One Month in a Box Food Storage

 

Honey is a good start

canned salmon makes some tasty meals

I am reposting this blog post because it is such an easy way for anyone to get started in storing food for their own family, and to have at least a months worth of food storage in a handy box.
And remember any food storage is better than none.

I modified the month in the box idea to fit my needs and likes, and you can do that too but at least this will give you an idea and get you started.
In my opinion everyone should have some food storage, so I hope this will help at least one family out there to get started with their food storage.

Easy One Month in a Box Preparedness 

With much thanks to Robert Waldrop who's idea this was originally!

You can get everything for your one months food storage right in your local grocery store.



ONE MONTH IN A BOX, submitted by Robert Waldrop
From:http://www.justpeace.org/simple.htm

One 20 quart size powdered milk (4 pounds)
One 10 lb bag rice
Two 4 lb bags beans
Two 3 lb bags of macaroni
Three 13 ounce quick oats
Two 5 lb bags flour
One 8 ounce baking cocoa
One 4 lb bag of sugar
One 10 oz baking powder
One 8 oz baking soda
One 4 lb jar of peanut butter
One 1 qt bottle of syrup
30 miscellaneous cans (soups, vegetables, chili, etc.)
One bottle hot sauce
One bottle soy sauce
9 miscellaneous spice bottles
2 vitamin bottles
One 4 ounce bottle of vanilla extract
One 4 ounce bottle of yeast
One 16 oz bottle of jalapeno peppers
One copy Better Times Cookbook and Almanac of Useful Information for Poor People

I found a 23 inches by 21 inches by 10 inches computer box, and all of above food fit into the box, with the lid folding flat and would fit underneath a bed or table. . The above would provide the following daily servings: (for one person)
2-1/2 cups milk
1-1/2 cups cooked rice
1-1/2 cups cooked beans
1-1/2 cups cooked macaroni
1 cup cooked oats
1 cup flour
4 Tbs. peanut butter
1 miscellaneous can of food
Plus daily sugar and spice

I am not in the business of giving nutritional advice, but it seems that if a half gallon or so of cooking oil, another can per day and a serving of fruit juice (equivalent of another can) are added, which wouldn't fit in this space, you'd be all right for a month. Depending on the assortment of cans, a variety of stuff can be made from these ingredients, including cinnamon rolls, oatmeal cookies, peanut butter cookies, tuna casserole, etc.

This box would fit under my bed.-----------Robert Waldrop


From:http://www.justpeace.org/simple.htm

Finding and Keeping a Survival Job

 

A survival job is any job you take, often on a temporary or part-time basis, that is not in your field or pays considerably less than you're used to. A survival job, while not a perfect solution, pays the bills, helps you avoid financial disaster, and allows you to hold your head up until you find the better paying job you were trained for.

Adjust your attitude. Arrogance or misplaced ego or pride has no place in any job search. Employers know if you think you're above doing any job and consequently will not hire you. Remember any job is worthy, and your goal is not to make this your permanent position but rather to survive financially until you can get a better job.

Prepare for the survival job hunt just like you would for any other job. Dress well, be well groomed, update your resume, and slant it to the job you're applying for. Show up on time for interviews, and research the companies you're applying to so you know what they are looking for.

Once you get a survival job, work hard, work smart, show up on time, and sign up for any training programs that will make you more employable. Never talk the job, or your employers or fellow workers down to anyone, anywhere.

Apply for more than one survival job at a time if you can work two jobs at a time. Sometimes two survival jobs will be enough income to almost equal your old pay. 

• You'll be competing with many people, even for a survival job, these days so prepare for your job hunt as well as you would for any other job.
• Prepare a good resume and tweak it for each job.
• Dress well, have good grooming, and be prepared for any questions that might come up about why someone with your qualifications would want such a lowly job.
• Avoid getting depressed.
• Try not to work so many hours that you have no time to continue your job hunt for a better job in your field.

Making Do With What You Have 2024

 

The ultimate in green living is to use up what you already have rather than buying new "stuff" all the time. Often, just by taking a closer look at what you already own, you can find ways to recycle it, or reuse it in some ingenious new fashion. 

Stop treating everything you use or own as disposable. We are the first humans on the planet to ever do this. For hundreds of generations before us people reused or recycled everything that they had until there was no further wear in it, or use for it. 

We are becoming painfully aware of how this throw it away attitude, and then packing our landfills with perfectly good items, things that can and should be recycled, has led us to the brink of ecological disaster. Not to mention how incredibly insensitive this throw-away attitude is to the remaining people on the planet who are not so blessed with material goods as we have been.

Seek out old-time ways, ideas, recipes, crafts, and recycling ideas and learn how to make do by following in the footsteps of the people who went through hard times before us. 
The people who lived through the great depression and World War 11 have a lot to teach us about making do. 

Back then, times were hard, goods and foods were rationed, and money and jobs were scarce or nonexistent for many. They left records, journals, cookbooks, and diaries about how they did it. This information can be found on the internet, in books and magazines, and in the minds and memories of the old-timers who lived through it, and who are still around. Pick their brains, read their cookbooks and journals, etc. Learn all you can from the past.

Get creative. Learn to look at everything you own without preconceived notions of its use, value, or possibilities for reusing or recycling.
When you need something, instead of going to the store and buying it, see if you might already have something that could be used or adapted for the thing you need.

Do things for yourself instead of paying someone else to do them for you. Cut your own grass, change the oil in your car, cut your kids hair, or your own. These things aren't rocket science. You can do far more for yourself than you currently do.

Learn to grow your own food, can and otherwise preserve the food you grow, and then learn to cook most, if not all, of the foods you eat from scratch. 
In the past, people made do with the ingredients they could grow, raise, or hunt or fish for. Neighbors worked together, and shared the food they had with each other. 

Cook from scratch, at home, with foods you keep in your pantry. Omit expensive ingredients, pick berries and share garden tools, canning supplies, etc. with family members, friends and neighbors. 
Stock your kitchen pantry with home grown and home canned food, as much as possible. Stock it with what food you can afford, enough to last for several months, just like our ancestors did. Many a family has been saved from hunger by a huge pantry. 

Simple but filling foods are healthier and usually cheaper, so avoid all the prepared and fast foods that take so much of your hard-earned money and give so little nourishment in return. 
It really isn't that hard, or time consuming, to prepare meals from scratch and it's a vital aspect in the making do lifestyle that can really pay off in savings and in health.

Try new things. Learn simple skills to make it do, like sewing by hand or machine and, again, cooking from scratch.

Don't throw perfectly good things in the trash. Pass them on or donate to charity, if you just can't find any use for them yourself.Stop wasting food. Use it all up. Throwing food away is just like throwing money away.

10 Ways to Have Less Stress

1.  Clean up your finances.

The rules of properly handling money can be summed up fairly easily. They are:
Spend less than you earn.
Save a portion of all that you earn. This can be as little as 5%, with most people saving 10%. This is your safety net in case of emergencies, job loss, unexpected expenses, etc.
Before paying your monthly bills/expenses, set aside a portion of your income just for you. This money should be used to invest in your future and in your financial security. Again 10% is a good amount for this. This is a separate savings from your emergency savings, and should be used to further your education, and things like this.
Have a budget and stick to your budget.
Have a pantry and a bit of food storage to help you weather hard times, or just because you save money by buying food on sale, or before the price goes up.

2.  Eliminate the negative from your life as much as possible.  This means decluttering your possessions, as well as eliminating negative people and situations from your life that are only bringing you down. Make positive and inspiring friends. You need them.
Clean up and fix whatever needs fixed in your life. Fix that door that jams, that faucet leak, and complete all the undone projects in your life. You don't have to complete anything that no longer inspires or interests you however. Fix one thing a day for awhile and watch your load lighten and your mood lift.
Seek out good news and avoid negative news as much as possible.

3.  Get a job you like.  We spend a lot of our time at work and some work places are very toxic and draining.  Get out and find a job that inspires and uplifts you.

4.  Plan for the future.  Set goals and make lists of what you want in your life, then do at least one small thing towards accomplishing that goal every single day. Even a small step will move you forward.

5. Learn to say no.  Doing things you really don't want to and spending time with people who drain you is a huge stress producer.  Stop doing that to yourself. You deserve to enjoy your life surrounded by people who genuinely care about your welfare.

6.  Get outside everyday.  Take walks, garden, or in some way spend a portion of everyday outside in the fresh air. Enjoy the fall leaves, a walk in the rain, a softly falling winter snow, or a sunny day at the beach. Nature soothes and heals. And get some exercise everyday, whether outside or indoors.

7.  Get a pet. A loving dog or cat is a known relaxer. They give you lots of unconditional love and make your life so much brighter.

8. Think optimistically and positively. Use positive words to yourself and when speaking to others. Don't gossip. Don't criticize. Encourage people whenever you can.

9.  Learn to meditate and to pray. Whatever your spiritual beliefs, a time for centering and quieting your mind, and connecting with the divine is a positive experience that will greatly enhance your life.

10. Practice gratitude and thankfulness everyday. We all have many blessings and a nightly time of writing down three things you're grateful for is a wonderful end to a day and will greatly enhance your life.