Food Storage Plan Update

I'm working on my food storage plan. So far, I've finished my inventory. Have you?

It's been nice to know exactly what I have. It came in handy when the sugar was on sale to know how much more I wanted...because I knew how much I had.

I'm now going to work on slowly gathering what I need. First on my list is WATER.
It's said that humans can go three weeks without food but only three days without water...so water it is.

After reading water storage information from:

• USU Cooperative Extension (Water Storage & Emergency Use)
• USU Cooperative Extension (Water Storage)
• Water Information (HERE)
• Fema and the American Red Cross (Food and Water in an Emergency)

I've decided to store 2 gallons of water per person, per day for two weeks.

The breakdown:
6 people at 2 gallons a day= 12 gallons of water/day
12 gallons/day x 14 (two-week supply)= 168 gallons

Whew! That seems like a lot. Since I've done my inventory, I know that I already have about 90 gallons of water. I have some water bottles for drinking that I've picked up when I find a sale. (I usually like to pay $2.00 or less for a 24-pack.)I also have some 7-gallon containers that we used for storage when it was just the two of us. We kept these babies stacked in the bathroom of our little condo. (Ah, the good 'ol days.) We bought these at Wal-Mart.

I actually had to use them once when the water was shut off for repairs to the building. I liked that they were portable and had a spigot on the side for easy use. I just put one at each sink and used it as I would the faucet. I'm going to buy the 55-gallon water barrels for the rest of my water storage. We have room in the garage for them and I think this will work for our family. What has worked well for you? Any suggestions for me?

December Group Order - Water Barrels

The next group order is going to be 55-gallon water storage containers. These are reconditioned containers that are food grade and have been previously used for juice/soda. They have been sanitized.

I've never used reconditioned containers before but the price difference between a new container and a used one makes me willing to give it a try! A new 55-gallon container would cost approximately $65.00 and we're able to get these for $25.00.

Please let me know if you're interested in ordering any containers and how many you would like. Feel free to let others know about this deal as well!

New Canned Pineapple Coupon

If you need canned pineapple to add to your food storage, here is a $0.50 Dole printable coupon for you!

Use it either at Scolari's or Wal-Mart for a nice price!


Scolari's Dole pineapple $1.29
$0.50 printable coupon (doubles)
Final Price: $0.29


Wal-Mart Dole pineapple $0.75 (I think that's how much it was last time I was there...)
$0.50 printable coupon
Final Price: $0.25

Thanksgiving Deals

I'm planning on lying low this week with turkey day and all, so you won't be hearing much from me!

It looks like the Del Monte canned vegetable and fruit deal at Target posted below is good again this week (11/22-11/29). Good, I'll get my fruit after all!

The other grocery deals I've posted below are good this week through Thursday.

If you're headed out Black Friday shopping, GOOD LUCK! Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Wal-Mart Cream Cheese Update

**Update on the cream cheese deal I posted about HERE. **

The 6 oz. Jell-o at Wal-Mart is $0.75/box. At almost every other store I went to this week it was priced at $1.00 or more. (When did Jell-o get so pricey?)

The 3 oz. Jell-o was $0.50/box.

The Baker's chocolate was $2.00/box.

Deal Idea:
(3) 6 oz. Jell-o at $0.75=$2.25
$1.25 tearpad coupon
Final Price: $1.00 or $0.33 each when you buy 3

Deal Idea:
(3) 3 oz. Jell-o at $0.50=$1.50
$1.25 tearpad coupon
Final Price: $0.25 or $0.08 each when you buy 3 (This is a better deal than the 6 oz.!)

Deal Idea:
(3) Baker's Chocolate at $2.00= $6.00
1.25 tearpad
Final price: $4.75 or $1.58 each

OR mix and match. For example buy one cream cheese, one Baker's choc., and one Jell-o. Buy whatever combination you like as long as you have three total and use the $1.25 coupon.

Just think of all the green Jell-o you could have this holiday season!

Eat Your Fruits, Too! (11/15-11/29)

The Del Monte canned fruit is also on sale this week at Target for $.97-$1.09. (Too bad I figured that out after I've already been to Target this morning!) Hooray! Looks like this deal is good until the 29th.

(4) Del Monte canned fruit $0.97 each = $3.88
$1/4 Target printable coupon
Final price: $0.72 each when you buy 4

Eat Your Veggies! (11/15-11/29)

There is a good deal on Del Monte vegetables at Target right now.

(6) Del Monte Veggies $0.45 = $2.70
$1/6 Target printable coupon (use your back arrow to print two)
Final price: $0.28 each when you buy 6

How many more cans of vegetables do you need for your three-month supply? Have you done your inventory yet?

Cream Cheese Deal

At Scolari’s on the Ziploc holiday display at the front of the store there are tearpads with coupons and recipes on them.

The coupon reads, “$1.25 off when you buy any THREE (3) participating KRAFT dessert products,” and displays pictures of Jell-o, Baker’s chocolate, and Philadelphia cream cheese.

You’ll want to pick up a few of these so you can score some inexpensive cream cheese.

Here’s what I’m planning on doing:

The Philadelphia cream cheese is $0.98 this week (11/18-11/26) at Sak ‘N Save. I’m going to price match that at Wal-Mart, buy three, and use my $1.25 coupon. Here’s the breakdown:

(3) Philadelphia cream cheese at $0.98 = $2.94
$1.25 tearpad coupon
Final price: $1.69 for three…$0.56 each!

While cream cheese does not freeze well, it does keep for long after the expiration date if still sealed closed. Be sure to check the dates on the ones you're planning on buying too.

I don’t know how much the Jell-o or Baker’s chocolate is at Wal-Mart. If anyone finds out, please leave a comment letting us know. There are no size requirements so I’m thinking this could be a great coupon for the small Jell-o too.

Scolari's (11/18 - 11/26)

Scolari's will double coupons (as long as the coupon doesn't say "do not double") up to and including $1.00!

Also on Wednesdays Scolari's will honor both the current and new ad. So today only (11/18) you can get the deals listed below as well as THESE from last week.

I'm LOVING these Thanksgiving sales. Right before Thanksgiving is one of the cheapest times to buy food!

Sara Lee Pies- $3.99
$1.00 printable coupon
Final price: $1.99

Nabisco Snack Crackers- $1.79
$1/2 printable coupon (click get "started" and then "coupons" tab on the right)
Final price: $0.79 *

Nabisco Ritz Crackers- $2.49
$1.00 printable coupon (click on coupons tab)
Final price: $0.49 *
*NABISCO REBATE DEAL: Buy 10 Nabisco Crackers, Easy Cheese, or Planters Nuts and get 10.00 rebate check. Official form here.

Mrs. Cubbinson’s Stuffing- $1.99
$0.55/2 from 11/8 RP
Final price: $1.44

French's Fried Onions- $2.99
$0.50 printable coupon
Final price: $1.99

S&W Beans- $0.99
$0.50/3 from 11/8 RP
$0.50/3 printable coupon
Final price: $0.66 each when you buy 3

C&H Sugar 5 lb.- $1.99
$0.35/1 from 8/30 RP or 10/18 RP or 11/15 RP
$0.65/2 printable coupon
Final price: $1.29-$1.34 each (WOW!!!!)

Gold Medal Flour 5 lb.- $1.99
$0.50 printable coupon (still available?)
Final price: $0.99

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chips- $2.49
$0.75/2 printable coupon (no longer available)
$0.50/2 printable coupon (click on "promotions")
Final price: $1.74 each when you buy 2 (cheaper at Wal-Mart)

Ziploc Storage Bags- $1.99 (holiday bags, display at the front of the store)
$1.00/2 from 11/15 SS
Final price: $0.99

Ziploc Storage Containers- $2.49 (holiday variety or one kind of regular)
$1.00/1 (tearpad at Save Mart, unknown if still there)

$0.55 printable coupon
Final price: $0.49-$1.39

Bounty Basic Paper Towel- $0.79
$0.25 from P&G insert
Final price: $0.29

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter- $1.99
$1.00 8/9 from Parade/U.S. Today
$1.00 printable coupon
Final price: FREE

Gallo Salame- $4.99
$1.00 from unknown insert
Final price: $2.99

Fresh Pineapple- $2.50 (Wouldn't you know it's Dole brand?)
$0.75 printable coupon (still available?)
Final price: $1.00

BOOKS!

"I almost never read a borrowed book. I don't like to read borrowed books because I don't want to read a book without underlining things I want to remember. Since one doesn't underline someone else's book, I feel that if a book is worth reading, it is worth owning."
Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, pg. 197

There's nothing better than a good book...except maybe getting a good deal on a good book!

Janet H. emailed me about a local used book shop, "Grassroots Books, located at 660 Grove Street (near Reno Costco). They are a used book store with lots of new stuff too! Typical prices range from $0.99-$2.99. This week they are having a parking lot sale where they will have 15,000 books all at $0.99. It runs Nov. 18-22 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m." Sounds like this could be a bargain on good books. I also read on their website that they buy DVDs, books, and music, so that might be something to look into as well. Thanks for the info. Janet!

Step One Initiated

Well, I did it! I spent the morning hunched over in the storage space underneath the stairs (a.k.a. the "food storage closet") and got an inventory of everything in there.Here's what I did. I downloaded this 3-month food storage calculator onto my computer, put in my family's numbers, and printed a copy. This calculator comes from a FABULOUS site called Prepared LDS Family.

I tried my hardest to ignore the "NEED" column (that's step two and I didn't want to get ahead of myself!) and just wrote down my numbers in the "HAVE" column. I found things today I didn't even know I had. I'm glad I used a pencil because I did a lot of erasing.

Next I need to inventory my pantry and the food under the beds. Yes, under the beds. Along with the inventory, I'm keeping a list of where things are (potato pearls under Nathan's bed, etc.) so I'll know where to find it.

(Thanks, Prepared LDS Family!)

Food Storage Plan...Where to start?

It is comical that I have a blog about food storage. Why? Because I am not prepared with my food storage.

Even though I can come up with a page (or more) of excuses (money, time, energy...) as to why my food storage is not in place, here's the bottom line - I'm going to do it.

I am going to start at the beginning and go step by baby step. The best part is - You're more than welcome to join me in my food storage journey.

Whenever I get thinking about food storage I get overwhelmed. Where do I start? What do I do? How do I do it? And then I do nothing because it's too much and life goes on. I'm stopping that vicious cycle.

This pamphlet outlines the basic idea of family home storage and is a good starting point. My goals are to (1) start with a three-month supply of my family's needs, (2) continue building a financial reserve, and (3) finally have a year's supply by this time next year. Yes, by the end of 2010.

Where to start? HERE with a talk that was given before I was even born. I had to chuckle at the "wheat for Christmas" line. (Thanks, Mom and Dad, even though I think Willie was wishing for a TV...)

1. The first thing for me to do is take inventory. I'm not even exactly sure what I have so that's a logical starting place. I think I'll just count it all and put it on a spreadsheet. Is there a better way?

2. The second thing I'll do is figure out what I still need. This will be easier to do once I know what I have.

3. The third thing I'll do is prepare a timeline. I've already set the goal of one year to a year's supply but I'd like to lay out a month-by-month plan of attack.

Additional thoughts: I'm going to step up my gardening efforts this year. I'm going to continue couponing to get items at a great price to store away. I'm going to sell my husband's truck set up and stick to a budget.

Whew! I am not going to get hung up on wanting it all now. Line upon line here. I'm focusing on step one. Once I've got my inventory, I'll return and report. Feel free to join in the fun!

FoodSaver Deal (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

This deal couldn't have come at a better time for me! As I was sealing up my pork this week, I realized I need more bags. Lo and behold...a deal!

Go HERE to find out how to get:

1 – 11” FoodSaver® Roll
1 – 8” FoodSaver® Roll
5 – FoodSaver® Quart Bags
5 – FoodSaver Gallon Bags
1 – Rectangular 1.5 Qrt.Canister with Cheese Grater
1 – Round 4” diameter 25 ounce Canister
for $12.99!

(My final total with shipping and tax was $23.15. I bought it through Shop At Home and got 8% back.)

(Thanks, Common Sense With Money!)

My Shopping Today

Here is what I bought on my outing today. I went to four different stores and spent $23.82 for everything pictured below.This is not the typical way I shop (lots of stores in one fatal swoop), but my husband had the morning off so I took advantage of some ALONE shopping time. (The cashier at Walgreens asked me where the boys were!)

Here is the breakdown: (* indicates items for my food storage)
Save Mart- $12.02
12 boxes of cereal *
2 bags of salad
9 apples

5 bananas

3 pears
3 oranges
Wal-Mart- $5.27
2 boxes of Halloween Ritz crackers
2 cans Campbell's cream mushroom soup *
2 cans Campbell's cream chicken soup *
3 cans Hunt's tomato sauce *
2 cans Pillbury Grands biscuits
1 bottle Welch's sparkling cider *
1 box Goldfish *
Walgreens- $2.99
2 containers of Sunmaid raisins *
1 bottle of Ocean Spray juice *
Scolari's- $3.54
2 packs of Chinet plates *
4 packs of Kraft cheese *
1 bottle of dried oregano *
2 packs of No Yolks noodles *

GRAND TOTAL: $23.82
If you're interested in doing some of these deals, Scolari's is HERE, Save Mart is HERE, Wal-Mart is HERE, and deals for this week at Walgreens can be found HERE and HERE.I think I'm happiest about the produce I got at Save Mart. It's nice to have my fruit bin full!

Couponing 101

An amazing way to save money on items for your food storage is by using coupons. If you are confused by any of the lingo on the couponing posts (that means you didn't come to the couponing class...) I've added a list of the abbreviations to the sidebar.

If you are still confused about how couponing (yes, it is a verb) works, feel free to email me or check out any of the saving sites on the sidebar and read their "how-to" sections.

(By using the back arrow on your computer you can print each internet coupon twice.)

Wal-Mart

Usually Wal-Mart is my go-to store when I need something that isn't on sale anywhere else. Actually, come to think of it, sometimes I go and price match the things that are on sale at other stores so I don't have to run around to so many different places!

I was going to price match the bananas that are on sale at Smith's this week for $0.39/pound but amazingly the bananas were on "roll back" to $0.38/pound at Wal-Mart. Go figure. That's one of my complaints about Wal-Mart. The prices seem to change all the time!

Here are the deals I saw today (11/13) at the Wal-Mart off Pyramid Hwy:

Halloween Ritz Crackers- $1.50 (right next to the regular Ritz on the cracker aisle)
$1/2 printable coupon (click on "get started" and "coupons" tab in on the right-hand side)
Final Price: $1 each when you buy 2

Campbell's cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soups- $0.58
$1/2 printable coupon (coupon no longer available)
$1/4 printable coupon
Final Price: $0.08 each when you buy 2 $0.33 each when you buy 4

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits- $1.50
$1.00 printable coupon
Final Price: $0.50

Hunt's tomato sauce- $0.40
$1.00/3 printable coupon (play the silly game, Hunt's coupon is the lady in green with hat)
Final Price: $0.20 for three

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers- $1.65
$0.75 printable coupon
Final Price: $0.90

Welch's Sparkling Juice- $2.97 (Reported that these will be $2.50 next week at Walgreens)
$2.00 printable coupon
Final Price: $0.97

5 lb. Gold Medal Flour- $1.50
$0.50 printable coupon (it looks like this coupon might not be available anymore)
Final Price: $1.00

Jennie-O Frozen Turkeys- $0.40/pound (limit 2)
This means a big 'ol 15 pounder would only be $6.00!

There are also other Wal-Mart deals posted HERE and HERE but pricing may be different than our store. The prices vary by region. If you do check out these other deals, be sure to let us know!!

(Note on the printable coupons. Lots of times these are "rolling" coupons, meaning there are a certain number put out by the manufacture and once that number is printed, the coupon is no longer available, or they are only available for a certain amount of time.)

Scolari's (11/11-11/18)

Scolari's will double coupons (as long as the coupon doesn't say "do not double") up to and including $1.00! Even though this store tends to be higher priced, when you find something on sale coupled with a doubled coupon, you can get some GREAT deals!

Also on Wednesdays Scolari's will honor both the current and new ad. So next Wednesday you can still get these deals, along with the deals for the new week. This is nice so if it's a slow week you can save the one or two items to see if there's something else to pickup the next week too!

Russet Potatoes 10 pound bag $0.99

Foster Farms Whole Fryers $0.69/pound (for those of you who are brave of bones!)

Kraft Cheese (variety of shredded and block) $1.99
$1.00/2 printable coupon (coupon no longer availabe)
Final Price: $1.00

No Yolks Noodles $1.29
$0.75 printable coupon (sign up required)
Final Price: FREE

Chinet Dinnerware $2.79
$1.00 printable coupon
Final Price: $0.79

Save Mart (11/11-11/17)

Here are the good deals I see at Save Mart. See something I've missed? Let me know!

Pork Butt Roast- $0.97/pound

Large Navel Oranges- $0.47/pound

Kellogg's Cereal- $1.25/box when you buy 4:

$1.00 off Corn Flakes Touch of Honey printable coupon

$1.00 off Corn Flakes from 11/8 RP

$1.00/2 Fruit Loops, Corn Pops, Apple Jacks from 11/8 RP

*UPDATE, more cereal coupons HERE,

FINAL PRICE: $0.25-$0.75 a box when you buy 4

*There were peelies on the front of the Corn Flakes Touch of Honey cereals for "$1.00 off on fresh fruit when you purchase one Corn Flakes Touch of Honey."

IDEA:

Buy four boxes of Corn Flakes Touch of Honey.

Buy four items of fresh produce.
Use (4) $1.00 off Touch of Honey printables

Use (4) fresh-fruit peelies from the cereal boxes

FINAL PRICE: $1.00 for four boxes of cereal and fresh produce!!

HINT: Give the coupons first and then the peelies. For some reason the peelies don't scan and have to be typed in by the cashier. But since the coupons are for the cereal and the peelies are for the produce, this does work. (I did it three times this morning!)

Produce pricing - apples: 1.29/pound, oranges: .47/pound, fresh express salad: .97

I just bagged three of each fruit and got a couple bags of salad.

Even if you don't need both cereal or produce each is a good deal by itself.

Cooking with MEAT

I used to cringe at the thought of cooking with meat! Boneless, skinless chicken breasts were my style and even then I'd be queasy.

I recently found a post on using inexpensive cuts of meat and now I'm a changed girl. Not only does it save a lot of money but it's not too hard either! I've even come up with a solution for my uneasiness towards meat.Just kidding...kind of. I seriously do wear the gloves. Go ahead, laugh if you must-I'm used to it; my husband laughs at me every time.I bought this pork shoulder for $0.99/pound last week at Safeway and it is yummy and easy to cook when used in this recipe, complete with a how-to demo, found HERE.

I bought 15 pounds and had two crock pots going in about 30 minutes. They cooked all day long while I sat around and twiddled my thumbs. I ended up with dinner for that night, a small roast (I had to cut some off to get it in the crock pot) and nine bags of shredded pork (four seasoned and five plain).

This week (11/11-11/17) the pork butt is $0.97/pound at Save Mart. I wasn't sure if this was a similar cut to pork shoulder, but luckily I know how to Google and I read HERE that pork shoulder is indeed the same thing. Try it for yourselves!

Are you brave when it comes to meat? Do you have any tips or recipes to share? Do tell!

(Thanks Being Frugal is Fabulous!)

November Group Order- Powdered Cheese Blend

Our group order for this month is dried powdered cheese sauce! Yum, I know. Although this is not something at the top of my delish list, it would be handy to have around if no other cheese was available.

This sauce can be used just like any cheese sauce: toppings, pastas (like mac n cheese), spreads, soups, dipping sauce, casseroles, etc.

I love to buy cheese when it's on sale and then freeze it for future use. Frozen cheese is great for short-term storage, but powdered cheese is nice to have as a long-term option that doesn't have to be refrigerated.

Go HERE for more information on the group order product for this month. Please let me know if you're interested in ordering. The more the merrier (and the cheaper)!

Smith's Mega Sale 11/4-11/10

There are some good deals to be found this week at Smith's! To find a great match up of products on sale and coupons visit this post at My Penny Pile.

There are even links to internet coupons you can print out if you don't have access to coupons from the Sunday paper. (Note, our store does not double coupons.)

Some of the items mentioned on sale are not shown in our ad but seem to be part of the sale after all. Items at the store are very clearly marked with yellow-and-red "mega sale" tags showing the price after you buy 10. It's easy to see what is included in the sale and what is not.


Some of my favorite items on sale this week include:
FREE Dole mandarin oranges
$0.25 Carnation evaporated milk
$0.25 Keebler cookies
$0.50 Ghiradelli brownie mix
$0.75 Wishbone salad dressing
And much more!


You do not have to buy ten of the same item. Mix and match any of the items included in the sale! But make sure you buy ten or groups of ten. I accidentally bought 19 (one of my evaporated milks was the wrong brand) and only $5.00 came off my total instead of $10.00.

Thanks, My Penny Pile!

*UPDATE: At Smith's this afternoon (11/07/09) I noticed:

• The butter and yogurt at our store was more expensive than posted.
• The Tombstone pizzas were all gone.