Changes at the Cannery

The LDS Cannery in Worcester has changed how it operates.  It used to be that you would go to the cannery to pack food in #10 cans for your food storage.  Now, MOST items are already packed.  You simply go to the cannery (without an appointment!) on Thursdays or Saturdays between 9am and 4pm and pick up the food you'd like.  There are still a few foods you can pack yourself - you can see which ones when you view the order form from this site:

http://providentliving.org/self-reliance/food-storage/home-storage-center-order-form?lang=eng

You can buy prepackaged items by the case (of 6 cans) or by the individual can.  Prices and weights on the order form are for individual cans.
Happy Storing!

Financial Preparedness, Month 8 (March 2014)

You're almost there! Just a couple things to wrap up. First, go through your emergency kits: replace any food or medication that has expired and replace old batteries if necessary. This is something you will want to do every 6 months or so (General Conference serves as a great reminder). Use this time to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

You will visit the cannery this month for the last time and get 2 months of food per person.  Continue saving $11 per person per month or reallocate it toward some of your financial goals!

After two years of consistent effort you are now prepared in the way the prophets have counseled. You have food storage – 3 months of everyday foods and a year of long term storage. You know where to get more should you use some, or should your family situation change. You have a complete emergency kit (and one for your car). You have emergency plans in place. You have a budget and a financial action plan. You have the necessary legal documents. Congratulations!

*Refresh your emergency kit

*Visit the cannery and get 2 months worth of food storage

*Save $11 per person for your year’s food storage supply (use this trip)

Financial Preparedness, Month 7 (February 2014)

Now that you have your budget and plans to become financially self-reliant, there are a few more considerations to becoming legally prepared. The following documents are recommended to protect yourself and your loved ones should emergencies, injury or accident happen: Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Simple Will, and Declaration of Homestead. These sometimes differ state to state so if you have moved since you created these documents, or if you plan on moving, you'll need to make sure they are acceptable in your new state. You can either have an attorney prepare these for you or, if your finances are very simple, you can search online for free fill-in-the-blank versions to use. Make sure you include copies of these documents in your emergency kit.

*Read attached information on legal documentation and then create your legal documents (put copies of them in your emergency kit)

*Save $11 per person for your year’s food storage supply

See “EstatePlanning.doc” in the “Financial Preparedness” section at the Two Year Preparedness Plan Documents Website.

New Storage Items Available Online

For some time lds.org has offered white and red wheat as well as some kinds of beans in cases of six #10 cans.  Now there are new items available for online ordering including dried apples, potato flakes, macaroni and spaghetti bites.  For more information, visit their site: store.lds.org. 

Happy Storing!

Financial Preparedness, Month 6 (January 2014)

This month you get to consider and set financial goals. Where would you like to be financially in 2 years? 10 years? 40 years? Creating a Financial Action Plan by completing Step 12 in The Family Finance Workshop booklet gives you the power to prioritize where you spend your money. You won't let your financial state just “happen” to you with only a vague notion of future goals, you will decide your financial fate and make it the culmination of careful planning.

*Complete Step 12 in The Family Finance Workshop

* Your ward specialist may schedule a ward cannery trip, or you are welcome do so individually or with a small group of friends.  If you are planning to can food, schedule your next cannery appointment for 2 months from now.   

*Save $11 per person for your year’s food storage supply

Financial Preparedness, Month 5 (Dec 2013)

Happy Holidays!  This month's goals are less time-consuming so you can spend more time enjoying the holidays.

Incorporate savings into your budget this month by completing Steps 6 and 7 (under “Build a Reserve”) in The Family Finance Workshop booklet. Start saving any amount - you'll see it add up over time (as you're seeing just $11 per month do in this preparedness plan!).

You will also visit the cannery this month and get two months of food storage per person.  Your ward specialist may have organized a ward cannery trip to save on money and canning time. You are now 5/6th of the way toward your goal of having a year supply of food!

*Compete Steps 6 and 7 in The Family Finance Workshop

*Save $11 per person for your year’s food storage supply (use this trip)

*Visit the cannery and get 2 months worth of food storage 

Financial Preparedness, Month 4 (November 2013)

It's now time to eliminate your debt, or at least make a concrete, month-by-month plan to do so. Complete Steps 8 through 11 (under “Eliminate and Avoid Debt”) in The Family Finance Workshop booklet.  (We're switching the order of Steps in November and December to give you more time in December to celebrate the holidays.)  If you have a large amount of debt, this can seem like a daunting task, like it will take forever. The booklet shows you how you actually can conquer debt, payment by payment. It will take some faith and perhaps some real sacrifice, but once you are debt-free, the relief and freedom you feel will be worth it and you will have become stronger for it. Read “Peter's 'Power Down' Story” in Appendix E of the finance booklet. It is truly inspirational and will increase your hope that you too can be free from debt.

*Complete Steps 8 through 11 in The Family Finance Workshop and read Appendix E

*Save $11 per person for your year’s food storage supply

Financial Preparedness, Month 3 (October 2013)

This month you'll begin recording your expenditures to help you keep track of what you're currently spending (which in turn helps you keep to your budget in real time) by completing Step 4 in The Family Finance Workshop. The booklet suggests you use something called a spending register to keep track of your expenditures: this is available to order for $0.40 from church distribution (click here) or you can use regular paper or a computer spreadsheet to keep track instead.

Begin Step 5 – this step asks you to make sure your total spending, and the bank's record of withdrawals from your account match up. This will be an ongoing process as you learn to budget and point your spending toward worthwhile goals.

*Complete Step 4 and begin Step 5 in The Family Finance Workshop

*Save $11 per person for your year’s food storage supply

Financial Preparedness, Month 2 (Sep 2013)

This month you get to set your budget! Complete Step 3 (page 9) in The Family Finance Workshop and you gain the power to decide the financial outcome for you or your family. This will pay off big – it's an education only you can give yourself in how you spend your money. then with full knowledge you can act and not be acted upon – you decide (instead of letting advertising media or others decide) what you can and can't afford and what you do and do not need.

Realize that you will make adjustments as you figure out exactly what will work for you. For example you may want to spend $2 per month for cleaning supplies only to discover that you really need $4 per month. Experimenting and figuring it out as you go is okay.

Make sure you budget in that $11 per month for food storage – a little can do a lot in two years! Even after you acquire all the food storage you need, keep that pattern of saving to accomplish whatever meaningful ends you can dream up.
You have completed your 3-month storage.  Hooray!  Maintain it by replacing what you use (which should be easy because they are foods you normally eat!).  

*Complete Step 3 from The Family Finance Workshop

*Your ward specialist may schedule a ward cannery trip, or you are welcome do so individually or with a small group of friends.  Schedule your visit for 2 months from now.   

*Save $11 per person for your year’s food storage supply
*For 3-month storage: buy 1 week of everyday foods

Financial Preparedness, Month 1 (August 2013)

Welcome to the financial preparedness section! Eight months from now you will have in place a concrete financial plan to be out of debt, have savings and have basic legal documents in place to safeguard your assets for your family. Plus, you will better understand your income and spending habits, create and live within a budget, and allow and prepare for financial goals and dreams.

The LDS Church 2010 booklet, called The Family Finances Workshop: Participant's Guide, takes you through the process of financial preparedness step by step. It's available to order for $3.50 from church distribution (click here), or it's available in free digital format to view online or print (click here). This month, read the Introduction and complete Steps 1 and 2. That means you'll calculate the amount of your income that's “spendable,” and calculate what you've spent over the last few months. The booklet suggests you look at the last 12 months (which is a great way to see what you spend for, say, Christmas as compared to a normal month). Not everyone will have access to a record of their spending habits for that period of time. If not, calculate what you spent in the last 3 months. If not that, begin keeping track right now of what you spend day to day. There are detailed instructions for this in Step 4 of the booklet.

SUMMARY:
*Read Introduction and Complete Steps 1 and 2 from The Family Finance Workshop

*Review the pamphlets “All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances” and “One for the Money”

*Save $11 per person for your year’s food storage supply

*For 3-month storage: buy 1 week of everyday foods