We all know that homemade jams, jellies, preserves and pickles are much better for you than store-bought versions. It’s also much more sustainable to select your own local produce and can it at the peak of ripeness, cutting down on food waste. Plus, homemade canned foods have a very long shelf-life and can be used to stock your pantry for the winter or give as a thoughtful gift to friends and family.

To get started, you’ll need canning supplies like jars and a boiling-water Canning Products. These items are often available at thrift stores, big box stores and hardware stores for dirt cheap prices. You can also find canning kits that include all of the essentials for water bath canning.

Wide-mouth canning jars ($14 for 12; Target), pictured on the left, make it easier to pack whole fruits and vegetables and are perfect for making pickles. Regular-mouth jars ($24 for 12, Amazon), on the other hand, are great for things like sauces and soups because they have narrower mouths.

From Farm to Jar: Exploring the World of Canning Products and Home Preservation

A boiling-water canner ($29, Ace Hardware) heats the jars to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature needed to kill microorganisms and preserve food. Canners have racks that allow water to flow beneath jars for even heating and handles to lower and lift jars in and out of the hot water. Some canners have a traditional speckled enamel finish while others are sleek and polished steel.

Some additional canning supplies that you’ll want to have on hand are a pair of kitchen tongs, a magnetic lid wand and a ladle to help remove air bubbles during the canning process. You’ll also want a set of clean towels to use for setting hot jars on the counter while they cool and to wipe the rims of jars before sealing them.

The Stimulus Check has begun processing the next round of third-round Economic Impact Payments. Millions of low-income households can expect a new check worth up to $1,400 for themselves and each qualifying dependent in their household. The IRS also issued supplemental payments to people who earlier received EIP checks based on their 2019 tax returns and are now eligible for a larger payment based on their recently processed 2020 tax return.

This week, millions of people will see their Economic Impact Payment in their bank accounts as a direct deposit or receive a paper check or prepaid debit card known as an EIP Card in the mail. Taxpayers should watch their mail in the coming weeks to make sure they receive their payments. If they have direct deposit, they may want to check their online account to make sure they have the correct information on file with the IRS. The IRS will use the information on file to get a person’s most recent federal records, including income, tax refund or debt paid and bank account details.

Financial Boost: How IRS Refund Stimulus Checks Can Impact You

A few states allow garnishment of a person’s Economic Impact Payment, but many states do not. In some cases, the stimulus payment may indirectly affect state income taxes by increasing how much federal taxes are deducted from a person’s total federal income. That is why some consumer and banking groups are calling on Congress to pass a standalone bill that would exempt the stimulus payment from garnishment.