Stocking Up For Our Future

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Proverbs 22:3

Below is an excerpt from the article "Food Shock" by Jennifer Barry, GlobalAssistStrategist.com.

She wrote it for yesterday's edition of FSU. Her words chronicle the path that has led to the food shortages that are affecting populations across the globe. We are seeing the affects in the higher prices at the grocery store, but how long before our "affects" become more severe??

As an American, I’ve taken for granted that I can get just about any food I want at the supermarket. In fact, the number of choices are dizzying. I never really thought about the tenuous chain between myself and my food....

Read the rest here.

My husband and I and my dad and I have had some serious conversations about what the worldwide food shortages will eventually mean for those of us living in the United States. It is a problem--A problem that many are unaware of except for the higher prices at their local grocer.

We have decided that for our family, in the short run, we will begin to buy up larger amounts of rice, beans and possibly other grains as well. In the long run, we are on the look-out for a small piece of property where we can begin to grow our own food, and thus become less dependent on others to provide that food for us. Maybe this sounds crazy to you, or like we're being too cynical or making too much of this, but is it ever wrong to prudently decide to provide for and protect your family? This is our calling by God!!

So many of the blogs that I visit are all about providing for our families in the most economically practical way, working towards being out of debt, and ultimately, glorifying God by all that we, as wives and mothers, decide everyday on behalf of our families. I believe that we are to prepare for our futures as well.

This is what is working for us, but I would encourage any who read this to do some research of your own and begin to consider the impact these worldwide difficulties will have on your family. Begin to look at the big picture, and you may well begin to see, as we have, the importance of preparing for the lean times to come.

A Simple Tip

If you're like me, you always appreciate tips and ideas from other busy moms and wives who have discovered that little something to make everyday chores/necessities a little easier. Here's one that's been working for me for awhile.

At our local grocery store, they are always putting large family-size packages of meat on sale or regularly have them at reduced prices. Now, to be perfectly honest, I DETEST separating raw meat. It's just really gross. So, instead, I plan to cook the whole amount. That way, I always have something easy put back in the freezer, or meat ready to be used for the next meal. If it's ground hamburger, I cook it up with onion and then divide it, use what I need, and put away the rest. If it's pork chops, ribs or steaks, my husband loves to fire up the grill and cook LOTS at once. That way, I usually always have ready-to-eat meat in my freezer.

So, maybe this is something you're already doing or is simple stuff to you, but it's working for me; and until my family grows and I have to actually use all that meat in one meal, I plan to keep to my system! Besides, this ends up being the least expensive way for me to keep my family stocked up on the meat we all enjoy eating so much.

:-)

Frugal Fridays-Freebies

I am signed up to receive Cereal.com's newsletter which is always full of links to free samples. I also regularly check Walmart.com. Both are a great way to get started receiving free samples in the mail. If you fill out one or two of these free sample forms each day, you'll start to get little surprises in your mail box! Nothing's better than FREE!!!

Quaker Simple Harvest Sample

Glad ForceFlex Trash Bag

Jergen's Natural Glow Body Moisturizer

Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift

Dove Hair Care

Curel Life's Stages Moisturizer