I got an interesting email from a friend this morning, in the form of a newsletter, that I want to pass on to you. She's subscribed to an online coupon program that sends out weekly newsletters and this one bothered her. Here are some excerpts from the "Tuesday Saver":
"With the holidays upon us, there's good and bad news about deal hunting. First, there will be some good deals and it's a great time to stock up on pantry items, particularly baking items. The bad news is, we're headed into some inflation that's going to cause grocery prices to increase, and some of it pretty dramatically. First, the commodity markets and fuel costs are climbing again. That means the raw materials to make goods and the costs to transport goods are increasing significantly, and that cost is going to be passed along to the consumer.
The other way we'll see this cost passed along is in yet another decrease in package size. Two notables are ice cream - now weighing in at 1.5 quarts, down from 1.75 a few months ago, and yet we're still calling it a half-gallon, and peanut butter - down from 18 ounces to 16.3 ounces. So pay close attention to pack sizes because that sweetheart deal might actually be a worse deal that you paid for something just a few months ago because of the pack size changes.
Ultimately, reflecting on my almost twelve years of being a die-hard couponer, I think we're going to see a tough year ahead for savings, so this holiday season should be about stocking up now while you can and making the most of your saving."
This both unnerves me and validates what I've been thinking and seeing at the store for several months. It's about to get ugly, folks! Prices are still low, so now is the time to get busy and get that pantry stocked. Think commodities; wheat, sugar, cooking oil, salt, canned/powdered milk. The holidays are a great time to stock up on baking goods like white flour, brown sugar, evaporated/condensed milk and baking mixes. And watch your weekly sales, too! This week I found canned fruit, condensed soup and chicken/beef broth for $.49 a can. Throw in a coupon or two and you can walk out with free products.
But don't stop there!
-Pick up some extra socks and blue jeans as cotton prices are already rising. If you have small children like I do, it wouldn't hurt to pick up the next size of jeans and shoes.
-Fill up your gas and kerosene containers (and store them sensibly, please) as there are predictions of $4-5/gal gas in the coming months.
-Silver is always good, but make sure you're dealing with a reputable company.
I don't want to come off as a fear-monger or a conspiracy-theorist, but I'm afraid what we have is perfect storm brewing: high unemployment, record foreclosures and bankruptcy, and a second round of QE. Throw in the fact that most of the world is upset at us for one reason or another and top it off with a long, cold winter and you have a real mess on your hands. It could really get ugly, folks. Stock your pantries and your closets and get ready to hunker down.
And PS-The Mister says don't forget to pick up some ammo...desperate people are capable of stupid things!
14 comments:
Andrea, I've been hearing this from different sources now. Who knows what will break out in the next few months. Now is the time to prepare but we are working so hard on our debt that we really don't have anything left to use for stock piling. Another thought is that our skills of being able to grow and find our own food may actually be more beneficial as people will find out those who have a supply and do crazy things. And how can you turn away someone in need? That being said, I think if you can have some stuff on hand it is a great thing!
Great info and right to the point!
This info is so good I linked to it from my blog today.
Andrea keep up the good work.....
I hear ya, Tancy. Paying down debt can really cut into the old budget. I wish we had cash for precious metals, but as it is, we just try to stock up on things we use daily, like flour, sugar, oil, etc. And yes, those practical living skills will come in super handy!!
Thanks Pete! When J forwarded that newsletter to me this morning, it was so validating! Kind of stirred me out of my complacence a bit too!
Great tips, thanks for sharing.
Andrea: Your article hits at the core of the coming inflationary period. I spoke to my Aldi's Store Manager yesterday (Prepper too) and he said this past weekend was busy with more people buying cases not a few items. He aslo heard allot of customers referencing Glenn Beck 15 day to catastrophe show on Friday. In auto talks we hear $4-5 for Christmas and 3.25 -3.5 for Thanksgiving. Kersoene will go up as well...stock & prep!
Keep up the great work!
Dan
I think we've hit the tipping point. Even some of the MSM is getting it. Slowly.
I can tell you that at our precious metals store, we are just slammed. When we buy gold, but mostly silver, it is gone in a few days. You can almost smell the worry (not quite panic, yet). It's pretty amazing.
I haven't run the numbers myself, but a customer said that the $600 billion QEII will result in a minimum 25% devaluation in the dollar.
It would not surprise me.
Hi Toyin! Thanks for dropping in. I checked out your blog and it's absolutely lovely...and thought-provoking!
Hi Dan! Enlighten me...I've never heard of the 15 day to catastrophe show! What happens in 15 days?
Hi Chief! If the MSM is talking shortages/inflation/depression then you know it's serious! Congrats on the flourishing PM business, by the way!
I like the ammo idea!!
For what it's worth; My parents got married during the depression. My father was a little too old to be drafted when WW II broke out but he did work at the navy yard repairing ships. He had a car and he had a ration coupon for gas but what he couldn't get were tires. So if you car or truck is knida getting close to needing tires but not quite there yet you might consider buying them now and getting the 50k mile tires. WHo knows what will happen, maybe this time we will have tires and no gas. But just a thought for those who might be in that situation.
Joe- That's your kind of prepping, huh? LOL
Anon- EXCELLENT suggestion! I've tried to remember what my grandparents said about the Depression and WWII and clothes/food were what I remember distinctly. I remember hearing about flour sack dresses very clearly. But yes, tires, after all they're a petroleum product, right?
Thank you so much for helping to spread this message! I am encouraged that more and more people are waking up and seeing what's really going on. We need to do what we can to help others prepare. I just started a series on this very subject. Yesterday we talked about Food Storage, but I'll also be talking about how to survive w/out electricity, what you need to get now to be better prepared, wild foraging, survival skills, the importance of stocking up on ammo and guns, etc. This is important stuff that we should all be considering, definitely!!
Hi Kendra-
Thanks so much for stopping by. You're right...people are *just beginning* to wake up to reality. The waste, excess and cheap, easy living of the 90's and 00's are over, I think. We're being called out of Babylon and it's encouraging to see so many people realize it and spread the word.
Heh. I have hoarder tendencies. Stocking up is no problem for me - but my husband?? different story. He's even made the comment that he's _not_ a survivalist. Very odd, since he also has a "be prepared" mentality. I don't understand it.
However, I'm sort of stocking up. And sort of reorganizing my garage...to include some plastic bins with flour, sugar and rice invisibly contained. And salt. Don't forget salt.
Oil...I don't use a lot of oil. I use animal fats, mostly. Even chicken - I don't buy boneless-skinless unless it's for some particular recipe. I take the skin off, slice it thin (1/4 inch strips), then fry it sloooowly (you should be able to walk off and leave it without concern), salt the crunchies for snacks and pour off the fat and refrigerate. Probably should freeze to lengthen storage period. It won't last all that long - it gets rancid. Not bad in the sense of causing you to get sick, but bad in the sense that you'd have to be pretty darn desperate to eat it!
Pretty much the same thing with beef and pork...cut off visible fat, or if you're baking/roasting, long and slow cooking leaves you with fat in the pan. Pour it off into a jar - tall and skinny is better - and when it's refrigerated, you can lift off the fat to store separately (assuming there's some accompanying broth - which you use for soup, of course!)
Don't mix the fats. They each have their unique flavor.
Of course...just in case meats are not available - or too expensive - I guess I better get some oil!
Hi Suek-
Nice to see you...I think we've crossed paths at Accept the Challenge?
My husband was reluctant at first when I start stocking up, but it's come in handy so many times! Like now that he's laid off. Stocking up isn't just for disasters...it comes in handy during the plain old lean times too.
Thanks for the info about animal fat...it may come in handy the next time I see those wild turkeys in the backyard :)
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