The 7 Day Challenge: DAY 4 (FRIDAY)

Welcome to the 7 Day Challenge. For 7 days, we are testing our Emergency Preparedness and Food Storage Plans. Each day will bring a NEW mock emergency, or situation that will test at least one of the reasons “WHY” we strive to be prepared! REMEMBER: No going to a store, or spending any money for the entire 7 days! And please feel free to adapt the scenarios to fit your own family and situation.

Due to job loss and the slow economy, a family that you are close friends with was just evicted from their home. You offer to let them stay with you overnight. You must feed and provide shelter to a family of 6 on short notice. When they arrive, you also discover that they are vegetarians. Assume that they arrive shortly after breakfast.

Today’s Tasks:

Cook lunch for your family plus two adults and four kids
For a fun friday night twist (and to take their minds off their situation) play restaurant for dinner. Be creative how you want to do this (make some family members waiters, make menus, set the table nicely, have appetizers, whatever you want)
Provide sleeping arrangements for two adults and four children in your home
The family did not bring any hygiene items, provide them with toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, etc.
Evaluate your tp, paper towel, laundry detergent, and dish detergent stores … do you have enough to last with this many extra people for a few days?
Go over your own budget and/or financial situation (with your spouse if applicable) and think about how you can avoid having a situation like this occur in your own family (budget, financial reserve, minimize debt, etc.)

Today’s Limitations:

For this day, and ALL days of the challenge: no spending money, no going to stores, and no restaurants.
None of the meals can include any meat.
You ran out of milk and eggs due to the extra guests. No using them for cooking!

Advanced Tasks:

One of the children is a baby, make a batch of homemade baby food.
The family needs $100 in gas money to travel to a relatives’ house where they will stay long term, do you have that much cash in your home that you can give them?

(Please note: Either freeze the extra food for later, give it to a family in need, or actually invite a family over for the day.)

REMEMBER, TOMORROW’S CHALLENGE WILL BE DIFFERENT.
How long would you have lasted under these conditions?

Make sure your fill out today’s Report Card to see how well you did, to keep track of areas you can improve, to remember things you need to do, and things you need to buy. Use the data to make a game plan to take you to the next level of preparedness, whatever that may be.