Shelf Reliance – Emergency Planning

Looking for a summer project? Consider spending a few hours or days getting your emergency plan up to snuff. Emergency plans are one of those things that need constant maintenance, whether that means refreshing the food in your 72-hour kit, changing out clothes your kids have outgrown, or practicing how to get out of the house safely in case of a fire.

Take a look at the following steps, then decide what you can do to prepare most effectively. As you start next week’s shopping, keep an eye out for deals on supplies that will keep you safe and comfortable when the circumstances are less-than-ideal.

Preparing for an Emergency

Step 1: What are you at risk for in your area?
– Contact your local emergency management office of local American Red Cross Chapter to gather the information you will need to create a plan.
– Ask what types of disasters are likely to affect your area.
– Find out if your community has warning signals. If so, learn what they are and what you should do when you hear them.
– Check with your schools, workplaces, and other places you frequent about their disaster plans.
– Educate yourself about community evacuation plans.

Step 2: Make a Plan
– Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather, and earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.
– Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.
– Pick two places to meet:
1. Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
2. Outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number.
– Ask an out-of-state friend to be your “family contact.” After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact’s phone number.
– Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take care of your pets.

Step 3: Complete This Checklist
– Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).
– Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local Emergency Medical Services number for emergency help.
– Show each family member how and when to turn off the utilities (water, gas, and electricity) at the main switches.
– Check if you have adequate insurance coverage.
– Train each family member on how to use the fire extinguisher and show them where it is kept.
– Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
– Conduct a home hazard hunt. Check to make sure heavy objects on walls are safely secured.
– Stock emergency supplies and assemble an Emergency Kit.
– Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.
– Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
– Find the safe places in your home for each type of disaster.
– Establish a “family password” with your children. This password will help your children know who can and can’t be trusted in an emergency; if you ask a friend or family member to pick your child up from an event, they’ll be able to share that password and indicate to your children that they are safe.
– Complete a Family Communication Plan. You can find a great form online at www.ready.gov.
– Put all vital records and documents in a fire and water proof safe box. This would include birth certificates, marriage certificates, social security cards, passports, wills, deed, and financial, insurance, and immunization records. They may be also kept in a safe deposit box at your local bank. A fire and water proof safe can be purchased at most large retailers.

Step 4: Practice and Maintain Your Plan
– Quiz your kids every six months or so.
– Conduct fire and emergency evacuations.
– Replace stored water every year and keep your stored food rotating by cooking with it often.
– Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer’s instructions.
– Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
– Review first aid and CPR training.

Walgreens deals for the current week 4/25- 5/1 and next week 5/2-5/8


The following links can be used to access the GrocerySmarts Walgreens lists in the designated areas. Some sale prices may differ slightly from area to area, but all coupon information is specific for your area.

*Please note that these lists are created using the smaller version of the ad. You may find additional deals in your area. Feel free to post additional deals you find!

CHECK THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR MORE PRINTABLE COUPONS

Arizona
*Arizona Walgreens PREVIEW List*
Arizona Walgreens CURRENT List

California – North
*California North Walgreens PREVIEW List*
California North Walgreens CURRENT List

California – South
*Californa South Walgreens PREVIEW List*
California South Walgreens CURRENT List

Idaho
*Idaho Walgreens PREVIEW List*
Idaho Walgreens CURRENT List

Nevada
*Nevada Walgreens PREVIEW List*
Nevada Walgreens CURRENT List

Oregon
*Oregon Walgreens PREVIEW List*
Oregon Walgreens CURRENT List

Utah
*Utah Walgreens PREVIEW List*
Utah Walgreens CURRENT List

Washington – East
*Washington East Walgreens PREVIEW List*
Washington East Walgreens CURRENT List

Washington – West
*Washington West Walgreens PREVIEW List*
Washington West Walgreens CURRENT List


**************************************************

ADDITIONAL PRINTABLE COUPONS TO USE:
-Kotex U Products $1/1 HERE (FINAL PRICE: $1.00 AFTER PROMO)
-SoftSoap Nutri-Serum .75/1 (if this variety is included) HERE (.24 AFTER PROMO)
-Aveeno $15.00 Mail-In Rebate HERE
-Sure Deodorant .75/1 HERE (FINAL PRICE: .75)

Free Comic Book Day on May 1st

Free Comic Book Day is a single day – the first Saturday in May each year – when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local shop for their participation and rules.

Keep a Freezer Inventory


Keeping a freezer inventory a vital step in getting the most out of your freezer cooking experience. It you don’t know what is in your freezer than you won’t be able to properly rotate.

You want to be sure you are getting a great value for all the hard work you go to in shopping, saving, and making your freezer meals.

I don’t like finding a chicken meal that I made a year ago or ground beef meal that has been there for 3 years. How do you keep track of what is in the freezer and how long it’s been there?

Creating a freezer inventory is a great way to ensure your food is still good quality when you eat, it should be a well organized, simple to follow and update. It’s a great way to remember what is in your freezer without even opening it.

My freezer inventory sheet is divided into 3 columns:

Item:
Your freezer inventory should include the item that was frozen and make sure you list how you did it. Did you freeze hamburger patties raw or cooked? Are they seasoned?

Quantity:

Not only do you need to know how much is in each package (like pounds or how many beef patties are in the package). You need to know how many like packages you have in your freezer. Don’t forget to include on your inventory the freezer meals, meats, vegetables, desserts and juices.

I my inventory form I put a little tick mark for each package and then when I use it I cross it out.

Date:
Make sure not only do you write the date on the inventory sheet but also on the package itself. I always try make sure I am using the oldest of the items first to insure great quality and to keep my frozen foods in proper rotation.

I like having the date on my inventory sheet so that when I am making a meal plan I can easily see what needs to be used first, without having to dig through the freezer to figure it out.

With keeping an inventory sheet you can also easily know what you are using the most and you can make an appropriate shopping list.

I have some freezer bins that I try to sort like items into. (Can you tell I hate digging in my freezer?)

Don’t forget to update!
After you go to the work of organizing your freezer and creating your inventory sheet, keep it up! Update your sheet eat time your go shopping. Mark off what you use each time you remove something. The initial task may seem overwhelming but once you have the basics down it is VERY easy to keep up with. The trick my be making sure that each of your family members remember to mark off what they take out.

A few free activities this weekend for kids at national chain stores!

Home Depot Kids WorkshopClick for Details
– This Saturday, May 1st, bring the kids to the Home Depot to create a Picket Fence Planter. *If it’s your first time the kids also receive a Free Home Depot apron to wear and display collectible pins from each project.

Lowe’s Build and Grow ClinicClick for Details
– This Saturday, May 1st, bring the kids to Lowe’s to create a wooden School House. *If it’s your first time the kids will receive an apron and googles.

MichaelsClick for Details
– This Saturday, May 1st, Free Mother’s Day Bead Event from 1-3pm.

Free Cacique Panty from Lane Bryant

Click here to request your coupon for a Free Cacique Panty from Lane Bryant. Valid while supplies last or 5/31/10.

Free YoBaby Yogurt at Whole Foods Market on May 1st

Visit select Whole Foods Markets to try a free sample of YoBaby Meals on Saturday, May 1st. Also, bring a non-perishable food item to the sampling event and you will receive a coupon good for one FREE YoBaby yogurt 4-pack. Each donation supporting the Stonyfield & Whole Foods Nourishing Communities initiative.

You can also enter for the chance to win free tickets to the pre-release screening of the new movie BABIES.

Home Depot Garden Club! Sign up for this great newsletter and get HOT coupons!

Home Depot Garden Club

 This is a HOT one!  The coupons they send are great.

Join now for FREE and get:

  • Exclusive members only coupons and savings delivered right to your inbox.
  • Timely regional tips and advice, delivered biweekly.
  • Expect answers to your gardening questions within 24 hours.

LINK TO SIGN UP

Here is a sample of the coupons they’ve sent in the past:

  • Buy one Tree, get one FREE (of equal or lesser value)
  • $3 off 5M or $6 off 15M TurfBuilder with Summerguard Lawn Fertilizer and Insect Killer
    $3 off Cutter Bug Free Backyard Hose End or Concentrate
    $1 off 32 quart or $2 off 64 quart or Miracle Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix
  • $3 off a Propane Exchange or $4 off any New Tank purchase.
    $2 off any Clorox ProResults Outdoor Bleach 32 oz.
    $4 off Weed-B-Gon Ready-To-Spray concentrate of any Quart concentrate

100 MP3 Albums – Just $5 Each!

Amazon has 100 MP3 Albums on sale for just $5 each! Everything from classics like Don McLean to Coldplay to Radio Disney. There is a new selection of 500 albums each month so hurry before this month’s selections are gone! 
100 $5 MP3 Albums LINK

40% off code for FlirtyAprons.com – Think Mother’s Day!

Great Mother’s Day gift idea! Works on girl’s aprons too! So cute!
40% off any apron with code: FA-4110 – 40% off any apron with code: FA-4110 Expires 5/12

FlirtyAprons.com LINK
Cute Aprons like this!
Women’s Apron Scalloped Cherry Blossom
Was $29.95
Now $28.50
After code: $17.10

Fox 13 Deals 4/29/10!

1. Children’s Educational Books and Workbooks .99 each at Bookcloseouts.com!

More info HERE

2. Offer still good! $20 off $20 order SpringHillNurseries.com!


More info HERE

3. Taste of Home Cookbooks $5 plus free shipping codes!

More info HERE

4. FREE Shipping on $10 orders at Avon.com!

More info HERE

5. Box of 100 Laminating Pouches for $8.99 at Amazon.com!

More info HERE

6. 40 Free AA or AAA Batteries with Staples Rewards!

More info HERE

7. $10 off a $10 order at Jcpenney.com!!

Link to JCPenney.com

Code for $10 off: 4BESTMOM

8. Get a $5 Child’s ticket with every Adult ticket purchased at Sea World!

More info HERE

9. Enter to win a Mixed Veggie 6-Pack package from Shelf Reliance and Pinchingyourpennies.com!

More info HERE

Sign up for Home Made Simple newsletter! Be the first to get Extra Savings!

Sign up for Home Made Simple newsletter and be among the first to know about special offers, samples, coupons, and sweepstakes offers from brands like Cascade®, Dawn®, Febreze®, Mr. Clean®, and Swiffer®.

Home Made Simple newsletter Sign Up LINK

InkOrbit – Save up to 85% on ink!

Need printer ink? Get yours now and get a great deal without compromising quality. Inkorbit backs all of their inkjet cartridges & laser toners with 100% Quality and Satisfaction Guarantee. Save up to 85% off your ink purchases! Free shipping on $50 orders!

InkOrbit LINK

Home Depot Home Improver Club – Get Extra Savings and more!

It takes just a minute to register for a FREE Home Improver Club membership, and you’ll be so glad you did. You’ll get:
Home Maintenance and Upkeep E-mail Alerts
Projects Based on your Local Weekend Weather
How-to Video Tutorials
E-mail Newsletters

LINK to Sign-up for Home Improver Club

  • 1
  • 2
  • 8

Lost Password