I am trying to track how many of you have been to can organizer by clicking on the link on our home page and how many have purchased after using the link. I’m trying to track down a problem so if you placed an order with can organizer will you please send me a note at carolyn@TotallyReady.com and let me know what you purchased.  Thanks a bunch.

Next, I have had a few people comment on the post I did a few weeks ago about purchasing books to download.

“Today I want to talk abut ways to get books inexpensively or for free. I discovered some new apps which are, unfortunately, only on the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi right now. You can purchase these books for 99 cents. Check them out at: http://appible.com/a/our-apps/palm-webos/ They currently have 56 titles available. Many of these are collections so you actually receive more than one book and some of the books in the collections are not published individually. Prices for collection range from $1.50-$3.50.

One example of a collection is called the Romance Classics Collection and includes: Little Women, Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, A Room With A View, Wives and Daughters, & The Scarlet Letter . This collection sells for only $3.00 or 27 cents a book!
Included in their selections are many of the books our children are required to read in junior high and high school. I always tried to read what my kids were reading so I would know what was being required of them.”

I had some ask why you would pay if you can download them for free. A great questions, so here is the answer.

Butter first, last week I had a friend contact me to ask about purchasing canned butter. We have had this discussion before so you all should know how I feel about canning your own butter…don’t do it! Well, this friend had seen canned butter in a Wal Mart store and it was over $7.00 a can for the same butter I had offered newsletter subscribers several months ago. Unfortunately the price of shipping has increased since that time but I am still able to get this butter at a great price. It is imported from New Zealand and is the real thing, just cream and salt. It melts, tastes, bakes, just like any butter you purchase in the grocery store. It is perfect for storage as it lasts 5 plus years and is so yummy and something that is a real comfort food for me. Even with the most expensive shipping, those of you on the east coast, the cost is still only about $6.00 a can, a real savings over the price at Wal Mart. If you don’t need, or can’t afford, a whole case get some friends together and order now.

Yep, this is the week we are going to collect all those items we dated at the beginning of the month. Get out those tubes of toothpaste and other items you marked and evaluate how much you have used this month. If you have already thrown away an items then you should know how long it took you to use it up. If you used a bottle of shampoo in three weeks then you know you need purchase 4 in order to have a three month supply. If you are still using that bottle then you would need three bottles or less for a three month supply. These numbers will be important as we will begin adding items next week that are not permanent additions to your storage plan.

It is also time to count those toilet paper wrappers you have been storing in your cabinet drawers. Again, count how many you have accumulated in the past month. Multiply by three and you have the number you will need to store for a three month supply. We will tweek that a little in the next few weeks, but more on that later.

To this point in time we have added items that will not be used up. A first aid book will be good forever, as will the tweezers and thermometer we are adding this week. We did add alcohol to make a paint can stove but that will be replaced as you use the stove. You should have enough on hand to be able to use your stove for several days.

Over the next year we will add other items to cook with, clean with and to provide sanitation and safety needs. It seems overwhelming now but stocking a three month supply of all the foods, herbs, condiments and other items seemed overwhelming last year at this time. You did it! Together we will do it again. Remember the spread sheet in your Mother Hubbard:What She’s doing Now ebook has an interactive spread sheet where you can keep track of what you have purchased and anything you were not able to afford, so you can catch up later.

This week add a thermometer and tweezers to your home first aid supplies as well as to your 72 hour kit and auto kit. Auto kit? Yes…if you should be stranded in your car and a member of your group becomes ill you will need supplies which will enable you to understand the serious of the situation and the things you should be doing to care for their needs.You should already have one or more of these on hand but if any of your supplies lack these add them now.

Tomorrow we will begin a study of EPMs and solar flares. We will define what they really are, how dangerous they may be and what to do to prepare.

Don’t forget to get those free movies from Red Box and pizza discounts at:

http://redboxpromocode.com/

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Today I have been thinking a lot about education. We have had quite a spirited discussion on the yahoo group about the new health care and it reminded me just how important it is to become well educated. It is my goal to educate you to the dangers that are or may be around the corner and giving you the skills to deal with them. I have tried to do that through our General Store, our Money Saving Wednesdays, our Friday tips and now helping you to see what others are doing to earn extra money so you can support them or get inspired.

Today I want to talk abut ways to get books inexpensively or for free. I discovered some new apps which are, unfortunately, only on the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi right now. You can purchase these books for 99 cents. Check them out at: http://appible.com/a/our-apps/palm-webos/ They currently have 56 titles available. Many of these are collections so you actually receive more than one book and some of the books in the collections are not published individually. Prices for collection range from $1.50-$3.50.

One example of a collection is called the Romance Classics Collection and includes: Little Women, Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, A Room With A View, Wives and Daughters, & The Scarlet Letter . This collection sells for only $3.00 or 27 cents a book!
Included in their selections are many of the books our children are required to read in junior high and high school. I always tried to read what my kids were reading so I would know what was being required of them.

Books in this format are great for those times when you are waiting for soccer or ballet practice to end. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear they are offering these on other platforms.

We have talked in the past about swap meets and they are a great way to get “new” books for free. Families with children slightly older than yours will probably have the books your kids need for school and will be happy to swap them for some newer titles. If they don’t want to swap then maybe you can borrow but please be prompt about returning them or they won’t be anxious to loan next time.

We often forget about the library. Most small libraries have an agreement with a larger library and they lend each other books. You have to “order” these but it usually only takes a few days for them to come in. Libraries also often have yearly book sales at which time they clear out older,damaged books and books which are not being checked out on a regular basis. You can often pick up some really great books that you remember from your own childhood but have been republished with more up to date artwork. I’d much rather have the older editions.

For all of you bloggers/book club members, publishers will often send you a free copy of a book if you review it on your blog. Most publishers state their review copy policy right on their website and many are anxious to share with those who will promote the book through a review. Please follow through and review the book if you are making this type of request. Many book companies will also send copies of books to be used at school fund raisers. The request should be submitted on school letterhead.

PaperBackSwap is another resources for getting books free! You do have to pay postage to swap books. You start out by adding 10 books to their system. Once you’d added your 10 books, you’ll receive credits to spend on books you want. They do have a wish list so you don’t have to look through all the listings if you already know which books you are looking for. Remember you will have to pay the cost of shipping the books you are offering to those “purchasing”.

Finally check for promotion codes on line from book stores. There are many book sellers on line. Find a book you want to purchase and then look for a promotion by searching on the store name/promotion code.

Keep reading. The education that comes from reading is fundamental to making wise choices and securing your future.

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Many of you have asked when my pandemic ebook will be finished. I am waiting patiently and I am trying to be very patient but I know you are anxious to budget for preparations specific to a pandemic. I am so proud of my tech team and understand the delay. They have been busy putting together a presentation for two different competitions. One was an Entrepeneur of the Year, for the best new idea of 2009. The other a cash prize to be awarded to a new business showing great potential who could use a cash infusion to take their business to the next level. I am happy to announce they won both competitions!

What do they do that is unique? They have developed a system for creating iphone APPs for a very, very reasonable cost. They are also completing development of a system for anyone to create their own APP to promote a business or just as an APP to keep in touch with friends and family. I’m sure I did not do them justice with that description. You can contact them yourselves at http://appible.com This will be a huge help to businesses of all kinds. The APPs are designed to be used on the iphone, Google Android,Windows, Mac, Linux, and soon on Nokia, Blackberry and Palmpre. If you have ever thought about an APP of your own contact them. Hopefully now, they will have time to finish my APP and formatting my ebook. That’s what happens when your tech group outgrows you.

Today was web cast day. If you missed it you may want to listen when you have time to catch up. Also, be sure to check out the first web cast I did with James. Both are a discussion of pandemics.

Today’s web cast:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/06/20/Family-Preparedness-Guide

May’s web cast:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/05/23/Family-Preparedness-Guide

I will be sending out the first issue of my Newsletter this week. If you have not already signed up please do so. You don’t want to miss any of these!

http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

I just received a note from a reader who has released an iphone APP today. I checked it out and I think it is a great way to let the new president know how we are feeling. It enables you to voice your opinion as to how the new administration is doing. You can see the results on a globe so you can see what the rest of the world is thinking also. How great that this is out before the inauguration and we can begin adding our opinion right from the beginning. Seems like a great tool to use when writing to our Representatives about our concerns.  I mention this now because right now the APP is free and I doubt that will last long. The developer says probably a week.  If you have an iphone or know someone who does pass the word so we can all get this while it’s free!

if you have itunes use this link: http://cli.gs/Ynb2LB
without itunes use this link http://www.apptism.com/apps/change-us-politics

By the way…I am also working on a preparedness APP. I’m very excited about that and I will keep you informed of the progress. I am excited that is will provide those with iphones a way to keep important info about surviving a crisis with them at all times.