"The best food storage is not in welfare grain elevators but in sealed cans and bottles in the homes of our people. What a gratifying thing it is to see cans of wheat and rice and beans under the beds or in the pantries of women who have taken welfare responsibility into their own hands. Such food may not be tasty, but it will be nourishing if it has to be used." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)
Yes, having it in home is best. Plus, when there are calamities in your neck of the woods, you can be ready to help.
I have a feeling a lot more are going to be coming, so it's good to be prepared.
This time of year is a great time to stock ahead as there are so many sales. We need to keep getting, using, replacing our storage.
Well, at the time of this writing, here is how far I am with the Christmas sock knit-along...
The yellow string is where the heel will go at the end is my guess. When we finish the ribbing but we will see we never know what the six rows will be until we get them each day.
It has been a fun free thing to do and since I did the one last year as well, we will use them both this year for old-fashioned things in like an orange, an apple, some peppermint stick, some nuts for Christmas day.
This will be our third year of doing advent bags to open. The bags just have little things in each bag, just something fun. Like I got a package of pens that write different colors at the thrift store. I tucked those in a bag.
Funny story, I had remembered I got them. I knew I had as I tested them to see if they were good. So I thought, I know I got them but was looking for them in my locations of pens. I gave up and figured I will find them later. Then I remembered I put them in a bag. Too funny. So I can't remember what is in my bags and I packed them. So it will be funny to see what I get as I do this through the year, hence not remembering.
For us, this is more frugal than purchasing gifts for each other. With tight times, this I could do and we have fun so that is what we are doing. As for the rest, I used my skills and made gifts to give. With the new cheap as we could find health insurance and huge medicine prices, we could make two or three car payments for that amount, good grief. It has been a hugely costly year so I am thankful to have built up some skills that I could make gifts and stretch groceries. It hasn't been easy but I feel thankful to my past self for learning these skills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cjz3oGVdRI - this gal is teaching basic sewing, so watch her and learn if you had sewing as one of the skills you wanted to learn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wzGNbVXQWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uReOIkY9qWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8K5zXSG-rI
Now if you watched these, you just got a lot of learning for free.
Being able to do this for free and learn at your own pace is a wonderful thing. Plus, don't rule out books you can get at the library to learn with as well.
As you go to your thrift shops, look for patterns.
Being able to make clothes for myself or take in suits or clothes for my husband and I, has been so helpful this year as we both lost weight.
Now, just to see if you are still paying attention, see if you can find tippy in the following picture...
Well done!!!!
https://talkpoverty.org/2016/01/05/surviving-holidays-poor/index.html we need to not go overboard with spending.
https://www.onebeautifulhomeblog.com/create-magical-christmas-no-money/
https://www.scarymommy.com/low-income-family-christmas
https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2014/12/monday-message.html - this is our favorite story to read during the Christmas season. See if you can check it out from your library.
https://www.foodstoragemoms.com/preparedness-gift-ideas/ - for those who have a little more to spend.
You could make food boxes with pasta and sauce, fruit and veggies, all food storage items to your kids who maybe are struggling. As a gift, toss in pasta, spoon, strainer, favorite recipes, some muffin mixes with pans. Just put your thinking cap on. In the bottom, I would put a favorite treat so they can find it.
https://successfulhomemakers.com/dont-throw-it-away-how-to-re-use-old-food-containers/ - I like the one with rice in for an I-spy toy.
https://www.pinterest.com/veebee7/cute-containers-for-food-gifts/
https://blueandhazel.com/christmas-on-a-budget-kids
One thing I always liked doing was I wanted the kids to open one gift that was a kit to give them something to make on Christmas Day...
https://livingwellmom.com/christmas-playdough-kit/
https://www.thedatingdivas.com/50-diy-gift-kits-for-kids/ - I think this will get your juices flowing.
The one thing I want to point out is that gifts don't have to be expensive. DON'T GO INTO DEBT! Just play, eat, and enjoy time together.
Missy says it is the simple things.
Tippy Longstockings says be crazy sometimes too, think outside the box.
