A few deals..

It is my opinion that it is much more financially burdening to go into the store and buy a bundle of food storage items all at once than it is to pick some up here and there as they go on sale.  I always think, "Slow and steady wins the race."  Maybe that's not true for everybody, but it has been for me.  I wanted to share a few deals with you that I noticed today.

Canned chicken is a great item to have in your food storage and/or 72 hour kits.  You can print 2 different coupons on www.coupons.com right now. 

The best deal I saw was Hormel Canned Chicken $1 off 2 cans which makes them $1.08 at Walmart.  Remember to print 2 per computer.

Facebook is also offering B1G1 Peanut Butter & Co. coupon which expires the 29th of January.  Makes it less than $2 at Walmart.  We love this brand.  Only 1 print per computer.  Another good food storage item.

Winco had their tomato sauce for $.18 a can this week.  That is better than a case lot sale.  Laila also mentioned the spaghetti sauce was on sale for $.48. 

Albertsons has 4 lb sugar for $1.99 until Tuesday.  (Limit 1)  If you are heading in there that is a good price.

Fabulous Finances Class

Here is the information from Natalie Peterson's Fabulous Finances class.

Link to example budget sheet here

Helpful websites:

http://www.lds.org/topics/finances?lang=eng

http://providentliving.org/self-reliance/finances/financial-calculator?lang=eng

http://www.daveramsey.com/articles/article/articleID/mortgage-calculator/category/lifeandmoney_realestate/#/entry_form

http://www.daveramsey.com/articles/article/articleId/the-truth-about-budgeting/category/lifeandmoney_investing/

Free Dave Ramsey MP3 Downloads  http://www.daveramsey.com/store/ccmascard12.html?et_cid=2193716&linkid=cta

Caranna Green found this link where you can download Dave Ramsey's Guide to budgeting. Download the pdf for FREE.
http://www.daveramsey.com/blog/free-download-budgeting-guide/

Get Started!

What is the most important thing I can do regarding family home storage?

Get started! If you have already begun, faithfully continue your efforts. As Bishop H. David Burton taught: “This new program is within everyone’s grasp. The first step is to begin. The second is to continue. It doesn’t matter how fast we get there so much as that we begin and continue according to our abilities.”

http://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage/frequently-asked-questions?lang=eng#1

Emergency Binder

Did you get your car kits assembled in November/December? 

 If you need more information please reference here.  I would love to hear about it too if you want to comment or email me!



Something that has been on my mind lately is getting more organized with my information ... without the Internet.  I have been feeling a little stress about getting an emergency binder assembled with important information and documents to have in a safe location and all together to grab and go in an emergency situation.

I have read through a few websites and gathered some information about what we should include in our emergency binders.  It is not a perfect list, but I know we won't regret having this information together should an emergency come. 

For the month of January, I challenge you to assemble your binder(s) and then build upon it to make it a more perfect plan for your family.

It is recommended to store your binder in a waterproof/fireproof locked box in case you are not home during the emergency.  You would want to return home and find your binder and documents in good condition.

Everybody's emergency binder may be a bit different.  It is up to each family to determine what things are critical and would be difficult to replace.  You never know what may happen so it's always best to be prepared!

Look for copies of the information you can add to your emergency binder in church in the upcoming weeks or download and print them now at the links listed below.

Links to Documents:
Binder Cover page & Contents
Emergency Contact Information
Family Emergency Plan
Personal Information Page for each member of your family
List of Medications Form
Internet Passwords Form
Car Kit Checklist
Basic 72 hour kit Checklist
Basic 1st Aid Checklist
Water Purification


I have decided to include a 2nd copy of the following in my home organization binder so it can be reviewed frequently and referenced more quickly.

Emergency Contact Information
Family Emergency Plan
Car Kit Checklist
Basic 72 hour kit Checklist
1st Aid Checklist
Information pages

TOILET PAPER!

Winco has their 12 packs (double roll) of Cottonelle Toilet Paper on sale for $3.48!  Best deal I have seen on TP in a long time with no coupons involved.

Water - Purification

I was so happy to place an order of 59 water filtration bottles in December.  That means at least 59+ more people will have clean water!  YAY!

Water Purification

If you do not know that your water supply is safe or has become polluted, it should be purified before using.  Water purification is generally a 2 step process.

#1  Clarify the Water/Filtering

Cloudy or dirty water must first be made clear.  It should be passed through filter paper, fine cloth or another filter.  It should be allowed to settle, and then the clear water on top can be carefully drawn.  Filtered or clear settled water should always be disinfected before use.

#2 Disinfect

Boiling Method
Bringing water to a rolling boil for 3 to 5 minutes will kill most water-borne microorganisms. However, prolonged boiling of small quantities of water may concentrate toxic contaminants if present.  Filtering eliminates parasites such as giardia and cryptosporidium, but it may not eliminate all bacteria and viruses.

Bleach Method
Adding 8 drops of fresh liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) to every 4 liters (one gallon) of water will kill most microorganisms. Stir or shake the solution to mix it and wait 30 minutes before using the water or cap the containers and store them in a cool place.  Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used. The use of bleach does not address toxic contamination.

Commercial Water Filters - Such as the ones we purchased in December!
Commercial water filters can effectively filter and purify water contaminated with microorganisms, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals. Their effectiveness depends on design, condition, and proper use.

This information was pulled right from the church's website.
http://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage/drinking-water-guidelines?lang=engking-water-guidelines?lang=eng