The Mormon Church has some excellent suggestions that will lead to personal financial security. Even if you disagree with the theology of the LDS Church, you can benefit from their practical suggestions for ensuring you have enough to eat, drink and live on in times of personal or widespread financial crisis.

Officially the LDS Church says that “We encourage members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings."

 

Basic Three-Month Supply of Food

Build up an extra supply of food that is forms your normal, daily diet. The easy way to do this is to watch for sales and buy up extra of what you  will eat anyway.  Rotate your food supply to keep it fresh.  

Store Drinking Water

Sometimes in a disaster the public drinking water supply may fail or become contaminated. It costs nothing but time to stockpile extra water in plastic bottles or drums.  You can use actual water bottles or juice and soda containers.  Store your water away from heat sources and direct sunlight to preserve the plastic.

You can also consider storing some water purification tablets or filters to allow you to deal with contaminated water when on the move without having to haul your water bottles along.

Financial Reserve

Everyone should establish some cash and precious metal reserves in an accessible but secure location.  Some might be in a bank but some should be in cash at home concealed.  Good choices for permanent stores of tradeable wealth are silver coins, US nickels and copper pennies because these all hold their value in inflationary times.   You can store a remarkable amount of wealth in a small space with these monetary metals.  

Longer-Term Food Supply

For your longer-term food security needs you should gradually build a supply of food with a long shelf life that will support your family for months and years.  Wheat, white and brown rice, and beans are all good choices as are foods that are freeze dried and vacuum sealed.

These long term staple food can last 30 years or more if properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place.  You can source these foods from companies that cater to long-term food supply needs. 

Skills Development

As a society we have moved away from find and raising our own food and we rely too heavily on the grocery store. Get back to nature by learning to garden - even in the city in planter boxes. Spend time learning to hunt and fish for food.  Learn to gather wild plants because there are many common plants that you can safely eat. In a situation of food shortage many people will walk right past what could be a tasty salad or a hearty nut dish because they just don't know what to look for and harvest.

Beyond food, figure out how to repair your home and your stuff.  Not needing to rely on trades people can help extend your resources in a crisis.  In a Hurricane Katrina situation there may not be others around to help you.  In a financial crisis, you may be able to use your acquired skills to work for others and make some extra cash.  The more skills you have the more useful you become (there was something to that boy scout stuff).   

Guiding Principles of Self Sufficiency

As you build your reserves of food, supplies and cash, do it prudently. There is no reason to go into debt to stockpile food.  Instead, add to your stockpile a little at a time as you find the money and find good deals on food when shopping.

If you plan properly and stockpile food and cash you will never find yourself heading to a food bank or starving.  Not only will you not need to hold your hand out, you will be in a position to help your family and friends when they are in need.  Is it not much nicer to be the one giving then looking for help?  Even Christ said it is more blessed to give than to recieve.