Week 27 Food Storage Challenge

With all the unrest in the country, the riots the hate, and random shootings I think it is a good thing to be prepared at least you wont have to risk getting out in all the craziness. There are a lot more riots planned for this next weekend, If you live in a large city or close to one be very carful and be very aware this weekend. 


50 Pounds Wheat / Flour, Feminine Products

I don't remember the exact price of flour at Wal-Mart, but I know it was right around 9.00 for 25 pounds. So a little under 20 dollars for 50 pounds.

50 pounds of flour or wheat, if you have a grinder you can get wheat, if not get flour. White flour will last longer then wheat flour in storage. If storing in the winter and you live where it freezes a lot you can  just pour in a bucket, add a couple pieces of spearmint gum, and put the lid on. If not, if at all possible put in the freezer for a couple days, if it freezes real good for at least a few days, it will last a very long time (This kills all the larva and other creepy crawlers in the flour, I opened some flour a few months ago from 08 and it was still good). If you don't live where it freezes and can't put in the freezer you will need to put it in some Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.  If using Mylar bags you still need to put them in buckets, this will keep varmints from trying to chew through.



Feminine Products,   Get enough for all the women of the home and if you have preteen girls get some for them.When you store these you need to have them in something to keep critters out of them. You can also make your own pads, learn how HERE. Even if you just store the stuff to make them then you will not need to worry about running out. If you are going to make your own you need to store some Flannel, thread and snaps or Velcro. You can also buy reusable online just search for Luna Pad, I know it sounds awful to use reusable but they are so much better for you.
Are you getting all the information off of the computer and getting it organized?

Have you been able to find extra kids clothes? Garage sales are the best for this, they are usually pretty inexpensive. Get a wide range of sizes for both boy's and girl's.

Put  little more into your money stash.

Add some more water.

Stay Safe.

Prayers for Dallas

 

 

 

My heart aches, what an awful day in our society where someone thinks that killing those who protect us is okay. Please keep the department.. The families.. The officers.... the dispatchers...the first responders....the EMS....and the community.... in your prayers. It is so sad to think that 5 families lost a husband, a dad, a son, a part of the community. I just can't believe all the hate that is in this country, it will be our undoing.  

Emotional image from WFAA-TV's Mike Leslie: Dallas Police Department officers standing outside hospital, saluting fallen brethren.

 

 

They should not all be judged by the few bad apples, Most are very good Men and Women who just want to help people. They have families who depend on them they have friends, they support their communities. We need to keep them in our prayers at all times, that they stay strong and safe in these troubled times.

Joleen got her fire badge

 

 I am a little late in posting this. We had our fire banquet a few months ago and Joleen is officially on the Lewis-Arriola fire dept and she got her badge. She worked so hard for this and I am so proud.

 

 

 

 

She worked several years as a brush hog and when she finally got old enough she joined and did her year of rookie training.

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see she has always loved the fire dept. She even had her Prom pictures taken on the fire trucks. ( her date was on the fire dept. to)

 

 

 

 

This was after her first big brush fire. She didn't look so chipper the next day after 18 hours on the same fire. What made it even worst was we had her 20th Birthday party that evening so she had to miss her own party. We are going to try and reschedule something a little later that she can actually be there for haha.

You could see the smoke from the fire from the house.

 

Andy has 18 years in so far, think he is going to go to 20 before he retires. It will be funny when he retires to know we can actually have dinners and plan things with out him getting called out. Although now it will be Joleen who has to always miss out or that we are waiting on.

Why have a money stash.

 

First off I want to say thank you to everyone that left very encouraging comments on my frugal fatigue post. I am hoping and trying to get back into the swing of things. As I have said before the reason I started this blog was to share what little information I have with others. I have felt like this is what I have been asked to do and when I start falling down on the job I'm  not keeping up with what I have been asked to do. So hopefully I am back at it.

I received this question in one of the comments.

Could you please explain a bit more about the money stash. Food storage challenge is a brilliant help to me and have just been through them all again to see what else I may have missed. Cannot find original post about money stash though. I take it this is different to an emergency fund and rather if banks were not open or chaos prevails. Thankyou for all your ideas and help you provide here.

I thought instead of just answering her I would do a small post about this.
In all my food storage challenges I recommend putting back money every week, however much you can afford. For a few different reasons.

# 1 If the power is out for an extended time and you can't get money out of your bank, then you have some cash on hand to get by until the power comes back on.

# 2 If the banks have a bank holiday once again you have cash on hand.

# 3 If at all possible I do recommend having enough cash for 3 to 6 months of bills and living expenses. I know this is difficult for a lot of people, that is why I say to try and put back something every week, even if a very small amount, it all adds up. I would hope that we would never have bank holidays, but they have happened in other countries.

#4 And it is also nice to have if you are a little short and need a few extra dollars for what ever ( especially if you have teens) Just be sure to try and replace it.

#5 Peace of mind. Just knowing that you have that little back up helps to give a little peace of mind. Back when I was a single parent and very broke I would scrounge every where all over the house looking for change just to get something that the girls needed. I don't want to ever have to do that again, that is a feeling that I will never forget.

 Ok so you are putting money back, the next question is where do you keep it. The ideal place is a fireproof safe, but that is not an option for everyone. Before we had a safe I keep ours in the freezer. With the freezer if you have a fire it is less apt to burn. If you put it in the freezer make it look like it belongs, wrap it in freezer paper, put it in a bag that vegetables were in, or a box of frozen food just make it blend in and then put it at the very back of the freezer where you have to take out several things out to get to it.

I don't recommend burying it. My Mother in law use to do this years ago and never kept a record of where it was, I am pretty sure there is money buried in her yard that will never be found.

Have a great day.

Happy 4th

" Happy Independence Day America!"
~ God Bless America
We salute today the red, white and blue; ...
Our nation’s colors, those that have always run true.

Our country was founded over 200 years ago today;
Let us take time to thank God, and for our country do pray.
Hard times she has faced and wars she has fought to stay free;
It is the price we willing paid for our liberty.
Let us never forget the lessons our fore fathers tried to teach;
Success in this great country is always within our reach.
We became a nation of laws and doing what’s right;
Sometimes we faltered and failed to see the light.
Today should be a day of reflection and praise to be given;
If not for the brave men then free we would not be livin’.
Our flag has flown over many lands and on every sea;
Let us never forget the price many paid to be free.
Many will go to different places to celebrate with fireworks in the sky; Take time to remember and reflect on why.
Celebrate and enjoy this day with a reverence pause;
For if we forget why, we just may become but a lost cause.
We came from many countries to become one nation of the brave;
Let us also remember this day the price that was paid.
It was to God that our fore fathers did pray and give thanks above;
If we forget, then we may cease to receive His divine love.
So take a moment during all your celebrating today and say a prayer; That once again we show God how much we really care.
Put your hands together and do pray with me;
That once again God will smile down on us favorably.
Enjoy your day and have lots of fun;
But never forget that without God we would never have begun.
May God Bless America this day and always with His love;
May He once again smile upon us and bless us from above.

Poem by, Michael Gasaway