You have put in the hard work of building your food storage. You have diligently added to it and met your family’s needs for a month or more. One day, you run down to the basement and discover a couple of holes in one of the bags. Looks like mice got into it, so you throw it away. Then you discover the flour you can to get it is rancid and damp. There are appears to be mildew on the outside of a package of oatmeal. What is going on?!?!
Creating a meal list will be the key to creating your grocery list. Write or type a list of the meals you make in a month. This should include your or your family’s favorite budget-friendly meals. Having basic meals means you can create a simple grocery list each time you go to the store.
Only one of those things had to happen and my budget would be shattered. I could get back on track because I became very adept at making some extra money to cover those bills. If I had money left over from a tax refund or a work bonus, I would put it into savings to help cover emergencies.
What helped me to keep perspective at that time was my priorities. I had four priorities when making my budget for every paycheck.
Many people would admit that they were preparing for uncertain times and economic downturns. Unfortunately, those times have come for many people. We were in a slow spiral, but it has now become a tailspin towards economic depression or worse. These were the times that many people, myself included, had been preparing for in their minds.
Vehicle maintenance is very important to your vehicle’s health and overall sustainability. The better you take care of your vehicles, the longer they last and the better they run, thus saving you money. With regular care and maintenance, your car can last you several years.
Gardening is an essential skill. You need to know how to grow your own food. If times get hard, you can supplement your grocery bill by growing your own vegetables. You also get the satisfaction of knowing you grew something. (It’s the best feeling ever!)