Taylor 9th Ward Food Storage Plan

rice blends

2012-01-15T18:51:00.001-08:00

Make Your Own Savory Rice Blends...

Looking for a way to save money, eat healthier, and make more use of your rice and herbs? Here's a great solution...Make your own savory Rice Blends. Below you'll find the recipe for 4 unique blends. Enjoy!

Chicken Tarragon Rice Blend

4 cups uncooked long grain rice

4 Tbsp. instant chicken bouillon

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. dried tarragon

2 tsp. dried parsley

¼ tsp. white pepper

Dilly Lemon Rice Blend

4 cups uncooked long grain rice

5 tsp. dried lemon peel

4 tsp. dill weed or dill seed

2 tsp. dried chives

2 tsp. salt

8 tsp. instant chicken bouillon

Spanish Kick Rice Blend

4 cups uncooked long grain rice

3 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. cumin

½ tsp. paprika

1 tsp. salt

6 tsp. dehydrated peppers

Creamy Herb Rice Blend

4 cups uncooked long grain rice

¼ cup dried minced celery

2 Tbsp. dried thyme

4 Tbsp. instant chicken bouillon

½ cup instant dry milk

2 Tbsp. dried parsley

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. Store in air tight containers. To use the rice blends, simply combine 2 cups of water with 1 cup rice blend and 1 tbsp. butter. Cook as you would normally cook rice. If using a pressure cooker, set the timer on high for 9 minutes. Done!

You can use white rice, brown rice, short, or long grain rice. Want a head start?
Introducing our exclusive Rice Blend Kit.

2011-12-18T20:25:00.001-08:00

Moist and so delicious!

Try making your own Deluxe Chocolate Cake Mix or package some up for a neighbor this holiday season... here's the simple recipe:

Deluxe Chocolate Cake Mix
2 cups white flour
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 cup cocoa
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup vegetable shortening

Combine all ingredients and store in airtight container or cellophane gift bag, and store up to several months.

To make the cake:

1 1/3 cup water
1/2 cup oil
3 large eggs

Mix on low for 2 minutes. Pour batter into greased, floured pans.

9 x13"...34-38 minutes
9 inch pans...30-33 minutes
Cubcakes...19-22 minutes.

This recipe is so moist and fluffy, you'll never go back to boxed brands again! Happy Holidays..

2011-11-07T13:41:00.003-08:00

Fall is here.... I love this time of year!

2011-11-04T20:37:00.000-07:00

Rainbow Bean Soup

2011-10-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

2011 Summer Project: I have been trying , tasting and tweaking dehydrated meals in a jar recipes. They are made from dried ingredients and sealed in a jar or bag thereby having a long shelf life. If you need a quick meal, just open and dump into water and cook. Convenient, quick, and inexpensive. A great idea for self-reliance, read June Ensign 2011 pgs. 7, 81-96. More to follow... Enjoy!

Rainbow Bean Soup

Dehydrated Meal in a Jar/bag

¾ cup great northern or white beans

¾ cup split peas

¾ cup red beans

¾ cup lentils, preferably red or yellow

¾ cup black beans

¾ cup dried tomatoes

½ cup dried minced onion

2 Tbsp chicken bullion powder

2 Tbsp parsley flakes

2 tsp dried basil

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp dried oregano

Cooking Directions

In a large pot add 12 cups water. Add all ingredients, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 3 hours or until beans are tender. Stir occasionally. Add water as needed. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Assembly Directions

Pour all ingredients in a:

Food saver bag: Insert oxygen packet and seal jar using a food saver

Write name and instructions on bag Wrap with plastic wrap 2-3 times (helps to prevent breakage)

Quart Mason jar: Insert oxygen packet, seal jar using a food saver attachment for jars

Write name and instructions on jar

Name: Rainbow Bean Soup

Instructions: Add 12 cups of water. Cook 3 hours

Helpful information:

Makes a dark bean soup, delicious, looks like chili Stores used: Smart & Final, Restaurant Depot, Honeyville Farms

Can add any meats, ground beef is good. Thickens each additional day, add water

Makes 2/3 of a large 20 qt. pot Feeds 8-10

Can add fresh, crushed or stewed tomatoes

Makes 15 meals in a jar using 5 pound bags of each bean, lentil, peas etc.

Fall Recipes .... yum!

2011-10-22T15:32:00.001-07:00

Winter Squash Dip

1 winter squash (about 2 pounds), such as butternut squash, unpeeled, seeded, and cut into 3-inch pieces
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 heads garlic, tops cut off to expose cloves
1 1/4 sticks (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 scallions, white and pale-green parts only, sliced 1 inch thick
2 chipotle chiles (canned in adobo sauce)
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/4 cups grated Parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Paprika, for sprinkling
Roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds), for garnish
Breadsticks, for dipping

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place squash on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss. Spread squash in a single layer. Place garlic on a piece of parchment-lined foil. Drizzle with oil, and wrap loosely. Place on baking sheet with squash. Bake until squash is soft and golden brown, about 50 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add scallions, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes.

Scoop flesh from squash, and transfer to a food processor. Squeeze garlic from skins, and add to squash. Add scallions and chipotles, and pulse until smooth. Add remaining 6 tablespoons butter, the sour cream, cream cheese, Parmesan, and lemon juice, and pulse until just combined but not smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour into a hollowed-out squash or a serving bowl. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Sprinkle with paprika, and garnish with pepitas. Serve with breadsticks.

2011-09-28T13:25:00.001-07:00

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are the best comfort food. These are so comforting with the oat flour.

Yield: 3 dozen

Ingredients and Directions:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar

In mixer with cookie paddle attachment, start by creaming these together.

Add in:
1 t. vanilla
2 eggs

Continue to cream together.

Add in:
1 cup whole rolled oats
3 ½ cups freshly ground oat flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt

Mix until all ingredients are combined.

Add in:
2 cups chopped walnuts
2 cups chocolate chips or 2 cups heath bar pieces

Continue to mix until well incorporated. Scoop onto parchment lined cookie sheet evenly spaced. Place in a preheated 325 degree oven and bake for 10-12 mintues.

family tree

2011-09-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

Whole Grain Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

2011-09-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dry Mixture:

4-4 1/2 cups *whole grain flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1 cup chocolate chips

*You could use Wonder Flour!

Wet Mixture:
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup milk
1 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1-2 tsp. vanilla

Variation: Add 1/2 cup oats to the wet mixture and let sit 5-10 minutes before adding mixture to dry ingredients.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift dry ingredients together. Place in a large mixing bowl and set askide. In another bowl, mix wet ingredients together. Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and stir, using a folding motion, until nearly combined. Add chocolate chips and finish mixing. Fill paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake 18-20 minutes.

Makes 27 muffins.

2011-09-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Gardening ideas and progress........

2011-08-04T00:12:00.000-07:00

My Path in my "Secret Garden" has been laid out.

Recipe using vegetables out of our garden:

Spice I used for recipe, going to make my own mix....

When the lights go out.........

2010-07-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

What will you do when the electricity goes out? How do you cook your food? What if your freezer goes out?...... start making jerky out of your meat!

Well, as a ward we had some great successes cooking new ways!

SOLAR OVEN

....made out of foil and 2 boxes, we cooked yummy rolls to go with our dinner!

PIT COOKING
We learned how to cook a roast and potatoes under the ground and it turned out delicious!

We enjoyed a lot of food and did it without electricity.

Then enjoyed cobbler out of a dutch oven.

Just some ideas to get you thinking on......

"What will you do when the lights go out?"

2010-07-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

GET ON BOARD Taylor 9th Ward!
It wasn't Raining........ when Noah built the ark.

Yearly Food Storage Plan:
Each week buy the items listed and store them. Buy the largest quantity you can buy, that makes sense for your family, and that you can sensibly afford and store.

If you miss a week, skip it and go on; don't get behind.

Replace the items as you use them.
July:
Week 2: Jams, jellies, honey, pectin, sure-jell and 'canning" supplies if you can.

Be Prepared "When the Lights go out!"
(Let your light so shine)
What will you do when the lights go out?
We are spoiled by the wonderful convenience of electricity. It powers our world and we are dependent upon it. When we find ourselves without power, our world comes crashing down around us. This class is to get you thinking about how you would take care of your home and family WHEN the power goes out.
Date Night/class on Saturday, July 17th at 6:00 pm
@the Merrill Home in Taylor Farms.
~Dinner and getting prepared! Come learn and enjoy!

Financial Plan:
Simple weekly financial lessons and assignments to help you become financially stable this year!

UNDERSTANDING CREDIT AND CREDIT CARDS

Credit cards, like loans, allow you to build up a credit history. This may help you with credit related activity such as getting a student loan, car loans, renting an apartment, or buying a house. Credit cards are also convenient since they provide a reduced need to carry cash or checks, and provide security in case of an emergency.

However, credit cards are not for everyone, and if you have one you need to act responsibly. You need to be able to afford a credit card, and also need to try to pay off the balance each month. The over-use of credit cards has been a major reason why so many individuals have too much debt, and why bankruptcy rates are high.

Consumers are bombarded with offers from credit card companies, offering various incentives and interest rate options. For those that fall into the credit trap, being in debt seems almost forever. Meanwhile, high interest charges and late payment fees eat up most of their available money. Many credit card holders do not even know how much they are paying in interest, and what impact it has on their overall financial well-being.

Credit cards are plastic cards issued by a bank or other business allowing the holder of the card to purchase goods and services without using cash, also called buying on credit. They allow you to purchase things that you may not currently have the money to buy.
When you use a credit card, the credit company that issued the credit card pays the store. Later, you will get a bill in the mail from your credit card company for the amount you purchased. At that time, you can either pay the bill in full, or only pay a minimum amount, and wait till later to finish paying. If you wait till later, you will owe the credit card company interest on the amount that you do not pay.

Posted two at once because of 4th of July. Scroll down to not miss any weeks.

2010-06-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

2010-06-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

2010-06-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

2010-06-11T23:37:00.000-07:00

GET ON BOARD Taylor 9th Ward!
It wasn't Raining........ when Noah built the ark.

Yearly Food Storage Plan:
Each week buy the items listed and store them. Buy the largest quantity you can buy, that makes sense for your family, and that you can sensibly afford and store.

If you miss a week, skip it and go on; don't get behind.

Replace the items as you use them.
June:
Week 2: Safety Week: Flashlights and batteries, cord or twine (rope)

Be Prepared "When the Lights go out!"
(Let your light so shine) What do you do if the electricity goes out, for a time?
Date Night/class coming up!
~Dinner and getting prepared
Details to come..........

Financial Plan:
Simple weekly financial lessons and assignments to help you become financially stable this year!

CAR INSURANCE
Standard Coverage - Liability Insurance
The most important auto insurance coverage to understand is standard coverage. Standard coverage includes liability insurance, which is the type of insurance most often required by states. Liability insurance insures the individual for the cost of any damage or injury that is caused to someone else during an accident. The amount of insurance coverage required by states is often minimal, so it is often recommended to get additional insurance, depending upon your own personal circumstances and budget.

How Liability Insurance is Described
Liability insurance is often described by three numbers, such as 50/100/25. These numbers refer to the amount of liability insurance coverage. 50/100/25 coverage, includes $50,000 of bodily injury to a single individual, $100,000 of bodily injury caused to everyone in an accident, and $25,000 of property damage.

Discussion questions:
What other factors may we look at when deciding on which auto insurance provider? (Company reputation, etc).

What other types of car insurance coverage are there? (medical payments insurance, underinsured and uninsured motorist insurance, collision insurance, comprehensive auto insurance, auto towing, auto glass, rental insurance, emergency roadside assistance).

We need to prepare ourselves mentally, spiritually, and emotionally too:

Learn to improve the relationship with yourself and others Seminar:
Topics covered
What is Codependency?
Boundaries, Your First Line of Defense

Assertiveness
Thinking ~ Feeling ~ Spirituality

Control ~ Self Esteem ~ Serenity & Letting Go

Relationships ~ Parenting ~ Functional Families

Instructor: Helen Bair M.A.P.C.
15 year Subconscious Therapist
and Codependency Recovery Coach

Log onto www.helenbair.com for more details about the material taught in this seminar.

Normally this 9 hour seminar price is $150.00 per person. Helen Bair has agreed to bring it to Snowflake/Taylor for $30 per person or $50 per couple if a limit of 20 paying participants is met. Please call Katrina Palmer at 928-243-2723 or Robin Willis at 928-536-7788 or Anna Merrill at 928-243-3000 to reserve your spot. Money must be paid in advance and is non-refundable but may be transfered to another person or used towards another seminar or therapy.

Proposed Seminar will begin:
Friday, June 18, 2010, 6 - 9 pm and continue on
Saturday, June 19, 9 am to Noon, 2 - 5 pm

(This one is posted 2 weeks early because I will not be available, so scroll down to see this weeks!)

2010-05-16T16:19:00.001-07:00

2010-05-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

2010-05-09T21:05:00.000-07:00

GET ON BOARD Taylor 9th Ward!
It wasn't Raining........ when Noah built the ark.

Food storage goal:
Each week buy the items listed and store them. Buy the largest quantity you can buy, that makes sense for your family, and that you can sensibly afford and store.

If you miss a week, skip it and go on; don't get behind.

Replace the items as you use them.
May:
Week 2: Dry Soups and crackers. Restore crispiness by placing crackers in microwave or food dehydrator.

Be Prepared "When the Lights go out!"
(Let your light so shine) What do you do if the electricity goes out, for a time?
Date Night/class coming up!
~Dinner and getting prepared
Details to come..........

Financial Plan:
Simple weekly financial lessons and assignments to help you become financially stable this year!

COMPARISON SHOPPING
Comparison shopping is shopping for bargains by comparing the prices of similar items or brands or comparing the prices at different stores. To get a bargain, or get the best value, you must compare not only price, but quality as well.
To compare price, if you are comparing a single item at two different stores, then it is simple: the item with the lower price is likely the better deal (don't forget to compare store return policies, etc). More difficult is if the price is different depending on the number of items you purchase:

Example:

Which is the better bargain?
2 pounds of bananas for $1.00 OR 3 pounds of bananas for $2.00?
To find the answer, divide the cost by the amount to find the price per unit:

$1.00 divided by 2 = .50 per Pound This is the better bargain!
$2.00 divided by 3 = .67 per Pound

Besides price, you also need to compare quality. If something is priced less, but the quality is not good, then the saying "you get what you pay for" may apply. Unless you have someone that can give you advice, you need to make your own decisions if the item with lesser quality is a better deal than the item at a higher price. For example, if two shirts are priced at $20 and $10, but the $10 shirt shrinks and falls apart, then the $10 shirt may actually be worthless.

2010-05-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

2010-04-26T22:05:00.000-07:00

GET ON BOARD Taylor 9th Ward!
It wasn't Raining........ when Noah built the ark.

Yearly Food Storage Plan:
Each week buy the items listed and store them. Buy the largest quantity you can buy, that makes sense for your family, and that you can sensibly afford and store.

If you miss a week, skip it and go on; don't get behind.

Replace the items as you use them.
April:
Week 4: Assemble an emergency sewing kit. Thread, pins, needles, buttons, tape measure, scissors, zipper, etc.

Financial Plan:
Simple weekly financial lessons and assignments to help you become financially stable this year!

CHILDREN'S BUDGET
15 Ways to Teach Kids About Money
Brought to you by National PTA®
by Paul Richard

Introducing Kids to Money (DON'T FORGET TO TEACH CHILDREN TO PAY TITHING)Money gives people -- both young and old -- decision-making opportunities. Educating, motivating, and empowering children to become regular savers and investors will enable them to keep more of the money they earn and do more with the money they spend. Everyday spending decisions can have a far more negative impact on children's financial futures than any investment decisions they may ever make. Here are 15 simple ways to help educate children about personal finance and managing money:

1.As soon as children can count, introduce them to money. Take an active role in providing them with information. Observation and repetition are two important ways children learn.

2.Communicate with children as they grow about your values concerning money --- how to save it, how to make it grow, and most importantly, how to spend it wisely.

3.Help children learn the differences between needs, wants, and wishes. This will prepare them for making good spending decisions in the future.

4.Setting goals is fundamental to learning the value of money and saving. Young or old, people rarely reach goals they haven't set. Nearly every toy or other item children ask their parents to buy them can become the object of a goal-setting session. Such goal-setting helps children learn to become responsible for themselves.

5.Introduce children to the value of saving versus spending. Explain and demonstrate the concept of earning interest income on savings. Consider paying interest on money children save at home; children can help calculate the interest and see how fast money accumulates through the power of compound interest. Later on, they also will realize that the quickest way to a good credit rating is a history of regular, successful savings. Some parents even offer to match what children save on their own.

6.Allowance and Spending Decisions
When giving children an allowance, give them the money in denominations that encourage saving. If the amount is $5, give them 5-1-dollar bills and encourage that at least one dollar be set aside in savings. (Saving $5 a week at 6 percent interest compounded quarterly will total about $266 after a year, $1,503 after 5 years, and $3,527 after 10 years!)

7.Take children to a credit union or bank to open their own savings accounts. Beginning the regular savings habit early is one of the keys to savings success. Remember, don't refuse them when they want to withdraw a portion of their savings for a purchase--This may discourage them from saving at all. You can also introduce children to U.S. savings bonds. Bonds are still a good value, costing one-half their face value and earning interest that in some instances will be tax-free if used for a college education. Perhaps more importantly, when given as a gift, bonds will not be spent immediately, reinforcing saving and goal-setting lessons.

8.Keeping good records of money saved, invested, or spent is another important skill young people must learn. To make it easy, use 12 envelopes, 1 for each month, with a larger envelope to hold all the envelopes for the year. Establish this system for each child. Encourage children to place receipts from all purchases in the envelopes and keep notes on what they do with their money.

9.Use regular shopping trips as opportunities to teach children the value of money. Going to the grocery store is often a child's first spending experience. About a third of our take-home pay is spent on grocery and household items. Spending smarter at the grocery store (using coupons, shopping sales, comparing unit prices) can save more than $1,800 a year for a family of four. To help young people understand this lesson, demonstrate how to plan economical meals, avoid waste, and use leftovers efficiently. When you take children to other kinds of stores, explain how to plan purchases in advance and make unit-price comparisons. Show them how to check for value, quality, repairability, warranty, and other consumer concerns. Spending money can be fun and very productive when spending is well-planned. Unplanned spending, as a rule, usually results in 20-30 percent of our money being wasted because we obtain poor value with our purchases.

10.Allow young people to make spending decisions. Whether good or poor, they will learn from their spending choices. You can then initiate an open discussion of spending pros and cons before more spending takes place. Encourage them to use common sense when buying. This means doing research before making major purchases, waiting for the right time to buy, and using the "spending-by-choice" technique. This technique involves selecting at least three other things the money could be spent on setting aside money for one of the items, and then making a choice of which item to purchase.
Buying Smart

11.Show children how to evaluate TV, radio, and print ads for products. Will a product really perform and do what the commercials say? Is a price offered truly a sale price? Are alternative products available that will do a better job, perhaps for less cost, or offer better value? Remind them that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

12.Alert children to the dangers of borrowing and paying interest. If you charge interest on small loans you make to them, they will learn quickly how expensive it is to rent someone else's money for a specified period of time. For instance, paying for a $499 TV over 18 months at $31.85 a month at 18.8 percent interest means the buyer really pays about $575.

13.When using a credit card at a restaurant, take the opportunity to teach children about how credit cards work. Explain to children how to verify the charges, how to calculate the tip, and how to guard against credit card fraud.

14.Be cautious about making credit cards available to young people, even when they are entering college. Credit cards have a message: "spend!" Some students report using the cards for cash advances and also to meet everyday needs, instead of for emergencies (as originally planned). Many of those same students find themselves having to cut back on classes to fit in part-time jobs just to pay for their credit card purchases.

15.Establish a regular schedule for family discussions about finances. This is especially helpful to younger children--it can be the time when they tote up their savings and receive interest. Other discussion topics should include the difference between cash, checks, and credit cards; wise spending habits; how to avoid the use of credit; and the advantages of saving and investment growth. With teenagers, it's also useful to discuss what's happening with the national and local economies, how to economize at home, and alternatives to spending money. All of this information will be important as they take on more responsibility for their own financial well-being.

2010-04-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

2010-04-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

Income .....................................................Expenditures

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Totals:

Does your spending actually balance with your income? If not where will you get the extra money from? (with out going into debt)

Perhaps you will have some money left over…. What will you do with it?

What are some ways to increase your income? How do you think you would use this money to balance your budget?

Be Prepared!!!!

2010-04-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

April
Week 1: Toiletries, floss, toothpaste, razors, blades, shaving cream, sunscreen, saline, etc.

NON-ESSENTIAL EXPENSES
Non-essential expenses include most of the things we don't need, and most often includes many items where we waste money the most. It includes spending on clothing, books, movies, magazines, video games, dining out, gifts, snacks, candy, shoes, etc.

While clothing may be considered an essential expense, how much of it that we buy do we really need? If you want, create two separate categories for non-essential expenses. Place some of your clothing money into essential expenses, and the remainder into non-essential expenses.

Again, track your expenses for at least one month. This will give you insight into where your money is going, and also help you determine where you might be able to spend less and save more. By tracking your expenses, you will be able to better plan for your future needs.

After tracking your expenses, you will be able to set up an estimate of your budget, based on the expenses information you have been tracking.

Have you ever thought about what you would most like to buy when you begin to earn money? List your items:

At some stage in your life you will have to make decisions on how to manage your hard earned money. You will have to balance your spending and income. This is called “Budgeting”.

Drawing up a budget will help you make decisions.

You will need a list of “Needs” and “Wants”. Make a list of these, grouping them under the two headings “Needs” and “Wants” in the table below.

Try to put the most important ones at the top of the list.
Needs Wants
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Think about the difference between “Needs” and “Wants”.

Be Prepared!!!!

2010-03-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

Week 4: Spices and Herbs: Buy the ones you use most often, pepper, cinnamon, bouillon, oregano, etc. (remember, they can be used for Medicinal purposes too.)

Week 5: Make up week, Get Back on Track!!!

Keep your receipts, and write on your budget tracking worksheet all your expenses. Don't forget to also track all purchases made with cash, including small items. These will be more difficult to track (if you don't get a receipt), but try to write down as much as you can with a paper and pencil. You may want to keep a little notebook with you to write down expenses as they occur.

Also, at the end of the week, you should try to estimate any payments with cash that you made, that you did not write down that week. If you are not good at tracking your cash expenses, at least keep track of how much cash you put in your wallet, so you know how much you are spending. Then add that amount to your budget tracking worksheet.

TYPES OF EXPENSES
As you start to track your expenses, it is helpful to break your spending into different categories. There are two main categories of expenses: essential and non-essential expenses. Essential expenses are expenses that are required for living. Non-essential expenses are the extra things you spend your money on. In addition, essential expenses may be broken down into fixed expenses and variable expenses.

ESSENTIAL EXPENSES - FIXED AND VARIABLE
FIXED EXPENSES
Fixed expenses are expenses that are the same each month. Examples include rent or mortgage, car payments, car insurance, property taxes, home insurance, and school loans.

VARIABLE EXPENSES
Variable expenses are expenses that vary each month. Examples include car maintenance, gasoline, food, electricity, heating gas, phone, etc.
One good way to create a budget is to track your income and expenses for one month, by keeping track of each type of expense and if that expense is a fixed expense or variable expense. For the month, Caleb earned $594 and tracked expenses for the month to help create a monthly budget. Fill out the table below using the expenses Caleb tracked. Then total fixed and variable expenses. Also calculate total expenses. Was income greater than or less than expenses for the month?

Expenses: Donations $20, Going to a show $22, New shoes $30, Tax on earnings $222, Food shopping $59, House Mortgage payment $144, Phone bill $49, Music CDs $30

Week 3: Mixes: Cake, Pancake, muffin, Bisquick, etc.

2010-03-18T16:21:00.001-07:00

Be Prepared!!!!

2010-03-09T01:04:00.000-08:00

GET ON BOARD Taylor 9th Ward!
It wasn't Raining........ when Noah built the ark.

Yearly Food Storage Plan:
Each week buy the items listed and store them. Buy the largest quantity you can buy, that makes sense for your family, and that you can sensibly afford and store.

If you miss a week, skip it and go on; don't get behind.
Replace the items as you use them.

March:
Week 2: More first aid products:gauze, patches, swabs, cotton balls, tape, peroxide, bandaids, antibiotic cream etc.

Financial Plan:
Simple weekly financial lessons and assignments to help you become financially stable this year!

Managing Resources Wisely and Staying Out of Debt
Ensign, February 2010

Managing Resources"'Provident living' . . . implies the [conserving] of our resources, the wise planning of financial matters, full provision for personal health, and adequate preparation for education and career development, giving appropriate attention to home production and storage as well as the development of emotional resiliency. . . . If we live wisely and providently, we will be as safe as in the palm of His hand."
President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985).

"What skills do we need to help us become self-reliant? . . . In the early days of the Church, Brigham Young pled with the sisters to learn to prevent illness in families, establish home industries, and learn accounting and bookkeeping and other practical skills. Those principles still apply today. Education continues to be vitally important. . . .
"I asked several bishops what self-reliance skills the sisters in their wards needed most, and they said budgeting. Women need to understand the implications of buying on credit and not living within a budget. The second skill bishops listed was cooking. Meals prepared and eaten at home generally cost less, are healthier, and contribute to stronger family relationships."
Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.

Avoiding Debt"May I suggest five key steps to financial freedom. . . .
"First, pay your tithing. . . .
"Second, spend less than you earn. . . .
"Third, learn to save. . . .
"Fourth, honor your financial obligations. . . .
"Fifth, teach your children to follow your example."
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

"When we go into debt, we give away some of our precious, priceless agency and place ourselves in self-imposed servitude. We obligate our time, energy, and means to repay what we have borrowed—resources that could have been used to help ourselves, our families, and others. . . .
"To pay our debts now and to avoid future debt require us to exercise faith in the Savior—not just to do better but to be better. It takes great faith to utter those simple words, 'We can't afford it.' It takes faith to trust that life will be better as we sacrifice our wants in order to meet our own and others' needs."
Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

March ~Week 1: Juices: frozen and bottled or canned

2010-03-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

STEP TWO:
CREATE A MONTHLY OR WEEKLY BUDGET:
Use the following budget worksheet to help create a monthly or weekly budget. Once you have an estimate of how much you earn or spend in each of the categories listed (or create your own budget categories), try to create a monthly budget using the worksheets. Then during the month, track the items and see where you come in over or under budget.

This worksheet includes two sections: one for income and one for expenses. Income includes wages and interest income. Expenses include taxes, rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, clothing, entertainment, transportation, savings, donations, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Either use the worksheet with categories listed, or choose a worksheet for you to fill in your own categories. You will need to be able to categorize each source of income and expense into one of the categories. Then, estimate projected expenses for the month from your actual expenses. If you used the tracking worksheet above, you will have an idea of how much these items will be in a given month. If an item only occurs annually, then divide the amount by twelve and include it on your monthly worksheet.

Budget

Category: ~Budget ~Amount~Actual Amount~Difference
INCOME:
Wages/Income
Interest Income
INCOME SUBTOTAL
EXPENSES:
Taxes
Rent/Mortgage
Utilities
Groceries/Food
Clothing
Shopping
Entertainment
Transportation
Long-Term Savings
Emergency Savings
Donations
Miscellaneous/Other
EXPENSES SUBTOTAL
NET INCOME (Income - Expenses)

Get on Board Taylor 9th Ward!

2010-02-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Week 4: Solid Shortening; less expensive than oil and stores longer, but buy oil if you prefer.

CREATE A MONTHLY OR WEEKLY BUDGET:
Income includes wages and interest income. Expenses include taxes, rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, clothing, entertainment, transportation, savings, donations, and other miscellaneous expenses.

TRACKING YOUR EXPENSES
The first step to create a budget is to determine how much money you spend, and to whom you are paying that money. To do this, you will need to track your expenses, or spending, for at least a month, and the longer the better. We suggest that you track your spending for three months or more to get an even better estimate of your spending habits.
EXPENSES
Expenses are anything you spend your money on. To track your expenses, you will need to write down every dollar you spend.

An important part of financial success of any individual or family is to be able to establish a budget and then learn to live within that budget. Creating a budget first involves understanding sources of income and expenses.

February Week 3: Peanut Butter

2010-02-16T20:41:00.000-08:00

TRACK YOUR ACTUAL INCOME AND EXPENSES:
An important first step to learning to budget is to track your income and expenses. Preparing a personal budget can be a mystery if the amount of money coming in and out of your pocket is not known. Use the following worksheet to list your daily income and expenses to better understand sources and uses of money. It is suggested that you track income and expenses over the course of one month. Once this worksheet is completed, you will need to categorize the items and create a monthly or weekly budget.

Example:

Daily Budget Tracking

Date.....Item.........Income........Expense........Balance

2-12....pay check.........$560...............................$560

2-14.......Electric........................-$120............. $440

2-16........gas............................-$30...............$410
2-17......pay check........$350................................$760

TOTAL.....................................................$760

Buy a little, store a lot!!!!

2010-02-09T21:30:00.000-08:00

Week 2: Personal Products, soap, deodorant, toilet paper, shampoo, lotion etc.....

Establishing a realistic budget requires a careful observation of your spending habits, and the ability to break things down into essentials, non-essentials, and occasional expenses. This will help ou see where your money is going, and make an accurate plan for the months to come, typically on a semester-by-semester basis. It is important to set aside a certain amount for unexpected or emergency situations, so try to work this into your budget as well as all the costs you normally incur.

Whether you will be working as well as going to school, or relyng on student loans or other financial asistance, making a budget will help keep you on track, allowing for greater expenses at the beginning of each year, and the need to make sure your living expenses at the beginning of each year, and the need to make sure your living expenses are still covered by the end of the year. If it looks like you will not have enough to make ends meet, this will give you time to find solutions before the situation getsoutof control. If your income comes in one payment for the entire ear, or provides a certain amount eac month to the next, it becomes even more important to plan ahead!

Happy New Year 2010! Let's get Self Reliant!

2010-02-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

GET ON BOARD Taylor 9th Ward!

The Plan: Yearly Food Storage Plan

Each week buy the items listed and store them. Buy the largest quantity you can buy, that makes sense for your family, and that you can sensibly afford and store.

If you miss a week, skip it and go on; don't get behind.

Replace the items as you use them.

February:

Week 1: Canned meats: Tuna, stew, chili, spam, etc.

Financial Plan:

Simple weekly financial lessons and assignments to help you become financially stable this year!

What is a Budget: A Budget is a plan for managing your money. It is an estimate of income and expenses over a period of time. With a personal budget, you can get a beter idea of where you spend your money, to whom you owe money and how much.

Why should I budget: Whether you have a lot of money or just a little, a budget can help you in many ways: If you have a budget and stick to it, yo will be less likely to blow your money during random daily spending. A budget can help you reach a financial goal because it controls how much you spend and how much you save. Budgets can help eliminate many money surprises because you have planned ahead and know what to expect each month. Even if you are young, you can start budgeting now to get into the habit. Budgets help you see exactly where your money goes.

Week 52: 10 lbs. Powdered Milk

2010-01-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

Last week of our 52 week Food Storage Plan!
You should have a Year's Supply! If not, it's not too late of Course! We will start again, with a different twist. So if the last one didn't work for you.....try it again!

Also, let's make a New Year's Resolution to get financially organized and out of debt!

Week 51: 10 lbs. of Powdered Milk

2010-01-06T23:26:00.000-08:00

Think Financial: We are almost done with our 52 week food storage goal!
We will continue to work on our food storage goal, but our focus for this year will be to get financially stable!
....Especially in this tough economy!

Week 50: 10 lbs. of Powdered Milk

2010-01-06T23:25:00.002-08:00

Week 49: 10 lbs. powdered milk

2010-01-06T23:25:00.001-08:00

Week 48: 10 lbs.of powdered milk

2009-12-14T21:58:00.000-08:00

Powdered milk can be a great substitute instead of having to run to the store!

Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 cup hot water
3/4 cup a sugar
3/4 cup of powdered milk

Blend ingredients together in a blender. Can be stored in a refrigerator or frozen. This will make one can of sweetened condensed milk.

Week 47: 20 cans Vegetables

2009-12-09T13:05:00.000-08:00

Be prepared for next few weeks we will be stocking up on powdered milk, so you made need to get in line for the ward canner. Be advised that when you plan to get cans at the cannery, they are only open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9-1. Call if you have any questions!

Week 46: 20 cans of fruits/applesauce

2009-11-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

Fruits are great for a snack or a side dish; also very important for your health. Applesauce is a great and healthy substitute for replacing oil in baking recipes.

DECEMBER

"If you are prepared, Ye shall not Fear!"

Provident Living Goal: Review your insurance coverage, life, household, vehicle. Do you have enough or too much? Could you replace your vehicle or your household with what you have?

72 Hour Kit:
Garbage bags
candles
matches
can opener
10 one dollar bills

Review emergency maps and escape plans

Week 45: 20 cans of vegetables

2009-11-28T22:56:00.001-08:00

Week 44: 20 Cans of Vegetables!

2009-11-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

Stock up on your veggies, add a few fruits if you enjoy fruits! You should want to eat the food in your food storage. So make sure it is food that you like!

Week 43: 20 cans of vegetables

2009-11-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/ghostly-shepherds-pie/48575614-4ffc-478a-86a8-68336d575009?WT.mc_id=paid_search_200100_636117&WT.srch=1&esrc=11151

This is a great recipe to use your vegetables and your potato pearls. Instead of using frozen vegetables, use the canned. Also for those successful hunters, I used the deer meat and it worked great!

(To get the wild out of deer meat, we use it for a Sunday roast first. Slow cook it all day with lots of sliced onions. -the onions soak up the wild taste out and give it a good taste. While slow cooking with onions, add spices to it just like you would your roast.)

Week 42: 20 cans vegetables

2009-11-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

Vegetables are an essential part to get your vitamins and minerals. Make vegetables a side dish or an ingredient in the main course.

Week 41: 10 lbs. of Oatmeal

2009-10-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

50 lb.s of Oatmeal available for $7.50 at the LDS Cannery

You can also purchase the cans at the cannery, pick up the canner from my house and pack the oatmeal in the comfort of your own home!

Great Healthy Oatmeal Recipes at this site:
http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/breakfast-brunch/cerealsoatmeal/baked-apple-oatmeal.aspx

NOVEMBER

"Thrifty is the person who plans for tomorrow and not just for today!"

Provident living goak: make a goal to reduce your family garbage, by recycling more.

72 Hour Kit:
Plastic bucket with tight fitting lid,
personal hygiene items(deodorant, shampoo, razor, soap, infant needs, feminine needs, tooth brush, toothpaste) disinfectant, aluminum foil

Week 40: 10 lb.s Oatmeal

2009-10-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

Oatmeal is very healthy and a great food source to have on hand because it's easy and has so many things you can do with it! Check this website out for lots of info!

http://www.lifescript.com/Body/Food/Good-foods/4_Oatmeal_Nutrition_Facts_You_Need_to_Know.aspx?gclid=CL2J56bVyZ0CFQtM2godTh65rA&trans=1&du=1&ef_id=1350:3:s_f90b8296a84361c7846e79344bbf7314_1237606831:StymD0NIYWUAACwhtcoAAASA:20091019174655

Week 39: 10 lbs. of Oatmeal

2009-10-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.quakeroats.com/cooking-and-recipes.aspx

Community Preparedness Fair was a hit!

Solar oven classes
Got certified in CPR and First Aid

Canned and stocked up!!!

Took budgeting classes....Holidays are coming, need to prepare our budgets!!!!!

I will be teaching a budgeting class, so look for future dates.

Easy 72 hour kits!

All kinds of great informaition on gardening, from getting rid of insects with spices, compost piles, pruning, preparing the ground, collecting seeds, etc. Become a part of this Gardening club for free! "Garden with Attitude!" and learn how to become a pro gardner in this area.

Get Employed, a great way to Prepare!!!!

Week 38: 10 lbs. of Rice

2009-10-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.grouprecipes.com/s/easy-rice/recipe/1/relevancy

Don't Forget:

Community Preparedness Fair this Saturday, Oct. 10th in St. Johns 9am-2pm!

Rotate your Year supply, It is possible!

2009-10-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

My husband helped me get creative and built this rolling rotation device, make sure you get it right though becuase the first time I pulled a can out, all the cans came rolling out on top of me! He has perfected it since and I love it. It makes rotation easy. This can work for # 10 cans too! I found this at Shelf Reliance, great system!

It makes it to where I can rotate my year supply on a daily basis.
You can find it online at Costco too.
It was actually cheaper to buy it from that website than the actual Shelf Reliance web site.

I love it because you can store your jars too and you fit it to your own size of cans or jars.

It works great to stack items on top of too.
Call if you have any questions or need help getting it. I have a Costco membership.

Week 37: 10 lbs. of rice

2009-09-30T11:04:00.000-07:00

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Coconut-Rice-with-Black-Beans/Detail.aspx

OCTOBER
"When People are able and unwilling to take care of themselves we are responsible to employ the dictum of the Lord that idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer." Elder Boyd K. Packer

Spiritual Goal: attend one more session of conference then you usually do.

Provident Living Goal: Make a goal 30 min/day to your children or grandchildren. If you have not children to read to, make a goal to read 30 min./day for pleasure.

72 Hour Kit:
4 granola bars per person
2 sticks beef jerky per person
1 package chewing gum per person
hard candies or lollipops (12 per person)
check batteries for light and radio (replace if necessary)

Week 36: 10 lbs. of Rice

2009-09-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

Week 35: 7 cans soup/ 8 cans meat/tuna

2009-09-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

There will be a Community Preparedness Fair coming up! ~on Saturday, October 10th in St. Johns, all are welcome to come!!

Taylor 9th Ward Food Storage Plan

rice blends

Make Your Own Savory Rice Blends...

Deluxe Chocolate Cake Mix...

Fall is here.... I love this time of year!

Rainbow Bean Soup

Fall Recipes .... yum!

Winter Squash Dip

family tree

Whole Grain Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Gardening ideas and progress........

When the lights go out.........

Posted two at once because of 4th of July. Scroll down to not miss any weeks.

(This one is posted 2 weeks early because I will not be available, so scroll down to see this weeks!)

Be Prepared!!!!

Be Prepared!!!!

Week 3: Mixes: Cake, Pancake, muffin, Bisquick, etc.

Be Prepared!!!!

March ~Week 1: Juices: frozen and bottled or canned

Get on Board Taylor 9th Ward!

February Week 3: Peanut Butter

Buy a little, store a lot!!!!

Happy New Year 2010! Let's get Self Reliant!

Week 52: 10 lbs. Powdered Milk

Week 51: 10 lbs. of Powdered Milk

Week 50: 10 lbs. of Powdered Milk

Week 49: 10 lbs. powdered milk

Week 48: 10 lbs.of powdered milk

Week 47: 20 cans Vegetables

Week 46: 20 cans of fruits/applesauce

Week 45: 20 cans of vegetables

Week 44: 20 Cans of Vegetables!

Week 43: 20 cans of vegetables

Week 42: 20 cans vegetables

Week 41: 10 lbs. of Oatmeal

Week 40: 10 lb.s Oatmeal

Week 39: 10 lbs. of Oatmeal

Week 38: 10 lbs. of Rice

Rotate your Year supply, It is possible!

Week 37: 10 lbs. of rice

Week 36: 10 lbs. of Rice

Week 35: 7 cans soup/ 8 cans meat/tuna