Daily Preparedness

In several parts of the world this week, we literally felt the earth move under our feet. Thankfully, the majority of the damage was isolated to a few buildings! However, the unpredictable nature of even minor earthquakes highlights that we never know when disaster might strike. Doing all that you can NOW to prepare for the WHEN, is worth every minute and every dollar.

And if the earth moving weren’t enough, nearly the entire East Coast of the U.S. is keeping a close eye on Hurricane Irene, expected to make landfall this weekend. Some coastal areas are evacuating, while others are busily preparing for a direct hit. Folks living inland may feel that they are safe from the damage that Irene may produce. Wrong!

Areas inland, even if not hit with the eye of storm, may suffer significant damage due to high winds, torrential rain and disruptions in normal services. Modern science allows us to fairly accurately predict and track hurricanes, giving us ample warning to prepare. However, Mother Nature can be a wily woman full of mischief and surprises. Do not be lulled into thinking you are safe just because you do not have a beach view.

Take a few minutes to click on one of the links on the lower portion of the right side bar–FEMA, prepare.org or ready.org– to find out what you should have already done to prepare for any emergency. If you have the basics in place, consider taking these additional steps, designed to make life more pleasant should you experience the wrath of Mother Nature:

• Get your laundry and basic housework caught up. The most common disruption from a major storm is the loss of water and/or power. You want to start with a ‘clean slate.’
• Be certain that your prescription medications are well stocked. Also check your supply of over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin, tylenol, antacids, etc.
• Review your family communication plan.
• Fill the gas tank of every car you own.
• Bring in or secure outdoor furniture.
• Empty your trashcans and be certain to meet your end-of-the-week trash pick-up.
• If you need items from the grocery store, don’t wait until Friday or Saturday. The stores will be packed and the shelves may be empty!
• Be certain that every room has a flashlight handy. If you have outdoor solar lights, you can use those to supplement lighting inside if you lose power for a lengthy period of time.
• Clean up any messes lying around that might present tripping hazards.
• Keep your cellphones charged.
• Have your BOB ready to go if you are ordered to evacuate. If it looks like your area will sustain a serious hit, pack an additional bag with extra clothing, toys, hygiene needs, etc.
• Be certain that you have a good supply of baby needs, sanitary products, trash bags (LOTS of trash bags), bottled water, water for cleaning & flushing as well as food you can eat without cooking.
• Consider the needs of neighbors, especially the elderly, ill, disabled or single parents who may need extra assistance.
• Most importantly, if you are told to evacuate, do it NOW!

Now is the time to prepare!

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!

After quite an absence to ’savor’ 10 weeks of IV antibiotics and then the crunch of Christmas, it is time once again to get organized! There is no better time than the beginning of a new year to re-evaluate, re-organize and re-do those areas of our lives that could use a bit of attention.

One of the rooms that is often most lacking in usable storage is the bathroom. We need to store necessities and frivolities while protecting them from the range of temperature and humidity that are common in bathrooms. It is also a room that needs to be cleaned frequently and well, which means that the little stuff needs to be put away! A bathroom that is orderly is a bathroom that is easier to clean.

AS YOU ORGANIZE, BE CERTAIN THAT YOU HAVE CHILDPROOFED YOUR BATHROOM!!! THE CLEANERS, MEDICATIONS, RAZORS, COSMETICS, PERFUMES & ASSORTED SMALL ITEMS OFTEN FOUND IN A BATHROOM ARE ALL POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ITEMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OR PETS. IF ANYONE IN YOUR HOME IS EVEN SLIGHTLY MOBILITY IMPAIRED, HAVE GRAB BARS INSTALLED NEAR TUB.

Let’s first look at the necessities. Toilet paper needs to be accessible and readily restocked. A few ideas to consider: decorative baskets, bins in a cabinet (small inexpensive trash cans work well under sinks to hold ’stuff’), over the toilet cabinets, holders designed to sit on the floor and holders designed to hang from the tank are a few options. Extra toilet paper should ideally be stored nearby. Think about storing extra in an under-the-bed box, on the top shelf of a closet, on the floor of your linen closet or even in decorative hat boxes.

Sanitary supplies can become a jumbled up nightmare without some organization. Again, small, thin and inexpensive trash cans are great for sliding in cabinets. They will protect your products while organizing them. Their slender size allows several to stand side-by-side in a typical under the sink cabinet. If you store extra supplies, store them elsewhere but still accessible. The suggestions for toilet paper can apply to this category.

Have holders in your tub or shower for shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, etc. Holders can be found that hang from the shower head, the shower curtain rod, the wall or with tension rods. Whatever you choose, dispose of empty containers quickly and replace items as they are used.

If you have trouble keeping up with clean towels, install an extra towel bar. Doubling your in-the-bathroom storage capability will save those hysterical calls of “I need a towel!” Have a hamper to hold soiled towels and teach your family to use it.

Medications that will be stored for long periods of time should be stored outside of the bathroom. The heat and humidity of the bathroom will reduce the shelf life of most medications. Keep your current medications well labeled and safely stored. If you take more than one medication at the beginning or end of a day, invest in a plastic pill case that you can fill for weeks at a time.  Make it a point to regularly dispose of medications you no longer need. Store your current medications either in a medicine cabinet or a set of drawers (only if you do not have small children in your home). If you have trouble reading the small print on the medication label, write the medication name on the top of the lid or across the label with a permanent marker.

Emily T. suggested storing first aid supplies in a cabinet made up of small drawers, typically used for small hardware parts. She has the drawers clearly labeled as to their contents. In an emergency, she can quickly locate what she needs. Inventorying her supplies is easy.

Small drawers of all sorts are great ways to organize any number of items commonly found in a bathroom. We have more counter space than drawer space. We extended our storage capability by purchasing a small shelf ‘tower’ that sits on the counter. The tower holds several sets of small drawers that hold commonly worn jewelry, deodorant, dental floss and host of other items.  Each drawer has a ‘theme’ of the type of item it holds. One shelf has small trays on it to manage bottles of ’stuff’. Another has a set of very small drawers that hold cotton swabs, make-up sponges & other very small items.

If you have larger drawers, inexpensive plastic silverware trays will help organize items within the drawer. Cosmetics, razors, brushes, combs, etc, etc, etc. can be grouped together in one drawer and then kept manageable by the dividers. There are a variety of drawer organizing systems on the market, widely available at discount stores, hardware stores and online.

Install hooks on back of doors & walls to hold bathrobes, towels, etc.

Be sure to have a toilet bowl brush for every bathroom, as well as a supply of necessary cleaners.

A small, lined trash can is a necessity in every well organized bathroom. Line it with shopping bags or small trash bags to make clean up easier. Store extra bags in the bottom of the trash can.

Under sink cabinets can become orderly in minutes by utilizing small, thin trashcans, wire racks, pull out shelving, small drawer sets and stair-step type shelving. Add hooks to the inside of the cabinet doors to hang small items.

A divided laundry hamper with sections for each type of laundry will speed sorting and help keep dirty clothes off the floor.

Organizing your bathroom should take only a few hours. As you organize, check for expiration dates, products you no longer use, empty containers and duplicates. Make note of everything you need to store and then find the perfect solution for your organized bathroom!

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.

It is the time of year when the call of new yellow pencils, notebooks, pens, erasers and a long laundry list of supplies is haunting your mind as you prepare for the return of the school year. Nearly everyone returning to school will include in their shopping list a backpack. For most students, the foremost criteria for choosing a backpack is how attractive, ‘in’ or ‘cool’ the backpack looks. But, it is becomingly increasingly common for students (and not just students) of all ages to incur a variety of injuries, pain and damage due to improperly designed, fitted, loaded and carried backpacks. How do you choose and use a backpack so that it is a help not a hindrance? And what added items should you include to promote a safe school year?

First, let’s go shopping!

• Don’t fail to look at sporting goods and outdoor outfitters (such as LL Bean) for high quality, durable and well made backpacks. A few extra dollars now and a bit of care along the way may prove your best investment.
• If you are carrying a laptop or netbook, be certain that the backpack has, or will hold, a protective sleeve for your electronics.
• Choose a backpack with wide, padded and adjustable straps. Be certain that the wearer can adjust the pack so that the majority of the weight is carried along the back of the shoulder line.

• If the pack is going to weigh more than a few pounds (less than 7% of the wearer’s weight), choose a backpack with a waist belt which will help equalize the pressure on the spine, shoulders and neck.
• Purchase or add reflective tape so that the wearer is more easily seen in the dark.
• Look for a backpack with easy to reach pockets, especially for small items that the wearer may want to access without taking off the backpack.
• An ergonomically designed backpack will conform the proper alignment of the spine.

Now that you have purchased a great, back-saving backpack, let’s pack it up!

• Do not fill the backpack to more than 15% of the wearer’s body weight.
• Keep identifying information inside the backpack. If the design is a common one and you want to easily identify your backpack, personalize it with a charm, patch or other identifier that does not include your name or other personal information.
• Distribute items so that the weight is evenly distributed. Falls occur frequently when backpack wearers are ‘out of balance’ due to shifting or unevenly distributed loads
• Be certain to include an ID card in the backpack. Include name, emergency contact info, important health information, etc. Place this card INSIDE the backpack where it is not easily seen.
• Pack sharp objects, even sharpened pencils, where they will not weaken the fabric or seams.
• Periodically clean out the backpack and be certain you are not carrying items you do not need.
• For YOUNG CHILDREN, you might want to have a specially marked pocket for papers you need to read, sign, etc.
• Older students, if allowed, might carry a small power bar, granola bar or other ‘emergency food’, water & a tiny flashlight. College students and commuters may want to carry water, a bit of money in small bills, a small flashlight and necessary medications.

You are packed up and ready to go…time to lift and carry that backpack properly!

• Learn to pick up your backpack as you would any heavy object. Bend your knees and lift with your legs, not your back.
• Do not ’sling’ your backpack onto your back. It is not good for you and you may hit someone behind or beside you!
• Carefully put on one shoulder strap on at a time. Be certain the straps are adjusted so that the majority of the weight is on your upper back—just below the shoulder line. It may look cool to have your backpack slung low on your back, but you are causing harm to yourself!
• If you have to stoop over with the weight of the backpack in order to carry it, that backpack is TOO heavy!
• NEVER NEVER carry your backpack on one shoulder. Doing so not only causes your spine to be at an unnatural angle, you may unevenly develop muscles in your shoulders and chest. This uneven distribution of muscle mass can become unsightly AND pull other parts of your body out of whack.
• Carrying your backpack on your front is not better for your back than carrying it on the back. Either way, the backpack needs to be aligned, packed and carried appropriately.
• Fasten the waist buckle, especially if the backpack is 15% of your body weight! Let your entire torso share in carrying the load.
• While carrying your backpack, walk with good posture! Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
• If someone should grab your backpack, immediately ask them to stop. Injuries occur when friends or others jokingly add their own weight to that of your backpack.
• If at all possible, remove the backpack near a surface about table level. With your back to the table, remove one shoulder strap at a time and lower the backpack down your back to the table.
• When you get home, keep your backpack off of kitchen counters or other surfaces where food is prepared or served.

The essence of provident living is to always live today while preparing for whatever tomorrow brings. Preventing, rather than treating, injuries is the best way to be prepared everyday!

Comment from a physician: The really sad part is the failure rate for back surgeries. I’ve seen a lot of patients with multiple surgeries, no relief from the pain, and even some who got worse after the surgery. There’s even a specific diagnostic code for ‘failed back surgery’ cause it’s that common. Good advice to review!

Tim

One of the most common medical errors that can lead to serious illness or even death is one that you can help prevent. Approximately 1.3 million Americans are injured annually due to errors in the administration of medications. Though many of these errors occur in hospital settings, many occur in our own homes. The vast majority of these errors can be prevented by YOU and those you love. What can you do to protect yourself?

1. Know that the elderly and chronically ill are the most likely to be victims of medication errors. Both groups are most likely to have a larger than average number of prescription medications prescribed for them.

2. Children may be at a higher risk because their smaller body size makes it more likely that a dosing or drug interaction error will cause serious harm or death.

3. FULLY UNDERSTAND that medication errors can be fatal.

4. When prescribed a medication, be certain that the doctor explains why you are being prescribed this medication, what the medication should do for you, what the side effects are and how you should take the medication. For instance, should it be taken with meals, before a meal, at bedtime, etc.

5. Always provide every health care professional (including the pharmacist) with a complete list of ALL prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, supplements, herbal products, homeopathic remedies and vitamins that you take. Include the name of the medication, the dosage, how long you have been taking it and the medication’s use.

6. Understand that there is limited, peer-reviewed science based research into the interaction of herbal products, supplements and homepathic remedies. Most of these substances are NOT tested by independent peer-reviewed research nor their quality and potency regulated. Be certain that you fully research any ‘natural’ product that is recommended to you. Many of these products are the ‘natural’ version of powerful prescription medications. For instance, foxglove is merely natural digitalis, which can alter heart rhythms. Echinacea can lead to permanent liver damage, especially if used in combination with other medications/supplements. Prescription medications can interact with a wide range of products and there is, again, limited knowledge as to the interaction of prescription (or over-the-counter medications) and ‘alternative therapies’. Even simple vitamins can lead to overdoses and drug interactions.

7. Before taking a new medication, know how the drug is supposed to help you and all possible side effects.

8. Know what your medications look like. If you receive a new prescription and the medication looks different, do not take it until you speak with a pharmacist. Preferably, the pharmacy will have alerted you to a change in the appearance of your medication.

9. If hospitalized, ask what each medication you are being given is and what it is for. Competent staff will tell you the name of the medication before giving it to you. If they do not, be extra cautious. Again, if the medication looks different than what you normally see, ask!! Know what the dosage prescribed is. If something seems ‘off’, stop and ask to speak to a supervisor. My daughter was nearly killed in a hospital when a nurse attempted to administer 100 times the prescribed dose of a pain killer. The nurse had ‘misread’ where the decimal point was.

10. If the dosage and frequency of taking a medication is different than your physician told you, ASK questions!

11. Be certain that you are taking your medications exactly as prescribed. Regularly review the instructions on your prescription bottles!

12. If you take multiple medications, or care for someone who does, consider using a medication minder container. Many types are available at a variety of price points. These specially designed containers can be a great help in being certain that you are taking your medications as prescribed. This is vitally important for the elderly or anyone who may have memory issues.

13. Periodically review with your physician the medications you are taking. Each office visit should include a review of your medication, including when you need a new prescription written. Again, the elderly are most likely to have too many medications prescribed for them, often creating secondary problems. If a new symptom appears, ask the pharmacist if this could be a reaction to a medication.

14. When prescribed a medication, ask if there is a generic alternative which may save you money. Often, prescribers will merely write for the newest medication when an older, proven medication may work just as well. Also ask if there is an alternative to medication. Could you achieve the same results through lifestyle or diet changes?

15. Choose carefully and use one pharmacy for all of your prescriptions. Some points to consider when choosing a pharmacy:

• Is there a pharmacist available to answer all of your questions?
• Know the role of pharmacy technicians. Though they may perform many tasks within a pharmacy, including accepting prescriptions from you, they should not be answering questions about your medication’s interactions, uses and side effects.
• Does the pharmacist have time to talk to you in person or on the phone? If not, they may be over-worked which leads to more errors. Some pharmacies evaluate pharmacists on the number or prescriptions they fill per hour, not the number of customers they serve.
• Does the pharmacist answer your questions about drug interactions? If you are on medications for serious pain, heart problems, liver disease or kidney disease (or other serious long-term illnesses), be certain that you ask the pharmacist before taking over-the-counter, herbal or supplement preparations. Pharmacists should be able to answer your questions, with the exception of some herbal & ‘natural’ remedies that have not been well researched.
• Is the pharmacy efficient? Are prescriptions filled when they say they will be? An efficient pharmacy should be able to estimate when your prescription will be ready and alert you to possible delays. If they are chronically misrepresenting the time it will take to fill a prescription, they may be over-worked, under-staffed and more prone to errors.
• Can you understand the pharmacist? You should be able to freely communicate with this important member of your health care team!
• Be certain that the pharmacy has up-to-date software that warns of drug interactions, low/high dose alerts, LASA error checking (Look alike/sound alike) and patient allergies. Be certain that the pharmacist is aware of your drug and food allergies. Some food allergies can significantly impact the medications you can be prescribed.
• Is the pharmacy concerned with your privacy? Pharmacy staff should never announce the medication they are filling for you in a way that others might over hear.
• Does the pharmacy alert you when the appearance of your medication has changed?
• Does the pharmacy provide you with an information sheet that describes the appearance of your medication, possible side effects and uses of the medication?
• Does your pharmacy communicate efficiently with your physician’s office? Some communication errors are due to delays in the doctor’s office, but pharmacy staff should be able to up date you on their progress.
• Does your pharmacist relay information to you effectively? If they say they will get back to you, do they? Do they call you if there is a problem with a refill?
• Will your pharmacist attempt to answer your questions with research? We have had multiple times where a great pharmacist will go to extraordinary lengths to be certain that a medication is safe. This has included the pharmacist calling the pharmaceutical company for further information. This type of dedication can, literally, safe your life and you SHOULD EXPECT IT!
• Remember that the pharmacist is your safe guard when it comes to medications! They should have the most up-to-date and effective means by which you can be protected from possible allergic reactions or drug interactions. They are the trained professional when it comes to medication management!

16. Keep your medication information confidential and safe. Remove prescription labels from empty bottles before discarding. Likewise, shred information sheets or other paperwork that details what medications are in your home. Do not discuss publicly or post online medications you take. Theft of prescription drugs is on the rise.

17. Teach your children to never take medication (again, including ‘natural’ products) from someone other than you or a licensed health care professional.

18. Discard of out dated medications safely. Be especially vigilant about medications you may not take regularly, such as epi-pens or inhalers. Check their expiration date and get refills when needed.

19. Store your medicaitons safely. Know if the medication needs to be refrigerated. In general, most medications need to be protected from moisture, light and extremes in temperature.

20. Don’t run out! Be certain to carry vital medications with you and refill your prescriptions BEFORE you run out. Most insurers will allow you to refill a prescription seven days prior to the day you will run out.

21. KEEP YOUR MEDICATIONS OUT OF THE HANDS OF CHILDREN! Keep all medications, including vitamins, away from children. Be certain that visitors to your home safe guard any medication they have. Many children suffer overdoses while exploring Grandma’s luggage or purse.

Though there are many medical errors we cannot prevent, medication errors can often be prevented through our own vigilance, common sense and just a bit of time. Be wise, be cautious and be healthy!

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 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.

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.