Daily Preparedness

“Bless you!” “Gesundheit!” “Need a tissue?” Are you hearing these comments to often this Spring? It could be that you are one of the countless victims of a record-setting Spring allergy season. Nearly every state is reporting significant increases in the number of people suffering from seasonal allergies, including many who have never been previously afflicted.

Though you cannot lower the pollen count outside, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the impact you feel. Also remember that the typical symptoms of allergies, runny nose, sneezing, itching, eyes watering, may seem to be no more than a nuisance, inflamed nasal passages and congested sinus’ can lead to more serious issues such as sinus infections, respiratory involvement and even life-threatening anaphylaxis. Consult your physician if your symptoms are not under control or suddenly worsen.

In the meantime, try these simple methods of gaining some relief from the down side of Spring’s splendor:

1. Make your bed every morning. I know, I know this sounds like your Mom speaking. Simply throwing the bedspread up over your pillows keeps a certain amount of dust and pollen from your pillow.

2. Frequently launder your bedding, including the mattress pad.

3. Shower before you go to bed and wash your hair. Your body & hair collect pollen all through the day. Don’t go to bed with it.

4. Keep your windows shut in the car & house, especially in the early morning and evening. Use your a/c and frequently change the filters.

5. Use nasal cleaning devices such as a Neti pot or saline spray. Spritzing out your nasal passages removes dust and pollen as it first enters the body. Be sure to ask your doctor first if you have chronic sinus problems and discontinue if you experience pain. Some people have very narrow sinus passages or other physiological issues that make using a Neti pot inadvisable.

6. Launder your clothing frequently. Don’t rehang clothing in your closet that you have worn in high pollen areas.

7. Frequently wash your dog. If you family has serious allergies, consider getting rid of hairy pets. Even if you are not allergic to the pet, the animal’s fur carries pollen, et al into your house and deposits it everywhere.

8. Invest in appropriate pillow and mattress covers that prevent the build up of allergens.

9. In the case of serious allergies, consider removing as many fibers as possible from sleeping areas. This includes carpet, drapery, bed drapings, etc.

10. Dust frequently with a damp or electrostatically charged micro-fiber cloth that traps dust instead of spreading it about.

11. Invest in a vacuum with a good HEPA filter. Vacuum frequently.

12. Remove dead leaves and other lingering vegetation from around your house. Last fall’s leaves are growing mold! If you are the allergy sufferer, have someone else do this job or wear a respirator.

13. Sanitize your shower curtains and bathrooms frequently to remove mold and mildew spores. Adding salt to the rinse cycle can cut down on mold & mildew.

14. Remove as many dyes, phospates and fragrances from your home that you can possibly manage. This includes laundry detergents, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, air fresheners, ‘plug-ins’, deodorants, shampoos, soaps, etc. Consider using ‘old fashioned’ cleaning solutions such as baking soda, salt, vinegar, borax and plain old elbow grease!

15. Reduce the clutter so that you can dust and vacuum with less hassle.

Remember, there are a wide range of allergy products available by prescription and over-the-counter. Be certain to speak with your healthcare provider about what options may be open to you!

And try to enjoy the Spring foliage!

It addition to hosting Tax Day, April is National Financial Literacy Month. In honor of Financial Literacy Month, FEMA and Operation Hope have teamed up to host a  ‘webinar’ specifically concerned with Financial Literacy and Emergency Preparedness. The webinar was broadcast earlier in the month, but is available online at:

http://www.citizencorps.gov/news/webcasts.shtm.

The webinar is a good 30-minute over view of the types of materials and insurance you need to have and organize. Additionally, Operation Hope has several free pdf’s available that will help you organize information that all of us need access to. Similar to the ‘What If?’ notebook found at;

http://www.dailypreparedness.com/2008/10/the-what-if-notebook/

the Operation Hope materials will help you organize contact, legal, financial and medical information that you may need to grab in an emergency. It would be advisable to download the free pdfs and modify them to your needs.

This type of organizational process is critical to a successful life. Though most of us will never face a large-scale natural disaster, we will all face personal crisis, disaster or disruption that will require us to quickly locate vital information. Additionally, everyday life is made easier when we can efficiently locate information that we need to manage the ‘practical’ aspects of life.

When your notebook is complete, be certain that you protect as you would any other sensitive personal information. Store it in an inconspicuous place (such as with photo albums or other notebooks) and restrict access to family members. You might want to consider keeping a copy in your safe deposit box, with a trusted relative and digitally.

Take 30 minutes to listen to the webinar and then involve your entire family in preparing your own ‘What If?’ notebook that you can grab ‘n go or refer to in a moment’s notice!

Thanksgiving is nearly here–time to review safe turkey handling procedures. Serve up a feast, not a germ-fest by following these simple guidelines:

• Turkey is nutritious, low in fat and freezes well. Purchase an extra one at the season’s rock bottom prices and store in the deep freeze for nine months to one year. After that time, quality will begin to go downhill.
• Safe food handling is CRITICAL! Don’t fall into the ‘but my mother did it this way’ trap.
• If purchasing a fresh, never frozen turkey, purchase it only a day or two before Thanksgiving. Most stores allow you to reserve a fresh turkey. Purchase it last at the store and get it into the refrigerator at home quickly. Keep a tray under it to catch any drippings.
• Never purchase a pre-stuffed fresh (as in not frozen at the store) turkey.
• There are safe, FDA-approved frozen pre-stuffed turkeys. Follow instructions for these birds religiously.
• Allow plenty of time to defrost your turkey in THE REFRIGERATOR. Place turkey at bottom of frig with a drip tray under it.
• ALWAYS WASH HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER HANDLING THE TURKEY, EVEN IN THE PACKAGING.
• Never thaw a turkey on the counter. If you must rush the thawing process, keep the bird in water that is less than 70F. Change water every 30 minutes.
• Keep raw turkey away from other foods.
• Clean all surfaces that will come in contact with the raw bird–before and after contact!
• Remove packages of turkey ‘extras’ from both cavities of the bird.
• Consuming stuffing baked in the bird is a great way to contract a multitude of food-borne illnesses. Instead, stuff the turkey with ‘throw away’ items to keep the meat moist and bake your stuffing separately. The tops of celery, wilted lettuce, even apples are great things to stuff the turkey cavity with.
• If you absolutely insist on eating the stuffing from inside the bird, use a reliable meat thermometer to make certain that all inner parts of the stuffing have reached at least 165F. As an added precaution (but still NOT recommended) you can remove the stuffing, place in a baking dish and return to the oven until it reaches 180F.
• DO NOT cook your turkey in an oven below 325F. Some of the slow cook methods allow parts of the turkey to remain at too low a temperature to kill off harmful bacteria.
• Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey in multiple deep locations, such as the thigh joint. Even if the bird has a pop-up indicator, double check for yourself. Reliable digital meat thermometers that can sit outside your oven and alarm when a desired temperature is reached can be purchased for well under $20.
• You can safely let the turkey sit after roasting for 20 minutes. The maximum amount of time, in a cool room, that the food should be left out is two hours. Timing begins as soon as foods are removed from the oven or stovetop.
• Keep foods warm during dinner utilizing hot plates, warming trays, etc.
• Quickly refrigerate leftovers in small packages, spread out within the refrigerator. If your refrigerator is fool or leftovers are extremely warm, pre-cool them by immersing the sealed container of leftovers in a large container of ice.
• If you want to get a head start, prepare turkey stock this week. Freeze after cooled and you have the beginnings of gravy. You can also thicken the stock before freezing. Add this to the ‘brown bits’ in the bottom of your turkey roaster on Thanksgiving Day.
• Eat up leftovers quickly. Stuffing, pies, meats and gravies should be eaten with three to four days. Reheat only the amount you will eat at that meal. Freeze what you will not eat within the prescribed amount of time.
• THIS WEEK, check the temperature of your refrigerator to be certain that it is within the safe range–lower than 40F. Your home freezer should be 0F or lower.

Have a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

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

The world is busy with its own cares, sorrows and joys, and pays little heed to you. There is but one great pass-word to success,—self-reliance.” William George Jordan

You need not scale the mountain in one day, merely take a little step forward.

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

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.

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

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

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

First, we need to understand what the words mean.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A SMALL SCALE EPIDEMIC

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

What can you do as an organization?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Epidemic Spreads To The Community

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

How would this affect you?

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

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

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

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

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

What can you do?

1. Be prepared!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What can you do?

1. Again, PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!

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

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

Even with the best prevention techniques, uninvited ‘guests’ can disrupt your romp through life. Whether it be the ‘flu’, a ‘bug’ or any some other creature, humans are prone to getting sick. Preparing for the reality of illness is not only wise, but overlaps other areas of preparedness and provident living. The time for preparation is long before illness strikes!

What should every home have on hand? A checklist:

1. Over the counter medications such as pain relief (tylenol and motrin), anti-inflammatories (motrin or advil), anti-diarrhea meds, decongestant, cough suppressant, aspirin, heartburn and indigestion relief, laxatives, antihistamines (benadryl), throat spray (cepacol), antiemetic (pepto-bismal), and throat lozenges. Be sure to check with your pharmacist about possible drug interactions with prescription medications.

2. Nightlights. Place nightlights in hallways and bathrooms to provide a bit of light for folks stumbling to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

3. Facial tissues. Always have several boxes on hand so that you can place them around the house as needed.

4. Toilet paper. No home should be without at least a two week supply.

5. Hand wipes and hand sanitizer. Multiple containers of each..again to be able to place around the house.

6. Bowls or other containers with lids. You’ll want to place these at the bedside of anyone feeling queasy. If your local grocery store has an olive bar or bakery, ask if they get their products in small plastic buckets with lids. These are great for bedside and a variety of other uses. When one member of your family comes down with an intestinal bug, place containers at every bedside–prevents late night cleaning binges.

7. Phone numbers. Have on hand the phone number for your physician, pharmacy, a 24-hour nurse hotline and the local urgent care. Program the numbers into your cell phone as well.

8. Easy to fix food. This can be pre-frozen dinners, canned soup, cup-of-soup products, sandwich supplies, cold cereal, canned meat or anything that you or any member of your family can prepare easily.

9. Easy to digest foods. Think of items that you can eat when you don’t feel well such as soup, crackers, toast, honey, pasta, rice, etc.

10. Small trash cans. Place small trash cans in every room. Line with grocery bags so that tissues and other trash have a place to go.

11. Popsicles. These are especially important for families with small children as they sooth sore throats and provide much needed fluids.

12. Bottled drinks. Water and juice in individual servings are great to have in order to place beside the bed. ‘Sports top’ bottles are easier to drink from and reseal, preventing spills. Having fluids bedside makes it easier on the patient and the caregiver.

13. Electrolyte replacement drinks.

14. Thermometer. Everyone should have one in their home. Disposable covers for the thermometer end are an added bonus.

15. Disinfectants. Sprays, liquids and wipes.

16. Disposables for eating. Flatware, plates, cups and baking pans will make clean up easier and help prevent the spread of infection.

17. Paper towels. Again, easier and helps keep the cooties at bay.

18. Trash bags. Keep extras on hand all of the time! Useful for extra trash generated, covering mattresses, holding nasty laundry, and dealing with a variety of messes that could occur.

19. Baby supplies. Be certain that you will not run out of baby necessities. Sick babies can go through a lot of diapers very quickly! All households with infants should have formula on hand. If a nursing Mom becomes ill, she may find that her milk supply is curtailed.

20. Latex gloves.

21. Humidifier with extra filter.

22. Cash. You need a supply of cash on hand! Have the cash in bills no larger than $20.

23. Gas in your car. You don’t want to have to stop for gas at 3am if Junior needs to go to the ER.

24. Extra linens. You need at least two sets of sheets for every bed in your house, extra towels and dish cloths.

25. Prescription medications. Refill as soon as possible every month so that you aren’t ever close to running out. Have a list of your prescription medications in your wallet, as well as your significant medical history.

In addition to supplies, it is wise to pre-think these things:

1. Childcare. If you rely on childcare and/or public school to mind the kiddies, do you have a back up plan? Who can pick up your children should they become ill at school? What will you do if the school or childcare are closed due to illness? Do you have readily available help if you are too ill to care for your children? Do your children know who to call if they need help immediately?

2. Telecommuting. Will your employer allow you to telecommute? Is your home internet provider/system compatible with your work?

3. Physicians. Does your doctor have an on-call system or will you have to go to an urgent care/ER if you are ill after office hours? Does your doctor offer same day appointments? How available are they?

4. Skills. Do all members of your family know how to prepare simple meals? Can they keep the home running? Do you know basic first aid? Can everyone call 911 appropriately? Have you taught your children to be responsible, obedient and trustworthy individuals who can be self-sufficient and entertain themselves?

5. Home. Is your home maintained in such a way that everyone can find what they need? Do you keep the house clean? Orderly? Laundry caught up?

No matter how hard we try, most of us are going to become ill at some point. When illness strikes, it is too late to prepare!

NEXT WEEK; Part Three–Illness Strikes, Now What?

——–10×100 Challenge —–

Here are this weeks 10×100 Challenge Goals:

“Let’s do these things because they are right, because they are satisfying, and because we are obedient to the counsels of the Lord. … It is true that difficult times will come—for the Lord has foretold them. … But if we live wisely and providently, we will be as safe as in the palm of His hand” Spencer W. Kimball

This week’s 10×100 Goals:

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.

While traipsing down the Yellow Brick Road of Life, it seems that we are faced with an ever-growing number of viral and bacterial Flying Monkeys waiting to swoop down and capture us. Avian Flu, Swine Flu (H1N1) and MRSA are just a few of the agents of physical misery and destruction that are lurking about the forest of our everyday lives.

Beyond the headlines, hypes and even hysteria, there is much we can do today and everyday to protect ourselves (and our little dogs, too). While we might be tempted to move into a germicidal bubble, we can effectively prevent, prepare, protect and pandemic-proof our families and ourselves.

In part one, we will follow the admonish of Benjamin Franklin, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In the case of serious illness, an ounce of prevention may be priceless.

What can you do to prevent being attacked by the Flying Monkeys of Disease?

The number one, simplest way to avoid an infectiouis disease is good hygiene, which consists of:

1. WASH YOUR HANDS! Yep, as Momma used to say, “Wash up, now!” Hand washing often and thoroughly may be the best defense against the leading causes of infectious diseases.

• Use soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.
• Thoroughly scrub all areas of the hand, including the top of hand, in between fingers, the palm of the hand, under nails and the wrist area.
• Rinse well under running water and dry thoroughly with clean towel or paper towel.
• If in a public restroom or a home where an ill person resides, once your hands are clean and dry, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.

If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Be certain that you use the hand sanitizer according to the following guidelines (or instructions on container):

• Squirt a quarter-sized dollop of hand sanitizer in palm of hand
• Thoroughly rub all surfaces of hand (as above for hand washing) with the hand sanitizer
• Sing the “Happy Birthday” song to yourself TWICE while scrubbing hands. Don’t stop until you have completed song
• If your hands are still damp with hand sanitizer—and they should be—allow them to air dry.
• Don’t touch contaminated surfaces—see above.

1. WHEN TO WASH HANDS:

• Before eating
• Before preparing food
• Handling any raw meat product, packaged or otherwise
• After using the bathroom…..EVERY SINGLE TIME, MALE OR FEMALE!
• After changing a diaper
• After cleaning the kitchen
• After cleaning anything, including handling dirty clothes
• Especially after cleaning up any bodily fluid.
• When you return home
• After known contact with an ill person
• Before and after cleaning a wound of any type
• After handling any animal, domestic or otherwise, including their food, dishes, bedding or cages
• After blowing nose or coughing into your hand
• Before cleaning out the dishwasher or putting away clean dishes
• Before setting the table
• After taking out the trash

3. Insist that ALL family members learn and follow hand washing rules.

4. Sneeze and cough into your elbow or better yet, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue!

5. Use disposable tissues instead of handkerchiefs. If you must use a handkerchief, wash it in hot water and strong laundry soap before using again. DO NOT just refold it and use day after day!

6. Avoid sick people as much as possible. If your friends insist on coming to public functions while they are sick, leave. Real friends do not share germs.

7. Do not share (and teach this to your tweens and teens!) make-up, food, drinks, shaving razors, chapstick, lip gloss, eating utensils, beverages, towels, washcloths, athletic equipment, toothbrushes etc with others. Sharing lip gloss and chapstick is a common habit among some teens. Both substances are superb carriers of a wide range of Flying Monkeys of Disease.

8. When using a public restroom, remember that many microbes, including MRSA, can live on hard surfaces for months at a time. Use common sense and at least these precautions:

• Cover the toilet seat with disposable covers or toilet paper. Be certain that the paper is dry. If fluid shows up from the seat, remove that cover and recover seat.
• Avoid contact with as many surfaces as possible. Utilize toilet paper, your own tissues and paper towels to open doors, lock locks, turn on water and turn off water. DON’T use the same paper for all of those operations.
• Don’t flush the toilet while you are on it or right over it.
• Wash hands thoroughly as above.
• Report dirty bathrooms to management.

9. Regularly launder bedding.

10. Replace hand towels daily. If your family is ill, consider switching to paper towels. Using clean & dry washcloths to dry hands, instead of larger hand towels, will cut down on laundry.

11. Re-use bath towels only if each person has their own, the towels are hung up to dry thoroughly, and are not used to dry hands. Even with those guidelines, wash after 2 or 3 re-uses. If someone is actively ill, switch to laundering bath towels after each use.

12. Keep your hands away from your face. Teach children to keep their fingers out of their mouths, nose, eyes and ears.

13. Utilize a shopping car seat cover for infants and toddlers. Wash frequently.

14. Utilize spray disinfectants for hard surfaces.

15. Consider wearing disposable gloves when cutting raw meat or cleaning seriously germy spots such as toilets. Remove and replace gloves if you must stop part way through the process. You will still need to wash your hands afterwards, but you will be less likely to cross contaminate other surfaces and make hand washing more effective.

In addition to practicing good hygiene, there are a few more things you can do to stop those Flying Monkeys!

• Stay as healthy as possible. Eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, follow guidelines for screening exams, take medications and vitamins as prescribed, exercise moderately and reduce stress as much as possible.
• Avoid ‘communal’ foods..those big containers of food that lots of people can stick their hands in. This goes for open, large-scale samples in public areas.
• Avoid sick people. It is best to remain six feet from anyone who appears ill. It happens at every office party or social gathering. Someone arrives that is obviously ill, but felt they ‘had’ to come. See if you can’t encourage that person to go home and get back in bed where they belong! The same goes for co-workers. On public transportation, move if the person next to you is ill.
• Insist that all healthcare providers practice good infection control. This includes washing their hands before examining you and changing table covers between exams. Anyone breaking your skin (as in drawing blood, etc) should be wearing gloves and possibly a mask. Ask your doctors, especially your pediatrician, what infection control practices they use. Are there ‘well baby’ times?
• Bring your own entertainment for children in waiting rooms.
• Watch all food handlers and food service workers. Are they healthy looking or sneezing, coughing, etc? Is the food served at the right temperature? Hot foods should be delivered HOT and cold foods COLD. Are food handlers wearing gloves? Is the location clean? Do servers handle plates and glasses away from the drinking/eating surface? Is flatware clean and covered? If you see something questionable, speak up, request a replacement or leave.
• Research and discuss with your physician the need for vaccinations.
• Research and consider the need for facemasks and/or respirators. Learn the difference between the two and how to use them. For those with compromised immune systems, masks and/or respirators may be needed.
• If someone in your home is chronically ill, elderly, an infant or otherwise more susceptible to serious complications from disease, research and learn all you can about infection control.
• As much as possible, stay out of Emergency Rooms, hospitals and other crowded areas teeming with germy people.
• Ask about and double-check your children’s schools & childcare providers policies regarding infection control. Are personnel trained to handle bodily fluid spills, illness, food preparation safety and infection control? Do caregivers practice good diaper changing and toileting practices? Observe them carefully! Are sick children quickly isolated and parents called to pick them up? Are teachers supported in efforts to remain home when they are ill? Is food served at the correct temperature, in a clean environment and with good dishwashing practices? Is food prepared by at home served in your child’s classroom?
• Obey all declarations from public health officials should an epidemic or other widespread disease emergency occur! That may mean that ‘there’s no place like home.’

Prevention truly is the best medicine. By remaining healthy, adopting good habits of sanitation and insisting that those around you do, as well as being pro-active, you can avoid at least some of the Flying Monkeys of Disease!

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

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.

By special request, here’s an addendum just for those with little ones in the house. Before proceeding, be CERTAIN that you consult your baby’s pediatrician as to current guidelines for the introduction of semi-solid, solid and finger foods. Let your physician know of any family history of food allergies. NEVER leave a baby or young child alone while they are eating!

Loving parents of Little Ones are the perfect targets for the savvy marketeer. The Ad Guys know that parents who want to do what is best for their baby are often chronically tired, over-worked and short on time. This combo plate of weaknesses allows those Ad Guys to convince you that you need to part with a greater portion of your hard earned cash to keep your baby well fed, happy and ‘in’ with the other babies. Ah, but you are smarter, aren’t you?

Let’s start with the littlest of babies, the beautiful little newborns. Newborn humans cannot tolerate solid food and must be fed with either breast milk or a formula designed to replicate breast milk. The health benefits of breast feeding are well established. However, have you considered the economic benefit? Conservative estimates are that the breastfed baby costs at least $1500 a year less to feed than the formula fed baby. The savings takes into account the added calories required by the nursing mother.

As baby progresses to semi-solid foods, the marketing gurus go into high gear! Buckle up your wallets and protect yourself from the slings and arrows of ads especially tailored to pierce your financial armor.

The first weapon in your self-protection arsenal is the knowledge that you can prepare at home nearly any baby food your Little Darling will ever need. The ingredients are easily accessible, quickly assembled and DO NOT have to come in cute packages with little chubby baby faces. Recipes abound on multiple reputable websites for everything from baby cereal (whirl some instant oatmeal from the adult grocery aisle in the blender, add hot water and you have ‘baby’ cereal) to combination meals for older babies.

Is your baby ready for applesauce? Purchase a large jar of unsweetened, all-natural applesauce from the ‘adult aisles’. Freeze the applesauce in ice cube trays for single serving portions. When frozen, pop out the ’sauce’ cubes and store in ziploc bags. Going out for the morning? Pop a frozen portion in a small bag or plastic bowl and allow to thaw. Difference in cost? ‘Baby’ applesauce is $2.18lb. ‘Regular’ applesauce in small containers is $1.32lb. In a large jar? 87 cents a pound.

Bananas? Smoosh a ripe one and you have baby bananas. Again, freeze the excess or eat it yourself for a healthy snack. Baby food bananas? $2.49lb. ‘Regular’ bananas? 39 cents per pound.

Veggies? Mash up a baked sweet potato. Purchase salt-free canned vegetables and smoosh them up! Canned lima beans, peas, green beans, sliced beets, asparagus and other soft vegetables become baby food quickly and offer you a huge savings. If baby can’t eat the entire can within a day or two, freeze the left-overs in ice cube trays. Baby food peas?  $2.18 per pound. ‘Regular’ peas? 45 cents per pound.

Fruits? In addition to bananas and applesauce, don’t forget the wide variety of canned (in juice, not syrup) fruits available as well as frozen fruits (without added sugar). Thawed frozen strawberries are mushy already! Canned pears are easy to mash or cut up for a baby ready for finger foods. ‘Baby’ pears? $2.18+ per pound. Canned pears? 60 cents a pound.

Proteins? Scrambled eggs, smashed up hard-boiled eggs, mild white fish (microwave a small piece), boiled or canned chicken can be reduced easily and quickly to a moosh that baby can swallow. ‘Baby’ chicken & noodles? $6.33 lb. ‘Regular’ chicken noodle soup? 76 cents per pound.

Carbs? Baked sweet potato, soft cooked pastas, canned beans, rice, quinoa, oatmeal and other grains can be cooked and pureed for your spoon fed baby. Frozen cooked carbs without added salts, fats or preservatives are a great alternative. Cooked items can always be pureed and frozen in individual-sized portions. ‘Baby’ pasta? $3+ per pound. ‘Regular’ pasta? As little as 69 cents a pound. ‘Baby’ oatmeal? $3.19 pound. ‘Regular’ oatmeal? 98 cents pound.

If you want to speed up the mashing process, purchase an inexpensive baby food mill. Many fresh fruits can be easily ground in the baby mill. Watermelon, blueberries, raspberries, ripe mango, strawberries, kiwi and any other soft fruit can be processed quickly and easily. AGAIN, CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT FEEDING GUIDELINES AND HOW TO INTRODUCE NEW FOODS. BE ESPECIALLY ALERT TO REACTIONS TO HIGH ACID FOODS SUCH AS ORANGES!

The golden moment for many parents is when Baby is old enough to sit in a high chair and feed themselves. Hooray! You can now (hopefully) get a bite or two into your mouth while Baby is happily eating independently. Even better, Baby can be entertained and contained while you take care of nearby tasks. Independent eating is not only important for your sanity, but Baby develops eye hand coordination, fine motor skills and a host of other developmental necessities. Ignore the mess and let Baby have at it as soon as it is safe.

Nearly any food that you have been grinding for the spoon fed baby can transition into finger foods. Introduce new flavors, textures and tastes to avoid developing a picky eater. Eventually, Baby will be enjoying the nutritious, economical meals that you prepare for the rest of the family.

It is important to carefully watch your baby as they begin to feed themselves. The ability to masticate foods and swallow them is a learned behavior. Be certain that early finger foods are cut into small pieces, are easily mashed without molars and won’t choke Baby if they slide down without adequate chewing.

Finger foods are a Golden Egg for companies that want to separate you from your money. If smooshed baby foods are silly expensive per pound, ‘junior’ and ‘toddler’ foods are absolutely absurdly expensive!

Early finger foods that require nearly no preparation on your part could include thawed frozen peas (they are easier for baby to pick up than canned peas), small well cooked pastas such as alphabet pasta or ditalini, canned or cooked fruits in small pieces (fruit cocktail packed in juice is a good choice though some babies have trouble with the ‘cherries), scrambled eggs, any soft fruit cut into small pieces, canned green beans, other beans, etc. that are soft. Merely cut the food up into small pieces and put on a clean high chair tray. Remember that you can freeze meals and thaw quickly in the microwave or by immersing the container in hot water. ALWAYS double check the temperature of Baby’s food before serving.

Combo meal? Try draining a can of low-sodium, natural soup such as chicken noodle, vegetable or alphabet soup. This is a great way to transition Baby to the tastes and feel of table foods. Small size cans may be more expensive per serving, but are ideal for quick baby meals and meals out of your home. ‘Toddler’ meal? $3.25 per pound. ‘Regular’ soup? 50 cents a pound!

Meats and proteins? As soon as it is allowed, small pieces of canned chicken, fish, cheeses and tofu can be quickly chopped up into bite sized pieces. Canned meats will be soft enough for baby to chew without molars, are thoroughly cooked and easy to have on hand. Thoroughly cooked and drained ground beef in small pieces can be eaten by older babies. Eventually, Baby will transition to small pieces of baked chicken, turkey and other meats. ‘Baby’ chicken ’sticks? $8.90 per pound. (And do we really want to know what is in a chicken stick?) ‘Regular’ tuna? $1.75 lb. Boneless skinless chicken breast? $1.99 lb.

Carbs? Small pieces of lightly toasted bread, canned beans, pastas, cubed sweet potatoes, little clumps of rice or other grains are all easily eaten. ‘Baby’ pasta with cheese? $3.79 lb. ‘Regular’ pasta with some fresh cheese? $1. per pound.

Snacks?  Baby ’snacks’ are a relatively new and OVER-PRICED, OVER-PROCESSED, UNDER-NUTRITIOUS ploy to separate you from your money!  Everything that goes into their mouths should be highly nutritious, as minimally processed as possible and contain little or no processed sugar. Whole grain, unsweetened dry cereal is an easy snack on the go. At home, Baby may be a ‘grazer’ requiring many small meals throughout the day. Give Baby a small portion of fruit, cheese, veggies or other ‘regular’ food rather than an over-priced, nutritionally challenged ’snack’. Not only will your wallet thank you, but Baby may just grow up thinking that ’snacks’ are for healthy foods! ‘Baby’ snack ‘banana puffs’? $10.81 per pound. (What snack do YOU eat that is $10.81 per pound?) A real banana? 49 cents a pound and MUCH more nutritious! ‘Baby’ snack ‘blueberry yogurt melts’? A WHOPPING $47.84 per pound! Organic frozen blueberries? $3.75lb. Baby ’snack crisps’? $23.65 lb. Whole grain oat cereal? $2.27 lb. Difference in nutritional value? Every ‘baby snack’ item showed the predominate nutritional contribution to be SODIUM with a bit of fat. That’s right! Up to $47.84 lb for SALT!

Feed your baby healthy, simple, nutritious snacks and save your money for their college education!

And you will have MORE MONEY in your bank account!

Sorry for the delay in completing our field trip–we have had one medical crisis after another!

It is off to the store; list, coupons, re-usable bags, thermal bag for frozen foods and our frugal wits about us! With your super-organized list you are going to come out a winner at the end of this race.

As you enter the store, check your list to see if you have prescriptions to drop off or pick up. Consider making the pharmacy your first stop, especially if you are dropping off a prescription. If you are picking one up, check to make sure it is ready. If it is ready, place the medications securely in your purse or return to your car to lock them in the trunk (unless they are heat sensitive!).

With your well organized shopping list, you are ready to fill that cart with bargains. When you are standing in front of the well organized shelves, keep in mind several tricks of those whose lives are dedicated to removing the maximum amount of cash from your budget.

Mark off items as you purchase them. If you are going to utilize a coupon, remove it from your coupon pile and place it in an envelope, a separate part of your clipboard or on top of your re-usable bags. One savvy shopper keeps a clip on her re-usable bags. As she picks up a coupon item, she attaches that coupon to the bag with the clip.

Generally, the most expensive, highly publicized brand will be at eye level. The cheaper brands, including house brands, tend to be lower or higher on the shelves. Remember to look up and down before deciding which to buy.

Scrutinize the small portion of the shelf price sticker that allows you to compare the cost of product per measurement. If your store doesn’t offer this option, go to a different store! Double check your coupons to be certain that you are truly saving money as compared to a different brand. Be extra cautious with laundry detergent as you need to compare the estimated number of loads a particular brand will do. Do NOT assume that the larger size is necessarily cheaper!

Wherever possible, purchase store brands. Remember the golden rule–the less prepared the item, the more you are likely to save.

Need items due to a special diet? Check the ingredients in the ‘regular’ aisles before heading to the speciality aisles. For instance, I needed dairy-free chocolate chips. In the ‘natural section’, the chips labeled in large print “Dairy-Free” were $10.50 a pound. GAG! Taking a few seconds to read the ingredients of the store brand dark chocolate chips in the ‘regular aisle’ revealed they were ‘dairy-free’ and less than $4 a pound.

Avoid money pits!

• Pre-packaged side dishes & entree mixes (5 to 10 times more $$$ than a dish you assemble yourself, plus more calories, fat & sodium), spaghetti sauce (2 to 6 times as much as homemade),
• Spice packets (10 to 30 times the cost of mixing your own)
• Single package snacks & treats (2 to 3 times more than bagging your own).
• Junk food in general, including fruit ‘roll-ups’ and ‘fruit snacks’ (which are really just well-named candy full of sugars and bad for little one’s teeth)!
• Power Bars, energy drinks and expensive trail mixes. Make your own trail mix from cereal, a few nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruits & miniature marshmallows for a fraction of the cost.
• Nearly anything packaged for children. Avoid paying extra to subsidize the marketing campaigns of this week’s favorite TV or movie kiddie-hero!

Check end caps for sale or special items. Likewise, check the area where the store places their ’scratch and dent’ items.

Stockpile items that you use frequently when they are deeply discounted. Remember, after holiday sales occur in grocery stores. The kids won’t really care if they are eating pink and red M&M’s in May!

Purchase all of your ‘dry goods’ first. This includes paper products, canned goods, packaged items–anything that does not require refrigeration.

Tempted by a ‘luxury food’ not on your list? Place it in a separate section of the cart so that you can review your decision before checking out.

Produce:

• Check your produce carefully to make certain it isn’t bruised, overly ripe or over-priced.
• Eat seasonally. Do you really need raspberries in the dead of winter?
• Remember cost per portion. If you purchase large apples and you don’t cut them in half for the little ones, they will probably waste a good portion of the apple.
• Consider the true cost of a few minutes of time. Those bags of salad? At least THREE times the cost of a few raw ingredients. Pre-cut stew vegetables? Probably more expensive than the meat you will purchase. Pre-cut celery, carrots, etc? Again, you are paying up to $40 an hour for someone to whack up a few vegetables. AND most are treated to keep them fresh.
• Whole vegetables will store longer, are less treated and more versatile.
• Treat your produce gently in your shopping cart!

Dairy department.

• Avoid the budget killers–little portions, ‘kiddie’ foods and high prices. Want Junior to eat yogurt? Great! Buy a larger container without the cutesy wrapping and save up to half!
• Look for unadvertised specials, seasonal close-outs and short-shelf-date sales. Know what type of sticker your store uses to highlight these items.
• Group your cold items together, beginning with dairy. During warm weather, put cold & frozen items in your thermal bag.

Meat department:

• Check first for mark downs! If you find an unexpected bargain, think of what you might need to serve with it. Add those items to your list & purchase them as you head to frozen foods.
• Place your meat in a thermal bag separate from the dairy & frozen foods.
• All meat should be placed in the lowest part of the cart away from fresh foods. Packages should ideally be handled with paper towels and placed in plastic bags.
• Compare the cost per pound for ‘family packs’ vs. smaller portions. You can save big by breaking down a family pack into meal-sized portions.
• Don’t buy a more expensive cut of meat than you need! If you are marinating a steak, you can purchase a less expensive cut.
• Consider replacing chicken breasts with thighs.
• Be certain that you aren’t paying for water or ‘flavor enhancers’ instead of meat. In many stores, chicken meat is infused with15% or more fluid. That fluid may be water or ‘flavorings’ (and who knows that means? Chemicals, most likely)
• REMEMBER, cost per serving!
• Meat department budget busters include pre-formed hamburger patties, gourmet cuts of meat, pre-marinated meats, ‘oven ready’ entrees and pre-cooked items.

Freezer department:

• Avoid Wallet Drains: Frozen entrees, ‘lean meals’ (translation: ‘You pay more, we give you less’), kiddie food, breakfast items (I once compared the cost of toaster waffles to the real thing–25 times the cost of a fresh waffle!), individual ice cream treats and gourmet ice creams are certain to sink your solvency ship.
• Protect your purchases. Add frozen foods to your cold items in the thermal bag.
• Maximize the smart choices, which can include plain vegetables (those microwave bags & veggies with sauce–RIP OFF!), plain fruits, juices (not juice blends which are primarily sweeteners), some pie crusts, some frozen doughs, some french fries and frozen pizzas for nights that you are caught without dinner.

Before getting in line:

• Review your list to be certain that everything is crossed off.
• Did you buy a cut of meat at a discount? Do you have everything you need to cook it?
• Have you picked up that prescription you dropped off?
• Look with a critical eye at any impulse items you added to the cart. Did you buy them because of an ad you saw? Were you just tempted due to fatigue or hunger? Do you really need it? Can you afford it? If in doubt, hand it back to the cashier.
• Keep your eye on the prize. All of those candy bars, little goodies, gadgets and magazines are placed there to tempt you out of your money! Focus on the task at hand and get out of that store with your budget intact.

Check Out Carefully:

• Hand the cashier your re-usable bags and coupons. The coupons should be left out where you can see them–they are the same as cash and you don’t want the cashier completing your purchase before deducting them.
• If the store has a loyality program that gives you sale prices, utilize it. If you don’t want a record of your purchases (though it can be useful for returns and recalls), simply use a different name.
• As you place items on the belt, keep raw meat away from other foods. Keep cold and frozen foods together. Have these items bagged into your thermal containers.
• Watch the prices as they are scanned–especially clearance & deeply discounted items. The percentage of errors in some stores is criminal. If in doubt of a price being rung up, ask. Many stores will give you the item for free if it rings up incorrectly. If you have a large number of deeply discounted items, keep them towards the end of your order so that you will be sure to have finished unloading your cart when they are rung up. Never hesitate to ask the cashier to price check an item.
• If you pay off your balances every month, consider using a credit card that offers cash back based on your purchases. With many of these cards (which you should NEVER pay an annual fee for), the rate of return is higher on groceries than other items.

You did it–all you have to do is pay, pat yourself on the back for the money you saved and load the car to drive home.

Oops…load the car carefully.

• Keep those frozen and cold things together.
• Keep heavy items down low. You don’t want a can of beans whacking you in the back of your head.
• Don’t obstruct the view. You need to be able to see out of your car.
• Drive cautiously, especially in the parking lot which is a haven for accidents.

• Don’t make other stops on your way home unless the outside temperature is below freezing and your cold items will stay cold!

Congratulations! You may have just saved 30% or more off of your grocery bill. If you followed all of the rules, avoided those money pits, shopped from a list and chose wisely, your savings will exceed 60% over the foolish shopper.

Next time: X-Treme Grocery Shopping puts the groceries away!

So, you have your shopping list carefully coordinated with your menu plans and activities, you’ve taken an inventory of what you have on hand, have your menus planned, your coupons organized, you know your budget and you are ready to go to the store.

Hold the presses! Not so fast there, X-Treme Shoppers. Sit down for a moment and look at that list. How serious are you about trimming the X-cess from that X-treme list? Want to save 10%, 20%, 30% or even 50%? Do you NEED to save 50% or more? Let’s look at that list and find the hidden money-wasting time bombs that will blow your budget sky high. The top budget busters to be avoided by X-treme Savers are:

1. Prepared foods. That box of Hamburger Helper is an over-priced, well preserved & nutritional questionable box load of budget waster. Read a recipe and cook it from scratch–you’ll save 50% or more. Chicken fingers, frozen entrees, store-prepared entrees, etc, etc, etc are almost all low in nutritional value and high on cost per serving. Also avoid recipes that require you to purchase expensive premade items. For instance, while searching for a lemon chicken recipe, one ‘celebrity chef’ included a jar of lemon curd. Lemon curd is usually $4 to $5 a jar–a lemon is 50 cents! BUST them all off the list!

2. Single Serving Packaged Foods. Yep, anything that comes in a single serving size is probably over-priced and wiping your savings off the plate. Instead, buy the big size and portion it out yourself. You not only save money, but excess packaging to boot. It takes mere minutes to package up lunchbox goodies in mass.

3. Chips & Snack Foods. Nearly all are priced per pound higher than the best fresh fruit or meat. The average cost of potato chips is over $5lb. Apples average $1.79lb and are loaded with nutrition rather than empty calories. Substitute popcorn (yes, you can pop it one day and send it in lunch the next), fresh veggies or fruits for those snacks and chips. Your family will be healthier and your wallet fatter.

4. Baby juices, cereals & baby foods. Baby juices are merely ‘regular’ juice watered down. Water is cheap, so buy frozen juice and add extra water to it. Baby foods can be made in minutes at home with an inexpensive hand grinder, food processor or potato masher. Baby oatmeal can be made by whirring up some regular rolled oats in the blender before cooking. Add extra water to the oatmeal once it is cooked and you have baby oatmeal for pennies. Better yet, breast feed your baby and skip all of that baby food for a longer period of time!

5. Disposables. We throw away everything from diapers (one of the greatest health hazards in landfills) to wipes to plates, pans, cups, towels, toilet bowl cleaners, mops…on and on and on. Want to green up your wallet and the planet? Remember the three R’s–REDUCE, reuse, recycle. Substitute cloth diapers and save thousands of dollars between birth and potty training. (Some economists claim that getting rid of disposable diapers, wipes & ‘baby’ juices, etc is enough money to finance a child’s higher education–put that money in a tax-free account & Junior will go on to college). Make your own wipes if you must have disposable or use a washcloth at home! A dollar store toilet bowl brush and some bleach do a great job of cleaning the toilet. Paper towels? Use & wash cloth dish towels. Carefully scrutinize how many items (look at them as DOLLARS) you are hauling to the curb every week & think about what those dollars translate into. Google for ideas on making your own wipes, etc. for pennies on the dollar.

6. Cleaning Products. In addition to the disposable mops, dusting cloths, toilet bowl cleaners, most households spend ten times or more on cleaning products than they need to. Most household cleaning, including clearing clogged drains, can be accomplished with a short list of inexpensive products. Bleach, baking soda, vinegar and ammonia (DO NOT MIX THEM ALL TOGETHER) can take care of nearly any household mess you will ever need to clean up.

7. ‘Air fresheners’ and related ’smell good items’. Oh please, scratch these off your list. Home air fresheners either mask odors with chemicals OR coat the inside of your nasal passages with an oil that blocks smells. Both can be hazardous to pets and humans who suffer from respiratory ailments. Instead, open the windows, find the offensive smell or make your own boiling potpouri from citrus rinds, apple cores, some cinnamon and a bit of nutmeg. Boil it on the stove and then simmer for a few hours. Your home will smell apple pie welcoming and your neighbors will think you are baking.

8. Over-priced hair care. Compare prices occasionally between the grocery store, discounters and beauty suppliers. You can often buy the best products for much less if you purchase in bulk from a beauty supplier.

9. Name Brands. Always try a ‘generic’ version or store brand of your most commonly purchased items. Try them at least once and you may find that you like them! Start your children off with the generics and they’ll be happy. Many store brands are packaged in name brand factories and simply relabeled.

10. Impulse Items. Avoid anything near the registers. Smart shoppers often segregate impulse items from the rest of their groceries and harshly reconsider each item before checking out. If an item isn’t on your list, think not twice but three or four times about whether you need it and can afford it within your budget guidelines.

Again, review your list for budget busters and carefully weigh their value against fiscal restraint. Now, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I have sufficient time to shop carefully?

2. Am I going to be hungry half way through the store? (if yes, have a snack now)

3. Am I too tired or stressed to shop carefully?

4. Are there other errands I can do on the way to the grocery store?

5. If the weather is warm, do I have a way to keep cold items cold on the way home?

6. Do I have my chosen method of payment with me?

If you passed this mini-quiz with flying colors, it is time to go to the grocery store! Join us next week as we battle the budget busting lay out of most grocery stores in order to claim victory. Cross the finish line with your budget intact, your pantry organized, your menus healthier and your time saved!

From the ever-helpful folks at FEMA comes this reminder that the peanut butter recall may very well involve foods you have stored for emergencies and/or long-term storage. Check out their list and follow the link to stay up-to-date on products included:

Currently the United States is in the midst of one of the largest food recalls in American history. As Americans dig through their cabinets and refrigerators to remove potentially contaminated food associated with the recent peanut recall, we would like to also remind citizens to open and check their Emergency Preparedness Kits to remove any potentially harmful items from these also.

Because peanut products are often recommended as staples in Emergency Preparedness Kits due to their long shell life and because they are a good source of protein, we encourage all kit owners to look at their kits to ensure food products are not on the peanut recall list. Please keep in mind that the peanut product recall extends beyond peanut-flavored products. The following are some examples of foods also included in the recall that may contain peanuts:

• Granola
• Snack bars
• Crackers
• Cereal
• Trail Mix
• Cookies
• Noodles
• Dog treats

A full list of recalled peanut products and what individuals should do with recalled items can be found on the Food and Drug Administration’s Web site, http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm.

In addition to checking for peanut-related items, please be sure to check for other items in your kit that may have expired, including medications, food and pet food, water, and other recalled items. The U.S. government provides information on unsafe, hazardous, or defective products ranging from consumer products, food, medicine, and cosmetics at www.recalls.gov.

Ensuring family and neighbors are prepared is an essential step in helping communities during and after an emergency. Families should have an Emergency Preparedness Kit in all locations that are frequented often, including homes, offices, schools, cars and day care facilities. These kits should hold a variety of essential items that are needed during a disaster, such as a flashlight, radio, cash, clothing, protective equipment, medicines, and of course food and water. For a complete list of Emergency Preparedness Kit recommended items, please visit http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/supplykit.shtm.

Citizen Corps Councils and Partners: Councils and partners should remind their communities about the importance of maintaining and constructing an Emergency Preparedness Kit and consider hosting public preparedness training sessions to ensure that information about kits is reaching the community. In addition, Councils and partners should consider adding a link to the FDA Web sites along with information on the recall on peanut products to any Web pages or documents that refer to community preparedness or Emergency Preparedness Kit preparation.

This news story and other Community Preparedness news, including Citizen Corps Bulletins, can be found on our website at http://www.citizencorps.gov/.

Sincerely,

The National Office of Citizen Corps
FEMA Community Preparedness Division