With four major earthquakes occurring around the world in the last two months (three of them just in the last 2 weeks, and one of those just yesterday), emergency preparation has probably been on quite a few minds recently. I even heard a spot from our state’s governor on the radio yesterday letting everyone know of our state’s preparedness web site and other resources.

One of the main things that is suggested on most of the government and community preparation web sites is to have an emergency “kit” (sometimes called a 72-hour kit or a bug-out bag) for each member of the family, that contains items that would be useful in possible emergency situations.

There are many options for kits out there – you can purchase pre-assembled kits, you can make your own, or you can do a combination of both. As an aspiring “frugalista”, I really wanted to make my own because I was pretty sure I could do it for pretty cheap, and doing my own meant I could customize it for my family’s needs.

As I’ve done research on this, I’ve found so many lists of suggested items, and so many ideas. But I also found that it’s easy to get bogged down in trying to plan for every possible scenario. It can become overwhelming, and it’s hard to not get stalled in our efforts or abandon our plans all together because of the perceived complexity of the whole endeavor.

I’m a firm believer in the idea that ANY preparation is better than no preparation at all. So I wanted to find a way to put together a bare-bones, bare-basics kit that wouldn’t cost much money and could be thrown together in a matter of a few minutes so that it would be done and ready should the need ever arise.

In an emergency situation, the top priorities are water, wound care and sanitation/hygiene. You can go a few days without food. You can go for weeks without a shower or brushing your teeth or shampooing your hair if you had to (no, it wouldn’t be pretty, and it might be downright miserable, but you’d at least survive).

But you CAN’T go for very long without water. And if you happen to get a wound (which is quite likely in an emergency) and it gets infected and is untreated, you just plain WON’T be able to go for very long – period.

With that in mind, I rummaged through my house to come up with the items that I felt were a bare-minimum for an emergency kit. These are kind of the essentials for sustaining or preserving life. Here’s what I came up with:

small backpack
sweatshirt/jacket
bottled water [it’s not the recommended 3 gallons, but it’s certainly better than nothing, and you can add more if space and weight allow]
assorted adhesive bandages
antiseptic wash (or alcohol wipes or iodine)
antibiotic ointment
otc pain relievers
any prescription meds you take on a daily basis
food for 1 day [I just grabbed 6 granola/nut bars – convenient, no cooking required, and could be easily rationed if needed]
bar of soap
washcloth
roll of toilet paper
(for the gals) feminine hygiene products

[If you have a young child, you might want to include a baby blanket, cloth or disposable diaper(s) and possibly a bottle and formula]

It took me about 15 minutes to gather all these items. There was still about 6 inches of room at the top of the backpack, and even with the water bottle included, the entire pack only weighed 5lb 10oz. It was fast, cheap (all items came from around my house already) and lightweight.

Remember, this is not a deluxe version. This is just a quick put-together kit that you can do on the cheap that will get you started. But even this bare-basics kit will still get you a lot farther in an emergency situation than having no kit at all.

Of course, the idea is that you can then add to and customize your kit as time and finances and circumstances allow. There are many more things you might want to add if space and weight will allow. But even if you don’t add anything else, at least you’ll have something put together should the need ever arise (but hopefully it won’t).

Here’s a quick list of other things you might want to add on (and this is by no means an exhaustive list):

flashlight
trash bag/rain poncho
copies of important documents (birth certificates, IDs, contact information, etc.)
additional first aid supplies
change of clothes and additional cold weather items (hat, gloves, etc.)
additional personal hygiene items (shampoo, toothpaste, wet wipes, razor, etc.)
knife or survival tool
additional food
whistle
matches
solar blanket
water purification tablets or water filtering device
hand sanitizer
etc.

I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions on emergency kits or other things you’ve done to “get prepared”.

[For additional resources, check out www.ready.gov or www.fema.gov/areyouready.]

Utah Shopping Secrets	Idaho Shopping Secrets	Oregon Shopping Secrets	Wyoming Shopping Secrets
Colorado Shopping Secrets	Nevada Shopping Secrets	California Shopping Secrets	Washington Shopping Secrets

PYP has recently launched a few Facebook groups to aid in sharing deals on a more local level.  If you live in one of these areas,  be sure to become a Fan!  We also recommend becoming a fan of PinchingYourPennies.com on Facebook, for lots of great national and online deals. We’re closing in on 25,000 fans!

California Shopping Secrets Facebook group Northern and Southern California deals
Colorado Shopping Secrets Facebook group Colorado deals
Idaho Shopping Secrets Facebook group Idaho deals
Nevada Shopping Secrets Facebook group Nevada deals
Oregon Shopping Secrets Facebook group Oregon deals
Utah Shopping Secrets Facebook group Utah deals
Washington Shopping Secrets Facebook group Washington deals
Wyoming Shopping Secrets Facebook group Wyoming deals
SavingMoneyinAZ.com Facebook group – Arizona deals

PinchingYourPennies.com Facebook group – mostly freebies and national and online deals.

You can easily freeze cheese in your freezer, so if you find that killer deal on cheese, or if you are like me and you scavenge the discount bins and are buying cheese close to the best before date, you can easily freeze it for use later.

If you are using cheese for cheese sauce, pasta noodles, etc, grate the cheese first, and then freeze in either a freezer bag or with your food saver. As it freezes, remove it from the freezer a few times to shake it, so the cheese doesn’t stick together as it freezes. This way, you can grab just as much cheese as you need.

Note: did you know that the “cheese companies” put additives in the shredded cheese to make it not stick together? YUCK!

If you would like to freeze it in blocks, do note that the cheese will change texture slightly. So it will be fine for grilled cheese, for example, but not as good for cheese and crackers. Wrap the cheese well in foil or plastic wrap, wrapping as tightly as possible to prevent air reaching the cheese. Then place in a bag, squeezing as much air as possible.

Plan to use frozen cheese within 4 to 6 months. Thaw cheese in the refrigerator. Use soon after thawing.

The cheeses that freeze best are brick, Camembert, cheddar, Edam, mozzarella, muenster, Parmesan, provolone, Romano and Swiss. Blue cheeses are more prone to becoming crumbly but they’ll still taste good. Cream cheese and cottage cheese do not freeze well.

Is shopping at Rite Aid worth the time? If you ask me, I would answer YES! I save so much money by shopping there. Instead of buying hygiene items, medicine, and other necessities at Walmart I spend much less shopping at Rite Aid!

It’s true that most items have rebates, which means you pay out of pocket for items first then submit for the rebate later. But let me show you how easy Rite Aid’s system is. It is all done online. No forms to fill out, nothing to mail. It is fast, easy to understand and you get your rebate in 2-3 weeks after requesting it!

Rite Aid’s rebate program is called Single Check Rebates. Each month they put out a rebate schedule. It explains what dates you need to purchase the items, and which items qualify for the rebate. Most times you can only get one rebate per offer per household.

But here is the key to maximizing your savings:

You combine the monthly rebates with coupons & sale prices, PLUS additional rebates from manufacturer’s.

It really works!

Rite Aid has store coupons you can combine with manufacturer coupons to get more for your money. They also have $5 off $25, $5 off $20, and $3 off $15 purchase coupons to use periodically.

For example, through January and February I purchased certain items for the monthly rebates. BUT many of those items also qualified for current manufacturer rebates out there like Olay and the P&G promo from Rite Aid.

Here is an example of one of my purchases last month.

• Olay bar soap, 6 pack
• 2 Olay moisturizers
• Light bulbs, 4 pack
• 2 Orbit gum, 3 pack
• 4 Pokemon pencils (on clearance for 75% off)

Total spent out of pocket after coupons: $16.32
Then I submitted for the $15 Olay rebate. So I almost broke even on that trip!

Making sense?

Last fall and this past winter Rite Aid had a Gift of Savings program. If you spent $51 in their store you got $10 back. This was another way to capitalize on getting ahead. That $50 total is before coupons…..so that is why it makes such a difference! And that promo was in addition to the Single Check Rebates!

If you start shopping at Rite Aid you will be floored how much you can get for so little money. In a few days I will show you how much I was able to get through January and February for only $15!

Tomorrow I will show you how to get going in the Rite Aid Single Check Rebates Program!

1. FREE shipping on any $10 order at Avon.com! Great Easter Basket Ideas!

More info HERE

2. Cuisinart Immersion Hand Blender $32.50 shipped at Amazon.com!

More info HERE

3. Alice.com. Great prices on household supplies and FREE shipping!

More info HERE

4. Pre-order Mockingjay for $8.50 plus shipping at Amazon.com!

More info HERE

5. Current Generation Refurbished iPod Touch now available at AppleStore.com!

More info HERE

6. Free 20-Page Large Hardcover Photo Book at Picaboo.com! New Customers ONLY! Shipping is $8.99

More info HERE

7. 140 FREE address labels from VistaPrint.com! Shipping is about $3.00. Design your own labels!

More info HERE

8. Denny’s Unlimited Pancakes or French Fries ~ with entree purchase of $2.50 or more
Good through March.

More info HERE

9. 32nd Annual Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s! March 23rd from 12 noon – 8pm

More info HERE

10. $10 Disney Ponyo Blu-ray coupon: Save $10.00 with purchase of Ponyo Blu-ray Combo Pack.

More info HERE

Visit our sister site – Real Mom Kitchen. Laura shops the PYP way and then turns her bargains into real meals. Get a great deal on chicken?  Plug “chicken” into the search box at Real Mom Kitchen and see tried and true recipes your family will love.
The link to Real Mom Kitchen is in the navigation area of the PYP blog/home page, and also in the navigation bar above the PYP forums.  When you’re stumped for ideas, check Real Mom Kitchen first!

Just a sampling of what you’ll find:

Bowtie Chicken Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar Pita Wraps
One Hour Wheat Bread
Black Bean Taco Salad
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Click on the store of your choice at THIS LINK.


Or here are the direct links:

link (Kroger)
link (Smith’s)
link (King Soopers)
link (Frys Food)
link (Bakers Plus)
link (City Market)
link (Dillons)
link (Fred Meyer)
link (Gerbes)
link (Hilander)
link (JayCFoods)
link (Owens Market)
link (Pay-Less)
link (qfc)
link (Ralphs)

You can play each day in March.

Once a participant has won two Instant Win prizes, no further Instant Win prizes will be awarded to that Participant. However, additional log ins will result in additional Sweepstakes Grand Prize drawing entries.

Here is the list of prizes:

50 Grand Prizes: Pop-A-Shot machines

California Pizza Kitchen Pizza
Coke Zero 20 oz.
Oscar Mayer Meat Hot Dogs
Kraft Naturals Chunks & Shreds 8oz
Oscar Mayer Basic Lunchables
Kraft Snacking Cheese
Planters 16oz Peanuts
Maxwell House Coffee
Reese’s King Size Peanut Butter Cups (4)
$5.00 Off Coupon
Hormel party tray
Bucket wings
Coke 2 Liter
Private Selection pizzas

LINK TO OFFER

Just one of the awesome tools here at PYP…ready-made shopping lists.  We scour grocery ads to find the best deals at many of your favorite stores, and match them with available coupons.   Check the list below and see if you find your favorite store!

SassyScoops.com, a “tasty” website designed to support local business, has quickly become the must-visit site for readers both in and outside Utah. SassyScoops.com promotes the “shop local” idea by “scooping” local finds and sharing those finds during a weeklong feature on SassyScoops.com.

They also have a great Facebook Fan Page where they post the newest reviews, giveaways, discounts and deals from your favorite local Utah businesses.

The idea for SassyScoops.com was born when three girlfriends, Vanessa Brown , Quinn Curtis and Emily Hill, found themselves sharing with each other their opinions on local restaurants, boutiques and family-friendly activities. Why not do the same thing but do it in a way that brings more awareness of—and business to—these establishments? The women, who were already supporters of Local First, a nonprofit organization that promotes buying locally, quickly launched SassyScoops.com. The aptly named Sassies soon discovered it didn’t take long before companies wanted to be “scooped” on the site. To make sure they provided the most online exposure possible, Vanessa, Quinn and Emily added a handful of local bloggers to the group.

To be featured on SassyScoops.com the Sassies schedule a time to visit the business, cameras and Flip videos in hand, so they can give an honest review (and some great behind-the-scenes snippets) to readers. Once visited the company is then scheduled for its weeklong feature on the site. The week includes a Preview, which details information about the business (e.g., location, history); a Review so the Sassies can give honest answers to five important questions and rate the business in six areas; a Follow-Up post with more photos, video, anecdotes from the visit and more often than not, a giveaway or promotion for readers.

During the week the Sassies pool their social media resources (Twitter, Facebook, personal blogs) to promote the posts—and the business—on SassyScoops.com. So far the Sassies have reviewed everything from Blend Fashions (Pleasant Grove) and West Light Images Gallery (Park City) to My Dough Girl (Salt Lake City) and Wild Grape Bistro (Salt Lake City). They’ve even featured a farm, a roller derby team and a yoga studio! The Sassies love sharing these tasty Utah finds with readers and readers enjoy learning about new places where they can “shop local.” The site already has a strong following on both Twitter and Facebook.

To check out businesses “scooped” by the Sassies or to learn more about how your Utah business can be featured on the site, please visit SassyScoops.com .

Be sure to also Fan Us on Facebook to hear about the newest deals, discounts, giveaways and features from your favorite Utah companies!

This is a paid advertisement for SassyScoops.com.

ENDLESS FRIES & PANCAKES – available for a limited time only!

Refills available to each guest who purchases an entree valued at $2.50 or more that includes fries or pancakes. Specialty pancakes not included.

Valid through the end of March.

Find a store near you with the store locator at Denny’s.com.

Click here to go to Corner Bakery Cafe’s Facebook page and sign up to receive a FREE Breakfast Panini. Valid for first 15,000 requests.

Find a location near you at this link.

Have you ever tried to make your own baby food? It is really, really easy! Much cheaper too, than buying it, AND much healthier! You know what’s in it!

This afternoon while I fed my 4 year old lunch, I steamed some sweet potatoes for my 9 month old.

After steaming I blended them up in my Vitamix. I added some of the hot water that was already in the pot. They were nice and creamy.

Then I just put them into baby food containers that I have saved. Then I label and freeze. If I would have purchased all these at the store I would have paid about $5, plus tax. I made all this myself for just over $2. And it didn’t take any extra time. I was already in the kitchen.

You can also use ice cube trays to freeze homemade baby food. Freeze, then pop all the frozen cubes into a Ziploc bag and label. Keep in the freezer, and microwave when ready to use. Easy, simple, and healthy!

I have only purchased about 25 jars of baby food so far for my 9 month old. I either make my own or she eats real food. Try it! If you are spending lots of money on baby food from the store, see how easy it is to make your own!

Cooking with dry beans can save you quite a bit of money over buying canned beans.

For most beans: 1 pound dried beans = 2 cups dried = 4 – 5 cups cooked beans

Beans are low in fat and loaded with nutrients, and we’d probably eat more of them if they weren’t also loaded with gas-producing enzymes. There are ways to enjoy beans without having to forego social appointments, however. One is to change the water from time to time while you’re soaking or cooking the beans. Pouring off the water helps gets rid of the indigestible complex sugars that create gas in your intestine. It also helps to cook the beans thoroughly, until they can be easily mashed with a fork. Most bean aficionados prefer dried beans, but canned beans are also available. Canned beans tend to be saltier and less flavorful than reconstituted dried beans.

I cook dry beans by first soaking them over night in my crock pot (turned off). Then in the morning I rinse them and return them to the crock pot and fill it with water. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. For beans I am using for refried beans or Mexican dishes I add a bunch of chopped cilantro, a clove of garlic, and a couple teaspoons of cumin.

Then the beans are ready for use. You can freeze whole cooked beans or what I like to do is just go ahead and mash them and freeze them. I use either my food saver or empty sour cream cartons.

Freeze beans in 1 to 2 cup portions so they’ll be easy to thaw and use, making sure the beans are covered with liquid so they won’t dry out or get freezer burn. Freezer containers should be airtight and moisture proof. Leave enough space at the top of the container for expansion of the beans. Cooked beans will keep in the freezer 2 to 3 months. After that time their flavor and texture will begin to deteriorate.

When you are ready to use the beans, thaw in the fridge.

To prepare refried beans, take them cold from the fridge. If they are very juicy, then drain off some of the juice. If they are not very juicy, then don’t worry about it. Place the beans in a pot on the stove.. As the beans heat they will thicken and bubble. Add a little bit of fat to give them flavor and to keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If they already some fat in them, then you don’t need any more. Simmer the beans over medium heat until they are thick enough to spoon out. They won’t be as thick as canned refried beans.

Note: Canned refried beans are thicker than they should be. If you ever reheat canned refried beans, then add about 1/4-cup of water and 1 or 2 tablespoons of fat to beans and they will taste a lot better.