Finance/Food Storage

Finance/Food Storage

“Our guide for credit management should be: borrow only what we must, at the lowest rate available, for the shortest time possible. This requires restraint of appetites and practice of the time-honored virtue of frugality. There is an insidious philosophy that advocates plunging into debt and letting inflation pay it off. I reject this philosophy. If we all operated on that premise, we would completely subvert our economic system. As long as we secure our debt with equity, we can manage it; but to amass debt by pledging future earnings submerges us in financial quicksand.” The Household of Faith, J. Richard Clarke, October, 1980

“Parents need to teach children very early that a solid financial base is a very important element in a happy home. We can do much with our young people to help them find satisfying, rewarding employment. We should encourage them to do well in their schoolwork and to learn to take advantage of opportunities that will help build a solid base for their future security.” Providing for our Needs, M. Russell Ballard, April, 1981

“The third key is to practice self-discipline both at our work and as we attempt to reduce our expenses in our homes. Regarding the latter, Church leaders should set the example by seeing that stake and ward financial requests are kept to a minimum. Members should—

1. Avoid debt-pooling where exorbitant fees are charged. We may want to consolidate debts using a bank or credit union loan that can be repaid at a sensible interest rate over a reasonable length of time. We may need to stop using our credit cards.

2. Exercise self-discipline by telling ourselves “We can’t afford it” and refusing to take on further credit obligations.

An argument was overheard one day. One spouse said, while scolding the other for extravagant spending, “How many times do I have to tell you that spending money before you get it is economically unsound?”

“Oh,” said the other spouse, “I don’t know about that. This way, if you don’t get the money, at least you have something to show for it.”

Please be patient and carefully control your purchases so that you will not become enslaved to your creditors.

3. Make a budget and stick to it.

4. Cut expenses by distinguishing between wants and needs. Economize by controlling the use of goods, services, and energy.

5. Increase homemaking skills and have family members’ complete home and car repairs, when feasible.

6. Invest wisely. Avoid speculations and get-rich-quick schemes.” Providing for our Needs, M. Russell Ballard, April, 1981

“In seeking to become more self-sufficient, the people have incorporated the principle of sacrifice into their lives and have increased their faith.” Sacrifice and Self-Sufficiency, Elder Ballard, October 1987

“Food production is just one part of the repeated emphasis that you store a provision of food which will last for at least a year wherever it is legally permissible to do so. The Church has not told you what foods should be stored. This decision is left up to individual members.” Prepare for the days of Tribulation, Ezra Taft Benson, October, 1980

“You do not need to go into debt, may I add, to obtain a year’s supply. Plan to build up your food supply just as you would a savings account. Save a little for storage each pay-check. Can or bottle fruit and vegetables from your gardens and orchards. Learn how to preserve food through drying and possibly freezing. Make your storage a part of your budget. Store seeds and have sufficient tools on hand to do the job.” .” Prepare for the days of Tribulation, Ezra Taft Benson, October, 1980

When Sister Bednar was a young woman, her mother used the data in the ledgers to emphasize basic principles of provident living and prudent home management. One day as they reviewed together various categories of expenses, her mother noted an interesting pattern. The costs for doctor visits and medicines for their family were far lower than might have been expected. She then related this finding to the gospel of Jesus Christ and explained to her daughter a powerful truth: as we live the law of tithing, we often receive significant but subtle blessings that are not always what we expect and easily can be overlooked. The family had not received any sudden or obvious additions to the household income. Instead, a loving Heavenly Father had bestowed simple blessings in seemingly ordinary ways.” The windows of Heaven, Elder David A. Bednar, October 2013

“the family was financially somewhat prepared, in that they had food storage and some money saved. But they were not prepared for the emotional shock of unemployment. The wife recalled that the single greatest help the family received to lessen the trauma of that experience was the love and sympathetic concern shown by the sisters of Relief Society.” Relief Society in Welfare, Marian R. Boyer, October 1981

“Remember this: debt is a form of bondage. It is a financial termite. When we make purchases on credit, they give us only an illusion of prosperity. We think we own things, but the reality is, our things own us.” Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts, April 2004

“The best food storage is not in welfare grain elevators but in sealed cans and bottles in the homes of our people. What a gratifying thing it is to see cans of wheat and rice and beans under the beds or in the pantries of women who have taken welfare responsibility into their own hands.” In the Arms of His Love, Gordon B. Hinckley, October, 2006

It was harder to find quotes for this then I thought it would be. Many of the articles quoted from other articles.  The information is the same 30 years ago as it is today.  In fact it is more important today than 30 years ago.  We need to live within our means and work to create the finances needed to live.  As we work towards having at least two years worth of food storage in our homes we become better able to handle emergencies as they come to us.  No one knows when we will be with out a job or in a situations where we have less funds then we normally do. Both having extra money saved and having food stored can help us through the hard times.  I am grateful for this knowledge as there have been many times in my life that I have needed to use this.