Daily Preparedness

The pumpkins are being carved and right next to the row of Halloween costumes are Christmas ornaments!  Yes, it is that time of the year when budgets, bodies and emotions can all come crashing down from the weight of Holiday-mania!  Preparing  (a recurring theme here) ahead, a bit of planning and a good dose of self-control can yield a holiday season with more happy memories than post-holiday mania.  Try these time, energy, emotion and money saving tips this year:

1. Establish a firm budget for gifts and all of the ‘extras’ that come with the holidays. Think about your previous year’s commitments, activities and expectations as a spring board for remembering everything you will need to buy!  In addition to gifts, remember food, clothing, transportation, postage, events, wrapping paper (unless you were clever enough to get it last year at 90% off)–all of those extras that add up to financial stress.

2. Make a list of everyone you would like to give a gift to. In addition to family members, don’t forget teachers, leaders, visiting teaching, home teachers, coaches, neighbors, children’s friends, co-workers and family members. A ‘standardized’ gift for teachers, etc. is often helpful and avoids last minute confusion. Teachers in particular often appreciate note cards or small consumable gifts. Consider having one or two extra small gifts on hand for hostess gifts or surprise gift giving opportunities.  Were you clever enough to purchase items at after-holiday sales last year???  Do an inventory of what you have on hand before you step one foot in a store! Assign items you find to specific individuals on your list, wrap and label.  Mark them off your list and smile at your savings, cleverness and organizational skills.  You are amazing!

3. Decide how much you would like to spend on each of these gifts. Can you make some of them? Would a nice note suffice? Can you really easily afford the total cost?

4. Check your address books to establish how many Christmas cards you need to send. Are you going to include photos? Don’t forget the cost of stamps. Can you reduce the number by sending e-cards to your tech savvy friends?  Or post the photos on line and give your friends the url–no cost to you!  Don’t forget the dollar store as a resource for inexpensive cards.

5. Stop by the dollar store & check Target’s ‘dollar spot’ for these items before they are gone: ‘disposable’ decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, tape, wrapping paper, Christmas cards, napkins, small gifts for teachers, etc. This is often your cheapest source for these items and they will often sell out quickly.

6. Decide which if any service projects or charity collections you can participate in. You will probably receive multiple requests for canned goods, mittens, scarves or whatever between November 1 and December 31. Decide now what you can afford to give and where your efforts and time are best applied.

7. Look at your calendar now and begin putting in all of the holiday activities available. As a family, decide what you will participate in. Remember to leave time for being together.

8. Decide which holidays you will spend where. With large extended families, it is often the case that you are pulled in a multitude of directions. If your family wants you to bring the new baby home for the holidays and your budget is tight, don’t hesitate to explain this fact of life to your family. Perhaps everyone that wants to cuddle Junior on Christmas Eve would pitch in for airline tickets. Whatever you decide to do, make certain it is what you can handle emotionally, spiritually and financially.

9. Shop early and shop smart. Keep a list of who you are buying for and what you have already purchased. A small spiral notebook works well as does a simple 3×5 card. As you purchase a gift, mark it off your list.  Staying out of the stores close to any holiday will save you time, money and frustration!

10. Wrap everything you can early and store where you can find it. I routinely misplace gifts—it has become nearly a family tradition to hunt for the missing gifts, so try to designate one hiding place or at least make a list of where you put what.  Not all families would be as entertained as mine by ‘Gift Hunt’.

11. Maintain a sense of humor and a sense of perspective.

12. Purchase or make Halloween costumes early. Get your treats for trick or treaters purchased early and then hide them from your family members.

13. Make menus for not only the holiday meals you will be hosting but those you will be attending that require you to bring food. It is amazing how many potluck dinners crop up between Nov. 1 and Jan 1. If you can make some of those dishes ahead of time and freeze them, your life will be less chaotic. Shop for shelf stable ingredients NOW or as they go on sale.  Write out menus and prepare a shopping list now!  Mark off items as you purchase them.  It can be helpful to separate items specifically for a certain meal, bag them up and label them accordingly.

14. While you are freezing things for potlucks, make extra for your family. When things get hectic, you’ll have dinner in the freezer. Disposable pans lighten the clean up time. Keep a list of what you have on hand.

15. Purchase some disposable dishes and flatware to use for hectic days.

16. If you have multiple holiday events to attend, consider what you need for your wardrobe and/or your family’s holiday events.  Shop in your closet first, then branch out to other family members and friends.  Maybe your best friend can loan you that fancy outfit or accessories.  If you have to shop, do so early so that you can bargain shop without pressure.

17. Bake ahead and freeze! Wrap items tightly, label and add to your list of available items.

18. Practice saying no if this is a problem for you. Say no to the mirror.  Say no to yourself!

19. If you have young children, consider turning off regular TV program loaded with commercials that will drive their ‘wish list’ crazy. Substitute videos and DVD’s of their favorite shows. The public libraries are great resources!

20.  In all things, think safety!  Fatigue, busyness, even happy laughter can easily distract us and lead to accidents.  Don’t relax the rules about buckling up, no matter how many friends want to go with you to that holiday concert.  Don’t forget to be certain your smoke detectors are working.  Don’t overload electrical outlets or leave candles burning unattended!  Keep breakable or dangerous ornaments out of reach for young children and pets.  Lock up, secure your belongings, drive carefully and always be aware of your surroundings.  Predators are out there just hoping you’ll be too busy to notice them!

21. Try to always remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, any holiday you celebrate between now & January 1st and focus on that meaning.  Enjoy all of the free community events together as a family or with good friends.  Play games together.  Make memories, not headaches.

Using ‘plastic’ money can be a great way to track expenses and consolidate your bill paying, but that plastic should come with a bit of a warning label. Credit card fraud is on the rise, as is the fraudulent use of checking accounts. Common sense and a healthy dose of forewarning are your best protections! Keep these pointers in mind and you will be spared the agony accompanying the all-too common crime of credit card fraud:

1. Don’t let your credit card out of your sight.

2. Shield your credit card number from onlookers. A new version of credit card thief is utilizing the cameras on cell phones to capture images of credit card numbers used by others in public settings such as stores.

3. Don’t process a credit card, debit card or check transaction with a clerk that is talking on the phone, particularly in a language you do not understand. This is one of the newest ways to steal your information!  Hold your card until the clerk is done or ask for the phone call to be terminated.  Better yet, shop at stores that allow you to retain custody of your card and swipe it yourself.

4. Never provide your credit card number or the cvi code on the back of the card to someone that calls you or emails you. A common scam is to inform you through a call or email that a problem has arisen with your account and they need to verify your information. NEVER utilize a link provided in an email to verify your personal information.

5. Never provide your credit card or other personal information on a website that is not a secure site.

6. Sign credit cards as soon as you receive them.

7. Shred all credit card applications you receive. Shred expired credit cards and any piece of paper with credit card information.

8. Never leave credit cards or receipts with your credit card information lying around.  Shred them!

9. In a secure place, keep a copy of all your credit cards and numbers with the phone numbers for customer service.

10. Check your monthly statements carefully. IMMEDIATELY report any charges that appear fraudulent.

11. If you even suspect that your credit card has been out of your control for any length of time, call your credit card company. Their security department should quickly verify all activity on the card, close that account and issue new cards to you.

12. Carry only the number of credit cards that you absolutely need. When traveling, it is a good idea to carry a back up card in a location other than your wallet. When traveling with another family member, have them carry a different card than you. If one is lost, you still have one between the two of you to use until the lost one can be replaced.

13. Never sign a blank or partially filled in receipt. If there are lines for tips, etc, make certain you have filled them out appropriately and put a correct total on the bottom line.

14. Carbon paper receipts are rarely used. If you do happen across a merchant still using carbon paper, ask for the carbon and then destroy it.

15. It is often best to avoid writing checks at retail establishments or to merchants you do not know. With your routing number and checking account number it is quite easy for thieves to tap into your bank account.

16. Be particularly careful with debit cards. Most debit cards do not have the same level of protection that a credit card does.

17. Periodically, get a copy of your credit bureau report. You are entitled to a yearly free copy.

18. Ask to have passwords placed on all of your accounts. This password will be required to make any changes to your account and protect you from the address being changed without you knowing it.

19. Never lend your credit card to someone else.

20. Notify your credit card in advance of any change in your address or phone numbers.  If you do not move often, periodically check to make certain that your credit card company has your correct address and phone number.  This is particularly true if you rely on electronic statements.

21. Some credit card issuers will refuse charges from little known internet sellers or unusual spending patterns. If you are planning to make a sizable purchase on a card that you do not use often for that sort of purchase, contact your credit card company in advance.

22. Before traveling overseas, ask your credit card issuer what their charges for currency exchange are as well as your protection should your card be used fraudulently outside the U.S.

23. If your credit card is lost, IMMEDIATELY contact the provider of the card. According to federal law, you are not responsible for any charges made after you have notified the issuer of the card. (This may not apply to debit cards!) Your maximum liability according to U.S. law is $50 per credit card and some issuers will waive that for good customers.

Following these guidelines will go a long way in preventing the headaches and potential of identity theft associated with check, debit card and credit card fraud.

Preparedness and provident living extend well beyond the edible goodies in your pantry and the water safely stored!  The well-prepared home is one in which a family can shelter for at least two weeks without having to depend on outside support.  Even better, is a home that would allow you to stay in place for months if need by!  This level of preparation is not intended to fulfill some doomsday scenario, but to allow you to weather the storms of life–illness, weather events, unemployment, unexpected expenses, inflation and a wide range of small to large disasters.  A prepared and provident home takes advantage of sale prices to stock up and then uses up their ‘bargains’ until the next sale rolls around.

Hygiene: feminine products, hand sanitizer, baby or other disposable wipes (if you don’t have water, this would be your primary source of hygiene for the whole family), toothpaste, mouthwash (even if you don’t use regularly, it will keep mouth healthy & can disinfect other items), diapers, toilet paper, facial tissue, bleach, dishwashing soap (not dishwasher soap), dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, spray disinfectant, paper towels, garbage bags, basic household cleaners, disposable abrasive pads, ‘comet’ or similar powdered cleanser.

Health: vitamins, pain relievers, thermometer, cold medication, prescription medication, rubbing alcohol, cough drops, anti-diarrhea medication, laxative, a well stocked first aid kit, hydrogen peroxide, disposable latex gloves (if anyone is allergic to latex, order non-latex gloves), N-90 facial masks, antacid, & any other over the counter meds your family uses regularly.

Safety/comfort: candles (the best are those encased in glass container), matches, fire extinguisher, flashlights, batteries, battery operated radio, heat source (firewood, portable heater, etc—NEVER use a BBQ inside and NEVER store an extra propane tank inside your home or garage), smoke detectors that run on batteries, extra warm clothing, fans, sufficient blankets and/or sleeping bags, hats, mittens, rain gear

Tools: basic tool box to include a screwdriver, hammer, nails, pliers, screws, etc, tool to turn off gas line (can only be re-opened by professional), bung wrench if you store food in plastic buckets, plastic sheeting, duct tape, painter’s tape (these items can help seal up windows, etc. to keep home warmer as well as patch holes in the roof & package excess trash), snow shovel, regular shovel, paper, pencils.

Eating: disposable plates, cups, pans, & flatware, paper napkins, aluminum foil, BBQ (only outside), & camp stove.  Don’t forget extra fuel!

Car: keep at least ¼ to ½ tank of gas at all times. Have your car emergency kit packed and updated. And keep your car well maintained!

Pets: Remember to think of your pet needs as well.

Cash:  Every home needs a reasonable amount of cash in small bills (NO larger than $20) stored.  In many natural or man-made disasters, access to checking accounts, debit cards and credit cards is cut off.   All transactions are made with cash, and change is often not available.

Entertainment: Have you considered how you would keep yourself and your children busy if you don’t have electricity or cannot go out to your local ‘amusements’?  Be certain that you have books, games, hobbies and an idea of how to entertain yourself and your family at home.  Practice once in awhile–it’ll be good for your relationships and your wallet.

Information: Do you have a ‘hard copy’ of quick recipes, phone numbers, important addresses, etc?  Be wary of keeping all of your vital information electronically.  Technology is wonderful and we all rely on it, but keep at least a minimum of information in a format that is easy to access regardless of whether you have power or internet access.

Think through the specific needs of you and your family. Adapt these suggestions to meet those needs and then evaluate what you have on hand. Many of these items, such as paper towels, need only be stored in a larger than normal quantity.

Provident Living Pointer—Compassionate Cuisine

By Anne Lawver

The warm casserole, a colorful salad and a loaf of homemade bread all delivered by loving hands—do you see it in your mind’s eye? The preparation of meals for others seems to be interwoven with our role as women and as compassionate human beings. All of us have most likely either prepared or received a meal in a time of crisis, after a new baby or during a move. To do so expresses our concern for others and often fulfills an immediate need. With food and fuel prices rapidly rising, it is wise to think about how we can fulfill these warm-hearted desires in a more economical manner. To that end, I present to you “Top Ten Ways To Serve And Stay Sane”:

1. Be certain that a meal is what the family really needs. If you are asked to provide a meal by the person organizing assistance, it is safe to assume that the need has already been established. If you are the  caring friend or loving neighbor, do not hesitate to ask the family exactly what they do need. Maybe they need childcare, lawn work, someone to run an errand or a bit of laundry done instead of a meal. A new Mom might prefer someone to rock a baby or play with a toddler for a few hours so she can shower and take a nap. A family that has suffered a death might need disposable plates, cups, flatware or sodas more than a meal.

2. Ask the family if they have food allergies, intolerances or strong dislikes. Honor the answers you receive as serious health consequences often go along with ignoring such warnings. You also do not want your valuable time and resources tossed out because the family cannot eat them.

3. Be considerate of meal times. Ask the family when they would like to eat. If you can’t deliver the meal ready to eat at that time, drop off the food early with re-heating instructions. Be certain someone will be home at your delivery time.

4. Package as much of the meal as possible in disposable containers. Many caring folks keep plastic dishes, paper plates, disposable pans, plastic bags and clean containers from other foods for just this purpose. If you absolutely must use a ‘real’ dish, be certain to mark it with your name and offer to pick it up in a day or two.

5. Think it through!! Think through the family’s situation and let it guide you. A family with an intestinal illness does not need a plate of bean burritos nor does a family under stress need highly spicy foods or a ‘grease bomb’ of fried delight.

6. Keep it simple! Simple, nutritious meals are the best. This isn’t the time to surprise the unknowing with your “Eggplant Surprise” or “Secret Sauce Tuna Noodle Stuff.” Some good choices might include rice with chicken, vegetable soup, stew, sloppy joes, lasagna, pasta with red sauce, tacos, pita sandwiches, scalloped potatoes and ham, quiche, or turkey and dressing. One-dish dinners are good so long as the ingredients are recognizable and generally liked.

7. Know your limits! If you are asked to provide a meal and your budget, time or personal situation won’t allow it, gracefully decline. You might be able to offer to do just part of a meal–a plate of cookies, a salad or a dozen rolls. Do not be shy, be your own advocate and don’t let compassion (or embarrassment) keep you from maintaining your budgetary health and sanity. As demands on our budgets continue to escalate, we may be forced to continue ‘down-sizing’ and streamlining how we do things.

8. Be Super Safe! Be certain that you prepare the meal extremely carefully with the highest standards of cleanliness. Follow safe food handling rules more strictly than you would for your own family. We tend to be ‘used to’ our own germs, but those same germs can easily infect others. Those who are already ill or stressed may have weakened immune systems that will be more susceptible to food-borne illness.

9. Consider asking the family if they have a favorite recipe or a piece of meat they would like you to prepare. This is particularly helpful for long-term illnesses and ongoing needs. One summer, a neighbor was bedridden with pregnancy complications. For several months, I prepared the family dinner using the meats from their well-stocked freezer and their recipes. If I were going out for the day, I would stop by and put dinner in their crock-pot. They enjoyed eating familiar things and felt that they were not imposing as much as if I were providing all of the ingredients. If I had proposed providing all of the ingredients, this self-reliant family would never have agreed.

10. Finally, prepare yourself so that you can not only serve others, but also be self-reliant. Always have several meals in your freezer that can be easily warmed up. Think through simple menus that anyone in your family can prepare. One wise woman keeps several grocery bags in her pantry filled with the ingredients and the recipe for a ‘quick to do’ dinner. If you know you are having surgery or a new baby—PLAN AHEAD!!! Freeze, can, purchase, label and organize so that your family is as self-reliant as possible! And, be certain that all family members old enough to safely cook know how to prepare at least a simple meal.

Hi! I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Heather, Anne’s daughter and the webmistress of DailyPreparedness.com. I’m here to let you know that I’ve set up a brand new Daily Preparedness newsletter! This new service will notify readers of newly published articles, keep them in the know with exciting insider information, special notes from Anne, and extra tidbits & advice specially prepared just for you, our most valued readers!

If you’d like to receive the Daily Preparedness newsletter, all you have to do is visit our Newsletter page, enter your name and email address, and click “Subscribe”! You’ll then receive a confirmation email with a link inside to confirm your subscription. Click that link and you’ll be good to go! It’s just that simple.

Of course, your information will always be kept private; I guarantee it will never be shared or sold! And if you’d ever like to unsubscribe, it’s free and easy to remove your name from our database - just return to the Newsletter page, enter your information again, and click “Unsubscribe.”

I really hope you’ll sign up and enjoy this new service! As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Anne or myself and we’ll be happy to help in any way we can.

Thanks and enjoy!

The concept of being prepared daily is to prepare today for not matter what tomorrow brings. This process of living often includes the concept of visualizing “What-If this..or that…happens?” We can never visualize all possibilities, but being prepared will allow us to face challenges and overcome them! Although it is important to prepare with commodities such as food, water, sanitary needs, etc, it is also critical that we become ‘paper prepared.’ Everyone has accounts, statements, certificates and other items that we may need to refer to at a moment’s notice. This may be nothing more serious than needing to call the cable company because our TV isn’t receiving a signal. Or it may be as serious as a mandatory evacuation or the death of a loved one.

No matter the scenario, having our ‘paper’ world organized is critical to achieving a state of daily preparedness. The first, and probably one of the most vital, steps in becoming ‘paper prepared’ is to organize and maintain a ‘What-If’ Notebook.

A ‘What-If’ Notebook houses copies of all of the information you need to have at your finger tips. And completing it is really easy! Just follow this simple ‘recipe’:

Ingredients:

A 3-ring notebook marked on binding with the words “What IF?”

Some page protectors

Access to a photocopy machine

Blank pieces of paper

Pen

Gather the following documents and place in notebook with page protectors, which will protect the pages and make them easier to access and allow you to quickly add items as you receive them. Your notebook should contain these documents:

1. Important ‘certificates’—birth, death, marriage, diploma, divorce papers, titles, Social Security statements, disability, custody agreements

2. Insurance policies—at least front page of each. You can also simply add a bill for the insurance, so long as the statement includes policy number, contact information for the insurance company and type of insurance.

3. Location of will or trust papers. Contact information for trustee or attorney.

4. As bills come in, simply photocopy each of the following and place in notebook (or place an original bill): insurance, utilities, phone, credit cards, mortgage, loans, cable, ‘easy pass’, anything you or someone else might have to shut off, change or refer to.

5. Driver’s license and other important IDs, including passport. Photocopy in B&W at a different size than normal.

6. Names (and relationship), addresses, phone numbers, email addresses of close friends and relatives. . (a friend told me that after they went through a hurricane, she couldn’t remember her own mother’s phone number!)

7. Letter authorizing a trusted relative to discuss your medical care with a healthcare professional.

8. Advanced directive for medical care. Have this notarized!

9. Names & contact information for doctors.

10. Prescription drugs, including dosage, pharmacy & physician. You can ask your pharmacist to print this information out for you. Slip a small photocopy of this into your wallet!

11. Important medical history and allergy information.

12. Who should be contacted in case of an emergency13. Name, phone, address, and email of out-of-state contact persons.

14. Inventory of household goods, especially valuables.

15. Blank paper & pencil

16. Anything else you think you might need to refer to if your entire home were lost, you had to evacuate or face a life-altering change.

As you work on this notebook, keep it in one location. Near where you pay your bills is a great location as you can easily slip in statements and bills as they arrive. Make a note of the location of your notebook and attach the note to your 72-hour kit. That way, you will know where it is and grab it should you have to evacuate. Also let your grown children or other trusted family member know where you keep the notebook.

Your ‘What-If’ Notebook is a recipe for paper preparedness that will make your everyday ‘normal’ life easier, less stressful and more organized!

In the musical “Annie”, there is that classic song with the lyrics, “Tomorrow, tomorrow, there’s always tomorrow, you’re only a day away..” The younger we are, the more we believe that our tomorrows are endless and probably merely improvements on today. As we contemplate our future, we are full of hope, enthusiasm and great plans for all that life has in store for us. Often in this type of contemplation, we don’t want to think about the realities of life, the nitty-gritty ‘what ifs’ about living; illness, dying, aging, handicaps, health issues, caring for elderly parents and hardships. But, life can deal any or all of these to without warning. Being prepared is our only true defense! Here, then, are a dozen things we all should do to prepare for anything that ‘tomorrow’ might bring, for we all know that ‘tomorrow is only a day away…’!

1. Have you granted trusted relatives the right to discuss your medical care with your physician or other medical personnel? Federal and state laws make it illegal for medical personnel to discuss your care with anyone unless you have given permission for them to do so. This is good, but could be a problem should, say your loving daughter believes you are exhibiting the signs of a stroke. If daughter calls your doctor, the doctor, legally shouldn’t discuss her with you. My Mother & I discovered this when she passed out and then was less-than-fully-functioning for a while. Her doctor had her write a letter listing those she authorized to talk to him and their contact information. The letter also gives the doctor the right to call one of us if he believes there is something we need to be aware of. This also applies to your children over the age of 18 (16 for some matters), so have them execute such an authorization before going off to college. You might want to consider granting someone a medical power of attorney. This is often part of a living trust and some wills. This gives an individual the right to make medical decisions for you in case you are incapable of doing so for yourself.

2. Have you recently checked your will or trust? A living trust greatly can reduce the process should you become incapacitated or pass away. Consider changing from a will to a trust. The trust can divide your assets as you see fit and protect you in case you are incapacitated. Periodically review the terms and see if they fit your current circumstances and wishes.

3. Do you have an Advanced Directive? This document details your wishes should you be terminally ill or if you need to be resuscitated. Your doctor, hospital or attorney can provide you with the simple form.

4. Consult an estate attorney before you add anyone’s name to any your real or personal property. Some families attempt to circumvent probate this way, but it can leave all parties open to all sorts of liability and tax issues. It may be better to form a ‘Limited Liability Corporation” if non-spousal relatives wish to own property jointly. Each state’s laws differ so be certain to contact an attorney.

5. Do you have someone you can trust to help you review your financial situation? Who will take care of your finances if you are incapacitated? Again, a trust with two executors can be a great thing.

6. Do you have your financial and insurance information in one place that someone knows about? A simple three ring binder can work. As you pay bills for insurance, etc. or receive statements, simply put one copy of each form in your notebook. You might want to add any charge accounts you have, especially those that have credit life. You don’t have to replace the copies as you receive your statements–just add any new ones you open. Photocopy the deed to your house, your car registration and any other document and put those copies in your notebook. Now, add contact information for those you would need to contact in an emergency. It wouldn’t hurt to give a copy of this to your executor. It is a great back up in case you have an emergency or lose your home.

7. Put passwords on all of your accounts—bank, credit union, credit cards, etc. Don’t open an account where they won’t let you use a password. The password will protect you from someone else changing the information on your account. This is a simple and yet effective way to prevent someone stealing your credit! If you think you won’t remember the password, chose a word and write a sentence about it in your address book. For instance, if your password were “Mercedes”, write down, “My first car was a Mercedes”. That will help you remember.

8. Do you have copies of your birth certificate, marriage license, service records, car registration, divorce decree, passport–all those pesky life documents we need? Put them with your account notebook or notate in the book where you keep them.

9. Write down your wishes for your “Final Farewell”. If we don’t speak our minds, those we love won’t know what we want and may spend more time or money than we would have wanted “Paying tribute to us.” Family feuds are often started over, “What Mother would have wanted.” For instance, I would rather my children go on a lovely cruise than spend $25,000 on a casket for me. (Did you know you could order discounted caskets online now??? Not legal in all states, but in many. For instance, you can order a traditional, tasteful, handmade casket produced by monks for as low as $695.) Shopping ahead of time is much, much better than buying prepaid funeral plans. Research burial options and decide ahead of time.

10. Be very, very, very, very cautious of anyone offering to sell you insurance, prepaid funeral plans, financial management, etc, etc. Have a trusted friend or relative who will talk through the many offers you might receive before you make a decision. Never enter into a long-term contract without taking at least 72 hours to think about it. The same is true of investments and other major purchases. Trusted, reputable institutions will never pressure you or use scare tactics.

11. If you are married, are you a full partner in knowing everything there is to know about your financial situation, the insurance you have, liabilities, etc.? If you aren’t, you should be!

12. Is your home safe for you? Before you fall, have grab bars installed in your bathroom. If you need them other places, have them installed now. Check for tripping hazards. Have a phone that does not rely on electricity. If you think you might require assisted living, start shopping early. Choose one that will accept Medicare in case you outlast your resources.

And one bonus:

13. Decide at the beginning of each year which charities you wish to support. Decide how much you can reasonably afford and then donate it. Throw ALL OTHER letters from charities into the trash BEFORE you open them. You can also decide every quarter or twice a year.

We have all heard the horror stories of thieves stealing an individual’s credit identity to rack up bills that result in a host of nightmares for the victim. But, have you considered the possibility that the same sort of criminal may be targeting your medical identification?

Alarmingly, there has been an increase of cases involving criminals who use the ‘medical identity’ of another to receive medical care in someone else’s name. The victim of the fraud ends up with bills for medical care they did not receive and, in some instances, diagnosis and treatments listed in databases that do not belong to them. The financial cost can be overwhelming and the possibility of malpractice frightening.

What can you do to safeguard your medical identity? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Treat your medical insurance card like you would a credit card. If lost, report it immediately to your insurance company. Don’t show your insurance card to or loan it to anyone other than trusted healthcare providers. At the medical facility, do not stand at the counter and rattle off insurance information that includes the numbers, social security number or birth date.

2. Read those EOBs! Insurance companies issue Explanation of Benefits when a provider is paid in your name. Look over those EOBs and quickly report mistakes to your insurance company. Shred EOBs if they include policy number, etc. Check that procedures billed to insurance company are accurate. Fraud schemes include providers billing for more expensive procedures, procedures not performed, charges for a specialist that wasn’t seen, ‘nurse’ visits when a trip to the lab would do, equipment not used and ‘splitting’ one procedure into multiple procedures in order to bill at a higher rate.

3. Check out benefits paid every year. Do a yearly check up on claims paid on your behalf. Quickly report any that you do not recognize. Make sure that your address or other contact information is accurate.

4. Watch out for scams! Clinics and physicians have been prosecuted for filing false bills covering tests and procedures that have never been performed. To avoid being a victim, avoid clinics that waive co-pays, offer ‘free’ tests, exams, transportation, etc. Again, check those EOBs for errors! I recently found an $11,000 error.

5. Check your credit rating. If someone has run up medical bills in your name, especially with false address, etc. you may likely find claims from credit agencies on your credit rating.

6. Ask for an accounting of disclosures. You have the right under HIPAA to get this document from every health care provider you visit. This document will let you know to whom information was released, when it was released and what information the provider received. As some medical databases are not interconnected, this is another way to track errors in your medical history.

7. If you find errors, what should you do? First, contact the provider and your insurance company. It may simply be a ‘coding’ error or honest mistake on the provider’s part. If it is not an error or you suspect fraud, contact your insurance, and keep records of who you speak to. Most insurance companies will aggressively pursue cases of suspected fraud. Report the fraud to your police department and receive a copy of the report. Other agencies will also investigate medical fraud. These include:

· City, County, State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
· Justice Department through the Assistant
· U.S. Attorney General’s Office
· Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
· Postal Inspectors
· Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
· Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
· Offices of Inspectors General (OIG)
· U.S. Department of Labor

For more information, check out these websites:

www.WorldPrivacyForum.org
www.BCBS.com/AntiFraud/
www.Consumer.gov/IDTheft/

In today’s culinary world of fast-food, prepared foods, ‘take it and make it’ nearly prepared foods and the explosion in frozen dinners, it is easy to become totally reliant on food that is prepared by others. Not only are prepared and restaurant meals higher in sodium, fat, sugar and calories, they are a steady drain on your budget. In an age when we are seeing grocery bills climb daily, it is not only frugal but nearly mandatory to re-examine the cost vs. benefit of the way many of us prepare our meals. And as our economy declines, we may all be faced to return to the ways of our mothers and learn to cook!

Researchers at Arizona State University compared the hourly rate we as consumers are affectively paying for many ‘convenience’ food. They purchased food in the non-shredded, cubed, etc. form and then calculated how long it took to prepare the food into its ‘convenient’ state. This calculation was then translated into an hourly wage that you, the consumer, are paying someone else to perform a simple task. For instance, shredded cheese costs you over $49 an hour as vs. buying a block of cheese and shredding it yourself. Cheese sticks? More than $43 an hour! In addition to paying someone else an exorbitant rate for a simplistic task, these ‘conveniences’ usually utilize the lowest possible grade of the product, then add coatings, inhibitors and other ingredients to extend their life and usability. The researchers also found that many ‘convenience’ foods such as pre-chopped, frozen, throw in the pan entrees save very little time (as little as 10 minute), while adding tremendously to the over-abundance of sodium, fat and sugars.

Even if you are willing to trade dollars and health concerns for the ‘value’ of convenience, you should still acquire the ability to easily prepare a wide variety of foods that result in a nutritious, wholesome and affordable meal for yourself and your family. Many adults today are lacking in these basic skills and that lack of education hampers one’s ability to not only live providently but to survive a wide variety of emergencies.

If you fall into the ‘heat and toss’ category, consider beginning now to learn the fine art of food preparation. You need not achieve the status of gourmet cook, but simply learn how to easily and economically prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner from fresh ingredients. At least once a week, prepare each of these meals using no pre-packaged/half-prepared foods, raw ingredients including a variety of meats and vegetables, a carbohydrate such as rice, potatoes or pasta, and fruit. In a huge hurry? Scrambled eggs, toast and fresh fruit should take no more than 10 minutes to prepare and serve. No time to clean up? Use a nonstick pan that is dishwasher safe and paper plates. You will be eating a meal that is nutritious (more so if you omit some of the yolks), cheap, fast and much healthier for you than a trip through the drive thru! If you are running out the door, slap the eggs on the bread (or a tortilla), wrap it in foil and eat as you walk to the car.

Don’t have a clue what to cook or how to cook it? Check out your local library for standard cookbooks such as The Joy of Cooking, which teaches everything from how to boil an egg to making creme brulee. The editions published during WWII include dealing with limited quantities of common items such as meat, flour and sugar. Some of their recipes, tips, techniques are available online at www.thejoykitchen.com.

Your first attempts at true ‘from scratch’ cooking may seem cumbersome and frustrating. Cooking, like any skill, requires practice and repetition to achieve ease and consistency. Keep trying, keep experimenting and don’t hesitate to ask for advice!

For experienced cooks, refresh your skills in a new area. Try cooking with food storage items, making your own yogurt or cooking meatless for a week.

Any skill you develop that provides your family with more economical, health-conscious food is one to treasure!

One of the first steps in establishing a Prepared Pantry is to gather together and maintain at least a 30-day supply of food. This 30-day supply should include 2 weeks of food that you could eat with little or no cooking. If you have a 30-day, work to extend it to a 3 month supply of foods you normally eat. No matter which goal you are working to achieve, the basic guidelines of smart shopping, wise storage and rotation will all apply.

First, you should store foods that are ’shelf stable’, which means that they do not require refrigeration until opened, have a fairly long shelf life and are not terribly temperamental about moderate changes in temperature. Though most foods store best away from direct sunlight and in temperatures less than 75 degrees, many shelf stable foods are not as finicky, at least in the short run. It is never a good idea to invest money in food that will only spoil before you can eat it! When purchasing food, be certain to check the expiration dates. While some foods, such as dry beans, have a stable shelf life, ‘sale’ items and discount stores often sell product that is closer to the expiration date. Most shelf stable foods are still edible beyond their expiration date, but lose quality, flavor and sometimes nutrition.

Some ideas of foods that store for at least three months (most store for a year) include: (items in italics could be included in your 2 week supply)

Canned/bottled goods—protect from freezing and extreme heat– soups, fruits, vegetables, stews, chili, meats, beans, juice, canned milk, vanilla and other extracts, broth and soup stock, oil, vinegar (less fragile with regards to temperature), salad dressing, pickles, ketchup, mustard, peanut butter, jelly & jams, honey, icing, shortening, mayonnaise, tomato sauce, prepared spaghetti sauce

Dry goods—rice, flour, baking soda, baking powder, pancake mixes, cake mixes, misc. baking mixes, powdered milk, yeast, salt and seasonings, oatmeal, cereal, sugars (white, brown, powdered), candy, chocolate chips, pasta, macaroni and cheese type ‘dinners’, dry soup mixes, ramen noodles, jello, pudding mixes, gravy and other mixes, taco shells, parmesan cheese, baby formula (every family with an infant should store at least one can, even if baby is breastfed), instant breakfast mixes, granola bars, pretzels, some tortilla chips, some crackers including graham crackers, some cookies, egg powder, artificial sweeteners

Freezer—meats–cooked and raw, cheese, most baked goods, vegetables, fruits, ice cream – nearly anything you can freeze has at least a three month life. The one exception may be fresh crab meat.

You can calculate a 30-day supply by simply preparing menus of simple foods for 3 meals a day x 30 days, listing every ingredient. Do not forget to calculate that in many types of emergencies you may not have electricity and you may be eating all of your meals at home. Now, make a master shopping list and you are ready to shop! With that master list, you can watch for sales, take advantage of markdowns and end up saving money!

A good guideline to follow for a 30-day supply for two average adults should include:

10 lbs of rice

10 lbs of pasta

10 lbs of oats

9 lb of fresh meat for freezer

10 lb of canned meat

10 cans of tomato sauce

or spaghetti sauce

10 cans of fruit

10 lbs of sugar or honey

1 bottle of vanilla extract

5 lb of dried beans or 10lb of canned beans (mix & matching is good)

1 lb of salt–salt is cheap & can be used for many things, so stock up even more

2 lbs of peanut butter

1 box pancake mix

5 lb of flour

1 jar of yeast

10 cans of soup or stew or chili

15 cans of vegetables

1 bottle pancake syrup

2 lb of powdered milk

1 lb of baking powder

1 lb of baking soda

1/2 gallon of cooking oil or shortening

1 large jar jelly or jam

1 lb parmesan cheese or other shelf stable cheese (or cheese in freezer)

1 lb crackers

2 lb raisins or other dried fruit

10 cans of tuna or other canned meat

cinnamon and other spices

1 jar mayonnaise

As always, plan according to your family’s needs, tastes, health concerns and budget!