Cut your grocery bill in half using SavingsAngel.com

http://savingsangel.com/amember/go.php?r=3187&i=l8

Just click on the link above to start saving over half on your grocery bill each week. God bless!

A few things I was able to get free or cheap this week using SavingsAngel...

1. free cat food
2. free dish soap
3. 25 cent frosting tubs
4. 67 cent cheese
5. 23 cent soup
6. 41 cent bread
7. 23 cent fruit in a jar
8. 23 cent pasta

If you're interested in doing the same, click on my link at the top of my blog. Using this link, you can get your second month free. The cost of membership is only $5 a week. I save at least 20 times this every week on my grocery bill using this program. They do all of the work for you and have the most amazing community section ever filled with very helpful and caring people.

Another site I love...Jackie Clay...

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/clay125.html

Giving up is not an option....your family and others depend on you.

So many times when we are faced with a tough time in our lives we tend to develop the attitude of giving up. During these times, it is especially important we not do this. In thinking more about this...what would have happened if our ancestors did this? They probably would not have had food and supplies for the winter. They had to farm and get the crops in before the harsh winter came or they would have nothing for their families. Most of us may not have to farm these days...but we do need to provide for our families. Our family members and those around us are counting on us not giving up. When the storms of life come our way...we need to work even harder and do what we can and know that those around us are counting on us to do so. There is always so much we CAN do to improve our current situation and to better provide for those we love and care about. When we develop an attitude such as this and a heart for this mission...things change in our lives. When we wake up in the morning thinking of what we CAN do today to make the future a better place for those we love, our lives and surroundings begin to change for the better. What can you do today to begin working towards a better, more peaceful future?

Easy food storage recipes...

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/09/easy-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins.html

http://www.mormonchic.com/recipe/recipebox/pages/foodstorage.asp

How I cut my grocery bill in half each week...

http://savingsangel.com/amember/go.php?r=3187&i=l8

This site matches up all the sales for you with the coupons that you can use.

A site I absolutely love...

http://hip2save.com/

Collin started this site to help her family. It is helping so many families across the country. This site is filled with amazing deals to help you stretch your budget and enjoy life.

When you have just enough money coming in to cover basic bills...no grocery money...

For many families right now, the reality of having just enough money for the mortgage and utilities can hit hard. You get done writing the bills out and realize you have exactly $2 left for groceries for the month. This is where food storage comes in handy. Building up a supply in your home of items your family uses or will use can save your finances during trying times when there is little or no money left for groceries. It can take away so much of the stress knowing that you have a store you can live off of in your home already. Start today....you will be at peace and you will be glad you did.

Apples galore!

This time of year is a great time to get apples from local farms very inexpensively. This week I purchase several baskets of apples for $5 each. I plan to get more soon. I've been making a ton of applesauce, red hot applesauce, and apple butter. It's a lot of work...but when you open a jar in the fall and winter, it makes it all worth it. Canning is another step you can take to prepare your family for weathering the storms of life. This season is filled with surplus produce that you can process and store in your pantry. You will be thankful for it when the storms of life enter in to your life. Fill up those jars and fill up those pantries.

You will be thankful for every effort you make....

Every effort you make will bless your family in the future. Whether it be canning, freezing, stocking up with sales and coupons, purchasing bulk items and pouring them in to storage food grade buckets, etc....you will be glad you did it. When you go through tough times, whether it be cut hours at work, a job loss, a medical emergency where the bills pile up, etc...you will know that you have worked hard and that your family will be alright. Do what you can. If you have the funds to buy a bag of rice or a thing of oatmeal or some extra canned goods this week...do it! Learn to can and make enough jam for your family for a year. Go pick blueberries and apples and other things and can them up! Buy some extra potatoes when they are on sale and store them in a cool dry place. They will last a few months like this. Make every effort you can to put food and other supplies away for your family for the future. You'll be very thankful and glad you did.

Are gifts a major expense for you each year? Prepare early.

For many families, Christmas seems to come around unexpectedly each year. Even though it is always the same day each year, many of us tend to find ourselves running out frantically trying to find that perfect gift. How would you like to make this year different? How would it feel to be able to relax for the whole month of December? One thing I would suggest you do is to create a "gift closet". This can be kept anywhere that you have some room. Create a designated area, box, etc. Shop all year round. When candles go 75-90% off, pick up as much as your budget will allow and put them in your gift closet. Even if at the time you don't know who this item will go to, these items are always useful for giving around the holidays. You can do this with anything from coffees to candles to bath items to kids toys, etc. Are bath towels on clearance for a few dollars? Pick some up! You will be glad you did come Christmas. Make it a challenge this year for yourself and your family to not use credit cards for Christmas. Shopping year round will allow you to relax and be at peace, knowing you are prepared for gift giving.

Preparing for the winter...

I know it seems early to begin preparing for the winter right now. It's hot, it's summer, and all you feel like doing is hitting the beach. Now, however, is the time to begin preparing for the winter ahead. For many seasonal workers, winter brings reduced pay. Winter also brings about a time when storms hit and we may not be able to get to the store or even want to go out. Another thing to be prepared for is the flu outbreaks. When these hit, you want to stay out of the stores. Having your own store in your home can protect you from all of these things.

What if something happened today?!

How prepared would you be if something happened today? What if your income was cut in half or even lost today? What if your boss called you in and said they were downsizing today? What if a massive outbreak happened of some kind and trucks were not delivering to stores today...or for weeks to come? What would you do? How prepared are you? How long could your family live on what you have in the house? Really give this some thought, look around your home, and do some planning to be better prepared today.

Here is a link to a great site I discovered recently.

http://thesurvivalmom.com/2010/07/06/skype-interview-with-preppin-com/

Be sure and check out her site.

Going to the grocery store less often....

What kinds of things keep us running to the store each week or even several times a week? To name a few things...bread, milk, eggs, produce. Wouldn't it be nice not to have to go to the store as often. What if you couldn't shop for a week or even several weeks due to not having the money for groceries or an illness or whatever the reason may be? First off, let's deal with the bread issue. If you find a sale on bread, stock up. Bread actually freezes very well. Also, learn how to make bread. Generally when I can get bread for around 75 cents a loaf or better, I stock up. I will buy about 10 loaves and put them in the freezer. This keeps me from having to purchase bread for a month or more. Eggs can be bought generally for a month to a time or more. Next time you go to the store, instead of purchasing one dozen, stock up. Grab 5 dozen or so...depending on your family size and the amount you go through each month. Also, there are different sites online that sell powdered eggs, which could even help you go longer without having to go to the store. Milk also freezes well. Purchase several gallons each month and freeze what you don't use before the expiration date. Just be sure to pour a little off the top to allow for expansion as your milk freezes. There is also the option of having powdered milk in the house to help you keep from having to go to the store. This is great on cereal, in hot chocolate, mixed with some chocolate syrup, etc. Produce can be a little more tricky. Purchase enough produce for a month to a time. Use up the stuff that will rot faster at the beginning of the month such bananas, peaches, pears, etc. Save the stuff that will last longer...like potatoes, squash, apples, oranges, etc... for later in the month. Be creative. Store canned fruits and veggies. You can also buy many frozen veggies and fruits. Try freezing and canning some of your own also. There is so much you can do in an effort to go to the store less. It will save you and your family time and money and be very helpful when the storms of life come, those times when you're not able to go to the store.

Stockpiling can save you time as well!

Who doesn't need more time in today's busy world? Stockpiling goods your family uses can save you a lot of time. Imagine if you had a year's supply of goods your family uses in your home. You could then just rotate and replace those items your family uses to maintain that year's supply. You could also just keep getting those items that are free or close to free each week using sales and coupons and spend nothing or very little. Keep working on that stockpile and work towards a year's supply of goods your family uses. The peace will be worth it...I promise.

Using coupons and sales to get your stockpile built up....

It is truly amazing what you can do when you combine coupons and sales. You truly can cut your family's budget way down. You can even build up your year's supply very quickly spending as little as $10 a week! For example, this week laundry detergent is on sale for 50 cents with a sale and coupon. If you can get multiple coupons, you could stock up on this item. I plan to get 12 of these. Each bottle contains 28 loads worth of detergent. So, for $6, I will have enough laundry soap for 336 loads of laundry. There is my year's supply of laundry soap right there...all for $6. I also have store coupons to cover that cost. Every item you can stock up on cuts one more item off your grocery list each week. Pretty soon you will find yourself shopping from your own shelves at home and hardly spending anything at all.

Save money knowing what goes on sale each month...

Here is a list that will help you know when to get the best deals on certain things.

January

•post-holiday sales
•fall merchandise
•furniture
•home appliances [li[cookware
•bed and bath linens
•rugs
•sports equipment
•computers and other electronics

February

•jewelry
•perfumes
•gift items
•electronics
•floor coverings
•housewares
•furniture

March

•spring clothing
•wedding gifts
•air conditioners
•washers and dryers
•garden supplies
•outdoor winter sports gear
•luggage
•china

April

•spring clothing
•yard and garden supplies
•bridal gowns (save up to 70%)
•furniture
•cruises
•European vacations
•paint and wallpaper

May

•gifts for Mom
•silver
•watches
•athletic clothing and shoes
•linens and towels
•wedding gowns
•furniture
•cruises
•European vacations
•home maintenance items

June

•gifts for Dad
•fishing and camping gear
•men's cologne
•summer items
•storm windows
•summer clothing
•televisions
•building materials

July

•air conditioners
•summer items
•school supplies
•school clothes
•summer sports equipment

August

•school supplies
•school clothes
•summer clothing (bathing suits and sandals)
•linens and towels
•lawn and garden equipment

September

•winter wear (winter coats, gloves, scarves)
•summer clothes
•outdoor grills
•lawn furniture
•bicycles
•housewares

October

•winter wear (winter coats, gloves, scarves)
•last year's car models
•fishing equipment
•houses
•crystal
•silver
•glassware

November

•houses
•quilts and blankets
•space heaters
•winter clothing

December

•clothing
•appliances
•gifts
•wrapping paper
•holiday cards
•other holiday items

Getting your 3 month supply...

Many of us tend to get overwhelmed with trying to get a year supply of food and supplies for our families. A good place to start is to begin stocking a 3 month supply...those foods and supplies your family will use in a period of 3 months. If your family goes through a jar of peanut butter each week you know that when the right sale hits you should purchase 12 jars instead of 1 to build up that 3 month supply. Most sales tend to run on a 12 week cycle. If they are super cheap with sales and coupons and your budget allows, go ahead and buy more. You will be amazed at how quickly your pantry will be built up when you do this. You will also be even more amazed at the level of peace this brings to you and your family.

Blueberry Streusel Muffins recipe....

This recipe is amazing. Here is the link to it. It's a Taste of Home recipe.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Blueberry-Streusel-Muffins

I have also made this in bread loaves and it turns out awesome! ENJOY!

What kinds of items should you be stocking?

As you're reading my blog, you may be asking yourself where to begin, what kinds of supplies should you be stocking, etc. You should be stocking things your family likes along with a few other things as well. I coupon very heavily so I tend to stock up on whatever I can get free or close to free that week. I then add a few things each week...such as powdered milk, oil, eggs, milk, yeast, etc. If your kids love Hawaiian punch, then by all means grab a few of the big containers of it. I was at Meijer today and they were $1.98. Instead of grabbing 1, grab 3 or 4 and put all but one in your food storage. Set up some shelving in a basement or room or closet and stock up. After you've done that, don't let them run out before you purchase more. Each time you're at the store, grab another bottle and stock it in your food storage. That is obviously just an example of one item folks. Do this with each item your family loves, as the budget allows. You will be simply amazed at the blessings and results that come from doing this!

The amazing peace that comes with stocking up....

It's amazing what stocking up does to your budget, peace of mind, etc. Imagine not having to go to the store to shop for almost everything you need for the week. Imagine knowing that in the event you could not get to the store that your family would be provided for and fed. Imagine if you sat down to do the bills and realized there was absolutely no money for groceries or any household items that week. Imagine now walking to your pantry and freezer and seeing it full of items you have stocked up on. The feeling of seeing that is incredible. Does it take some work? Yes it does....but so does doing a full grocery shop each week. Everything in life worth doing takes work. It may seem mundane and boring while you're beginning to stock up. However, when that "ah hah" moment hits...the moment where you realize that all the work you have done is going to be a huge blessing to your family, the moment when your spouse comes home and announces he's been laid off or let go, the moment when your family gets hit with huge medical or house repair or car repair bills..THAT, folks, will be the moment where you will breathe a sigh of relief and tears will come to your eyes and you will know that with full bellies and supplies to weather the storms of life that have hit you that everything is going to be ok. With a full belly and supplies in the house, you can weather any storm life throws your way. Begin today folks. Start small if you have to. Do what you can each and every day...whatever that may be to you.

Time of Harvest...

One of the ways that I am able to build up my food storage without spending a lot of money is through canning. I absolutely love to can! It can be a lot of work but the effort is well worth it. Right now I am focusing on jams and marmalades. I have canned 120 jars so far this year. If you don't have the money in your budget to can, be creative. Maybe a neighbor or relative has produce that is going to waste this year. Go pick it and can it! You can also offer to help them clean up the yard in exchange for produce. Watch for jars on Craigslist or Freecycle. Put out requests for them. Many people have stopped canning and may have these sitting around. Everything you can do will be a blessing to your family. Having things in your home that your family loves will help everyone get through any future tough times.

Duggar Family homemade laundry soap recipes...

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!



Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!


*This is taken from the Duggar Family's site. They make large amount of homemade laundry soap to save money for their family. Make up several batches of this stuff and have enough for a year for very little money.

Easiest ever pumpkin cookies!

Ingredients

* 1 (18.25 ounce) package spice cake mix
* 1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
OPTIONAL: You can also add chocolate chips or walnuts to these cookies. I love to add a cup of mini chocolate chips. White chips are also wonderful in these!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix and pumpkin until well blended. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Inventory your food storage and supplies around your home.

How long do you think you could live on just what you already have in your home? Let's say your hubby came home tomorrow and had lost his job without any warning. Crisis mode sets in. All expenses are cut and we begin living on a hope and a prayer. Even in crisis times, we need to eat, stay clean, etc. Why not start today and do an inventory of what you have in your home to live on in case something happens. It would be much better to plan ahead and be prepared for anything. If you do this, you will be prepared in case of unexpected bills, medical expenses, job loss, etc. There are so many things that can happen in life. Build up several weeks of food and supplies in your home. You and your family will be thankful you did.

A great book for information on preparedness...

Making the Best of Basics: Family Preparedness Handbook

Amazon.com

Looking for some new books to take to the beach this summer? Check out Amazon.com for lots of great selections.

Giving a man a fish versus teaching him to fish....

This is one of my favorite sayings. It's so true. If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a meal. However, if you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime. The same is true with so many things in life, including preparedness and food storage. If we teach people how to provide for their families and how to get their own families prepared for the future and they take it and use that knowledge to do something about it, we will have succeeded in preparing another family for anything. If we just give a family a bag of groceries and some wheat, they will go through it (if they even know what to do with all of it), and be hungry again and have an empty pantry. Therefore, I am a firm believer in teaching a man to fish, or teaching a family how to get a basic food storage built up to weather the storms of life.

SavingsAngel.....

I have been doing an online program called SavingsAngel since August of 2007. SavingsAngel has been an amazing program and has helped my family and so many others. Using this program, I've been able to get SOOO many items for free and very close to free. I have also been able to help a lot of other struggling families. There is a lot of need right now in the US and SavingsAngel is doing their part in a mission to end hunger. Coupons are not just about saving a quarter here and there. You truly can save thousand and thousands of dollars every year with couponing. SavingsAngel can aid your family in living with a sense of peace, knowing your family's basic needs are met. SavingsAngel can also help you fund your dreams, whether that be saving enough money to adopt a child, purchasing a home, giving to others in need, paying off medical bills, taking a dream vacation, etc. SavingsAngel matches all of the deals of the week with the coupons that match the deals. This program also has the most amazing community of angels I have ever seen. These are not just a group of coupon clippers. These are people that are willing to go out of their way to help you, send you coupons, pray for you, etc....whatever the need is. I truly believe that is one of the amazing things that makes this program so different. It is centered on a mission to end hunger and is filled with people that truly care. Using SavingsAngel, there is no reason for anyone to go hungry and be without. They say no one can do everything...but everyone can do something and this is so true. We can all take steps to change the world and make this world a better place.

Stockpiling...

Building a stockpile in your home is a huge key to weathering almost any storm. Stocking up on things your family uses on a weekly basis when they are on sale will help you get through weeks or even months when your family may not have any income for groceries. We all know what those weeks or months are like. The air conditioner goes out, the car needs repairs, the roof is leaking, medical bills need to be paid, insurance goes up, propane needs filling, etc. By having a stocked pantry and additional shelving with supplies to live on during these times, you can have a lot of peace in knowing your family will be fed and clean, etc. Remember that stockpiling does not have to be expensive either. This can be done little by little, with coupons and sales, etc. Here is a site I have been using since August of 2007. It's called SavingsAngel. I am able to get so many things free or nearly free each week using this program.

http://savingsangel.com/amember/go.php?r=3187&i=l8

When the tough times come, you will be thankful for every item you have taken the time to stockpile in your home.

Storms? What storms?

My new blog, weathering the storms of life, is designed to help get you and your family and loved ones prepared for the future. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. On my blog I will share food storage tips, money savings ideas, etc. With an adequate supply of things your family needs in your home to get you through whatever life throws at you, you too can weather the storms of life. This could be a job loss, illness of any kind, reduced hours at work, national distaster, etc. My goal is to help you weather those storms that march in to your life without warning.