"Mom - is this still good? It tastes funny...."

Have you ever wondered about the shelf life of a certain food? A big thanks to Brother Scott Lewis for the info on a great resource.


stilltasty.com, your ultimate shelf life guide

Straw Bale Gardening

Sister Wylene O'Barr shared a wonderful article with me today regarding straw-bale gardening. This is a great idea for those looking to start a garden, those with limited space (or resources...) and as a bonus, at the end of the season you can use the straw bales as mulch!

Check out these great resources for more info... Straw Bale Gardening or Introduction to Straw Bale Gardening or How to Grow a Straw Bale Garden

Thank you Sister O'Barr for generously sharing your gardening plan for the year!

Does anyone else have grand garden plans? Please share!

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We got stuck (in a hotel, thankfully!) due to a blizzard while driving home from our Spring Break trip. This got me thinking about how unprepared we were. D&C 38:30 counsels ..."if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Here are some great ideas to help you survive emergencies which may arise on the road.

Bring tools and know how to use them. Jumper cables, a tire iron, a wrench, a jerk chain, a waterproof rope etc...

Store blankets and weather appropriate gear in your vehicle

Bring along a good first aid kit

Pack several flashlights and extra batteries

Stock a 72 hour kit for your car. Include food, water and other essentials (A good list of items for your 72 hour kit can be found at this link)

Bring an inverter for electrical items

Bring a candle and waterproof matches. Can be used for heat and light

Don't forget toilet paper and a container for disposal of emergency wastes

Your good planning may be a blessing to others along your way!

What do you bring when you travel?

Ideas to help you economize

Here are a few ideas to help you economize during these trying economic times:

Lower the thermostat in your home

Utilize the $1.99 dry cleaner

Look for ways to cut your cell phone bill

Look for ways to cut your cable/satellite bill

Take your lunch to work

Eat out less

Air dry your clothes after washing

Turn off lights

Close vents in rooms you are not using

Replace burnt out light bulbs with compact fluorescents

Use the resources at the library

Go longer between hair cuts/colors (or do it yourself!)

Shop at thrift stores

Keep your home organized. You'll have less waste!

Drive the speed limit

Keep your car well maintained

Go the museums and the zoo on free days

Clean your car yourself

Review your insurance coverage to cut deductibles (if prudent) and remove collision coverage on older vehicles

Turn off Air Conditioning in the summer

Make gifts instead of buying them

Buy gifts and holiday decorations at after-holiday sales. Store them until next year

Keep track of where your money is spent. You may be surprised!

Make your own wrapping paper or purchase gift wrapping items at the dollar store

Wash and resuse ziplock bags

Avoid debt

Subscribe to freecycle.org to receive emails about giveaways in your area.

Utilize craigslist for discounts on items you are looking to buy, but make sure to do your homework!

Here's a few ideas for cutting your grocery bill:

Eat less meat

Use a list and buy only what you need

Shop the weekly grocery sales

Use coupons, when appropriate

Find the grocery discounters in your area (Dacono Market in Colorado, Market Square in Salt Lake City)

Cut out soda. Drink water instead

Double or triple recipes. Freeze the leftovers

Grow a garden

Use your oven to cook several items simultaneously - main dish, dessert, bread and veggies can all cook in the same hot oven

Don't let food go to waste. Check dates on canned foods and meat. Freeze bread and use veggies and fruit before they go bad

These and many other ideas can be found at: Getting Through Tough Times or 45 Easy Ways to Economize At Home Every Day

How do you save money? Please share your tips and tricks!