Posted on 07/24/2011 1:08:37 PM PDT by 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?
Don't forget to mainly feed them on orc meat, and save the dry food for when you haven't had any orcs in a while.
Seasoning coats the pan with carbon. I will agree that if the pan is rusty it will give off the iron but that makes for a crappy pan which the food sticks to. A properly seasoned pan will not rust and will give off iron nor will the food stick. Its better then the crappy pans they sell as non stick.
Interesting. Thank you for sharing that.
I’ve been concerned over the water table getting contaminated. 4 things essential for surviving (imho): how to safely eliminate waste, how to tap into the water table and how to grow food/including grains and cook with electric... My brother has a ‘hand mill’ that we can use.
Thanks for the info. I’m also doing a general search. Foxfire books were mentioned but you have to purchase those and well...right now, no can do.
I got over the “I’m eating Bugs!” factor years ago. The processing won’t be fun, but maybe, maybe it won’t ever come to that. My book says (this is my first rabbit, so yes, I got the book) that they need to be bred every year, so I plan to give the baby bunnies away until I need to keep them. If it’s killing & cleaning cute little rabbits vs. seeing my family hungry, well, no animal’s THAT cute.
I’m not a milk drinker (lactose issues), but I keep a box of powdered milk on hand in case there’s a winter emergency and we need milk for some strange reason. Also, you can stock up on the plastic boxes of soy, rice, or almond milk. I think they last anywhere from 6 months to a year, so not forever, but good to have in the rotation.
I’m not a big fan of canned foods, but freezer space is scarce (and I think I’m gonna need it for the meat, now that I’m eating that again), and you can put cans anywhere.
Funny thing about home canning. I had the stupid idea that I didn’t need all the “accessories”, like a food mill, jar lifter, masher, wide mouth funnel, ect.
Well, my first batch of jelly came out real nice, but it was a trial to my soul to finish it without some of those things I thought I could “do without”. In other words, it was a real b**ch!
Before I tried again, I went shopping. Those things actually are not just useful - but ARE necessary. LOL, go figure.
Getting set up for home canning is a bit pricey - but, except for jar lids, sure gel and cheesecloth, most everything is a one time purchase.
RIGHT ON! I looked at this stuff a few months back...me want!
Hubby smokes meats - it’s just a webber though. I’m bettin’ I can talk him into building one of these no problem.
I hope you’ll forgive me for intruding PB, but you’re right on the backup. But in worse case scenario:
I was looking into preserving meats a few weeks back and if our power is eliminated, we’d need to cook our meat up (which can be done even in the sun) and use plenty of salt and pepper for preserving; store in the coolest place possible.
Of course people that have springs on their lands can use the coolness to help ‘store’ certain goods but meats will have to be cooked and salted to preserve. Then also, killing each day (squirrels rabbits etc) for fresh meals.
I’ve also noticed the tendency to have some 50 cent cans, but only a few - enough to advertise, but when it’s sold out, it isn’t restocked.
Uhmmm...just a reminder: you will need more than one rabbit...
lol...
In my recently experienced opinion, cloth diapers are just not that cost effective.
Any problem can be solved by throwing either time or money at it. But due to economy of scale, the little extra you throw for dispoable diapers is vastly outweighed by the effort and time required to use and process poopy diapers.
Menstral garments provide a very good working analogy for analysing the benefits and “surprises” inherent in “do it yourself” hygene.
U.S. Cotton was at almost $2.00 per lb. at one point, now it is near $1.00 per lb.
The flooding in the Mississippi delta and the drought in Texas are going to impact production horribly. The issue is whether there is foreign production to compensate. South America and Pakistan produce a lot too.
[Cereal costs more, and the box contains about half what it used to.]
...and taste terrible. The little kid in me used to like Kellogg Frosted Flakes, now they are uneatable.
If you are near an Aldi’s, they have always had 5# bags and the price has been fairly stable. I did my monthly shopping about a week ago and IIRC, sugar was $2.60/5#...up about a dime over the past few months.
A FReeper told me true: if the sugar hardens, just place in the microwave for a minute or so and it will soften. This summer heat and humidity does a number on it. I found the same trick works for powdered drink mix...about 30 seconds will loosen it up.
I am on the mailing list at several storage food sites. Occasionally, they will offer butter and the process cheese at $6/can &/or free shipping. That is when I buy it and since there is no need to rotate it, it adds up.
Organic food stores carry canned ghee. Smaller size than the food storage places and not cheap (I think I paid $9 for 8oz), but will last forever if not opened and is great for cooking in place of stick or canned butter. People from tropical places w/o standard electric service have always relied on canned butter, cheese, cream and milk, as do cruisers. You will see it all through the islands around the world. I have thought folks still crave the flavor even when they are in more modern places.
I think I have rotated through my canned food stores at least 3x since 2008, mostly due to slow cash flow and when my husband had an accident that put him out of work for 7 weeks. Given the financial markets, it has been a great investment.
Insulation. Based on my savings so far, I’m on track to make my money back in two years, even with no inflation.
One thing I’ve noticed at the local (el cheapo) grocery is huge displays of multiple types of rice in large quantities in the high traffic area. A year ago, they might have had a ten pound bag if you searched for it.
Id love to hear from some management at grocery stores!
What would you want to hear?
Don’t laugh. I think there will be a real market for private security at all levels. Elderly ladies w/o family will be likely to have food and need other skills in trade, for example.
You will also get more protein in a can of albacore than in a can of chunk tuna. Yes, more expensive, but it evens out.
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