Monday Message

(Gordon B. Hinckley, October 2001)
“As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect.”

“From President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor, we hear: "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food . . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free."

“We call upon priesthood bearers to store sufficient so that you and your family can weather the vicissitudes of life.”

What a heat wave! As I am writing this message it's oh so hot. I loved the ideas in this next post.

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/04/04jun07g.cfm with the weather so hot I thought I would find something cold and yummy.

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/08/08jun09f.cfm how much do you spend on groceries?? All month? every time you go to the store - every dollar spent? If you are not staying in budget you will be shocked at your month’s total.

So to start writing everything down cause if you turn a blind eye to it the food you are getting is chewing up your budget. That includes eating out. If you are not on top of it, who is?

http://www.livingonadime.com/foods-you-need-pantry/ keeping a well stocked pantry is very budget friendly, saves gas and energy and time.

http://zenhabits.net/the-cheapskate-guide-50-tips-for-frugal-living/ this has such good frugal ideas. Even if your life at this time doesn’t have to be frugal you need to read because at some point - you may remember the roller coaster - sometimes we’re up and sometimes we are not... when we are up the work of preparing for when we are down needs to be tended.

There is one thing for certain - life is always changing. Be prepared for the downs because they will happen.  Not if but when...

It is all part of learning and growing, like when a toddler is learning to walk - we try to get rid of sharp corners and dangers, we have our arms outstretched to encourage but they fall... they are learning. That is how it is for us. Heavenly Father has given us Prophets to guide and warn us. It is up to you to heed. You cannot tend to things when you are up and have a harder down time or follow the Prophet and it will be less hard. It won’t take it away but can soften the blow. But we have the choice.

http://zenhabits.net/50-tips-for-grocery-shopping/ we can learn from each other, help each other, learn from others.

I plan my meals - also take into account the store flyers. When I go with list in hand, with pen and paper, I keep a tally of adding each item’s price as I go. I don’t even trust a calculator as if I bump the wrong number I lose everything, with pen and paper I can always see the amount. I use leftovers and make TV type meals and freeze for a day. I hurt too much to cook. 

Today soooo hot…. dinner is in the crockpot. I keep my eye on the weather. When it is to be hot I plan my meals to be lighter. I get groceries once a month. This is easier than running to the store all the time, it also shows if you are stocked up you can shift meals around.

http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/2016/06/make-chunky-monkey-pancakes/ yum - I love pancakes.

http://zenhabits.net/100-ways-to-have-fun-with-your-kids-for/ summertime - we need all the ideas we can get to do things with our kids and I will be the first one to say it doesn’t have to cost money or break the budget.

http://zenhabits.net/family-day-and-family-meetings/  some ideas for your family counsels and FHE. I like how they start their meeting complimenting, sounds like a nice family.

http://zenhabits.net/get-kids-outdoors/ kids need to get outside too

How are you coming on skill building??

I have been thinking about how women have over the years beautified their homes with skills they built/skills they have shared. Also, how frugal they were… they set examples for us, much can be learned.

Years ago I found these place cards, how tiny the work someone made - little works of art.

Look closely at the pic. In the beginning those are tiny shells, each card one and a half by three inches - we are talking tiny.

Keep plugging away on your storage and skill building.