Monday, March 14, 2022

Monday Message

"Today, I emphasize a most basic principle: home production and storage. Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community?" (President Ezra Taft Benson)

"Today, I emphasize a most basic principle: home production and storage. Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community?" (President Ezra Taft Benson)

"I wish to urge again the importance of self-reliance on the part of every individual Church member and family. None of us knows when a catastrophe might strike. Sickness, injury, unemployment may affect any of us. We have a great welfare program with facilities for such things as grain storage in various areas. It is important that we do this. But the best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings. The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

"We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. . .I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. . .Begin in a small way, … and gradually build toward a reasonable objective." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

"More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

I feel like we needn't panic buy. Several podcasts I have been on talk about how people are flocking to the stores in droves because they are in panic mode. We need not be panicked. Just keep on building your storage and really work at building your skills.

Having the skills to make do in hard times is so important and learning before you need them is the very best time.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/easy-recipes-to-know-by-heart/ - these are really basic. If you know how, teach the kids or grandkids.

https://grandmaloyskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-groceries-snack-cake-mix.html - this is one of my favorites, I keep this made up all the time.

You can see this mix on the top shelf. I keep one made from Make-A-Mix and the other is the snack cake mix above. I got the recipe out of the magazine back then.

https://downshiftology.com/recipes/how-to-make-homemade-yogurt/ - you can make a lot yourself.

You can make a yogurt cream cheese by straining your yogurt.

https://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/40-groceries-to-stop-buying-and-start-making-to-save-money/ - making our own groceries is good to know how to do.

https://savorandsavvy.com/homemade-grocery-items/ - more DIY groceries.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/grocery-store-foods-to-make-at-home/ - more on making your own groceries.

https://frugalfamilyhome.com/food/recipes/make-your-own-groceries-35-recipes-to-make-at-home-and-save - this has even more.

With prices and shortages we need to stock the basics so we can make our own things.

You can do way more than you think...

With a purchase of a used sewing machine, I was able to mend our clothes, make clothes for our kids, curtains for our windows, blankets for the beds, and toys for Christmas.

Could I afford fabric? Nope...still can't...but I would go to yard sales and everyone had a free box. I would look through them and there would be almost brand new jeans but with broken zippers. I would grab those and make jeans for our kids. Sometimes there would be grown-up shirts I could remake for the kids, even t-shirts that were no longer what the person wanted. I would make underpants out of them for the kids. Sometimes there were items I just needed to hem or add a button or applique a fun patch to a hole.

I still have that used machine. Learning to sew and make bread and cooking from scratch were skills I learned that made a huge difference.

Patterns to make clothes are a huge expense if you do not get them on sale but an even cheaper way is to trace off a pattern from clothes you already have.



Notice in the second picture the cutting board under this pattern I made, it was 25 cents from a yard sale.

Just get a used machine and some notions and you have just added to your storage. Learning to use it is a skill that is priceless.

I took some fabric and covered my little ironing board. This saved a few dollars. If you are willing to do things like this, the amount of funds you have will go further.

Getting things used has aided us in more ways than I can count. So if you need something, check thrift stores or freecycle or neighborhood pages or yard sales first.

When Sergers came out it wasn't long before I found one at a yard sale for ten dollars, it still serves me well.

Have we gotten rich by doing all this? Nope...but it has helped our quality of life. Do I still learn skills? Oh yes I do. Everything you learn will enhance your life.

We are headed into a harder time where we have to be able to know how to make do.

When I was very young we walked everywhere. I was always looking at the ground and I would see buttons on the ground. I would pick them up and started collecting them. Now that I am older I have quite a collection that was totally free and very very helpful.

As we see the horrible things happening we need to keep people in our prayers. Being kind to others is a huge thing that we should keep doing too.

Gus says make a budget and stick too it and add a few extra things to your grocery list to stick in your storage.

Missy says learn needle skills and if you are walking along look down, you might see a button to start your collection.

12 comments:

  1. I am seeing that prices have risen the most on convenience items so this is where we need to learn to cook from scratch which will get us through this rough spot. Over the weekend we did an inventory of our canned foods so now I am sure of what I need instead of just guessing at the store. I was surprised to find that we were almost out of some things so I need to be more diligent to keep an eye on supplies.

    Back when mothers wore the dresses with the gathered skirts you could pick those up at yards sales and have a lot of fabric just from the skirt. I have a stack of pillowcases that my grandmother made from those cut off skirts and they all came from yard sales. I have made a lot of rice heating bags from the legs of jeans and given them as gifts. I am amazed at the clothing you made for your children from used fabrics. I had a Kenmore machine just like yours decades ago but it developed some problems that could not be fixed.

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    1. I did make a lot of clothes for those Littles. That is a great idea about the skirting I watch a gal in Australia make the prettiest clothes out of bed sheets. Yes we just have to think outside the box and learn the skills fast be as frugal as we can.

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  2. TODO ESTA PASANDO MUY DE PRISA, LA GUERRA, LA ESCASES DE ALIMENTOS, EL AUMENTO DE LOS ALIMENTOS, LA ROPA, EL CALZADO, ECT, ¿QUE VAMOS A HACER? AQUI ES UNA LOCURA TODO, LOS ALIMENTOS SIGUEN AUMENTANDO SEMANA TRAS SEMANAS Y AL GOBIERNO PARECE NO INTERESARLE, ELLOS MISMOS NO SABEN QUE HACER CON ESTE GRAVE PROBLEMA, AHORA VAN POR EL AUMENTO A TODOS LOS IMPUESTOS, PROPIEDADES,MUICIPALES, PARA EL CAMPO AGRICOLA, ¿DONDE IREMOS A PARAR? NO QUIERO ENTRAR EN PANICO, PERO ME ASUSTA UN POCO TODO, ESTOS DIAS ESTAMOS MUY ESCASOS DE DINERO, Y TENGO MUCHAS BOCAS QUE ALIMENTAR, ¿UN POCO DE ORACION A NUESTRO FAVOR? SERAN MUY APRECIADAS. DIOS TE BENDIGA BECKY.

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    1. I know it is very scary. We just have to keep being very very frugal we do not know how this will end but it is very very wrong. I will need to be starting seeds pretty soon to put in a garden to help but being very frugal thank goodness you have many skills. We are all needing prayers and yes I will pray for you. Be safe covid isn't over either.

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  3. I always find your posts so encouraging and positive. I too have a Kenmore sewing machine. I bought mine new fifty years ago. Still runs like a top. I also have my mother's Singer treadle machine from 1954 which runs great. These machines were built to last with just a regular oiling of the moving parts. I have no fear whatsoever about the state of the world or how it will affect me. Twenty years ago, Iraq was being demolished; Afghanistan, Vietnam and on and on going back through the great wars. North Americans have been very lucky in this respect. I hate war and long for peace but that will never be.

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    1. I have had my machine for decades as well it is my work horse bought it from a couple who were going abroad and the electrical would be different. It really has been a blessing

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  4. Gus and Mimi have to be the wisest cats around!

    I looked through all your make-your-own groceries lists and was very pleased to find that I already make most of the things we use on those lists! (This is also why I have a hard time finding frugality books that are useful to me; I've been at this so long that so much of this is second nature!) Years ago, when I was young and intimidated by the idea of making something or other, I read someone had said something like (and forgive me, because this isn't the kindest saying in the world), "Dumber people than you have figured this out and learned how to do it!" and I thought, "You know, that's probably right. I can definitely do this!" And that's the attitude I've always taken when it comes to learning new things. :) This post is inspiring me to take a look at my sewing machine as soon as possible. It was finicky last month- I'm thinking more user error than anything else, so I'm sure I can figure out what's going on. :)

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    1. Missy and Gus say thank you for noticing the little smarty cats anyway. Yes that has been my take too I could never tire of learning. Being frugal and learning more I could do has been a huge blessing. It might have some fluff caught in bobbin area.

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  5. I have that same Kenmore sewing machine bought in 1982 or 3 for $100. The $100 was a gift. The machine is still going strong!

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    1. It sure was well made. It sure has been a blessing to us.

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  6. Thank you for sharing practical wisdom. All will be well if we do what we can with what we have where we are and we don't panic.

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