1. Go With Your Kids

Trick or treating isn’t what it used to be. In most cities it’s not safe to let kids walk the streets by themselves. Your best bet is to make sure that an adult is going with them. If you can’t take them yourself, see if another parent or two can.  If you are nearby, the chances of a disaster will dramatically decrease even with older children.  And if they do run into trouble, you will be right there to help.

2. Create Check-in Times For Older Children

Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren’t going with them. Let them know that they are to check in with you every hour, by phone or by stopping back at home. Make sure that they know not to deviate from the planned route so that you always know where they will be.  Having them take mobile phone (preferably with GPS turned on) can keep you in contact.

3. Make sure costumes allow for movement and good vision

Help your young child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make sure that it’s fire proof or treated with fire retardant. If they are wearing a mask of any kind,  make sure that the eye holes are large enough for good peripheral vision.  Having a costume that is easy to move in can protect children from falls, and allow them to run faster in the case of a major problem like being chased, or having to move out of the way of a vehicle.

4. Go to the Mall or other large gathering place

You may have fond memories of walking the streets of your neighborhood, trick or treating as a child. However, it might be more wise to go to a local mall or other large shopping area instead.  This will allow you to have better visibility, as well as law enforcement is more likely to be nearby to help if there is a problem.

5. Set a Curfew

Make sure you set a time that your kids should be home by. Make sure they know how important it is for them to be home on time or to call immediately if something happens and they are going to be delayed.  The later they are out, the higher the risk factors they encounter.   This year it’s easy, because Halloween is on a school night.

6. Educate children on the difference between tricks and vandalism

Kids will be kids. Explain to kids of all ages the difference between tricks and vandalism. Throwing eggs at a house may seem funny but they need to know the other side of the coin as well, that clean up and damages can ruin Halloween for everyone. If they are caught vandalizing, make them clean up the mess they’ve made.   Some people like to smash pumpkins or do other mischief, this not only creates a mess, but can escalate into larger problems with the owners.

7. Protect your pets

Some sick people find Halloween a great night to hurt cats or dogs. Explain to your kids that animal cruelty of any kind is not acceptable. Kids may already know this on their own but stress the point that it’s not acceptable behavior. Make sure that they know that harming animals is not only morally wrong  but punishable by law and will not be tolerated.  As for your own pets, make sure they are kept safe from anyone who would harm them.

8. Fill your kids up on good food

Serve your kids a filling meal before trick or treating and they won’t be as tempted to eat any candy before they bring it home for you to check. Check your local grocery store or craft store for Halloween cook books full of tasty treats on a horror theme for both kids and adults.  Also, this will keep them from eating too much candy after you have approved it.   Also, there is the added benefit of a healthy meal to keep their energy up while trick or treating.

9. Teach your kids about Stranger rules

Teach your kids about not getting into strangers cars or talking to strangers, no matter what the stranger says to them. Explain to them as simply as you can that some adults are bad and want to hurt children, that they should never go into a house that they don’t know, get into a car or go anywhere with a stranger. Also, tell them what to do should this happen, to scream as loud as they can to draw attention and to run away as fast as they can to someplace safe. Create a code word that is only used by you, your child and those you have designated to pick them up in the case of an emergency.

10. Check Local Sex Offender Lists

As bad as it sounds, this is just a fact of life now. Get on the internet and check your local state website for sex offenders. Almost every state has one, just do a search for your state sex offender site. Look up your zip code and it should have a list of registered offenders in your area that includes street addresses. Make sure that your kids stay away from these houses!  Another good reason to just go with your child.

When it comes to knowing how fresh the food is that you’re storing, you’ll find that most manufacturers will include a manufactured date in the form of a Julian Code (to learn more about Julian Codes check out this blog post).  Over the last couple of years Mountain House has also started to include a ‘best if used by’ date. The challenge with the ‘best if used by’ approach is that storage conditions play a major role in the long term shelf life of your food, hot temperatures and humidity can substantially decrease the shelf-life of both freeze-dried and dehydrated products.

Here are a few tips to help you insure that you’re getting the most out of the food that you’re storing:

• Once your food arrives check the manufacture date and be sure that the product was manufactured recently, reputable companies move enough product that you should get fresh product made in the last 6-12 months.
• Inspect the storage containers for any dents or damage.  A dent, particularly along the seams of the can will almost certainly decrease the shelf life of the product.
• Store your food in a cool consistent as possible temperature, preferably the food should be stored at temperatures below 75°F.

Occasionally we will have a skeptical customer ask why we’re offering products at such big discounts, they think that it’s because the products are old or damaged.  We want to assure you that this has never or will ever be the case.  Here are the main reasons why at times we’ll offer DEEP discounts on products:

• First and foremost it’s what our customers want. Who doesn’t like a great deal? We want to entice prospective customers as well as gain the loyalty of current Ready Store customers and with promotions we accomplish that.
• We’ve made too much of a particular product.  For example, our Saratoga Farms Granola with Milk & Blueberries is currently a product that we have in excess.  It’s an incredible product in every way but we have too much in stock so to insure you’re getting a fresh product we’ll offer a discount to decrease inventory.
• We’ve worked out even better pricing with our suppliers.  Every once in a while a grower will have an excess supply and so they offer us a discount and we transfer those savings to you.

These are just a few of the reasons we discount products but we can assure you that it is never to blow out old product that is going to short change you. In the end we stand by our shelf-life claims of 10-20 years on dehydrated products and 25+ years on our freeze-dried products. To see which great products we’re currently offering at a DEEP discount head over to The Ready Store’s On Sale tab.

The latest statistics surrounding food stamps and other food assistance are astonishing.  According to a recent CNN money article, food stamp usage reached a record 45.8 million in May.  That’s up 12% from a year ago.  According to the article:

The highest concentration of food stamp users were in California, Florida, New York and Texas — where more than 3 million residents in each state received food stamps in May. Original Article Here

That’s 1 out of every 6 people in the United States that cannot buy their own food!  This economy has really taken it’s toll on families all across the country. With so many struggling to  put food on the table, now is the time to do your best to store as much food in your pantry as possible. How do you stock up on food storage when things are tight?  That’s a tough question, but it’s not impossible.  Here are a few things you can do to get ahead:

1. Budget wisely
There are surely people that are spending their money wisely and don’t have extra money leftover, but the majority of Americans could change their spending habits and invest the savings into some extra food storage each month.  The Department of Labor conducted a survey and 43% of the money spent by a family on food went to “food away from home”. Cutting back on eating out or other frills could go a long way towards building your food storage and emergency preparedness plans.

2. Grow a Garden
Gardens are a fantastic way to fill up your pantry for a lot less.  Even if you have limited space, or you need to grow indoors, its worth it.  Gardens will not only make you more self reliant, but they will also help you eat a more healthy diet. Square foot gardening is a great space saving option for some people.

3. Food Co-ops
Check the internet for local food co-ops.  Many times you can save big on fruits, veggies, and even meat through a co-op.  You get way more for your money this way.

4.Coupons
With a little extra effort, you can find amazing deals on food with coupons.  Check your local store ads, and the internet for fantastic websites that help you find the very best deals anywhere. Of course you will need to be focused on buying what you need, don’t let that 20% off coupon on a filet mignon derail you from the track.

5. Pool Your Resources
Many times companies will give bulk discounts to groups of people who are willing to pool their money together to buy in bulk.  This is a win, win for both you, your friends, and the companies. (By the way we do this too, call our customer service line fore details)

People have had to  learn many tough lessons from this economy but those who have learned to go back to the basic principles of self reliance that our parents and grandparents taught us, are those who will be able to weather the storms of life best.

We hear the bad news everyday.  More economic woes, more problems.  Just Friday we found out that unemployment is still at 9.1%.  It’s enough to make you want to ring your hands.  There are many people who are struggling to make it in this economy.  I’m sure if you took a poll, most would say that  they are hurting, or they know someone close that is really struggling to make ends meet.

The question is, have we run out of opportunities to change the direction of this ship?  The answer is a resounding no.  As you know, The Ready Store isn’t about doom and gloom.  We are all about self reliance, industry, preparedness, and peace of mind. The truth is that you have the power to change your tomorrows.  You can take steps today that will not only help you have your personal needs met, but also give you opportunities to help others.  You can be more prepared for the next big disaster.

Disasters are a part of life.  Sure, not everyone will experience a category 5 hurricane, but most people will experience tough economic times.  Most people will suffer from ill health, or be a caregiver to someone with health problems. Most will encounter day-to-day bumps in the road.

Bad things really do happen to good people.  But they don’t have to control your life,  they can make you stronger.  Gratefully, we have a long history that we can look at and see what worked for those in the past to pull us through difficult times.  We can plan ahead and instead of buying that expensive new car, (not that there is anything wrong with an expensive car) we can put that money towards preparing our families for the hard times that do and will come.

If you have ever looked at a chart of the stock market, you will quickly see that it imitates  life.  There are ups and there are downs. The path of life is paved with challenges, emergencies, and set backs.  The trick is planning ahead and avoiding the temptation to think the good times will last forever.  That doesn’t mean that y0u can’t enjoy life, rather that you can have peace of mind knowing you are prepared for the challenges ahead.

So that takes me back to the economy.  I believe even with the difficult issues and challenges of our government and economy, there are still opportunities out there.  America is made of smart, educated people who know that freedom allows them to choose their destiny.  Wherever you are right now, you can start building a bright future today.

Sure it will be hard.  I will take some time.  But every step towards self reliance is a step made on solid ground.  If your current economic situation is bad, start now to make small steps toward independence.  Fight hard to make your dreams come true.  Be smart and calculated.  If you are currently in a good financial situation, don’t make the mistake of thinking it will always be good.  Start to prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best.

Also, nothing brings more joy than helping others.  Help those around you get prepared.  The more prepared your entire community is the more safe it will be.  I for one refuse to let the daily news, the government, or any other entity keep me from fulfilling my dreams.  In the end we are the only ones who can stop ourselves.  So please join us in taking this economy into our own hands so we can provide safety, security, and opportunities to our children and grandchildren.