Really…I am posting late because I wanted to leave yesterday’s post up long enough for everyone to see it and get in on the give away fun. If you missed it please check the last post. You won’t want to miss out!

This year I told you I want to do a few more things which will focus on dealing with the economy and financial hard times. This means more ideas for saving money and more ideas for making money as well. What are your most successful belt tightening ideas? Please share them here or in our yahoo group. We really would appreciate any you may have.

I remember when I was little that my mom had a Christmas Club Account at the bank. Each week we would go in and she would add $2.00 to her account. When Christmas came that was her gift money. I remember being fascinated by that account and it wasn’t long until our school began a savings program. We would bring in our $.25 each week and we would watch it grow. How I wish banks and schools still promoted those money saving practices.

This year I would encourage all of you to take up the challenge and begin your own Christmas Club account. You don’t have to use the bank, just get a bottle or use the cookie jar and start putting something aside each month. If you saved just $5.00 per week from now until Thanksgiving you could have enough saved to pay cash for all the special foods you want to purchase for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve! If you saved just $10.00 a week until Thanksgiving you could pay for all of your Christmas gifts with cash! That is, if you spend what the average family spends, $450.00. No matter the amount set aside some each week to be used for a specific purpose next December with the added comittment that the credit card will stay where it belongs, in your wallet!

We actually made it through the holiday season this year without credit card expenses and it is an incredible feeling. We saved ahead of time, and gifts were smaller, but fancy foods and gifts are not the important things in life. Being with our family and being stress free after the holiday because we don’t have that bill hanging over our heads, is the real gift.

Why not have your children start an account too? Help them start good savings habits now.

I’m going to be asking… so get out the jar today and add your first deposit.

Start posting and linking and win our first give away of the year!!!

DON’T BE LEFT OUT !!!

Please join me and James tonight on blog talk radio, 5:00pm Pacific time. We will be addressing any questions you have and we will also be talking about this cold, cold, cold weather and what we can do to prepare for power outages and also cold weather travel. I’ll answer any and all questions…

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/james-talmage-stevens

Now lets think about self reliance gifts that are not food related. How about…

1. Gardening gloves and tools with a plant or vegetable seeds seeds.

2. Purchase several small herb plants and place them together in a basket with a favorite recipe card for using each.

3. Handwritten copies of your favorite food storage recipes along with a ingredients for one recipe.

4. Prepaid long distance phone cards to be kept in 72 hour kits or for emergency use.

5. Address book with family addresses and phone numbers, and contact information for poison control, fire and police departments, and the local hospital. Include a note stating that this is to be kept in the car or 72 hour kit.

6. Puzzles or travel games for 72 hour kits

7. Last year we made rice packs for use when you have a stiff neck or headache. Expanding that idea, make draft stoppers. Measure the doorway, cut a six inch wide piece of heavy fabric the length of the door and fill with sand or rice. This is really a great gift for anyone living in an area with frequent power outages during the winter.

8. Hat, mittens, and/or scarves so the old ones can be added to car kits.

9. A great cookbook, especially if it is a food storage cookbook.

10. Set of maps for the area in which the recipient lives in addition to maps to their “out of area contact”, with several “escape routes” highlighted.

11. Candles are pretty but are also good for a power outage. Remember scented candles during an outage can become really awful when they are not the same scent or several are lit to provide light in several rooms. Keep the scents the same or purchase unscented. For emergencies candles in glass containers are the best.

12. Give an item for an auto kit. If they have none consider a back pack of fanny pack with a few items such as a mylar blanket, glow stick or two, or one of the items on sale at closeout right now at Totally Ready are great to begin a car kit for everyone on your list, first aid kits and energy bars are a must for anyone who travels and all those who will be making the trek to grandma’s house for the holiday or to the ski resort. Keep a list of what you have given and add a new item or two every gift giving occasion.

13. Same idea as #12 only for the office. If you or your gift recipient live in an earthquake, tornado or wild fire area they should absolutely be prepared to evacuate from work and have the resources to survive for a day or two until help arrives.

Remember our General Store? The purpose of our store is to have on hand the things we need and use so when times are tough we don’t need to go to the store and we can care for the needs and safety of our family. In that spirit purchase items to help stock the shelves of a loved one’s General Store, non food items.

14. Purchase gift wrapping supplies at the dollar store. A few gift bags or different sizes, tape and tissue paper.

15. For a friend with children purchase a few craft supplies at the dollar store. You will be so appreciated when the “I’m bored” hits during Christmas break, summer or that snow day turns into two or three. Purchase colored paper, crayons, paints, stickers, glitter, wood cut outs, poster board,…etc.

Make this a fun and self reliant Christmas for all.

AND DON’T FORGET: I have a limited number of autographed copies of the best selling book Making the Best of Basics available. Purchase one now and you also receive the free ebooks Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now and That won’t Happen to Me All for $50.00 and all the proceeds go to a family in need of help this Christmas. They make great gifts and I only have a few available so purchase today.

Just a few items first. I still have a few book combos available. It includes an autographed copies of James Talmage Steven’s book Making the Best of Basics, and my ebooks Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now and That Won’t Happen To Me. The package sells for $50.00 and all the proceeds will be given to a struggling family to help pay off $100,000 in medical expenses. The total value of the book combo is $60.00. These can be split up for gifts or they make a great addition to any self reliance library. Purchase one today.

I will be appearing on James’ blog talk radio show Wednesday night, December 9th, and I am looking for someone who would like to go on air with me and discuss what needs to be done to prepare for the emergency which may happen to them. In other words, if you live in earthquake country and still have questions about how to prepare, I would love to answer your questions on air with you. The concern can be any emergency, hurricane, flood, wild fire, house fire, burglary…anything. Please email me if you are interested: Carolyn@TotallyReady.com. The show is broadcast at 5:00 PM Pacific time. If you just want to listen we can be found at: http://blogtalkradio.com/family then just click on James Talmage Stevens: Family Preparedness Guide or on air.

Now, this week please add 5 cans of fruit per family member to your store shelves. I know it’s the holiday season and money is getting tight but now is not the time to give up. Do what you can. Now may be the time to cut back on your other food expenses. You will never be sorry you have stocked your store shelves, I promise.

If you need suggestions for cutting your food budget read the post Money Saving Wednesdays…Think Food

Don’t forget to order your Totally Ready gift subscriptions to our Newsletter … buy one get one free

January Newsletter will included:

General Store Update

Survival Basics: Signaling For Help

Winter Power Outages

Answering Questions: Food Storage

Recap of Money Saving Ideas from 2009

Recipes

As you gather with family this week and reflect upon all you have to be thankful for I hope you will remember those who are suffering through tragic situations and commit to helping someone this holiday season. Now may be the time to just help for some and the time to teach self reliance principles for others. Raffle tickets to help a deserving family here at Totally Ready, are still available and selling very, very slowly so you have a really….good chance of winning. If you can help this family please purchase a ticket of two today. Whatever you do to help, please do something for someone.

As you do any last minute shopping this week add 10 cans vegetables per family member to your General Store. If you prefer frozen every 16 oz. bag of frozen equals two cans. Don’t, however, make the mistake of putting too much of your store into frozen. When the power fails freezer food are only good for 24-48 hours. You should be able to purchase vegetables on sale this week so it’s a great time to stock up.

As a family we have committed to a simple Christmas this year. We will be making gifts and giving food storage items that we have canned ourselves. Last year I gave my sister-in-law a port a potty seat. What a tacky gift? No, she loved it!  They lived through the Northridge earthquake and know what it means to be without plumbing for days. Remember to check out the specials at Totally Ready or pick up a few extra cans of vegetables to help someone get started.

Shop today, when it’s gone it’s gone!