DO IT YOURSELF

About three years into our marriage, my husband announced that he wanted me to learn to cut his hair so that he wouldn't have to take the time or the money to go get it cut.  We bought our first set of Oster hair clippers from Costco that came with an instructional video (yes, VHS) that taught the basics of cutting hair.  Clippers bought (check), video watched (check)...off we go.  He sat down and I started cutting.  He tried to coach me through that first cut, and I figured I knew what I was doing--after all, I had watched the video.  After awhile, whether it was my poor listening skills, or his poor coaching, the hair was cut to a satisfactory level and we didn't talk to each other until late the next day.  I figured that would be the one and only cut, but about 5 weeks later Jeff asked me to cut his hair again.  I was a little surprised, but agreed and it went much better.  The third time, I gave Jeff a buzz cut with scissors.  I learned a little bit each time and with his patience, I finally was able to do a pretty decent job.  I have now cut my husband's hair for over 15 years, and my boys have only had mom cuts.  I don't hire out, I only know how to cut one head shape one way.  But I do admit it has been nice to know how to cut my boys' hair.  It has saved us a lot of time and money over the years. 

Learning a new skill takes time to build it to proficiency.  It also takes a lot of patience both from yourself and your family.  But, if the skill provides a need and helps you become more self-sufficient, I think it is totally worth it.

Cutting hair may not be on your list of skills to learn, but maybe learning more about yard work, auto maintenance, housekeeping, or some other needed skill that you currently outsource would be doable.

I CHALLENGE YOU to think about learning a new skill you could learn to help your family become more self reliant

SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY

As we have moved around this grand country of ours, the concept of rain has changed everywhere we have lived.  In Northern Virginia, some years our garden flooded when we got more rain than Seattle.  In Colorado, we could expect an afternoon thundershower almost every summer afternoon.  Here, my little kids don't even know what rain is.

No matter where you live, having some extra money put away is always a good idea.  Our family has leaned toward the Dave Ramsey method of "emergency funds."  (I receive no monetary or product reimbursement from Dave, I just think many of the things he says make sense).  So, fan of Dave Ramsey or not, I am going to tap into a couple of his ideas for this post.

In Dave's "baby steps," he lists having a $1,000 emergency fund as the #1 financial priority.  If you need to use this money, make sure it is an emergency.  Christmas is not an emergency, that comes once a year and you can plan for it.  This is for if the car breaks and needs fixing or an unexpected health cost, etc.  I like this concept because it give a small cushion for life's unexpected happenings (which always seem to happen).  If it is used, be sure to pay it back as soon as possible so that it is always available.

Baby Step #3 is to set aside 3-6 months of expenses in an emergency fund.  I think this concept is extremely smart as it protects against bigger unexpecteds and allows one to be self-reliant in case of a job loss, disability, death, large medical cost, relocation need, and much more.  I have always thought that to help this 3-6 months of money last longer, a healthy food storage plan is helpful.  (Remember last week?).  If an event happens that my family will need to live on this emergency fund, we likely would need to live off of it for an unknown period of time and my goal would be to help it stretch as long as possible.

I often think of the advice the church gives when it comes to families in need:  Use all the resources you have first, enlist extended family help second, and ask the church for help third--and after all other options have been exhausted. 

Planning for the day when we need extra financial help is not only smart, it is responsible.

I challenge you to take a look at your budget with your husband and family and find a way to incorporate saving for a rainy day.   A $1,000 emergency fund should be established fairly quickly, but saving the 3-6 months of expenses will not happen overnight.  It will take thoughtfulness and diligence, but it is possible. 

DO THE MATH

I like things concrete.  I like to plan and have a way to execute that plan. I like to set a goal and have a way to accomplish it.  The phrase, "Get your food storage" is somewhat vague.  Early in our marriage, I tried to gather a little of this or that but never really knew if I was "there."

I was so excited when one Sunday we were handed a copy of a letter from the First Presidency outlining basic food storage needs.  These are foods that would "be required to keep [members] alive if they did not have anything else to eat." The letter also states that "When member have stored enough of these essentials to meet the needs of their family for one year, they may decide to add other items that they are accustomed to using day to day" (January, 2002).  These food and amounts are per person:

•  Grains 400 lbs. 
•  Legumes (dry beans, split peas, lentils, etc.) 60 lbs. 
•  Powdered milk 16 lbs. 
•  Cooking Oil 10 qts. 
•  Sugar or honey 60 lbs 
• Salt 8 lbs. 
•  Water (2 weeks) 14 gal. 

In the May 2006 Ensign, these guidelines were published again along with portion percentages.  Basically,  kids under 3 eat half the amounts, ages 4-6 70%, ages 7-10 90%, and ages 11 and up 100% (though I have also heard to do 150% for teens).

I have used these numbers and guidelines often during the last 17 years.  The needs for our family has changed, but it has been nice to be able to concretely do the math to know where I need to be for a start.

I guarantee you will want more than this list if you really did have to live off of your food storage for any period of time.  But, I do feel like this gives a really great start to where you need to be.  

Once you determine how much you need, the next step is where to buy it.  

If you want to buy it in one swoop and have it all packaged for you, Rainy Day Foods is a great resource.  They have  everything!  Shipping can get a little pricey, but if you find several families that want to do a bulk order, that would help on shipping costs.  Emergency Essentials also has some great pre-packaged options.  

If you are willing to package the food yourself, there are some great local options:

• WinCo (my personal favorite).  You can get anything they sell in their bulk section in a box or bag (even at a discount).  You can order online and have it delivered to the store, or you can order with customer service.  Be aware, they only take cash, debit, or checks.  Locations are in Temecula, Oceanside, and San Marcos.
• Church Cannery.  They have several of the basics that you can buy in bags.  They are located in Murrieta at 25855 Jefferson Ave #3H or in San Diego at 4722 Mercury Ave (which is close to the Costco Business Center).
• Costco.  I have found that White Flour, Sugar, Pinto Beans, and Rice are less expensive here.  In Kearny Mesa area, there is a Costco Business Center that has many different things that are available in bulk--think black beans, lentils, caramel, and more!

I challenge you to do the math.  Find out how much of the basic food storage items you need for your family.  Make a plan to get your food storage, either all at once or set a monthly goal.  Make sure you store it safely in the right containers, and be sure to rotate.  If you know you won't eat it, don't store it. Store extras of what your family likes the most.  Most of all, start storing something.