Organization: Remembering Box

Remember...Remember...Remember....

My Mission: Pack 3 children and myself for two separate destinations by next Friday.

Impossible? Each trip I take I have forgotten minor and major items, but I survived. The thing that bothers me is that I am a good list maker, but not always a good list checker, lol.

I came up with an idea I wanted to share. I've used it before in a different setting, but never thought to use it for travel, until now...

I call it The Remembering Box. I'm sure you have already realized what it is. Fantastic!

Step 1 - Find a box, basket, bin, etc. Use the size that will suit your current needs. If you use a collapsible bin, you can bring it with you on your trip. So, when those wonderful mom-caretaker thoughts enter in you can take immediate action knowing there is a home away from home :). Like when you see a stray sock and think, "oh, I need to remember to..." Hah, it's remembered!
Step 2 - Keep your ongoing pack list/remembering list in this box along with a pen.
Step 3 - Each time you remember an item needed for your trip, grab the item and put it in your box. Or if the time is premature, write the item on your list. This would be a great place to hold your travel itinerary and airline tickets, etc.
Step 4 - Before you depart, check your list. Then, take the items out of the bin and move them to your suitcase.

I've used this same idea for moving. Each time I moved, a box was designated to hold essential and needed items like scissors, markers, tape, labels, phone numbers, utility info (turn on/off info.), etc.

Wish me luck on my packing adventure!!! Please share how you prepare for a trip!

Family Home Storage - Simply Begin

Food prices are going up and so is the cost of everything else. That is enough to restore my thoughts to "being prepared."

I am a Food Storage novice. Some of you may be sailing in that same boat. Below are some quick and easy steps to steer your coarse to preparedness island. Believe me, in the days coming forth, to those looking from the outside in...it will seem as though they wished they were on that island. Few will be prepared.

Start slow. Take a week to do each of the steps or take more than that. This is not meant to overwhelm. It is meant to prepare us so we are not overwhelmed and in need.

Where do I begin?

1. Know Your Family/Individual Needs
A great resource for knowing how to determine your needs is this free pamphlet (available online) created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:
All Is Safely Gathered In

Here is another helpful tool:
Food Storage Calculator

2. Budget for Preparedness
Now that you know the amount of food you will need, it is time to prepare a budget.
$5/week is a decent and simple way to begin. Now, with the rising costs of food you may need to up that amount. But I say keep your goal simple. It is quite overwhelming to think you have so much to buy.

3. Where Can I Store It?

This is something I considered while making changes to my track home when we purchased it. The powder bathroom had the option to become a full bath if I made the office into a bedroom. Instead I opted to keep it an office (no closet, but I can always add one) and the space where they would have installed a shower in my powder bathroom is now a large closet that I use for food storage.
Do not use your garage unless you plan on stacking your food storage on 2 x 4's and installing a swamp cooler (or something similar). All of your hard-earned money will go to waste because your food may likely spoil in extreme temperatures.
If your storage is minimal, find products that would be easy to store in the area you designate. Know what your limit is. There is no point in living in a home where your food takes over all of your living space. Set limits and reach for them.

Storage Options to Consider:

• Under the Bed
• Re-purpose a Closet
• Storage Room (add-on to your home or convert a bedroom)
• Book shelves (these should be very sturdy and anchored)
• Add an air conditioned shed/unit to your backyard
• Attic (for non-perishables like diapers, toilet paper, etc.)
• Convert any empty/unused Space
• Pantry or cupbaords (if you can spare them)
  

Recommended Temperatures

3. Where Will I Buy?
There are many ways to purchase food storage. If you are a Latter Day Saint you have a Food Storage Specialist in your Ward. They are there to educate you and provide you with upcoming lists of items that are prepared at the LDS Cannery (now called Family Home Storage Centers). Some Relief Society Enrichment activities include food storage classes, taste testing and demonstrations. If they do not you can request such a class to begin from your Enrichment Counselor/Food Storage Specialist.
**posted 1/13/09** I failed to mention that Costco & Sam's Club now sells these Emergency Food Supplies like this one (I have also seen them for sale inside the store). The price is reasonable for what you get. And it is comforting to know I have a good start.
Buying Schedule: Write out a schedule of what you will buy. You can sit down weekly/monthly or even yearly to plan. It may take extra time but will be well worth it if you already have a plan. Remember to keep track of what you do buy and what the expiration date is. Enter it into your Food Storage Tracker*.

The best thing to do is just start! As with anything we strive for, begin with small accomplishments. A one week/one month supply is better than nothing. See you on preparedness island!

Some Helpful Resources:
www.providentliving.org
www.internet-grocer.net

*If you are interested in a free Food Storage Tracker Excel Workbook to track of your food storage progress please e-mail me, galaxceee@gmail.com . The program is amazing and was made by an LDS stake in California. Please do not sell this program. It is intended to be a help to those serious about tracking their food storage, it is not for sale.

Please add your comments below. What tips do you have for food storage?