Posted on 07/24/2011 1:08:37 PM PDT by Mamzelle
I’ve heard that too, but I’m putting stuff in mylar, then into the buckets. Should be dandy. ;-)
Hmm, I live in the foothill with mountains all around. We were thinking of getting some, we will take that into consideration. I wonder if any can be charged with a solar battery charger.
I’ve gotten buckets from a restaurant, a natural food store several times, new, and from a couple of other places. No Sam’s Club around here but any grocery stores that sell bulk dry foods in bins usually have them. Reminds me I woudln’t mind picking up a few more.
I’ve got a couple of names here and some more on the files I need to put back on my computer. I’ll remember!
If you have a ping list, I’d like to be added.
I don’t have a ping list for survival stuff, but a much neglected blog which I have to update and organize, so some people have asked to be pinged when it’s ready to be seen. I could add your name and ping you when it’s decent.
:-)
Slap a robe on it and call it decent! lol
Yes, please add me.
LOL!
I need to do it soon. A lot of people here on FR and elsewhere are just realizing - hey, I need to prepare for (fill in the blank). If nothing else, high prices on everything. And I fear it will be much worse than that.
As do I.
You need a 12VDC (car battery) to 110VAC power inverter. They typically run from about $25 to $100, and have a multitude of uses for lower power consumption apps like recharging other batteries.
Thus you would have a set up in which solar panels recharge car batteries over the course of a week or two, that when fully charged could be used to charge hand held devices of all varieties.
I might add that in troubled times, you would want to use walkie-talkies very discreetly, using different frequencies at irregular intervals, and alphanumeric “one use codes”, to keep xmissions short and secret. Never in the clear and with no extra chatter.
For example, “Bravo X-Ray Delta” (nul) (nul) (radio check), to which the proper response would be “Delta Mike Quebec” (nul) (radio check) (nul), on frequency 3, which is valid from 9:15am to 11:20am, then shifts to frequency 7 from 11:20am to 4:50pm.
Because of all the tuna talk, I decided to make tuna sandwiches a few days ago and sadly, we were right about the quantity.
I checked the size of the small can and they are now 5 ounces. In the back of my mind I had thought it used to be around 7 ounces. Coincidently, while looking through some cookbooks last night (withdrawn library freebies!), I happened upon two tuna recipes that stated the size of the small cans:
7 1/2 oz. can = Richard Simmons’ Never-Say-Diet Cookbook - 1982 - page 86 - Tuna Imperial
6 1/2 oz. can = The Frugal Gourmet Whole Family Cookbook - 1992 - page 323 - Tuna Salad Sandwich
As has been the case with sugar, coffee, cereal, and toilet paper, so goes the size of small cans of tuna. Notice that at some point between ‘82 and ‘92 the size shrunk 1 ounce. Some say that may not be much but by 2011 it has shrunk 2 1/2 ounces or a total of one third of it’s original size. Well, “original” as far as I can verify.
Ok, so we’ve established we’re getting a can that’s 1/3rd less than what we used to get, but what about the product inside the can? I can’t tell you what the meat to water content was in ‘82 but here’s what I found in the ‘11 product:
I opened four 5 oz. cans of tuna and did the lid squeeze to drain out the water. I then weighed it:
11 oz = water
9 1/2 oz (about 1 1/3 C) = meat
Yes, the weight of all four cans is a half ounce more than what should have been but it does tell a very eye opening tale.
Yikes, we’re paying about $4 per pound for canned tuna. When shopping, I try to keep my meat purchases around the $2/lb. mark. The other day I bought boneless beef ribs for $1.97/lb. and what with the drought beef prices should be dropping soon. With this slap up side the head, tuna sandwiches just went out of my budget. Sorry, Charlie, I’ll save what I currently have in the pantry and look for something else to stock for teotwawki and other emergencies.
ping
Thought you might be interested in the price of canned tuna.
We knew there would be food shortages due to all the flooding. Have been stocking freezer, and shelves for the past year or more.
Quality has decreased on things like bananas, they are coming in over ripe and only fit for baking use.
Packages are also 1-2 or more ounces less of staple items.
Don’t forget to stock pickles, condiments, salt, pepper, sugar, flour, baking soda, and baking powder, all are long term and the the latter is a must when real shortages hit.
I’ve noticed a near doubling of any rice/wheat/corn products like cereals and breads. Even the cost of milk, cheese, and yuk margarine is up. Margarine is now near the price of real butter.
Don’t forget cleaning supplies. Purex now has crystal fabric softner goes in the washer with the soap...works well, keeps well. Then there are grooming aides...you priced shampoo lately? Near $4 bucks for the small bottle that use to go for about $2.50.
Bottle of Jack has gone up nearly $10 in last 6 months. And that is at the Navy Exchange.
I lived through the carter years, this is WORSE, much worse and will not get better for at least 2-3 years or more....better learn how to garden and can.
Well I can tell you they stink bad when left in the bucket even over night. And if you get to the point that you have to wash them in the bath tub as I had to, be sure to rinse at least 4 times..urine is a powerful burning agent hard to remove. Prefolds are the best type. Put in a supply of training panties, as you are wasting money on the pull-ups no matter that they are convenient, and start potty training at 1 yr. Take bottle away then too. I used M & M’s for the ‘reward’ when I was training my boys, and they are harder to train than girls.
3 for $1 at Kroger’s, their brand this week. I opt for the ready made tuna salad by Star Kist as hubby is the only one who eats it. Makes him a decent sandwich on a busy day and I get the turkey, lettuce and tom.
But yes it’s gone way up.
That is fascinating. I had the feeling there was less tuna in the cans but now I know for sure!
I just went cleaned the fridge freezer (fingers still chilly) hoping to make a little room for beef if the prices go down. Our “houseguests” will be moving out the middle of the month so that's a couple more weeks of eating down the freezer so that should be perfect timing to restock things we like.
Speaking of our guests, it's amazing how totally clueless they are. It's no wonder they're in a bind. Name brand everything and stuff that's just plain silly. They go out constantly and are out shopping now but can't seem to contribute to the grocery bill, sigh. I've tried to point out a few alternatives to more frugal purchases but they don't care to listen. Sorry, but my good ol’ southern hospitality is running thin so am counting the days. Looking around, they are in the majority on how they view responsibility and money. Same as our congress, people have to have immediate gratification so spend, spend, spend.
Mine would have run thin after 1 week, like I told my boys growing up, eat what I put on the table or go hungry.
Time to educate clueless guest to the extra cost their extended stay is causing, I’ve gotten old enough I don’t give a D if they ever come back.
You can stop feeding them...just feed yourselves.
When we stay at people’s homes when we get to travel, we take our host out to a nice dinner and are frugal with their resources, and take our own personal grooming items, not depending on our host to provide shampoo or toothpaste. And our dirty clothes home with us.
They could use the local laundry mat.
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