Be Prepared for Anything

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I’ve noticed something as I’ve been out and about in my area. There are signs everywhere along the roads and streets.

Initially, I had thought all the signs I was seeing were political signs touting the coming election but then I realized a scary truth: While many houses have political signs in their yards, the majority of the signs I’ve been seeing are House For Sale signs.

I live in a tiny rural community - actually a wide spot in the road. In just my little area, I can think of about a dozen homes for sale. When I drive into the larger, nearby town (population about 20,000) I see for sale signs everywhere. And I mean everywhere!

Is this a sign of rising unemployment, the mortgage and credit crisis, or more fallout from the current floundering economy? Have people bitten off more mortgage and house than they can chew and now they’re trying to get out from under the massive payments?

I saw gas at several stations in my area had dropped to $2.18 a gallon - I can’t remember the last time I saw it so cheap. That certainly helps my budget along, but I’m still curious about the housing situation.

Are you seeing the same trends in your neighborhoods?

Here are some of my favorite ideas for making money and saving money in a floundering economy. I constantly add to these, but I’d love to hear some of your thoughts.
Are you looking for ways to make a little extra money? Read this article and this one for some ideas.
For some information about building a house without borrowing money, read this one for inspiration.
Are you concerned that your family will be facing a financial crisis in the coming year? Read this article and this one for some tips and pointers.
For other tips to save money, reduce waste and reuse items (to save money) read here, here, and here
More tips and ideas coming soon!

I went grocery shopping the other night and each time I go, the prices have risen a bit more.

I’ve noticed that things have increased by as much as 20-30 cents per item. That doesn’t seem like much, but when you’re on a tight budget and you buy, say 100 items, every little bit adds up.

Even the cheapo stores where I like to shop have gone up. When I first started shopping at my local Save-a-Lot store, 15 ounce cans of tomato sauce were about 27 cents each. Then they jumped to 30 cents. Then to 33 cents (3 for 99 cents the tags declared!), now they’ve went up to 39 cents each.

I can remember a few years ago I could really stock up on groceries - have my cart completely packed full (and almost overflowing) with enough stuff to last my family of five for a whole month and it would cost between $150-200. Now, I can fill the cart half full, picking and choosing what we really, really need to get through the next two weeks (like I did Saturday) and it came to $107!

What are you favorite tips for combatting those high grocery prices? What are you doing to save money on the food your family eats?

First of all, the blog I posted yesterday apparently touched a nerve with some. I thought I would take a moment to respond to the negative comments that were made and clear up some misinterpretations that were inferred from my writing.

1. Nowhere in my blog did I mention Sarah Palin - or my view of her. Some commenters feel the need to throw her into any political discussion.

2. Nowhere in my blog did I state that I believe Obama is the Anti-Christ. Perhaps you should re-read my comment to understand the satirical, tongue-in-cheek slant it was presented in to offer up food for thought. Whether I believe he is the Anti-Christ or not would be a personal belief - and not something I would share here.

3. The world at large DID NOT love JFK. In fact, most of the world outside the US hated him: Think Latin America, Russia, China, Eastern Europe and pretty much all other countries and territories where Communism had interest. I think the hatred of JFK was evidenced by the fact that he was assassinated.

4. I never said once that I was not going to vote - only that I would not vote for Obama.

5. I have visited and read (and even enjoyed some) blogs of all of those who took the time and effort to read and comment (negatively and in some cases insultingly) on my blog. I appreciate their honesty and their passion for their subjects (I especially appreciated and enjoyed the What Would Batman Do blog).  I appreciate your rights of free speech and would never deign to insult you or belittle you in any comment I make on your blog. I might disagree with your opinion and beliefs, but I would be civil and respectful about it, but I guess that’s just me!

So thank you for visiting, have a wonderful day and a great weekend.

There are several reasons, but I will try to break them down and simplify them for the sake of space. First of all know this: I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I ascribe to no political party. I am conservative in my thinking.  If I was forced by threat of having my nails ripped out to choose a political party, I think I’d be Libertarian. There are some Democrats I like, some I don’t like. Some Republicans I like, some I don’t like. I am not racist. My opinions on Obama have nothing to do with his skin color, his name, his origin of birth. Nothing. I wouldn’t care if he was green, purple or blue. So there.

1. I am an individual. I don’t like the “herd mentality” that so many people have fallen into. Obama is being touted as the most wonderful thing since sliced bread by the media and celebrities. It irks me to follow the crowd on this one.

2. I was a journalism major in college and thanks to that training, I don’t believe anything I read or hear from the national media. The adage “No news in the truth and no truth in the news” is one that I really believe.

3. Obama proclaims that he is the candidate for change. What kind of change does he mean to bring about? And who exactly is this change good for? I don’t think it’s good for me. I don’t think it’s good for my family.

4. I don’t trust Obama. Call this one just a gut reaction. I am generally pretty good at reading between the lines of what people say and seeing things a lot of people would miss. I think Obama has ulterior motives and an agenda that he’s not about to share publicly - BEFORE the election.

5. Broad, sweeping and sudden change is never a good thing (check out the Russian Revolution for one example). Sure, there are changes that need to be made. Sure I believe there are things that aren’t quite right. BUT I believe that Obama is not the answer.

6. I know this is an unpopular opinion - President Bush has been blamed repeatedly for the economic problems and pending recession in this country and everything else that goes wrong, BUT President Bush does not bear sole blame for the current state of the economy, the credit crisis, the fact that my cell phone doesn’t get a good signal in a lot of trees. If you look back over the past several years, you will see that many of the credit crisis problems were brought about by changes and policies instituted by other Administrations. You have to admit - it’s a pretty cool gimmick, do things then get someone else blamed for them! The credit crisis has come about from policies that started in 1977 and were tweaked during each subsequent Administration. For a better understanding of the timeline on this read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Reinvestment_Act for some good information.

7. Obama creeps me out. Even more than McCain’s hairdo. John Kerry gave me the same creepy, slimy feeling. He reminded me of a used-car salesman wearing a polyester leisure suit trying to sell me a lemon. Obama is the same - except with a bit more Anti-Christ vibe thrown in.

8. I don’t think Obama is qualified. Obama became an Illinois Senator a short time ago and what has he done during that time?  I feel that his Senate career was nothing more than a springboard for his Presidential run. I believe his only agenda in being elected to the Senate was simply so he could run for President. I don’t believe he is in any way, shape or form qualified to be the leader of this country. I doubt his patriotism based upon his own actions. I am suspicious of his professions of Christian faith. I think he is being naive (or letting his true agenda slip out) when he states he is going to negotiate with Iran. How in the world do you give warm fuzzies to a country who will never stop hating America or wanting to kill Americans????!!!

9. Every other country and people in the world have jumped on the Obama bandwagon. Is that not scary to anyone else? The fact that so many people in so many other countries are absolutely in love with a Presidential candidate in the United States. Helloooooo! Red flag!

Those are my top nine reasons for not voting for Obama. I would have listed 10, but then again, that would have put me in with the herd mentality that says a list must be the Top Ten.

I know I’m holding an unpopular opinion here - and maybe it’s politically incorrect - but I fear what will happen to our country if Obama becomes our next President. I don’t spout my political views very often because they are generally unpopular. But I feel that I must say something here.

Anyone else have any qualms? Or is it just me?

Sure, all of the Hollywood-ites are in love with him and see him as their Messiah. But what about the rest of us regular people? What does it mean to us?

I think Obama is dangerous. Call it a hunch or a premonition or whatever the heck it is, but I have a really bad feeling about him. I don’t trust him. I’m from Illinois - where Obama is a Senator - and I personally don’t think he’s experienced enough to do anything, except learn to be a Senator!

I don’t live anywhere near Chicago so I’ve seen no benefit from Barack. I feel like he ran for the Senate just so he could run for President - not because he wanted to be a Senator. Of course, I also feel that Hillary Clinton did the exact same thing - but at least she had the decency to complete a longer stint in the Senate and actually do something there before she threw her hat in the Presidential ring.

At least Hillary made no bones about her agenda - that she was number one in all things. With Obama, we have no clue where he truly stands. He spouts a lot of rhetoric and feel-goodisms that make people want to join in, but nothing of any substance. Does anyone have flashbacks of Jim Jones here?

It scares me that Obama seems to not have a patriotism and love for this country that is, well. . . Presidential. It also frightens me that he seems to be wanting to get all warm and cuddly with the Iranians and other America-haters. I’m all for peace, but I think we Americans need to realize there is more to creating peace in the Middle East than just playing nice.

If you’ve been watching the news on TV or the Internet, you’ve been seeing constant instability.

This isn’t really surprising. In America, our economy has been riding high. If you look around, you’ve probably noticed people in the USA spend, spend, spend and spend some more.

Have you ever wondered why thrift stores weren’t around when our grandparents were growing up? Because people didn’t get tired of things and toss them out. People didn’t have 50 outfits hanging in their closet and think they had nothing to wear.

Most of our grandparents and great-grandparents made a habit of using everything they had, fixing whatever was broke and scrimping and saving. Today, so many don’t do this!

In American we have a reached a point of not appreciating anything we have. I admit it - I live in a small, mobile home. I’d love to have a large, fancy house. But I am content. Sure it’s cramped, but it’s a roof over my head. I have heat and air conditioning, running water and an indoor bathroom (two in fact!). I don’t have to build a fire to cook and I have a refrigerator to hold my leftovers. In many countries, people would envy what I have while in America I am looked down on by many.

In truth, a financial crisis in America may not be such a bad thing. It might wake us all up and cause us to appreciate every little thing we have.

One can only hope.

Everyone likes to save money and with the economy faltering, it’s more important than ever right now. One of the best ways to save money is to buy used items at local thrift stores, but how can you make sure you’re getting good value for your hard-earned dollars? Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your thrift store shopping trip. 1. Make a list of items you are looking for. The goal of thrift store shopping is to buy used items at a cheaper price than buying them new at a store. Write down the items you will be looking for. It’s easy to forget or overlook something if you haven’t written it down. My family members will tell me items they are looking for, so I include those on my list. If you don’t see an item you are looking for, don’t be afraid to ask if there is one in the stock room. Most thrift stores have more items than they have room for on the sales floor - everything else is stored in a back room. So don’t be afraid to ask for a specific item - it might be back there. 2. Have in mind your top price for an item. When I shop at thrift stores, I generally never spend more than $3-5 on an item, unless it is in especially good shape or I know for a fact it is worth more. For example, I know that at one retail store in my area, I can buy a brand new pair of jeans for my son for less than $10. At one thrift store I shop, jeans can be priced anywhere from $4.95 to $9.95. The price at that store usually isn’t worth it for worn jeans, when I can buy them brand new for just a little bit more money. 3. Ask to try out electronic items and carry assorted batteries with you. Examine closely all items that require electricity or batteries. Ask store personnel to plug in items so you can verify that they work. Pop in some batteries and see if the item works. If store personnel won’t accomodate your request, pass on that item. 4. Closely examine all items before buying. Check clothing for holes, missing buttons, stains, and tears. Check shoes for holes, shoestrings and damage. With appliances and other electronic items, look for frayed or damaged cords. Check for damaged or broken buttons, handles and attachments. Check to see if all attachments are with the item. There is nothing more frustrating than getting home to find something you just bought doesn’t work or is broken beyond repair. If the price is right, many items can be repaired - making it worth the purchase. 5. Ask about refunds or returns. Most thrift stores have a policy of no returns or refunds (which is why it is important to examine all items before buying), but a few will accept a return for store credit. Ask what the policy is for each store. 6. Find out when the store puts out new merchandise. Some stores put new merchandise on the floor throughout the day or early in the morning every day, while some only put new merchandise out on specific days of the week. Ask and make a point of being there on those days. 7. Get to know store personnel. A smile and friendly “Hi, how are you” can go a long way in your thrift store shopping. If you’re a frequent shopper, you will see many of the same faces over and over. Get to know them. Call them by name. While being friendly may not necessarily benefit your thrift store shopping, it will encourage someone else and possibly brighten their day. Don’t discount the great feeling you’ll get by being friendly as you find your bargains. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be saving money and bringing home great bargains in no time.

Winter comes around every year, and with it comes the potential for severe winter weather. While some winters may be mild, some winters will bring snow and ice with a vengeance. A little preparation ahead of time can help you and your family survive in the event of a severe storm. We hear about it all the time: A winter weather advisory comes across the news and people began running to the nearest grocery store in a panic trying to stock up on food and necessary items. That is the wrong time to prepare. The right time to prepare is in the spring, summer and fall - before an emergency arises. So what should you plan to stock up on and store “just in case?” 1. A heat source. Without heat, food and other necessary supplies won’t matter if you’re snowed or iced in your home. Don’t depend upon electric heat. Power outages for extended time periods are common in the winter as ice and snow break lines, can send a car careening into a power pole, damage transformers and generally wreak havoc. A kerosene heater, wood heater, or gas heater can mean the difference between surviving or freezing to death. The heater may not be large enough to keep your family comfortable, but it will keep you from freezing. Keep a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector on hand to warn you of carbon monoxide poisoning when you use such heaters. Be sure to have enough fuel to run the heater for a few days. Fuel to last for one week or more would be ideal. 2. Nonperishable food. Stock up on and store flour, sugar, dry milk, rice, pasta, canned goods, peanut butter, honey, tea bags. In the event of a power outage, fresh foods in the refrigerator should be used first before they spoil. Foods stored in a freezer should be good for a couple of days as long as the freezer isn’t opened. If the power stays off longer than a couple of days, frozen foods can be put outside - as long as the temperature is below freezing outside. If you do put items outside to freeze, put them into a cooler or a plastic box to keep animals away from them. Other food supplies that should be stocked up on include salt, baking soda, baking powder. The table salt can also be used on icy steps and walks if you don’t have rock salt available. 3. Water. Bottles and jugs of water should be stored in a cool, dry place. The more you can store, the better. Most municipal water supplies and even home wells depend upon electricity to pump the water, so if the power goes out your water access may be gone with it. Water will be needed for drinking, cooking, washing and flushing the toilets. Be sure you have plenty for every member of your family. A recommendation is one to five gallons per person, per day. To plan for a week-long power outage or home confinement for a family of five would require a minimum of 35 gallons of water. Even if you can’t store that much, a few bottles or jugs can be slid in the back of a closet or under a bed. 4. Medical supplies. A good first aid kit should be kept in your car and in your home. Be sure you know how to use it. A book on basic first aid would be a good resource to have on hand. If you or anyone in your family takes prescription medication, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep extra on hand. Ask your pharmacist how best to plan ahead for such an emergency. Also keep on hand rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment and extra bandages. 5. Snow shovels, rock salt, window scrapers. In the event of a large amount of snow or ice, these items may mean the difference between being stuck inside your home and actually being able to get outside. Rock salt (or ice melt as it is sometimes called) usually comes in large containers - if you don’t have room inside to store it, pour some of it into a smaller container to keep inside. In an emergency, cat litter can also be used for traction on ice. 6. Candles, flashlights, lamps/lanterns. Be sure to have plenty of matches available to light candles and oil lamps, as well as plenty of batteries for flashlights and lanterns. If you have oil or kerosene lamps, stock up on lamp oil or kerosene. The lamp oil can be stored inside, but due to the smell and fumes, the kerosene would be best stored outside in a garage or shed. It would be a good idea to have one flashlight available for each family member. 7. Miscellaneous items. Other items that would be a great idea to stock up on or have on hand: Blankets, scarves, mittens/gloves, hats, battery-operated radio, toilet paper, snacks, entertainment items (cards, books, small crafts, coloring books, crayons, etc.) to keep from going stir crazy, duct tape, plastic sheeting (in case of broken windows - in a pinch, plastic trash bags could also be used), disposable hand and foot warmers, walkie-talkies, thermal underwear, bleach (for purifying water). 8. A plan. While this is last on the list, it may be the most important. The best way to prepare for something is to plan ahead. Sit down with your family and write out an emergency plan so everyone will know what to do “just in case.” Family members need to know what to do, who to contact, where emergency items are located, what to do if they are separated, etc. Planning ahead and being prepared is the key to surviving winter storms and emergencies.