Daily Preparedness

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 week before Christmas and all through the land,

Folks are scurrying and feeling rather grand.

Now is the time for the wise to prepare,

So that holidays will occur without a scare!

Okay, so the poetry isn’t great, but just to make certain that your holidays are more merry than scary, remember a few last minute reminders:

SHOPPING:

• Try to go without little ones so you aren’t distracted
• Keep packages out of sight–lock that trunk!
• Be constantly aware of your surroundings
• If you must shop alone and at night, ask for security to walk you to your car, especially in a large and/or dark parking lot
• Carry valuables in your front pockets. Avoid a purse or tote if possible
• Keep your credit cards in sight when completing transactions
• Be aware of anyone looking over your shoulder while you process your transaction
• Don’t process a purchase while clerk is on the phone, especially if speaking in another language and holding your credit card
• Use internet sites that are secure
• If you are gone from home all day, ask trusted neighbor to pick up packages left at your front door.
• Keep your receipts–most merchants have tightened up return policies!
• Have some cash for emergencies and small purchases

TRAVEL

• Have cash for emergencies
• Re-read hints about winter travel
• Plan plenty of time for delays
• Keep your cellphone charged
• Check car condition before travel

HOME

• If going away, use timers on lights and talk radio channel
• Ask trusted neighbor to bring in mail and newspapers
• Don’t put gifts where others can see them through open drapes
• Be sure to practice fire safety, especially with lit candles and flammable decorations
• If having house guests, be certain their medications are up & away from little hands
• Cut up and bag boxes from high priced items when disposing of them or take to recycling center
• Practice safe food handling

Have a safe, blessed, healthy and happy Christmas!

The turkey leftovers are gone, gifts are being wrapped, and in many parts of the country, snowfall is happening. For those in warmer climates, the impending holiday season often means traveling to or through areas that may become a ‘winter wonderland’ at a moment’s notice. To make certain the bells being rung aren’t yours (when you are stuck in a snowdrift or hit by a car), prepare your car appropriately before heading out. Anyone driving where there is or might be snow, should stock their car with the following (most courtesy of the Loudoun County Virginia Sheriff’s office):

- Properly fitting tire chains
- Bag of sand or salt (or kitty litter)
- Traction mats
- Snow shovel
- Snow brush
- Ice scraper
- Booster cables – also consider when of the ‘instant’ jump devices
- Warning devices such as flares or emergency lights
- Fuel line de-icer (methanol, also called methyl alcohol or methyl hydrate)
- Extra windshield wiper fluid appropriate for sub-freezing temperatures
- Roll of paper towels
- Flashlight and a portable flashing light (and extra batteries)
- Blankets—‘space’ or emergency blankets are small and can be used for signaling.
- Extra clothing, including hat and wind-proof pants, and warm footwear
- First aid kit
- Snack bars or other “emergency” food and water. Don’t forget food for babies!
- Matches and emergency candles. Only use these with a window opened to prevent build-up of carbon monoxide.
- Road maps — Be certain you know where you are going and the current conditions of the roads ahead if you leave a major traffic artery! Do not rely solely on your GPS unit. (One springtime, my family and I were traveling in New Mexico. We left the desert floor and, using a road map, decided to take a more ‘direct route’ than the one recommended to us. The road map was not a geographic map. We ended up going from desert to snow-capped mountains very quickly. It was inconvenient in the spring, but could have been deadly in the winter, especially if we had experienced car trouble! Know what you are driving into!)
- “Call Police” or other help signs on brightly colored banners.
- Spare tire in good condition and ‘instant’ flat repair
- Necessary medications

And a few safe winter driving tips:

Always keep the gas tank topped off. When it gets to half, fill it up.

Do not travel unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to make the trip, ensure someone is aware of your route of travel. If you change your route, notify that same person! People are lost every year due to taking ‘short cuts’.

Carry a cellular phone. Your cell phone can be used during emergencies and for notifying those expecting your arrival in case there are weather delays. Make certain you have a car charger and consider purchasing one of the temporary ‘instant chargers’ for at least one cell phone.

Always buckle-up. Your seat belt can be the best protection against drivers who are tense and in a hurry because of weather conditions. All children should be properly restrained all of the time!

Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof – before driving.

Pay attention. Don’t try to out-drive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.

Leave plenty of room for stopping.

Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back a safe stopping distance and don’t pass on the right.

Know the current road conditions. Check with local safety officials before driving.

Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time to stop in adverse conditions.

Do not pump anti-lock brakes. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump brakes in attempting to stop. The right way is to “stomp and steer!”

Watch for slippery bridges, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridges will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.

Don’t use your cruise control in wintry or rainy conditions in order to avoid spinning out of control! Even roads that appear clear can have sudden patches of ice or puddles of water that are unnoticeable against the pavement. These patches can instantaneously cause your wheels to lose traction - even for a split second - which causes them to spin at a faster rate. This confuses the cruise control, which misunderstands this momentary increase in rotation to mean that your speed has increased. The cruise control will then apply the brakes, which is the last thing you want to do when you start to lose traction! When the wheels suddenly increase their rotational speed, then suddenly stop, it’s this combination that then causes you to lose traction and spin out of control. When this occurs on puddles of water it’s known as “hydroplaning”, but the same principle can prove to be just as deadly on ice!

Don’t get overconfident in your 4×4 vehicle. Remember that your four-wheel drive vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles but it won’t help you stop any faster. Many 4×4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop.

Don’t get overconfident in your 4×4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4×4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle.

Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react safely.

Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.

Go slow!

———-This week’s 10×100 Challenge Goals———-

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 you are shredding documents with personal information such as insurance numbers, birth dates, account numbers, social security numbers.

84. Google your name to make sure someone is not using it online or writing about you in an unfavorable way.

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.

Whether you have bundled children off to school or are living life child-free, now is a good (and often neglected) time to hit clearance racks. The end of summer and back to school rush is over and the retail leftovers can be great budget savers. Think creatively, as many items marked 75 to 80% off can be re-purposed from their original intent. Beef up your preparedness status while preserving your financial well-being. Just a few tips to guide you:

Don’t forget to look for items in stores that don’t usually carry summer and back to school items. The greatest savings are often found in drug stores, grocery stores and some department stores.

Remember that Christmas is just around the corner. Many school supplies (think markers, magnets, crayons, cute notepads, colorful pencils, specialty pens, stickers, permanent markers, thumb drives) make great stocking stuffers. My grandchildren were thrilled one year when I gave each of them a large package of scotch tape rolls, one of their favorite craft items. The older children also received miniature staplers. Look for socks, fun t-shirts (maybe for pj’s), zippered pouches and organizing boxes.

Don’t forget children’s birthday party gift bags, gifts and activity days.

Many crafters will appreciate organizational tools, art supplies, etc.

Classroom teachers might appreciate a box filled with replacement supplies as a Christmas gift. Glue sticks, liquid glues, markers, white board erasers, stickers, etc. would be welcomed mid-year. Add some chocolate for the teacher and you have that item checked off your holiday ‘to-do’ list.

Accumulate enough art supplies to stock a ‘rainy day’ box. Again, a great gift or stand-by activity for snow days, rainy days or sick days.

Restock your own office supplies and organizational aids.

Check out clearance displays of dorm room ‘necessities’. You will often find over-the-door ironing boards & shoe holders (which can be used in any room to hold a multitude of little things), irons, plastic shoe boxes, folding hampers, under-the-bed storage, small book shelves, decorative items, organizational items of all sorts and sheet sets drastically reduced. Bedding in twin, x-long twin and double sizes are most commonly clearanced.

Don’t forget to stock up for your own gift wrapping supplies, such as tape, labels and markers. Some organizational items will be so inexpensive that they can be turned into gift wrapping. A shelf storage box lined with tissue paper makes a great gift box and a secondary gift.

Think 72-hour kits when you see flip-flops, zippered pouches, hand sanitizer, small notebooks, pencils, tape, markers, thumb drives and even flashlights.

Zippered pouches designed to hold small items in a notebook can be used in your purse, school backpacks, glove compartments, 72-hour kits, junk drawers, suitcases, overnight bags and craft rooms. Their size and transperant fronts make them ideal for organizing small items, while providing protection from dust and moisture.

Fill a zippered pouch with a pencil, your insurance information, a small notepad, a small flashlight, a disposable camera and a permanent marker. Store in your glove compartment. You might want to add a small bottle of hand sanitizer.

Look for kitchen items such as storage containers, food storage bags and even plastic dishes being clearanced out.

Snack and lunch box items packaged with summer or back to school themes may be greatly reduced. Freeze candies for Halloween or Christmas. Baking supplies such as cupcake papers may be reduced.

3×5 cards can be used for note taking, but also for labeling storage containers, recording important information for backpacks, glove compartments & 72-hour kits.

Use a thumb drive to record medical history, contact information, allergies, etc and attach it to your keyring. This can be a life-saver if you have significant allergies or other medical complications. Mark the thumb drive with a large red cross so that emergency personnel will notice it.

Purchase your family’s summer clothes for next year now. Don’t forget swimsuits, floaties, goggles, etc. Store them in a box clearly labeled and you’ll have a head start on next year. In many climates, ’summer’ clothes can extend well into fall. Don’t forget basic items such as underwear, socks, etc.

Office supply stores may clear out their specially packaged CD-R’s, DVD-R’s and other computer-related items.

Have fun shopping the clearance racks and look forward to the cooler days of autumn!

It is that time of year—Jack Frost is on a rampage bringing with him snowstorms, ice, and colder temperatures. Winter time brings with it special preparedness considerations, which may not only keep your more comfortable but prevent injuries, illness and even death.

Our friends at FEMA suggest the following ways to prepare yourself NOW: (I’ve added a few extra tips to FEMA’s—the most important one being that if a storm is announced STAY HOME!!)

Add the following supplies to your disaster supplies kit:

• Rock salt to melt ice on walkways
• Sand to improve traction
• Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.

Prepare your home and family

• Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove. (Don’t forget your food, medical and hygiene needs! Store medication, candles, water, batteries, flashlights and all of those other things we have talked about. Make certain your children know where to go if they are sent home early and you aren’t home. This is also true of children that go to a caregiver’s home—does the caregiver have an alternate safe place for them to go?)
• Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic. Have your gutters cleaned so that melting snow has a place to go.
• Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
• Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.
• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
• Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.
• Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow - or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

• Prepare to have a ‘warm room’. If you lose power and thus heat, is there a room in your home that has an alternate heat source adequate for that room? Think through which room would work best, how you can isolate that room and what you would need to be safe and comfortable in that room.

Prepare your car

• Check or have a mechanic check the following items on your car:
  • Antifreeze levels - ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
  • Battery and ignition system - should be in top condition and battery terminals should be clean.
  • Brakes - check for wear and fluid levels.
  • Exhaust system - check for leaks and crimped pipes andrepair or replace as necessary. Carbon monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning.
  • Fuel and air filters - replace and keep water out of the system by using additives and maintaining a full tank of gas.
  • Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly.
  • Lights and flashing hazard lights - check for serviceability.
  • Oil - check for level and weight. Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures and do not lubricate as well.
  • Thermostat - ensure it works properly.
  • Windshield wiper equipment - repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.
• Install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.
• Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
• Drive cautiously. No matter how excellent your driving skills are, others around you may not be as attentive or as skilled. Drive defensively, stay off the cell phone and pay attention!
• Place a winter emergency kit in each car that includes:
  • a shovel
  • windshield scraper and small broom
  • flashlight
  • battery powered radio
  • extra batteries
  • water
  • snack food
  • matches
  • extra hats, socks and mittens
  • First aid kit with pocket knife
  • Necessary medications
  • blanket(s)
  • tow chain or rope
  • road salt and sand
  • booster cables
  • emergency flares
  • fluorescent distress flag

Dress for the Weather (You might consider storing a spare hat & mittens in each child’s school backpack)

• Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
• Wear a hat.  The majority of heat loss occurs through your head!
  
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

Listen Up!

• Pay attention to weather alerts, local news and consider signing up for any of the ‘instant’ alert systems your local jurisdiction offers.

• Heed warnings about staying home, avoiding certain roads, etc.

Stay Well

• Avoid sick people. Winter is also flu season, cold season and increased infection season.
• Wash your hands. Washing hands is the number one way to prevent the spread of illness. Wash your hands diligently before you eat, after using anything in a bathroom, when you get home and before, during and after preparing food.
• Stay hydrated. Though you may not feel as thirsty during cold weather months, your body may actually require more fluid than other times. Drink plenty of water every day!
• Eat well. Eat a variety of foods that are safely prepared!
• Maintain an exercise schedule. Climb the stairs at work, do vigorous house cleaning, visit an indoor pool–whatever you do, keep moving.
• Be cautious. Be very careful walking on slippery surfaces. Ice is incredibly hard and will break your body if you aren’t careful. If you must walk on the ice, consider investing in bands that you can attach to your shoes that aid in traction.
• Clear your sidewalks and porches. As soon as possible after a storm, clear your driveway, sidewalk and porch. If you are not healthy enough to do this safely, hire someone to do it for you.

Take just a little bit of time to prepare and you’ll find yourself laughing in the face of that bad old Jack Frost!

It is definitely the time of year when even certified ‘Hate To Shop-phobics’ find themselves heading to the mall, super store or to an online merchant to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list. Also heading to all of those locations are those who find their Christmas cheer by stealing yours (along with your wallet, money, ID, purchases & possibly your physical well being)! Thieves, pickpockets, scam artists and other unsavory sorts prey on all of those harried, distracted and thoughtful shoppers. Before you head out to shop, remember these tips gathered from multiple safety sites:

‘Brick and Mortar Stores’

1. Leave the purse at home or locked in the car. No matter how cute it is, a purse increases your chances of meeting one of those stealing, purse-snatching grinches. Should you meet one, relinquish your purse. There is NOTHING in there worth dying for. Report incident to the police and immediately cancel all credit cards that were stolen. Replace your driver’s license and be extra cautious at home.

2. Keep your valuables in your pockets—preferably the front pockets of your pants. Spread your cash (a moderate amount), one credit card and your ID into multiple pockets.

3. Have a cell phone handy at all times.

4. Shop during daylight hours. If you must shop at night, always shop with a companion (and small children don’t count as companions). At night, park only in lots that have adequate lighting.

5. Never hesitate to ask for a Public Safety escort to your car. All shopping centers, reputable stores and malls have them available.

6. Do not allow yourself to become over burdened with packages which limit your ability to see, move or be aware of your surroundings.

7. Always lock your car – when you are in it and out of it.

8. Have your keys ready before you leave the store.

9. Make certain no one is hiding in your car before you enter. The best way to do this is to approach it from the back as though you are going to walk past your car to another one. Look in each window as you pass. Only place your key in the door when you are certain the car is empty.

10. Stay alert to your surroundings. If you feel uncomfortable, seek out assistance immediately! Be aware that con artists use a multitude of tactics to distract you so that you can be more easily robbed. Some thieves work in pairs, with one distracting you and the other robbing you.

11. Wherever possible, shop at stores that allow you to run your credit card through the reader yourself. If you must hand over your credit card, watch as it is processed. There are few merchants that still use carbon copies, but if a small business does, take the carbons with you.

12. Do not keep packages in plain view in your car. Lock in the trunk.

13. Use ATMs in secure locations. Do not count cash in open view. If anyone is lurking near the ATM, either on foot or in a car, move onto to another one. Better yet, prepare now – get the cash you will need and store it at home in a safe location.

14. Make sure that you have a record of all credit cards, their numbers and the phone number to call if one is lost. Keep this at home in your ‘What If’ notebook.

15. Dress casually and comfortably. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

16. If at all possible, shop without small children during the busiest shopping times. If you must bring a small child with you, be aware that they are a built-in distraction as well as a safety hazard. Keep your child with you AT ALL times. Remember to strap them into the stroller or shopping cart. Put identifying information into one of their pockets (refer to the CHAD posting) just in case they become separated from you. Be certain to teach your child to look for a store employee or a ‘Grandma’ if they get lost. Many young children simply hide if lost and don’t know who to go to for help.

Online Merchants:

1. Only purchase from sites that display https in the web address, have the closed lock or unbroken key to signify a secure website. If the lock is displayed as open or the key broken, the site is compromised.

2. Do not respond to emails from PayPal, your bank, your credit card company, mortgage company, eBay, Amazon or any other merchant that asks you to click on a portion of the email (a hyperlink) to reinstate your account, up date your information or asks for your log in information. If you think the email may be legitimate, close the email, log out of the email program and then go to the web address that you have used previously for that merchant. DO NOT USE THE WEB ADDRESS given in the email. Look for the link to the company’s fraud department and report the email you have received. Many companies can also accept forwarded emails to, for instance, ‘spoof@paypal.com’ or ‘spoof@ebay.com’. The company will then research the email.

3. Only provide credit card or bank information through a secured website. Do not include the information in an email.

4. Be very aware that the incidence of fraud, abuse, etc. increases greatly during the holidays. Ebay has its highest rate of seller fraud during the holidays. Only purchase items from sellers with a good track rating and preferably ones that will accept credit cards through PayPal. You are much safer using an established merchant such as Amazon (though not necessarily a private seller that advertises through Amazon) or the online version of brick and mortar stores (such as target.com or toysrus.com) than purchasing items through an auction.

5. Be certain that you are aware of return policies before purchasing. Brick and mortar stores will often accept returns from their internet counterparts.

6. Immediately report any suspected case of fraud to the company and to your local police department.

No matter where you shop, shop smartly. Keep track of your purchases and be certain to carefully check your credit card and bank statements.

Happy shopping!!

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.

It is one of every parent’s worst nightmares: your child is with you, or worse even, with another adult and involved in an automobile accident. The driver, you or someone else, is seriously injured and unable to identify the children in the car. What are emergency workers supposed to do? Obviously, they will do all within their power to get medical attention to everyone involved, but what about your child? How will those who attend to him or her know whom to call? Is there important medical information that first responders and emergency physicians need to know before treating your child? These are all reasonable and real-life concerns that emergency workers face everyday. Even if your child were unharmed, you would want to be called as quickly as possible to comfort your child!

It is a common enough occurrence that a program has been developed to deal with just such a scenario. CHAD was developed by the National Travelers Assistance Program, after a 13-month old boy named Chad was involved in a car accident while being driven by his babysitter. The babysitter was killed in the accident and Chad’s parents were located only because an E.R. nurse recognized the child. If she had failed to do so, little Chad would have been temporarily placed in foster care.

Since that unfortunate accident the NTAP developed a small adhesive sticker that is filled out by the parents and placed on the right (child’s right as seated) corner of the child’s car seat or booster. You can request a free sticker or you can easily label your child’s seat. Using a ’sticker’ sheet or label designed for a floppy disk, cassette tape or other blank sticker, or a 3×5 card that you can tape down and write on the following information:

Child’s Name:

Birth date:
Parent’s Name(s):

Phone(s): (home, cells, office)
Parent’s Address:
Child’s Physician:

Physician’s Phone:
Emergency Contact:

Relationship:

Phone:
Child’s Known Allergies and/or medical conditions:

Add any additional information you feel is important. Some items that would be helpful to rescue workers and medical personnel would be, for example, your child is autistic, on medication, is hard of hearing, hyperactive, etc.

(The CHAD sticker does not include the allergy and medical condition information. However, this could be critical to treating your child in an emergency. If you use the CHAD sticker, please add this information. If your child does not have any allergies that you know of, write NKA.)

Consider duplicating this information for each child if you are traveling by plane or train. Place the card in the child’s pocket, their backpack and/or jacket pocket. If placing the information in a pocket, safety pin it to the inside of the pocket. This information also belongs in each child’s 72-hour kit.

Have you ever thought of the car as being a part of your preparedness plan? It should be! Those 4 wheeled dollar hogs are expensive to purchase, insure, fuel, maintain and keep ready should we face a need to ‘hit the road’.

The Prepared Auto is one that is, first and foremost, affordable. Large auto loans that stretch the family budget are detrimental to your long term financial, spiritual and emotional well being. Choose wisely when you must purchase a car. Make sure it fits your family needs (not necessarily wants), has a good safety record and will last for years to come. Save as much as you can to avoid consumer debt and shop carefully; engaging your brain more than your emotions!! (See separate article about saving money when buying a car.)

Before purchasing a car, double check the cost of insuring it! Insurance rates are based on the value of the car, its durability in a crash, the likelihood of theft and the damage it can do to another vehicle. Also check the crash test results of any car you are considering. The Insurance Institute crash tests are more thorough than the US government tests.

When you have your car, maintain it properly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Simple oil changes, the correct tire pressure and maintaining all fluid levels will reduce your repair bills and cut your maintenance costs.

Now that you have the car and maintain it carefully, prepare it to be your mode of transportation not only everyday but in the event of a small or major catastrophe. Some important ‘to dos’ include:

1. Refuel no later than when the gas gauge hits the 1/2 empty mark. You will never run out of gas and it is actually better for your car to not allow it to pull gas from the very bottom of the gas tank. This is particularly true for older cars.
2. Stock your car with the following: (all items can fit in a small bag) flashlight with battery stored outside the flashlight, 3 or 4 road flares, 1 or more ‘space’ blankets,
   2 liters of water, candle in a jar, matches, energy bar (or hard granola bar), hat, spare tire & appropriate tools, small map & compass, diapers for those with babies, wipes & hand sanitizer, first aid kit, sanitary needs, tissue, jumper cables, cash in small bills, change, bungee cord, & multi-tool. If you live where it snows, add a small shovel & sand for winter driving.
3. NEVER ALLOW ANYONE to ride in your car unless they are properly restrained in the appropriate car seat, booster seat or seat belt.
4. Secure loose items in the car. Things can fly and cause damage to occupants!
5. Help children learn to entertain themselves while in the car.
6. Avoid using the cell phone while driving.
7. In the glove compartment, keep paperwork required by law. Be certain that you have contact information for your insurance company and roadside information.
8. Maintain the appropriate tags, stickers and license. Don’t wait until the end of the month to get necessary inspections done.
9. Lock your car and keep packages out of sight.
10. You can store a good number of quarters and rolled bills in an empty tube that mini-M&M’s come in. Keep this in your glove compartment.
11. Have a cell phone charger that works in your car.
12. If you have an old cell phone, charge it up and store it in your glove compartment. Even if it is not ‘registered’ with a cell phone provider, you can call 911 with it.
13. Have an extra set of keys for every car you own hanging in an easy to find place within your home. Many cars are unnecessarily lost during evacuations because those at home do not have a key to the cars sitting in the driveway. Even worse would be that those at home could NOT evacuate safely because they did not have a key to the car!
14. Even if you have a GPS system, travel with a good road map in the car!
15. Keep a list of contact phone numbers in your car–include family members, work phone numbers, children’s schools and those you could call in an emergency.
16. Remember that eating while driving is just as deadly - if not more so - than talking on your cell phone behind the wheel!

If you take care of your car, it will be ready at a moment’s notice to take you wherever you are required to go!