To ocuppy the wife on food storage.

   Ok to get my wife involved in food storage I gave her a simple task. I asked her to think of  9 different meals for 4 that  DO  NOT use rice beans or pasta. List out what ingredient's are needed for each meal and then we would price them out. She has to do this on her own and I gave her a week to think about it.

   This is harder than most people think. Most people think about a 2 week grocery bill and list at the most. True this would be just 9 days of dinners but once its listed and priced it has to be multiplied by  18.

   Why  18 ? Because 18 x 9= 162  or 3 good meals per week for a year. The other 4 days have to be beans, rice, pasta, corn and flour based meals with broths ,creamed soups, sauces for flavorings. Even if she keeps these meals at 10.00 for 4 people it will be around 16 to 1700 $ about double what the other 4 days will cost.

    You can't tell my wife it cost to much I have to show her . What I am after is 6 different meals  to multiply by 9 for 54 meals of Sunday Dinner's . This will reduce cost to 540$ plus some extra dry goods.

Back from Camping.

      Got home Monday afternoon we had a nice time at the lake. We had planed on it being a week of us time but it turned into us and everyone time :(. One of the drawbacks to camping close to home is  anyone can come join. We had the wife's sister and our grandson come stay .  I came home and BBQ'ed Friday and Saturday . I had a lot of pre orders to fill and was swamped and sold out in 2 hours of what wasn't reserved. When I got back to the lake my wife was suffering a bout of gout in her foot and was in terrible pain. This was the first time she has ever had gout , I told her it was the illness of  KINGs so she may be the princess like she thinks she is :). Today it is a lot better but she will milk it for a few more days of pampering , I don't mind .

    While we were camped she spent WAY to much time reading FACEBOOK like it was 100% fact. Normally this drives me Nuts but she said "with the elections and terrorist bombing possible you need to stock up because if any thing large happens here people will act like idiots". Now she knows I have some stuff in the basement but she has never shown any interest in it. I have to admit that with the property purchases, winter and my son back here my 90 day pantry is almost gone. She said she wants me to build it back up just in case.

    To be honest over the winter we always run through most of our 90 day pantry, it is when my income falls and I use it as a savings account . This year I drew it down a bit faster but with the instability in the country and the media hype of events and more possible I made a mistake.

   In the past come spring I have focused on returning cash on hand to a certain level plus some before I restocked the pantry. This year I think pantry needs to be first priority even if I have to drop cash on hand a bit to do it. I even think I may increase the long term bulk by a few hundred pounds to. While Facebook has more lies than a car sales man it is a good indicator of peoples emotions and thinking.
   

  

A visit to the sporting goods store.

   Today I played hooky and me and the wife went to lunch , Wal mart and Academy Sports. We are going camping next week so we got a few items for the camper. The main reason we went shopping was our coffee pot went out at the house. We made cowboy coffee this morning  MUST HAVE COFFEE , yes its that important.
   Ok we got our new coffee pot but while at Wal-Mart we went to the camping section . They had a Mr. buddy heater marked down to 30$  It was this one   http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F215100-3800-BTU-Propane/dp/B001CFRF7I/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1458184499&sr=1-3&keywords=mr+buddy+portable+heater 

 not a bad deal for my little camper . I did notice they had marked down a lot of the camping items and was adding a lot of new stuff for the spring.  It may be worth a trip to your local store to check out the markdowns that are camping survival related.

  After Wal-Mart we went to Academy , I have had a 50$ gift card the kids gave me Christmas 2014 . We looked at a lot of stuff but all I bought was 200 CCI   22lr. They had a lot of ammo on the shelves I should have got more but I haven't inventoried what I have or need more of. Now while ammo is available you mite want to budget for some . It looks like the republicans are determined to put The female Anti Christ in the white house . If that happens it will make ammo as rare as an honest politician.

    We did stop at The Dollar Tree before lunch. Now may be I have never noticed but I saw something I have never heard of in the canned meat , CANNED BOLONEY ! Has anyone ever seen or tried it? I regret not grabbing a can once I got home. I think  I will grab a can next trip just to try . I also noticed they had 16 oz. cans of mackerel jack for a 1$ cheap protein been years since I had any.

Grandpappy's 30 day food list

   This list is a great starting point for a new prepper. It is a 30 day food supply for one person at a reasonable cost. With a little tweeking  it can fit most any persons taste.

   It is the property of https://grandpappy.org/indexhar.htm and I highly recommend a visit to his site !! The page with this list is     https://grandpappy.org/hfood30d.htm 

    While this list are not set in stone it is a good starting point if you want long term food storage from a local store.

A Recommended 30-Day Emergency Food Supply for One Adult

In my opinion the following food items are ones you should consider for your 30-day emergency food supply.

I strongly recommend that you purchase one can of each of the following foods and serve it to your family during normal times to determine if they enjoy it. If they like it then you could purchase additional cans of that food item for your 30-day emergency food supply.

The following suggestions would be a reasonable starting position for the average family. However, since each family has unique taste and dietary requirements, each family will probably need to remove some items from the following list and add other items that they enjoy more.

Note: All costs, package sizes, and nutritional data in the following table were obtained on January 1, 2014.

Quantity	Item	Container Size	Cost per Container	Total Cost	Total Nutrition per Container	Total Nutrition for 30 Day Food Supply
2 Cans	Campbell's Chunky "Beef Base" Soup	18.8 ounces	$ 1.98	$ 3.96	280 Calories, 9 Fat, 38 Carbs, 14 Protein	560 Calories, 18 Fat, 76 Carbs, 28 Protein
2 Cans	Campbell's Chunky "Chicken Base" Soup	18.8 ounces	$ 1.98	$ 3.96	360 Calories, 16 Fat, 38 Carbs, 16 Protein	720 Calories, 32 Fat, 76 Carbs, 32 Protein
2 Cans	LaChoy Asian "Meat and Vegetables"	42 ounces	$ 2.75	$ 5.50	360 Calories, 10 Fat, 54 Carbs, 15 Protein	720 Calories, 20 Fat, 108 Carbs, 30 Protein
4 Cans	Chef Boyardee Pasta (Spaghetti, Ravioli, Lasagna)	15 ounces	$ 0.98	$ 3.92	500 Calories, 24 Fat, 54 Carbs, 18 Protein	2,000 Calories, 96 Fat, 216 Carbs, 72 Protein
4 Cans	Armour Beef Stew	24 ounces	$ 2.18	$ 8.72	630 Calories, 33 Fat, 60 Carbs, 24 Protein	2,520 Calories, 132 Fat, 240 Carbs, 96 Protein
4 Cans	Hormel Roast Beef Hash	15 ounces	$ 2.18	$ 8.72	780 Calories, 48 Fat, 44 Carbs, 42 Protein	3,120 Calories, 192 Fat, 176 Carbs, 168 Protein
2 Cans	Chili with Beans	15 ounces	$ 1.00	$ 2.00	700 Calories, 36 Fat, 62 Carbs, 34 Protein	1,400 Calories, 72 Fat, 124 Carbs, 68 Protein
2 Cans	Ranch Style Black Beans (or Pinto or Kidney)	15 ounces	$ 0.68	$ 1.36	385 Calories, 2 Fat, 66 Carbs, 21 Protein	770 Calories, 4 Fat, 132 Carbs, 42 Protein
2 Cans	Taco Bell Refried Beans	16 ounces	$ 0.98	$ 1.96	420 Calories, 3 Fat, 70 Carbs, 24 Protein	840 Calories, 6 Fat, 140 Carbs, 48 Protein
2 Pouches	Taco Bell Taco Seasoning Dry Mix	1.25 ounces	$ 0.50	$ 1.00	120 Calories, 0 Fat, 18 Carbs, 0 Protein	240 Calories, 0 Fat, 36 Carbs, 0 Protein
2 Pouches	Country Gravy Dry Mix (or Brown Gravy)	2.64 ounces	$ 0.98	$ 1.96	320 Calories, 16 Fat, 40 Carbs, 8 Protein	640 Calories, 32 Fat, 80 Carbs, 16 Protein
2 Cans	Pork and Beans	15 ounces	$ 0.68	$ 1.36	385 Calories, 3 Fat, 88 Carbs, 21 Protein	770 Calories, 6 Fat, 176 Carbs, 42 Protein
2 Cans	Vienna Sausage	5 ounces	$ 0.50	$ 1.00	330 Calories, 30 Fat, 3 Carbs, 15 Protein	660 Calories, 60 Fat, 6 Carbs, 30 Protein
4 Cans	Veg-All Mixed Vegetables (or Corn, or Peas & Carrots)	15 ounces	$ 0.88	$ 3.52	140 Calories, 0 Fat, 28 Carbs, 3 Protein	560 Calories, 0 Fat, 112 Carbs, 12 Protein
4 Pouches	Idahoan Instant Potatoes (Add Water Only)	4 ounces	$ 0.98	$ 3.92	440 Calories, 12 Fat, 80 Carbs, 8 Protein	1,760 Calories, 48 Fat, 320 Carbs, 32 Protein
1 Bag	Enriched White Rice	16 ounces	$ 0.82	$ 0.82	1,600 Calories, 0 Fat, 350 Carbs, 30 Protein	1,600 Calories, 0 Fat, 350 Carbs, 30 Protein
4 Cans	Chef Boyardee Mac & Cheese	15 ounces	$ 1.00	$ 4.00	480 Calories, 20 Fat, 56 Carbs, 18 Protein	1,920 Calories, 80 Fat, 224 Carbs, 72 Protein
4 Cans	Pink Alaskan Salmon	14.75 ounces	$ 2.58	$ 10.32	630 Calories, 21 Fat, 0 Carbs, 100 Protein	2,520 Calories, 84 Fat, 0 Carbs, 400 Protein
4 Cans	Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore (Tuna in Oil)	5 ounces	$ 1.50	$ 6.00	160 Calories, 6 Fat, 0 Carbs, 28 Protein	640 Calories, 24 Fat, 0 Carbs, 112 Protein
4 Cans	Great Value Chunk Chicken Breast	12.5 ounces	$ 2.08	$ 8.32	360 Calories, 6 Fat, 6 Carbs, 66 Protein	1,440 Calories, 24 Fat, 24 Carbs, 264 Protein
4 Cans	Spam Lunch Meat (or Dak Canned Ham)	12 ounces	$ 2.48	$ 9.92	1,080 Calories, 96 Fat, 6 Carbs, 42 Protein	4,320 Calories, 384 Fat, 24 Carbs, 168 Protein
4 Cans	Roast Beef	12 ounces	$ 2.98	$ 11.92	350 Calories, 7 Fat, 5 Carbs, 65 Protein	1,400 Calories, 28 Fat, 20 Carbs, 260 Protein
1 Container	Quaker Quick Oats (or Breakfast Bars)	42 ounces	$ 3.98	$ 3.98	4,500 Calories, 90 Fat, 810 Carbs, 150 Protein	4,500 Calories, 90 Fat, 810 Carbs, 150 Protein
1 Container	Tang Orange Drink Mix	20 ounces	$ 2.50	$ 2.50	2,160 Calories, 0 Fat, 520 Carbs, 0 Protein	2,160 Calories, 0 Fat, 520 Carbs, 0 Protein
15 Packages	Kool-Aid Drink Mix (Assorted Flavors)	0.13 ounces	$ 0.20	$ 3.00	0 Calories, 0 Fat, 0 Carbs, 0 Protein	0 Calories, 0 Fat, 0 Carbs, 0 Protein
5 Pounds	Granulated Sugar	5 pounds	$ 2.58	$ 2.58	8,500 Calories, 0 Fat, 2,270 Carbs, 0 Protein	8,500 Calories, 0 Fat, 2,270 Carbs, 0 Protein
1 Box	Instant Powdered Milk	64 ounces	$ 18.28	$ 18.28	6,400 Calories, 0 Fat, 960 Carbs, 640 Protein	6,400 Calories, 0 Fat, 960 Carbs, 640 Protein
1 Container	Hershey's Cocoa Powder	8 ounces	$ 2.98	$ 2.98	900 Calories, 22 Fat, 135 Carbs, 45 Protein	900 Calories, 22 Fat, 135 Carbs, 45 Protein
4 Cans	Fruit Cocktail (or Peaches or Pears)	15.25 ounces	$ 0.98	$ 3.92	350 Calories, 0 Fat, 84 Carbs, 0 Protein	1,400 Calories, 0 Fat, 336 Carbs, 0 Protein
3.5 Pound Bag	Child's Play Candy Assortment (150 Pieces)	3.5 pounds	$ 7.98	$ 7.98	6,000 Calories, 150 Fat, 1,350 Carbs, 50 Protein	6,000 Calories, 150 Fat, 1,350 Carbs, 50 Protein
30 Each	Complete Multivitamin Tablets	30 Each	$ 1.70	$ 1.70	0 Calories, 0 Fat, 0 Carbs, 0 Protein	0 Calories, 0 Fat, 0 Carbs, 0 Protein
	Totals . . .			$ 151.08		60,980 Calories, 1,604 Fat, 9.041 Carbs, 2,907 Protein.

Now if your new to food storage all this is normal grocery store items. You could add 10 lb. cornmeal 15lbs  flour  10 lbs. rice and 10lbs. beans 5 lbs. pasta your at about 200$ and calories for 60 days. Double the meats add more sugar coffee and tea you still will be under 250$.
  GO check out what else his site offers .

Have you checked your cars get home bag?

     Last week when I was helping my son get his place ready for winter I got into my trucks get home bag for something to eat. Now what I had was in date but had been in the tool box for over a year. I am glad it wasn't a life or death situation .Right  now as winter sets in everyone should check what is in their bag make sure the batteries are fresh , food is good , and spare cloth are dry and suitable for the season .
     Ok I gave my son the older batteries and replaced what I had in the truck.
     The food that was in the truck had not handled the heat it was highly questionable . Soup had turned, the canned tuna salad was greenish , the crackers were stale (the lances peanut butter crackers were fine). Water was flat but drinkable. I have replaced everything and packed it in a old six-pack cooler.
     Oh just for the record the only thing edible after a year in the truck tool box was Good Old  vieners ,potted meat and the immortal sardines. Showed me why my grandpa always had them in his truck.
     Just for the heck of it I changed out the clothes and added a few items (extra space blanket and Cliff bars).I still need hand warmers , toboggans and gloves for winter in there.

     Never again will I go a year without changing out my trucks get home gear .I will be doing it seasonally in the future. I had felt safer knowing it was in there but it wouldn't have helped much if I had needed it. Better to swap it out and it be fresh and open the old at the house .

      With cold weather here check your car kit and replace your perishables. YOUR LIFE COULD DEPEND ON IT !!!

A cache that holds a 1/2 ton and is livable.

     Most of us would love to have a shipping container buried somewhere as a fall back.A concrete bunker is a dream for the average prepper.Even if we have a house and a nice lot we cant put in anything this big without drawing attention.We need to think outside the box.Or in this case inside a box literally.
    
     OK if you have read my posts you know i love teardrop campers.Most teardrops are outfitted to be comfortable to sleep in and provide storage for camping gear.If you do a web search for homemade teardrops you will find a lot of plans for a 4x8 teardrop.Now what is the connection between a cache and a teardrop ?

     Imagine a 4ft wide 4ft high and 8 ft long box.This is how a teardrop starts then we add curves and a hatch make it aerodynamic to tow.Forget the curves and hatch think 4x4x8 storage crate.For what we need it takes 5 sheets plywood 10 2x4s 5 tubes silicon 2 gallons paint and a roll of 6mil plastic.Around here the cost will be 150$.I think most of us can build a crate to this size.Use the 2x4s as bands on the outside on both ends and the middle run 2 on the inside in the corners that will be the roof for strength.Caulk all seams inside and out paint  inside a light color use the rest in multi coats on the outside.Cut a hatch door in roof or side depending on how it will be buried.
    
      OK lets assume you built this 4x4x8 ugly thing.Dig a hole 5x5x9 a person can dig this hole by hand in 2 or 3 days easy (OK not easy but cheaply) get someone you TRUST to help you lower it in.Line the hole with plastic taping seams and carefully not to rip it.Once in the hole cut a 4inch hole for an air tube .Back fill the hole make a lip for the door.

     Now you have a grave with an air hole and door right?Had to get that in before comments were made.What it can be is a place that is 128 cubic feet of storage.In one end load a row of 5 gallon buckets they will go 4 wide 3 high make another row that's 24 buckets of food.Now make a shelf 14 inces off the floor add 8 buckets on top of it.OK you have 32 buckets put guns solar panel fishing rods on top I hope you stuffed the gaps between the buckets with items.You will still have 6 foot of floor space to sleep on so add a foam mat some led tap lights pillows a CD player a jump pack for a little power.

     This isn't a perfect answer but it is doable at a low price.It give you a second place for preps it is warmer and cooler than a tent it is a place to hide till trouble passes.I will not bug out to the woods but i will not fight to the death for a house.This gives me an option to hide and reclaim whats mine later and still have my supplies.Mine will be under a mower shed .

      I wrote this to make people think.Even when bugging out isn't possible plan on a fall back.We all want to thrive but never forget first we must survive.

What is a cache?

     A cache is a place to hide and position items of use and value for future needs.But is that all it needs to be?Can it be a shelter can it be a safe place hidden to?
      I think we have all thought about a survival retreat in the woods.Usually our mind goes to a cabin with a wood stove a well right out of a Danial Boone book.Now in today's world if we had this it would be broke into looted used as a meth lab or a dozen other things if we didn't live there.

     Now we have all read about PVC caches Bucket cache and others.I have several of these myself but due to size they are limited in what can be stored and provide little shelter.The PVC cache is usually for 3 or 4 days food some ammo and a few other items. A Bucket cache will hold a weeks food for 2,ammo other items to help for a short period.Here are a few pics of typical tube and bucket caches

   These are useful but are limited in scope.The good thing about them is they are away from our houses and hidden.As preppers most of what we have is in our homes and at risk if SHTF happens.
      Most preppers will refuse to leave their homes the idea of "bugging out" isn't an option.For some it due to age others its health.For most its "This is my castle" i have all my prep's in the basement,garage,shed.I feel the same way but if the  Feds or a zombie hoard comes you will die.At best you will flee and lose most of your supplies.Then you are down to what you hid in buckets and PVC caches.
     I want something safer with more options.I want it for the house or on other property.I don't want to have it found and robbed to crackheads or government flunkies (little difference both are parasites).I want capacity to have a chance.

He was down to rice but alive.

     Left to go find my son early this morning.Now i admit i don't use GPS i had directions from my son in law.Not to bad he just had one right that should have been a left i figuired it out.When i pulled into the clearing where the old travel trailer was my son stepped out with a pot in his hands shocked to see me.He ate a few bites of rice and said it was all he had left to cook for the last 3 days.We walked around HIS place down to the creek and around the overgrown property.He was kinda proud that it was his but it needs a lot of clearing and leveling.As we talked he told me of an incident last week a man came and told him he was on the wrong lot.My son didn't know where the property lines really where.A BIG mistake in my book.I gave him some in put on a few things to help him out (his cat hole was to close to his trailer) and make life easier with so little.We loaded up for a run to town for groceries and a few other items i knew he needed.
      One thing my son wanted was more buckets.He said those things come in handy.We also picked up screw lid large canisters for sugar flour and other food he says never underestimate piss ants they get into everything.I took him to pizza huts lunch buffet so he could eat his fill and we could talk.Solitude seems to have mellowed him a bit,he acts like he may straighten up time will tell. Regardless its time for me to help and give him the tools to make a go of it.
     Before we went back to his place we went to the county courthouse and got a Plat map that showed his lot the property lines and road and creek.Once back i paced off and found he was right and well on his own property.We selected where his camper will go and what we will need to do to make this place livable.I think 2 days with a chain saw and my tractor will do 80% of t and he can do the rest.He has the time i have the tools.If he stays on track I will dad up and help get him set.

Just back from the lake.

      Sorry  for not posting we took the camper and had a long stay at the lake. Where we were at had no internet.This trip gave us a chance to check out all the features of the camper.We are impressed with the funfinders storage and now have itstocked and ready to go anywhere.I will be moving a few prepps into it for storage.The wife has said i can have one dinnette seat storage area.It should hold a couple of buckets of dry goods and a box of can goods. Will be posting a few pics later just have a lot around the house to catch up on.

Survivalism Trash Talk Part 1

     Yesterday i was in the back burning the trash.We use a 55 gallon burn drum to dispose of the garbage here at home.Rural pickup runs almost 20$ a month around here i go 2 the dump every 6 to 8 weeks and empty the burn barrels for 8$.Every time i go to burn i fish out the cans that was in the trash from before.In regular times we have a lot of cans.To cut down on the bulk i crush them and throw them in a bag till its time for the dump.Burnt tin cans are easier to crush than just emptied.As i was doing this chore i looked around and wondered if the SHTF how many more cans there would be!

     Now most peppers have a large number of can goods in there food storage.I have read a lot of blogs on food storage but i have never seen any one write about the trash.Have you thought about it?Look at your food storage how many cans will you have to open per day to feed your family?Do you have any idea what your going to do with the cans,have you ever tried to crush a # 10 can ?I have its not easy.Would it be safe where you live to burn your garbage in a SHTF situation?Do you have room to store your waste boxes cans,bottles and other packaging.Will putting bags on the street and risk someone knowing you have food or store them in the corner of your property and risk your families lives?

   

Restaurant depot first visit.

    Last week i was on the other side of town and decided to check out a new store.A few friends  had told me about a restaurant supply store that had opened.They said it had great prices and more bulk items than SAMs or COSTCO so while i was in town(witch i hate)we took a little time to go check it out.
    Man oh Man i felt like a kid in a candy store Prices blew the Club's prices away!Even my wife who isn't a shopper was pointing out this and that and how cheep it was.As most of you all know most stores have 25 lb bags of pintos this place had pintos black eyed peas black beans and butter beans in 25lb bags sugar was 3 $ a fifty less than SAMs cases of #10 can veggies cheeses.The spices here was cheep and a huge variety.A lot of ethnic spices that for most folks cost and are hard to find.I also went into the cooler section to check out the meats for the BBQ They had a larger selection at 20 to 50 cents a pound cheaper.This was the first place i had seen that had pork belly and whole pork shoulders (that's leg and pork butt in one)for sell.
     As a cook  I could have spent a 1000$.As for prepps i could see many o those cases of #10 cans making there way into my basement real soon.If you have a Restaurant depot near you it is worth the trip!! Oh just for the record the day i went i had 42$ in my pocket and didn't buy anything but Tuesday i am going back.So i am going to get off here and pay all outstanding bills before i go Tuesday.I want one of those, 2 of those ,6 of them ,4 of that and a dozen of those.

Changes at the grocery store.

     Last week a local grocery store changed up there lay out in the produce department.They shrank it by half took out cooler and made bigger center tables.The only part that stayed the same was the fruit section.It struck me as odd so when i saw the manager i asked why.
     The store manager told me that the produce sales had been dropping for years.Part of it was the older folks were passing away and the younger folks didn't cook from fresh as much.Also Home gardens had eaten into sales, cost were going up and loss was up because what they could get wasn't the quality it use to be.
    As we talked he said the whole store was being relaid to reflect new purchasing trends more frozen foods and more heat and eats.A lot of the store brands have more shelf space now and a lot of the isles are took up with cheep to stock bulk.
     It is a shame that cooking may one day be as rare as a horse drawn wagon.

What will our food options be in 10 years.

       Last nite i was watching a local show it had a local farmer on it.The farmer runs a large U pick it farm.He was talking about most his customers we older because they still can and freeze fresh produce.He said it was a shame that younger folks was losing the knowledge to feed themselves.The old farmer made a statement that rang true to me he said 50% of all food was grown on cooperate farms and if it continued in 10 years 80% of all food would come from a few conglomerates.He said the family farms were dying  due to age and cost lower profits.The next statement he made got my wife's attention.The old man said in a few years it may be not how much food cost but how to get enough to eat and will it be what you want or fit to eat.
        Now that is a scary thought.What if 80% of food is controlled by 5 or 6 food companies will we have a choice or will we be fed soy lent green and told its organic( OK maybe not soy lent green but you get the idea).Marketing is these companies strong suit and when they control the supply they set the price.
        I know i haven't made any new revelations here but i felt it was worth a few lines. I learned as a kid that men in bibb overalls knew a lot more than most in Armani suits.what worries people in overalls should worry us all!

My daughter is a prepper and doesnt know it

   My oldest has lost her job again. Now this is a semi annual thing for her. She has My mouth and it gets her in trouble she has my ex wifes attitude A VERY BAD COMBINATION.She has only worked fast food so her income isnt much.The only thing going her way is she has her grandmothers house with only a 375 payment and she gets food stamps by claiming her brother.Her utilities are minimal because she watches what she uses close.Her brother lives with her but like most siblings they fight over everything my office seems to double as his second bedroom.
  When she told me last week she was fired i did the daddy thing asked if she need help with what was due .I  was told mabe next month she would need a little .I asked her where she stood with her house ? She informed me she had 4 months house notes saved and credits on her power gas and water built up good for 2 months.Wow not bad  for a 25 year old  making 7.75 at a Little Ceasers pizza.She had her income tax back for some of it but had to spend 800 having 4 wisdom teeth pulled last month at a dental school
     The cabinets at her house are stuffed with pasta dinners, can goods her freezer is also packed the kid could survive 6 months without anything extra but bread and milk she eats better than us.
   She says she is a hoarder on food because she doesnt know when she may lose her food stamps.The house payments were realy for a new roof because she didnt want me to have to do it.So i guess i will do her roof this summer or at least where she has a small leak.She will find a job in a few weeks she always does.She told me she learned watching me keep food and cash laid aside.Makes me proud that she could see my way worked smoothing out bumps in the road.Her Mom was a spender and never saved so she knew how foolish that was.

Prepping food inventory check today

    Today im going to check my food prepps.The winter we eat into our pantry kinda heavy.When i made chillie and had to hunt for tomatoes i was shocked .I buy can goods by the case at ALDI,s they average 59 to 65 cents a can or about 8.00 a case.I like an assortment on hand so i buy 5 cases at a wack of differant items.
    Look at it like this 52 cans of something is only 1 a week so i try to keep a large inventory of can goods.If  TSHTF i think i have enuff for 2 mabe 3 good meals a week with the rest being made up in beans rice  flour,patatoes pancakes and pasta.Little Timmy wont be happy at my house but he will live.I am afraid the list will be very long this year because I skimped to much last fall.Saw a news item that the USDA is predicting higher food prices already so i will be starting early on restocking to save money.