What A Side Hustle Can Fund For You! Prepper Edition!
With the state of the world these days, I figured now was a good a time as any to revive this post. I know how overwhelming it can be to hear about all the craziness - especially since there's not much we can do to change things. BUT, we do have some controllables...one being prayer and our response to things, and the other being stocking up food and supplies to care for your family in the event of an emergency.
The problem is, with inflation at its peak, that makes it hard to spend any extra money to start stocking things away. Which is why it's SUCH a blessing to start a side hustle. One of the jobs that many women turn to when they want to stay at home or build an additional stream of income is affiliate marketing. (I talk more about this to give you an understanding of how it can benefit you financially, HERE.) And with this kind of business, you don't always have to wait to get paid. Many start sharing their journey and inviting people to join in with them- earning cash on those referrals before their new product even arrives at their door. It's literally so lucrative that not just limited to Network Marketing companies. Brands like Nike, Kendra Scott, Walmart, Lands End, Ulta Beauty, and Amazon are all inviting women just like you and I to become affiliates and promote their products!
If starting a side hustle sounds overwhelming, I can pretty much bet you're already doing this - you just aren't getting paid for it. Word of mouth referrals are the newest wave of marketing. And if you've ever received a compliment for something and responded with where it's from, you're participating in it too! So why not cash in on the rewards?
And know this, a side hustle doesn't have to be limited to affiliates. If you've got a skill, you can turn it into a resource. Consider utilizing Canva to create digital downloads (such as eBooks, Planners, Courses, Printable Checklists or PDFs) and sell it to create passive income. Whatever your passion, all it takes is a little wisdom, drive, and creativity!
A side hustle can be as big or as small as you want it to be, depending on what you're selling and how much time you can devote to work it. Here's what this additional income looks like fleshed out:
$300/month = $3,600/year
$500/month = $6,600/year
$1,000/month = $12,000/year
$2,500/month = $30,000/year
$5,000/month = $60,000/year
$10,000/month = $120,000/year
$25,000/month = $300,000/year
You could really start building into stocking your pantry with necessities and any supplies you may want to have on hand. I know my side hustle has covered a lot of the costs of these things too!
So let's dive into it. Maybe you're here to learn all about the side hustles...and that's totally cool. You can find me on IG at Under The Myrtle Tree or Tik Tok chatting about that there and can pretty much count on me sharing Biblical Business Tips and Encouragement with you daily. And if you want to chat and see how you can get started building an additional stream of income, simply click this link to APPLY TO WORK WITH ME.
If you're ready to take a deeper dive into prepping, well girlfriend, keep reading!!
How prepared will you be when the “you know what” hits the fan? So much has happened the past few years that has given so many the nudge to be prepared now more than ever.
Preparedness has always been something our family has invested in. We prepped during times when life was grand and there was no sign of any impending doom. In fact, we had so much stocked away I thought we’d never get a chance to use it!! And with all that 2020 did to throw us for a loop, I’d like to go back to thinking that same way and pretend it never happened. But the truth is, We can’t undo the past. We can only learn from it. So let’s take simple steps together to ready our home!
This mini series isn't meant to scare you into anything but it is intended to get you thinking and provide easy ways to be prepared “just in case". I can’t wait to share with you some easy things that anyone can do!
THE PREPPER'S PANTRY:
Ok, so one of the first things I think about when the possibility of any kind of shutdown arises ISN’T toilet paper lol. It’s actually, “Ohmagoodness, I hope we have enough food stored up!!!” What about you?
I’ve always wanted one of those big walk in pantries so I could gaze at my fully stocked food cupboard that I’d dream up to look pinterest worthy organized. But I’ve never been blessed with any kind of large pantry...so I’m here to tell you that food prep CAN be done in any kind of circumstance and any kind of storage space. You simply need to get creative!
Let’s Dive In:
Creating food storage for emergencies can be expensive and overwhelming if you do it all at once. It can also feel quite frantic when you’re last minute rushing to the stores to beat everyone at grabbing the necessities. Don’t put off til later what can be done incrementally over time. Just start small, and focus on a few main things to start.
Here are the first 10 things I would get.
1. Water-
We all know water is a necessity. If you have nothing stored, I’d start here. First of all, I'm going to recommend the Berkey Water Filter since it's so easy to set up and use and will filter out pretty much anything- including radiation. The filters last 8-10 years and it's really is a worthwhile investment. Another thing you can do is to purchase a few 5 gallon containers that are BPA free . Just realize the water within them shouldn’t be stored for more than a year or two. We like to keep at least 15 gallons of water stored up for our family of 4. We also have a plan to fill up the bathtub right away with water so we can pull from that to flush toilets, etc. Here’s a great tub bag to have on hand if you’d like a more sanitary option too:
2. Whole Grains-
Whole grains are full of vitamins (especially B vitamins), minerals, protein, and fiber. Buy grains you and your family will eat… rice, oats, quinoa, wheat, etc. If you buy a small mill, wheat can be stored up to 30 years and you can mill it for your family as needed. We love Costco to bulk shop for some of these items!
3. Legumes/Meat/Eggs -
Beans and lentils are a great source of protein that are easy to store and easy to cook. Soak them for at least 12 hours before using them in recipes. They are a rich source of fiber and vitamin Bs. Ever since I started stalking IG I realized there are SO many people who don't have a ton of land but have the cutest, simplest set ups for raising chickens. Chickens can be raised for meat OR eggs and are a great addition to your "prepper pantry" list. Not only do they eat the scraps of food you would have otherwise thrown away, but they eat the grubs and ticks from your yard and their poo can also be used to fertilize your garden. It's a win-win!!
4. Coconut Oil -
This staple stores years longer than liquid oil, can be used as the oil in baking (think cookies and pancakes), but also when cooking items like eggs, veggies, or dinner. It can be used as body lotion, shaving cream, used in soap, for sunburns, or for topical ointment. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Literally SUCH a staple item to have on hand.
5. Raw Honey -
This pantry must have can be stored 30+ years!!! It can be the sweetener in anything you bake, but it also has antibacterial and antiviral properties. It's great for boosting the immune system, fighting off allergies, helps with coughs, sore throat, oral health, dressing a wound, and more. *Protip: Make sure to get yours local to you so it's good for helping with your local allergens!
6. Fruits and Vegetables -
Freeze dried is a great option for long term storage or canning for storage up to a year. Most recently we did some shopping for freeze dried fruits and veggies too. Here's what we went with.
7. Seasonings, Salt, Seeds-
Keep these staples stored so you have something to spice up those beans with! Seeds to sprout can give you some fresh food and amazing nutrients too! And growing them is super easy and fun to do!
8. Canned Goods -
I don’t typically purchase canned foods for my everyday meals, but grabbing a can of green beans, corn, salsa, soups, broths, stewed tomatoes, etc each grocery trip is always a great idea! It's a small investment you can make over time and stash away just in case.
9. Cash- (not a pantry staple per say but you could hide it in there!! haha)
We are all SO used to swiping our cards or paying with our phones that many of us don't carry cash at all anymore. But what happens when the power goes out?? You'll want to start setting aside that extra change and those small bills, just in case. Here's a quick way I started saving. Every time I go to the grocery story I pay with my debit card and ask for $20 cash back. I pretend it's a part of my grocery purchase and then take the cash and stash it away. Make sure to place it somewhere you won't be tempted to grab from and vow not to touch it unless there's a real emergency.
10. Supplements -
We can't neglect our health just b/c the world goes into a state of chaos. With stress high from being in unusual circumstances, we need to make sure we're taking care of our immune systems, have strong cognitive function for decision making, and enough sleep so our body can be strong to take on whatever lies in the days ahead. I’ve got some incredible key supplement recommendations and my absolute faves to share with you later in this series!! Stay Tuned!!
So how do we store all this goodness so it’s definitely there when we need it?
Designate a specific area of the house where you want to store your pantry staples. You can keep them on shelves, store them above doorways, tuck them away in stackable bins, store in bins under your bed, or you can buy one of those pantry closets and keep it in a cool dark place. The ideal storage conditions are in a cool, dry basement or storage room on sturdy shelves designed to facilitate effective rotation. Quite frankly, many of us do not have an ideal place to store our food. You may have to use a little creativity to get the job done but it CAN be done!
