The Boy Scout motto is “Be prepared” — but what does that mean in real life? Once you are an adult with a family to worry about, how does that translate?

I love the movie One Fine Day with Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney. In one scene, Melanie (Pfieffer’s character) keeps pulling things out of her “mommy bag” to save the day.  At the end of the scene, George Clooney’s face is priceless as he says that he needs a bag like that. To me, that bag is being prepared.

Mom’s Grocery Store

Growing up, my mom’s idea of being prepared was having a spare room in our basement that we dubbed “the grocery store of Mom” because she stocked up on everything. We had a large family, so stocking up was wise. We went through a lot of things with six kids! And after I moved out, I had to figure out how to help my significantly smaller family prepare.

I’m not a fan of the traditional food storage that so many people these days are all excited about. I think that a lot of those long-term storage foods just aren’t edible. Powdered eggs, and anything with TVP (textured vegetable protein) just makes me gag. So when I am looking for long-term food storage, I have to be honest with myself. If I’m not going to use it, I don’t buy it. But if there is a sale on toothpaste, I get a few extra. They last for years and can be used later.  Those little extra supplies have given me quite a stockpile of short-term food storage!

Prepare

When I first got married, my husband gave me a hard time for this habit. But then a year into our marriage, I lost my job. He was a student at the time, and with no income, every extra bit of food and supplies kept us afloat till I found a new job. Needless to say, he doesn’t complain anymore.

Yesterday I was driving down the freeway and saw a billboard sponsored by ready.gov. The caption read, “‘Wait and see’ is not an emergency plan.” I love it! And they have a great point. Sadly, we need to be prepared for anything in this world of ours. Natural and economic disasters happen when you are least expecting them. But even a change in family situation is something to be prepared for. This month we started homeschooling my son. We hadn’t planned on it, but it is what is best for him right now. And every bit of preparation in my life has helped me stay sane with this major change.

Costco

So, are you prepared? If not, it’s not too late to start. For my small family, getting a Costco membership was an excellent investment. Practically every container purchased becomes a surplus supply. Next, you need a place to store it. Many people have nooks and crannies they discount that can make all the difference. Extra space next to a dresser can become a small storage spot. My favorite space to stash things is the space under the bed.

Canned goods easily fit between the frame and the floor.  Cans also fit under couches, and it helps keep toys from disappearing under there.  Most closets also have a few corners where you can fit supplies.  So, despite what all those preparation web sites are telling you, you don’t need anything special to get started. The most important thing is that you do something — anything — to get started.

It’s a Commandment

To read more of Patty’s articles, click here.

The doctrine of preparation is not new. Doctrine & Covenants 38:30 reads: “. . . if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” I personally find that when I have everything I need for a trip, even a short one, I am a lot more confident. So I try to be prepared with a first aid kit in my car. (I can’t tell you how many boo-boos I’ve fixed on the playground!)  And I even bring a gluten-free snack option for when we are on the go and I have to feed the family fast food. (Not many fast food places have good gluten-free options.) So preparation isn’t something you need only in a disaster. I need it regularly!

Testimony

In the same train of thought, we need to prepare ourselves by fortifying our testimonies. Strong faith is always required during hardships. Taking time every day to prepare yourself to be more confident before the Lord is an investment you won’t regret. President Nelson is inspired and has asked us to study the Restoration before April general conference. He said in the last conference that if we did as he asked, April conference would be an experience we would never forget. What a cool promise!!

I regret the times I haven’t taken advantage of promised blessings. And that is one blessing I can’t allow myself to miss. I am grateful for the counsel of our prophets to both spiritually and physically prepare for the future. There are great blessings in our future as we follow their counsel. Preparation and peace of mind are always worth the effort.

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Patty Sampson

Patty thrives on all things creative. You’ll often find her in the garden pretending she is a suburban farmer. She loves meeting new people, and is devoted to her friends and family. In her heart she is a Midwesterner even though life has moved her all over the country. She believes in “blooming where you’re planted” and has found purpose in every place she has been. She has a deep and abiding love for the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And she loves editing LDS Blogs because it is a constant spiritual uplift. Not many people can say their job builds their witness of the Savior.

Because I belong to several emergency preparedness websites and blogs,I have seen a question presented many times from many different people: Why should anyone do any kind of preparing for the future? What’s the purpose?

From television shows to major food chain stores, emergency preparedness has become more popular than ever over the last ten years. Emergency preparing has now “morphed” into a whole subculture of people in our society called “Preppers”.

Years ago, before the turn of the century, (1940) members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were encouraged by their church leaders to stash away a year’s supply of food and water. Self-reliance and thrift had always been taught from the pulpit, but this push for storing food and water had a purpose.

In a talk given in 1980, Ezra Taft Benson, one of the twelve apostles in the LDS Church leadership at the time, encouraged members to renew their resolve in self-reliance and to be prepared for any emergency.

Read Prepare for the Days of Tribulation

Trials and tribulations were definitely foretold in helping members to realize the wisdom of being prepared for anything thrown our way. And boy, were we thrown trials our way: terrorist attacks, economic recessions, natural disasters and the list goes on. Not to be a Debbie Downer but the reality of life in these modern times has its challenges. So why not be prepared? Anyone who knows the Boy Scouts know how helpful they are when they follow their motto, “Be Prepared”. We should be too and be prepared for all contingencies. It just makes sense.

Building Strong Families
To read more of Valerie’s articles, click the picture.

If we want to be self-sufficient and not have to depend on anyone else but ourselves to be fed, clothed and comfortable at home, then stashing away supplies in case of an emergency can be the only answer to the reality of our modern life.

Creating a plan for our safety and supplies for storage makes good sense and we can be prepared during difficult times. Whether we lose our job and have no income for an extended period or find ourselves in the middle of a category five hurricane, we can be prepared for the worst.

So the next time someone asks why you are keeping extra canned food in your pantry, extra toilet paper in the cabinet or bottled water in the closet, just tell them it’s the sensible thing to do…. and you know it is.

Valerie Steimle

Valerie Steimle has been writing as a family advocate for over 25 years. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she promotes Christian living in her writings and is the mother of nine children and grandmother to twelve. Mrs. Steimle authored six books and is a contributing writer to several online websites. To her, time is the most precious commodity we have and knows we should spend it wisely.
To read more of Valerie’s work, visit her at her website, The Blessings of Family Life.

This week, I’ve been too sick to go shopping and we’ve been hit with a major snowstorm as well. I haven’t been to a store in a few weeks. We won’t starve, since there is plenty of food in the freezer and in the pantries, but I realized the kinds of foods I want when I don’t feel good are not on my shelves—I used them up within days of getting sick. Since my husband is putting in long hours at work, we’re making do—but not with the foods I want.

Mormons store a 72-hour kit and other supplies for emergencies.

I’ve been thinking lately of putting together some specialized emergency kits for specific types of situations. When our power goes out, I need foods that can be cooked on our camp stove, but most of my regular cooking gets done in the oven and tends towards casseroles, because I don’t like to cook. When we’re without water (which happens often where we live), I need foods that don’t require very many dishes, since I don’t want to use too much water for washing them. When I’m sick, I need some simple meals that don’t require a lot of handling, since I am cooking for my husband as well, and that are easy, since I don’t feel good. In addition, I often want gentle foods for upset stomachs or tempting foods for no-appetite days. Invariably, those are the foods I haven’t stocked up on recently.

I’ve been working on menus of shelf-stable meals so I can have all the ingredients on hand if I get sick or miss the announcement of a snow storm. The plan is to put together a few boxes that contain everything I need for one week of the situations I’m preparing for, along with menus and recipes. During these emergency times, I often find it hard to think and, if I’m sick, I have no energy. Being able to pick up a box and move it to my kitchen or to my camp stove station would make life so much easier. The camp stove box will include paper dishes that can be tossed, since our electric water well doesn’t work if we don’t have electricity.

To prepare your box, walk through a day in the setting you’re preparing for—in your imagination, of course. Try to picture yourself making each meal and be aware of what you have to do to gather supplies, cook, and clean up. Write everything down so you don’t end up surprised. For instance, do you have a manual can opener if there is no electricity?

Although you may have a generator, try to prepare as if you don’t. During Hurricane Sandy, some people had their generators stolen. In addition, many places were rationing gas—if the gas stations were even open. Presume you might not be able to use it.

Although many people think of food storage as being for preppers preparing for the end of the world, most people store at a much more modest level and are interested in getting through a period of unemployment, a week of illness, a snowstorm, or other situations when you aren’t able to get to a store or to purchase food. It just makes sense to keep enough food on hand to get you through at least three months. Unemployment can last a year and if you don’t need to buy food, your savings will go much further.

You don’t need to run up your credit card to do this. Just buy a few extra things each week until you have what you need. Use the foods you store and put the new foods you buy into your storage so they don’t get bad. You haven’t saved anything if you have to throw the food away. Once you have a good supply, you can cut your food budget dramatically because you will be able to buy in bulk and on sale, rather than buying everything every week.

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Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Mormons store food for emergencies.

Mormon beliefs include storing enough food, water, money, and other supplies to be used in emergencies. Many people misunderstand this belief, considering it hoarding or a last-days scenario. However, many people use these supplies during critical times in their lives, such as natural disasters or unemployment.

You might remember that in the Old Testament, Joseph (famous for his coat of many colors) was freed from prison after interpreting Pharaoh’s dream about seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He suggested the Pharaoh needed to prepare for the famine by storing food ahead during the years of plenty and that God had been teaching him this through the dream. God has often taught his people the importance of preparation.

Mormons don’t stockpile the food in the basement and forget about it. They use what they store and rotate it. When grocery day comes around, they shop from their food storage for non-perishables and then replace it when they shop at a regular store. This allows them to cut food costs. Since they have everything they need, they can shop only when items are on sale. They can also purchase in bulk, which helps keep costs lower. If poor weather conditions cause the price of sugar to rise, they can use their stored sugar and not replace it until prices go down again.

Mormons have three types of storage. The first is a 72-hour kit. This portable storage has what they might need to take with them if they have to evacuate suddenly and need to care for themselves for 72 hours. This includes food, hygiene materials, blankets and pillows, scriptures, and other necessities. It can also include entertainment items for children who may get bored quickly in a shelter.

The second type of storage is a three-month supply. This includes everything a person needs to survive for three months. It often includes the most common foods the family eats, cleaning and hygiene materials, pet food, and anything else that would be useful in helping a family spend no money for three months.

The third type of storage is long term. Many staples, such as flour and sugar, will keep for many years if stored properly. This group often contains just what a family needs to survive for a long period of time if no other foods were available. Many families strive to have a full year of food and supplies, which will get most families through long-term unemployment or illness. The basic necessity items might cover another year or so.

Mormons are taught not to go into debt to buy the food or to worry about getting it all at once. It is very easy to pick up an extra few cans each time you shop and to add another bag of flour, sugar, or baking soda to your cart. The cost, for most, is negligible, but it quickly adds up to substantial security during difficult times. I once read of a group of women who were very poor. They were taught to place one spoonful of rice into a jar each time they fixed dinner. Eventually the jar would be filled and they could seal it and save it for times when there was not enough food. The lesson learned was that almost anyone can create a food storage, even if the start was modest.

Where do you stash all this food? Mormons hope to find houses with large garages, basements, or pantries, but of course, many do not. Families in small homes and apartments are amazingly creative at finding places to keep their food storage. A coffee table with a table cloth might be hiding several boxes or might even be made of food storage boxes. More boxes may be tucked under beds and in closets. I once had boxes stacked neatly under the edge of a breakfast bar and knowledgeable Mormons always nodded and said, “Food storage!”

Knowing there is plenty to eat, wear, and clean with brings comfort when we are faced with the stress of unemployment. Being able to fix a nice meal with our favorite foods elevates our mood and reassures us things are okay, even though difficult times might be ahead. A mother whose family is ill can rest assured that no one need stagger to a store because there is plenty of food in the house. When a snowstorm threatens, Mormons don’t have to rush to the store unless they want to—they can survive the days they are snowed in.

Food and commodity storage is only part of the Mormon beliefs about self-sufficiency. Mormons are taught that God expects us to do our share in taking care of ourselves. While we certainly trust God, we all do things that show we don’t expect God to hand us our lives with no effort on our part. We get jobs and work hard to provide for our needs and then trust God to make up the difference once we’ve done all we can do ourselves.

Self-sufficiency includes staying out of debt in order to minimize our expenses in times of need and also to allow us to make the best use of our money on a daily basis. Interest is expensive and provides no real benefit.

Mormons are also taught to get an education in something they enjoy that will allow them to provide for their families. Although women are encouraged to remain home with their children if possible, they are also taught to get an education so they can support their families if the need arises. Being prepared to have a career that allows you to live at a moderate level of comfort is an important part of self-sufficiency.

Gordon B. Hinckley, a past Mormon prophet, was interviewed by Mike Wallace on television. He was asked about the program of self-reliance and answered:

We teach self-reliance as a principle of life, that we ought to provide for ourselves and take care of our own needs. And so we encourage our people to have something, to plan ahead, keep … food on hand, to establish a savings account, if possible, against a rainy day. Catastrophes come to people sometimes when least expected—unemployment, sickness, things of that kind. The individual, as we teach, ought to do for himself all that he can. When he has exhausted his resources, he ought to turn to his family to assist him. When the family can’t do it, the Church takes over. And when the Church takes over, our great desire is to first take care of his immediate needs and then to help him for so long as he needs to be helped, but in that process to assist him in training, in securing employment, in finding some way of getting on his feet again. That’s the whole objective of this great welfare program (“This Thing Was Not Done in a Corner,” Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1996).

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

When there is no income, it is reassuring to know you have plenty of food on hand, savings, and little or no debt. This can allow you to get through a time of unemployment, or if you’re paid hourly, to get through several weeks or months of illness that prevents you from working. My husband and I are both self-employed, with his income providing for most of our living expenses, so we’ve learned to always be prepared. When you’re self-employed, you know there isn’t a Friday paycheck. Clients are late, or a contract is slow in coming. You must always be ready to take care of yourself without income for a time. This has taught us to spend meaningfully.

In order to live providently, you must be willing to forego some of the things you want. When we insist on having everything we want right now, we are unable to save money and are tempted to put it on a credit card or payment plan. “No money down and nothing due until next April” is a dangerous cry. You don’t know where your life will be in April, and getting caught up in too many of these deals can unexpectedly leave you with too many payments because you didn’t realize how many delayed payments you had created.

The first step to living a self-sufficient lifestyle is to determine the difference between a want and a need. One teacher was often frustrated because her students invariably described cable television as a need. When the economy turned, many soon learned it was possible to live a happy life without cable television. Sit down and make a list of those things that are essential expenses—housing, utilities, food, and so forth. Include the payments for anything you are currently purchasing through credit.

Next, make a list of things you’d like to have but could live without if you had to do so. These might include supplies for your favorite hobbies, vacations, and meals out. Mark those that are the most important to you. Which ones are most essential to help you feel relaxed when times are hard? You will find it helpful to make a written, prioritized list. Everything at the bottom of the list is most likely non-essential and can be eliminated if needed.

The next step, now that you’ve prioritized your expenses, is to figure out if you’re living within your means. If you have credit card or other debt, or if you run out of money before the next paycheck or can’t handle small emergencies, you are probably not living within your expenses. It’s time to make some changes. Begin by eliminating some of your non-essential expenses, using the priority lists you made earlier. Start at the bottom and eliminate the last item. Then eliminate the new last item. Once you’ve eliminated enough to no longer require credit cards to make it through the month, you’ll have to cut out a few more things to come up with extra income. You need to be able to put some money into building a buffer in your bank account or savings account, and also to increase the amount you’re paying on your debt each month. Paying only the minimums will keep you from ever paying them off. Each time you pay off a card, apply those payments to another debt, to increase the speed at which you’re paying down the debt. If you come into extra money from time to time, apply it to the debt, not a treat.

When the debt is paid off, it’s time to focus all the debt repayment money you had budgeted on building a reserve. Aim to have a year’s supply of income put away, long enough to cover most unemployment, serious illnesses, or unexpected major expenses.

As you are doing all of this you can begin to put aside a year’s supply of food and commodities. Make a list of food that would sustain life if you were unable to shop at all, and begin by building those. Visit Provident Living.org to learn how to build a three month supply of things you normally use, and then to build a longer supply. You’ll also learn how to store water in case of a natural disaster, such as a flood, when water may not be available.

Don’t go into debt to build the supply all at once. Buy a little extra each week as you shop. As you focus on learning to shop less expensively, you’ll have extra money in your shopping budget, which can be partially used to build your supply. Watch for sales and buy in bulk when it makes financial sense to do so. Date the cans of food so you know when you bought them  and don’t buy more than you can use before it goes bad. Find out how long everything keeps. Rotate your supply so you’re always using the oldest items first.

Learn cooking techniques that will allow you to cook from scratch if you need to do so. Learn to bake bread even if you don’t do it often and make sure you have the materials needed to do it. Homemade bread is inexpensive and filling.

Learn to garden, even if it’s just a few pots on your balcony. Having a few vegetables growing gives you a living food storage, and access to fresh foods when you can’t shop.

Purchase for the long run. When you buy new things, think about how long and how often you will use them, and choose the best quality you can afford. This doesn’t mean you need the most prestigious brand, just that you should do your research. If reviewers say the item breaks after a few uses, don’t buy it. Try to buy things that last, even if they are less attractive or popular. This way, you aren’t replacing things as often. The less you shop, the less you spend in the long run.

Make a budget–a spending plan–and stay on it. If there is room in the budget, plan a few treats, but plan them. This makes it easier to plan a picnic in the park instead of an impromptu outing to buy a large-screen television.

Because of the current economy, there are many websites and books on provident living. Some are more reliable than others, so study them, choose what is useful, and discard the rest. Learning to live providently before you need to is always easier than doing it because you have no choice. It will soon become a way of life.

When people learn that Mormons are taught to compile a year’s supply of food and other necessities, they often picture paranoid people stockpiling for doomsday or a nuclear disaster of some kind. While some people have used their supplies in a crisis, such as Hurricane Katrina, most use it for much more ordinary moments, such as unemployment, illness, or even just to save money.
When there is no income, it is reassuring to know you have plenty of food on hand, savings, and little or no debt. This can allow you to get through a time of unemployment, or if you’re paid hourly, to get through several weeks or months of illness that prevents you from working. My husband and I are both self-employed, with his income providing for most of our living expenses, so we’ve learned to always be prepared. When you’re self-employed, you know there isn’t a Friday paycheck. Clients are late, or a contract is slow in coming. You must always be ready to take care of yourself without income for a time. This has taught us to spend meaningfully.
In order to live providently, you must be willing to forego some of the things you want. When we insist on having everything we want right now, we are unable to save money and are tempted to put it on a credit card or payment plan. “No money down and nothing due until next April” is a dangerous cry. You don’t know where your life will be in April, and getting caught up in too many of these deals can unexpectedly leave you with too many payments because you didn’t realize how many delayed payments you had created.
The first step to living a self-sufficient lifestyle is to determine the difference between a want and a need. One teacher was often frustrated because her students invariably described cable television as a need. When the economy turned, many soon learned it was possible to live a happy life without cable television. Sit down and make a list of those things that are essential expenses—housing, utilities, food, and so forth. Include the payments for anything you are currently purchasing through credit.
Next, make a list of things you’d like to have but could live without if you had to do so. These might include supplies for your favorite hobbies, vacations, and meals out. Mark those that are the most important to you. Which ones are most essential to help you feel relaxed when times are hard? You will find it helpful to make a written, prioritized list. Everything at the bottom of the list is most likely non-essential and can be eliminated if needed.
The next step, now that you’ve prioritized your expenses, is to figure out if you’re living within your means. If you have credit card or other debt, or if you run out of money before the next paycheck or can’t handle small emergencies, you are probably not living within your expenses. It’s time to make some changes. Begin by eliminating some of your non-essential expenses, using the priority lists you made earlier. Start at the bottom and eliminate the last item. Then eliminate the new last item. Once you’ve eliminated enough to no longer require credit cards to make it through the month, you’ll have to cut out a few more things to come up with extra income. You need to be able to put some money into building a buffer in your bank account or savings account, and also to increase the amount you’re paying on your debt each month. Paying only the minimums will keep you from ever paying them off. Each time you pay off a card, apply those payments to another debt, to increase the speed at which you’re paying down the debt. If you come into extra money from time to time, apply it to the debt, not a treat.
When the debt is paid off, it’s time to focus all the debt repayment money you had budgeted on building a reserve. Aim to have a year’s supply of income put away, long enough to cover most unemployment, serious illnesses, or unexpected major expenses.
As you are doing all of this you can begin to put aside a year’s supply of food and commodities. Make a list of food that would sustain life if you were unable to shop at all, and begin by building those. Visit Provident Living.org to learn how to build a three month supply of things you normally use, and then to build a longer supply. You’ll also learn how to store water in case of a natural disaster, such as a flood, when water may not be available.
Don’t go into debt to build the supply all at once. Buy a little extra each week as you shop. As you focus on learning to shop less expensively, you’ll have extra money in your shopping budget, which can be partially used to build your supply. Watch for sales and buy in bulk when it makes financial sense to do so. Date the cans of food so you know when you bought them and don’t buy more than you can use before it goes bad. Find out how long everything keeps. Rotate your supply so you’re always using the oldest items first.
Learn cooking techniques that will allow you to cook from scratch if you need to do so. Learn to bake bread even if you don’t do it often and make sure you have the materials needed to do it. Homemade bread is inexpensive and filling.
Learn to garden, even if it’s just a few pots on your balcony. Having a few vegetables growing gives you a living food storage, and access to fresh foods when you can’t shop.
Purchase for the long run. When you buy new things, think about how long and how often you will use them, and choose the best quality you can afford. This doesn’t mean you need the most prestigious brand, just that you should do your research. If reviewers say the item breaks after a few uses, don’t buy it. Try to buy things that last, even if they are less attractive or popular. This way, you aren’t replacing things as often. The less you shop, the less you spend in the long run.
Because of the current economy, there are many websites and books on provident living. Some are more reliable than others, so study them, choose what is useful, and discard the rest. Learning to live providently before you need to is always easier than doing it because you have no choice. It will soon become a way of life.

When people learn that Mormons are taught to compile a year’s supply of food and other necessities, they often picture paranoid people stockpiling for doomsday or a nuclear disaster of some kind. While some people have used their supplies in a crisis, such as Hurricane Katrina, most use it for much more ordinary moments, such as unemployment, illness, or even just to save money.
When there is no income, it is reassuring to know you have plenty of food on hand, savings, and little or no debt. This can allow you to get through a time of unemployment, or if you’re paid hourly, to get through several weeks or months of illness that prevents you from working. My husband and I are both self-employed, with his income providing for most of our living expenses, so we’ve learned to always be prepared. When you’re self-employed, you know there isn’t a Friday paycheck. Clients are late, or a contract is slow in coming. You must always be ready to take care of yourself without income for a time. This has taught us to spend meaningfully.
In order to live providently, you must be willing to forego some of the things you want. When we insist on having everything we want right now, we are unable to save money and are tempted to put it on a credit card or payment plan. “No money down and nothing due until next April” is a dangerous cry. You don’t know where your life will be in April, and getting caught up in too many of these deals can unexpectedly leave you with too many payments because you didn’t realize how many delayed payments you had created.
The first step to living a self-sufficient lifestyle is to determine the difference between a want and a need. One teacher was often frustrated because her students invariably described cable television as a need. When the economy turned, many soon learned it was possible to live a happy life without cable television. Sit down and make a list of those things that are essential expenses—housing, utilities, food, and so forth. Include the payments for anything you are currently purchasing through credit.
Next, make a list of things you’d like to have but could live without if you had to do so. These might include supplies for your favorite hobbies, vacations, and meals out. Mark those that are the most important to you. Which ones are most essential to help you feel relaxed when times are hard? You will find it helpful to make a written, prioritized list. Everything at the bottom of the list is most likely non-essential and can be eliminated if needed.
The next step, now that you’ve prioritized your expenses, is to figure out if you’re living within your means. If you have credit card or other debt, or if you run out of money before the next paycheck or can’t handle small emergencies, you are probably not living within your expenses. It’s time to make some changes. Begin by eliminating some of your non-essential expenses, using the priority lists you made earlier. Start at the bottom and eliminate the last item. Then eliminate the new last item. Once you’ve eliminated enough to no longer require credit cards to make it through the month, you’ll have to cut out a few more things to come up with extra income. You need to be able to put some money into building a buffer in your bank account or savings account, and also to increase the amount you’re paying on your debt each month. Paying only the minimums will keep you from ever paying them off. Each time you pay off a card, apply those payments to another debt, to increase the speed at which you’re paying down the debt. If you come into extra money from time to time, apply it to the debt, not a treat.
When the debt is paid off, it’s time to focus all the debt repayment money you had budgeted on building a reserve. Aim to have a year’s supply of income put away, long enough to cover most unemployment, serious illnesses, or unexpected major expenses.
As you are doing all of this you can begin to put aside a year’s supply of food and commodities. Make a list of food that would sustain life if you were unable to shop at all, and begin by building those. Visit Provident Living.org to learn how to build a three month supply of things you normally use, and then to build a longer supply. You’ll also learn how to store water in case of a natural disaster, such as a flood, when water may not be available.
Don’t go into debt to build the supply all at once. Buy a little extra each week as you shop. As you focus on learning to shop less expensively, you’ll have extra money in your shopping budget, which can be partially used to build your supply. Watch for sales and buy in bulk when it makes financial sense to do so. Date the cans of food so you know when you bought them and don’t buy more than you can use before it goes bad. Find out how long everything keeps. Rotate your supply so you’re always using the oldest items first.
Learn cooking techniques that will allow you to cook from scratch if you need to do so. Learn to bake bread even if you don’t do it often and make sure you have the materials needed to do it. Homemade bread is inexpensive and filling.
Learn to garden, even if it’s just a few pots on your balcony. Having a few vegetables growing gives you a living food storage, and access to fresh foods when you can’t shop.
Purchase for the long run. When you buy new things, think about how long and how often you will use them, and choose the best quality you can afford. This doesn’t mean you need the most prestigious brand, just that you should do your research. If reviewers say the item breaks after a few uses, don’t buy it. Try to buy things that last, even if they are less attractive or popular. This way, you aren’t replacing things as often. The less you shop, the less you spend in the long run.
Because of the current economy, there are many websites and books on provident living. Some are more reliable than others, so study them, choose what is useful, and discard the rest. Learning to live providently before you need to is always easier than doing it because you have no choice. It will soon become a way of life.

When people learn that Mormons are taught to compile a year’s supply of food and other necessities, they often picture paranoid people stockpiling for doomsday or a nuclear disaster of some kind. While some people have used their supplies in a crisis, such as Hurricane Katrina, most use it for much more ordinary moments, such as unemployment, illness, or even just to save money.
When there is no income, it is reassuring to know you have plenty of food on hand, savings, and little or no debt. This can allow you to get through a time of unemployment, or if you’re paid hourly, to get through several weeks or months of illness that prevents you from working. My husband and I are both self-employed, with his income providing for most of our living expenses, so we’ve learned to always be prepared. When you’re self-employed, you know there isn’t a Friday paycheck. Clients are late, or a contract is slow in coming. You must always be ready to take care of yourself without income for a time. This has taught us to spend meaningfully.
In order to live providently, you must be willing to forego some of the things you want. When we insist on having everything we want right now, we are unable to save money and are tempted to put it on a credit card or payment plan. “No money down and nothing due until next April” is a dangerous cry. You don’t know where your life will be in April, and getting caught up in too many of these deals can unexpectedly leave you with too many payments because you didn’t realize how many delayed payments you had created.
The first step to living a self-sufficient lifestyle is to determine the difference between a want and a need. One teacher was often frustrated because her students invariably described cable television as a need. When the economy turned, many soon learned it was possible to live a happy life without cable television. Sit down and make a list of those things that are essential expenses—housing, utilities, food, and so forth. Include the payments for anything you are currently purchasing through credit.
Next, make a list of things you’d like to have but could live without if you had to do so. These might include supplies for your favorite hobbies, vacations, and meals out. Mark those that are the most important to you. Which ones are most essential to help you feel relaxed when times are hard? You will find it helpful to make a written, prioritized list. Everything at the bottom of the list is most likely non-essential and can be eliminated if needed.
The next step, now that you’ve prioritized your expenses, is to figure out if you’re living within your means. If you have credit card or other debt, or if you run out of money before the next paycheck or can’t handle small emergencies, you are probably not living within your expenses. It’s time to make some changes. Begin by eliminating some of your non-essential expenses, using the priority lists you made earlier. Start at the bottom and eliminate the last item. Then eliminate the new last item. Once you’ve eliminated enough to no longer require credit cards to make it through the month, you’ll have to cut out a few more things to come up with extra income. You need to be able to put some money into building a buffer in your bank account or savings account, and also to increase the amount you’re paying on your debt each month. Paying only the minimums will keep you from ever paying them off. Each time you pay off a card, apply those payments to another debt, to increase the speed at which you’re paying down the debt. If you come into extra money from time to time, apply it to the debt, not a treat.
When the debt is paid off, it’s time to focus all the debt repayment money you had budgeted on building a reserve. Aim to have a year’s supply of income put away, long enough to cover most unemployment, serious illnesses, or unexpected major expenses.
As you are doing all of this you can begin to put aside a year’s supply of food and commodities. Make a list of food that would sustain life if you were unable to shop at all, and begin by building those. Visit Provident Living.org to learn how to build a three month supply of things you normally use, and then to build a longer supply. You’ll also learn how to store water in case of a natural disaster, such as a flood, when water may not be available.
Don’t go into debt to build the supply all at once. Buy a little extra each week as you shop. As you focus on learning to shop less expensively, you’ll have extra money in your shopping budget, which can be partially used to build your supply. Watch for sales and buy in bulk when it makes financial sense to do so. Date the cans of food so you know when you bought them and don’t buy more than you can use before it goes bad. Find out how long everything keeps. Rotate your supply so you’re always using the oldest items first.
Learn cooking techniques that will allow you to cook from scratch if you need to do so. Learn to bake bread even if you don’t do it often and make sure you have the materials needed to do it. Homemade bread is inexpensive and filling.
Learn to garden, even if it’s just a few pots on your balcony. Having a few vegetables growing gives you a living food storage, and access to fresh foods when you can’t shop.
Purchase for the long run. When you buy new things, think about how long and how often you will use them, and choose the best quality you can afford. This doesn’t mean you need the most prestigious brand, just that you should do your research. If reviewers say the item breaks after a few uses, don’t buy it. Try to buy things that last, even if they are less attractive or popular. This way, you aren’t replacing things as often. The less you shop, the less you spend in the long run.
Because of the current economy, there are many websites and books on provident living. Some are more reliable than others, so study them, choose what is useful, and discard the rest. Learning to live providently before you need to is always easier than doing it because you have no choice. It will soon become a way of life.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.