Totally Ready

Radio Show Tonight!…Be There 6:00pm Pacific Time

2010-09-07T23:00:25Z

It’s finally here. The information show you have all been waiting for! I’ve been canning all day so this show will be very laid back. Please stop by and say hello.

Tip # 7: Since a crucial part of self reliance is information your tip for today is the listen to READY OR NOT. If you can’t listen tonight the show will be available for download at the same link as the live show. Hope to hear from you tonight!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/09/08/ready-or-not–carolyn-nicolaysen

The call-in number to listen by phone or ask your questions on the air is: 1 (347) 326-9604

Set you alarm, 6:00pm Pacific, 7:00pm Mountain, 8:00pm Central and 9:00pm Eastern Time!

Review…Tips

#1: Find an out of area contact.

#2: Gather maps. Get several different colors of highlighters and mark at least three different routes out of the city and ending at the home of your out of area contact.

#3: Collect all your flashlights. Check to make sure they are all working properly. Make note of any batteries you need to purchase.

#4 Post important phone numbers and your own address by each phone.

#5 Place a pair of good shoes under each bed where they can be reached in the middle of the night.

#6 Place a glow stick next to each bed.

Back tomorrow with number eight!

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

September Newsletter:

Let’s Play…a look at things to do during a power outage to keep sane.

Food Safety…keeping foods safe during a power outage.

Frozen Food During a Power Outage, when to save and when to throw away.

Dutch Oven Cooking…How to Control the Temperature

Haybox Cooking…one more way to cook when the grid goes down.

Recipes: This month all the recipes are from 1850. They are fun and easy to make and perfect during power emergencies, after all our great grandparents didn’t have electricity!

Our General Store…Ketchup and Tips 1 through 6…Radio Show, Ready or Not…Premiere Tomorrow!

2010-09-06T23:03:51Z

**ONE** day until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

*****I am looking for callers who would like to participate in an online consultation.*****

Get all your questions answered for the needs of your family, not generalities, specific to your family size, needs, budget, and space.

Send me a note and we’ll make it happen! carolyn@TotallyReady.com

To call in the number is: 347-326-9604

Listen 6:00pm Pacific time every Tuesday at Preparednessradionetwork

Saturday I spent the morning gleaning tomatoes and the afternoon making salsa out for about 1/5 of them. That leaves the rest for today! Yikes! I decided I didn’t want to post over the weekend as it was a holiday and I know people never check their email on those days. Then I asked why post on the weekend at all? Since I promised you thirty things to do to prepare this month I will post three things to do each Friday and then you can do them all on Friday or Saturday and still have Sunday for church and family. So..new plan. I have been far too distracted trying to get everything organized for the new radio show TOMORROW night. I can’t believe it! Please be sure to turn in and call and say hello or ask a question.

We are not going to ignore our General Store this week. As I picked up items for my salsa I noticed again, as usual all the picnic supplies are on sale this week. Ketchup was 40% off! We will take advantage of that be adding ketchup, mayo, and mustard to our General Store this week. You should know how much to store if you have marked your bottles with the date so you would know how much you actually use during the course of a month. Use that as a guide as to how much to purchase. If you have not done this yet purchase at least one of each for now.

For those working on year two we are adding non food items this year. This week add deodorant enough for three months. Add enough for each person in your home. Again, this is an item you should have dated so you know how much you actually use during the month. Now multiply that by three and you will have a three month supply. now, for out tips.

Review…

Tip

#1: Find an out of area contact.

#2: Gather maps. Get several different colors of highlighters and mark at least three different routes out of the city and ending at the home of your out of area contact.

#3: Collect all your flashlights. Check to make sure they are all working properly. Make note of any batteries you need to purchase.

New tips:

#4 Post important phone numbers by each phone. Numbers should include: Doctor, dentist, optometrist, poison control, animal poison control, hospital, police, fire department, clergy, trusted neighbor, and out of area contact. Be sure to include your address as in an emergency you may not be placing the call and a visitor to your home or babysitter, won’t know your address.

#5 Place a pair of good shoes under each bed where they can be reached in the middle of the night. Whether it be an earthquake, tornado, sudden flood or wildfire, or a home fire you will not want to be walking around in bare feet.

#6 Place a glow stick next to each bed. Glow sticks are perfect for seeing your way around should there be a power outage or other crisis during the night. You will need to teach the kids only to use it in case of emergency but you can make a deal with them and have others available, just in case. Flashlights batteries may run down if the kids decide to play with them or read after lights out but you will be able to tell if a glow stick has been used. You can often find these at the dollar store and online.

Back tomorrow with number seven!

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

September Newsletter:

Let’s Play…a look at things to do during a power outage to keep sane.

Food Safety…keeping foods safe during a power outage.

Frozen Food During a Power Outage, when to save and when to throw away.

Dutch Oven Cooking…How to Control the Temperature

Haybox Cooking…one more way to cook when the grid goes down.

Recipes: This month all the recipes are from 1850. They are fun and easy to make and perfect during power emergencies, after all our great grandparents didn’t have electricity!

Tips Numbers 2 and 3…Self Reliance is Possible For All…September Newsletter all About Power Outages

2010-09-03T17:02:19Z

Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can’t or think you can, you are right”

Many have fallen into the trap of thinking they can’t when it comes to self reliance and emergency preparedness. That is just not true. Anyone, and everyone, can and should be setting goals and becoming better prepared to handle life’s challenges. When we fail to prepare and an emergency hits that challenge is magnified by the fact that we just don’t know what to do. Some give up and let the government or family worry about the problem. Some sink into deep depressions and make very poor choices. The truly wise call a friend and ask for help in pulling themselves out and preparing so a crisis can never catch them off guard again.

I am often told by people that they don’t have the money to prepare. Many preparations don’t take money, just a little time. I have been told they don’t have room to store food or supplies. Sure you do. I have discussed this at length here and in our newsletters and it is always a huge part of the discussion when I do a personal consultation. You just need to learn to think like those designers on TV who redo small apartments. I have seen them do wonders with 400 square feet. You can do the same and we can help.

Yesterday was a very upsetting day for me. My computer was giving me all sorts of trouble and my newsletter was lost. I apologize to all our subscribers for being a day late and also to you that I did not get our second of 30 tips posted. I do not want to get behind so today you get two!

Review…

Tip #1: Find an out of area contact.

Today’s Tips

#2: Since we are still worried about hurricane Earl hitting the east coast today we are going to gather maps. Take time today to go through the glove box, file cabinet or other hidden places and pull out all the maps you have lying around. Get several different colors of highlighters and mark at least three different routes out of the city in which you live and end at the home of your out of area contact. If you can’t find maps call your city Chamber of Commerce or check your state’s government website and see if they can mail you free maps. You can also go on line and print maps there.

#3: Collect all the flashlights in your home, car and and hidden recesses. Check to make sure they are all working properly. Make note of any batteries you need to purchase. Remove the batteries from all except the one you use often and store them with the flashlight but not in it. In the car your batteries should be in a plastic bag inside your auto kit along with the flashlight but never inside it. Batteries can explode or leak ruining your flashlight. I always keep two sets of batteries just in case one set has a leaker. I have had this happen twice within the past year and one of the batteries was in a flashlight I used often and it was ruined.

There you go, three tips, all free and all easily accomplished.

Our September Newsletter is out and I think it’s a great one! In this edition:

Let’s Play…a look at things to do during a power outage to keep sane.

Food Safety…keeping foods safe during a power outage.

Frozen Food During a Power Outage, when to save and when to throw away.

Dutch Oven Cooking…How to Control the Temperature

Haybox Cooking…one more way to cook when the grid goes down.

Recipes: This month all the recipes are from 1850. They are fun and easy to make and perfect during power emergencies, after all our great grandparents didn’t have electricity!

If you are on the east coast of the United States be sure to check out the preparing for Hurricane Earl post!

**Five Days** until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

*****I am looking for callers who would like to participate in an online consultation.*****

Get all your questions answered for the needs of your family, not generalities, specific to your family size, needs, budget, and space.

Send me a note and we’ll make it happen! carolyn@TotallyReady.com

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

September Is National Preparedness Month!!! What Are You Doing? We Have Big Plans at Totally Ready!

2010-09-01T19:57:08Z

Yes, there actually is a National Emergency Preparedness month. Why? Because the government and relief agencies understand they can not meet the needs of everyone after a hurricane, wildfire, tornado, EMP, solar flare, earthquake, terrorist attack or any other national or local disaster. As I listened to the media coverage of the five year anniversary of Katrina the one thing that really stood out was the statement by Michael Brown, the head of FEMA during Katrina. He lamented that although communities and the government have made changes and are better prepared, individuals have not taken steps to prepare and they have not learned from the experiences of Katrina. That baffles me. I don’t understand how anyone could have watched all the media coverage and not wondered what they would do if it happened to them. Oh…I know the problem. It won’t happen to them! We assume we will be the exception and even though we have seen thousands crying for lack of a drink of water we still this someone will swoop in and save us. Emergency preparedness month is all about learning to care for ourselves and our family. We must understand we are responsible for our own destiny and would we really want it any other way?

Yesterday I had a discussion with my niece who told me her friend found this site had too much information and was too confusing. I am sorry for that. I will work harder to simplify for those who are just beginning. If you have suggestions please share them with me at: carolyn@TotallyReady.com I desperately want to get the message of self reliance to all I can and to make it easily doable for any and all who understand the importance of taking control of their own future.

****Be sure to check in every day this month for an Emergency Preparedness Action Item, most of them free things you can do today to avoid heartache later.

****There will be prizes you can win throughout September.

****I will be asking for your tips and advice and we will do lots of sharing.

This is the time to commit to ramp up your preparations. Just DO IT !!

Action Item # 1

Choose an out of area contact person. Call this person today and ask them if they are willing to have you and your family evacuate to their home if the need should arise. This person should live a minimum of fifty miles away. Natural disasters often cause serious disruptions to life as we know it even fifty miles from the heart of the disaster. After Katrina there were power outages more than 5o miles away from the heart of the storm. When the wind is right air that is dangerous for those with respiratory ailments can easily drift 50 miles from a wild fire. If you evacuate too close to your home others will be there in great numbers and competing for goods and services, thus, quickly emptying shelves and filling insurance offices and hospital waiting rooms. With Hurricane Earl threatening those on the east coast you may find the need to evacuate tomorrow! Do know know where you would go if this were you?

If you are on the east coast of the United States be sure to check out the preparing for Hurricane Earl post!

Six Days until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

Our General Store..Hurricane Earl is Coming!

2010-08-30T19:51:52Z

I’m changing all the recommendation for our General Store today aware that the east coast should be preparing for hurricane Earl to make landfall, just in case. Right now Earl is a CAT 3 hurricane and by the time most of you read this I am sure it will be a 4. I remember living through a hurricane as a child in New Jersey. Hurricanes are not as frequent in that area but I remember hunkering down in the basement for hours as the storm passed and then going out to see trees down and a huge mess of branches, debris and neighbors’ belongings in our yard. At present weather forecasters are still concerned that all east coast residents, especially those further north than North Carolina review their evacuation and other emergency plans. The storm may turn east and the worst may go out to sea but even a nor’easter will leave plenty of damage. What should you be doing right now to prepare?

1. Review your evacuation plan. If you are near the coast and the storm does pass over you evacuation will be necessary to avoid the tidal waves and damage from flooding as well as winds. You may also be ordered to leave if the eye will pass over your area. Prepare to leave.Get out those maps now and mark several routes out of town so when the order comes to evacuate you are ready to pack up and go. Your GPS should not be counted on for guidance.

2. Remove everything from your yard that may blow away. A category 3 hurricane can lift heavy tables, flower pots, swing sets, out door lighting, just about everything, be aggressive and remove anything that may become air-born and fly through a window. Outdoor solar lightning is a great light source during a power outage. Gather them into one place and leave them in the sun to charge as long as possible, just don’t forget to bring them in before the blowing begins.

3. If you have trees with limbs that could potentially reach a window if blown hard, trim them now.

4. Move your cars into the garage.

5. Collect flashlights, glow sticks, and candles. Get out your solar, crank or battery radio. Be sure you have enough fresh batteries to last several days.

6. Gather your important papers (mortgage, insurance, birth certificates, pink slips, etc.), family photos, heirlooms, 72 hour kits, clothing and hygiene supplies so they can be quickly moved to your car.

7. Backup your computer files to a disk or off site.

8. Fill your gas tank.

9. Wash all the laundry so you start out with clean clothing and bedding in case the power is out for an extended period of time.

10. Cook. Make a few meals such as soups and stews that will be easy to reheat on an improvised cooker or camp stove. Freeze them so they will last longer. A well stocked freezer will keep foods frozen for up to three days. If you have room in the freezer add plastic containers of water to keep the temperature colder longer. These can then be used for drinking or cooking as they defrost. There are directions in past newsletters and on the blog for making paint can cookers and tuna can heaters. If you have not done that and do not have a camp stove with plenty of propane look up those directions and get busy.

11. Get some cash in small denominations. When the power is out so are ATM and credit card machines.

12. Discuss your plans with your family and prepare them. Be sure they understand what to do if they are at school or work when an evacuation is ordered.

13. Notify your out of state contact and inform them of your plans to evacuate to their home. This will give them time to stock up on a few extra supplies.

14. Renew any prescriptions that may run out in the next two weeks.

15. Gather your cleaning supplies and fill in any gaps. We will add a few to our General Store this week but you will need more so check your supplies carefully.

16. Fill everything in your home that will hold water with water. Wait until just before the storm hits to fill your bath tub. You can use this water to clean and bathe but not drink. Purchase bottled water if your water storage is low.

17. Check your pantry and make sure you have plenty of easily prepared canned foods. Remember dehydrated and freeze dried foods need water to be reconstituted and you may not have water. You will also not want foods that don’t need to be cooked but rather store those that just need heating. You will want to conserve your fuel sources. Sandwiches, canned soups and stews are good. Don’t forget snack foods, especially if your have children. They will help keep the peace. Never, Never use your barbecue inside your home! If you must use a barbecue only use it in the garage with the door open and the cars pulled out.

18. Plan for sanitation. How will you handle bathroom needs if you have no water to flush. If you have a camping port-a-potty or a potty seat and a bucket get them out and set up an area in the garage. If you are in an apartment then set it up in a bathroom but the garage will keep the odors at bay.

19. Pull out that old plug in telephone. Portable phones will not work when the power is out. Cell phones will be jammed and are often taken over for emergency purposes.

20. Check with elderly and disabled neighbors and friends and make sure they have a plan.

If you have never thought about some of these things don’t you wish you had? You still have a few days to prepare so take that time to ask questions and learn. Ask friends. Ask our yahoo group. Ask me (carolyn@TotallyReady.com). As the storm gets closer store shelves will empty very quickly so please don’t wait.

This week we will be adding work gloves, at least one pair per family member, and disinfectant cleaners to our General Store. After a storm water will be contaminated and everything that has been touched by storm water will need to be disinfected before use.

For those working on the food shelves of their General Store we were going to add condiments this week since they are on sale for Labor Day picnics but I noticed we have not added gains yet and those who may get caught in this storm will need those more than condiments. This week add six pounds of grains per family member. If you are on the east coast make some of them bread and crackers that can be eaten without cooking. For others add oats, rice, wheat, barley, pasta, any grain your family likes to eat. Variety is important to avoid appetite fatigue so don’t purchase just one variety.

Please tweet, facebook, email or share this post in any way possible with your family and friends on the east coast. They may think you are a little nuts but they will be grateful later or they will be ready to listen next time! We will hope and pray the storm turns out to sea, but just in case…

Eight Days until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

Money Saving Wednesday…How About Money Making Wednesday…Crash of the Housing Market

2010-08-25T20:26:38Z

I have been giving lots of thought to the housing market the past week and just why we should be concerned about it’s highs and lows. Last month the housing market crashed with existing home sale at a 15 year low and new home sales at an all time low. As I pondered I considered why houses are not selling. Some are upside down on their mortgage which means they are stuck. Even those who are ready and needing to move up can’t. Those who are ready and willing to downsize can’t. Then there are those who are ready to buy for the first time. They have the opportunity of a lifetime to buy low but with the job market in a stall and banks more cautious than ever they can’t qualify for loans or unwilling to take the risk. There are plenty of foreclosures but those often need expensive repairs as the former owners have taken fixtures and appliances or just because an empty home creates lots of problems quickly due to lack of attention when problem is small.

Why should the housing market be a concern? The obvious answer .is the construction industry. There are no job. Even those with homes are not investing in improvements. Who wants to invest in a property if you may never get the expense back out? Those workers are not shopping the way they were so, restaurants and retailers suffer. Those who supply parts and building materials are cutting back on workers because orders are down. Now those workers are not eating out or spending. Appliance manufacturers are not selling appliances because there is little building and little remodeling. Now those employees are not spending. No building means less income to school districts who charge fees for new building. That adds to the problem of no new students moving into the district and in lots of areas shrinking class sizes which means less money coming in from the state…..When will this end? I have no idea. When will people feel confident to invest again and not worry that the property they are buying could be worth less in a few months? I have no idea.

Last week I asked for your suggestions for a reader who is struggling with some serious financial challenges. I really appreciate all you suggestions and I’m sure she does also. What do you do when you have tried all those things? You have cut your bills, don’t have a cell phone, don’t have cable, don’t eat out, eat mostly rice and beans or breakfast foods for dinner and you bike to work? It’s tough, especially if you don’t have a good support group of family, friends and your church. I am grateful I have that support but I realize some do not.

All this reflection made me think again about earning more money. If we can’t save any more how can we earn more? I have found it to be impossible to hire a teenager to mow my lawns. Really! I can not believe it but the kids don’t want to work. Boy, do they have a wake up call coming and will they ever be angry with their parents when they realize they have been cheated out of the opportunity to learn to work and budget. This does leave an opening in my area for the unemployed or under employed. Moms and dads could fill the void and pick up a little extra money. There are other opportunities.

My 12 year old grandson has decided he loves to bake. His mom belongs to a yahoo group with her friends in the area and he decided to send out a notice that he was baking that week. He listed the items that could be ordered with their prices. The next Saturday he and mom baked all day and delivered the goods . After paying for the ingredients he made $25.00. Everyone purchases bread and with bread at $3.00 a loaf or more wouldn’t you be willing to pay $3.00 for homemade bread? The same is true of birthday cakes. They cost a fortune and the grocery store variety taste awful. Wouldn’t you rather purchase one at the same price or even a little more, that tasted great?

So what could you do to make extra money? I opened an ETSY store and that was a disaster! I tried….I do have lots of great baby gifts now for future showers. I know others who are making on line stores work but it just wasn’t meant to be for me.

I would like to know what you are doing or what friends have done. Please share your ideas. Baking bread may not be the answer for you, but it may. Mowing lawns may not work, but it may. Let’s throw out some ideas and maybe we can help someone who is struggling discover a solution that will work for them.

Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear on the radio show! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

General Store, Fruits and School Supplies…New Radio Show

2010-08-23T23:14:33Z

I am so excited! I have been working on a plan to do my own weekly blog talk radio show for some time now. That should explain a littler of the reason I have been distracted and not posting as often as in the past. The new show will begin on September 7th at 6:00pm Pacific time. Shows will include information on every aspect of emergency preparedness and self reliance. If there is a guest you would like to hear or if you would like to share your experiences and become a guest please let me know. If you have an area of preparedness you would like help with please comment here or send me a note.

Have any of you been watching the TV show The Colony? I was just wondering what your opinion is of the show and what you wish they were doing that you have note seen done yet.

It’s time again to add to our General Store. This week we are adding permanent markers and note books. With school supplies on sale right now these should be found at the best prices of the year. Permanent markers can be used for many things but for our purposes we will be using them to date the foods we purchase. I try to keep one in the kitchen for items that are stored there or for items I tape before storing. I also have a marker stashed in all the places I have items stored. If you are wondering what I tape. I use packing tape to seal everything that comes packaged in a box. I seal all the flaps and edges so if the item does have larva for those pesty little moths they can not get out and infest everything else. If I should get them in the cupboard they can also not get into anything on the shelves and infest them.

For those who are new and storing food this is week 5 and you should be adding 6 cans of fruit per person. Again, put out the word that you are looking for free fruit and can or freeze that.

Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear on the radio show!

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

How Do You Accumulate Food Storage When You Are Broke?…More Comments

2010-08-20T15:33:09Z

I am leaving this post up for the weekend because I really feel this is an important question that we must answer. Times are getting tougher and there are so many who have never had to consider how to provide for their family during a tough time. We have more and more single moms and dads trying to raise good families. We have more and more grandparents raising their grandkids. We have more and more multi generational households combining resources to keep going. Even in these dire situations food storage and emergency preparations can not be ignored. Yes, there are times when we will just eat through what we have but as soon as there is a positive change we need to refocus on rebuilding.

I had another note from my new friend this morning and I have posted it in the comments section. It has been her experience that when she needed help all anyone wanted to do was give the kids toys. Even her family will only give toys as gifts. Yikes!! So that is the kind of help we can expect? Seems another good reason to prepare. Please read through the comments and add your own insights and advice. Now is the time to share what you have learned when your crisis can.

Yesterday’s post:

There was a huge jump in the unemployment rate last week with 500,000 people applying for unemployment for the first time. That is truly frightening to me. As I listened to the bad news this morning I received the following email from a woman who has just discovered this blog. I felt it was a good one to share with all of you and I hope you will add your suggestions for her. I know there are many more like her struggling to provide today and still prepare for tomorrow.

We are just coming out of a 3 year family financial emergency, have a bit of debt from car/home repairs (after the emergency fund died) and our long term storage is very depleted. I have one totally paid off credit card. I HATE debt of any kind and have been paying to down a best I can. I also seem to equally HATE not having a stash of long term food.

Should I use the paid off card to make a bulk order of emergency food & replace broken water containers to restore our stock before winter ( I checked & what I need to get is about $300 – this would not max out the card) or Should I wait & pay off all the debt first (it’ll take a year & half yet unless I get a wind fall from some where).

I get paid once a month so we get groceries once a month – I don’t have time (single Mom) to do a weekly grocery run to grab some cans to gradually build up since 3/4 of my monthly pay check goes to bills right now… so things get pretty thin a week or two before payday.

Note: She is 5 hours from a place where she can buy in bulk and there is one grocery store in town.

I would pay off your credit cards as quickly as possible. I do have a few suggestions for building a food storage while doing this.

First, I would start having breakfast meals for dinner at least once a week. I know Dave Ramsey says beans and rice but I like breakfast better. French toast, pancakes, waffles, even scrambled eggs and hash browns are very inexpensive and will free up grocery money to start adding food storage. If you follow my blog on Mondays I post things to purchase each week. This week was protein so add a jar of peanut butter or some tuna or beans. If you follow along you will build a stash. Just do as much as you can afford to do. If you shop once a month just keep track of what you should add each week and purchase a few things from each category each month.

Second, if you have older children get them involved and all of you save your change each night in a jar. Make it a practice not to spend your change. At the end of the month take that money and spend it on food storage. We have had as much as $40.00 in the jar in a month.

Third, shop the sales. Add items to your storage, here we call it a General Store, when they are on sale. If I suggest you get protein for example, this week look for a protein that is on sale. If there are none add veggie or fruit or grains that are and then in a grain week you can add the protein. Does that make sense? Everything goes on sale, usually every 12 weeks or sooner. Remember canned foods are good at least two years past the expiration date.

Fourth, do you know any Mormons in your area? There is a Mormon cannery in Omaha and they have great….prices on bulk long term storage foods like beans, rice, pasta and powdered milk (there is more). You don’t have to be a church member to buy from the cannery. You do have to go and can it into #10 cans or mylar pouches but most congregations make regular trips to the cannery. If you call a friend who is a member of if you call the church they would probably just bring back stuff for you when they go if you can’t get there. You can also just purchase a whole bag and put it in a 5 gallon bucket at home.

Fifth, Get the word out at work, with the kids teachers, your email list, or at church that you are looking for fruit and veggies that anyone in trying to get rid of. This is the time of the year people have too much in their gardens and on trees for their own use. Eat, can or freeze everything you can get.

Sixth, ask for gifts. Have the kids make a list of items they would like in food storage and you make a list also. Ask for that from family and friends for Christmas or birthdays. The kids will want popcorn and brownies but they should be included in a good food storage program. Comfort foods are a must!

I could keep going but that should give you a few ideas. Hopefully other readers will add more. You should know how much I admire what you are doing. Your family is very lucky to have someone who is so focused on caring for their needs.

OK everyone now it’s your turn!

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Money Saving Wednesday…It’s Back, our Weekly Tips for Saving Money

2010-08-18T23:05:56Z

With the economy continuing in a downward spiral we are all looking for new ways to save money or for reminders of the things we may have done in the past but forgot when times were good. Today let’s look at just a few.

Put Down As Much As You Can

When you are purchase a large ticket item on credit put down the largest deposit you can afford. Don’t be swayed by the sales person or real estate agent, who reminds you that you only need to put $—— down and you can take the rest of your cash and use it on something else. You will pay hundreds or thousands of dollars more over the life of your loan in interest charges when you make a small or no down payment. This same principle applies to all purchases. If you are buying school clothes you don’t have to put it all on your credit card. In reality you should not be using a credit card at all but if you have to don’t forget your cash. If you have $50.00 in your budget for clothing and extras this month but school clothing comes to $100.00 give the clerk your $50.. cash and have them place the remainder on your card. Lesson, put as little on your card as possible.

Eliminate extra charges

Examine your insurance policy, retirement funds, bank accounts, etc. and eliminate any extras you do not need. You may be paying for a policy which covers braces but you don’t have any children. Banks, cable companies, cell phone carriers, utility companies, all have hidden fees for things you are charged for but never use.

Determine the real cost of an item

If cable, for example is $20.00 per month it is really $240.00 per year. What could you do with $240.00? What about the newspaper? If you read it by all means keep it but if you don’t have time to read consider only getting the Sunday edition. With Hulu and Net Flicks there are so many options now to eliminate cable and still get your “fix”.

Cancel private mortgage insurance

Once you owe less than 80% of your home’s value your lender no longer requires mortgage insurance. Keep a close eye on when you reach this level and cancel the insurance. With many upside down on their mortgages this is harder to do but if you are lucky enough to have equity take advantage of that.

Now, go and do some serious examination and save, save, save.

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Our General Store…Lessons From a Family Reunion…Spoons, Forks and Condiments

2010-08-17T04:31:24Z

The past week we gathered as a family, all 18 of us. A reunion is a great time to evaluate your storage and your real needs if you should have to survive on it. We went through boxes….of cold cereal. Of course in a real emergency we would have been eating our oatmeal and other hot cereal as well as pancakes but boy did we go through cereal! We wrote our names on our paper cups but if a drink was left in a cup for too long the cup leaked and had to be replaced. For those who drank all their water the cups lasted all day. We saved them and added them to the fire when we made smores, thus saving the room for other items on the trash can. I did realize that plastic spoons and forks could also be used for an entire day instead of just one meal if the had names written on them also. All this name writing reminded me of the need for permanent markers in our General Store.

This year I made chocolate frosting to use in our smores and everyone loved it and even preferred it as it was easy to bite, unlike a candy bar.

This week add plastic forks and spoons to your General Store. For those working on their food department also add five pounds of protein per person. Remember protein is not only meat and fish but also nuts, nut butters and beans.

Happy stocking!

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Money Saving Tips, Vinegar and Your Laundry

2010-08-12T16:13:32Z

Times are tough and getting tougher for many. Many mainstream economists are predicting continued economic downturn and some are even encouraging us to prepare for hyper inflation. I wish I had the ability to tell you exactly what the future holds but I do not. I only know and understand that it is my responsibility to warn others when I have been warned. I have read and studied and thus I have been warned. I am trying to warn my neighbors, family and friends and I hope you are doing the same. I understand that if I fail to plan I am planning to fail. I don’t plan to fail.

I understand preparing for an earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire, burglary, Solar storms, EMP or terrorist attack is important. I also understand that right now the economy, world wide is the greatest common threat no matter where we live on the planet. I also understand it is not inexpensive to prepare, thus I am hoping to be able to help you economize in some other areas so you can devote more of your resources to stocking your General Store and preparing “every needful thing”.

Today I also understand caring for what we already possess is a great way to save money. Several years ago I taught a high school class called On Your Own. The goal of the class was to prepare students for real life. I taught a section on cooking from scratch, renting an apartment, buying a car, keep a budget, child care, and one section on removing stains and doing your laundry. At the end of that section one of the boys in the class, one who would rather have been anywhere other than that class, came to me and thanked me. He told me I had just saved him hundreds of dollars because when he had clothes that were stained he just threw them away. Yes, we need to care for what we already have and there will be less need to spend money replacing items we must have.

Following are some tips for using white distilled vinegar to preserve your clothing saving them from stains and disagreeable smells. There is also a tip for saving wear and tear on your washing machine thus saving repair and replacement costs.

Add Vinegar to the Wash Cycle and:

1. Prevent lint from clinging to clothes add 1/4 C white distilled vinegar.

2. Clothes smell bad? Pour a few cups of white distilled vinegar in the machine and wash the clothes. Then run a normal cycle with detergent.

3. Remove soap scum and clean the hoses of your washing machine with white distilled vinegar. Periodically run the machine with only a cup of white distilled vinegar in it—nothing else added to the wash cycle. This will be of great help if you find your hoses and pipes affected by home made laundry soaps.

4. Eliminate manufacturing chemicals from new clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar.

5. Add 1/4 C vinegar to your “bucket washer” if you are using home made soap. The vinegar will help the powdered soap to dissolve.

Add Vinegar to the rinse cycle and:

1. To remove soap residue that makes black clothes look dull

2. Get cleaner laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. The acid in white distilled vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents. Besides removing soap, white distilled vinegar prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.

3. Enhance colors, add 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar.

In addition:

Remove smoky odors from dry clean only clothing after a fire by hanging clothing above steaming water to which 1/2 C vinegar has been added. Do this in a laundry room sink and close the door so the steam can penetrate all the fibers in your garments.

Go get that vinegar I asked you to add to your General Store this week. It’s a great addition.

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Our General Store…Vinegar, Latex GLoves and Veggies

2010-08-10T16:16:31Z

We have been focusing for awhile now on preparing to live without power. WE have had natural disasters to stay on top of and the usual posts, such as Tips of the Week and Money Saving Tips have been absent. I felt it was important to focus on threats to the poser grid as it is expensive to prepare for outages. Dutch ovens, water purifiers and generators all take a big chunk out of the budget so I felt giving you plenty of warning of what could face us in the next two years would give you time to plan for those purchases and to make them. It’s time to get back to the tips that will enable you to be prepared in other ways and also help in freeing up funds to make more expensive purchases and to finish stocking your General Store.

This week we will reintroduce those weekly posts.

This week add a gallon of white vinegar and several pairs of latex gloves to your General Store shelves. Tomorrow we will discuss uses for vinegar other than cooking so this is not a mistake and not to be confused with the vinegar your have already stored in your food section. Vinegar will store just about forever so you really can’t have too much. Store gloves in several sizes as you will want help cleaning after a disaster and the kids, teens and all adults in your household will need gloves to be safe. Check out the dollar store for both of these items.

For those just joining our family and just beginning their food department add 10 cans of veggies per person to your store this week. As always if this is beyond your budget add as much as you can and remember it is more important to have a balanced two week supply for your family than to have a years supply of grains and not fruits, vegetables, proteins and dairy. Our food storage plan is designed to keep your family healthy while you face your challenge.

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Survival Tip: Heatwaves Deadly Unless you take Precautions

2010-08-06T16:11:30Z

Heat waves are dangerous and they are deadly. Rolling blackouts and power outages are a real possibility and make matters even worse. There are things you can do to make the time safer for your friends and family. Don’t wait to take action. Do it now.

Following are a few steps you can take to help make heat waves a little more bearable:

It’s O.K. to raid your 72 hour kit… That’s right, 72 hour kits are not just for earthquakes and hurricanes but for any emergency. Your kit should include Instant Cold Packs. Place them on the neck or forehead for the best results. Mylar Blankets placed in the sunniest windows will cut down on the heat entering your home. Move the blankets as the sun moves or just leave them in place. These blankets are also large enough to cover a sliding door without piecing. You will be amazed at how quickly the temperature in a room will drop when you cover your windows with these blankets. Mylar blankets are also great to use outdoors to create shade as they reflect the sun’s rays. do this now and if the power fails you will be able to keep your home cool longer.
Get wet. Take a shower and don’t dry your hair, take a dip in the pool and don’t dry off (if the pool is in the sun don’t stay in too long), run through a sprinkler, keep a spray bottle nearby and mist your face (also great for your complexion), use wet compresses on your neck or head, keep a wet washcloth by your bed to cool yourself through the night, wrap your head in a wet bandanna, or soak your feet.
Drink lots of water, lemonade or juices, but never anything with caffeine or alcohol as these will raise your body temperature. Sodas will only increase your thirst. Popsicles are also a great way to stay hydrated. If you are thirsty, you have waited too long to drink.
Eat cold foods. This is the time to eat sandwiches, salads and other foods that are not heated. Avoid large portions of protein foods as they will increase body temperature. Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
Cook outdoors if you feel you must have a hot meal. Crock pot cooking is also a great way to keep the heat outside. If you don’t have outside spaces, plug in your crock pot in a room you are not using such as the laundry room.
Keep blinds and curtains closed.
Move activities, including eating and sleeping, to the coolest room in the house. This will normally be on the lowest level of your home and in a room with an exposure that does not receive direct sunlight.
This is one time when you shouldn’t be concerned with how much television the family watches. Play board games or read, but don’t be too active.
Use your outdoor umbrellas outside the windows receiving direct sun. Outdoor canopies, tarps, and dining flies also work well.
Wear loose, light colored clothing.
Sit next to a fan. Remember fans do not cool the air, they only move it. You become cooler as the moisture on your skin evaporates. This is the reason you want to stay wet!
Skip the exercise routine and working outside.
Go Shopping! No kidding. Go to the grocery store or mall and window shop. Taking in a movie or going bowling are also “cool” pastimes.
The elderly, young children, pregnant women and those taking diuretics are most vulnerable to heat related emergencies. If a member of your family is taking any medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine if they are more susceptible to the affects of the heat.
Check on housebound and elderly – neighbors and friends – and get them to a cooling center. Be sure there is a plan for their care when the cooling center closes. Many centers close for the night. Nighttime can be the most dangerous time of the day. We assume the temperature will be lower at night, but this is not always the case – especially in the city. All those roads and sidewalks retain heat during the day and as they release it at night the temperature remains high. Same thing for suburban congestion – several homes on an acre of land with homes just a few feet from each other is a bad idea.
Visit a friend or relative out of town. The temperature in the city is usually several degrees higher then the temperature in a country setting.
Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. (see yesterday’s post)
Turn off lights and the computer in the rooms you are trying to cool down.
When it cools down at night, if it cools down, open all the windows. Close them again mid morning as it starts to heat up.
Never leave children or pets in a parked car, even with the windows open. The temperature in a car, with the windows open, can reach 120º F within a few minutes.
If you are stranded in your car, place mylar blankets on the roof and over the windshield and rear window, on the outside of the car. Weight them down with rocks or anything you have on hand. You can also secure them by closing them into the door. Keep the windows open. The mylar blankets will reflect the sun, greatly reducing the heat.
Remember your pets. (see yesterday’s post)
If you need to go outside, wear a wide brimmed hat and sunscreen.
Find a cooling center by calling the police department or fire department.

Heat-related emergencies are very serious. Add a power outage and the results are deadly. Protect yourself now by accumulating items which will help through the emergency and learn how to use them. Teach your family members the dangers and warning signs now.

Check out today’s show with Halli!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/08/06/guest-carolyn-nicolaysen-preparedness-expert (solar activity, power outages and stocking a General Store)

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

More Talk About Water…SODIS

2010-08-13T18:47:08Z

With all the solar activity this past week and more on the way we are going to continue some options for living off the grid, just in case. A major concern is always water. For those on a well this is crucial to survival and for those relying on municipal systems there may also be days or weeks when the treatment plant is not operating or not operating at full capacity. After hurricanes, wild fires, earthquakes, tornadoes etc. there will be time when the water is flowing but has been contaminated. No problem, unless there is also no power to boil before your drink.

Have you heard of the SODIS method? Solar disinfection (SODIS) was developed in the 1980’s to inexpensively disinfect water used for oral re hydration solutions used to treat diarrhea. In 1991, the Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology began to experimenting with the SODIS method to treat water in third world countries where water was often tainted and making the population sick. The World Health Organization has now approved this method of purifying water.

A combination of UV rays and heat causes the destruction of disease causing organisms.

SODIS is a simple and inexpensive method of purifying water using solar light. Purifying water can be expensive if using propane to heat water to boiling. During an emergency using precious bleach may also not be a viable solution. SODIS water disinfection needs only plastic bottles and sunlight, making this a task you can even delegate to children.

SODIS method steps:

1. Clean clear PET bottles. Get into the practice of storing some of your water in clear plastic juice bottles and you have this covered. Even individual commercial water bottles can be reused for this purpose so do not discard them during an emergency once they are empty.

2. Filter water through a clean cloth or cheese cloth to remove any foreign material, insects, debris, etc.

3. Fill bottles with filtered water and tighten cap.

4. Place bottles in direct sunlight for at least 6 hour if sunny or two days in cloudy situations. To increase efficiency and water safety place bottles on a reflective, metal surface. A mylar survival blanket works well for this purpose.

5. Store water in these bottles and drink from the bottle or pour it into a clean cup.

Simple. Be sure you leave bottle in the sun the entire time as there is never a guarantee that all organisms have been killed. Err on the side of too much sun.

Benefits of SODIS are:

Proven reduction of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa in water

Proven reduction of diarrheal disease incidence in users

Simplicity of use

No cost

Water tastes good

Drawbacks of SODIS are:

The need for pretreatment, filtering water.

Length of time required to treat water

Only small amounts can be purified at one time.

Need to prepare ahead and have bottles and a reflective surface on hand.

Not 100% effective if every step is not completed.

SODIS will not remove chemicals from water so never use this method if you suspect there are any chemicals in your water source.

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Survival Tip…Heat Wave, The Dangers…Know the Signs

2010-08-05T16:33:15Z

Yikes it’s hot! With record temperature in the United Sates this week it is a good time to review the danger signs. Yes, the heat can kill and it can do it quickly if you ignore the signs. Review the symptoms and the treatments below and pass along a link to this information to family and friends who may live in the southern and eastern parts of the United States where temperatures are reaching 120 degrees in some areas.

Know the signs:

Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscle pains and spasms due to heavy exertion and dehydration. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are often the first signal that the body is in trouble.
Heat Exhaustion: Someone suffering from heat exhaustion will have cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; sweat heavily; have a headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and general exhaustion. Body temperature may be normal, or may be rising.
Heat stroke: Someone suffering from heat stroke will have hot, red skin; lapse of consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Their body temperature can be very high, as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry. If any of these symptoms are present call your doctor or hospital for treatment directions. If you have any doubt, call for help.

Treat Immediately:

Heat cramps: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can cause further dehydration, making conditions worse.
Heat exhaustion: Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Increase ventilation by opening windows or using a fan. Cool them down as quickly as possible. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give them aspirin or other medications. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.
Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Place victim in front of an open window or fan. Never leave a victim alone. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water, is vomiting, or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

Know the signs for pets:

Pet owners need to recognize the symptoms of heat stress in animals. Watch for heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation and vomiting.

Treatment: Until you can get medical help move the animal into a cool area, apply ice packs or cold towels to the head, neck and chest or immerse the animal in cool water. Get the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

The heat can be deadly. Check on neighbors and friends to be sure they have a working air conditioner and plenty of cool drinks and foods. Check back tomorrow for tips on surviving a heat wave.

Remember….Tomorrow morning I will be speaking with Halli again. We will cover our latest General Store purchases and I’m sure more about the solar flare. The great thing about her show is that we can change direction the morning of the show if a disaster should become evident even five minuted before broadcast time. Visit with us on Friday morning 7:00AM Pacific time. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk

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My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends