Settle this debate for me and my wife: My wife has a bit of a tinfoil hat and feels a depression is

[redirish28]

coming.



She says she wants to stock up with supplies while we can.. you know; can foods dry goods, toilet paper, freezer food, batteries and battery operated lamps. + extra food and litter and cat treats for our cats.

I say she is going over board.

Any suggestions... is she right and I should start following her advise...

Or am I right in telling her to chill out.

[femmedem]

1. If nothing else it's a good hedge against inflation. n/t

[Warpy]

26. That's true, and while I don't fear economic apocalypse

I do know that inflation is going to continue.

Just be aware that storing staples like beans and grains can be problematic. Anybody who's had an infestation of miller moths will tell you many horror stories about it. Also, whole grains and whole grain flours will go rancid if they're stored too long.

It won't hurt to store a few bulk items, though, along with canned goods (good for a year and then they lose flavor). Batteries also lose their power if they're left sitting around long enough, even if you go the extra mile and keep them in the fridge.

Personally, I think we need to be storing skills, not items, and that means learning how to darn a sock, fix a toilet, grow a garden, change the oil in the car, knit a sweater, make soup. Everything we can do for ourselves or others will make us richer.

I wouldn't stock up on anything you won't use in 6 months, in other words. However, checking how to books out of the library isn't a bad idea, either.

[femmedem]

29. A very wise post!

Although knitting is unbelievably expensive. Shopping in thrift stores is way cheaper. Although you can unravel ugly sweaters and salvage the yarn. :)

Oh, and about that garden. We grew salad greens all through a CT winter last year with a cold frame over a raised bed. On really cold nights we covered it with a sleeping bag and heated it with a light bulb.

[Warpy]

38. I buy my wool right off the critter's back

and scour, card, spin, and dye it myself.

Right now I'm spinning pure luxury, a pre carded mixture of wool and bunny hair.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Look at it this way...

Even if we're not headed for a depression...

It doesn't hurt to stock up that sort of thing.

In case there are any natural disasters...

I'd do it.

[Ashy Larry]

3. You're both right.

She should probably chill out a bit but you can never be too prepared.

[AnnieBW]

4. I don't know about your wife, but

I've been stocking up on food all summer. Normally I do some freezing of veggies in the summer, but I've kind of gone overboard. Part of it was because the Amish Market was supposedly going to move, then their move got postponed, and I had stocked up on a lot of stuff. But I've been squirreling away all kinds of frozen veggies and canned goods all summer. And we're not hurting for money, either. I think that it's just reflexive. Or maybe it's the time of year - stocking up for the winter, etc.

[clydefrand]

5. Freezer foods and batteries? How will she keep frozen foods

with batteries? My husband has said a similar thing with cash...that we should get some from the bank to live on for a while in case???
I hope things don't get worse, but how can we tell for sure? I don't know.

If the Congress doesn't bail us out with the bills, what is the alternative? I haven't heard anyone say. Have you?

[peace13]

6. Stock up. We had this same discussion in my house.

Hubby said that I was carrying things a bit too far. I looked him in the eye and askes...Who's gonna be the first person to want dinner? He shook his head and said... buy whatever you want to. Peace, Kim

[Tallison]

7. And cat treats for the cats?

I love that that makes her list of emergency supplies. :rofl:

[redirish28]

11. We aren't able to have kids... so the cats are her kids...I know stupid

[Grey]

14. Kitty Treats -- Not Stupid. n/t

[lostnotforgotten]

16. Kitty Treats - Mandatory - It's Not Their Fault Americans Are Crazy!

eom

[Tallison]

24. No, no, no...I can relate!

I'm crazy about my felines, just spent $200 I don't have to clean one's teeth yesterday. It's just funny to see how high up on others' list of emergency priorities their comfort is, too.

ETA: We're a Chicken Lickens household - it's like crack to one of them...

[femmedem]

31. We're eating black beans, grilled cheese sandwiches

and only buying dried apricots when they're on sale. :cry: But the cats eat freeze-dried organic chicken liver treats. :rofl:

And don't even get me started on the rabbits.

[Warpy]

27. The great necessities of life are cat food, toilet paper

and shampoo. I can do without the rest of it.

[DeschutesRiver]

35. Same reason here, but our kids are dogs and the ancient cat, so

not stupid at all.

Cats and dogs love ya right back, no matter what, and how can there be anything wrong with that?:)

[EFerrari]

36. Hey, hey, hey -- cats are people, too!

Your wife is right! You want to be stuck in a depression with grumpy cats?! :)

[lostnotforgotten]

39. LOL - Thanks!

eom

[texanshatingbush]

28. Hey, when we evacuated for Hurricane Ike.....

....I took financial records and photos of dearly-loved, deceased dogs. They're my children.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. Stock up

Make sure you're loaded up with staples - always a good idea.

But, also, have a good amount of cash on hand.

[Tallison]

9. Hey - staplers make great weapons

I nearly had to use one once - no kidding.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

12. Not an electric one, though

Nail guns are good, too.

And always have a good supply of Liquid Steel on hand.............

[Tallison]

19. Once made a redneck gift basket for someone

Had all that and then some.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

10. No need to stock up! A depression offers a glut of goods and prices go down.

If you have cash a depression is one big buying opportunity.

All that stuff you'd want to stock up on will be readily available at half the price if a depression emerges, and if not, then why stock up?

[Mind_your_head]

13. If it's stuff you are going to use eventually that doesn't spoil

like TP, kitty litter, rice, sugar, canned goods you would normally purchase/use - why not? Prices are only going to go UP, UP, UP.

Batteries, special lamps that you may never use.....I dunno about that. Perhaps you can convince your wife to compromise this way and you all can stock up on SOME things, like those in my first paragraph.

Btw, liquor is always good to stock up on if things go bad. Always a demand, doesn't spoil, good for barter - again, ONLY if it's something you would use or 'gift' to someone eventually.

[angrycarpenter]

15. If a true depression comes

A stockpile will only be a short term solution at best. A depression can last years. During the great depression most of the people hit hard were forced to move across the country. In the end the best solution may be the ability to travel light and know when to get out. If food itself becomes unobtainable your nieghbors will come and take yours even if you have guns. A stockpile keeps you tied to a place and forces you to defend it.

[Generic Brad]

23. Are we talking depression or post-Apocolypse!

Guns? Stockpiles? Defend? Yikes!

[angrycarpenter]

30. I think we are on a very slippery slope.

a prolonged depression could lead to general anarchy. Any given city only has about three days of food or fuel on hand. Things can get bad quicker than most realize.

[BanzaiBonnie]

17. You should always have enough food and supplies for about two weeks

That's just my opinion.


I think we also need to not freak out. Yes, things are going to be rocky for awhile. But it will be different than the depression of the 30s. If our next pres brings online some changes that will reform and strengthen our country, this will not drag out for years.

My prediction is that we will have a bumpy 18 months and by spring of 2010 our days will be much brighter.

Keep hope.

[BuyingThyme]

18. I don't know.

But you can get a lot of that Top Ramen stuff at CostCo for pretty cheap.

[morillon]

20. I'm stocking up.

But I'm also trying to chill out. We have enough people food for over a month and pet food for two to three months. Our cats are on a prescription diet that sometimes is in short supply at PetSmart, so we've been keeping a backlog of that stuff for a few years now, anyway.

If prices go up, we've saved a little money by stocking up now when prices are lower. If they stay the same or go down, no biggie. We'll eat this stuff anyway.

Knowing that we'll have food and supplies in case things hit a bump is actually helping me calm down. The way I see it is this: If it does no harm (or is, in fact, beneficial) and it makes me feel more secure, then why not?

[liberalmuse]

21. Women's intuition.

I say she's right. Listen to her. A lot of people are doing the same. I've been stocking up slowly for about a year now and have been buying supplies here and there at the thrift store, along with sterno, camping stuff, canned goods, staples, blankets, wind up flashlights and radios, etc. I'm also stashing cash, but mostly stuff you can barter. I don't think you have to even have intuition or be a psychic or conspiracy nut to see the cause, and the coming effect.

I should add that we've had some winter storms up here that have knocked out the power for awhile. Winters, not to mention personal crisis can be rough, so it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

[lapfog_1]

22. The bearer of bad news...

If there is a depression, you probably have many more problems than canned food and batteries.

Unless you have a paid off house and a ready supply of fuel, a place to live and a car to drive will be your biggest problems.

Canned food lasts anywhere from 12 to 24 months up to 60 months (depending on the food that is canned).

batteries are handy for emergencies and natural disasters, but suck as long term sources of energy.

Toilet paper might come in handy, but if there is a shortage of toilet paper in the future or it becomes an expensive luxury, people have always improvised.

The best thing to have for a depression is 5 years or so of cash... or silver coins or similar if you are of that state of mind.

[cottonseed]

25. I don't know how much toilet paper you plan to buy, but depressions last a long time.

I'd say not to bother, that's my only advice... If there is a depression, know where you're family is at, come to grips with the fact you'll be doing manual labor, and learn to live frugally...

[angrycarpenter]

32. Yes

Family is the key. I hope people can re-learn how to look out for one another. I just got back to work after a month long lay-off. I live 400 miles away from the rest of my family and I was on my own. After the first of the year I will be moving back to my home town to ride this out. Nothing sicks worse than to be stuck hundreds of miles away from the only people who would help you out.

[FedUpWithIt All]

37. I think creature comforts can ease a transition from one state to another.

If the adjustment to the new way of life occurs while stores of familiar and comfort "things" decline it can make the necessary changes lot easier to deal with. At least this has been my experience.

[AndyTiedye]

33. That's a Good Idea Anyway

We do it, but that has more to do with the threat of the Big One (we're in California).
You also can save money if you buy in quantity during sales or at Costco.
Just remember to eat the food you're storing some day.

If you're looking for flashlights, the ones with the new Cree XRE LEDs are much more efficient
than the old Luxeons (though the newer Luxeon Rebels are comparable). Either is vastly
more efficient than conventional incandescent bulbs.

[DeschutesRiver]

34. Stock up BUT only with things you know you will eat and use

like those cat treats, tp, canned/freezer food, etc. See how much you can cage on sale, make your dollars really stretch that way. Shouldn't take too long to get a bit ahead on your daily needs.

Note to husband: If this is overblown, then so what? You won't have to grocery shop for those things for awhile. If this is dead on, you will not have to panic as much. If one of you lost your job, voila, you still eat. Think of it as a sort of practical savings account. My grandma and great grandma called it having "well stocked pantries." Nothing new under the sun!

Note to your wife: I've been doing this, and rotating my supplies since last year. There is absolutely ZERO downside to doing this, provided you don't stock stuff you don't need. Also - remember to get things like butter, chocolate, etc when they go on sale at the holidays. The butter freezes well:)

[Billy Burnett]

40. Tell her to buy guns. Lots of them. Oh yeah, ammo too. Lots of it. Also, more tin foil.

Amazing what you can get for the cats with guns.




-

[marlakay]

41. I had a time last week where I thought about that

I do the books for our household, handle all the money so I think about it more. I thought should I take some cash out of savings and fill up my garage...then I thought boy you are losing it. But if things start to get worse I just might.

I am kind of worried because I took out 15 yr loan a few years ago with higher payments that take up most of our pension so when we retire for good the house will be paid off. We both have part time jobs that pay for smaller bills.

I worry now how we can make payment if we lose part time jobs...