Have you noticed gas prices have gone up lately? How about food? Odds are unless you pay for these necessities yourself you may only have heard general grumbling from the adult population.
The truth is more and more people are struggling to make ends meet, even with two full-time jobs and cutting back here and there. You may be asking, “What can I do about it?” I’m here to tell you it’s time to start a food storage.
We have a fantastic section here on the blog all about home storage and preparedness, and I highly recommend you take some time to go through it. I wanted to stop and talk today about why it’s important for you, as teens, to take an active role in starting a food storage.
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) we have been encouraged for years by leaders to begin storing food, water, and other necessities.
“We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings” (“All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage,” All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 2007).
This call to prepare for hard times goes out to more than just the members of the Latter-day Saint Church. This call can and should be heard by all. If you read this, and do not have any sort of food storage built up in your home, now is the time to start.
Begin by talking with your parent(s) about making little changes. Think about your family’s favorite foods. The first three things that come to mind in my own family are spaghetti, mandarin oranges, and macaroni salad. So once a month I might buy an extra can of oranges, an extra bag of noodles, or add one more jar of mayo to my shopping list. When I get home, the extra food item will be put away for storage.
The same can be said for other necessities: toilet paper, over-the-counter medicine, toothpaste, shampoo, dish soap, etc. If you don’t have a lot of room to store these extras, get creative. I have a bin of things on the floor of my closet. One of the shelves in my pantry is dedicated to food. I’ve crammed little things here and there. Those items I may not need for a long time or are non-perishable, like soap, can be stuck in high-up cupboards or any nook or cranny.
Another thing to discuss is a savings plan. I’m not talking a lot. Even just five or ten dollars a paycheck or a month can add up over time. Having that savings can prove to be a lifesaver in times of financial stress or in an emergency.
The biggest thing to remember is not to put yourself in debt putting a food storage together.
“We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes. . . . With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve” (“All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage,” All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 2007).
Start small. Work on building up a week’s worth of food storage. If you’re not sure just how much your family goes through in a week, keep a written record of everything you go through. You can work well off of that one list, adjusting for other foods you enjoy. When you’ve managed to build up a week’s worth of storage, begin on week two.
Even if all you have room and money for is one month of home storage, you will be remarkably prepared when hard times hit. . .like now. Take a chance. Talk to your parent(s) about creating a home storage.
For more tips go to Provident Living
