Saturday, November 1, 2014

Prices For Bulk Food Storage Items

These are the prices and ways I purchase dry goods in bulk for my $300/yr basic food storage (which I build on through canning, dehydrating, and buying medium and long term storage items) See my blog, How To Start A Food Storage (My Method aka The Best Method). I'm not saying these are bottom dollar prices, but they are what I can find locally. You'll also want to contact farmers markets, co-ops, any mills within 50-100 miles, etc.. When the difference is $1/lb and you need 200 lbs a  2 hr drive isn't so bad.

You can get a one year basic survival rations food storage for under $65 a month for two people. Will it be the best stuff ever? Nope. It'll be oatmeal, tortillas, rice, beans, salt, sugar, and oil... Daily. 
This is just the start anyone without allergies should be building from. A can of soup, a gravy mix, meat from hunting, veggies from gardening, canned fruits from water bathing, beef stew from pressure canning, boxed hamburger helper, etc... Can all be added to this base for a better food plan. 
Without essentials you'll be chasing calories and protein or spending $1000's too much on "freeze dried" systems. Please please learn to create a food storage yourself and mylar/oxygen absorber and maybe silica (click!) it.


RICE - Lasts 25 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 
OATS, PLAIN - Lasts 25 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 
CORNMEAL - Lasts 10 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 
FLOUR - Lasts 7 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 
HARD WHEAT - Lasts 25 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 
DRY BEANS - Lasts 25 years *in mylar with oxygen absorber* stored in under 70° F/21° C 
  • 5.2 lbs Pinto Beans in #10 Can *LDS Cannery* - $5.95 - $1.14/lb
  • 25 lbs White Beans *LDS Cannery* $15.00 - $.60/lb
  • 25 lbs Black Beans *LDS Cannery* $15.00 - $.60/lb
  • 20 lbs Pinto Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $14.85 - $.74/lb
  • 20 lbs Navy Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $19.80 - $.99/lb
  • 20 lbs Northern Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $22.00 $1.10/lb
  • 20 lbs Black Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $19.72 - $.99/lb
  • 20 lbs Lentils, PA/MD/DE stores, $16.80 - $.84/lb
  • 20 lbs Red Kidney Beans, PA/MD/DE stores, $22.76 - $1.14/lb
OTHER GREAT PRICES
  •  *LDS Cannery* #10 Can Dehydrated Apples - $9.75
    • flavor oats, drop in smoothies. rehydrated makes a ton!
  •  *LDS Cannery* Potato Flakes $4.50/#10 Can (1.8lbs - lasts 30 yrs)
    • if you're looking for potato flakes basically no ingredients except potatoes and preservatives. Look at this LDS label and try to match it in bulk if mylaring.
  •  *LDS Cannery* Nonfat Dry Milk - $5.40 for 1.8 lb - makes 4 gallons
    • lasts 20 years if only ingredients are milk and vitamins a/d
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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Couponing For Preps

Here's the thing. Saving money matters. Having a stockpile matters. Being prepared matters. Every penny you didn't have to spend in one section of life frees you up to spend or save elsewhere. I'm 29, debt free, with a homestead. Coupons and fiscal responsibility are how.

I am going to write out a really long, detailed post that will save you money if you let it. Hundreds to tens of thousands a year depending on your own personal lifestyle.

Read everything below & then if you want to keep burying your head in the sand, sobeit :)

Here are some examples from just one of the coupon matchup sites available.
http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mypathmark http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mypublix http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mywinndixie http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mygiant http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/myalbertsons

#1: Get the store card for every store in your area that has a loyalty program. Some sales are tied to a particular address or phone number and "max out", CVS is an example of one who does this so I have a few CVS cards - one from my address/my name, one for moms address/her name, one for friends address/her name, etc.. If you know people who don't coupon it is nothing for them to get an extra card and give it to you. 

For stores that don't track purchases like this you will only need one card total. Most stores you could do as many "limit 4" as you wanted over the week with one card as long as management didn't care. The only time a second card would be needed in those cases would be if there was a running total program. For instance my Shoprite has a "spend $400, get free turkey" program. It counts the pre-coupon price, so I might only pay $125 for $400 in groceries and get a free turkey! Once I earn enough points for the turkey, I'll switch to a back up card and get to $400 again, getting another free turkey. Last year I picked up so much free/almost free toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and yakisoba bowls that I ended up spending about $45 and getting $900 in free items - including getting 2 free turkeys! 

#2 - If you have a smartphone you need to install grocery apps on your phone. NOTE - If you don't actually follow all the steps you'll pay more than intended. For awhile I'd forget to send ibotta photos of my receipt, therefore not saving $5-10 a time and sometimes that meant paying more than I would normally. Make sure you follow through. Getting the first check in the mail for $49 from an app is what sold me. You don't have to do all at once. Try one or two - don't get overwhelmed!
  • Target cartwheel might offer you $5 off $15 in frozen foods one day and you'll be able to still use coupons on the frozen foods, for one example (Target has some amazing deals, actually - I've seen extreme couponing friends walk out with $500 of cleaning supplies for under $5). Also, text "APP" to 827438 (TARGET) to receive a download link for target mobile. A separate app with totally different coupons. Combining all these store deals with manufacturers coupons is how you end up with free stuff!
  • Ibotta has a pretty cool system. You check with them first for their list of deals. It might say watch a 1 minute video for $2 off $5 apple purchase, or complete a 5 question survey for $3 off any 2 gallons milk.. Always different and some require no tasks also. Upload photo/scan barcode and your acct is credited. Once you meet threshold get a gift card in the mail or paypal deposit.
  • Checkout51 works almost exactly like ibotta, but it's a totally different set of coupons uploaded every Thursday. Whether it's $1 off any campbells soup or $3 of $30 or more chicken purchase, it's fun and easy to unlock mobile coupons. These add up fast and once you hit $20 you get a check!
  • Shopmium is free and is much like Checkout51 and Ibotta because you can get cash back on offers from many stores.
  • SavingStar is a great way to save big money on your groceries and pharmacy store purchases. They are the first and only national, fully-digital grocery eCoupon rewards service. There is nothing to clip and nothing to print. Once you are registered you will have to set up your store loyalty cards. Select the eCoupons you like and link them to your store loyalty cards. Use your loyalty card at checkout (note: The total on your receipt does not change at checkout and the savings are not printed on the receipt). Your money is automatically added to your SavingStar account within 2-30 days! Hit the threshold (very low) and you'll have cash!
  • ShopKick is an app for your phone that gives you exclusive deals to all of your favorite stores including, Best Buy, Target, Toys R Us, etc! You can earn kick points just for walking into a store and  then more “kicks” for making purchases. Kicks become gift cards!
  • The RetailMeNot Coupons app makes it easy to save in store with thousands of coupons at the places you love to shop. I have saved no less than $2000 using RTM on everything from business cards to school uniforms to the laptop I'm typing on right now.
  • Also, get yourself a barcode scanner app. So awesome to be in Target and see a lantern I wanted and then scan it and see it's $16 less a mile away. Or $20 more everywhere else so I grab it quickly.
#3 Call your local stores during the day on a weekday and ask to speak to a manager. Ask these questions: Does ______ double coupons? If so, what is the coupon policy? Does is double .50 to $1? or .75 to $1.50? or $.99 to $1.98? Does ______ limit the number of like coupons per transaction? Or total coupons per transaction? Can I split into multiple transactions or will I need multiple people? 

BEST WAY TO GET STARTED
On Saturday night look at dollar tree matchups, write down the items you want to get that use coupons you have or can print. On Sunday morning go to dollar tree and buy 4 papers $1 ea (bring someone in case its a limit of 2 per person). If you're unlucky enough to have a DT or can't get inserts this way, figure it out. Its Sunday morning. You can find inserts all over if you ask nicely. 

While at DT look for the items you wrote down and make sure they have them b4 you waste ink printing them out. When you get home look at your other stores matchups and print out the printable coupons to make the deals you liked for each store. Resist the urge to print every pretty coupon you see. Saving $3 on something that is $10 you can't afford or don't need is not saving $3, its wasting $7 and ink.

If you see a lot of deals needed paper coupons you can order them from www.couponsthingsbydede.com or www.couponfleamarket.com or something, but so you don't overwhelm yourself I suggest you only at most buy 4 of any 1 coupon this first time. Remember these coupons take time to get to you. Don't order coupons for a sale ending in 2 days, for example. Since most of my stores start new sales Saturday or Sunday and that's when livingrichwithcoupons posts their matchups, I order most coupons Sunday morning, but I have one store that posts/starts Wednesday. I rarely shop here bc of this but if theres a great sale I'll order on Tuesday night when that matchup posts too.

Also, once you come home from dollar tree (where you didn't buy anything except a newspaper), print the dollar tree coupons if the item you wanted was in your store and clip the coupons in your inserts setting aside the ones you'll need to make this weeks deals (don't see a deal, don't use a coupon - unless its about to expire theres no need to burn a hot coupon on a full priced item, it might take 2-4 weeks but you'll find a sale probably).

Go shopping as early in the week as you can, I know you might need to wait for ordered coupons, but if you are doing strictly printed coupons for first couple weeks to ease in (which I think is best to not overwhelm yourself), there's no reason not to shop by Tuesday.

Every single Saturday night/Sunday morning look at the websites. Every single Sunday get the inserts from 4 papers (until you start getting into substantial trading and don't need to). You'll soon have every coupon and will be able to do almost every deal.

My "stockpile" from couponing includes frozen food, fresh produce, boxed meals, hygiene, clothing, baking items, canned foods, medical items, BOB foods, etc.. I used to donate like $250 cash to our pantry annually, now I can donate $2000 a yr in food/supplies when nearing expiry that I paid that $250 for & it helps me by amassing a large larder in case of SHTF - I could spend the same $300 I always spent on groceries & easily bring in $12,000 of groceries a year (way more than we could eat), if I can't cycle it in time I just donate it. You can do a smaller lot & just get your bill down by $50 a month as a goal, that's $600 a yr for preps or an emergency fund. 

I decided to use the savings from couponing (some months I only need to spend $40 so I have $260 left from my $300 I always set aside) and build my long term food storage. I might buy 500 lbs of rice for $150, I might buy 12 cans of yoders bacon. Its my food storage, its my choice. Being financially free is the best preparation one could ask for. What would you do with a grocery bill cut in half? :)
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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Water Bottles In Cars Cause Cancer?


Myth: Drinking from a plastic water bottle left in a hot car can cause cancer.

Fact: This rumor falsely claims that dioxins—a group of toxic chemicals associated with an array of health problems, including breast cancer—leach from the heated plastic into the water.
Plastics do not contain dioxins, and the sun's rays are not strong enough to create them, says Michael Trush, PhD, deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Urban Environmental Health. Most single-use beverage bottles sold in the United States are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a substance tested extensively for safety. There is some evidence that heat can cause bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that's been shown to have estrogenic effects in animal studies, to leach from plastic bottles into the water. (The "estrogenic effects" are thought to impact cancer risk.) However, most single-use water bottles sold in the United States are made from BPA-free plastic. And there's no proven link to breast cancer in women anyway. To be safe, drink from a reusable plastic bottle labeled "BPA free," or choose water bottles with a "1," "2," "4," or "5" in the recycling symbol on the bottom. 
Published November 2011, Prevention
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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Barter Item: Three Cent Cigarettes

Cigarettes ~ First know that tobacco is taxed based on how "fine" it is. Cigarette tobacco is thinner and taxed $30/lb on top of the tobacco cost. If you want that thin put pipe tobacco (same thing, just slightly larger cut) in a food processor or coffee grinder and pulse once or twice.

From reading posts I realized tobacco is not to be "dry" and needs no silica/desiccant and I'm seeing some posts against o2 absorbers. I'll talk storage options below.
  • Buy 16oz bags of menthol and nonmenthol pipe tobacco at a cigarette shop at $12-15.
  • Buy 3 cartons of 200ct tubes and filter boxes per bag of tobacco $2-3 each.
    • At $15 + $9 ($3x3) you're looking at $8 a carton, $.80 a pack, or $0.04 each!
    • At $12 + $6 ($2x3) you're looking at $6 a carton, $.60 a pack, or $0.03 each!
  • Decide on either: 
    • buying cheap cigarette makers you can give out/toss if they break $2.19 on ebay.
      • tends to jam/break but priced well. 
      • you wont cry if you break it, unless you only had on
      • slow. i can make maybe 50-75 in a full hour.
    • buy a more expensive manual cigarette making machine. 
      • I suggest Powermatic I (not II) as it works with no electricity.
      • You can find cheaper by $3 on ebay, but I pd $50 @ amazon bc of easy returns. 
      • most likely won't break.
      • fast. saw a guy make 100 in 20 minutes. thats 300 in an hour.
      • can order a few replacement parts now for shtf.
  • Now that you have your items you have two options. Roll at least 1 box at once (or all 3 to empty one bag of tobacco), or wait until SHTF. Both seem like fine options the only thing I'd say is wrap the boxes of tubes with more saran wrap and keep everything in a dry, cool, dark place. I've seen people do both without issue.
  • My favorite storage options...
    • Ask friends who smoke to save you their empty boxes. Once you have 15 boxes you have enough for one "carton" of tubes and filters, and 50 boxes should cover one "bag" of tobacco. In this case, if friends mainly smoke kings (shorter, 84mm) you should purchase kings tubes instead of 100s. Once you put the filled RYO cigarettes in packs (16-18 should fit okay), wrap the pack in saran wrap well. You can even do a layer of foil under the saran wrap if you like. You can place packs in a bin, put in a cabinet, try vac sealing (stop before crushed), or even place the wrapped packs in mylar, pushing as much air out as possible before sealing (use o2 absorbers at your own risk, i heard they dry out cigarettes).
    • Open everything, roll everything, put filled cigarettes back in carton box, wrap in aluminum foil then saran wrap the box really well. You can place cartons in a bin, put in a cabinet, try vac sealing (stop before crushed), or even place the wrapped cartons in mylar, pushing as much air out as possible before sealing (use o2 absorbers at your own risk, i heard they dry out cigarettes).
    • Mason Jar loose tobacco or cigarettes if you'd like to do so. I know pints hold cigarettes perfectly though I can't remember how many. I saw a woman on youtube who had 1000s of jars I guess, because she used about 100 for RYO cigarettes. She used the jar attachment to suck out air. I don't know if this dries everything out though, and I personally wouldn't give out mason jars in a shtf... I think these were for her personal use.
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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Bugging Out/Extended Camping Items

 <3 Join my new facebook group:Prepping Foods for tips and to post any questions!
Yes - you'll probably need a vehicle, cart, OR to cache some things at your BOL before SHTF. My blog on caches will help you (click!). I adore caches! Anyway, here's my list...

*Batteries - All Devices Same Size If Possible
*Collapsible Lantern
*Flashlight
*Headlamp
Air Freshener
Baby Items: Bottle, Pacifier, Sippy Cups, Skinny Spoon, Cloth Diapers, etc
Bar Soap Slivers
Bathroom/Kitchen Cleansers
Bear Spray (Multi Uses)
Bug Out Bag Foods
Camp Stove
Candles
Carabiners (Assorted)
Compass and Local Maps
Compression Sack(s)
Cookset
Crank Radio
Dental Floss
Duct Tape and Gorilla Glue
Esbit Fuel Tabs
Esbit Pocket Stove
Extra Socks (Wicking)
Extra Underwear (Wicking)
Fuels
Gallon Ziplock bags
Generators
Glow Sticks (asst - low light & long burn, high intensity, infared)
Gortex Sock Liners
Hand Sanitizer (Place Liquids In Gallon Ziplocks)
Hat, Bandana, Work Gloves, Sunglasses
Heirloom Seeds (light/small/lifesaving)
Hiking Shoes and Sandals For At Camp
If Needed, Climbing Gear
If Needed, Climbing Harness (under 1lb)
Individual First Aid Kit
Kerosene Lanterns
Knives - Multitool, etc
Light bulbs
Lightweight, Durable Bags - GHB, BOB, IFAK
Lightweight, Durable Towel
Lightweight, Durable Walking Stick
Long Handled Spork
Loud Hiking Whistle
Mini Fishing Kit
Money (For Personal SHTFs)
Non-leather Belt
Oil Lamps/fuel
Paracord Items
Poncho
Sawyer Mini
Sewing Kit/Safety Pins
Shelter of your choice
Sleeping Bag
Solar Charger (best you can fit/afford - battery bank = epic)
SOS Pads/Pot Scrubber
Spare Parts and Equipment
Swimsuit
Tarp (Ground Sheet)
Toilet Paper/Dried Baby Wipes
Trapping Wire
Trash Bags
Travel Size Bug Spray/Sunscreen
Travel Size Hygiene Kit
Two way radios
VAS Fire Kit / Extras
Water and Collapsible Water Jug/Bag
Water Bottle (fits Sawyer Mini)
Water Purification Tablets
Waterproof Watch
Zip Ties (several)
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Idea Dump: Supplies



This is a list I made and never did anything with but if even one item is something you overlooked or have forgotten I feel I'd be remiss if not posting it. Sorry so sloppy! <3 Join my new facebook group:Prepping Foods for tips and to post any questions!



Books, Animal and human medicine
Books, Blacksmith/Welding/Construction
Books, Electrical/mechanical repairs
Books, farming/gardening/homesteading
Books, hunting/fishing/trapping
Books, weapons/security and self-defense
Bug in equipment, hour LED candles
bug out equipment, bug out bags
bug out equipment, climbing gear
bug out equipment, cookstoves
bug out equipment, glow sticks/ hour LED
bug out equipment, glow sticks/infrared
bug out equipment, glow sticks/ultrabright
bug out equipment, topography maps
Children, baby bottles/sippy cups/cleaning gear
Children, baby wipes/diaper rash cream
Children, cloth diapers and covers
Children, homeschooling supplies
Children, manual pump/food/formula
Children, waterproof mattress covers/pads
Clothing, baby and child
Clothing, belts/jeans/thermals/boots
Clothing, rain coat/wading gear/rain boots
Clothing, undershirts/underwear/socks
Family, board/card/dice/handheld/trivia/puzzles
Family, craft and sewing equipment
Family, musical instruments
Food storage, buckets and containers
Food storage, canning supplies
Food storage, Dog and cat food (never take out of orig bag!)
Food storage, mylar bags
Fuel, Coleman camp stove liquid
Fuel, diesel and equipment
Fuel, firewood and chopping equipment
Fuel, gas and equipment
Fuel, propane and equipment
Fuel, rechargeable batteries and equipment
Garden, assorted planters
Garden, equipment and tools
Garden, heirloom seeds
Garden, pesticides/compost starter
Garden, rain catchment systems
Garden, wagons and wheelbarrels
Kitchen equipment, 7+ day coolers
Kitchen equipment, aluminum trays
Kitchen equipment, cast-iron pots/pans
Kitchen equipment, Dutch oven
Kitchen equipment, hand operated kitchen tools
Kitchen equipment, heavy duty aluminum foil
Kitchen equipment, kitchenaid mixer w/ attachments
Kitchen equipment, meat slicer/grinder
Kitchen equipment, nonstick pots and pans
Kitchen equipment, paper plates and bowls
Kitchen equipment, paper towels and toilet paper
Kitchen equipment, plastic containers with lids
Kitchen equipment, plastic cups and utensils
Kitchen equipment, polaroid and digital cameras
Kitchen equipment, scrub sponges
Kitchen equipment, silicone liners
Kitchen equipment, solar dehydrator
Livestock, breeding equipment
Livestock, butchering tools
Livestock, Chicken feed/vitamins/meds
Livestock, goat feed/vitamins/meds
Livestock, goat pen and equipment
Livestock, hen houses and equipment
Livestock, rabbit feed/vitamins/meds
Livestock, rabbit hutches and equipment
Livestock, roosters/hens/goats/rabbits
Safety, CB and ham radios
Safety, CO/Fire Alarms and extinguisher
Skills, Building Supplies/Extra Parts/Manual Tools
Storage equipment, 55 gallon drums /5 gallon buckets
Storage equipment, HD plastic totes
Survival, bear/pepper spray
Survival, body armor/gas masks
Survival, firestarters and multitools
Survival, geiger counters
Survival, hazmat suit
Survival, hunting/trapping/fishing supplies
Survival, knives and machetes
Survival, sleeping bags and tarps
Survival, slingshots
Survival, tasers
Survival, tents
Survival, walkie-talkies
Survival, water filter
Survival, water tanks
Vehicles, bicycles and spare parts
Vehicles, four wheelers
Vehicles, motorcycles
Vehicles, wagons/carts
Waste (Shovel, etc)
Waste, Extra Gel/Poo Powder/Trashcan liners (mini)
Waste, Toilet, Bags, Poo Powder, Gel
Waste, Trashcans, Trashcan liners (xl)
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Kitchen/Pantry/Linen Closet Items For Bugging In

I'm sure there's other items but this will help you think up things you've missed. PLEASE comment things I've missed - you might save my life <3 Join my new facebook group:Prepping Foods for tips and to post any questions!

KITCHEN/PANTRY IDEAS
*Baggies, Assorted
*Boxes Of Aluminum Foil
*Boxes Of Cling Wrap
*Boxes Of Long Kitchen Matches
*Boxes Of Parchment Paper
*Boxes Of Wax Paper
*Brooms and Extra Broom Heads
*Buckets and Shovels
*Can Opener
*Canned Bar Keeper Friend
*Cast Iron Cookware
*Clamp Base Food Processor w/Cones 
*Coffee Grinder
*Corers
*Cutting Boards
*Dish Bins
*Dish Clothes and Towels
*Dish Rags
*Dish Sponges
*Dishwashing Liquid
*French Press
*Garlic Press
*Glass Measuring Cups
*Hand Beater
*Hand Grain Mill
*Hand Meat Grinder
*HD Paper Bowls
*HD Paper Cups
*HD Paper Plates
*Heavy Duty Black Trash Bags
*Manual Graters
*Meat Tenderizing Mallet
*Metal Utensils
*Mop and Extra Mop Heads
*Napkins
*Open Flame Tripod
*Paper Towels
*Pest Control Products
*Plastic Utensils
*Professional Style Meat Saw
*Red Solo Cups
*Rolling Trash Cans
*Slicers
*Small Liners For Office Trashcans/Bucket Pottys
*Solar Oven
*Stackable Trash Cans & Lids
*Swiffers & Supplies
*Tea Kettle
*White Kitchen Trash Bags
*Wooden Rolling Pins


LINEN/BATHROOM CLOSET IDEAS

**Baby Wipes/Toilet Paper/Paper Towels
**Bars Of Dr. Bronners/Fels Naptha/Zote (acc to your detergent recipe)
**Body Lotions
**Body/Foot Powders
**Body Wash
**Bottles Of Ammonia
**Bottles Of Bleach
**Boxes Of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
**Boxes Of Essential Oils
**Conditioners
**Cotton Balls/Pads/Swabs
**Deodorant
**Facial Cleansers/Creams/Moisturizers
**Feminine Products
**Floss Picks
**Foot Powders/Sprays/Creams
**Hairbrushes and Combs
**Lip Balms
**Mouth Rinses
**Shampoos
**Soaps: Bar and Liquid
**Sunscreen
**Tiolet Paper
**Toothbrushes
**Toothpastes
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