What’$ Up With That?

Food STorage Quick Tip #4 – Fuel Prices

Question of the week:  I’m trying to get my food storage, but food prices are higher.  What’s up with that?
Answer:  Higher gas prices.

We are in a recession with the same initial signs as in the 1970’s.  Sometimes we get so busy in our lives that we don’t pay attention to what is going on around us.  Then all of a sudden.  Holy Cow!

When the price of oil is high, everything is affected by it.  That is why you hear about gas prices 24/7.  Have you noticed that postage went up another penny a few months ago?  It costs more to deliver the mail.  Producing and delivering crops is more expensive.  Recent crop failures have also contributed to the higher food prices.  Dining out is going up.  Getting to work costs more.  Industries like road construction costs are up and taxes will be affected.  And my personal bummer:  I have to rethink y Ebay purchases because it costs me more in shipping when I have a successful auction win.

So the cost of living is going up.  Prices are becoming inflated.  Does this mean our paychecks are also going to rise?  Hmmmmmm.

Day to day, we should be preparing ourselves for this to last longer than a few months because sources say it will.  Since more of our disposable income is eaten up now with necessities, we have to find ways to make that income work until the cycle changes.

As long as we have to pay for it, let’s use less of it:

• If you have two vehicles, use the one with better gas mileage whenever possible.
• Avoid extra trips to town.  Make a list before you go of the stopes you have to make.  And use the most direct route.
• Walk.  Especially short distances.  As mother used to say, “you’ve got legs”.
• Bring out the bikes.  Kill two birds with one stone.  Exercise/saving fuel = Weightloss/$$
• Carpool.  We all have kids that go places.  Don’t be afraid to split the driving with another parent.
• Have teenagers buy their own gas. (Enough said).
• Drive 55 mph.  Yes.  55 mph.  You might think it is unbelievable, but that is what we did in the 70’s.  It was the law nationwide and we lived by it.  Okay, okay, I’m not serious about 55 mph.  It behooves no one to cause an accident in the fast lane.  Just go the speed limit.

Think about how these principles are relevant to your on family.  Assignment A:  Fill your gas cans at home.  Even a few gallons will be hellpful if evacuation is called for in an emergency.  Store in a well ventilated area.  Then pick one way you will conserve gas this week.  Or B:  there may be an increased intereste in food preservation in the coming months.  Think about stocking up on lids if you can (can as in canning).  Or, C:  Add another staple this week from your pantry list.

In Tran$lation

Food Storage Quick Tip #3 – How much does it really cost?

This week is a focus is about needs and wants and how it translates into preparedness.  This tactic can me the difference in our debt, our self reliance, and personal well being.  Sacrificing something “at the moment” can bloom  when you make a more secure decision for the relative future.  Even little things.  It is kind of like weight loss, demanding choices and will power.  Likewise, it is easier when somebody else you know has similar goals.  So get with a friend and accept the challenge to review and share your ways of thinking.

The comparisons below can give you a breakdown of affordability on wants vs. what you really need.  Of course it is not to the penny, but it is a close to a rough dollar for dollar exchange.  They are only random examples. Put the words “translates into” wherever you see the = sign.

TTRANSLATION CHART:
2/$13 movies from Walmart = 25 cans tuna (.52 per can)
4 Pizza Hut deliveries (soda included) = 45 lbs. beef (1.79 lb.)for your freezer
$100 cell phone upgrade (you are eligilbe!) = 28 gallons gas (3.719)
10 cases/24 pack soda (3/$12) = Small food dehydrator (Snackmaster brand)
5 new release DVD rentals (3.99 ea.) = 3 1/2 jumbo packs of toilet paper (5.97 unit)
2 Butterfinger candy bars = 3 packages household matches
1 Sunday outfit from Target (includes shoes) = 8–10 house work (10.00/hour net)
3 McDonald’s chicken nugget happy meals (2 with uneaten fries) = 25 lb. flour
Cosmetic Surgery = I think you get the picture.

Assignment: A: Instead of eating out this week, take the money you would have spent and start an emergency expense fund.  Or B:  Instead of eating out this week, take the money you would have spent and buy as many items on your food storage inventory list from last week.

Show Me What You’re Workin’ With

Food Storage Quick Tip #2 – Do an Inventory

This week I want you to go to your pantries and make an inventory of what you do have.  Take a piece of paper and write down items as you go that you need or desire.  Think about the way your family eats.  Look for ingredients to recipes your family LIKES.  Do you have oil for those cake mixes?   Do you have the cream soup for your main dishes?  How many meals do you have on hand?  If you bought 6 cans in last week’s assignments, you can see that 6 cans of vegetables just gave you part of 6 dinners.  If you bought 6 cans of soup or chili, you have almost a week’s worth of lunches.    Is your pantry full of fun fruits and chips, you will not fulfill your supply of food, or sustain your family if the situation is dire.

Go to your fridge or freezer.  If you don’t have a large freezer, you can still store a few things in your small one.  Do you have chicken for that enchilada recipe or hamburger for spaghetti?  Enough frozen  vegetables?    Frozen prepared foods such as pizza or meat pies are great for convenience, but overall more expensive and take up more room than basic meats or juices.

How are you doing on the basic staples?  A staple is a principle item or commodity that can be used in different ways.   Examples are; shortening, butter, honey, oil, peanut butter, jam, rice, wheat, flour, sugar.  I would also say baby formula if that applies to you.  These items could make the difference in a situation where there are no prepared foods to be had.

Many of us have bought and paid for home storage items that we either don’t know how to use or don’t like to eat.  It doesn’t help us to have food that we aren’t going to eat (although it could be a barter able item in a bad situation).   Don’t know how to use wheat?  Pick rice.  Don’t like rice?  Pick pasta.  Nobody’s choice is right or wrong, and everybody choice may be different.  The key here is to do it YOUR way in the way of choice of food for three months.

Okay, got your list?  We know that food prices are up, but here’s  Assignment: A: When you go to the store this week, purchase one or more of a larger staple.  Pick something you WILL USE in an affordable quantity.  (Sorry Ladies, soda pop or Slimfast does not qualify )   Or  B: When you go to the store the next few weeks, look for meat on sale.   This week buy 2 items or more of meat.  Canned or freezable.  Meat can get expensive, but when you see it on sale, buy two instead of one.

No Brainer

Food Storage Quick Tip #1 – Start at the beginning

When we lived in Washington State, because we lived in a forest, we had
quite a bit of wildlife around.  One morning, I heard a loud banging going
on.  I glanced over at my neighbor’s porch where she kept a metal tin with a
tight lid containing her cat food.  A raccoon had discovered it and was
batting it back and forth across the porch trying to open it.  Soon you
could see him with his little hands trying to get under the lip.  the can
clanked back and forth for a long time.  After awhile, it finally clattered
off the porch, the raccoon following behind.  Raccoons are pretty smart, but
he couldn’t crack the lid on that can.

I can just imagine people having no electricity, a lot of canned goods, and
looking like silly raccoons trying to find away to open them up.  Which
method would YOU use:  Hammer?  Ballpoint pen?  Your teeth?  How about
throwing it off the roof of the house?  It would be pretty darned
frustrating.

Assignment A: Purchase, if you don’t have one already,
a manual (I call it an analog:D) can opener.  Doesn’t have to be expensive,
just has to work.  B: Buy 6 extra cans of food when you shop this week.

Food Storage, Smood Smorage.

Quick Tips Ahead

The purpose of this blog is to get you charged about food storage.  Yeah, yeah.  You’re weary.  You’ve heard it all before.  But listen.  It doesn’t have to be overwhelming; (two years supply of food).  Neither does it have to be expensive; (two years supply of food).  Realistically, food storage must start small and a little at a time.  We’ll start with a three month’s supply. 

Each week or so, I will be posting a quick tip or assignment about home storage or self reliance.  I guarantee that there is something anyone can do, even with limited resources.  With this in mind, keep a look out for the QUICK TIP OF THE WEEK.  I think you will enjoy it.