My Other Venture

In addition to my quest for originality this fall, I also have another venture on my to-do list, which is to get all stocked up before the winter hits.

No, I do not live on a homestead in case you were wondering. I live in suburbia.

Then why, you might ask, do I feel the need to stock up like a pioneer? We live in the 21st century, after all. Basic necessities, plus a whole bundle of unnecessary things (ahem...Target), are just a five minute drive away.


It’s a fair question. And perhaps I am a bit overzealous for winter preparation. It’s just that the idea of hunkering down for the colder months appeals to me, even if I don’t technically have to. Or, at the very least, having less to do during the crazy holiday season sounds marvelous.

So, necessity or not, here are a few things I’m tackling in the next couple of weeks:


:: hosting a Cooking Extravaganza for me, myself and I. What is that, you ask? Well, it’s when I load up on enough groceries to feed a small army, lock myself in my kitchen, and cook for a day solid. Last year I set a record at 15 hours and 40 meals. This year I’m a little less ambitious... I’ll keep you updated as the cooking starts tomorrow!

:: storing up holiday supplies. As in empty cereal boxes (they make great gift boxes!), plain wrapping paper (I embellish it and use it all year), and holiday foods & recipes.


:: filling my linen closets with basics, like toilet paper, medicine, soap, toothpaste, etc. The last thing I need is to discover that I only have one roll of toilet paper during an unexpected blizzard! Or an empty bottle of Tums after a holiday buffet.

Oh...and I only wish my linen closet looked like the one above!


:: winterizing my car. You won’t find me under the hood or anything--but I do plan to get an updated oil change, top off my fluids, check my tire pressure, and make sure my emergency kit is stowed in the back.

And no...my car doesn't look like that either.

How do you prepare for the winter? Share your tricks by posting a comment here!

Three Contingency Plans

Being prepared to weather emergencies--or even just an unexpected guest--by having supplies on hand at home can sometimes make all the difference between panic and calm. But good preparation doesn’t just start and end with the pantry and linen closet. Sometimes preparation is less about supplies and more about planning.

Contingencies
For instance, I’m doomed if I head into Target without preparing a list. Without a written reminder of why I’m there, I end up getting lost in the bedding aisles and coming home with a new duvet. Or a sweater. Or a pair of sunglasses. (Perhaps I should write a Recessionista post about how I’m simply not allowed into Target during this economy!)

Of course, having a contingency plan for every errand and event in life is going a bit overboard. I barely have time to blow dry my hair in the morning, much less copy the contents of my wallet in case it gets stolen, or label the expiration dates on my makeup so I don’t poison myself, or do any of those other crazy things the people at Real Simple suggest!

Drawing the Line at Three Things:
So where to draw the line? Well, considering the pace of my lifestyle lately, I’m drawing it close to my ankles so I don’t have to go very far. In other words, I’m keeping my plans simple and focusing on three things that I consider important. Certainly there are other areas worth planning, but these are currently the top on my list. They are:

* Meal planning. With all of our technology and fast-passed living, it is easy to forget that eating is still one of the most basic and routine things we do. And when we don’t take the time to be intentional about this biological necessity, we tend to a) spend a lot of money and b) compromise our health. Meal planning can help drastically in both these areas. Even planning out a week’s worth of McDonald’s dinners (the healthy options, of course!) is better than just waltzing into the place and ordering off the cuff. And yes it takes time to plan. But what could be more important--or more simple--than eating?

* Financial planning. Specifically I mean prioritizing freedom from debt. Beyond just having a monthly budget, I want us Recessionistas to proactively diminish the debt in our lives, be it credit card balances, mortgages, cars, education, etc. Because without proactivity, debt tends to linger. And yes--retirement planning is important too. But since less money owed means less money needed in retirement, the two go hand-in-hand.

* Emergency planning. I’ve already covered the importance of having emergency supplies on hand, which is crucial. But additionally, I’ve been feeling more and more convicted that knowing basic first aid is something I need to prioritize. Because someday my friend or neighbor or family member might need me to administer CPR, or create a tourniquet, or stop a fever from rising. And I had better know how to do those things!

Needless to say, even though my list is short, I do have some work to do. But this type of preparation seems manageable to me.

My mascara and lip gloss expiration dates, however, will just have to wait.

What about you?
What are the priorities on your list? Maybe you're debt free and a first aid whiz--what next? If you had 15 extra minutes today to create a plan for something, what would it be? Share your comments below!

Previous Related Posts:
Creating a Little Cushion
The Sky is Falling & I'm Stuck in the Sand!
Homegrown Resilience

Creating a Little Cushion

During a recession, it is common to hear financial gurus repeat over and over how important it is to keep some money in savings for those “just in case” scenarios. Like a job loss. Or an unexpected illness. Or an auto accident. Usually they recommend having 6 weeks to 3 months worth of expenses stashed away so that you can keep paying bills and buying food even when income is tight or stalls entirely.

Reactions
And when we hear this advice, we don’t think to ourselves, “what an overreaction! These financial people are crazy! If they keep talking like this, people are going to get really freaked out and then things will just get worse!” No, of course we don’t think that. Instead, we think “that is pretty smart. I should probably do that. It would certainly make me feel more prepared if something bad were to happen.”
Why is it, then, that when the same advice is given about stocking up on food and emergency supplies that we don’t have the same response? Why, when someone mentions that we should keep a few weeks to a few months of rations in our basement do we say, “only paranoid people do that,” or “that’s just crazy!” Why do we not consider it wisdom to gather a few helpful items like extra blankets, fuel, batteries and first aid supplies, and instead shrug it off as an overreaction?

A Little Cushion
Why, when we could easily create a little cushion in our lives in case something bad happens do we only consider money in the bank? As if money is the only thing to tide us over if times are rough.

Needless to say, I am a big advocate of keeping my pantry full and my basement stocked with supplies. Why? Because it makes just as much sense to me to do that as it does to put aside money. In fact, it makes so much sense to me that it is one of the main reasons I wanted to write this Recessionista series in the first place.

What is (and is not) Debatable
And sure--just like with cash savings, you can argue about how much to set aside. Is it smart to have 6 weeks of food or 12? (By the way, the US federal government recommends that every household have at least 2 weeks worth of food stored for emergencies.) Do you need iodine or just bandaids? Is it necessary to have batteries and propane or just batteries? And as with money, the answers to those questions have a lot to do with your means and your personality. But the wisdom of having something really shouldn’t be debatable. You should have food and first aid supplies in your home, just like you should have savings in the bank.

Getting Started
So, to get started on getting prepared, here a few places to check out.
* the US Goverment's Ready.gov
* link to various articles from Real Simple magazine on emergency preparedness
* the Red Cross preparedness kit

As always, share your thoughts and ideas on creating a cushion by posting your comments here!

Previous Related Recessionista posts:
Homegrown Resilience
The Two-Step Shuffle
It's So Trendy!

Smarty Pants: Blame the Pigs

Like most people, I first heard of the Swine Flu yesterday morning when I got up. It was pretty hard to miss since it was a headline on every major broadcast channel and littered throughout the papers. I suppose this only makes sense since over 150 people have died from it in Mexico and it seems to spread very easily from human to human.

I Won't Get Carried Away
Now it is not in my nature to get carried away with these types of reports. And certainly this small outbreak seems pretty mild: no one in the US has died, and symptoms have not been too severe. And the media loves to make a big deal out of possible pandemics, because let's face it: they make for compelling news. But based on what we know so far, quarantines and runs on the hospital aren't likely.

A Common Trend
But given this recent news, I would like to point out one trend that commonly surfaces when there are potential threats to our health and safety. And that trend is a rising tension between paranoia and preparation/prevention.

Certainly when people feel threatened, their reactions fall somewhere along a continuum of panic on one end and apathy on the other. And eventually a debate arises about which end of the spectrum is most appropriate. For instance, inevitably some people, upon hearing the news of a possible pandemic, will purchase and start to wear blue medical masks. Others will stock up their pantry, or pull their kids out of school. But as soon as even the first person pops up with a face mask, someone else will accuse them of being paranoid, and suggest that their actions only exacerbate the issue and heighten the threat. This second person will favor going about their daily routine as normal, advocating for others to do the same.

Heated Public Debate
Of course most of us would probably agree that falling somewhere in the middle--between paranoia and preparation/prevention--is the wise choice. But that rarely stops the public debate from getting heated anyway. Because when people feel threatened, they get fairly passionate about the best ways to protect themselves. And likewise, if they feel that the choices of others are increasing the threat, their passion escalates.

Now, I'm not saying that we'll have much of this heated debate during the Swine Flu, mainly because it seems to be a fairly mild threat at this point. But one of my main goals in writing this Smarty Pants column is to point out trends and themes from specific headlines that can be applied more generally across the news. And this tension between paranoia and preparation/prevention in the face of a regional or national threat is certainly a theme we'll see occur again and again.

Stick Around!
So, what should our response be during a threat? Where along the spectrum should we fall? I don't have a perfect answer (mainly because there isn't one), but I am an advocate of preparation. So join me later today when I talk more about emergency preparation as one of a Recessionista's home grown solutions!

Other Recent Smarty Pants Posts:
Avoiding Pitfalls
Is Staying Home in a Recession Foolish?
Jobs vs. Livelihoods

Homegrown Resilience

I've written many times in self-deprecating jest about the demise of my budgeting sensibilities in the aisles of Target and the troubling state of affairs in my pantry. And I've argued many times that although these things might seem trivial on the surface, especially in the face of larger events like the dissolution of the modern global economy, they are, in fact, quite important.

Home Matters:

So on the third day of Recessionistas, I would like to say that home matters. It matters a lot. For instance, I like to think of my home as many things: a sanctuary, a refuge, a place to create and design, a source for inspiration. Well, right now my home is also a fortress for me; a place where I can shore up my strength and resolve, and minimize my vulnerability to outside events.

This last quality is one that I'm finding more and more valuable when I start to feel fear creep in (which is often does when I'm paying attention to the headlines). It is also why I say that preparedness on the homefront is a great antidote to fear. There are a lot of things that we cannot control about this recession, but the things we can positively impact usually start at our doorsteps.

The Many Faces of Preparation:

Thus, being prepared takes on a lot of different faces. Certainly budgeting household income is one form, and I've got some experiments up my sleeve on that topic (and some friends I've recruited to help me, too). But there are other faces I want to explore as well, like being prepared to flow with the unexpected as it relates to work (buffering for a job loss, for instance, or amping up to (re)enter the workforce). Or like taking stock of your household resources and filling in the gaps.

This is also where we'll chat about growing food, and applying our creativity in clever and resourceful ways. Because preparation can be daunting (not to mention boring) if there isn't some creative reward in it. Fortunately I think such rewards can be found.

Active, not Passive:

My favorite part about pursuing preparedness is that it is an active (as opposed to passive) response to the economic recession. And action is a quality I definitely want to cultivate as a Recessionista.

Taking it Further:

Stick around later today when I share the latest creative project I've been working on. And click here to read more about how you can become a Recessionista insider and receive regular updates, chances for prizes, and activities you can try at home!

Previous Related Posts:

Servin' up Solutions: introduction to Recessionistas

My Recession-Proof Plan for the Work-from-Home Life

My Backwards Budget & Financial Plan

For All that Ails You

Smarty Pants: striking my fancy...

We've almost reached the entry.  You know the one--the weird vortex of holiday festivities where every week is filled with office parties and potlucks and gift exchanges and shopping trips and travel.  During this hyper-social, super busy time of year, it is often easy to pay no mind to the events in the nation and around the world.  And who can blame us?  During the time of year to be jolly, who wants to listen to some decidedly un-jolly headlines? 

Well...okay, so maybe I do, but I'm weird like that.  Read ahead to be weird too...

The headlines that have captured my attention thus far this week are:

Somolian pirates successfully hijacked a GIANT Saudi oil tanker on its way to the US--the largest capture ever.  This is second time this week I've encountered stories on Somolian pirates, and it's forcing me to pay attention.  Though the headlines seem to be straight from a James Bond script, I regret that they are very real.  Please join with me as I learn more about the plight of the Somolis--

California staged one of the largest ever emergency drills in an attempt to prepare citizens and emergency workers alike for the possibility of a cataclysmic event (like an earthquake).  My first thought?  Way to go, Cali!  I hope that the prep is never put to the real test, but I sure admire the effort.  And I think we should all take a cue from the Golden State and do some preparation ourselves.  Click here to learn more.

I confess that prior to most recently, I've been tuning-out the food tainting scandals coming out of China.  But again this week I've run into a number of articles on the subject, and I think it deserves more of my thought.  My initial impressions are that these troubles are a symptom of a dysfunctional global food system, of which the US plays a large part.  This issue of food safety, security, and provision is actually on my list of top issues that I think every woman needs to be informed about.  How it took me so long to connect the melamine conflict with the larger picture is a mystery!  Duh!

Finally, I read this article on slumping retail sales, and the forecasts for lower holiday spending.  This will be, I'm sure, only the first of many times I address the issue of spending during this holiday season.  So, to kick off the discussion, for the record I think that an economy that is so heavily reliant on holiday consumer spending is imbalanced and unsustainable.  I'm not against spending during the season, but I think there has to be a better way to keep the economy afloat than to charge up the credit cards so that Junior can have the latest and greatest toy.  

What do you think?  Which headlines are jumping out to you today?  What are your thoughts on holiday spending?  And what perspective do you have on the global food chain?  I'd love to know.  Email Me today and share!

Coming up on Smarty Pants:  I think a bit of background might be in order.  After all, some of you might be wondering why a blog on domestic affairs and entrepreneurialism has a regular column on current events?  And why I choose to highlight some headlines and completely omit others?  Some explanations, I know, are in order.  Stick around this season to hear them!

How's Your Storage?

While standing in line at the store over the weekend, I was thumbing through one of those magazine specials on storage and organization.  Page after glossy page presented me with the latest and greatest containers and boxes and shelving for pantries and closets and desks.  They were all so pretty, lined up in a row (or drawer), or peeking at me from behind closed cabinet doors.

I wanted them.  And judging by the popularity of "organization and storage" these days (think Container Store and Design Star), I'm not alone.

What is it about having everything all neat and tidy in its place that is so appealing?  Why are we so attracted to full and orderly pantries and drawers and freezers and cabinets?  Partly, I'm sure, it's a girly thing.  Get me a fancy, polka dot container any day!  I don't need a special reason!

I think beyond the girly-ness, however, there's something deeper going on.  For me, there's something comforting about knowing that I'm well-stocked.  Something about the idea of being prepared for the unexpected, of having resources on hand, of being ready for whatever comes (at least in my home), that makes me feel more secure.

I find that I've been gravitating toward that type of security lately, with all the bads news on the economy pouring in daily.  I know that I can't control whether my husband keeps his job or not, or if inflation sky rockets, or if a natural disaster hits.  But I can control my pantry, and my freezer, and my medicine cabinet.

This may sound trite, I know, but I think it's worth noting.  Preparation goes a long way in diffusing fear, even if it is simple household stuff.

In fact, I don't even need the polka dots to feel better.  Having my "storage" in ship-shape is enough to bring some peace.

Stay tuned later today for updates on my "Election Exercises!"

"I'm Rooted"

I've been staring at my computer screen for at least half an hour, trying to figure out how to say what I want to say.  You see, I'm writing a short essay on community leadership for my website.  The plan is to add it as part of the "I'm Rooted" campaign.  Sort of a treatise on being a woman who wants to use her skills to lead in her neighborhood, town, or circle.  And though I haven't exactly figured out how to write the essay yet, I do know the attributes of this type of woman--a "rooted" woman.  

In my mind, a "rooted" woman has decided to anchor herself deep in her surroundings, be it her block, her apartment complex, her town, or beyond.  She feels that there are troubles in the world, and that the best place to dig in and rebuild is right where she's standing.  So, with that in mind, she is:

* mindful of her resources, meaning that she doesn't take them for granted, and uses them wisely.  She's smart with her money.  She tries not to waste.  She preserves and conserves and shares with others.  

* creative with the economy, meaning that she supports entrepreneurial endeavors, favors small and relational to big and impersonal, and partners with her friends and family to encourage a "living" that everyone benefits from.

* ready to help, meaning that she is prepared for the inevitable.  Prepared for sickness, emergencies, and discouragement.  She knows her neighbors and friends, and is willing to serve them when needed.  She understands that having a good "social safety net" starts with her.

* knowledgeable about the world around her, meaning that she is well-informed about local, national and global events.  She uses this knowledge to give her wisdom about how to act, and lives appropriately in the times based on what she learns.

This kind of woman is certainly not some exotic creature.  She lives among us even now, probably in great number.  Though I am not quite a "rooted" woman yet, I aim to be one, and get closer to it with each passing day.  It is one of the reasons that I quit working in corporate America--because for me (and this is not the case for everyone), to be rooted meant that I had to get out of the rat race and into my community.  

I'm going to be spending the rest of the week talking more about being "rooted," and hope that you'll come back to read more.  I also know that you might very well be one of the women I'm writing about, and invite you please to share your "rooted" story with me by emailing me at shillberry@comcast.net, or posting your comments on this blog.

See you tomorrow!

Grassroots Help in China

I read an article in this morning's news that reminded me of the posts I wrote last week on emergency preparedness, and the value we can bring to our communities when we take the time to plan ahead.

The article was about the success of grassroots organizations in China coordinating the distribution of aid in earthquake-torn communities.  These groups, comprised of Chinese citizens, have organized quickly, and are bringing great help to relief agencies trying to get food, medical supplies, etc. into the neediest areas.  The article explains that China ordinarily frowns on groups like these, preferring large, government-run organizations.  But the nimble citizen committees are receiving some leniency, probably because they are getting the job done.

The ability for citizens to gather and mobilize quickly is something that many governments are slow to recognize, often preferring, like China, to coordinate relief from the top-down (think FEMA).  But as Hurricane Katrina revealed in this country, and as these grassroots organizations are demonstrating in China, the people on the ground are often the best resource to bring relief into a neighborhood in need.

Unsurprisingly, many of the people interviewed in the article were retired or stayed home, and saw the Chinese earthquake as an opportunity for them to use their skills and time to help.  This affirms my conviction that communities need a balance of men and women in the workforce, as well as in the home.  If your choice is to stay at home, like mine is, then you should be encouraged that your lifestyle may one day bring you to the aid of your friends and neighbors.  And for everyone the story is an encouragement to be and stay prepared to help for both good and bad times in the days to come.

Ready Part 2

Yesterday a tornado ripped through a small Colorado town about 15 miles from my home, and while hunkering down listening to the news coverage, it occurred to me that this would be an opportune time to write about emergency preparedness.

I wrote in yesterday's post about women being ready to help in times of danger.  Emergency preparation is an obvious example of what I was talking about.  

I have a friend who takes emergency preparedness very seriously, and has committed a portion of her basement to food storage and supplies.  Some people might be tempted to accuse her of paranoia, but I think that her's is the first place I'd be inclined to go if disaster hit our neighborhood.

Even better would be to emulate her model and stock up myself, which we have done to a lesser degree.  Basic first aid supplies, water, food, and batteries are all within reach if we really need them.  Hunkering down yesterday, I felt a little bit of comfort knowing that we had a few important things at hand.  

There are a few things about our communities today that make us particularly vulnerable to disasters:

1.  we depend on grocery stores for our weekly food supplies.  Thus, when trucks have difficulty accessing the stores to restock them, we are left with few resources.  This is in contrast to older generations who were accustomed to maintaining food cellars.

2.  we don't know our neighbors.  Sure, we might know their names, and say hi in passing, but studies show that we don't know their vitals: phone numbers, emergency contacts, allergies, etc., all information that is important in emergencies.

3.  we depend on technology.  High-speed cable internet, television, digital phones--all can be rendered useless in seconds during disasters, cutting us off from everyone else and making aid efforts more difficult to coordinate.

Of course we are fortunate to live in a country that takes disaster response very seriously, and has an excellent network of Red Cross volunteers ready to assist at the moment of danger.  However, even the most nimble Red Cross crew can't begin meeting needs in a neighborhood as quickly as those living there.  

Aim to be a first responder (and pray you never actually have to be one) by visiting Ready, the government's website for emergency preparedness.

Link: Ready