Live Your Best Self-Reliant Life in 2011

It's December and I am in denial!!  I really cannot believe how fast this year has flown by!! Back in January we started the year off by setting goals so we could Live Our Best Self-Reliant Lives in 2011.  My intention was to help everyone to live a self-reliant life everyday and not just in relation to an emergency.  I hope you were able to accomplish some of (if not all of:) the monthly goals that were handed out in church and also written about on the blog.  I tried to make it as simple and clear cut as I could, so everyone would be able to accomplish one or more of the monthly goals.  Don't worry if you didn't quite accomplish everything this past year, we will be continuing our emergency preparedness in 2012!!

Since it is a new month we do need a new set of goals.  December is usually the month most people do a lot of baking and the grocery sales usually reflect great prices on baking items.  In November our goal was to store baking essentials and this month we are going to focus on SUGARS.  


3-MONTH SUPPLY GOAL:

• Look through your pantry and see what items you aren't using as quickly as you thought you would.  Try out a few new recipes using that stored ingredient so you don't waste your food storage.  Last year I bought a lot of canned pumpkin and I didn't use as much as I thought I would.  I have been trying out pumpkin waffles, bread, muffins, and soups so I don't waste the money I spent on the canned pumpkin.  

WATER STORAGE GOAL:

• Continue to store water for your family!! Pick up a case of water bottles the next time you go to the store.  At Smith's this week (until 12/6) they have a 24 pack of water for $2.50.  

FINANCIAL RESERVE GOAL:

• Look back at your budget from 2011 and see where you could make changes to improve your budget for 2012 or set in place the things that did work for you.  

LONG-TERM GOAL:

• This month we are going to store SUGAR.  This category includes HONEY, SUGAR, BROWN SUGAR, MOLASSES, CORN SYRUP, JAMS/JELLIES, FRUIT DRINK POWDER, & FLAVORED GELATIN.  It is recommended that for 1 adult you should store around 60lbs of sugar.  You can mix and match the different sugars to meet the needs of your family.  I know my family doesn't really care for flavored gelatin and so I only store a few boxes in case I need them.  We do use a ton of brown sugar and honey.  I have been making bread every week this whole year and I can't believe how much more honey we go through.  

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GOAL:

• Our goal for this month is LIGHTING.  This includes FLASHLIGHTS, CANDLES, MATCHES, LANTERNS, BATTERIES FOR YOUR FLASHLIGHTS, LAMPS/OIL, etc.  A great idea is to keep a flashlight inside a pair of sneakers and store it under your bed.  If an emergency happened in the middle of the night, then you would be prepared to light the way and not injure your feet stepping on glass.  I also like this tip because I always know where a flashlight is.  Emergency candles (100 hour candles) are also a great, inexpensive item to have on hand.  They would make a great stocking stuffer as well.  A really fun idea is to make a candle holder out of a mason jar.  Click HERE to see how to make one.  They would make a great neighbor gift or for your visiting teaching ladies.  If you haven't heard of Lehman's, you need to check them out!  They have anything and everything related to preparedness.  They also have great kerosene lamps and all the necessary items you would need to use them.  Click here to see their kerosene lamps.  I am sure you can find these items locally but checking online first will give you an idea of what you need to purchase.  I bought some battery operated lanterns (pictured above) that will work in a pinch, but I would have go store quite a few batteries to use them regularly. Find what lighting works for you and start from there.  I have a little of everything just in case!

** Remember to always have batteries on hand and to rotate them, they do expire. 

There you have it, the last set of goals for 2011!!!  Finish up the year on a good note and fill in the gaps of your storage if you need to.  


"Have Faith, Unencomber Your Life, Lay Up In Store" -Keith B. McMullen