Monday Message

Provident living: Class will be Tuesday, April 8 at 9:30 a.m. at the Shook's. The class will be on convenience in the kitchen.

"Now you ask where do I get the money for these things. I agree I need them, but I'm having a hard time making ends meet. Here is how you do it: Use one or more of the following suggestions: Food Storage Christmas: Use 25-50% of money for food storage, New Clothes: Don't buy instead make it last a few more months, use that money for food storage,Vacation/ Holiday: no vacation or holiday until food storage is complete, Recreation: Cut by 50% use money for food storage, find fun, free things to make lasting memories, Snowmobiles/campers/boats: sell or trade to get a year's supply,Change Diet: eat cheaper foods and use extra money for food storage.  

"The Lord will make it possible, if we make a firm commitment, for every LDS family to have a year's supply of food reserves ... All we have to do is to decide, commit to do it, and then keep the commitment.  Miracles will take place: the way will be opened and we will have our storage areas filled.

"I believe it is time, and perhaps with some urgency, to review the counsel we have received dealing with our personal and family preparedness. ... With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness. We are not in a situation that requires panic buying but the instability in the world today makes it imperative that we heed this  counsel and prepare for the future." L. Tom Perry, Nov. 1995.


I want to encourage you to keep trying to get your storage in. Look for sales, share sale info with others so we can make use of the sale as well.

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/07/how-many-clothes-do-kids-really-need.html  I once read a book that in the summer this family cut down the clothes to seven shorts, seven tops, seven undies and two swim suits. That was all the casual summer clothes they had and it really helped on the laundry. So this might be something to think about. This lady has some interesting things she does.

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/06/how-to-make-healthy-ice-pops-frozen-treats.html - she has some recipes if you scroll down that look pretty neat.

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/05/30-things-to-make-instead-of-buy.html I still will buy my imitation vanilla, not keen on the recipe she uses but you might find stuff helpful with the rest.

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/03/when-the-line-between-need-and-wants-gets-blurred-and-the-preposterous-numbers-of-ways-you-can-use-a-stick-blender.html I think we all need to know how to tell the needs from the wants. I know living on a shoestring budget is very stretching and things you thought you would always have to have suddenly you find out you can do nicely without...

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/crunchy-crackers-recipe  Try your hand at making some crackers. Would be great with some cheese for family night to make them together!

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/02/17-homemade-spice-mixes.html Making your own spice blends rather than paying more is always a frugal thing. Remember we can get spices by calling Ameriherb in Ames - they are a shipper of spices and if you call and leave your name and address, tell them you want a catalog. Then when you want to order just call and say when you plan to be in Ames and what time and you can get way cheap spices.....a good place to get stocked up however they sale only in one-pound packages so go in with someone else if that is too much for you. (The spices keep nicely in canning jars)

http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/start_seeds.html It is time to start a few seeds growing inside to reduce the cost of someone else doing it for you.

http://www.gardenweb.com/sesbania/startsds.html - more info on seeds indoors

We need to learn our skills or strengthen them and teach our children!

http://snailpacetransformations.com/2013/03/27/ways-to-become-a-knitting-ninja/ - this has some ideas for learning to knit

I will add to this that there are so many tutorials out there that you can learn from and yes you can even teach yourself!

Sewing a hem - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMqK-fNrCrM

Sewing on a button - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrSs_DiJ-ZA

How to iron a shirt - http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing-care/iron-dress-shirt-00000000000925/

These may seem pretty basic but it is something we need to learn if we do not know how and it is something we need to teach our sons and daughters.

http://simplekids.net/baking-bread-with-children/ - this would be useful to the kids to know, as well as yourself.

http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/46496/making-bread-with-kids - more easy recipes for kids making bread

http://acultivatednest.com/2008/08/how-we-manage-on-less-money-part-1/

http://acultivatednest.com/2008/08/pantry-basics-how-we-manage-on-less/

http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2012/4/27/sew-the-blue-linen-dress-refashion.html - this is a good idea and going through our wardrobes to see how we can refashion it.

http://crafting-cousins.blogspot.com/2012/03/sew-your-own-maternity-jeans.html  how to make "preggy" jeans :)

http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2012/10/05/eat-out-at-home/ - eat out at home!

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/growyourownfoods/tp/How-To-Regrow-Foods.htm I have done the potatoes and also the celery but something ate the celery before I did get it... so this year I will do them in the middle of the garden and see if I get it this time but it was growing a whole new bunch of celery, it would have worked great.

It is time to keep thinking on the garden planning!

Keep working on the storage :)

Have fun with the kidos on spring break!