People have been keeping pantries for centuries! It isn't new. I keep seeing posts about "how do I do this?" "where do I start?". It truly boggles my little brain. I guess being raised the way I was, I just always thought everyone made sure there was ample supplies to take care of the family for longer than a few days.
I always thought KEEPING a deep pantry was normal behavior.
I know many don't have funds for big shops. I know many don't have tons of room. I know many are just getting by. BUT getting even a couple extra cans a week, or storing under the bed, or utilizing food pantries for extra - just seems normal and makes sense to me.
People have used cellars, cold storage and deep pantries for ages. Ladies dried many goods to keep them - including smoking meat. They used nature at every opportunity, as many had no money. Men fished and hunted. Folks foraged for berries, greens, nuts, grains - whatever they could find. The creek was the water source in many instances.
I wonder WHY people think today is special!!!! Yes there are some empty shelves, yes there world tensions, yes there have been much higher prices----- but this has all happened before. Over and over.
There have been many wars. There have been many, many recessions. There has been the great depression. There has been drought, floods, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes and pestilence. There has always been feast of famine.
If you don't know that - then you have never read the Bible or a history book!
Farmers have had problems forever. Some years are great, others have been a bust. I keep hearing about the govt. pays farmers not to grow. Well, that started in the 30's. There was such a glut of crops being harvested, that it made the prices drop. The govt. stepped in to stop that. Being prolific obviously was not good for retail!
We have had mad cow disease and avian flue many times. It is a cycle that happens.
Fires - everyone thinks there is some huge conspiracy happening. Think about it. There 10's of thousands of plants in the U.S. alone. If you do a little research, you will see that there are over 1,000 plant fires in U.S. each year! Nothing new.
Gas prices are up. OH MY GOODNESS - this has surely happened before. I remember gas shortages and high prices in the 70's. You had a lottery on what days to buy gas - could wait in line for hours and then get none. Yep!
I remember the panic in the 80's with the market crash. Y2K had people going nuts. 2008 was a big recession. 70's energy crisis. 2012 was supposed to be the end of the world according to the Myan calendar. C19 happened and caused people to go nuts.
Hoarding and panic caused a lot of the shortages and still is. Lack of people working due to many plants closing and laying people off (due to threat of illness) caused some shortages. Greed caused a lot of the higher prices. Governments in all their crazy 'wisdom/decisions' (she says sarcastically) has caused a ton of problems.
Stuff happens - it always has.
THAT IS WHY WE KEEP PANTRIES!
Starts with you.....
We all need to encourage each other and support each other - don't spread misinformation and don't spread PANIC! Don't spread conspiracies - just because you believe something, doesn't make it true. There is research out there, that shows what our history has been - and well, we all know history usually repeats itself.
YES, prepare your pantries and your lauders. Plant and grow what you can. Learn to glean and forage. Have a plan. You need to take care of yourself and your family. You need to be prepared for ANY emergency - it can be anything. Make sure you have supplies for more than few days. Most stores will run out within days if there is a huge crisis in the country. You need to take care of you - no one else will.
STOP being afraid and spreading fear. STOP letting Satan discourage you. That is exactly what happens when you fret and fear. God gave us all we need on this earth and he gave us a mind to THINK and to help ourselves. Have faith and go forward with confidence.
Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over him who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the wicked shall be cut off; but those who wait for the Lord shall possess the land.
Psalms 37:7-8
Keep stocking - don't panic.
We have this - if you want to spread something - let it be hope and encouragement.
This is all absolutely true, Cheryl. I had sent my kids a you tube video to watch and asked them to comment---one mentioned that history repeats itself, and the others said similar things. I pondered that for a while and have decided they are grown people, and I do not need to send them videos to watch! They can handle life! I guess I am a slow learner :)
ReplyDeleteI have always kept a deep pantry---I guess because my mother always did and her mother before her. It's just "beefed up" a little more these days. I feel like I have felt the fear and panic to a small extent---and that is a foolish waste of emotions.
Thank you for today's post---I needed it! Jane
It is wise to try to inform your children - sometimes they are smarter than we give credit! Sometimes, they teach us. I have always kept a deep pantry as well - I guess I really stepped it up after 9/11. Fear just robs us of happiness and good moments. Considering we don't know how many moments we have left, I will take happiness over fear.
DeleteKeep stocking and remember FEAR solves nothing.
At the onset of the pandemic, I was asked - how will you get your cauliflower if the supply chain is interrupted? My response - I won't worry about it. I'll eat the carrots & kale & beans & tomatoes & berries I harvested and foraged, then froze or preserved. I keep a fairly deep pantry and could manage for months without going to the store if I had to. I'm always surprised when I hear a friend say she had to make a special trip to the store for flour or sugar. Those basics are always on hand in my cold storage room. Patience is key as well. I find that shortages are usually temporary.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! YES, shortages are usually temporary. We can all improvise or do without for a bit. I did not buy or need TP for the 2 years+ of all the TP shortage!!! I had it - had I run out, well I have wipes and soap and water.
DeleteIF IT really hits the fan - I don't have to eat the way I am accustomed to, I will eat to survive. Big difference!!
Keep up the good work.
Excellent post today. Really, you would think some people had never opened a history book in school.
ReplyDeleteExactly! OR the Bible - it tells of all the trials people had to survive. Life happens and all we can do it our best!
DeleteThat is exactly the verse the Lord has been reminding me of, Cheryl. "Fret not, it only causes harm..." Your post is so true - history, people, history. "Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Thank you, too, for reminding me to stops listening to satan and listen only to the Holy Spirit who gives us hope and direction. This post and yesterday's are both led by the Lord, and I thank you again.
ReplyDeleteMary
You are welcome. It is very easy to listen to Satan - I know many who do. They think and say they are living Christ like - but spreading fear and panic and intimidation is Satan! They just haven't realized it yet.
DeleteI try to speak the way I live. I don't want to give false promise or info. just honesty and empowerment to everyone.
Thanks!
Amen! Well said. Lynn Ewing
ReplyDeleteThank you !!!
DeleteThank you for your wise words!! The Lord knew I need to hear this today. I appreciate all your posts. I am learning to much!
ReplyDeleteJulie
You are welcome and thank you for your kind words. I am so happy to have you here. IF we just listen to God, it all becomes clear. Blessings
DeleteAll five of our kids grew up knowing how I kept a pantry and at best one of them may be able to eat for two weeks on what they have. Two of them keep two days food at best and don't worry about it at all. It kind of freaks me out to open a pantry at their house and see shelves and only a few items on them and the same with the freezer and fridge. How can you live like that? One DIL always says to me that it is amazing that I can just cook most anything I want anytime without having to run to the store. That would drive me crazy!
ReplyDeleteI believe the real epidemic in our country is the fact that people have lost the motivation to work and take care of themselves and their families. In our county it is illegal to stand on a street corner and beg and the police and sheriffs department keep that under check but the county where our house is on the lake is is another story altogether. Anywhere there is a nice grassy place to sit there are people just sitting and doing nothing. They don't even have the motivation to beg. I have never seen anything like it. The pandemic has effected the way people think and reason and what they believe and don't.. We did see an entire family begging and it boggled my mind that a Father would stand out there and beg for money when he was in sight of countless businesses looking for help.
There are some real problems coming down the line if China stays locked down because their manufacturing is closed down. Our son is an engineer for a major auto manufacturer and the parts they need to continue to make cars are not even being made let alone the shipping delays. I am just praying that our vehicle does not need repair because the parts may not be available.
The first thing people panic about is food but there is much more at stake and in our high tech world things are different than they have ever been before in an economic downturn. The computer chips that are made in China make the world go around these days.
If you look past the sky is falling Youtubers you find the more conservative news who are saying that we will not have empty shelves and all will be well if you can afford the cost. We shopped at Aldi on Saturday and then stopped in for a few items on Tuesday and I saw at least a ten percent increase on many items in three days. It would greatly concern me if I had a house full of teenagers who are like eating machines. I raised three boys but my two girls could always eat more than the boys. We use very little gas here but for years my husband had a 70 mile commute round trip and at this point with these prices that expense would have to come from other areas in the budget. When we had a house full of kids we did not have any extra money in our budget and the gas and food price increases would have been a very real concern for us. I did keep a deep pantry but with teenagers they can eat through it in a few weeks.
You mention many good points. Thank you. The panhandling is rampant in my area. Yep, they sit with a sign - no more "will work for food" - just wants money. My SIL mentioned the other day she saw a girl with a sign saying she needed $ for a boob job!!!! Well, I guess at least she was honest!!!!
DeleteI think so many shortages in tech - is a real good sign that we need to quit relying on other countries. Make stuff here and employ our own people. Quite sending it our buying from other countries to improve the profits. It will be a problem at some point for sure.
I really can't imagine feeding a bunch of kids either - but junk food and such would not be a part of it!! Big gardens, homemade items and no junk from stores. We didn't have it as a kid and did OK. It is really scary I will admit.
Prices are going up - it will level out and hopefully come back down some. It usually does.
I, like you, can't imagine not having enough food in my cabinets to only eat for a couple days. I wonder what your DIL thinking is on that?
You are right many don't want to work any more. The govt. has made it easy to NOT work and survive. That is why I do not govt. - any govt. to look out for my well being. HAHA!
Thanks for offering a good conversation.
I come from generations of growing food, putting up food and shopping the sales. Not only how could I not do that but why wouldn't I do that! That's all I've known and it just makes sense. But as Lana said, that doesn't mean my kids are that way.
ReplyDeleteIn our home there have been some very lean years. But having things on hand easesed that burden as well as being able to raise and preserve our own also.
I have to give myself a talking to to not get rather panicked these days. Then I reflect on God's promises and remind myself that He is control. He wants me to do what I can do and He has a plan for my life. So, I keep on keeping on!
I agree - why wouldn't we stock and be prepared? I guess I just don't get some people who think the store supplies will always be there.
DeleteSometimes kids learn and sometimes they go their own way. They are adults and make their own decisions.
Yes, God has promised us that He will watch over and protect us. I am ready for most anything - but in the end God has all control!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I love the ancestor chart.
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty amazing. That is a lot of people behind each of us
DeleteThank you, Cheryl. For those of us faced with rebuilding a larder, and (perhaps) those who've never done so, it's good to be reminded that a little extra at a time eventually adds up. There are always sales. Loss leaders. Markdowns. Closeouts. Undented canned goods last years. If your freezer is cold enough, most things in airtight packaging lasts a very long time, too. As you've often said! LOL!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I love that ancestor chart, too. --Elise
Yes, it can all be done a little at a time. No need to panic and try to do it all at once. Look for deals and get what you can. It will all last for a long time.
DeleteI thought that chart was the coolest!
I really enjoyed this post and it was very thought provoking. I agree with part of what Lana wrote about the increasing lack of motivation. In my area of the country, it's become generational, as has the knowledge shared among the grandmothers, mothers, and their children and grandchildren about maintaining a pantry, learning to cook, etc., has dwindled. Many of us had Home Ec in school, and we learned from our grandmothers and mothers who home cooked and put up food, and built a deep pantry, kept a cellar. Those days, for most of America, are gone. My sister worked in the ER for many years and was appalled at the number of young mothers she'd see during her shift, feeding their young ones (often less than a year old) McDonalds, thinking it was a balanced meal. Her only solace was that, at least in her area, infant and toddler vaccines were tied to public assistance. Ask virtually any 20- or 30-something how to roast a whole chicken and they'll look at you like you're crazy. Home-cooked chicken? Why? They'll either buy pre-breaded frozen ones, breasts or tenders only, or they'll stop at KFC or Popeyes. On another note, while I do know there are (or will be) some genuine shortages, from someone I know and trust, many of his trucking friends who deliver from food production facilities to warehouses have reported that their warehouses are full, almost over capacity. The issue, as they see it, is getting goods from the warehouses to the stores and onto the shelves. Whether it is a trucker or grocery stocker shortage, I don't know. But, at my store, they've used whatever it is to inventory, clean shelving, replace racks, swap out the brands they carry, and change up the "store brand" label. When stock got low, they'd leave it that way to clear out the pricier gourmet goods. If no low priced brand was available, it became a "must be a shortage, so I'll buy what's on the shelf to stock up", making more money for the store. As for building a pantry and canning, my daughter has started asking about coming down and canning with me this year. She's learned that it is not only cost effective, but the flavors are better than commercially available, and it's not laced with all the preservatives. And, she's recognized that it's her heritage, a way she can keep the memories of her great grandmother and grandmother alive, and build memories and her skills with me. And that makes it all worthwhile. :-)
ReplyDeleteAgree, there just aren't the people around today to teach a younger generation these things. We no longer have home ec or shop in my area. Haven't for years - so younger parents haven't learned what to share.
DeleteI think there is plenty of 'most' product out there. You can control people and what they buy (higher end) by reserving things back. That is why so many people are seeing such short "best by" dates now. Stuff sits and sits or it was on a ship in the ocean - and slowly they trickle back into society. I think it 90% GREED! Sure, there are shortages of things - but not everything.
I have heard many truckers say the same thing you mentioned.
I am so happy your daughter wants to learn. What a fantastic gift to pass on and share. That is priceless.
Hi, all!
ReplyDeleteStocking up was pretty foreign to me until the Gazette. My grandma made so much from scratch and I was young so I just don't remember. We ate such simple and similar meals every day. Beans and tortillas and red chili sauce. Bacon, eggs, and potatoes. Oatmeal.
My mom did not stock up at all. She went to the market and bought everything in sevens. Seven cans of veggies, 7 Hamburger Helper, etc. The only extra thing I can recall is an emergency can of tuna and one of evaporated milk. I could be wrong, but that's what I remember from elementary school. As we hit the teens, I remember more things we could make ourselves like Bisquick, Chef Boyardee and such. When I was living alone, I did the same. 5 Lean Cuisine, 5 apples, 6 pack diet Pepsi, and that was lunch. A couple of cans of soup, oatmeal, a single tube box of saltines, milk, and an occasional loaf of bread. By Friday night, there was nothing but ice in my freezer and a few things in my fridge. I didn't even have condiments!!!
TTG opened a whole new world to me. I lived in Los Angeles so canning and such wasn't done in my circles. That book was a revelation! So it really doesn't surprise me how helpless so many are. I knew several women in Cali that stopped at the market every day to get something for dinner. Usually the cooked food in the deli. You'd open their fridge and there would be a pile of plastic deli containers in various states of decay.
I recently read a book about food shortages from WW1 forward and there were interesting things in there. Some politicians did not want to do handouts because they feared that if it lost the stigma, many people might never want to work. Had to chuckle as that certainly happened. I loved that some counties held classes to teach women to can and preserve with what they got in govt food boxes. You didn't get your box until after class.
I don't know what the answer is for today's times. Many just don't want to be responsible for themselves or their kids. I always loved the term Entitlitis. "I am owed a comfortable life.". It's hard to deal with in good times, but with our toilet circling economy and world, I suspect things are going to be much uglier with a hefty side order of whining!
That is just amazing to me - the one week of food was all that was all there was. If that! Mom always canned and we always had a garden - she cooked from scratch and 'goodies' were always homemade. I never went hungry and didn't think people lived any other way!
DeleteThe Gazette was great for opening eyes to a lot of people.
Love the idea of classes. I have said for years, that if you get food stamps - you should have to take some basic 'how to' classes on cooking. Schools should still be having home ec classes. That would be more advantageous than some of the other garbage they teach. (just my opinion)
There are a lot of entitled feeling people today. Just give it to me - I deserve it. Our government doesn't help to stop that ideology either.
Your article and everyone's comments are spot on. I feel really sorry for people who do not have a clue. We should be entertaining ourselves in our homes instead of expecting to be entertained with experiences. But soon those people will be forced to learn all we know the hard way. Your articles make be feel so proud I know how to survive and save time, energy, and money. I too was taught by a great grandmother, a grandmother, a mother, and mother in law how to make do with what we had and how to do so we could do later. I am so blessed to have had those wonderful people AND the TWG to guide and teach me.
ReplyDeleteThanks. and yes our friends here are right on. You should feel blessed! We have a knowledge that will benefit us and our families in the hardest times. Our ancestors made it through so much, things I am sure we can't even imagine, so I think we can do it.
DeleteI too believe there will be a BIG awakening one day - and I feel for those that are so dependent on others.
One of the most sensible posts I've read in a long time - thank you.
ReplyDeleteTotally off topic, but very curious. The county next to us is testing their old air raid sirens on Monday. Sure makes you wonder.....
ReplyDeleteIt's been 38 years since I lived in KS, but back then the air raid sirens were also the tornado sirens. Every year in early May they would test the sirens to make sure they work. Perhaps that is what they are doing.
DeleteFor years after I moved to PA, I would bolt straight out of bed when the sirens would go off, but here they were the volunteer fire department's signal for the volunteer firefighters to turn out for a call (or to wash the trucks and stand around and b.s. at 10:00 a.m. every Saturday morning.) Now they all get signaled by their cell phone.
The tornado sirens are tested year around on Mondays. And the statewide tornado drills are in early March. This is a special test. That's why it caught people's attention. I'm hoping we'll hear more.
DeleteOkay, so it's apparently activating the 'attack mode' siren to commemorate the 70th anniversary of it's first use or something like that. They did it in 2009 and 2015 tho I don't remember. I'm guessing that the Russia situation is making people notice this time. My husband heard none of that on the radio. He thought it was going to be a new weekly thing by the way it was reported.
DeleteI guess that would take you back a bit if you didn't know the reason! We have our tornado sirens go off at 11AM every Friday and then we have a drill twice a year I believe. I know when I was a kid in the 50's we still had a siren drill and would go to the boiler room at school. We also did the under the desk thing! I still laugh thinking about that. Glad to know this one is for a celebration of sorts.
DeleteI'm in the Chicago 'burbs and here (and in the City), they test the first Tuesday of every month.
DeleteFunny how many different times and days there are. You would think it would be standard amongst places.
DeleteTested here in Michigan first Saturday of the month. With all that is going on though I can see that would scare some people.
DeleteExcellent post! You always find the best Scripture to follow along with your topic. My grandma had a root cellar dug into the side of a hill in Kentucky. It would be great to have something like that now.
ReplyDeleteThank you. That would be nice. My sister had one years ago when she lived in the country. It sure was nice.
DeleteI grew up in a home where we had a huge garden and plum and pear trees. My Mom canned and made jellies and fruit, The fruit was used in pies. She never taught me those things, I suppose she was working so hard to get everything done she did not want us in the kitchen to slow things down, We did get to help in the garden. In the summer there always something that needed to be picked and brought in. When we harvested potatoes and onions, they had to be prepared for storage. When it was bean and pea time, they had to be shelled and ready to freeze, That is something I still miss, getting a mess of peas ready for the freezer. We also had a big freezer, my folks would buy meat, beef, pork and chicken from a farm for our needs. We never knew how much work went into feedings us. We never went hungry. It was all wonderful. I have grown a few veggies but never on the scale I grew up with, My inlaws decided early on I was a good bet for a DIL because I took them home grown fruit and vegetables when I started dating their son. They had grown up in the same way as my Mom and knew we the perfect match. I met this boy when we were fifteen. We married at 20, we had a happy marriage until his death at 51. I still live by the things I learned from my Mom and his parents.
ReplyDeleteMomma may not have actually taught - but you sure learned! That is neat. I garden a little too - but nothing like daddy did. Oh what a garden he had.
DeleteI bet your in-laws thought you were a perfect fit.
Oh goodness, he left this earth young. It sounds like life was a wonderful bliss for you! What great memories you have.
It bothers me now that so many schools are providing breakfast and lunch for kids and often sending food home with them for the weekend. On the surface that seems like a good idea. However, I think parents need to take more responsibility for raising children. There are many food banks and food pantries for people to get food for their families. So why the need to provide so much for all children? When I was a child, my mother sent a lunch with me to school because at the time we couldn't afford hot lunches. We have gotten people used to the idea that the government is supposed to provide too much for people and then we complain about high taxes.
ReplyDeleteAMEN!!!
DeleteCarole, my friend works at a middle school and says the food waste is sickening. Half of all free lunches are thrown out. She also works at their afternoon program and more snacks are supplied there. She said there might be 4 or 5 things per bag and the kids will take one thing out- like a granola bar- and toss the rest. The rest might be a fruit, crackers, veggie sticks and dip. It's all sealed, but the aides aren't allowed to split them up or save the extras. Anything unused MUST be thrown out. She said it's probably enough to feed an entire country. It's no wonder that these kids grow into adults that think there's a neverending supply.
DeleteCarole - I agree with much of that. Kids really do need a good meal in the morning to get them started. The government is training people to be dependent on them - is my belief. The times are changing and I for one don't like it a bit!!!!!! People need to be responsible for themselves. They need to work if at all able, they need to pay support, and they need to provide - it doesn't have to be high end - just provide
DeleteIt really gripes my crawl as well.
I remember taking a sack lunch much of my grade school years.
Debby the waste is crazy. That food should be sent home with kids or donated to someone that could use it. If each item is sealed, that is nuts to not save them. The waste in this world is just incredible. Then people gripe because they are hungry - obviously not too hungry. Sadly those children are getting such a warped view of life.
DeleteOkay, you just said it "most stores will run out within days if there is a huge crisis in our country" I think being on the brink of what could possibly be WWIII is enough to make people panic and thus panic buy and hoard. I know I'm wondering what's going to happen in the coming weeks with that crazy man in Russia. And although history does repeat itself, it is happening in the here and now so yes people are freaking out just a little. Me included.
ReplyDeleteYes the stores will - because they prefer not to keep extra in their back rooms. The warehouses they get food from - won't. I know many truckers and they all say that the warehouses are packed to the gills with supplies. Control means profit.
DeletePanic and hoarding will solve nothing in my opinion. I guess I don't understand why people are just now starting to stock - it should be an ongoing thing. Thus no need to panic and hoard.
The world (the people) are scary right now - but truthfully there is nothing you or I can do, but take care of our little corner and pray. Whatever happens, happens.
I still believe in the old notion of 'slow and steady wins the race'. No panic - no hoarding. If we don't find something or can't find it - then we substitute something else. That is what people have done for decades.
I am sorry you are "freaking out". I hope you can find some peace in things.
My grandmother kept a deep pantry - a room in her basement with rows and rows of metal shelves, arranged in aisles. My cousins and I loved playing grocery store in there ;) I agree with you that there is a ton of fear mongering out there, and people seem to lose perspective. I lived a mile from the WTC on 9/11, blackouts, 2 week long power outages - and have never been unable to find necessities.
ReplyDeleteThat is just what people did back in the day. Good old common sense.
DeleteHow scary that must have been in the aftermath of 9/11. I think that is the point. What we want and what we need are 2 different things at times. Thanks for a different perspective. having been through that.
Yes, we must keep a pantry as my grandma did. Please help us with foraging, any good books on that? My grandma told the true story of waiting for their hens to lay an egg during the 30s so my grandma could make an egg sandwich for my mom to bring to school for lunch.
ReplyDeleteI have to roll my eyes at people of all ages who run, run, run to the store every day and never have anything on hand, not even a needle and thread. They can't even sit still. I don't get them at all. I see it in all ages.
Lot's going on in our world, lot's of deception too. I do think the fires are a little different in the plants because some are attacks from planes or drones per Peggy Hall.
I become discouraged sometimes but not because of what is going on because I truly trust the Lord but it's the way people scoff, or the way preachers or radio hosts cave and ignore things. Even people who ignore my warnings I have put on my blog, even losing someone, they don't want to be 'stressed'. Such is life though. I try to live for that Audience of One. I just try to listen to the good Lord and go on and be content.
In the Bible there are plenty of exhortations to observe His creatures in the way they prepare and look at Noah? I'm sure he felt discouraged sometimes. Haha!
It's a wonderful feeling to have a pantry and to be able to garden and feel that wonderful earth on my hands and the breeze through my hair. God is good.
Enjoyed your thoughts here, lots of common sense and I like that. God bless!
Thanks Amelia. People have faced so many challenges over the years and have had many, many hard times - but persevered. Today it seems if enough people say something is right - that makes it right. NOT in my book or God's should I say. Wrong is wrong and right is right - pretty simple. People just twist everything up today.
DeleteI heard a statement yesterday that I liked. Don't put people before God. In other words - always worry about pleasing God not people. I do what I know is right.
It is a wonderful feeling just knowing you can eat and maybe help some others. Yes, God is good!!!!!!!
"If you want to spread something, let it be hope and encouragement." I loved your post and those words! I'm sipping coffee from my mug with "Be still and know that I am GOD" on it--a gift and reminder from my daughter. Thank you for the timely words and encouragement!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Isn't that what God wants us to do? Be positive and help one another? I think it is. I love the phrase from your cup.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed!
I thought I should share the bible verse on my coffee mug, as well! It's from Proverbs 31.
ReplyDelete"She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future."
Fitting for this discussion!!
AMEN! Yet so many fear it. It is sad. What will be, will be.
DeleteYou know, I've been thinking and praying about this, and even talked to hubby about it last night. There's at least one entire generation that didn't have the benefit of our parents or grandparents experience and habits. That same generation or two also didn't have required home-economics classes in school. Think about it...
ReplyDelete...nearly all who were born from the late 1970s on had two working parents during their growing up years, especially those born from the 1990s on. They grew up eating out very often. Grocery shopping was usually done w/o children present. Millions of parents then didn't know about The Tightwad Gazette.
And, dare I say, many children got anything their little hearts desired because parents felt guilty about actual lack of time with their kids. Can we fault young adults today, then? Maybe all they need is positive encouragement. Especially now that they're the adults experiencing hard times for the 1st time and have been trained throughout their lives never to want for anything. Just a thought. --Elise
Very good thinking. It never really occurred to me in that way. But I do believe you may be on to something.
DeleteIsn't that sad?
I was in junior high before I came home to an empty house - with both parents at work. I have a couple of nieces and nephews who are very diligent about stocking and cooking from scratch and eating right. They are late 20's and early 30's. It wasn't really their parents that taught them - I think they just saw their grandparents and I hope me do things. Hopefully that is where they got some knowledge. They are BIG into stocking - according to them, it just makes sense!!!
Thank you for bringing that up. It is a very valid point.
NOW we need to figure out how to remedy it - because they may be in for a world of hurt in the future.
Well, if I can (gently) suggest one way to remedy it is to approach it with compassion. And as your nieces and nephews have learned, overall money savings, making more monthly funds available for other things. I've also found people feel more confident in themselves when tackling something "new" if others express confidence in them.
DeleteI think back the the TG years of my life. Some of those ideas were very new to me, even with my grandparents' influence. A few things (like growing, canning and/or drying food) were downright intimidating. Some of it really didn't work for me. That's okay. What I love about your blog, Cheryl, is there are many, many ideas and approaches to consider and tailor to one's life. --Elise
Great response. Hopefully we can reach some younger folks on here and then each of us can also try to impart some knowledge as well.
DeleteI have an older nephew who told me once. - I used to think most of what you said was crazy, then I started working and taking care of my own bills and money. He then figured out how to do that and SAVE too! He makes me proud!
I love these conversations we get to have here.
I think that people now know we need to stock up for emergencies. I like the thoughts that they have decided that the government might not be there to feed them. It may take a few days or more after a catastrophe to see any help. With Katrina it took over 7 days or more to receive help. So I'm all for it when I see a full cart. They may have a big family or only shop once a month. Who knows?
ReplyDeleteStocking is very important for so many reasons. Natural disasters are a good example. There is just no way of knowing what could happen or when. Being prepared just makes good sense - it always has.
DeleteI wrote a comment and then my laptop started sliding off my lap and I grabbed it and made the comment disappear! So, I am back.
ReplyDeleteHome Ec was a waste of two years in high school because I knew how to sew and cook. There was nothing new.
Mama canned what we grew. We did go hungry one winter when they did not have a garden the year before. We kept hens most years. My mother was raised during the Great Depression by her mother after he father was killed and lived with her mother and grandmother. So, she learned well how to feed people with little.
While married, I was not allowed to buy much food at all. When I was single, I started stocking up by buying 5 cans of green beans for $1, forgoing another food. Every week I did this. It carried me through a crisis. Now, I continue the same pattern of buying in bulk loss leaders and sales.
My daughter's husband worked 3 blocks from the WTC. They stocked up, placing everything behind their bed in the apartment.
I know that I need to stock up and do it cheaply. I think Ukraine should be a lesson for the world.
I only took home ec in junior high. High school it was an elective. I knew how to sew and cook too - but I learned a few finer points.
DeleteThat is the way to stock - a little here and there and when good prices allow. It makes good sense.
That sure had to be scary being that close to the WTC.
My husband and I both grew up in families that did a lot to keep everyone fed, We married in 1979. It was a big deal for us to go grocery shopping every Saturday, Together, we felt it was important for us to share the decision of what we purchased every week, to put food on the table and plan our meals for the following week,
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky in the fact that we had my Mom's garden in the summer for vegetables. It is a sad thing in my opinion that our (my) child does not see the value of that, Since he has married he has started to listen to Mom and check the grocery papers, learn to buy on sale and freeze meat, To build their pantry when things are on sale. I do not discuss these things with my DIL because it is not my place, I leave that to her Mom, I worry a lot, I hope they are planning well. I think it is a failure, by me, and other parents of my generation, that we did not start teaching these things earlier, We practiced it but did not do enough to pass our knowledge onto our children. They are the ones paying the price for our mistakes, They do not understand they can't just go to the store and buy anything they want. They do not understand that they can't go out to eat anytime they want. Then they come to paying the bills, the real bills, and don't understand when they have no money where it all went, As they say now, adulting is not as easy as they thought, We all just live and learn. I am thankful that I learned early and was never wondering where did all that money go.