You CAN Keep Your House Clean With No Power!!!

You can keep your house clean even if you have no power. I just bought a sweeper to use. I have low pile carpet so it should work pretty good. Plus in the kitchen with the laminate floor.
Even without power you can find many ways to clean the house. I have some water bottles set aside to store water that I use JUST for cleaning. Collecting rain water, etc. I have a great stockpile of cleaning supplies and bleach can be a real life saver. Make sure you have Lysol , too for killing germs.



For laundry I have a hand crank little washing machine and a rapid washer for those bigger jobs, like jeans. I use clothesline also.
So if you are out of power for a short while or a long while - you can still keep your house clean and safe for your family.

Preparing Your Family in Case of Emergency

With the difficulties which many people in the world face on a regular basis, it would be a good practice to prepare one's family in case an emergency strikes. The world is full of perilous issues which confront people each and every day. The bad economy which has been rampant for some time has affected millions of people ether directly or indirectly and has caused many to search for home based businesses which may bring more problems if not successful.

Besides the bad economic times, natural disasters which bring immediate tragedy are striking throughout the planet. Manmade casualties which disrupt livelihoods suddenly occur without notice. There is war raging n the world bringing death to innocent people. Crime can hit anyone. These hard times may require family preparedness in order to survive.

There are a number of things anyone can do to prepare for future problems. Everyone will be faced with public or private problems. Although how a person looks at and handles the trials will differ, most people will have severe challenges in their lifetimes.

Material necessities such as shelter, food, and water may be taken for granted by much of society. People who live comfortable lives expect those things to be readily available. Those who live in poverty better understand that life is not easy nor is it fair. Being prepared is sage advice for anyone. Having an adequate reserve of cash and necessities on hand may be vital for survival.

Government and church groups have long advocated emergency preparedness for families and individuals. There may be no warning when a tragedy or disaster strikes a family or a community.

Emergency services may not be available at a moment's notice. Perhaps roads will be closed and areas become inaccessible. Emergency responders who are depended upon to be there when problems arise may not be able to get to people who need help.

There are ways to prepare families for personal hardships which may come.
• Practice an emergency escape plan in case of fire
• Have an emergency roadside kit in your home and car
• Have a three day emergency kit for each family member

Have food in it that the person likes and will eat

Include eating utensils (plastic cup, fork, etc.)

Personal sanitary and cleaning supplies

A change of clothes

Use a small backpack for each kit

Make sure each person knows where the kits are stored
• Keep enough gas in the car for emergencies
• Have Blankets and warm coats available
• Make sure everyone has access to emergency phone numbers
• Store enough food and water to sustain the family if needed

These measures and preparations may or may not be available or useful if an emergency comes, depending on the circumstances. Being prepared does give peace of mind even if a major disaster never strikes the family.

Discover more about emergency preparedness and food storage by checking out: http://www.preparedforlife.net.

Learn about a way to earn and save money for the future by visiting: http://www.moremlmsuccess.com

Pleasant Truths of a Frugal Lifestyle

Our large family has been living on one income for years. Careful spending is necessary in our lifestyle. Many people equate a thrifty lifestyle with cheapness and deprivation. The pleasant truth is that stretching a dollar can be fun.

I spent some time considering a few of the myths attached to frugality. My frugal truths reveal that stretching a dollar is nothing to be ashamed of.

Frugality does not equal deprivation. We purchase many things that we want. We carefully consider purchases, and save our money until we can buy with cash. We appreciate the items we choose to buy.

Being thrifty is not the same thing as being cheap. A frugal option can actually cost more initially, but save a good deal of money over time. We purchase items of the best quality possible within our price range.

We do not eat beans every night for supper. We enjoy a variety of delicious home cooked meals made from basic ingredients. Beans are part of our menu, but so are many other foods either grown on our homestead or purchased at the best possible price.

Living on a budget is not boring. Our one income lifestyle is packed with adventure, creativity, and resourcefulness. It is a game, albeit a necessary one, to see how far the money can go.

A real joy of frugality is that resources are freed up for sharing, donating, and giving. Carefulness in spending can create a surplus in even the smallest budgets. Paying off debt and contributing to savings are also possible through thriftiness.

We aren't deterred by the work involved in our frugal lifestyle. Our methods can be time-consuming, but it is time joyfully spent. Cooking from scratch, using clothes lines, and doing repairs ourselves are more enjoyable than working overtime to pay for convenience foods and credit card bills.

Saving money and spending carefully may be considered a bit old-fashioned in our modern credit card world. But, we have found that living within our means is more important today than ever. Living well on a single income is possible, even with a large family. Whether lived by necessity or choice, frugality can be a lifestyle of joy.

©2010 Julie Cazier

Julie Cazier is a happily married, busy mom of seven.
Life on the farm is good.
http://www.mooberry-farm.com (blog)
http://www.mooberryfarm.com (website)
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Saving on Family Grocery Shopping

Now in today's economic times, using less earned on anything is a plus. However, one must that is hard to cut back on is grocery shopping. Spending less on groceries takes practice and planning. One way to use less on groceries is to shop the specials for the necessary items. Going through sale promotions each month and obtaining the best sales possible will save you some money.

Using mail coupons is also very useful. Not many people have the ability to sit and cut out coupons and compare the item on the coupon to the item that they are purchasing. At times however, there are many good coupons that you can track that will save you quite a bit on your grocery bill.

Another great tip is to find things in bulk. While the initial purchase may be more expensive, the period of time before you need to buy those groceries again is longer. For example, purchasing a case of canned spaghetti may cost less than it would to purchase each can individually. Many times stores offer a quantity discount when you purchase in bulk.

Warehouse outlets sell many items in bulk such as canned goods, frozen goods, cereals, coffee and many other items. Buying in bulk in this manner will always be less expensive than purchasing the items individually or in smaller quantities. However, when considering a warehouse store, remember that there is usually a membership price that must be paid each year to get the lower price.

Wasting less on groceries can be done with planning and practice. Do not expect to get it right all the time, it takes time to change habits.

Lance enjoys writing about using Savings coupons.
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Eating Frugally - Keeping These Items In The Cupboard Will Save You Dollars In The Kitchen

If you're like the majority of people, the first place you cut back to save money is in the kitchen. Eating frugally doesn't necessarily mean switching to beans and rice. It does mean eating smarter and planning for leaner times.

Tough economic times have forced so many people to give up their favorite past times like going to the movies every Friday or going to their favorite restaurant as often. Most non-essential items from the grocery list have been deleted like all the different varieties of cookies, chips and microwaveable snacks.

Keeping these items on hand will save you money and help you out in "a pinch."

1. Egg Replacer- it's powdered and mixes with water. Sometimes, when you have 3 eggs left you have to decide between breakfast and a snack for the kids, egg replacer will come in handy. Mix it with a little water and add it to your favorite recipe instead of eggs. Cakes and breads come out fluffier and lighter. A box will go a long way and that alone will save you money and trips to the grocery store for eggs, especially during the holiday season when the price of eggs goes sky-high. An added plus is that it's cruelty-free. It can be found in most grocery stores.

2. Bouillon Cubes- These little treasures come in so handy when there isn't much time or there's no chicken or beef for a soup on a cold winter's day. A jar is only a few dollars and they keep an exceptionally long time. They come in Beef, Chicken and Vegetable flavor. A bouillon cube is basically stock that's dehydrated into little cubes. Just add these cubes to a few cups of water, add a can or box of frozen mixed veggies and soup pasta (purchased on sale, of course) and you've got a little soup made in minutes. Add a can of your favorite beans or extra peas and you've got additional protein in your meal. Combined with a grilled cheese sandwich on the side, your kids will love it!

3. Baking Soda- Not just for the fridge anymore, you can use baking soda for so many things like

* brushing your teeth. Just put a little in the palm of your hand, wet your toothbrush and dab it in the baking soda making a little paste. You'll get white teeth and fresh breath.
* It can be used as a deodorant under your arms (not after shaving because it will burn).
* Use it for heartburn by mixing one-fourth teaspoon to one-fourth cup of water. Stir it well and drink it. It tastes salty but will clear up acid indigestion within 30 seconds.
* You can also add it to warm water and wash your floor with it as a safe, non-toxic alternative to harsh cleaners that aren't safe for your babies or pets.

4.White Vinegar-Surprisingly, you can use it to clean your pipes. Just pour baking soda down your drain and add the vinegar, which is inexpensive and can be bought by the gallon. It will cause the baking soda to bubble up and dislodge grunge from your pipes. It doesn't dissolve hair but soap scum and build-up will disappear. It's a safe alternative to liquid drain openers. If you use it quarterly, as the seasons change, your drains will flow freely and you won't have plumber bills.

Keep these items in your pantry or cupboards and you'll be eating frugally, saving dollars on your grocery bill and helping the planet. It's a win-win alternative to what you may be doing now.