy it so you don’t overspend.  Follow your budget carefully. 

When this Christmas is over total up what you have spent this year.  Divide your total by 12.  Put that amount (your total/12) in a savings account every month next year and let it sit until Christmas.  Next year when Christmas comes around you will already have your budget funded and ready to go.  It will take away stress and make your Holidays more enjoyable.

4^th Day - Keep it Simple.  Remember that children are easily pleased.  Don’t overdo it.  One fun toy can make their entire Christmas memorable.

5^th Day - Be Practical.  Kids get excited opening presents, even when it is a package of new underwear underneath the wrapping paper (see pictures).  Buy your kids things they need for Christmas.  Things you will need to buy them anyway.  Socks, underwear, boots, hats, coats, pants, shirts, undershirts, etc.

6^th Day - Stay Home.  Rather than going out and spending money for Christmas family activities, try starting new traditions right at home.  Have a family game or movie night, make crafts together, bake Christmas treats, tell Christmas stories, sing Christmas songs, play in the snow, make up a game to play together.  Make more memories with your family for free.  The memories will last forever.

7th Day - Watch for sales. If you stay on top of sales, you rarely have to pay full price for anything.  Buy things you know you will need when they are on sale.

8^th Day - Clip Coupons.  There are many coupons available to print from home for food and holiday goodies.  Follow our link to Savvy Shopper Deals.  Set your location as Utah.  Go to shopping wizard>grocery deals.  Search your favorite stores for great deals.  If a printable coupon is available for an item, it will be listed as a link under the item information.  $1/one Desitin coupon link, for example.

9^th Day - Cut back on neighbor gifts.  It is a nice tradition we have to share gifts and warm wishes with friends and neighbors during the Holidays.  However, sometimes sharing a thoughtful card or short note can be just as meaningful if not more that giving a gift.  Have a fun family night and make cards for your neighbors out of items you already have at home.  Deliver the cards as a family and spread the Christmas spirit.

10^th Day - Don’t feel obligated.  Remember this is a season of giving, not of stress or guilt.  If someone gives you a gift, you don’t have to feel obligated to return a gift.  Receive it with gladness. 

11^th Day - Can you afford it?  Don’t pay interest on credit cards.  If you don’t have it, don’t spend it.  Remember Elder Hales’ April 2009 Conference talk: “The first lesson was learned when we were newly married and had very little money. I was in the air force, and we had missed Christmas together. I was on assignment overseas. When I got home, I saw a beautiful dress in a store window and suggested to my wife that if she liked it, we would buy it. Mary went into the dressing room of the store. After a moment the salesclerk came out, brushed by me, and returned the dress to its place in the store window. As we left the store, I asked, “What happened?” She replied, “It was a beautiful dress, but we can’t afford it!” Those words went straight to my heart. I have learned that the three most loving words are “I love you,” and the four most caring words for those we love are “We can’t afford it.”

12^th Day - Do you need it?  Again from Elder Hales’ talk: “The second lesson was learned several years later when we were more financially secure. Our wedding anniversary was approaching, and I wanted to buy Mary a fancy coat to show my love and appreciation for our many happy years together. When I asked what she thought of the coat I had in mind, she replied with words that again penetrated my heart and mind. “Where would I wear it?” she asked. (At the time she was a ward Relief Society president helping to minister to needy families.)     

Then she taught me an unforgettable lesson. She looked me in the eyes and sweetly asked, “Are you buying this for me or for you?” In other words, she was asking, “Is the purpose of this gift to show your love for me or to show me that you are a good provider or to prove something to the world?” I pondered her question and realized I was thinking less about her and our family and more about me.

After that we had a serious, life-changing discussion about provident living, and both of us agreed that our money would be better spent in paying down our home mortgage and adding to our children’s education fund. 

We hope at least one of these tips will save you from spending money on 12 drummers drumming to a partridge in a pear tree this Christmas!  Happy Holidays, love Kevin & Kammi.

Week 10

Add to your Kits:

· Flares—4 per family

· Lighter or waterproof matches

Tips and other Info:

· Probably not a good idea to put flares, lighters, or matches in a kids’ bag, or you may be dealing with an emergency situation much faster than you would want!