What are you stocking up on? (Notice any changes at your grocery?)

Recent trips to WalMart, Whole Foods, Ingles, Publix, BiLo; Food Lion | Mamzelle

[Mamzelle]

All of my usual stores are rearranging and changing what they put on their shelves. I'm sensing that the big uptick in prices will start to arrive shortly, maybe before Christmas. I'm interested to hear what the impressions of FRugal Freepers. What are you seeing? What will you be buying in quanity before TSHTF?

[bgill]

Print out now all the handy little tips and suvival how-tos you find on the web because if the electricity goes, all that information will be lost.

[reformedliberal]

Have already bought in quantity:

rice
dried pasta, several varieties
TP
paper towels
concentrated cleaning agents/refills of favorite products
soaps, detergents...laundry detergent has been particularly prone to increases and sizing down. I need the Free version and can only rarely find a deal.
prescription meds

limited quantities to be rotated:
canned broth, canned beans,dried beans,coffee,tea,fresh butter, milk of various types, veggies, fruits, condiments, dog food, cat food,oil, vinegars, packaged, dried mixes, tuna, chicken, turkey, salmon, sugar, OTC medications

Long shelf life foods, limited quantities to date, adding to regularly:

butter, ghee, cheese, dried milk,survival quality beef, bacon, freeze dried emergency meals, survival tablets,chocolate, wine, liquor, body wipes,toothpaste.

I keep the freezers for meat and veggies and homemade tomato sauce (can’t handle a pressure canner). Flour at Aldi’s is still $1.60/5 pounds (price stable for quite a while) and it doesn’t store long, so I don’t have a lot on hand, especially in the summer humidity, as it molds. I do have lots of dehydrated tomatoes and will trade with a baker friend for flour.

Impossible to find: large elbow macaroni
Walmart in my area no longer stocking plain cleaning ammonia

[goat granny]

One thing that I don’t see mentioned is BUG SPRAY.

[barmag25]

A great book to have if the SHTF. “Country wisdom and know how”

http://www.amazon.com/Country-Wisdom-Know-How-Editors-Publishings/dp/1579123686

[Misterioso]

Unopened? Got it!

[kimmie7]

Invest in a pressure cooker and crock pot. They can make tougher, poorer cuts much more tender and palatable.

[bgill]

Just be careful. My grandmother used to make the Welch’s grape juice recipe. I don't know what tweeks she made but my alcoholic uncle said it curled his toes. There was also the time she used some of their peach crop and they came in to find the peaches had spewed all over the bathroom. Another story was she'd sent my grandpa down to the storm cellar to clear out all her old home canned fruit and fruit juice. He called over the neighbor and they had a fine ol’ time because so many jars had fermented.

[NewJerseyJoe]

> 1) I'm thinking of putting in at least a year's supply of non perishables:

If you're "thinking of" it, you may be too late. I recommend that you start DOING -- today.

The longer you wait, the more and more expensive it will be

[Outlaw Woman]

There are 3 markets in which I shop in my local area:
Aldi
Dollar General
& Fricks Central (for meats) Regular grocer-not a discount store.

I’m doing my best to stock up on dry goods; pastas, beans, rice all of which I get at Aldi. In addition, their canned goods; veggies are running between .49-.85 per can; corn/green beans etc .49. Beets, Asperagus .85
Milk prices there keep rising and is up to $2.89 per gallon for 2%. Eggs $1.19 holding steady. Butter/Margerine: .99 holding steady Cheese: rising..$1.79 to $2.00 (cheddars)

Dollar General: Pet foods, Light bulbs (4) for $1.00

Central: All meats are rising. They carry only American meat.

In addition: Purchased Medical supplies (First Aid Kit) Peroxide. Still need alcohol.

Still to be purchased:
Soaps
Whiskey-anesthesia purposes
Fishing pole/tackle
Lamp Oil/Kerosene
More Matches
Water
Batteries
Wood

QUESTION FOR FREEPERS IN THE KNOW:
This may be graphic but here goes: It is my intent to bury waste (worse case scenerio). Has anyone else thought about how to handle waste and what the best way would be? I’m preparing in case ‘all’ systems; sewer, water etc. go down.

If it gets bad it is my intention though to grab my family and relocate to a vacant relative’s home about 40mi away. Spring, lake and acreage. Plus housing. But that may not be possible if highways are blocked off etc.

[kimmie7]

Add the Foxfire books to that.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=foxfire&x=0&y=0

[lonestar]

Powdered milk

[bgill]

Cast iron also releases iron into your diet and makes for a good snake whopper. ;)

[barmag25]

foxfire books are a great.

[barmag25]

foxfire books are great.

[BobL]

“Hmmm....did you know that we didn’t start buying paper towels until the late ‘70s? They are not a necessity and are quite wasteful.”

Yes and no. It’s one of those things. If you don’t have paper towels, you best have access to a lot of water (same with disposable diapers). I’d also worry a lot about sanitation...considering that the hospitals won’t be worth a dime then. Soap, of course, is need, but rest assured, I have enough of all types for an Army division. Making soap only works if you have access to the ingredients and equipment...for the really long-term it might be helpful, but, by then, I won’t really care.

[kimmie7]

The Foxfire books have outhouse building instructions. A good supply of lime is advised.

[Outlaw Woman]

Are there instructions available...I know I know do a search right?

Have you personally done this?

[kimmie7]

Here is a link for you: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/radabaugh30.html

Backwoods Home is a fantastic magazine/resource. They’re on Facebook as well.

[greeneyes]

In general I remember living through the shortages and inflation during the Nixon & Carter years. However, if the dollar collapses like Argentina(that's where we will be if this spending keeps up or if Obama care is implemented), then you are going to need a wheelbarrow of dollars to buy food stuff.

Also when you have various local governments suggesting that things like salt, sugar, and potatoes should be banned or forbidden in schools and restaurants, don't count on anything. I buy sugar, salt, and coffee every time it goes on sale, and when one bag is empty, I replace it with 2.

I can grow wheat, and potatoes(unless they ban that too), but sugar, salt and coffee not so much. If things really get bad, I can stretch the coffee with chicory which grows wild all over here, and I could even grow beets and make sugar. But salt? I buy lots of salt, I might have to use it for old time preservative methods and it lasts forever.

[OldPossum]

I question for you, sir, regarding this part of your post: “lots of solid gold coins to buy stuff with.” Just what are you going to buy with a gold coin that is worth maybe $1,500. A loaf of bread, quart of milk, etc.?

Don’t you think that a piece of silver is more, “negotiable” than a high-priced piece of gold?