SAVE BY PREPARING

     How devastating is it when a natural disaster strikes?    People lose homes, lives, possessions, jobs...  How could anyone possibly prepare for such horrible devastation?

   Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires...

    

I came across an article "Process of Preparedness" about the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.    

The devastation was horrible.

I can't imagine the fear the people experienced before, during or after Sandy hit.

     In this article, "Process of Preparedness" an amateur radio operator reported winds that were increasing in intensity with heavy rainfall & commercial power becoming intermittent.  Someone he was communicating with asked him if he was prepared for the overnight impact as the full storm came ashore.  He said he was prepared, had food for several months & water for several weeks.    
     Here on the west coast I have never experienced hurricanes or tornadoes, only mild earthquakes.  Several years ago I was talking to a bank teller who had the cutest little southern accent, saying she was from Mississippi.  She said - with a chuckle - that Californians are in a country all their own and that she's scared to death of the California earthquakes.  I said I was more scared of a tornado or hurricane.  She answered, "Well, at least we have a warning!  You Californians never know when an earthquake is going to hit".  
     Good point.  Who really knows?  Even when there's a warning, how fast can you move?   It's hard to say, but for us, planning and preparing ahead of time takes the edge off of worrying.   And, if you are fortunate enough to have survived a disaster, then your food storage, water supply and emergency packs will mean EVERYTHING to you - and to your neighbor who  didn't or couldn't prepare. 
    As the story in the article Process of Preparedness continued, another operator asked  him if he would need any help in the morning and his answer was, "My family is prepared, and tomorrow we will help others"  
     The article goes on to say, "Common sense tells us that when we are prepared, we are able to then help others. If we are not prepared, we are often dependent on others for help"  and "We are encouraged to plan and prepare and consider having a three-month supply of food, drinking water, financial reserves, medical and first aid supplies, and clothing and bedding"

                                       
      Lds.org says, “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.   Widespread emergency.  Dispel fear.  Widespread emergency.

     How do we do this?  Church members are encouraged to prepare a simple emergency plan.       
     This is in no way discrediting anyone for their hardship or devaluing anyone's efforts in their split-decision making during that time.  It is not saying that if you prepared calamity would not have happened to you.  Our hearts go out to all those who've suffered and lost.  Our prayers have been with you all.  What we are simply saying is by preparing when there's a calm before the storm, you may be fortunate enough to survive the storm and if you do your preparation will help you and someone else.

          For more information on how you can prepare click on this link: 
     Preparing for the ups and downs of life - Robert D. Hales

                             

                              or 

  
        http://providentliving.org/self-reliance 


Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
 


Nancy and Barry
          

Save When You Stock UP

Total spent $30.54
(11 lbs pasta, 30 lbs flour, 32 lbs sugar)

     Everytime we find a sale Barry and I stock up.  We shop the 1st of the month for our monthly groceries and then when we find sales during the month we head to the stores for those rock bottom prices.

     Today's shopping trip yielded ELEVEN POUNDS of pasta (elbow macaroni and pennete) for .66 a pound.  My favorite store Winco's cost is .96 a pound in the bulk isle.  

     We also got THIRTY POUNDS OF Springfield Flour for just under .30 a pound - Winco's flour in the bulk isle is .39 a pound, but if you buy 50 lbs it is .37 a pound - still thats a savings of .07 to .10 a pound.  

     And, THIRTY TWO pounds of C & H Sugar was only .45 a pound - Winco was .61 a pound in the bulk isle. 

     We only needed 12 cans of corn @ .39 a can because after doing inventory this morning we discovered we had already met our quota for the year on corn, but another 12 cans at that price wasn't going to hurt us.

     Dating and rotating them will take the most time, but what-the-hey, we couldn't have done better!!

     Desi called today and said Ralphs is having a special on Swanson Chicken Broth for .49 a can.  That's a really good deal - will have to add to my supply.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, always have your eyes open for discounts and sales.  And then, stock up.  

You will be glad you did :)

      

Save By Following Sales & Using Coupons

     Going grocery shopping in our valley has it's limitations, for sure.  Barry and I watch Extreme Couponers on TLC thinking that we will one day figure out their trick (but we never do).  We have our notebooks, marker, pencil, sale papers, scissors, etc. but our pile never looks like theirs :(

     We once even subscribed to the local paper and even solicited friends for their papers, but, to our dismay, we discovered that our stores in our valley will NOT double coupons and will NOT allow you to clear their shelves in one sweep and if the ad says, "5 items per customer" don't think you're gonna fool the cashier into thinking that you are shopping for 10 friends and want to put the total cost on only one bank card.  Nope.  (But, some very friendly stores will allow you to buy as many cases as you want - Save-A-Lot is one of those wonderful stores and last month I bought 52 cans of Green Beans for .50 a can).

     So, stopped subscribing to the local paper (the monthly cost was NOT cost effective for the savings we'd get on just a few items).  I quit calling friends.  Instead, Barry bought me a laser black & white printer for dirt cheap on Ebay & one year later I only had to replace the toner cartridge ONE TIME @ a cost of $15.00!!!  So, I print my own coupons now & save the cost of ink (by-the-way, my printer paper was bought on sale with my rewards card at Walgreens last year for dirt cheap so I have a lot).

     When the sale papers arrive, Barry and I sit down with our black markers & circle only the items we use and that are dirt cheap.  If they don't meet that criteria, we don't buy.

    All in all, we do a pretty good job and shopping.  This week we got some pretty super-duper deals for our food storage.  

STATER BROTHERS:  Betty Crocker Cake Mixes are .89 a box.  We didn't really need more cake mixes because in September we bought Pillsbury cake mixes for .69 a box & stocked up.  But, with the average price of $1.00 + we thought we'd add more to our storage.

VONS  Vons doesn't always have the lowest prices in town, but now and then they havea few specials and when you combine them with your coupons you can really get a good deal.  For instance, this week:I have 2 coupons for Pillsbury Crescent Rolls for .40 off when you buy 2.  So, with 2 coupons, I can buy 4 cans and get .80 off.  Vons is offering buy 1 at $2.99 and get 2 free, so if I guy 4 @ $2.99 my price will be $11.96, but if I take off .80 for my coupons my cost will be $11.16, BUT I will get 8 free!!!!  FINAL COST .93 each.  Also at Vons, Campbells Cream of Mushroom Soup is on sale for .80 ea (buy 5) minus my coupon for $1.00 off on 5 = Final Cost .60 a can. 

                                       


SMART AND FINAL  Ground beef is $1.89 lb sold in 5 lb chubs.  This is really a good deal.  We take it home, divide each chub 4 times, lay it on foil, flatten with the palm of our hand, wrap it up & store 3 packages each into one zip freezer bag.  Chicken at Smart & Final is .75 a pound and they are sold in a package of 2 leg quarters each.  

CARDENAS Canned corn is .39 a can.  This is really a good deal and time to stock up since our corn prices are going to skyrocket by 2013.  

So, don't forget to buy a case (or 2) of whatever is on sale dirt cheap.  Date it & store it, use it & replace it!!  Soon, you'll have your very own little grocery store right at your fingertips :)