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Ready for Tomorrow Index
Save money, plan ahead and build a household ready for whatever life brings.
Welcome to your Ready for Tomorrow series index.
This is your roadmap through the complete program. We’ll work through the steps in order, calmly and consistently, building on what you already have rather than trying to change everything at once.
Each part of the series will include a detailed Member Hub article, practical actions and, where useful, printable worksheets, checklists, planners, tip sheets and videos.
You don't need to race ahead. Work through one step at a time, use what applies to your household, and come back to earlier sections whenever you need them.
This is your roadmap through the complete program. We’ll work through the steps in order, calmly and consistently, building on what you already have rather than trying to change everything at once.
Each part of the series will include a detailed Member Hub article, practical actions and, where useful, printable worksheets, checklists, planners, tip sheets and videos.
You don't need to race ahead. Work through one step at a time, use what applies to your household, and come back to earlier sections whenever you need them.
START HERE
Welcome to Ready for Tomorrow
Before beginning Step 1, read the Start Here guide and take a simple snapshot of where your household is today.
You'll look at what you're already doing well, identify the area you'd most like to strengthen and start your Ready for Tomorrow Binder.
Read: Start Here — Ready for Tomorrow
Welcome to Ready for Tomorrow
Before beginning Step 1, read the Start Here guide and take a simple snapshot of where your household is today.
You'll look at what you're already doing well, identify the area you'd most like to strengthen and start your Ready for Tomorrow Binder.
Read: Start Here — Ready for Tomorrow
Part 1 — Know Your Numbers
Could We Live for One Month on Less Income?
Before we can strengthen the household, we need to understand where we are now.
We'll look at normal household spending, minimum household spending, food already on hand, current savings and how much breathing room the household has if income or circumstances suddenly change.
Main goal: Know your starting point.
Article: Why Preparing Ahead Makes Everyday Life Easier
Article: Could We Live for One Month on Less Income?
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads:
Household Starting-Point Worksheet
Normal Spending vs Minimum Household Spending Worksheet
How Many Weeks Will My Pantry Feed Us? Inventory
My Household Resilience Scorecard
Could We Live for One Month on Less Income?
Before we can strengthen the household, we need to understand where we are now.
We'll look at normal household spending, minimum household spending, food already on hand, current savings and how much breathing room the household has if income or circumstances suddenly change.
Main goal: Know your starting point.
Article: Why Preparing Ahead Makes Everyday Life Easier
Article: Could We Live for One Month on Less Income?
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads:
Household Starting-Point Worksheet
Normal Spending vs Minimum Household Spending Worksheet
How Many Weeks Will My Pantry Feed Us? Inventory
My Household Resilience Scorecard
Part 2 — Find Your Household Low-Cost Mode
What Does It Really Cost to Keep the Household Running?
Work out which expenses must be paid, which can be reduced, and which can be temporarily paused.
We'll also apply the Cheapskates principle of looking at the big bills before the little bills, rather than immediately trying to slash food spending.
Main goal: Know how to reduce household spending quickly without creating unnecessary hardship.
Article: Switching Your Household to Low-Cost Mode
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads:
Minimum Household Number Calculator,
Household Low-Cost Mode Checklist and action sheets.
First 48 Hours After an Income Drop Action Sheet
Big Bills First — My Top 5 Bills to Review
What Does It Really Cost to Keep the Household Running?
Work out which expenses must be paid, which can be reduced, and which can be temporarily paused.
We'll also apply the Cheapskates principle of looking at the big bills before the little bills, rather than immediately trying to slash food spending.
Main goal: Know how to reduce household spending quickly without creating unnecessary hardship.
Article: Switching Your Household to Low-Cost Mode
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads:
Minimum Household Number Calculator,
Household Low-Cost Mode Checklist and action sheets.
First 48 Hours After an Income Drop Action Sheet
Big Bills First — My Top 5 Bills to Review
Part 3 — Build Your Financial Buffer
Buying Time — One Dollar and One Bill at a Time
A financial buffer doesn't need to begin with thousands of dollars.
We'll start small and gradually work towards enough cash to cover one week, two weeks and eventually one month of minimum household expenses.
Main goal: Give yourself time to think before debt becomes the only option.
Article: Build The Financial Buffer: Buying time
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads:
Buying Time — My Household Buffer Tracker
Emergency Cash-at-Home Planner
Bills That Must Keep Being Paid
Where Our Financial Information Is Kept
Financial Hardship Contacts
Buying Time — One Dollar and One Bill at a Time
A financial buffer doesn't need to begin with thousands of dollars.
We'll start small and gradually work towards enough cash to cover one week, two weeks and eventually one month of minimum household expenses.
Main goal: Give yourself time to think before debt becomes the only option.
Article: Build The Financial Buffer: Buying time
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads:
Buying Time — My Household Buffer Tracker
Emergency Cash-at-Home Planner
Bills That Must Keep Being Paid
Where Our Financial Information Is Kept
Financial Hardship Contacts
Part 4 — Build Your Three-Month Food Buffer
Let Your Pantry Buy You Time
Food already safely stored at home is food you don't urgently need to buy tomorrow.
We'll build a practical pantry around meals and ingredients your household actually eats, with the longer-term goal of creating a useful three-month food buffer.
No panic buying. No random stockpiling.
Main goal: Build food security gradually and within the grocery budget.
Article: Build the Three-Month Food Buffer
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads:
Pantry inventories,
3-Month Pantry Buffer Builder and stock-up planners.
Let Your Pantry Buy You Time
Food already safely stored at home is food you don't urgently need to buy tomorrow.
We'll build a practical pantry around meals and ingredients your household actually eats, with the longer-term goal of creating a useful three-month food buffer.
No panic buying. No random stockpiling.
Main goal: Build food security gradually and within the grocery budget.
Article: Build the Three-Month Food Buffer
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads:
Pantry inventories,
3-Month Pantry Buffer Builder and stock-up planners.
Part 5 — Make the Food Last
Store It, Rotate It, Preserve It and Use It
Buying ahead only saves money if the food is properly stored and actually used.
We'll look at pantry rotation, long-term storage, freezer management, canning, dehydrating, preserving bargains and garden harvests, and preventing food waste.
Main goal: Protect the money you've already spent on food.
Article:
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Long-Term Food Storage Inventory, Preservation Log and food-rotation sheets.
Store It, Rotate It, Preserve It and Use It
Buying ahead only saves money if the food is properly stored and actually used.
We'll look at pantry rotation, long-term storage, freezer management, canning, dehydrating, preserving bargains and garden harvests, and preventing food waste.
Main goal: Protect the money you've already spent on food.
Article:
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Long-Term Food Storage Inventory, Preservation Log and food-rotation sheets.
Part 6 — Build Your Household Water Buffer
Don't Wait Until the Tap Stops
We'll look at the water the household needs for drinking, cooking, hygiene and pets, where and how to store it, and simple ways to reduce water use.
Main goal: Have a sensible household water backup and know how to use water carefully.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Water Storage Calculator, Water Inventory and Water Storage Map.
Don't Wait Until the Tap Stops
We'll look at the water the household needs for drinking, cooking, hygiene and pets, where and how to store it, and simple ways to reduce water use.
Main goal: Have a sensible household water backup and know how to use water carefully.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Water Storage Calculator, Water Inventory and Water Storage Map.
Part 7 — Build Your Cooking Backup Plan
Could You Still Feed the Household if Normal Cooking Wasn't Possible?
What could you cook if you couldn't shop, the power was off, water was limited or you needed to conserve cooking fuel?
This is where our Emergency Pantry Meals, MOO mixes, substitutions and simple shelf-stable meals become especially useful.
Main goal: Have several ways to turn stored food into real meals.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Emergency Meal Planner, My Five Backup Meals and cooking reference sheets.
Could You Still Feed the Household if Normal Cooking Wasn't Possible?
What could you cook if you couldn't shop, the power was off, water was limited or you needed to conserve cooking fuel?
This is where our Emergency Pantry Meals, MOO mixes, substitutions and simple shelf-stable meals become especially useful.
Main goal: Have several ways to turn stored food into real meals.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Emergency Meal Planner, My Five Backup Meals and cooking reference sheets.
Part 8 — Build the Rest of Your Household Buffer
The Pantry Isn't Just Food
Running out of laundry detergent, toothpaste, toilet paper or pet supplies can trigger exactly the same expensive emergency shopping trip as running out of dinner ingredients.
We'll gradually build useful buffers of everyday household supplies.
Main goal: Stay ahead on the things your household regularly uses.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Supplies, Toiletries and Cleaning Inventories.
The Pantry Isn't Just Food
Running out of laundry detergent, toothpaste, toilet paper or pet supplies can trigger exactly the same expensive emergency shopping trip as running out of dinner ingredients.
We'll gradually build useful buffers of everyday household supplies.
Main goal: Stay ahead on the things your household regularly uses.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Supplies, Toiletries and Cleaning Inventories.
Part 9 — Organise Health and First-Aid Needs
Have the Basics Ready Before They're Needed
We'll organise regularly used medicines, prescription information, first-aid supplies and other household health essentials.
This isn't about replacing professional healthcare. It's about making sure everyday needs and important information are organised.
Main goal: Know what your household normally relies on and keep those basics in order.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: First-Aid Inventory, Medication Planner and Household Health Information Sheet.
Have the Basics Ready Before They're Needed
We'll organise regularly used medicines, prescription information, first-aid supplies and other household health essentials.
This isn't about replacing professional healthcare. It's about making sure everyday needs and important information are organised.
Main goal: Know what your household normally relies on and keep those basics in order.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: First-Aid Inventory, Medication Planner and Household Health Information Sheet.
Part 10 — Prepare for Power and Utility Interruptions
What Happens When the Power Goes Off?
We'll look at lighting, charging, batteries, refrigeration, freezer management, cooking, heating, cooling and the household routines that depend on electricity or other utilities.
We'll also look at reducing ordinary energy use to save money now.
Main goal: Make the household less dependent on uninterrupted power.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Blackout Checklist, Power-Outage Plan, Battery and Charging Inventory.
What Happens When the Power Goes Off?
We'll look at lighting, charging, batteries, refrigeration, freezer management, cooking, heating, cooling and the household routines that depend on electricity or other utilities.
We'll also look at reducing ordinary energy use to save money now.
Main goal: Make the household less dependent on uninterrupted power.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Blackout Checklist, Power-Outage Plan, Battery and Charging Inventory.
Part 11 — Strengthen Your Home, Security and Communication Plan
Know Your Home and Know How to Reach Each Other
We'll organise essential household information, important contacts, shut-off locations, basic equipment, insurance records, communication plans and preparation for storms and other disruptions.
Main goal: Make important household information easy to find when you need it.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Information Sheets, Communication Plan and Home Equipment Inventory.
Know Your Home and Know How to Reach Each Other
We'll organise essential household information, important contacts, shut-off locations, basic equipment, insurance records, communication plans and preparation for storms and other disruptions.
Main goal: Make important household information easy to find when you need it.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Information Sheets, Communication Plan and Home Equipment Inventory.
Part 12 — Build Transport and Fuel Resilience
Use Less Fuel and Have a Plan B
Transport can be a major household expense.
We'll use deliberate driving, trip combining and the principles of One-Trip Week to save fuel now while also thinking about what we would do if transport became more expensive or difficult.
Main goal: Spend less on transport and reduce unnecessary dependence on the car.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: One-Trip Week Tracker, Vehicle Readiness Checklist and Fuel Planner.
Use Less Fuel and Have a Plan B
Transport can be a major household expense.
We'll use deliberate driving, trip combining and the principles of One-Trip Week to save fuel now while also thinking about what we would do if transport became more expensive or difficult.
Main goal: Spend less on transport and reduce unnecessary dependence on the car.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: One-Trip Week Tracker, Vehicle Readiness Checklist and Fuel Planner.
Part 13 — Build Skills That Replace Spending
Skills Are Stored Wealth
Cooking, baking, preserving, sewing, mending, growing, repairing and MOOing all give us alternatives to buying.
We'll identify the useful skills already within the household and choose new ones to learn gradually.
Main goal: Build know-how that saves money and creates options.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Skills Audit and Skills Builder.
Skills Are Stored Wealth
Cooking, baking, preserving, sewing, mending, growing, repairing and MOOing all give us alternatives to buying.
We'll identify the useful skills already within the household and choose new ones to learn gradually.
Main goal: Build know-how that saves money and creates options.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Skills Audit and Skills Builder.
Part 14 — Have a Payment Plan B
What If You Couldn't Tap Your Card?
Electronic payment systems are wonderfully convenient — until they aren't available.
We'll calmly look at having alternative payment options, keeping a sensible amount of accessible cash and deciding which purchases would take priority during a temporary payment-system interruption.
Main goal: Avoid relying on one single way of accessing and spending money.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Payment Backup Plan, Cash Reserve Planner and Essential Purchases Priority List.
What If You Couldn't Tap Your Card?
Electronic payment systems are wonderfully convenient — until they aren't available.
We'll calmly look at having alternative payment options, keeping a sensible amount of accessible cash and deciding which purchases would take priority during a temporary payment-system interruption.
Main goal: Avoid relying on one single way of accessing and spending money.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Payment Backup Plan, Cash Reserve Planner and Essential Purchases Priority List.
Part 15 — Make, Mend, Borrow, Barter and Trade
Buying Isn't Always the Only Answer
Money is only one household resource.
We'll look at the goods, skills, time and knowledge we can exchange, along with borrowing, swapping and community cooperation.
Main goal: Create alternatives before automatically buying something new.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: My Household Barter Bank, Trade Ledger and Community Skills Directory.
Buying Isn't Always the Only Answer
Money is only one household resource.
We'll look at the goods, skills, time and knowledge we can exchange, along with borrowing, swapping and community cooperation.
Main goal: Create alternatives before automatically buying something new.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: My Household Barter Bank, Trade Ledger and Community Skills Directory.
Part 16 — Build Your Local Resource Directory
Know Where Else to Buy What You Need
The supermarket isn't the only place to find food and household supplies.
We'll identify useful local and bulk-buying sources such as wholesalers, markets, farm gates, butchers, bulk-food shops, hardware suppliers, pharmacies and community resources.
Main goal: Know your alternatives before you urgently need them.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: My Local Household Resource Directory.
Know Where Else to Buy What You Need
The supermarket isn't the only place to find food and household supplies.
We'll identify useful local and bulk-buying sources such as wholesalers, markets, farm gates, butchers, bulk-food shops, hardware suppliers, pharmacies and community resources.
Main goal: Know your alternatives before you urgently need them.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: My Local Household Resource Directory.
Part 17 — Grow Something You Eat
Build a Little Food Production Into Everyday Life
You don't need acres of land to make food growing worthwhile.
Herbs, sprouts, vegetables, fruit or even a few useful plants can save money, build skills and give the household another source of food.
Main goal: Produce something useful rather than aiming for unrealistic self-sufficiency.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Food-Growing Plan, Planting Record and Harvest Planner.
Build a Little Food Production Into Everyday Life
You don't need acres of land to make food growing worthwhile.
Herbs, sprouts, vegetables, fruit or even a few useful plants can save money, build skills and give the household another source of food.
Main goal: Produce something useful rather than aiming for unrealistic self-sufficiency.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Food-Growing Plan, Planting Record and Harvest Planner.
Part 18 — Prepare for Pets and Animals
They Need a Buffer Too
Pets still need food, water, medication and care when household circumstances change.
We'll make sure their regular needs, veterinary information and backup arrangements are included in the plan.
Main goal: Make pets part of household planning rather than an afterthought.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Pet Plan, Pet Supplies Inventory and Grab-and-Go Checklist.
They Need a Buffer Too
Pets still need food, water, medication and care when household circumstances change.
We'll make sure their regular needs, veterinary information and backup arrangements are included in the plan.
Main goal: Make pets part of household planning rather than an afterthought.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Pet Plan, Pet Supplies Inventory and Grab-and-Go Checklist.
Part 19 — Prepare for Celebrations and Traditions
Hard Times Don't Cancel Birthdays
Birthdays, Christmas, weddings, new babies, anniversaries and family celebrations don't stop just because money is tight.
We'll build a gift pantry, a celebration pantry, use what we already have and learn how to create lovely occasions without last-minute spending or debt.
Main goal: Keep the happy parts of normal life going without blowing the budget.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Gift Pantry Inventory, Celebration Pantry, Christmas From What We Have and Party From the Pantry planners.
Hard Times Don't Cancel Birthdays
Birthdays, Christmas, weddings, new babies, anniversaries and family celebrations don't stop just because money is tight.
We'll build a gift pantry, a celebration pantry, use what we already have and learn how to create lovely occasions without last-minute spending or debt.
Main goal: Keep the happy parts of normal life going without blowing the budget.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Gift Pantry Inventory, Celebration Pantry, Christmas From What We Have and Party From the Pantry planners.
Part 20 — Test Your Plan
Find the Gaps While Life Is Normal
The best time to discover that a plan doesn't work is before you genuinely need it.
We'll try simple practice challenges such as a Low-Income Practice Week, Pantry-First Weekend, reduced-driving challenge or No-Tap Day.
This isn't about deprivation or seeing who can spend the least.
It's about learning.
Main goal: Discover what works, what doesn't and what needs strengthening.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Low-Income Practice Week Tracker and household practice challenges.
Find the Gaps While Life Is Normal
The best time to discover that a plan doesn't work is before you genuinely need it.
We'll try simple practice challenges such as a Low-Income Practice Week, Pantry-First Weekend, reduced-driving challenge or No-Tap Day.
This isn't about deprivation or seeing who can spend the least.
It's about learning.
Main goal: Discover what works, what doesn't and what needs strengthening.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Low-Income Practice Week Tracker and household practice challenges.
Part 21 — Review, Rotate and Rebuild
Ready for Tomorrow Is an Ongoing Habit
Food gets eaten.
Savings get used.
Children grow.
Bills change.
Medicines change.
Cars change.
Prices change.
Life changes.
So the final step is really the one that keeps the whole system working.
We'll regularly review our supplies, plans, contacts, household costs and buffers, replace what we've used and decide what we'd like to improve next.
Main goal: Keep the household ready without allowing preparation to take over everyday life.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Resilience Scorecard, Quarterly Review, Restock & Rebuild Checklist and Annual Binder Update.
Ready for Tomorrow Is an Ongoing Habit
Food gets eaten.
Savings get used.
Children grow.
Bills change.
Medicines change.
Cars change.
Prices change.
Life changes.
So the final step is really the one that keeps the whole system working.
We'll regularly review our supplies, plans, contacts, household costs and buffers, replace what we've used and decide what we'd like to improve next.
Main goal: Keep the household ready without allowing preparation to take over everyday life.
Article: [COMING SOON]
Video: [COMING SOON]
Downloads: Household Resilience Scorecard, Quarterly Review, Restock & Rebuild Checklist and Annual Binder Update.
Your Ready for Tomorrow Roadmap
You do not need to finish all 21 steps immediately.
The series has been arranged so that each step builds naturally on the one before it.
Start with Step 1.
Do what you can.
Use what you already have.
Spend carefully.
Fill genuine gaps gradually.
Then move on.
By the time you've worked your way through Ready for Tomorrow, you won't just have a folder full of worksheets.
You'll have something far more useful:
a household that costs less to run, wastes less, has useful supplies and skills on hand, has alternatives when circumstances change, and has more time and more choices when decisions need to be made.
That's what being Ready for Tomorrow — The Cheapskates Way is all about.
Debt free. Cashed up. Prepared ahead. And still laughing.
You do not need to finish all 21 steps immediately.
The series has been arranged so that each step builds naturally on the one before it.
Start with Step 1.
Do what you can.
Use what you already have.
Spend carefully.
Fill genuine gaps gradually.
Then move on.
By the time you've worked your way through Ready for Tomorrow, you won't just have a folder full of worksheets.
You'll have something far more useful:
a household that costs less to run, wastes less, has useful supplies and skills on hand, has alternatives when circumstances change, and has more time and more choices when decisions need to be made.
That's what being Ready for Tomorrow — The Cheapskates Way is all about.
Debt free. Cashed up. Prepared ahead. And still laughing.