Using Coupons to Build your 3 Month Supply

In the month of March we talked about building your 3 month food supply using coupons to achieve this goal.

The main reason I started this class off talking about coupons first is because you aren’t supposed to go into debt building your food storage so why not learn to build it up while saving money at the same time. 

For example there was a big sale on Instant Oatmeal at so we decided that this was a deal.  We were able to buy several boxes for $1.99 a box instead of the regular price of $4.99 a box.  That was just smart shopping and watch the sales ads but you can do the same or better with coupons.  I found a January grocery receipt a little while back that said we saved $72.00 of that almost $10.00 was just with coupons.  That may not seem like a lot but after a while it all adds up.

Here are some great coupon websites:
www.allyou.com
www.theobsessiveshopper.net
www.couponmom.com
**www.smartsource.com**
www.savvyshopperdeals.com
www.coupons.com
www.hotcouponworld.com
*www.shortcuts.com*
*www.pgesaver.com*
www.pgeverdaysolutions.com
www.couponmaster.com
www.pinchingyourpennies.com
www.couponsurfer.com
www.momsneedtoknow.com

**This is the same website as one of the coupon inserts in your weekly newspaper.**

*These coupons can be automatically added to your Safeway card for you. You just have to register and give your card number.*
This is just a small smidgen of what is out there.

I have taken done a lot of research on the best ways to store my coupons and trail and error to find the way that I really like best.  I will now share those ways with you but ultimately you will have to try this for yourself as well.

When I first started I used to cut out every coupon that came out in the mail and several off the internet.  Let’s just say that became very time consuming and tiresome.  Next I cut out just the coupons that I would use.  But there was no way of knowing what coupons I had or when they expired and I would usually forget.  Then one day while I was online checking out the girls from Food Storage Made Easy I came across a sister web site called The Obsessive Shopper.  A few tricks when it comes to using coupons: (according to Shauntell on Obsessive Shopper.net is 1. buy in bulk, 2. maximize your coupons, and 3. have multiple coupons.)  She tells you to have enough coupons for each person living in your home.  Think about it when you buy something for a recipe in your house how many items do you buy at a time?

The next thing that Shauntell tells you to do is to start the System.  The System has four parts 1. Organize you coupons (get coupons, file coupons and index coupons) 2. PreShop (what’s on sale, make your shopping list, 3. Shopping Day and 4. Tracking.  Shauntell has an excel spreadsheet that works with you to help you with these four steps.  Shauntell also talks about the Lists on her website; the Lists are a free service that helps you to see all that is on sale and what coupons are out there that can be used.  The Northern California List which shows the stores Wal-Mart, Safeway, Target, CVS Pharmacy, and Rite Aid from our area.  You just go to the list select that store and it will show you the sales for that store.  Go there and check this out for yourself.
The next part of class I talked about using coupons to start building your 3 month supply food storage.  But first I will ask you the question: what do you think is your 3 month supply for food storage is?
Here it is in a nutshell:

Three-Month Supply:

Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. Gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage. We consider foods stored in a freezer to count for your 3 month food supply.

Long Term Food Storage:

For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans. These items can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of these items may be rotated in your three-month supply.
On the website Food Storage Made Easy they have a spreadsheet for you to start your 3 Month Food Supply so you can start to track the meals you eat the most often and your know what to store for those meals.

For example the picture below is a small snippet of my 3 Month Food Supply:

Now I will show you an example of three of our favorite meals:

Fajita Skillet
2-3 chicken breasts
Spanish rice a roni
16 oz jar salsa
3/4 a salsa jar of water
4 tablespoon margarine
tortillas
cheese
avocado

Cut up and cook the chicken breasts, then set aside.  Cook the rice with the margarine until golden brown.  After the rice is browned add the seasoning, a jar of salsa, half a jar of water and the chicken.  Reduce the temp. and boil covered for 15 minutes.  Once done put into tortillas and top with cheese and avocado.  Enjoy!!!

Chicken Pesto Pasta
2-3 chicken breasts
a box of pasta
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup milk
1 pkg. Knorr creamy pesto

Cut up and cook chicken.  In a sauce pan put the milk, olive oil and creamy pesto sauce in a pot.  Cook with the directions.  Cook the pasta.  When everything is done combine them all together and top with parmesan cheese if you wish.  Enjoy!!!

Beef Enchiladas

enchilada seasoning (I prefer the Lawry’s)
a can tomato paste
3 cups water
1 lb. ground beef
approx, 3 cups cheese
10 tortillas
The recipe usually depends on how many people are eating it and how much leftovers I want to have.  This is a huge family favorite.  For the most part you can follow the directions on the seasoning pouch.  Enjoy!!!
These three are just a small sampling of the meals I have stored up for.  After you fill out your 3 Month Food Supply you will too know how much you need to store of you favorites.

Building your food storage is not just for environmental disaster but also for economic and conveyance.  If you or your spouse lose your job and money is then tight you won’t have to worry about feeding yourself right away because you will have food stored up for 3 months.  Also, if you forget to plan for dinner and you notice that it is time to cook and don’t know what to start you will know that you have food stored up and can start right away.  This last one also works with unexpected company.

The Homework for this class was to fill out your own 3 Month Food Supply Spreadsheets.

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Recipe for a Happy Marriage

1 cup consideration

2 cups flattery, carefully concealed

2 cups milk of human kindness

1 gallon faith in God and in each other

1 reasonable budget, mixed with a generous dash of cooperation

1 cu each confidence and encouragement

2 cups praise

1 small pinch in-laws

3 teaspoons pure extract of “I’m sorry”

1 cup contentment

1 large or 2 small hobbies

1 cup of blindness to the other’s faults

For extra flavor, add recreation and a dash of happy memories.  Stir well and remove any specks of jealousy, temper or criticism.  If you like a sweeter product, add a generous portion of Love.  Keep warm with a steady flame of devotion.  Never serve with a cold shoulder or a hot tongue.  Add to the recipe the presence and love of God and you will have quite a home.

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New Favorite Soup………

Elephant Soup

1 Elephant

salt and pepper

2 rabbits (optional)

Cut the elephant into bite sized pieces.  This will take about 3 months.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Cook over a kerosene fire at 470 degrees for about 8 days.  This will serve 3,800 people.  If more are expected, add 2 rabbits.  Do this only if necessary since most people do not like to find hare in their stew.

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I am now a bread making fool

I have now made 11 loaves of bread just since my birthday, which was mid-February.  I am greatly enjoying myself too.  While making all of that bread I have only had one really flop.

Luckily that one flop was also my first loaf of bread.  We could still eat most of the bread on the ends but the center was all doughy and there was a giant big hole in the center. 

Since then though we have not had any store bought bread in the house unless you count the rolls that seem to be a staple in our pantry.  That will be my next project in the kitchen, our own rolls. 

At the end of February I started teaching our Food Storage class for our Relief Society.  For our first class I made a double batch of bread and made Cinnamon Swirl bread and Baked Donuts all from the same bread recipe that I have been using for our sandwich bread. 

I really had a lot of fun making all of the food for that night.  And of course I forgot to take pictures of my masterpieces.

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