Am I the only one panicking and hoarding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really love how OP is buying salmon, almond milk, multiple types of oil while supposedly on a budget. OP you clearly have no idea what it means to be on a fixed budget. I bet you bought Charmin and Brawny, too, right?

DP. I’m also on a budget. I buy frozen and canned wild salmon. What about those things strikes you as problematic while on a budget? I buy oil. To cook the salmon and to stir fry the veggies and to help make the beans delicious. Again, what part of that seems incompatible with budgeting? I buy whatever toilet paper and paper towels are on sale that I have coupons for. That’s called budgeting.

This is important: A key part of budgeting is price per use. If one Bounty paper towel does the work of 3 off brand paper towels, using Bounty might cheaper and cost effective, and becomes even more so with discounts, sales, and coupons. Actually PP, you’re the one that might have no idea what it means to have a fixed budget. And yes, “fixed” can vary widely with respect to “amount”.

As to the almond milk, I don’t drink it myself, but I do appreciate the need to purchase something shelf-stable that lactose intolerant people can use safely for both cooking and as a beverage.

OP! You rock! Thanks for initiating this discussion. I hope we can all use it to share useful information.

+1 I think people who don't have tight budgets imagine that those of us who do should be living exclusively on rice, beans, and canned vegetables. I can do a week of meals for $20, but not only is it monotonous, it's also not healthy long-term. Longterm, we need to be eating multiple fruits and vegetables, protein, healthy fats. If you have a low but manageable food budget the things to cut out are snack foods and single serve anything. I stock up so I can wait for sales and afford some bulk items, for example I just bought a 1lb brick of yeast which will likely last me over a year stored in the freezer. When green peppers went on sale for 89 cents a pound recently I made a huge batch of sofrito and froze it in cubes. I might be able to get prepared sofrito for cheaper on sale but it's healthier to eat the scratch version.

That’s a great plan for sofrito, PP! I never thought of freezing it. I’ve done something similar with caramelized onions when the Vidalia sweet onions are available. I also have indoor pots for green onions and cilantro. The right seasonings can make a monotonous -but-healthy meal delicious!

[Anonymous]

I’m not prepping for anything but I like to have bulk rice (from H Mart), pasta, jarred things (BBQ sauce, tomato sauce, condiments), etc. My family eats a lot of fresh fruits and veggies but I like that having a well stocked pantry means you can stretch going to the grocery store if you are busy. I would not stock up on perishable items (even those are the most sensitive to inflation). Food prices are rising and will continue to do so as energy prices go up, but I’m not buying more than usual.

[Anonymous]

In the first season of the pandemic, I aimed to keep 2 weeks of frozen, 2 weeks of fresh, and 2 weeks of shelf-stable meals. We had a second container of all household products (so one open pack of tp or dishwasher pods or garbage bags, and then one extra). We don’t really have that right now and it doesn’t seem fruitful to stock back up to stay ahead of inflation. If there’s a nuclear issue, we’re going to have bigger problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get several large drums of gasoline and store them in your garage. Also make sure you have plenty of fire making ability.

Buy a side of beef and put it in a deep freezer. You’ll want cartons of cigs and cases of whiskey for barter.

I’d also recommend a good 12 gauge combat shotgun.

Deep freezer won't work in grid-down situations. If OP lives in DC, Not sure a shotgun is an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the first season of the pandemic, I aimed to keep 2 weeks of frozen, 2 weeks of fresh, and 2 weeks of shelf-stable meals. We had a second container of all household products (so one open pack of tp or dishwasher pods or garbage bags, and then one extra). We don’t really have that right now and it doesn’t seem fruitful to stock back up to stay ahead of inflation. If there’s a nuclear issue, we’re going to have bigger problems.

Or NO problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, are you guys all worried about a nuclear attack? I’m not, but if you are and you want to plan for it you need a goodly stick of food that needs no heating or cooking and water (a month). If that happens you’ll be in your basement with no electricity and no way to make a fire, because you won’t be able to vent it to the outside (all cracks etc need to be sealed with plastic to prevent radiation getting in).

That’s a whole other level of planning and worry! Unwarranted, I think.

I *think* think OP was worried about inflation? (If so, I’m not sure she understands inflation). The other preppers seem worried about something else. Though I’m not sure what.

I made my suggestions based on basic emergency preparedness. As to the rest, or some of the rest, many of us were startled by the empty shelves two years ago, coupled with this current, second round of rising prices. As someone who used to shop when I needed things, I will probably always have extra toilet paper and enough food that doesn’t require cooking to last a few days.

But you know what? You all survived, right? I mean, being without toilet paper or having to conserve it wasn't the end of the world right? And no one in the DC area starved because of empty shelves. Maybe there wasn't the particular kind of food they wanted, but there was OTHER food. Right?

That's the lesson to be learned - be adaptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are very smart!! It’s always best to prep just in case!!! You never know!

1000% agreed. Better to be safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, are you guys all worried about a nuclear attack? I’m not, but if you are and you want to plan for it you need a goodly stick of food that needs no heating or cooking and water (a month). If that happens you’ll be in your basement with no electricity and no way to make a fire, because you won’t be able to vent it to the outside (all cracks etc need to be sealed with plastic to prevent radiation getting in).

That’s a whole other level of planning and worry! Unwarranted, I think.

I *think* think OP was worried about inflation? (If so, I’m not sure she understands inflation). The other preppers seem worried about something else. Though I’m not sure what.

DP: My understanding of inflation is that prices will go up and a dollar will not go as far. If the number of dollars I have is stable, it is more cost effective for me to buy two huge jars of peanut butter today, because if I only buy one, buying a second jar when I actually need it will be much more expensive. Prices are already rising (along with profits) and multiple issues from war to shipping costs are likely to increase prices.
tldr: Stocking up now has merit.

PP, what else should I understand about inflation as I try to make my dollars holler going forward?

America is set to increase the price of commodities by 20% this summer. If people don’t want to prepare it’s their choice. OP, you’re smart to stick up now to cut the inflation increases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, are you guys all worried about a nuclear attack? I’m not, but if you are and you want to plan for it you need a goodly stick of food that needs no heating or cooking and water (a month). If that happens you’ll be in your basement with no electricity and no way to make a fire, because you won’t be able to vent it to the outside (all cracks etc need to be sealed with plastic to prevent radiation getting in).

That’s a whole other level of planning and worry! Unwarranted, I think.

I *think* think OP was worried about inflation? (If so, I’m not sure she understands inflation). The other preppers seem worried about something else. Though I’m not sure what.

I made my suggestions based on basic emergency preparedness. As to the rest, or some of the rest, many of us were startled by the empty shelves two years ago, coupled with this current, second round of rising prices. As someone who used to shop when I needed things, I will probably always have extra toilet paper and enough food that doesn’t require cooking to last a few days.

But you know what? You all survived, right? I mean, being without toilet paper or having to conserve it wasn't the end of the world right? And no one in the DC area starved because of empty shelves. Maybe there wasn't the particular kind of food they wanted, but there was OTHER food. Right?

That's the lesson to be learned - be adaptable.

Sure. And the other lesson learned from being unprepared is that it doesn't take much effort to have some basics on-hand just in case.

There are all sorts of things that can happen. Such as, losing power for 5 days from a derecho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be panicking and hoarding for?

Sudden hoarding of supplies is what causes panic and shortages.

Maybe buy 2 can of garbanzo beans instead of one each time you go shopping. Otherwise you are part of the problem.

The US government (ready) asks those who are able to stock up and prep in advance so when the fan gets hit, those who weren’t able to stock up can still get supplies. We don’t currently have shortages so this is the time for those with cash reserves and space. If things get bad, the government also asks those who are able to avoid buying Snap-eligible items so that they remain for those who are restricted to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, are you guys all worried about a nuclear attack? I’m not, but if you are and you want to plan for it you need a goodly stick of food that needs no heating or cooking and water (a month). If that happens you’ll be in your basement with no electricity and no way to make a fire, because you won’t be able to vent it to the outside (all cracks etc need to be sealed with plastic to prevent radiation getting in).

That’s a whole other level of planning and worry! Unwarranted, I think.

I *think* think OP was worried about inflation? (If so, I’m not sure she understands inflation). The other preppers seem worried about something else. Though I’m not sure what.

I made my suggestions based on basic emergency preparedness. As to the rest, or some of the rest, many of us were startled by the empty shelves two years ago, coupled with this current, second round of rising prices. As someone who used to shop when I needed things, I will probably always have extra toilet paper and enough food that doesn’t require cooking to last a few days.

But you know what? You all survived, right? I mean, being without toilet paper or having to conserve it wasn't the end of the world right? And no one in the DC area starved because of empty shelves. Maybe there wasn't the particular kind of food they wanted, but there was OTHER food. Right?

That's the lesson to be learned - be adaptable.

Sure. And the other lesson learned from being unprepared is that it doesn't take much effort to have some basics on-hand just in case.

There are all sorts of things that can happen. Such as, losing power for 5 days from a derecho.

We were out of power more than five days with the derecho and it was so hot. We definitely learned no one was coming to help us.

[Anonymous]

Not panicking or hoarding. At most looking at what we typically stock up on a bit differently and adding a few things here and there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, are you guys all worried about a nuclear attack? I’m not, but if you are and you want to plan for it you need a goodly stick of food that needs no heating or cooking and water (a month). If that happens you’ll be in your basement with no electricity and no way to make a fire, because you won’t be able to vent it to the outside (all cracks etc need to be sealed with plastic to prevent radiation getting in).

That’s a whole other level of planning and worry! Unwarranted, I think.

I *think* think OP was worried about inflation? (If so, I’m not sure she understands inflation). The other preppers seem worried about something else. Though I’m not sure what.

I made my suggestions based on basic emergency preparedness. As to the rest, or some of the rest, many of us were startled by the empty shelves two years ago, coupled with this current, second round of rising prices. As someone who used to shop when I needed things, I will probably always have extra toilet paper and enough food that doesn’t require cooking to last a few days.

But you know what? You all survived, right? I mean, being without toilet paper or having to conserve it wasn't the end of the world right? And no one in the DC area starved because of empty shelves. Maybe there wasn't the particular kind of food they wanted, but there was OTHER food. Right?

That's the lesson to be learned - be adaptable.

Sure. And the other lesson learned from being unprepared is that it doesn't take much effort to have some basics on-hand just in case.

There are all sorts of things that can happen. Such as, losing power for 5 days from a derecho.

We were out of power more than five days with the derecho and it was so hot. We definitely learned no one was coming to help us.

Yep. and we had downed power lines laying onthe ground blocking two of three exits to our street. \

in post katrina new orleans, it took about 2 weeks to get stuff back up and there was nothing to eat. Port of New Orleans and Biloxi stopped receiving stuff so Huston backed up and trucks could not get through so it was months before a fresh vegetable was free for purchase.

[Anonymous]

definitely DON'T hoard, definitely wouldn't want to do that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, are you guys all worried about a nuclear attack? I’m not, but if you are and you want to plan for it you need a goodly stick of food that needs no heating or cooking and water (a month). If that happens you’ll be in your basement with no electricity and no way to make a fire, because you won’t be able to vent it to the outside (all cracks etc need to be sealed with plastic to prevent radiation getting in).

That’s a whole other level of planning and worry! Unwarranted, I think.

I *think* think OP was worried about inflation? (If so, I’m not sure she understands inflation). The other preppers seem worried about something else. Though I’m not sure what.

DP: My understanding of inflation is that prices will go up and a dollar will not go as far. If the number of dollars I have is stable, it is more cost effective for me to buy two huge jars of peanut butter today, because if I only buy one, buying a second jar when I actually need it will be much more expensive. Prices are already rising (along with profits) and multiple issues from war to shipping costs are likely to increase prices.
tldr: Stocking up now has merit.


Where did you get this 20% increase idea?
PP, what else should I understand about inflation as I try to make my dollars holler going forward?

America is set to increase the price of commodities by 20% this summer. If people don’t want to prepare it’s their choice. OP, you’re smart to stick up now to cut the inflation increases.