Daily Preparedness

As life trundles on, change is inevitable. For the past four or five months, we have had to shift all of the gears in our kitchen due to newly found sensitivities. In the process, we have learned an expensive lesson on the value of thoroughness.

We all know that it is important to notate the contents of our various buckets, boxes, jars and mylar bags as to their contents. Whether the item was frozen, canned, dehydrated and dumped into a plastic bucket, I have always marked the contents, any instructions necessary and the date packaged. BUT, I now know that this manner of minimal labeling is not adequate. (Yes, you are welcome to learn from my mistakes and even snicker if you wish!)

When it became necessary to shift food preparation gears AGAIN, we were forced to go into a form of hyper-drive when it comes to which products can be used safely. Not only are we limited by category, but also limited when it comes to specific brands and packaging sizes. Sound confusing? Oh, it is, trust me. For example, I can cook with sugar but it must be pure cane sugar from one of three or four manufacturer’s. White flour can be used, but, again, it must be from only a few manufacturers. The same goes for everything from shampoo to toilet paper to tomato sauce to meat products to spices. Sound confusing AND time-consuming? It is!

And thus, we get to the importance of my newly discovered respect for those who thoroughly label all items stored. For instance, I may have hundreds of pounds of sugar stored, but I have no idea what brand it is or even whether it is cane or beet sugar. Therefore, at least for the time being, I have to purchase all new sugar and wash out every canister that it goes into. Multiply this by every item in your family store and you can begin to see the cost of skipping a few extra seconds of time in labeling each item.

What is a thorough label? For every product, you should include at least manufacturer, specific type of item, where you purchased it and the date purchased. Also include any expiration date and instructions. For instance, if I were thoroughly labeling canned beef, the correct way to label it would be:

Costco Rump Roast with water, kosher salt, home-ground pepper. 1/12/12

Flour might be labeled with: King Arthur unbleached white flour. Safeway. 1/12/12

Though it might take you a few extra seconds, this type of more thorough labeling may later help you in case your dietary needs change, there is a recall or you find you particularly like one brand over another. Whatever scenario you may face, add a bit more information to each item you label and you may prevent a lot of frustration, loss and expense later on.

Who knew it would take me that long to clean out the junk drawer? As previously written, organizing the kitchen can take you awhile, especially when forward momentum is hindered by Lyme Disease and life. Onward and upward, people!

Pantry

• The best way to begin is to pull everything out of the pantry, tossing items that are damaged, look suspicious or too old to be used. If in doubt, throw it out. At the least, consult with food storage experts to know what can be saved. Hint–be certain that you can’t salvage parts of prepared foods. For instance, the cheese powder in boxed macaroni and cheese will go bad, but the macaroni lives on for years. You can repackage the macaroni in a sealed container and toss the cheese powder if it looks darker than normal.
• Set aside items that you need to use soon. When replacing items in the pantry, be certain these are up front & marked as ‘use soon’.
• Clean the floor & shelves. Inspect for evidence of bugs or rodents. If you find evidence, treat the area appropriately before proceeding. Mark your calendar to recheck the area in two weeks, then a monthly for at least six months.
• Check that shelving is secure before reloading. Look carefully at the plastic brackets that often hold metal shelving. They can become brittle and chipped, leading to a shelf falling without warning.
• If you have solid shelving, consider lining the shelves to make clean up easier. Inexpensive plastic place mats make great shelf and drawer liners.  Fabric stores often carry vinyl coated fabrics intended for tablecloths. These can make your pantry shelves very colorful and are easily removed & washed. Avoid adhesive backed plastics as the residue they leave is hideous.
• Analyze what you want to put in the pantry and decide if the current shelving is adequate.
• Need more shelving? Add it with simple shelf brackets, removable shelving, tiered racks that sit on existing shelves or any manner of devices readily available.
• Need stronger shelves? Use inexpensive metal shelf brackets to stabilize the middles of shelves.
• Think about ’stations’ as in preschool and kindergarten rooms. Place together like items.
• Put items that you use frequently in the easiest to see and reach places.
• Add door shelving if you need places for small bottles, condiments, etc.
• Use plastic shoe boxes or other organizing aids to corral small items such as gravy packets, drink mixes, etc. Recycle existing or old containers for this purpose. Even plastic food storage containers missing lids can be used to organize a pantry or cabinet. Empty plastic juice bottles work well for storing small grains, specialty flours, etc. They often fit in door-mounted shelving.
• If the outer packaging is bulky, repackage items into tighter quarters. A good example are the little ‘Crystal Light’ type containers. The small tubs inside the larger tub will fit into a plastic shoe box and reduce the shelf space needed. Recycle the outer container to hold even smaller items. Write on the outer container with a sharpie so that you know what is in the container.
• Sharpies (or any permanent marker) can be your best friend! Use them to label expiration dates, which container is open, the contents of a shoe box–nearly anything. Think about restaurant organization–they almost always mark containers with notations such as ‘Open’, ‘Use First’, ‘Use Last’, etc.
• Glass canning jars are great organizational aids. They allow you to see what you have on hand, are pretty much rodent and bug proof, can be vacuum sealed and are nearly eternally reusable.
• Empty #10 cans can be re-used if you purchase the corresponding plastic lid. (available from LDS Home Storage Centers). You can line the can with a plastic food storage bag and you have a wonderful canisters.
• If your pantry is deep, consider the newer slide out shelves, racks, etc. that are readily available in a range of prices.
• As you purchase new items, place the new to the back. If you store a large quantity of any item, you might want to mark the labels with use by dates. Some people prefer to mark their labels with purchase dates, but I have found that the use by dates are more important to see at a glance.
• Racks made to hold and roll forward canned goods can be a worthwhile investment. They are now available from a variety of companies in plastic, wood or cardboard. You can also make your own.
• If your shelving is wire and you need a more solid platform, cover the wire shelves with a layer of acrylic or similar material. Many home improvement stores now carry acrylic/plastic/etc. materials that they can cut to fit your shelves. Providing a solid platform will allow you to use tiered shelving, roll-outs, etc.
• Place items you want your children to be able to access at their level. Likewise, place items you do not want them to access up high or behind a childproof door.
• Items like sugar, flour, etc. are often best stored in some sort of canister. The original packaging is not meant to hold up for repeated access or storing at home. Leaking sugar and similar items are an invitation to critters.
• Add a measuring cup to dry items you frequently use, such as sugar, flour, rice, oats, etc. Purchase inexpensive measuring cups and place the size you use most often for that item in the canister. You now have a scoop that will make cooking faster. Just be sure that your hands are always clean when you are dispensing from the canister.

Kitchen Cabinets

• Again, take one cabinet at a time and allow yourself enough time to finish the job.
• Remove all items, clean the cabinet, inspect the shelves and then consider what needs to go where.
• Add shelves as needed or measure before going shopping for tiered shelving, pull out racks or other organizational items. Be sure you check to see what you have at home first.
• Move items you use infrequently to less convenient locations. Keep the easy to reach and see shelves open for items you use frequently.
• As you sort and organize, make note of items you need to replace or replenish.
• Place dishes and glassware you frequently use in cabinets nearest the dishwasher.
• Group like items together OR items that you use for the same process–think ’stations’ as in the pantry. For instance, place baking items together.
• Repackage items as needed.
• Place items that often become sticky, such as honey & molasses, on a plastic tray to make clean up easier.
• If you frequently pull out large canisters for a small amount of product, consider having a secondary small container in a nearby cabinet. For instance, I bake ‘30 minute artisan bread’ multiple times a week. The recipe requires that cornmeal be placed on the baking sheet and flour dusted on the top of the loaf just before baking. Tired of hauling out the flour & cornmeal canisters, I placed flour and cornmeal into separate small easily-closed containers that allow me to shake out the small amount required. One container is a large salt shaker, the other a shaker for Parmesan cheese.
• If your lower cabinets are difficult to reach, consider investing in the roll out shelves & racks.
• Toss or donate items you do not or will not use!
• There are a variety of organizational products on the market; entire sets of plastic storage containers that fit into a rotating holder, pan racks, pan lid racks, plastic bins (I like the inexpensive toy bins sold by IKEA and inexpensive plastic trash cans for holding small things), plastic shoe boxes and spice racks galore. Be certain to think through what you need and measure carefully before hauling home a group of misfits. As always, compare price and quality.
• Don’t forget to utilize the inside of cabinet doors. 3-M hooks, special door racks, magnetic racks, over-the-door racks and other useful items are available to organize everything from spices to knives and your car keys. Use the inside of a cabinet door near your phone to post frequently called phone numbers. Don’t forget to include the poison control center, physician & family contacts on that list. Or paint the inside of a door with chalkboard paint or white board paint and have an instant message center.

Finally, stand back and admire your work!

Whatever you call them, every individual and family should have gathered together the supplies needed to survive the first 72 to 96 hours after a disaster. Recommended by everyone from government to church leaders, it has been well established that the first several days following a disaster will find most individuals ‘on their own.’ Even after governmental and charitable organizations arrive, individuals often discover that there is NO Magic School Bus full of all of the comforts of home waiting to alleviate your suffering.

Okay, so you might say, “Come on, how many of us ever face a natural disaster of that magnitude?” True, chances are that you may never have to deal with the aftermath of a large scale natural disaster. BUT, you are quite likely to face a ‘personal disaster’ that will find you needing the supplies collected for a 72-hour kit. Think about blizzards, home fires, stranded due to a flat tire or mechanical failure, power outages, disruptions of public transportation, epidemics or even a bad case of the flu. The supplies recommended for a 72-hour kit can help you sail through the troubled waters of ‘personal disasters’ as well as large scale disasters.

With summer ending and hunting season beginning, now is the perfect time to scavange discount stores, sporting goods stores and clearance racks for items that will make your life easier. Remember to always ’shop your home’ first to see what you might already have.

The first rule of a 72-hour kit is to make it portable. Consider your personal limitations when deciding whether to use a backpack, rolling suitcase or wheeled tote. In some cases, you may have to move the kit without a vehicle.

Secondly, as you collect supplies, think about small, light weight, shelf stable, heat tolerant, versatile, compact and sturdy.

Package items in water-tight bags and avoid items that might leak, melt or damage other items. Some folks have reported that pop-top cans tend to leak more often than regular cans.

What to pack? You will be hoping to meet the basics of human survival–food, clothing, shelter, warmth and safety. Again, consider your personal needs and limitations. A basic kit should include at least the following:

1. Clothing. Change of clothing from the skin out, including extra socks & sturdy shoes. Think versatile, size adjustable, quick drying and layers. Rain poncho. If you are in a cold climate, include warm hat, gloves, scarf & keep a coat where you can reach it.
2. Bedding. Either a warm wool blanket or sleeping bag. ‘Space’ blankets are a nice addition.
3. Shelter. Tent or tarps & rope. Several small tents may be better for a family than one large, cumbersome tent. Even if you end up in a shelter, a tent can provide privacy & comfort. Also include extra rope and duct tape.
4. Food. Think high calorie, shelf-stable food that does not have to be cooked. MRE’s, power bars, canned foods such as meat, juice, fruit, veggies, peanut butter, hard candy, crackers & fruit leather are some good choices. Coast guard approved power bars have one of the longest shelf lives coupled with being able to tolerate a wider range of temperatures.
5. Water. Most experts recommend 1 gallon of water per person per day. Store easily accessible water near your kits. Include water purification and a canteen.
6. First Aid. Include airway protectors, gloves, antiseptic wipes & ointments, bandages, moleskin, tweezers, scissors, slings, ‘ace’ wraps, coflex tape, mask, butterfly closures, aspirin, tylenol, benadryl, syrup of ipecac, alcohol pads, instant ice packs, sunscreen, anti-diarrheals, lighter, magnifying glass and adhesive tape. BE CERTAIN THAT YOUR PERSONAL MEDS ARE EASILY REACHABLE AT ALL TIMES. YOU WILL WANT TO CARRY AT LEAST A SEVEN DAY SUPPLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
7. Cooking, light and heat. Fire starting devices (lighters, waterproof matches, steel wool & a 9-volt battery, flint & steel, fire stick), flashlight with batteries (store separately), glow sticks — often available NOW in Halloween supplies — candles, can opener, lanterns, mess kit, fixed & folding blade knives, lightweight stove & fuel. KEEP A LIGHT SOURCE AT THE TOP OR OTHER EASILY ACCESSIBLE POINT IN YOUR KIT.
8. Sanitary supplies, including female hygiene. Toilet paper, bar soap, razor, toothbrush & paste, dental floss (can be used for a variety of things) handwipes, plastic garbage bags, denture adhesive, diapers, etc. as needed.
9. Plastic sheeting. Can be used for shelter, repairs, weather proofing, sanitary needs and water collection/purification.
10. Money. At least $50 in SMALL bills plus several dollars in quarters & dimes. A mini-M&M container can hold $5 worth of quarters and a large number of bills tightly wound.
11. Personal paperwork. Include copies of important papers (photocopy, reduce & laminate if you wish), your contact plan, insurance companies & family phone numbers. A 3×5 card should be included in each kit that includes person’s name, home address, emergency contacts, parent’s name (for children), important medical history & allergies.
12. Communication. Battery operated radio, instant cell phone charger, small lightweight emergency banners, whistle, non-breakable mirror, pen, ’sharpie, & paper. Brightly colored duct tape can be used for signals.
13. Wire for binding, strapping and animal snares.
14. Emergency info, including first aid & FEMA pamphlets, studied beforehand. A road atlas & field/survival guides are also great.
15. Sewing Kit. Extremely sharp, thin needles–straight and curved (can be used for suturing if necessary), good quality sewing & quilting thread, safety pins, snaps, & buttons.
16. Distraction. Scriptures, small games, playing cards, pencil, paper, etc.
17. Infants, elderly & disabled. Analyze what you might need for anyone with special needs & include in kit.

Many of these items can be shared between family members. Though the list seems long, you may find that many of the items are already in your home. When you centrally locate them, these rarely used items will be easier to find AND available in the case of an evacuation/disaster. Begin with what you have and slowly add items as you acquire them.

Smaller kits should also be placed in your cars and your workplace. In many disasters, those at work may need to ’shelter in place’ until transportation is re-established.

Commercial kits are available, but the contents are often less than the best quality and must still be customized for your needs. For instance, one kit advertises ‘tube tents’ for shelter. The ‘tube tent’ is merely a lightweight piece of plastic sheeting that forms a tube. Thin, inexpensive rope is included that you are supposed to run through the tube to form a triangle. There are no end flaps and the plastic is too thin to withstand the sun, wind or rain for any length of time.

Store your kit where it is easily accessible. Consider placing a checklist on the outside of the kit, reminding you to grab items (if you have time) that may not be included, such as extra water, medications, extra equipment, etc.

Depending on the shelf life of your food, you will need to rotate items periodically. Be certain to check the clothing for fit and suitability.

Planning for tomorrow should include scenarios we all hope we never face! Facing those potential scenarios now will allow us to great tomorrow well prepared, no matter what it brings.

September is National Preparedness Month (also National Sewing Month) and in honor of this month long celebration of all things prepared, let’s all commit to make and keep at least ONE goal related to our overall preparedness status. Before welcoming in the upcoming holiday season, use September to analyze your current state of affairs and find at least one area in which you could improve. Make a plan and follow through with it! Over achievers, or simply truly concerned folks, might go for a goal a week.

National Preparedness Month can be a family affair. Simply assign different family members different goals to accomplish. Or have each family member learn one new skill and then share it with others.

To get you going, here a few of possibilities:

• Winter preparation: Check roofing, downspouts, chimney, driveways, drainage areas, basement, supply of de-icing chemicals & equipment, car tires, preparations for being snowed or iced ‘in’, supplies in case your power is out (such as candles, flashlights, warm clothing, alternative heat source, phones, batteries, etc), well sealed windows & doors, sidewalks and weakened tree limbs.
• Food storage: Do you have at least a 3-month supply of food in your house? A year’s supply of necessities? Two weeks worth of food you could eat with little or no power? Are your supplies well organized? Have you checked expiration dates lately?
• ‘Bug Out’ or 72-hour kits: Double check food, clothing and other supplies. Consider a small one for your office and car. Rotate what needs to be rotated. If you don’t have one, assemble one this month.
• Financial preparedness: Review your current benefits to be certain that you have the appropriate beneficiaries on life insurance, 401K, retirement plans, IRA accounts, etc. Are your records up to date? Securely filed? Taxes on target? What about debt load? If in debt, are you working to get out of it as quickly as possible? Could you trim expenses to save more? Is your resume up to date? Are you constantly looking for jobs in case you loose the one you have? Have you reviewed your budget lately to see where your money is going? Do you have adequate cash available for emergencies?
• What emergencies might you face? What natural or man-made disasters might your area experience? What can you do to prepare? How would you be warned or forewarned? If you had to evacuate where would you go? Thinking through the possibilities and planning ahead can save panic, indecision and unnecessary delays.
• Paper prepared? Are your important ‘paper’s in order? Can you grab them quickly? Does someone else know where you store vital information? Do you have a will or trust? (PLEASE get one now!) Guardians for your children? If you don’t have one, prepare a ‘What If? Notebook’. If you have one, update it.
• Workplace preparedness? Do you have a mini-’bug out’ kit at work? Do you know your company’s telecommuting policy in the event of snow or similar events that might make it impossible for you to get to work? Is there an evacuation plan? Fire safety plan? What if you had to evacuate—where would you go? How would you get home if you could not return to your vehicle? What if public transportation were disrupted? If you can’t get home, how will you contact your family? Take care of children or other dependents?
• Special needs preparedness. Do you have family members who may need special help during an emergency?  Are medications handy? Do you keep at least a four day supply, two weeks is better? Are there family members with mobility or cognitive disorders? How will their needs be met in a variety of emergencies? Is there equipment that requires electricity? Is there a care plan if the caregiver is disabled or cannot get home?
• Home Safety Audit. Check your home carefully for loose wiring, inappropriate extension cords, broken tiles, lack of childproofing where there should be, wobbly furniture, loose hand rails, electrical issues, cracked windows, doors that jam, leaks, temperature of hot water…be your own worst critic and see what you can find that should be fixed.
• Skills. What could you learn this month that would help you live more providently? Sewing? (It is National Sewing Month after all) Cooking? Baking? Canning? Gardening? Food preservation? Home repair? Budgeting? Job skills? First Aid? CPR? Alternative fuels? Alternative cooking methods? Bargain shopping? Re-purposing?
• Education. Are you continuing to learn? Are you helping your children develop a love of learning? What about a realistic view of college & the earning potential of different degrees? Vocational skills as a back up? Or a primary career path? Are you in touch with your children’s teachers? How safe is their school environment? What if the school is evacuated?
• Clean up! Clean out closets, donating what you do not use or ‘re-purpose (up-cycling is the cool phrase) it into something useful. Give your home a thorough clean out, dusting away summer’s dust. Check for signs of bugs or other unwelcome guests. Toss out out-dated medications. Get your home organized!
• Make a plan for holiday gift giving and associated expenses. Determine your budget NOW and then make a plan to accomplish all you need to before that ‘holly jolly budget-draining’ time of year is upon you. While cleaning your house, you might keep an eye out for items that may have been tucked away for a gift-giving occasion! If you plan on making gifts, now is the time to get started.

The possibilities are absolutely endless and there is abundant information available for free!  Any progress you make is wonderful, so pat yourself on the back and remember that provident living is not a one-time event, but a lifestyle!

While living in Europe, we fell in love with the crusty, rustic breads available in French bakeries. Their rough textures, soft interiors and crusty exteriors are a delight that transforms any meal into a feast. Who cares what the main course is when there is a loaf of perfect bread on the table? And now, we can produce the same types of bread at home, utilizing the basics found in every provident pantry. Better still, the bread is SO simple to prepare that any six-year-old could make it. Okay, the child shouldn’t monkey with the oven, but every other step is truly easy and nearly mess free.

If the ease and final results weren’t enough, consider that the bread is fat-free, low sodium, super cheap and requires you to purchase only one item you may not own–a silicone baking sheet. (Check Wal-mart for a Wilton silicone sheet priced at about $5) You can also opt to use parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

How to begin? Find a food grade plastic container that holds about 5 quarts. It should have a lid, but the lid does NOT need to be air tight. You do NOT want to clamp the lid down, just cover the dough. A ‘cake saver’ type container will work as will an icing container from your local bakery. You will mix and store your dough in this container.

Basic Recipe: (Makes four 1-lb loaves)

3 cups lukewarm water (should just feel warm to you)

1 1/2 tablespoons granulated yeast (this is about 1.5 packets)

1 1/2 tablespoons Kosher or other coarse salt (if you use table salt, reduce to 1 tablespoon)

6 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

Cornmeal for baking surface

Pour water into your container. Add yeast and salt, stirring to at least partially dissolve the yeast. Don’t worry if the yeast isn’t perfectly dissolved.

Measure your flour by gently scooping the measuring cup into your flour and then scraping the top of the cup with a knife. Add flour to liquid mixture and stir with a heavy spoon. You can opt to use a mixer or large capacity food processor with a dough hook, but I have found that a sturdy spoon does just fine and you don’t have another thing to clean up.

As you mix in flour, scrape down the sides of the container frequently and work all of the flour mixture into the liquid. This will take only a few minutes. You may need to ‘poke’ the center of your dough blob as you mix in order to get the liquid completely distributed. You will not be kneading the dough!

You are finished mixing when everything is uniform and you can’t see any dry spots. The dough will be wet and sticky looking.

Cover the dough with the lid–remember it should not be air tight! Let the dough sit for at least 2 hours at room temperature. If you need to leave it longer, don’t worry. I’ve let it sit on the counter as long as 4 or 5 hours and the bread was just fine!

If you want to bake bread at this point, you can. Or, you can simply put the container in the refrigerator and store for up to two weeks. Refrigerated dough is easier to handle than room temperature dough, but either temperature works fine. If you want to add a sour dough flavor & texture, simply use the same container repeatedly without washing between bread batches. The dough does ‘age’ as stored, producing a better, stronger flavor and slightly different texture.

Dough can also be frozen in 1 loaf sizes. Place dough in a plastic bag and freeze. To thaw, leave in refrigerator overnight and then continue on with instructions.

When you are ready to bake, cover a cookie sheet with the parchment paper or the silicone baking mat. Liberally cover the baking surface needed for the loaf of bread with corn meal. Use a serrated knife and hack off a piece of dough about the size of a large grapefruit. Again, this is not a precise science.

Gently form your glob of dough into a round mound. This should take about 30 to 60 seconds. You are NOT kneading the bread, simply rounding it. The top side of the dough will look fairly smooth while the bottom is likely to look ‘ragged’. This is just fine!

Place the dough on the prepared baking surface and allow to rise about 40 minutes. The loaf will not completely rise in this time. The rising will continue while it is baking. Again, I’ve left it sitting on the counter for over 90 minutes and the bread was fine. A bit fluffier than the shorter rising time, but still great. You do not need to cover the bread while it is rising.

Begin preheating your oven to 450F about 20 minutes before you are ready to bake. Place a broiler pan, cake pan or several loaf pans filled with water on a lower shelf of the oven.

After the 20 minute preheat, liberally coat the top side of your loaf with flour. Using a serrated knife and quick slashing motions, cut a 1/4 inch deep gash across the top of your loaf. You can get creative here and create stars, tic-tac-toe, or cross designs.

Place the prepared dough in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until it is golden brown.

The hardest part? The bread really is best when allowed to cool completely on a wire rack.

I have purposefully messed up several steps of the recipe to see what would happen. For the most part, you really can’t mess this up! I’ve over-baked, under-baked (that is worse than over-baking), left lumps in the dough and badly shaped loaves. I’ve cut it hot–sometimes you just can’t resist it–and stored it in the open overnight. Overall, this is truly the simplest, best, cheapest bread you will ever produce.

The final product is better than any bread I have purchased in the U.S. and the price can’t be beat!

Once you master the basic recipe, you can start adding herbs, roasted garlic, cheese or a wide variety of other ingredients. You can experiment with shapes, double the recipe, reduce the recipe size and substitute part of the unbleached flour for wholewheat, oats, rye, etc.

Happy Baking!

P.S. One final note. Before beginning this bread experiment, I had never used a silicone baking mat. Now, I think every kitchen needs one. Your cookies will be perfect and the clean up is a breeze with these wonderful inventions. You really can’t burn anything on them that won’t come clean. Someone else cooked dinner at my house and literally caught the oven on fire with a volcanic strength over-run of marinade and sauce. There were flames in the oven and the smoke damage is still being cleaned up. The cookie sheet under the meat and the rack the meat was on went in the trash. The oven has been cleaned three or four times and yet ‘blobs’ still re-appear. The silicone baking mat? With a little bit of hot water and dish soap–good as new! Absolutely miraculous.

New Year’s Resolutions–easily made, quickly forgotten and fodder for guilt! Instead of feeling bad about yourself when April arrives and your resolutions are all but forgotten, set goals that will allow you to slowly but surely attain a more provident lifestyle. The changes need not be drastic or accomplished all at one time. Provident living is not a one-time event, but rather a mindset, a lifestyle, a commitment to viewing today in context of the years that lie ahead. No matter where you are on the Provident Living Spectrum, making consistent changes will brighten your tomorrows.

As you evaluate where you are, consider these dozen ideas:

1. Debt: If you are out of debt, stay out! If you are in debt, resolve to acquire NO further consumer debt and pay down your debt as quickly as possible. Tell yourself ‘No’ frequently until your debt balance is at zero. Buy used and apply the savings to your debt load. Put away the credit cards and pay cash. Do whatever you have to do to get out from under the slavery of debt.

2. Savings: Pay yourself each payday. Save whatever you can, wherever you can. Keep your savings in a secure, insured account. Teach your children to save and to be wise consumers.

3. Employment: Be certain that your resume is prepared and up-to-date. Improve your skills and be on the look-out for employment opportunities. If you are threatened with unemployment, begin your job search before you are laid off. Let everyone know that you are looking for employment!

4. Education: Be certain that your children understand the value of obtaining the best education possible. Teach them from middle school on that what they do in the six years after elementary school will affect their ability to be admitted to college and win scholarships. Help your teens find every scholarship opportunity possible. Teach your teens about the dangers of acquiring unnecessary student and credit card debt. If you need to return to school, seek grants, scholarships or employer-funded opportunities. Continually learn new skills that will help you live providently: gardening, canning, home repairs, computer skills, sewing, baking, cooking, etc. Be certain that every member of your family has the necessary life skills to enter the world prepared to be self-reliant.

5. Be a wise steward: Take care of what you own so that it will last and serve you well. The greatest ‘green’ thing you can do is to make what you have last as long as possible.

6. Prepare for ‘everyday’ emergencies: The largest percentage of ‘emergencies’ that we will face are the ‘everyday’ sorts–unexpected illness, injury, a flooded basement, etc. An orderly life and home makes it easier to deal with these types of events. Train your family to keep the home running smoothly. Have extras at home–extra cash, extra food, extra cleaning supplies. Know where your important papers and phone numbers are. Evaluate the most likely larger emergencies you might face and prepare with evacuation kits (72-hour kits or Bug Out Bags), emergency supplies such as first-aid kits, extra lighting, cooking, etc. ‘Prepare every needful thing…’

7. Store food and essential supplies: Even if you purchase and set aside a few canned goods each shopping trip, build a supply of food that you can rely on. Begin by purchasing ‘everyday’ foods until you have a 3-month supply. Store some water, extra hygience products, laundry soaps, etc. When you have accomplished your 3-month supply, slowly acquire long-term staples such as grains, sugar, salt and powdered milk.

8. Develop emotional resiliency: Learn to take the upheavals of life in stride emotionally (which is easier when you are living providently). Learn to appropriately deal with stress, anxiety, disappointment and develop a support structure that will assist you. Develop a greater faith and testimony of the eternal nature of your life so that the daily ups and downs are seen in the proper perspective. Learn to laugh. If you need professional help, seek it from a trained professional that shares your core values.

9. Build your spiritual muscles: Like physical muscles, spiritual muscle must be built over time. Do not wait until the tempest is raging to learn to seek Divine Guidance and Strength. Serve others and forget yourself as you lift another.

10. Practice Prevention: Prevent accidents whenever possible. Make your home and your car as safe as possible. Teach your children to behave appropriately and how to react to danger. Seek preventative medical care from competent professionals. Think before acting and research before leaping!

11. Plan ahead: Live today fully, but look towards the future. Plan economically, physically and mentally for events that you know will occur. Whether it is a birthday, Christmas or retirement, many of life’s events can be accurately predicted and planned for. Continually living in a state of ‘last-minutitis’ increases stress and nearly always results in frayed nerves, greater expenditures and wasted effort.

12. Practice happiness: Happy people are more likely to successfully navigate the world without relying on impulse buying, addictive substances or other self-destructive behaviors. Find joy in the simple things of life and make your home a haven from the cares of the world. If your home is a simple cave, make it the brightest, happiest, most laughter-filled cave imaginable.

Provident Living is not a drudgery or ‘doomsday’ way of looking at life. Rather, it is the best guarantee that you and those you love will be safe, secure, strong and happy no matter what life throws your way. Make 2010 a year in which you embrace and find joy in being not only self-reliant but able to reach out to others. In that, you will find the greatest of joy!

The costumes are put away, the jack-o-lanterns wilting and Thanksgiving is around the corner. It is time, once again, to consider the impending holiday season. This year the great majority of folks are wondering if reality is going to cause us all to turn into Scrooge! There is no need to fear being haunted by the ghosts of Christmas, no matter what your economic situation, if you but plan ahead, use a dose of creativity, think clearly and start NOW to wish those you care about a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate.

The first step is to BEGIN NOW–if you haven’t already. (You really smart people took our advice last year and may have a running head start on your holiday planning. Wahoo for you!!) For those of you that were a bit slower on the uptake, go back and read last year’s holiday missive first:

Warning: Holidays Ahead!!

NOW, we are ready to move forward to Post-Graduate Holiday Planning. Never willing to rest on our laurels, we are forging ahead to find even more creative way to be kindly, loving, generous and thoughtful — while maintaining our economic equilibrium– for the happy days ahead. Follow these easy tricks and earn your Masters of Generous Frugality:

1. WHAT YOU HAVE: First and foremost, do a solid inventory of what you have on hand. What supplies do you have that could be turned into gifts? Old jeans? Google how to make a tote bag or re-usable shopping bag utilizing these ’scraps’. Plain candles? Can you decorate them? Containers? Fill them up with a treat you make or buy for next to nothing. Plain paper or note cards? Turn them into Christmas cards. Write a Christmas letter and forget the card!

Need supplies to complete your project?  Michael’s and JoAnn’s will email you coupons nearly every week that give you 40 to 50% percent off your purchase.

2. COUPONING: Even those who do not regularly use coupons might want to reconsider for the holiday season. Expecting a lower than average holiday surge of shopping, companies right and left are offering up some fantastic savings on toys, games and gift ware. This week, games can be purchased for $1. Sit ‘n spin for $6.14. Many of these coupons are available online and several enterprising websites offer you not only the opportunity to print the coupons, but team the coupons up with store specific sales. These sites save you time and money! A few to check out are:

http://www.dealseekingmom.com/  This intrepid coupon and bargain shopper does a great job of keeping you up-to-date on current coupons and deals. If you browse the site a bit, you can learn how to get items for FREE and even get money back. Read up on how to play the Drugstore Game–she’s amazing (and that is a compliment coming from this veteran bargain shopper). Sign up for her email alerts and she will send you regular updates. I’ve tried her approach and it does work.

http://attentiontargetshoppers.blogspot.com/ Another great site that combines coupons with sales. I learned that you can ’stack’ coupons! You can use a Target coupon and a manufacturing coupon to often score free or nearly free items. Offers that combine coupons with purchases rewarded with a Target gift card are also highlighted. One listing today is for a free portrait sitting and 8×10 (or 2 5×7’s, wallets, etc) at a Target photo studio. Have a little child and grandparents? You have a great gift for free!! Ginger also points out other offers.

Follow some of the other couponing links on these sites and be amazed at the time and money these sites can save you!

3. FREEBIES: Using the sites listed above (and similar ones) you may be surprised at what you can get for free. Don’t forget other introductory offers, samples and ‘gift with purchase’ items. For instance, the Kodakgallery.com is giving away a MILLION $15 gift certificates. It is easy and they actually have gifts for $15. Shipping charges are super low.

Look for offers everywhere you shop. Today, I ordered 5 blouses and 3 pairs of pants on clearance (total of $35 with shipping) AND received a $30 gift with purchase–an item I had planned to buy for a family member.

Walmart.com provides regularly changing links to sign up to receive a variety of free samples, many of which are suitable for stocking stuffers or to fill that gift with purchase cosmetic bag. Give the filled bag to a traveling friend, relative or the college bound student. ‘Tween girls would also love such a gift!

Join freecycle.org and trade useful items with your community. Need jars to fill? Ask on freecycle. A glue gun? Ask on freecyle. Daily postings are emailed to you and the items offered are absolutely amazing.

3. GOT CHILDREN? If you have a young child and extended family that thinks your child is absolutely amazing (and of course they are right), you have low cost or free gifts at your fingertips. Print out low-cost or free (see Kodak Gallery listing above) photos of your child. Turn them into simple ornaments (get supplies for free or 50% off using coupons), frame them in repurposed frames or simply mail the photo with a loving letter of all you learned about parenting from the family member. Adhere photos to magnet strips to create instant refrigerator art: Keep all of those advertising magnets you get, apply double stick tape or permanent adhesive spray, attach the photo and trim around the child’s face.  What Grandparent wouldn’t love that? If your child is older, enlist them in designing and making frames or other gifts such as ‘raggedy reverse applique’ items. Old blue jeans can be turned into charming frames. Simply browse the internet for loads of free ideas and instructions.

4. FOOD STORAGE: Ever thought of food storage as a source for gift giving? Your storage can work holiday magic in multiple ways. First, cut your grocery bill this season by utilizing food you already have stored. If you have the basics stored, you should be able to produce baked goods to give as gifts. When I had four children in school and lived on a single income in a high cost area, I began baking a super simple French bread recipe for my children’s teachers and school staff. The hot bread was wrapped in simple brown kraft paper that I had on hand and tied up with raffia (that I had on hand).  A small gift card signed by the appropriate child was attached. The hot loaves were delivered over a two day period at the end of the school day and were very well received. Out of pocket expense? Zip! If you don’t want to bake, save some empty jars (or score free canning jars on freecycle) and fill with food storage ingredients for bake-it-yourself cookies, soups, granola or other mixes. Grab some powdered milk, cocoa, sugar and make hot chocolate mix. Package it up and place in a mug with a cute tag. Again, recipes are free online. (Note: Do NOT follow instructions for ‘canning’ cakes in jars. It is a recipe for botulism which is NOT a nice gift)

Have wheat or rice? Sew up a small fabric bag (recycle old clothing, sheets, etc. if you don’t have yards of fabric) and fill with wheat or rice. These bags are then heated in the microwave and provide soothing relief for sore muscles. The first batch I made disappeared when a bunch of house guests fell in love with them. (No, they didn’t steal them, but I couldn’t say no to their requests to take their new found best friend home.) A deluxe version would include a small case for the bag.

5. POST HALLOWEEN & ‘AUTUMN’ CLEARANCE: Scoop up clearance rack candy that isn’t wrapped in Halloween wrappers, solid color candles, baskets and simple wreath forms after the 31st. Also check for totes in Autumn colors, gold colored napkins, plates, containers & mugs as well as baking mixes. Many will be 90% the week after Halloween. Put some candy in a jar, container, mug, basket or even ziploc bags to share with co-workers, doctor offices, neighbors or anyone else you need a gift for. Don’t forget to save some for stockings. Take a plain candle and glue gun candy canes or twigs around the edge–you have a lovely ‘designer’ look for pennies. For a more elaborate gift, place candle in a basket with some cloth napkins, napkin rings or other hostess items. Children have too much Trick or Treat candy? Save some for gingerbread houses and other holiday decorating. Don’t forget to check your grocery and drug stores for clearance items!

6. GROCERY STORES. Always check their clearance racks for specialty gifts. I recently found cedar wraps, a perfect gift for my gourmet brother, marked down 90%. I’m still hunting the library book sale for a great cookbook to go with it. Next to the wraps were gorgeous napkin rings (see above) at 90% off!

7. MAKE IT A GAME. Is everyone on a tight budget? Admit it and make gift giving more about the thought than the expense. One of my brilliant daughter-in-laws came up with a game we participated in for several years. At Thanksgiving, we all drew names of other family members. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we had to find a gift for the person we drew that did not exceed $1 in cost. The gift had to be purchased at a dollar store, thrift store, used book store or yard sale. I was not allowed to purchase items on clearance racks–the family decided that was an unfair advantage.  ;( We exchanged the gifts on Christmas Eve and it was GREAT fun! Some of those $1 gifts required much, much more thought than simply running to the nearest store and buying whatever we thought the person wanted. One son found three books his person really wanted at a used book shop. Another son and daughter-in-law announced an upcoming grandchild utilizing a dollar store frame. The key is imagination and thoughtfulness.

8. EBATES, REBATES AND REWARDS. As you shop, get the most benefit from every dollar you spend. Sign up for sites such as ebates.com, that rebate a portion of purchases you make at participating merchants. Extra discounts are also available from many of these sites. If you utilize a credit card (which you pay off every month) that offers a cashback or other incentive, you have furthered your spending power. To top it all off, look for manufacturer’s rebates. Savvy shoppers can recoup a sizable portion of everything they spend. On the purchase noted in #3 above, I will receive a 4% rebate from ebates.com in addition to 4% from my credit card. 8% isn’t much on a $35 purchase, but those rebates do add up.

9. DIY. A handmade gift shows not only generosity but true thought as you give of yourself, your time and your talents. One of the most beautiful art bowls I have ever seen was a thank you gift given to a neighbor. The neighbor had cared for the children of a very cash-strapped friend. As a thank you gift, the dollar-poor but grateful woman cut strips of wool from several old, worn pieces of clothing and wove the richly colored strips of fabric into a beautiful bowl. The out-of-pocket expense was zero and yet a wonderful piece of art was created. No matter what your talents, sharing them with love is a gift of great worth. Teaching our children to cherish a handmade gift blesses them with a greater appreciation of the true meaning of gift-giving.

10. MAKE THE SIMPLE MEANINGFUL. Turning a simple, inexpensive item into something meaningful elevates the gift to a true expression of love. One Christmas, a friend of mine cut out simple wooden heart ornaments, stained them, added a ribbon and a small poem about following the star of Bethlehem. Though the ornament alone was lovely, the poem added great meaning to the gift. I have also seen inexpensive cookie cutters in significant shapes turned into an ornament with a piece of ribbon. Add a poem or quote and you have a thoughtful gift!

11. START A TRADITION. Traditions can build family unity, bring meaning to holidays and bind us through the generations. Begin a traditional gift that you give each year. As grandchildren appeared in my extended family, one sister began the tradition of giving each child a yearly Christmas ornament. Each year’s ornament was inexpensive, unique, labeled with the child’s name, the year and embellished in some way by my sister. The children entered adulthood with their own collection of ornaments. Another aunt I know gives each niece and nephew a book. Another sews simple pillowcases. Such a tradition allows you to plan ahead, keep spending under control and still remember family members and friends in a meaningful way.

12. FAMILY HEIRLOOMS AND HISTORY. If you are the keeper of family heirlooms, consider giving some as gifts to recipients that will appreciate them. My Mother has begun doing this recently, gifting beautiful items from our family history to grandchildren that will appreciate them. She is cautious that the recipient will treasure the item and keep it to be passed on to the next generation. If you have valuable family history, genealogy records or a compilation of family stories, consider copying these papers, placing in a binder and passing them on as gifts. If you are a grandparent or great-grandparent, your own life story would be a wonderful thing to write, copy and give as gifts. Gather family recipes and copy them for family members. Add small stories about the origin of the recipe or the person who submitted it.

13. THINK VINTAGE. ‘Vintage’ items are quite the rage in fashion and home decorating. Find interesting items in consignment shops, thrift stores, yard sales or your own belongings. Grandma’s mid-century costume jewelry may be just the thing for the fashion forward college student. Make sure the item is clean and suited to the recipient (which every thoughtful gift should be).

14. USED STUFF WITH MEANING. Thrift stores, consignment sales, freecycle and yard sales can yield more than a slightly stained shirt. Look for interesting mugs, plates that could hold cookies, tea cups that could be turned into a pin cushion, lovely old spoons for that hot chocolate mix, interesting old frames for those free photos you are going to print, scrapbooking papers for interesting wrapping, rubber stamps to decorate plain paper, vintage photos to be cut up and used to decorate a plain box, small pieces of unusual jewelry, out of print cookbooks, old kitchen utensils, bowls to go with soup mix from your food storage or baskets for holding a loaf of bread. Don’t be afraid to haggle over prices and look beyond the obvious use for an item.

15. SHARE A HOBBY. Do you have excess craft or hobby supplies? Enough to share? Consider putting together a small kit to share your hobby with a child, teen or another adult. Offer free lessons to go with the kit or find a book with simple instructions.

16. GROUP GIFTS PART ONE. The first type of group gift is when multiple people share the cost of one great item. My brother and I have done this on multiple occasions in order to give my Mother a gift we know she really wants, but is a bit out of our singular price range. Even if the price tag is low, a gift that requires a great deal of time could be shared between multiple family members. Family history, anthologies of creative writing, photo albums, remembrances and other such gifts can be given by a group of people and hold great meaning for the recipient. Perhaps each child and grandchild in a family could write an article or personal letter about a favorite grandparent. One family member can assemble the offerings into a notebook. This type of well-thought out and loving gift would certainly brighten the holidays of an elderly family member.

17. GROUP GIFTS PART TWO. Consider ‘family’ gifts instead of individual gifts. A game that the entire family can play, a movie or other item that all can share (and would want to enjoy) is a way to give a nice gift at a lower cost. Packaging can make the gift more interesting, such as a movie, a ‘theater sized’ box of candy and some microwave popcorn packaged in a popcorn box shows more thought than simply wrapping up a DVD.

18. SHIP EARLY, SHIP SMART. As you choose meaningful, budget-appropriate gifts, keep in mind any shipping needs. Keep items light weight and not over-sized. If the family gathers from far and wide for Thanksgiving at Mom’s house, have everyone’s Christmas gifts ready for them to transport home. Ship everything early and compare rates. FedEx often beats the post office and if you open an account at fedex.com, you receive a discount.

Whatever tactic you use to keep your holiday meaningful and budget-conscious, plan ahead, give sincere thought to the recipient and remember that the most meaningful gifts are those given from true, sincere love.

—————-

Self-reliance can be accomplished by small steps taken on a regular basis. This week’s 10×100 Challenge Goals:

43. Add a first aid kit to your car pack.

44. Stick a set of fuses in your car pack.

45. Put a flashlight in your car pack. Package the batteries outside of the flashlight.

46. Add a flare to your car pack.

47. Add a can of Fix-a-flat to your car pack.

48. Check your spare tire & tire iron.

Note: I read an article by an infectious disease specialist who recommended that in addition to routine hand washing, have all members of your family wash their hands and gargle with either warm salt water or antiseptic mouth wash whenever they return home. Nasal passages can be cleaned with a neti pot or saline spray. These measures help to remove the viral agents from areas of our bodies where they grow. Gargling and saline spray can also be done mid-day while at work. The recommendations are logical and inexpensive!

Note: President Obama today (October 24) declared the H1N1 a ‘National Emergency’. It is too early to know how this declaration will affect our daily lives, but it would be wise to be fully prepared to be self-sufficient within your home and watch for news updates.

Epidemic, pandemic…the news throws the words around so often now that we may become immune to the reality of what these words mean and how they may affect us. What do we really need to know and what can we do to prepare ourselves?

First, we need to understand what the words mean.

An epidemic is the occurrence of more than expected number of cases of a disease within a community or population, within a given amount of time.

A pandemic is an epidemic spread out over a larger geographic area such as a state, country, nation or the world.

Not all epidemics or pandemics are deadly, but they can disrupt not only the lives of the ill, but society as a whole.

Epidemics are often, hopefully, prevented by administering vaccines. These vaccines are often developed to protect the population rather than just the individual. If a large enough portion of the population is vaccinated against a specific disease, the illness will not spread as quickly or virulently.

Some vaccines are given not for the benefit of the person receiving them, but for others around them. An example of this is the Rubella vaccine. Rubella is a highly contagious, non-serious disease common among children. However, if a pregnant woman contracts Rubella in the early stages of pregnancy, the fetus is likely to have severe and life-threatening defects. Thus, children are vaccinated not to protect them, but to protect unborn fetus’.  By doing so, epidemics of Rubella, which result in large numbers of babies born with serious birth defects, are prevented through mass vaccination.

Epidemics are a ‘fact of life’ in human history. Prior to the advent of international air travel, world-wide pandemics were less common but have occurred. The risks of a pandemic today are much higher, mainly due to the ease with which people travel around the world quickly. Where our predecessors took weeks to cross the ocean (during which time illness became apparent and ill individuals were refused entry), we now span the same distance in hours, with little or no screening for infectious diseases. A symptom-free, but contagious individual could easily board a flight in Europe, infect a large number of people on the airplane and hours later be in the U.S. The fellow passengers on the flight are most likely to disperse to any number of final destinations, carting their luggage and pathogens with them. The seeds of a pandemic are now sown.

Let’s imagine the reality of being caught in an epidemic or pandemic. What could we expect and how can we prepare? (Having lived through a several months-long epidemic, I will draw on my own experience and the research I have since done.)

Depending on the seriousness of the disease, an epidemic in its infancy may not be sufficiently reported. It may take time for cases to be reported to health authorities and the medical community may be slow to ‘connect the dots’. Let us examine several scenarios– a small scale epidemic, a regional epidemic and a true pandemic. How do you recognize each, how would your life be impacted and what can you do to prepare?

A SMALL SCALE EPIDEMIC

Scenario: Among a group that you belong to, a school, church, workplace, organization, etc., members become ill in fairly rapid succession. It may begin with one or two, but spreads among the membership. Each member goes to a different doctor, so no single doctor knows that others are infected with the same illness. Remember, an epidemic is an unusual number of cases of the same disease. In this scenario, we will assume that the illness is serious enough to require medical attention and some hospitalizations occur. You hear reports of a death from the illness.

What can you do as an organization?

1. Track outbreaks and should there seem to be an epidemic occurring, act quickly.

2. Survey members of your group to see how many are ill and what their symptoms are. If the symptoms are gastrointestinal and all occurred within a short period of time, check the calendar to see if a meal was shared. If so, you likely have an outbreak of food poisoning. In that case, let membership know and have them seek appropriate treatment. If the illness is NOT food related, continue on:

3. Cancel group meetings if you suspect an outbreak within your membership.

4. Notify all members of your group of the outbreak of the illness, including the symptoms and where to seek help.

5. Stop the delivery of meals, contact, etc. among the members within your organization.

6. Sanitize the structure you meet in. Utilize antiseptic cleaners, spray disinfectants, etc.

7. Reinstate meetings, etc. only after you are certain that the outbreak has stopped. Membership should be free from new cases for several days past the suspected incubation period of the disease.

8. When meetings are begun again, utilize appropriate infection control, such as emphasis on hand washing, no handshaking, asking anyone feeling ill to stay home, hand sanitizers available and an emphasis on cleanliness, especially with any form of food preparation.

9. Watch for signs of re-occurrence once meetings are reinstated. Reinstate meetings slowly, with groups of young children being the last to re-establish.

During the epidemic I lived through, the infection (encephalitis) was not confirmed by local health authorities until 8 deaths occurred. Our church, later confirmed to be a ‘cluster’ of infection, acted quicker than the local health authorities. The church leadership followed the above outlined steps and was credited with helping to stop the epidemic and save lives.

How would this scenario impact you and how can you prepare?

1. If the outbreak was within a school or daycare, you would need to have other plans for your children.

2. You would need to be self-sufficient if you rely on this organization for support in the case of an emergency.

3. If it were the workplace, you may find that you must work from home, take vacation time or do without a pay check for some period of time.

4. Think through the organizations you belong to and how they impact your life. If those organizations were removed today, what would you need to be prepared to do for yourself?

The Epidemic Spreads To The Community

Scenario: The illness that you believed was isolated to your organization, appears to be spreading among the community you live in. You hear that more and more people are becoming infected, deaths are reported and hospitals are overwhelmed with cases. Health officials recognize that this illness is highly contagious, serious and the cases are multiplying. Emergency rooms are over-crowded, health care workers are becoming infected, pharmacies are understaffed and overwhelmed, grocery store shelves are emptying, first responders are calling in sick, and community-based services (ie garbage, transportation, etc) are cut back.

How would this affect you?

1. Schools, libraries, gyms, churches and other gathering places may be closed.

2. Medical facilities will be stretched very thin. None life-threatening emergencies may be shuttled out of the emergency room.

3. Your daily routine significantly altered. Grocery store supplies may dwindle, pharmacies run short of meds, businesses closed due to high number of illnesses.

4. Picture what is open on Christmas Day and extend that out for weeks at a time.

5. Health departments may quarantine people. A quarantine order gives government authorities the right to restrict your movement. You may be quarantined to your home—you cannot leave and no one other than emergency personnel may enter.

What can you do?

1. Be prepared!

2. Take an inventory of what you have on hand. Can you remain self-sufficient in your home for weeks to months?

3. Keep prescription medications filled and try to accumulate extras.

4. Avoid large gatherings, tight quarters and anyone that is ill.

Scenario: A pandemic has occurred that has out-stripped medical facilities and other services in a very large geographic area. This is the ‘worst case’ scenario from a large-scale perspective. A localized epidemic can be assisted by bringing in supplies and personnel from an outlying area. In a true pandemic of serious illness, those secondary lines of defense may not be available. The consequences of a real pandemic of serious illness would be much like the aftermath of a large scale natural disaster.

1. Marshall law may be declared so that looting, etc. can be contained and local law enforcement can receive assistance from military units. Under marshall law, many daily civil liberties are suspended. Curfews may be enforced.

2. All government, civil, medical, banking, education and businesses will be affected and curtailed. The ATM may be out of cash. The gas station out of gas.

3. If the illness is deadly, even the ability to bury people will be overrun.

It is difficult to realistically project the reality of this type of pandemic without going into lengthy and morbid detail. If you want to gain some perspective, read about the realities of the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic or the aftermath of disasters such as Katrina or the Tsunamis.

What can you do?

1. Again, PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!

Provident Living is truly a lifestyle that if lived fully will prepare you for any number of man-made, natural or germ-rendered life events. Being able to be self-sufficient within the walls of your own home is your best preparation. Taken one step at a time, this goal is not only reachable but will lead you to a greater degree of financial and emotional security.

Now is the time to evaluate where you stand in your progress toward self-sufficiency.

In recognition of National Preparedness Month here in the U.S. (the rest of the world is welcome to join), it is time for a challenge! You can do it! With just over 100 days left in 2009, it is time to buckle down, dedicate yourself and set aside just 10 minutes or less per day. Yes, in less than 10 minutes a day and nearly no money at all, you can improve your preparedness status by leaps and bounds.

The extra days in 2009 can be set aside for holidays, vacations or, even better, utilized to do a more-than-ten-minute job. However you use the days, use them well!

Ready? Set? Go! Here it is, the first installment of 100 things you can do in 10 minutes or less:

1. Program your cell phone phone book with the word ICE (stands for In Case of Emergency). Under that listing, include the name & phone numbers for the person you want to have contacted first in case of an emergency. First Responders and ER personnel know to check your cell phone for this listing.

2. Check your car’s glove compartment and be certain that you have a current registration, inspection receipt, insurance card and insurance contact information.

3. Write down all of your family’s prescription drugs, their RX number, refill date, name of medicine, instructions and the pharmacy phone number. Make a copy for your 72-hour kit.

4. Write out a card for each child’s car restraint seat. Include child’s name, your contact info, another relative’s contact information, child’s pediatrician and important medical history. Attach to the bottom or back right rear of the seat.

5. Schedule your yearly health maintenance check-ups such as mammograms, pap smears, physical exams and immunization review.

6. Place water leak alarms near washing machine, hot water heater and any other area likely to suffer a leak.

7. Wash the dryer lint trap under hot water until water runs freely.

8. Check the tire pressure and tread depth on your tires.

9. Clean out your medicine cabinet and dispose of out-dated medications.

10. Test your smoke detectors & change batteries as needed.

11. Set up a spot for your perpetual grocery list. Let your family know where it is!

12. Photocopy your credit cards & ID. Place copy in your “What If?” Notebook.

13. Check the outside dryer vent. Be certain that vent flaps open freely. Remove any visible lint.

14. Clean the inside of your car windshield. “Stuff” gathers on the inside of the windshield and can cause complete ‘white out’ when you are driving towards the sun.

15. Clean one pantry shelf. Move older food to the front.

16. Write down neighbor’s phone number, doctor’s phone numbers, family contact numbers and place inside a cabinet near the phone.

17. Add at least one long-term storage food to your grocery list. Consider rice, dry beans, sugar, oatmeal.

18. Check outside lights. Replace burned out bulbs.

19. Check your supply of flashlights. Do they work? Do you have batteries for them? One for each room of your house?

20. Clean the trash out of your car.

21. Cook a double entree and freeze the extra one.

22. Make a list of everyone you plan to purchase Christmas gifts for.

23. Pick up Christmas Cards at a discounter or dollar store before the inexpensive ones are sold out.

24. Replace filters in your HVAC system. Write the date you replaced it on the filter. Mark your calendar for the next change date.

25. See what Christmas gifts you may already have on hand. Plan which ones you are going to make.

26. Do a quick comparison of current prices for internet providers. Do you need to change?

27. Clean out one kitchen drawer.

28. Have little ones at home or due to visit? Check childproofing & poison control.

29. Check 401K & pension plan balances. Do you need to save more for retirement?

30. Purchase at least one item for long-term storage.

31. Treat sink & tub drains with baking soda and vinegar.

32. Check children’s toys. Throw out broken ones.

33. Set budget for holiday gift giving. Do you need to save some money?

34. Check nightlights. Do they illuminate areas that need light? Do they work?

35. Find a backpack, tote or other container that can store items in your car.

36. Add jumper cables to your car pack

37. Put some bottled water in your car pack.

38. Put some long-term food such as granola bars in your car pack.

39. Put several ’space’ blankets or wool blankets in your car pack.

40. Add some matches and a candle to your car pack. Pack candle in an empty vegetable can and cover top with aluminum foil.

41. Add an all-in-one screwdriver to your car pack.

42. Add an ‘emergency’ flag to your car pack. This can simply be a piece of bright orange or red fabric.

43. Add a first aid kit to your car pack.

44. Stick a set of fuses in your car pack.

45. Put a flashlight in your car pack. Package the batteries outside of the flashlight.

46. Add a flare to your car pack.

47. Add a can of Fix-a-flat to your car pack.

48. Check your spare tire & tire iron.

49. Check the fluid levels in your car.

50. Put some paper and a pen in your glove compartment.

51. Check your gutters to see if they are running well.

52. Look at your roof from across the street. Does it look solid?

53. Add your doctor’s voice & fax numbers to your cell phone directory.

54. Add a worthwhile item to your 72-hour kit.

55. Grab some 3×5 cards. Write out personal information for each person & add to 72-hour kit. Include out of state contacts, medical information, etc.

56. Check the caulk around the doors and windows of your home. Note which ones need repair.

57. Add some cash and quarters to your glove compartment. An empty prescription bottle or tube from mini-M&M’s work well.

58. Check outdoor walkways. Are they clear? Free from tripping hazards? Cracks?

59. Add one item to your food storage.

60. Gather up your candles and see if you have enough to provide some light for 7-days. Store some matches (more than you think you need) with the candles.

61. Refill BBQ propane tanks if you have them.

62. Clean one pantry shelf. Move older food to the front.

63. Clean out your refrigerator. Discard old food and mark food that needs to be eaten up.

64. Do you need to have your chimney cleaned?

65. Read about one way to cook food without power. Order or gather supplies you would need.

66. Program your pharmacy’s phone number into your cell phone.

67. Check your computer’s firewall and anti-virus strength.

68. Do a quick comparison of auto insurance rates and coverage.

69. Set aside ingredients for a ‘no time to cook’ dinner.

70. Add one item to your two week supply of food that you could eat without cooking.

71. Store some water.

72. Plan holiday meals. Watch for ingredients to go on sale. Don’t forget potluck dinners, treats for neighbors, etc.

73. Do you need to have your furnace checked?

74. Check appliances for frayed cords.

75. Do you have de-icer in your windshield washer fluid?

76. Ice scrapers in each car….unless you live where it never gets cold!

77. Clean out one pantry shelf. Discard out of date food. Move older food to the front.

78. Try a new recipe that utilizes at least two items from your long-term storage.

79. Check supply of over-the-counter medicines such as antihistamines, antidiarrheal, pain killers & anti-inflammatories.

80. Check the caulk around tubs, showers and toilets. Repair or replace as needed.

81. Check your credit cards? Current? Do you have too many?

82. Check your credit report for errors.

83. Be certain your are shredding documents with personal information such as insurance numbers, birthdates, account numbers, social security numbers.

84. Google your name to make sure someone is using it online or writing about you in an unfavorable way.

85. Buy or obtain a free (try freecycle) transistor am/fm radio.

86. Clean out one closet.

87. Add one item to your food storage.

88. Check your doors and windows for air leaks.

89. Make certain that shrubbery around your house does not obscure windows. (burglars love it when they can hide behind a bush while they break your window)

90. Make a place for end of year tax information.

91. Try a recipe utilizing one or two items from your long-term storage.

92. Check your cell phone contract. If out of contract, compare rates.

93. Add a small flashlight to your glove compartment.

94. Check cash supply at home. Be certain you have bills in $20 or less denominations

95. Mail holiday gifts early to avoid paying express shipping charges.

96. Do you need de-icer for walk ways and driveway?

97. Collect loose change and establish place to store it.

98. Add one item to your 2 week supply of foods you could eat without cooking.

99. Add one item to your 72-hour kit.

100. Cook a double entree and freeze the extra!

See, you can do this!!! It is inexpensive, fast and all things YOU can do with little time and money.

Don’t worry, we’ll remind you periodically. Now, get to it! And good luck.

Wahoo–you did it! You are back home with your car loaded with groceries that you have saved at least 20% (hoping closer to 30%) and it is time to store everything so that you maximize the potential waiting in those bags. Let’s get started.

Put the cold things away immediately. This includes meat that you are going to put in the freezer or cook up. Be certain that the raw meat does not contaminate surrounding food. Keep it in plastic grocery bags and on a low shelf of your frig.

If you have purchased dairy or meat products that are close to their expiration date, grab a sharpie and write the expiration date on the packaging in very LARGE letters. This will be a visual reminder to help you use the product before it is too late.

For non-cold items, put the newest purchases to the back of the shelves. Pull the older items to the front. This is the same system that grocery stores use.

Need to store small items such as chewing gum, muffin mixes, etc that can tend to get lost? Categorize them and store in inexpensive plastic shoe boxes. Empty plastic tubes from ‘Crystal Light’ type drinks also are wonderful for storing things like cough drops, small amounts of pasta or mints. Write on the tube what is inside and your pantry will be easy to use as well as save you money.

Store your re-usable bags and dispose of plastic bags that have held raw meat products. It is safer to pitch these than to risk cross-contamination. One exception might be to use them when walking the dog, IF you can keep them separate from bags you might utilize elsewhere. For plastic bags that haven’t held raw meat, use them to line small trash cans, as a waste receptacle on your counter when you are cleaning vegetables, sort laundry….there are literally 100’s of uses for these bags. If you want to organize them, check out the plastic bag holder sold by IKEA that mounts on the wall. It is inexpensive, holds a ton of bags, holds up well and you can get the bags back out easily.

Wash down the counter that you placed the grocery bags on with a disinfectant cleaner. The bottoms of those bags are germ factories! Finally, wash your hands thoroughly and sit down to catch your breath. While sitting, congratulate yourself on a job well down.

After your little rest, recheck your menu plan for the coming week. Do you need to adjust it due to finding an ingredient you hadn’t planned on buying? For instance, you purchased near-its-expiration-date chicken and should use it up quickly. Or the produce man was clearing out bananas. Make necessary changes and repost your menus.

If you purchased near-its-expiration-date meat, consider cooking it now and freezing for later use. It will make great last minute meals and you’ll not risk further spoilage. This is also a great way to quickly process those club packs of meat. Make one mess and have multiple meals nearly ready to serve! Be certain to handle the meat carefully, package well, label with contents & date, cool appropriately in the refrigerator or a bowl of ice and then pop into your deep freeze.

If you are going to break down club packs without cooking, prepare your work area by assembling everything you will need. Scrub your hands and then divide the meat into appropriate smaller containers. Label and freeze. Sanitize your work area when you are done and give yourself another round of applause!

Still not satisfied with your savings? Be certain to utilize the internet for websites that match coupons to sales, notices of freebies, email alerts for your local grocery store flyers, inexpensive meals such as www.5dollardinners.com or www.hillbillyhousewife.com. Work your long-term storage foods such as whole grains and dried beans into your menus, double check your portion sizes, be certain that you are using every bit of food possible–never, ever waste left-overs! Scrutinize carefully what sorts of foods you are purchasing. Be certain to comparison shop periodically.

LEARN TO COOK SIMPLE, QUICK, INEXPENSIVE AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS AT HOME ! ! !

Like any great athlete, becoming an X-treme Grocery Shopper requires patience, practice, coaching and fine tuning of your game. You won’t be saving 30 to 50% overnight, but you will get there if you persevere!

Do you have great tips for saving money while feeding your family? Please, email them in and we’ll share your ideas. Further ideas are also listed under frugalmania above.