Use an Evacuation Box

Today's Assignment

Purchase an Evacuation Box and assemble it this week.

Buy a lockable, durable "evacuation box" to grab in the event of an emergency. Even a cardboard box would do. Put important papers into the box in sealed, waterproof plastic bags. Store the box in your home where you can get to it easily. Keep this box with you at all times, don't leave it in your unattended car.

The box should be large enough to carry:

A small amount of traveler's checks or cash and a few rolls of quarters.

Negatives for irreplaceable personal photographs, protected in plastic sleeves.

A list of emergency contacts that includes doctors, financial advisors, clergy, reputable repair contractors, and family members who live outside your area.

Copies of important prescriptions for medicines and eyeglasses, and copies of children's immunization records.

Health, dental, or prescription insurance cards or information.

Copies of your auto, flood, renter's, or homeowners insurance policies (or at least policy numbers) and a list of insurance company telephone numbers.

Copies of other important financial and family records (or at least a list of their locations). These would include deeds, titles, wills, a letter of instructions, birth and marriage certificates, passports, relevant employee benefits documents, the first two pages of the previous year's federal and state income tax returns, etc. Originals, other than wills, should be kept in a safe deposit box or at another location.

Backups of computerized financial records.

A list of bank account, loan, credit card, driver's license, investment account (brokerage and mutual funds), and Social Security numbers.

Safe deposit box key.

Keep Some Cash

Today's Assignment

Prepare a small amount of cash to have on hand in case of disaster

After a disaster, you may need cash for the first few days, or even several weeks. Income may stop if you can't work. To help stay solvent, consider the following:

Keep a small amount of cash or traveler's checks at home in a place where you can get at it quickly in case of a sudden evacuation. A disaster can shut down local ATMs and banks. The money should be in small denominations for easier use.

Set aside money in an emergency fund. That can be tough to do on a tight budget, but it can be well worth the effort. The fund can be very helpful, not only in a disaster, but in other financial crises, such as during unemployment or when unexpected expenses like legal fees arise.

Keep your emergency funds in a safe, easily accessible account, such as a passbook savings account or a money market account.

Keep some funds outside the local area, since the disaster that affects you could also affect your local financial institutions. A mutual fund money market account in another city or state is one option to consider.

Keep your credit cards paid off. You may have to draw on them to tide you over.

Protect Your Property

Today's Assignment

Learn how to protect your property in a disaster

One of the first things to do is find out what disasters could strike where you live. The following steps can help you reduce the physical destruction to your property if you were to be hit with a disaster. These steps can reduce your insurance costs, too.

Install smoke detectors to warn of an apartment or home fire.

Elevate utilities to upper floor or attic.

Clear surrounding brush to protect your home against wildfires.

Anchor your house to the foundation, and anchor the roof to the main frame.

Secure objects that could fall and cause damage in an earthquake, such as a bookcase or hot water heater.

Install hurricane shutters on windows, and prepare plywood covers for glass doors.

Cover windows, turn off utilities, or move possessions to a safer location if you have adequate warning of something like a hurricane or flood.

If your home is in a high risk flood area, on a fault line, or threatened by coastal erosion, consider relocating.

Have your house inspected by a building inspector or architect to find out what structural improvements could prevent or reduce major damage from disasters.

If you haven't yet bought a house, you might take construction type into account. Frame houses tend to withstand some disasters, while brick homes hold up better in others.

If you're not sure where to start, you could contact your local fire department if you live in wildfire country. Fire departments will often make house calls to evaluate your property and make suggestions on how to improve safety. In earthquake-prone areas, the local utility can be called upon to come to your location and show you how and where to shut off gas lines or how to elevate utilities to get them above a possible flood.

Use a Personal Budget

Using a Personal Budget


At some point in time, it's likely that we've all asked the question, "Where does all the money go each month?" Everyone wants to know but, unfortunately, very few are willing to address the one thing that can actually answer the question: creating a personal budget. Some people will fight tooth-and-nail to try every means except budgeting, claiming that they can keep track of their own spending "in their head." Certainly, a personal budget may tedious to implement at the outset, but it's a great tool to show you just where your money's going and help instill a bit of spending discipline – which, let's face it, all of us can use.

Keep in mind that creating a personal budget should be a family affair. Parents don't have to go it alone. Let everyone in the house contribute to the final product. After all, each person will be governed by it in some way. Your children can benefit from the financial habits that they see you implement on a daily basis. Remember, also, that budgets are not quick fixes. Just as with any other habit, it will take time to become second nature. Indeed, before it's all said and done, you may find that you have to change your original budget several times until it fits your lifestyle. An ideal budget should allow some wiggle room, but also provide enough structure for you to meet your financial goals.

Click HERE for a budget worksheet.

Rotate

Today's Assignment

Take Inventory of your food storage and use items that are about to expire.Remember!! Food storage must be used to be useful.

Vicki Tate, author of the popular book "Cooking with Food Storage", gives this advice:

In all the years I’ve worked with preparedness one of the biggest problems I’ve seen is people storing food and not knowing what to do with it. It’s vital that you and your family become familiar with the things you are storing. You need to know how to prepare these foods. This is not something you want to have to learn under stress. Your family needs to be used to eating these foods. A stressful period is not a good time to totally change your diet. Get a good food storage cookbook and learn to use these foods! It’s better to find out the mistakes you’ll make now while there’s still time to make corrections.It’s easy to take basic food storage and add the essentials that make it tasty, and it needs to be done.

As I did the research for my cookbook, Cooking with Home Storage, I wanted to include recipes that gave help to families no matter what they had stored. As I put the material together it was fascinating to discover what the pioneers ate compared to the types of things we store. If you have stored only the basics, there’s very little you can do with it. By adding even just a few things, it greatly increases your options, and the prospect of your family surviving on it. As I studied how the pioneers lived and ate, my whole feeling for food storage changed. I realized our storage is what most of the world has always lived on. If it’s put together the right way we are returning to good basic food with a few goodies thrown in.

There are some things you just shouldn't share

Today's Assignment

With all those holiday gatherings, make conscious efforts to keep yourself healthy.

1. Avoid excesseive amounts of Sugar and processed food that affects our immune system According to studies, complex system from chemical processed sugar and processed foods destroys human immune system. Examples of these are sodas, candies, cookies, ice cream and chips. We must avoid these or take in minimally as possible

2. Eat fresh foods (fruit and vegetables) that supply needed vitamins and minerals
Experts say that majority of vitamin C in oranges and citrus, decreases when processed.
Vitamins and minerals such at Vitamin C, E, A, Zinc and magnesium help and support us to achieve strong immune system. As possible, we must consume reasonable quantity of fresh whole foods like cherries, berries, apple and green leafy vegetables, broccoli, carrot and sweet potatoes.

3. Ger enough Sleep and Rest. 8 to 10 hours sleep a day strengthens the immune system.
While you are sleeping and resting at night, you are being recharged the following day.
So, it better to maintain enough sleep at night, although naps during daylight help in making the immune system strong.

4. Stress and Fatigue, weakens our immune system. The best way to fight colds and flu is adequate rest. Fatigue and stress depletes the immune system. If you feel weak in between work, try to relax for a while and better yet if your can take a nap to immediately recover and avoid being eaten up by stress.

5. Wash hand thoroughly and maintain good personal hygiene. The most frequent way for transmitting micro-organism is through our hands. So, we must wash our hands with soap and water to maintain cleanliness and avoid the direct transfer of germs that bring us various illnesses. This is not only with our hands but also with our body and personal hygiene and sanitary environment.

In Honor of our Savior

Today's Assignment

Reflect on the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and what His life has meant to you. Choose to honor Him by seeking out ways to be more like Him, and preparing yourself spiritually for when He returns.

1) Your testimony needs consistent nourishment. You can provide this by taking time each day to study the scriptures. You can also spend time reading the Ensign. These materials help you to keep the gospel in your mind throughout the day.

2) Another important thing to do is to pray. Too often prayer is something forgotten or rushed through. As you take time to pray and ponder the problems in your life, you will find greater peace. As you seek assurance from the Lord you testimony will increase.

3) It is also important to attend church every week. As you take the Sacrament each week, you renew your baptismal covenants. It is a wonderful moment to reflect on how you are doing and areas that you can change. It is also a good time to remember how much the Savior loves you.

4) It is important to attend the temple regularly. As you take the time to go often you will find greater peace and happiness. The temple provides a chance for you to renew your covenants and to assess the areas of life you can work on.

5) Another way to nourish your testimony is to acknowledge the Lord's hand in your life. If you take time to right down each your blessings as you experience and recognize them, you can look at the list when you feel low. This will help you to remember how much the Lord loves you when you are struggling through your trials.

Camera Check

Today's Assignment

Get the cameras ready for tomorrow's festivities.

Ready, set, roll 'em! Christmas morning will soon be here, so take a moment to prepare to capture the memories.

Haul out the cameras and videocams and make sure they're ready for the big day.
Charge the batteries, check supplies of film or digital media, and be sure you have cables handy for uploading digital photos. Share the moment!

Last Minute gift idea

Today's Assignment

Make Christmas a little more personal with THESE printable and personal "coupons"

Stuff the Stockings

Today's Assignment

Prepare your Christmas Stockings now for a stress free Christmas Eve

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care ... so it's time to prepare to fill them! Ease this midnight chore with a bit of pre-holiday organization.

Set aside a plastic supermarket grocery sack for each family member, and sort stuffers into the sacks. Slip handles around a clothes hanger, and hang the sorted stuffers at the back of the closet.

With stuffers sorted and ready, Santa won't be fumbling in the dark, trying to remember what gift belongs where ....

With all that shopping going on...

Today's Assignment

Prepare a lost/stollen wallet inventory sheet- just in case! Click HERE for an example.

Breakdown Kit

Today's Assignment

Assemble a breakdown kit for each of your vehicles.

Consider keeping spare fuses and a "breakdown kit" in your vehicle at all times. Breakdown kits may be purchased from a variety of sources, or you can assemble your own at any auto parts or hardware store using a commercial version as a guideline. Minimally, a "breakdown kit" should include:

a thermal blanket/bag and a gallon of water

a "HELP" sign/flag and flares/reflectors

a flashlight (check batteries semi-annually)

duct tape


Also consider carrying:


a set of jumper cables, a tire gauge, and work gloves

a few hand tools (pliers, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches)

some rope and at least one bungee cord

towels and a roll of toilet paper (in a plastic bag)

a small 12-volt tire-inflator

an empty (new, never used) one-gallon gas can

change for a payphone and a pair of comfortable shoes

a cheap/disposable rain coat/suit/poncho

All these items can fit in a small or medium size gym/duffle bag or a box and kept in your vehicle's trunk, back-seat floorboard, or other storage area in the vehicle. Keep it updated, but never remove it from your vehicle.In addition to your basic "breakdown kit" you should also have a basic first aid kit in your vehicle at all times.

Travelling to be with family this holiday season?

Today's Assignment

If you are planning to drive long distance to be with others this holiday season plan ahead for road closures by visiting THIS website.

O Christmas Tree

Today's Assignment

Learn to care for your live Christmas tree in order to prevent a house fire

Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks.

Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.

Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Saving Money at the Grocery Store

Saving Money at the Grocery Store

Smart shopping at the grocery store can help you save money. But smart shopping is more than just clipping coupons and buying things on sale. It requires having a shopping strategy.
Grocery stores are professionally designed, and laid out to get you to spend as much money as possible. By learning some of their secrets and techniques, you can help keep money in your pocket. To help you improve your saving money habits, here are some grocery store spending and saving tips and advice.

SHOP ITEMS ON SALE AND USE COUPONS
By using manufacturer’s coupons when an item is on sale, you are maximizing your savings. Purchase more than one of these items when possible and store them for future use.

ON SALE ITEMS TO AVOID
The grocery store is professionally organized to get you to spend as much money as possible. Often, "on sale" items are displayed at the front of the store or at the end of isles. Don't assume that these items are actually a bargain, since the manufacturers or distributors of those products are actually paying to display their products.

BUY ONLY WHAT YOU NEED AND CAN AFFORD
Before grocery shopping, write a list of the items you need. Then, when shopping, only buy those items. Avoid putting other things in your cart that catch your eye. Supermarkets want to take advantage of people buying things they did not intend to purchase, so be a smart shopper and use a shopping list.

Also, don't buy more than what you can afford. You are probably better off using cash than a credit card, if using a credit card puts you into debt. If you only bring the money you intend to spend, then you can't spend any more.

AVOID CONVENIENCE ITEMS
Don't purchase items that are convenience items, such as prepared vegetables or pre-made sandwiches. These items are more costly, and you are better off buying your own ingredients and making them yourself.

BUY ITEMS IN BULK?
Buying items in bulk used to be cheaper. However, these days stores figured out that they could actually charge more, without consumers realizing it. The bigger box of cereal may actually be more expensive than the smaller box. Therefore, the best bet is to comparison shop and see if you are actually getting a better bargain.

CHECK THE ENTIRE SHELF
Grocery stores will often place the higher priced items at eye-level. Again, consumers choose more items to buy from eye level. So look at the top and bottom of the shelf for potential better bargains.

Also, often the healthier (and less expensive) items are more difficult to find. Packaged, prepared foods are more costly and generate bigger profits, so try to find the healthier items.

KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS
If after shopping you discover that the store or another store that has products you purchased advertised at a lower price, keep your receipt and go back to the store to ask for a discount.




TRACK PRICES
Keep track of the prices you are paying for items you often purchase. Then keep that list with you when you shop. That way, if something is "on sale" you will know if it is really a sale or not. If you find a good discount, then buy enough extras, if the item does not spoil.

HAPPINESS AND SHOPPING
Many people shop just to feel good. Shopping helps make you happy. However, to save money, you need to keep your emotions in check -- always remember to stick to your budget and your shopping list.

DON'T SHOP ON AN EMPTY STOMACH
Don't shop when you are hungry. People tend to buy more, and a larger amount of the things they don't need when they are hungry, so always shop with a full stomach. Also, prepare to dress more warmly, since supermarkets are often cold, because the cold temperatures actually makes you hungry so you buy more!

BUY THE DEALS - AVOID THE REST
One shopping technique is to shop more often, and focus your shopping on the special deals given by the store. Then go visit other stores to buy their special promotions. Many stores rely on the fact that you will buy more than the specials, to make their money and maximize profits. However, you must remain disciplined and don't be tricked into spending more than you plan when entering the store.

How to Relax during the holidays

Today's Assignment

Take time to relax this holiday season. Managing your stress will lead to a healthier, happier season for you and your family.

Top Ten RElaxation Tips for reducing holiday stress- Click HERE.

Caught Unaware?

Today's Assignment

Evaluate your family's financial situation. Plan for the immediate and distant future

Click HERE for more information.

Be Smart

Today's Assignment

Prepare your youth NOW to receive a higher education.

Visit http://www.besmart.com/ for assistance in preparing them for one of the LDS college campuses.

Save Money on Your Home Expenses

Save Money on Your Home Expenses

1. Save Money On Your Mortgage
Consider refinancing your mortgage. For every $10,000 of your mortgage loan, 1/2 % difference in the interest rate saves you over $40/year or $3.40/month in interest expense. A $100,000 loan at 9 1/2% refinanced at 7 1/2% saves $142/month or $1,704/year, for a total of $50,991 over the life of a 30-year mortgage. Potential Money Savings: $1,700/yr.

For even more dramatic long-term savings, consider a 15-year mortgage rather than a 30-year mortgage. A $100,000 mortgage at 9 1/2% over 15 years saves $114,747 over the life of the loan compared to a 30-year mortgage at the same interest rate. At 7 1/2%, the savings between a 30-year and 15-year mortgage of $100,000 would be $84,854. A 9% loan of $100,000, refinanced for 15 years at 7 1/2% would add $86/month to your payment but would save you a whopping $135,845 over the life of the loan. Potential Money Savings: $84,000-136,000

You can achieve similar results by paying an extra principal payment on your 30-year loan each month. (In the early years of a loan, the principal portion of your payment is very small. On a 30-year $100,000 loan at 7 1/2%, the monthly principal payment in the first several years is approximately $75 to $85/month).Potential Money Savings: $85,000-136,000.

Still another way to achieve these results is to pay one half of your monthly mortgage every two weeks. Potential Money Savings: $85,000-136,000.

2. Save Money On Utilities - Electricity
Install the new type of fluorescent bulbs in lights you leave on for long periods. They provide four times as much light and last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. Potential Money Savings: $10-$50/yr.

Lower the temperature on your hot water heater to between 110 and 120 degrees. It's not necessary to have it any hotter and wastes energy. Potential Money Savings: $20-40/yr.

Find out if your utility company offers free energy audits, where they inspect your home for energy effectiveness and recommend inexpensive ways to cut energy costs, such as insulating hot water heaters, weather-stripping, etc. Just insulating your hot water heater could save you $25 a year. Potential Money Savings: $50/yr.

Set thermostats no higher than 68 degrees in winter and no lower than 78 degrees in summer. Turn your heat down even further at night or when you're not home (unless you have a heat pump, which operates more efficiently at one consistent setting). Each extra degree in winter can increase heating costs by 3%. In summer, each degree can raise cooling costs by 6%. Potential Money Savings: $325 to $500/yr.

Cut back on the use of your clothes dryer. Not only is it a big energy drain, it can also suck heated air out of your house very quickly in winter. Hang clothes on a clothes rack to dry and use the dryer for towels and other heavy items. Potential Money Savings: $25-50/yr.
Use your microwave instead of your oven whenever possible and save up to 50% in energy costs for cooking. Potential Savings: $50/yr.

3. Save Money On Utilities - Water
Always do full loads of laundry. A typical full load uses about 21 gallons of water. A small load uses 14 gallons. Several small loads use considerably more water than one or two large loads. Over the course of a year, this adds up. Potential Money Savings: $25-$125/yr.

Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load. Let the dishes air-dry instead of using the heat cycle. An average dishwasher costs $60 to $100 per year to run. Potential Money Savings: $35-55/yr.

Fix running toilets or leaking faucets promptly. A continuously running toilet can use more than 8,000 gallons of water a year. Potential Money Savings: $25-125/yr.

Install flow restricting shower heads. A family of four can save 8,000 to 12,000 gallons of water a year. You not only save on the cost of the water, but also the cost of heating it. Potential Money Savings: $100-$300/yr.$

Add fabric softener to your laundry at the appropriate point in the cycle instead of adding it at the end and running another rinse cycle, which can use up to 10 extra gallons of water. Figure out how much time it takes your washer to reach the rinse cycle, and set a timer so you can add softener at the right time. Potential Savings: $25-100/yr.

Use warm or cold water for washing clothes, and always rinse in cold water. Potential Savings: $50/yr.

4. Save Money On Utilities - Other
Stick to basic phone service. Extra services like call waiting and call forwarding can almost double your costs for phone services. Potential Savings: $168/yr.

If you can live without cable television, you can save between $300 and $600 per year. If you can't live without it, get basic service only. You can rent a lot of movies for the extra $150 to $600 per year if you pay for movie channels like HBO, Showtime, etc. Potential Money Savings: $144-700/yr.

Plant perennial flowers instead of annuals. You incur a one time cost and enjoy the flowers for years, with little additional effort or money. Annuals, on the other hand, require an outlay of cash and effort every year. Potential Money Savings: $100-$300/yr.

Safe Food Preperation

Today's Assignment

Educate yourself and family on these food safety tips

1. Clean: The first rule of safe food preparation in the home is to keep everything clean.
Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food. "For children, this means the time it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice," says Davidson.
Wash food-contact surfaces (cutting boards, dishes, utensils, countertops) with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before going on to the next item.
Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water and use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.
Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking. "Washing these foods makes it more likely for bacteria to spread to areas around the sink and countertops," says Davidson.

2. Separate: Don't give bacteria the opportunity to spread from one food to another (cross-contaminate).
Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood and their juices away from foods that won't be cooked while shopping in the store, and while preparing and storing at home.
Consider using one cutting board only for foods that will be cooked (raw meat, poultry, and seafood) and another one only for ready-to-eat foods (such as raw fruits and vegetables).
Do not put cooked meat on an unwashed plate that has held raw meat.

3. Cook: Food is safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria.
"Color is not a reliable indicator of doneness," says Davidson. Use a food thermometer to make sure meat, poultry, and fish are cooked to a safe internal temperature. To check a turkey for safety, insert a food thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. The turkey is safe when the temperature reaches 165ºF. If the turkey is stuffed, the temperature of the stuffing should be 165ºF. Make sure oysters in oyster dressing are thoroughly cooked.
Bring sauces, soups, and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating.
Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm. When making your own eggnog or other recipe calling for raw eggs, use pasteurized shell eggs, liquid or frozen pasteurized egg products, or powdered egg whites.Don't eat uncooked cookie dough, which may contain raw eggs.

4. Chill: Refrigerate foods quickly because harmful bacteria grow rapidly at room temperature.
Refrigerate leftovers and takeout foods within two hours.
Set your refrigerator no higher than 40ºF and the freezer at 0ºF. Check both periodically with an appliance thermometer.
Never defrost food at room temperature. Food can be defrosted safely in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked immediately.
Allow the correct amount of time to properly thaw food. For example, a 20-pound turkey needs four to five days to thaw completely when thawed in the refrigerator.
Don't taste food that looks or smells questionable. Davidson says, "A good rule to follow is, when in doubt, throw it out."

Save Time and Money on Holiday baking

Today's Assignment

Save Time and Money on Holiday cookie baking by scheduling a cookie party with friends

For instructions on how to host a cookie party, click HERE

Free Gifts

Today's Assignment

Make one of these creative and FREE gifts for a friend this christmas.

1. Denim pocket quilt- click HERE

2. Rag Wreath- click HERE

3. Sweater Beg- click HERE

Stay on Budget

Today's Assignment

Organize your gift giving list, set a budget and stick to it!!!

Click HERE for a worksheet to help

Another Yummy Rice Recipe

Today's Assignment

Learn to make Horchata

1cup long grain rice, rinsed
2 quarts water
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1/2 cup white sugar

DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, combine rice, water and cinnamon stick. Set aside for 3 hours.
After 3 hours, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Allow to cool.
Puree rice mixture in a blender until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. Flavor with vanilla and sugar to taste. Chill, and serve over ice.

Sprouting Essentials

Today's Assignment

Learn all about the Sprouting Essentials

Soaking: Dry seeds and grains are dormant. Soaking ends its dormancy and begins a new life. In nature this seed will make a plant which can, in turn make seeds, which in turn make more plants, which can make more seeds, etc..

Air circulation: As with any living thing, if they can't breathe while growing, they die. A piece of nylon screen is easily positioned with a rubber band and allows plenty of airflow. A Clean nylon stocking works, too. Some prefer the little purple bag that shallots are packaged in.

Rinsing: Water is the key ingredient to growing sprouts. Use it liberally. Given proper moisture, a seed will germinate. Rinsing is the process by which we add moisture to our sprouts.

Draining: Sitting in a puddle is the most common cause of crop failure. A sour smell is the first sign of crop failure. After rinsing, it is essential to drain off as much water as humanly possible. Draining is the process by which we regulate the amount of moisture our sprouts have available-until their next rinse.

Darkness: Most grow better when covered or put away. Most kitchens are pretty bright and not conducive to sprouting.

Warmth: 75-80 degrees F.