Mini Challenges: Determine Your Food Storage Needs

Food storage (or Home Storage) is often a tricky subject. The LDS Church guidelines recommend a year's supply of food for you and your family. Some resources suggest less. Space is often an issue, and depending on where you live, laws may prohibit you from storing very much. If you live or work in the military community, you know hauling all that food to different duty stations can be difficult. So what is one to do? The answer is: Do what you can.

Well, since you generally can't rush out and get a year's supply tomorrow, we're going to start small...baby steps. Our December 15th Mini-Challenge is to calculate your family's food storage needs and make a food storage plan.

This exercise will involve a few steps.

1. Determine your family size...don't forget pets!
2. Pick a time frame. I would suggest starting with 72 hours. Then you can also calculate needs for 1 month, then 3 months, then 6 months, and then a year. This will help give you an idea of the different goals you can set, and the amount of food each period would require. If space is a concern, this could help you gauge for what time period you could store food.
3. Using some guidelines or calculators (Long Term Food Storage Calculator or General Food Storage Calculator), determine what the recommended amount (and types) of food are for your family. Don't be afraid to find a subsitution that works for your family. Food storage won't help if you won't eat it. ...just make sure you are covering all the essential categories.
4. Determine what types of special needs your family would have. You'll need to keep in mind items such as pet food, diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, medicines, vitamins, and personal sanitary items. Try to figure out how much you use during your selected time period and make sure you include those things in your list.
5. Make a list of all the items you would need, including quantities.
6. Make a trip to your local grocery or discount store and "shop" your list. This doesn't mean you have to buy anything...in fact DON'T buy anything yet. Just look for the items you've identified, and get an idea of what they cost. Add up the total cost (cost of each item x quantity needed) of each item and then the complete total for your entire list.
7. Make a goal of when you would like to have your food storage in place. Keep in mind the longer the time period you have chosen, the longer it will take you to aquire.
8. Take your total cost and divide it into increments based on your pay schedule or shopping schedule, to determine how much money you will need to spend each week/pay period to reach your goal. Say you have decided you want to have your food storage goal complete in three months. You shop every week. Your total is $300. That means that you would be spending roughly $25 a week on food storage in order to meet your goal.
9. Determine how you will finance this goal. Do you have a budgetary category for food storage? Will it come out of your normal grocery budget? Do you have a chunk of funds set aside in savings you want to use? It doesn't have to be complicated, but you should know how you will finance it, since food storage shouldn't put you into debt.
10. Share your plan with your family and ask for ideas on completing the goal together. You never know, you may find a co-worker or friend that is giving away an item on your list. Your children might want to "donate" to the goal from their allowance. You may be able to can some items yourself (if you have the resources and know how). Get creative.
11. And finally, don't despair or become discouraged. It will take time and effort, but it WILL be worth it.

It is hard to reach a goal, when you don't know what that goal will entail. That is why it is so important to do the planning. Take some time out to assess your food storage needs and set some goals. This is a very important part of Provident Living, and in these uncertain economic times, Food and Home Storage can be a great comfort.

Monthly Focus: Budgeting and Financial Communication

Our focus for November and December is on budgeting and financial communication.

Keep in mind that the word "BUDGET" means something different to everyone, and that that is okay. They way that you choose to budget may not be the same as your neighbor, or even your spouse.

BUDGET is not a bad word! The goal of a budget is not to restrict you, starve you of fun, or make you miserable. The goal of a budget is to help you be in control of your money, to be responsible with your stewardship.

While the execution may vary, the basic principle of a budget is to help you spend less than you earn. There are a multitude of ways to do that. I have heard ideas ranging from envelopes of cash for expenses, to complicated accounting practices involving electronic tracking of expenditures. No way is going to be the right way for everyone. You have to find a way that fits your finances, your lifestyle, and your knowledge....and keep in mind your way may change as those factors do!

With that said, there are a few things to keep in mind when making a budget:

1. Know what your expenses are. You can't budget for things you don't know about or acknowledge. Keep track of what you spend for a time (most appropriately for a month), holding on to receipts can help. After tracking your expenses for a time you will have a better idea of where your money is going.
2. Be realistic about your expenditures. Make sure your budget realistically reflects your needs. Budgets need to cover not only your bills, but also your expenses. So, if you buy that latte or donut every morning but don't have it as part of your budget, you could get derailed pretty fast. You have to be honest with yourself (and your partner) about what you spend and where you are spending it.
3. Know what your income is. This seems pretty easy, as we all generally get paystubs or some other document telling us how much money we are receiving. Make sure you know how much you are getting, especially keeping in mind things like taxes, fees, retirement, etc that may be automatically removed from your pay before it gets to your bank or your hands.
4. Make sure your budget doesn't exceed your income. When you match your expenditures up to your income, make sure that they are at the very least the same, but preferrably having expenses lower than income. If you find that your expenses exceed your income, it's time to do a financial inventory and see what can be cut or at least cut back.
   
5. Remember budgets are dynamic. What your budget looks like today will likely be different than it will look in a year or two. Make sure to periodically review your budget to make sure it continues to meet your needs. You may find expenses that are new that need to be added, old expenses that no longer exist, or amounts that need to be adjusted. You may start out with a simple budget which may become more complex as you learn more about your money and budgeting. Don't be afraid of the change!
   
6. Share the budget. If you live with other people (like children or a spouse) make sure that they know what the budget is....especially if they spend money from that budget. This can also be a useful teaching tool for your children.
7. Don't be afraid to get help. Budgets don't make themselves, and financial education is not generally prominent. Don't wait to make a budget simply because you think you don't know what to do. There are plenty of resources (many of them free) to help you get started. Look online (see the sidebar for some links to financial resources), you can find free worksheets, budgeting tips, even forums for people to discuss budgeting. Ask friends and family for suggestions or help. Make use of community resources available. Don't be afraid of budgeting, learn, get help, and get started!
   

While budgeting will certainly help with gaining control of your financial help, if you have a partner, financial communication is another vital aspect of your financial health. Your finanical health is a joint venture between you and your partner, and you both are stewards of that financial health, responsible for its condition.

Just as there are a variety of ways to create your budget, there are a variety of ways to divide responsibility and facilitate communication. Regardless of how you choose to budget or divide the financial responsibility, good commuinication is essential.

Here are a few ideas on how to facilitate financial communication, and keep everyone in the loop, that were shared at our monthly meeting, and elsewhere:

1. Hold regular "financial" meetings. This was the most stated suggestion. Frequency varied from weekly to quarterly, but most suggestiosn were for monthly meetings. You and your partner can go over your budget, discuss expenses for the month, discuss future expenses, and share your experiences with your financial responsibilities.
2. Be financially honest. You shouldn't be afraid to share your financial concerns, successes or failures with your partner. It may not be easy, but financial honesty is essential for good financial health and a good partnership.
3. Have some place where financial health is documented. These suggestions ranged from a checkbook ledger to electronic logs (such as money management software). Having this information written down can help to facilitate communication, and help you both keep a handle on your financial health.
4. Be involved. While one might be responsible for paying bills, and the other for buying groceries, you should both be involved. You may choose to divide financial responsibility in different ways, but make sure you both participate in this important aspect of your partnership.
5. Take a money day. We all take sick days, vacation days, even holidays, but how many people think to take a money day? Take a day, sit down with your partner, and talk about your money. Take your monthly meeting to a new level. This can be done as often as you want, but is recommended that you do it at least once a year. Set financial goals, review your budget and make any changes needed, take stock of your financial health. Discuss your financial responsibilities with your partner and make changes in that if needed. Don't want to pay bills this year, well maybe you can trade responsibilties or adjust your range of responsibilities to what suits you now. Give your financial picture a good looking over.
6. Make your plan together. While, on some level, this may be best done before your partnership begins (in fact experts recommend you discuss finances before getting married), sometimes we get started late in the game. You may have missed the pre-marital window, but that is no reason to not have a plan. Discuss with your partner your expectations for your finances and for each other. Very rarely do two people with exactly the same financial ideas get married. You'll likely have to compromise, but if you sit down together to make a plan, it is more likely to work. But dont' forget, even the best laid financial plan needs to be dynamic. Life changes and so will your plan!
   

The process of having a workable budget and good financial communication will take time....nothing that important happens overnight! Don't be discouraged if the process seems to take longer than you would think or like. By taking the first step to create a budget and share financial communication with your partner, you have done the hardest part.

Financial responsibility, living with in our means, and being financially healthy are important aspects of our lives. This is made even more poignant by the recent economic crisis sweeping across the world. Some times it is hard to think of the "lean" times when there is plenty, but the lean times will come, and having a handle on your finances will make those times much less scary and stressful.

Resources and Articles:

Happily Living Within Our Means

Family Finances

Where does the money go?

Five Steps to Financial Well-Being

Know Where your Money goes

Make Marriage a Partnership - Couples Counseled at Fireside

Mini Challenges: Make a Financial "Rainy Day" Plan

It's that time again, a new month has begun and it is time for a new mini-challenge. Keeping in line with our monthly (or in this case bi-monthly) focus of finances, our December 1 challenge will be to create a financial rainy day plan.

While this will take time, experts recommend having at least 6 months, but preferably a year, of your expenses set aside in case of an emergency (such as a job loss, disability, accident, etc). You can start out small (say one pay period) and work up slowly (say the next step being 3 months) toward whatever level you have decided on. A little savings is better than none.

While this doesn't mean that you have to rush out tomorrow and have all your rainy day money set aside and every contingency taken care of, you do have to start somewhere.

Here is what it does entail:

1. Review your income. Determine how much you have coming in.
2. Review your expenses. This ties into our mini-challenge for the last period of making a budget.
3. Determine what your expenses would be for a 6 month period. Assume that for this 6 month period you have no income coming in.
4. Now you know how much you need to save.
5. Determine a goal length for saving your total. Consider saving it over a year, two years, 6 months, whatever you think your income will allow and what fits your needs and wants.
6. Decide on a way to break down the total into manageable chunks, whether that is by week, by pay period, by month, etc. In whatever way fits with your timetable and income.
7. When you have determined how you want to break down the total, make a plan for saving it. There are plenty of ways to find the money.

• Add it as a budgetary item, which is easy if you are breaking the total down by weeks or pay periods.
• Consider assigning "excess" funds, such as tax refunds, pay bonuses, or gifts to meet your total.
• Save your spare change from cash purchases, and after a set time period, deposit the total towards your goal.
• Have 26 pay periods a year instead of 24? Consider budgeting using the 24 and deposit the "extra" 2 pay periods into your rainy day fund.
  

After you've made your plan (and don't forget to include your partner), think of ways to keep yourself on track.

1. Consider making a chart that will allow you to mark off as you contribute to your rainy day fund. Think of those giant thermometers that help us see how much we've contributed to various charities. This can help motivate you as will have a visual reminder of your progress.
2. Think of a reward for when you reach your goal. Maybe a dinner out, a new movie, something to look forward too....just make sure that you have set aside funds for that too :)
3. Keep a "checkbook" ledger to help you track your savings.
4. Consider adding all the dividends and interest from investment and bank accounts.
5. Consider giving up a vice or luxury (such as the morning latte, cigarettes, candy bars, etc) and putting that money toward your goal...it could not only make you richer, but healthier too!

Now, you are on your way to having a rainy day fund! Remember this is meant to relieve some of your financial stress, and give you some security.

As time goes on, your expenses and savings may change. Remember to review your "rainy day" plan and adjust it as is necessary for you.

If you have any easy or cool ideas on how to set aside those pennies, or success stories on how you have saved, please post them! Even if it is just a little at a time, you can do it!

Mini Challenges: Review Your Budget

Our Nov. 15 mini-challenge will be a budget review. Financial preparedness is an important part of Provident Living, especially in these perilous financial times.

One essential step to being financially prepared is having a budget. It doesn't have to be complicated and involve the use of advanced mathematics, it just has to work for you. Budgets often start out simply, as you learn about your finances, and can evolve to be more complicated as life changes and you get a better hold on your financial health.

So the challenge this term is to review your budget. Make sure it is still working for you and your family. Are there new expense streams that you aren't including? Are there old expense streams that you can eliminate? Have you considered adding a "rainy day" fund to your budgetary expenses? Take time with your spouse to review your budget and make any changes that might be necessary.

If you don't have a budget yet, this is a good time to get an idea of what you might need. There are several great resources for starting a budget.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers a basic budget worksheet.

Brigham Young University also offers a series of on-line courses in personal financial management at their new personal finance website.

Other resources are available from MSN Money, ranging from topics such as budgeting to college expenses.

Even the government offers resources for personal financial management through the Federal Reserve.

Talk to your friends, your neighbors, your spouse. Use the resources above, share your ideas, your successes and your failures. Take this time to get a look at your financial health.

Taking a Moment to say THANK YOU!

I will apologize now, if this offends anyone, but I wanted to share.

I know this may seem to have little to do with Provident Living, after all it doesn't help one store food, prepare finances or battle emergencies. But, it only seems that way. While we prepare for the worst, there are many people out there doing everything that they can to make sure that worst doesn't happen. Men and women put their lives on the line everyday to ensure we have finances to prepare, stores to buy food at, people to train us for emergencies, and the freedom to make those preparations.

A friend forwarded me this address. The idea is to make an extra card or cards this holiday season, and send one on to the address below

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

These cards will go to some very deserving service members who have been injured in the line of duty. They don't have to be extra fancy, in fact I imagine that many cards that will be sent will be store bought. But, I thought it might be mighty nice for these men and women to receive some cards.

Please don't feel as if I am demanding you participate, I am not. But, if you are going to be doing some holiday cards, please consider sending one. I have the opportunity to live in a military community, and I have the honour of seeing first hand the sacrifice that our military members and their families make on our behalf....this is just a little way to say thank you.

So I looked at the snopes website and it had a link to another snopes website that talked about the Walter Reed address and it actually said that is false. Walter Reed will not accept cards to "recovering soldiers." The website on that is:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/walterreed.asp
BUT, it is true that this year the Red Cross will be hosting an event like that where we can all send in cards and they will distribute them. The website about that is:
http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

Mini Challenges: Create a Fire Escape Plan

Our Nov. 1 mini-challenge will be to create and practice a fire escape plan for your family.

Here is a link to the Red Cross's information on home fires. They will have ideas, suggestions, and tools for helping to create your plan.

Make sure that you know special circumstances about your home, such as multi story, basement apartment, etc, that may need to be addressed in your escape plan.

For those of you who may have multi-story homes, you may want to get a fire escape ladder (if your home is not already equipped with such a resource). Here are a couple of places on-line that sell them:

Fire Escape Systems
Amazon.com

You can also check with your local hardware or home improvement store (such as Home Depot or Lowes. Home Depot sells the ladders on-line) for these ladders or similar fire escape systems.

Get your kids and spouse involved, make it a family affair, and make sure everyone knows and practices the escape plan.

Mini Challenges

Starting on Nov. 1, we are going to start issuing "mini-challenges". On the 1st (first) and 15th (fifteenth) of every month, we will issue a new challenge. This means you'll have 2 weeks to complete each challenge. Don't worry, they won't be too hard.

The idea is take baby steps, and do one little thing at a time.

Monthly Focus: Making a Plan - Updates

We had our first Provident Living meeting, and we discussed creating our Emergency Plans.

Here is the text of the worksheet I created for the meeting (you can copy and paste into a Word document):

**************************************************************************************
A. Consider Family Size and Composition, and take into account specific needs for different individuals:
_____ Children (0-3 years)
_____ Children (3-12 years)
_____ Children (12-18 years)
_____ Adults (18-65)
_____ Adults (65 and over)

B. Get Informed About your area:
__ Local concerns or issues
__ Community Disaster Plans
__ School and Workplace Disaster Plans
__ Emergency Warning Systems


C. Discuss different disaster situations and know which ones apply to your area:
__ Blackouts
__ Chemical Emergencies
__ Drought
__ Earthquakes
__ Fires
__ Floods
__ Heat Waves
__ Hurricanes
__ Mudslides
__ Terrorism
__ Thunderstorms
__ Tornado
__ Tsunami
__ Volcanoes
__ Wild Fires
__ Winter Storms


D. Be sure to know how to care for pets, persons with disabilities, the elderly, or special medical conditions, as they apply for your situation.


E. Pick two places to meet:

Near your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
__________________________________________________________________________

Outside your neighborhood in case of a disaster which prevents you from returning home. Make sure everyone in the family knows the address and phone number.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________



F. Choose Emergency Contacts, and make sure family members know contact information:

__ Local
___________________________________________________________________________

__ Out of State
___________________________________________________________________________

__ Out of Country
___________________________________________________________________________


G. Complete This Checklist:
__ Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).
__ Teach children how and when to call Emergency Medical Services number for emergency help. (Remember that 9-1-1 isn't universal, so find out what your EMS number is)
__ Teach each capable family member how and when to turn off the utilities (including but not limited to, water, gas, electricity). This will likely require you to find the utility “mains” to your home.
__ Review your insurance coverage, and make sure that you have contact information for the insurance company.
__ Get training on how to use a fire extinguisher (ABC type), make sure all family members know how to use them, and show them where they are kept. This may mean you need to buy one. You can usually find them at many discount, hardware, and auto stores.
__ Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms and kitchens. Consider installing Carbon Monoxide detectors as well (especially important if you use Natural gas or other utility sources which can produce the fumes).
__ Find and correct any hazards that may exist in your home.
__ Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit (aka a 72-hour kit). Information on what you may need for this kit can be found at www.redcross.org.
__ Place Disaster Supplies Kit in easily accessible area, and make sure everyone knows where it is.
__ Take a first aid and CPR class, and make sure all eligible family members are also trained.
__ Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room. Make sure family members know how to get out of commonally used rooms (family rooms, living rooms), and how to get out their own bedrooms.
__ Find the safest places in your home for each type of disaster, and the fastest route to those places. Make sure everyone knows where to go and how to get there.


H. WRITE YOUR PLAN DOWN!! Make sure you have your plan well documented, and have it somewhere family members can easily look at/access it. For younger children consider adding picture aids to help them understand and remember specific parts of the plan.


I. Practice and Maintain Your Plan

• Remind your kids every few months or so about the plan. Review information they may have forgotten, or information that has changed.
• Commit a weekend, a holiday or other family time to updating telephone numbers, buying or replacing emergency supplies and reviewing your emergency plan with everyone.
• Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills regularly. Consider focusing them around times that are memorable (Daylight savings time switch, holidays, birthdays), so you don't forget to do them!
• Rotate and replace stored water and stored food in your Disaster supplies kits as needed. Make sure to stay on top of expiration dates.
• Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Your local fire station personnel can likely show you how to do both.
• Test your smoke detectors at least monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider scheduling battery changes during memorable times, such as the Daylight Savings time switches (semi-annually).

Remember to make use of the many resources that are available on this subject. If you have questions, most local Red Cross chapters can offer help on making an Emergency or Disaster Plan. Your community may also have resources to help with this planning. Consider contacting your community's emergency management agency for help or information.

You can also visit the following websites for more information:

The American Red Cross
Ready.Gov
Prepare.org
FEMA (also has a section of resources to be used specifically with children)
***************************************************************************************

Remember to check out the links at the end of the worksheet for a lot of great information. You can usually contact your local Red Cross chapter for detailed information on local concerns or disasters.

Use the resources to help you make a plan that works for your family. Not all the plans will be the same. Even if you just make a fire escape plan, something is better than nothing!

Monthly Focus: Making a Plan

Every month, we will try to focus on a specific topic within the realm of Provident Living. This month, our focus will be on creating a disaster plan.

Everyone needs to have a WRITTEN disaster plan, and that plan needs to be shared (and practiced) with every member of the family.

What your plan includes will depend largely on where you live (so if you live in hurricane country your plan might be different from someone who lives in earthquake country), your family composition, and the resources available in your area (such as family nearby, local emergency services, hotels, etc.).

There are several resources for ideas and advice on creating your disaster plan.

The Department of Homeland Security has created Ready.gov, which has a variety of Emergency Preparedness resources. They have several documents and brochures that can help you.

One important worksheet they have is a Family Emergency Plan worksheet, on which you can record important vital information on family members, emergency contact information, and other important data.

The American Red Cross also provides a comprehensive range of preparedness resources. They have a section dedicated to making an Emergency Plan, which can give you some great ideas on how to get yours started.

In addition to information on the Emergency Plan, the Red Cross also offers advice on Evacuation Planning and Sheltering in Place (in case you can't get out during a disaster or emergency), which are important components in making your Disaster Plan.

You can also find information on how to prepare for a variety of natural and man-made disasters and situations. This information can be helpful for those living in areas with specific concerns (such as hurricanes and tornadoes).

So here is the challenge for the month:

1. Read through these resources.
2. Get ideas about what your plan needs to include (based on your specific circumstances and family composition).
3. Hold a family meeting and talk about what your plan will be.
4. WRITE YOUR PLAN DOWN. Just talking about it isn't enough. You need to have a concrete plan that is written down. You also need to remember to periodically review the written plan, and make changes if necessary. If you have small children who cannot read, it may help to create a picture guide to go along with the written plan.
5. KNOW THE PLAN. Share the final plan with all family members, and make sure that each individual knows what they should do in the event of an emergency or disaster.
6. PRACTICE YOUR PLAN!! It won't do you any good if you don't use it. This part is especially important when you have young children who may not be able to simply memorize the ideas. Practicing the plan will also help reduce the stress and fear that you may face during an actual emergency.

Making your plan is an important first step to being prepared, and that is our goal for this month, to take that first step.

Please share your ideas, your struggles, your advice, your successes with this monthly challenge.

I'll post more information as I find it out!

Noah's Ark Program

Okay, I know I've talked to people off and on about the "Noah's Ark" program, which is related to Provident Living. After much Googling I finally found a copy of the program.

Noah's Ark Program

You can print it out for your handy binder, and keep track of your progress.

Each month has a small set of goals related to the differet areas of Provident Living.

Food Storage Guide

Here is another great resource for information on shelf lives for food storage items, in the long term.

Food Storage Guide

Prudent Food Storage

Here is a great link for Prudent Food Storage that discusses different items and answers some questions about storing those items.

Prudent Food Storage

Organized Pantry: Beginner Guide to Pantry Pride

Here is a great article on getting started on your food storage that was posted on Organized Home.com (the title below is also a link to the article on their site).

Organized Pantry: Beginner Guide to Pantry Pride

Posted September 9th, 2007 by Cynthia Townley Ewer

in

• in the kitchen

It's the secret weapon of a well-organized kitchen: a working pantry. A planned reserve of foodstuffs and sundries used in the. home, a pantry saves time, money and stress in the kitchen.

Tap the pantry for unexpected meals and reduce trips to the supermarket. Stock it with frugal finds to lower grocery costs. Set aside a supply of food and sundries for a rainy day and protect your family against weather emergencies or financial dislocation.

Properly managed, the pantry is an integral part of an. organized home. Polish your pantry pride with our best hints and tips:

A pantry's not a place, it's an attitude

"Oh, I'd love to have a pantry," writes a reader, "but my house doesn't have one!" Sure it does! If there's so much as a spare roll of toilet paper tucked underneath a sink, the household. boasts a pantry.

Don't confuse storage space with the reality of the pantry principle. Certainly, it's helpful to have designated cabinet space for. pantry goods--but that's not the pantry. Think of the pantry as a reservoir of consumable goods which may be stored in any area of the home.

Tiny urban apartment or spacious rural farmhouse, all homes can include a pantry. That some houses may or may not feature a specific storage area labeled "pantry" is beside the point. A pantry's not a place, it's an attitude!

Eyes on the goal

What's the goal of establishing and maintaining a pantry? It's two-fold: household convenience and protection against unexpected events. A well-planned pantry means that the household will never run out of commonly used products such as toilet paper.

More important, a pantry is a reserve against hard times. Whether it's job loss, illness, or natural disaster, a pantry ensures that the family will continue to be fed, clean, and comfortable in the face of adversity.

A beginner's pantry focuses on convenience and contains back-up products for each storable item used in the home. The standard is simple: for each open bag, box or carton in the household, the pantry contains a second, back-up product, toothbrushes to tortellini. A good first goal: a three-day supply of food and hygiene supplies adequate to support your family plus one additional person.

More robust pantries serve additional goals. A mid-range pantry can feed a family for a period of two weeks to a month in case of emergency. This pantry includes substitutes for fresh foods, such as powdered milk, dried fruits and vegetables, and protein products.This pantry offers convenience and basic protection.

The most comprehensive home pantries are designed to meet long-term food storage needs. For instance, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) are taught to maintain a one-year supply of food and clothing for their families. To do so, these premier pantry managers stock versatile foodstuffs with long shelf life, such as whole wheat berries, together with a variety of preserved and dried foods. LDS home managers learn pantry-specific cooking techniques to enhance nutrition and appeal of long-keeping foods.

Inside the well-stocked pantry

Traditional home organization advice often specifies long lists of "recommended pantry items", idea being that you buy them and voila! you've got pantry. Eighteen months later, you're hauling dusty cans of apricot halves to the Food Bank and wondering what ever possessed you to purchase them in the first place.

Reality check! Each family's pantry will vary according to their own tastes, needs and standard of living. Storage space and financial constraints also affect pantry contents.

For instance, single-income households with young children will build pantries replete with cold cereal, formula, disposable diapers and child-friendly snack foods--all purchased on sale with coupons. Empty-nesters with an active social life and his-and-hers diets will lean toward pickled asparagus, cocktail crackers and tiny jars of caviar for pick-up appetizers and hostess gifts.

Dedicated home bakers include specialty flours, gluten, and dried buttermilk powder in their pantries, while non-cooks rely heavily on microwave entrees and freezer pizza. And just about every family can stockpile basics for kitchen and bath: toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry and dishwasher detergent, disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products, paper napkins and food storage bags.

Where's the best place to discover your family's pantry preferences? A grocery list! If you buy it, use it, and it can be stored, it's a pantry candidate. Building a pantry from the grocery list is also a powerful antidote to Pantry Mania: the indiscriminate purchase of case lots of canned turkey chili or house-brand soups that no one in the household will eat. Hello, Food Bank!

An expansive view of the pantry principle encompasses more than the traditional dry storage of canned foods and baking staples. Manage your pantry to include freezer storage and a limited amount of refrigerator real estate. Carrots, potatoes, oranges and apples enter the pantry zone when bought on sale and tucked into corners of the vegetable bin, while freezer convenience entrees qualify, too.

Bottom line: build a pantry to suit your family. Whether it's Chef Boy-ar-dee brand ravioli or Wolfgang Puck's upscale condensed soups, feature your family's favorites on the pantry shelves.

Organization and inventory tips

To work the pantry principle, you've gotta get organized! Maximum pantry power requires that you know what you have, how long it will keep, and how to store it safely. Good organization and inventory techniques will keep your pantry cycling smoothly.

Beginning pantries are relatively simple, and don't require complex organization systems. Create them by buying twice as many of each item as required for weekly use, then storing the extras. Use the last smidge of mayo making today's tuna salad? Retrieve the back-up jar from the pantry, and add "mayo" to the week's shopping list to replace the pantry jar.

Often, the beginner's pantry can be stored side-by-side with opened or in-use items. For example, stack the open box of detergent on top of the pantry box or line up cans of chicken noodle soup front to back on the canned goods shelf. Remember to rotate! Add newly-purchased items to the back of the stack or row; use the front items first.

Even for beginners, a dedicated pantry area can be a big help. Set aside a cabinet or shelf to hold pantry items. Organize them by category, stacking cans and boxes. Flat-bottomed plastic baskets support and contain bags of dried beans, rice, or pasta.

One exception to the "store by category" rule: complete pantry meals. On a section of pantry shelf, assemble all the makings for three to five pantry meals: a family-sized can of clam chowder, extra can of chopped clams, and the box of oyster crackers shelved together make it easy to replace these items after use.Check your "pantry meals" area before shopping day. Empty spaces will remind you to stock up on the clam chowder as needed.

More comprehensive pantries call for a more organized approach. Larger pantries require more storage space, often sited away from the kitchen.In this situation, a written pantry inventory can remind forgetful cooks of the existence and location of pantry items.

Pantry Inventory

To inventory the pantry, use a clipboard, steno pad, laptop computer or a free printable pantry inventory form from our Household Notebook Forms Library. Record pantry contents, amount and location for easy reference. Before grocery shopping, check the pantry; will you need to replace any items that have been used? Include them on the weekly shopping list.

Larger pantries may be stored in multiple locations around the house, so pay attention to food storage guidelines as you store. A cool, dry basement room is a good storage environment for root vegetables, apples, or baking staples; canned goods and dried beans can be safely stored in areas with greater temperature variation.

Long-term storage pantries require a thorough approach to selection, storage, maintenance and use of stored foods. Families storing a year's supply of food and water must pay close attention to storage guidelines, safe packaging, and integration of pantry supplies into the daily diet.

Building a pantry on a budget

Investing in the pantry principle pays off in savings of time and money, but it does involve an up-front cost. Even a beginner's pantry--a back-up product for each item used in the home, plus ingredients for three to five pantry meals--represents a significant financial outlay. Try these tips to spread the load:

"Tithe" for the pantry: set aside a regular percentage of each week's grocery budget for pantry-building. Even a few dollars a week will start the process of stocking and maintaining pantry reserves.

Buy on sale: take advantage of supermarket loss leaders to stock up. Supermarkets routinely offer tuna, tomato sauce, canned soup and canned beans at drop-dead prices to get shoppers in the door. If it's a pantry candidate and it's on sale, buy multiples!

Buy in bulk: bulk-buying for the pantry really pays off. Using the pantry "tithe", buy the 25-pound sack of bread flour for $3.89 at the warehouse store, rather than spend $1.39 for the supermarket's five-pound bag. You'll save and stock up at the same time!

Storage tips for small spaces

Even beginner's pantries may have a hard time finding a home in small houses or apartments. Try these storage ideas to tuck away a pantry in the tiniest home:

Break the mold: look beyond the kitchen to store pantry items in a small home. Provided that temperature and moisture are not issues, any room in the house is a candidate for pantry storage. Who says cans can't live in the coat closet?

Disguise it: integrate pantry goods into the home. For example, stack two large bulk-food storage containers and top with a plywood circle and round tablecloth. Who can tell this attractive end table is really storage space for 50 pounds of flour?

Look high and low: make use of storage space under or over furniture. Fill shallow under-bed storage boxes with canned food, labels up, and push them beneath the bed. Similarly, cover cardboard records boxes with gift wrap or fabric, fill them with bags of pasta, beans and rice, and stash them away on top of tall bookcases.

A Consumer's Guide to Long Term Food Storage

Several individuals have asked me regarding the "shelf life" of long term food storage staples. While I am sure some of these time limits may be hotly debated, I have found some information on this area to share with you all.

Judy Harrison and Elizabeth Andress, both of the University of Georgia, have produced a Consumer Guide on Long Term Food Storage. The document is reproduced below.


Reprinted with permission from the University of Georgia.
Harrison, J, Andress, E. (1998). Consumer's Guide: Preparing an Emergency Food Supply. Athens, GA: University of Georgia, Cooperative Extension Service.

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UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Service

Consumer's Guide:
Preparing an Emergency Food Supply
Long Term Food Storage

Judy Harrison, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Extension Food Safety Specialist,
Department of Food and Nutrition

and Elizabeth L. Andress, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Extension Food Safety Specialist,
Department of Food and Nutrition

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Flash floods, tropical storms, blizzards...whatever the disaster, it pays to be prepared. Emergency items should be stored in a disaster supply kit.

Putting Together a Disaster Supply Kit

• Items to include in a disaster supply kit:
• Medical supplies and first aid manual*
• Hygiene supplies
• Portable radio and extra batteries**
• Flashlights and lanterns with extra batteries**
• Camping cookstove and fuel
• Sterno cans
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Fire Extinguisher**
• Blankets and extra clothing
• Shovel and other useful tools
• Money in a waterproof container
• Infant and small children's needs (if appropriate)*
• Can opener, utensils, cookware

* Check expiration dates and rotate stock for long-term storage.
** Check periodically.

Nutrition Information for Emergency Food Storage

In a crisis, it will be most important that you maintain your strength. Eating nutritiously can help you do this. Here are some important nutrition tips.

• Plan menus to include as much variety as possible.
• Eat at least one well-balanced meal each day.
• Drink enough liquid to enable your body to function properly (two quarts a day).
• Take in enough calories to enable you to do any necessary work.
• Include vitamin, mineral and protein supplements in your stockpile to assure adequate nutrition.

When deciding what foods to stock, use common sense. Consider what you could use and how you could prepare it. Storing foods that are difficult to prepare and are unlikely to be eaten could be a costly mistake.

Stocking a Long-term Emergency Food Supply

One approach to long term food storage is to store bulk staples along with a variety of canned and dried foods.

Bulk Staples

Wheat, corn, beans and salt can be purchased in bulk quantities fairly inexpensively and have nearly unlimited shelf life. If necessary, you could survive for years on small daily amounts of these staples. The following amounts are suggested per adult, per year:

Item	Amount*
Wheat	240 pounds
Powdered Milk	75 pounds
Corn	240 pounds
Iodized Salt	5 pounds
Soybeans	120 pounds
Fats and Oil	20 pounds**
Vitamin C***	180 grams
* Best to buy in nitrogen-packed cans ** 1 gallon equals 7 pounds *** Rotate every two years

Stocking Foods for Infants

Special attention would need to be paid to stocking supplies of foods for infants. Powdered formula would be the least expensive form of infant formula to stock. Commercially canned liquid formula concentrate and ready-to-feed formula may also be stored. Amounts needed would vary, depending on the age of the infant. Infant formula has expiration dates on the packages and should not be used past the expiration date. Parents should also plan to have a variety of infant cereals and baby foods on hand. Amounts needed will vary depending on the age of the infant.

Other Foods to Supplement Your Bulk Staples

You can supplement bulk staples which offer a limited menu with commercially packed air-dried or freeze-dried foods, packaged mixes and other supermarket goods. Canned meats are a good selection. Rice and varieties of beans are nutritious and long-lasting. Ready-to-eat cereals, pasta mixes, rice mixes, dried fruits, etc. can also be included to add variety to your menus. Packaged convenience mixes that only need water and require short cooking times are good options because they are easy to prepare. The more of these products you include, the more expensive your stockpile will be.

The following is an easy approach to long-term food storage:

1.Buy a supply of the bulk staples listed previously.

2.Build up your everyday stock of canned goods until you have a two-week to one-month surplus. Rotate it periodically to maintain a supply of common foods that will not require special preparation, water or cooking.

3.From a sporting or camping equipment store, buy commercially packaged, freeze-dried or air-dried foods. Although costly, this is an excellent form of stored meat, so buy accordingly. (Canned meats are also options.) Another option is to purchase dry, packaged mixes from the supermarket.


Consider stocking some of the items listed as examples below. Amounts are suggested quantities for an adult for one year.

Flour, White Enriched	17 lbs
Corn Meal	42 lbs
Pasta (Spaghetti/Macaroni)	42 lbs
Beans (dry)	25 lbs
Beans, Lima (dry)	1 lb
Peas, Split (dry)	1 lb
Lentils (dry)	1 lb
Dry Soup Mix	5 lbs
Peanut Butter	4 lbs
Dry Yeast	1/2 lb
Sugar, White Granulated	40 lbs
Soda	1 lb
Baking Powder	1 lb
Vinegar	1/2 gal

Storage and Preparation of Food Supplies

All dry ingredients or supplies should be stored off the floor in clean, dry, dark places away from any source of moisture. Foods will maintain quality longer if extreme changes in temperature and exposure to light are avoided.

Grains

If you purchase bulk wheat, dark hard winter or dark hard spring wheat are good selections. Wheat should be #2 grade or better with a protein content from 12 - 15% and moisture content less than 10%. If wheat is not already in nitrogen-packed cans, it can be stored in sturdy 5 gallon food-grade plastic buckets or containers with tight fitting lids. If the wheat has not already been treated to prevent insects from hatching, wheat may be treated at the time of storage by placing one-fourth pound of dry ice per 5 gallon container in the bottom and then filling with wheat. Cover the wheat with the lid, but not tightly, for five or six hours before tightening the lid to be air tight. Other grains to consider storing include rye, rice, oats, triticale, barley and millet. Pasta products also satisfy the grain component of the diet. Milled rice will maintain its quality longer in storage than will brown rice. Many of the grains may require grinding before use. Some health food stores sell hand-cranked grain mills or can tell you where you can get one. Make sure you buy one that can grind corn. If you are caught without a mill, you can grind your grain by filling a large can with whole grain one inch deep, holding the can on the ground between your feet and pounding the grain with a hard metal object such as a pipe.

Non-fat Dry Milk/Dairy Products

Store dry milk in a tightly covered air-tight container. Dry milk may be stored at 70oF for 12 - 24 months. If purchased in nitrogen packed cans, storage time for best quality will be 24 months. Other dairy products for long term storage may include canned evaporated milk, pasteurized cheese spreads and powdered cheese.

Other Foods or Ingredients

Iodized salt should be selected and stored in its original package. Dried beans, peas, lentils, etc. provide an inexpensive alternative to meat and are easy to store in glass or plastic containers tightly covered. Those purchased from the grocery shelf are normally the highest quality. Open food boxes or cans carefully so that you can close them tightly after each use. Wrap cookies and crackers in plastic bags, and keep them in air-tight storage containers. Empty opened packages of sugar, dried fruits and nuts into screw-top jars or airtight food storage containers to protect them from pests. Inspect all food containers for signs of spoilage before use. Commercially canned foods are safe to eat after long periods of storage unless they are bulging, leaking or badly rusted. Quality, however, will diminish with long term storage. Changes in flavor, color and texture may be observed and nutritional value will decrease. For best quality, use within one year. If stored longer than one year, rotate canned goods at least every two to four years.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

To help compensate for possible deficiencies in the diet in emergency situations, families may wish to store 365 multi-vitamin/mineral tablets per person. Careful attention should be paid to expiration dates on packages.

Shelf Life of Foods for Storage (Unopened)

Here are some general guidelines for rotating common emergency foods to ensure the best quality of the products.

Use within six months:

• Powdered milk (boxed)
• Dried fruit (in metal container)
• Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container)
• Potatoes

Use within one year:

• Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups
• Canned fruits, fruit juices and vegetables
• Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers)
• Peanut butter Jelly
• Hard candy, chocolate bars and canned nuts

May be stored indefinitely* (in proper containers and conditions):

• Wheat
• Vegetable oils
• Corn
• Baking powder
• Soybeans
• Instant coffee, tea
• Cocoa
• Salt
• Noncarbonated soft drinks
• White rice
• Bouillon products
• Dry pasta
• Vitamin C
• Powdered milk (in nitrogen-packed cans)

*Two to three years


If the Electricity Goes Off...

FIRST, use perishable food and foods from the refrigerator. THEN use the foods from the freezer. To minimize the number of times you open the freezer door, post a list of freezer contents on it. In a well-filled, well-insulated freezer, foods will usually still have ice crystals in their centers. Consume the foods only if they have ice crystals remaining or if the temperature of the freezer has remained at 40 degrees F or below. Covering the freezer with blankets will help to hold in cold. Be sure to pin blankets back so that the air vent is not covered. FINALLY, begin to use non-perishable foods and staples.

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References:

Federal Emergency Management Agency. June 16, 1998 Update. Emergency Food and Water Supplies (FEMA-215). Washington, DC.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 1998. Emergency Preparedness Manual.

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Document use:
Permission is granted to reproduce these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only (not for profit beyond the cost of reproduction) provided that the author and the University of Georgia receive acknowledgement and the notice is included:

Reprinted with permission from the University of Georgia.
Harrison, J, Andress, E. (1998). Consumer's Guide: Preparing an Emergency Food Supply. Athens, GA: University of Georgia, Cooperative Extension Service.

*************************************************************************************

Content Person Contact: Elizabeth L. Andress, Ph.D. eandress@uga.edu
Copyright Permission: (706) 542-4860
Document Review:
Document Size:
Publication Date: 1998-12-01
Entry Date: 1999-01-28
Pull Date:
Pub #: FDNS-E-34-1

September is National Preparedness Month!

We're not the only ones trying to be prepared. The Department of Homeland Security is spearheading a national campaign on preparedness.

September has been designated as National Preparedness Month. Check out their resource page, Ready.Gov, for great information, guides, and planning materials.

Emergency Preparedness

Members of the Church have been counseled for many years to be prepared for adversity. Preparation, both spiritual and temporal, can dispel fear. With the guidance of Church leaders, individual members and families should prepare to be self-reliant in times of personal or widespread emergency.

-Provident Living Website

Family Finances

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Latter-day Saints have been counseled for many years to prepare for adversity by having a little money set aside. Doing so adds immeasurably to security and well-being. Every family has a responsibility to provide for its own needs to the extent possible.

We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from this bondage. Save a little money regularly to gradually build a financial reserve.

If you have paid your debts and have a financial reserve, even though it be small, you and your family will feel more secure and enjoy greater peace in your hearts.

May the Lord bless you in your family financial efforts.

—The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances

Family Home Storage

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.

"We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."

--The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage

Posting Information

Please feel free to post ideas, information, successes, failures, and questions. Remember that this is a place for encouragement, not criticism or discouragement.

When posting, please remember to add a label (you'll see the space for that at the bottom of the post form on Blogger), that will tell us what topic of the Provident Living genre you're talking about. The three main areas are: Family Home Storage (which includes food supplies, water storage, etc), Family Finances, and Emergency Preparedness. In addition to including one of these labels, you are also invited to add other labels which can be more specific (such as a label that reads "budgeting" or "three month supply"). This way, people who visit here looking for specific information or wanting information on a specific topic can find it fast!

So get out, starting sharing your experiences with Provident Living, your ideas, your information, and help us all to get prepared!

Let's Get Ready!

Welcome to our new Provident Living blog!

Over the next year....and beyond...I'll be posting information on every aspect of Provident Living, and I hope that you all will comment, and post your own ideas and information.

There is no time like the present to get prepared, so join us and let's all encourage one another!