…and here we go again. I first howled about the situation in my deceptive food inflation video. It’s gotten worse since then. It’s not gonna get any better. For all of you fancy wage-earners where money is no object, you can skip over this post and go brush up on your unicorn meat nutrition facts instead. But if that’s not you, then please…read on.
Pay attention to what’s happening…
A few months back I was buying the huge 100-ounce bottle of ALL laundry detergent for $11.99 at BJ’s. Prior to that price it was selling for $1 cheaper at $10.99. But today? That same 100-ounce bottle is now $14.99. What would justify such a drastic spike in price? A $3 increase overnight?
Yogurt prices are up. Eggs are more expensive. Bread. Cheese. Cake slices have gone up. 50-cent increase here. One dollar extra there. You think it’s no biggie? One or two product increases may not make you flinch, but add all up these increases into one shopping cart and it’s a blow to the lower jaw bone. You will feel the impact. This is GOING to happen.
Price increases already outpace the increases in our paychecks. We’re sloshing through it. We’re coping, right? But will you be ready to face the time when prices are so outrageous that it bites you in the ass and forces you to return an essential product to the shelf because it’s just too dang expensive?
prepare. Prepare. PREPARE!
This is not some Doomsday Preppers philosophy I’m trying to pitch you. You can take that word “prepare” and be as drastic or nonchalant as you wanna be.
My suggestion to you is simple: Start stocking up NOW to lock in current food prices. Buy it now and stock it up, or pay higher prices later for the same exact product. This can mean taking as little as $10 per paycheck to buy a few extra bars of soap, an extra bottle of laundry detergent, or non-refrigerator foods that can be stored long term.
I’ve noticed toilet paper prices have risen, too. Wouldn’t you rather wipe your bootay at today’s prices, rather than pay a premium for toilet paper later on? Whatever you deem essential should be considered for stocking up.
But don’t just do this only for the sake of saving money. There’s the very real possibility of an economic collapse in the future, which will mean scarcity of essential resources. It doesn’t hurt to stock up on things like canned goods and bottled of water just be on the safe side.
Hypothetical Situation
A monster storm hits and the power goes out for 5 days. Not only that, but (due to the outage) your local water company can’t guarantee the water being supplied to your home is safe for drinking, or the water isn’t flowing at all. Based on this scenario and considering the current resources you have in your house at this very moment, do you have:
1. Sufficient non-perishable food supplies?
2. Alternative cooking source, such as a portable camping stove or grill?
3. Ample supplies of bottled water to last at least 5 days?
4. A back-up method to charge your cell phone: car charger or portable external battery pack
5. Emergency desserts?
Do you have all of this stuff on hand right now? If yes, please give yourself 10 bonus points.
So ya, stock up to save cash AND for emergency preparedness. With all of the fitness stuff we get into, preparing is key to our success. But sometimes there are more important things than doing squats and fitting in cardio. Preparation has much greater implications. Don’t you agree? That canned Sasquatch meat I heard you love so much is worth stocking up on.
How are you dealing with rising food prices and the looming threat of economic collapse-type stuff?
It is ridiculous Josie, it is. We take one roast and stretch it to more meals than I ever thought possible, and they’re smaller than ever before. I buy milk at my local pharmacy because they give me a 20% for being such a good customer [you think?] and it saves me 75 cents off the grocery store.
We are definitely growing our own again this year, but with limited space we’ll eat what we grow as it comes, so we can’t can it. I can bake and make my own laundry soap and soap – so I am not too worried there, but when I saw the price of my favorites going up, up, up – I choked.
I kid you not – I gave my beloved MIL [who you know I love more than my own kids sometimes
] a 96 oz bottle of Tide for Christmas. Not because they can’t afford it, they can, handily, but because it is such a freaking luxury to have someone gift you the damn stuff. She laughed, but she said it was her favorite gift. HA!
All good advice my friend. And said with the humor and sass we have come to know and have always loved. You’re the best!
SkippyMom recently posted..The FUN Side of Side Effects
Twitter: YumYucky
says:
I take it you buy milk at the Rite Aid like I do. That 20% discount is awesome. hehe
So happy you commented today, but on the slip side, also have sad face because I’m sure you were up because you can’t sleep. You’re in my thoughts, pretty lady. xoxoxo
I noticed the food prices going up a while ago. The sugar bag (I know sugar right gotta make my country time) went down some lbs for the same price. I only buy whats on sale now and that is what we eat for the week. If its not on sale I don’t buy also the farmers market out here is much more cheaper than the actual grocery store. People don’t believe me……..
Kita recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
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Sugar is good to have stocked up. It can also prove to be an excellent bartering item if things got apocalyptically bad. I love my farmer’s market here, too.
We stock up like this regularly for hurricane season, so i do already have lots of stuff on hand.
That said, i’ve noticed the food prices going up all the time, and while i do stock up on stuff that’s on sale, it still only lasts just so long. Sooner or later you will pay the higher price.
Stock up anyway. You never know.
Things are going up dramatically. It is quite frustrating. I wish I had some land where I could grow my own plants and animals for food, but that isn’t going to happen. This sure helps eating less.
Jennifer recently posted..Ring Sizing and Jobs
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Never say never! You may own land one day. If you really want it. I’m a big believer in obtaining the things you want/need, even if it’s a long term down the road goal. I’d love to own some land but it’s totally out the question right now. But I have priced land in the area I’d want to purchase it (out of state). This is still many years off but it helps to keep my goals set before me. You do the same, Jennifer! xo
Sounds silly but I keep a good deal of caned veggies and canned chicken on hand from our local dollar store, The Dollar Tree. I don’t depend on these too much, and I don’t eat them that often, but it’s a good resource for reasonable eating on weeks when my cash-flow is low, or for when the Apocalypse comes.
Again, not saying this is the best choice, but it’s an option…
Twitter: YumYucky
says:
That’s not silly at all, Roy. It’s rather smart. We even have freeze dried foods on hand. When stored at the proper temperature and left sealed, freeze dried can last 25 years. My family will not be going hungry when the apocalypse hits.
In case of storm, I always have plenty of bottled water, batteries, peanut butter, and an extra tank of propane on hand.
Barbara recently posted..ChaLean Extreme Push Phase
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I buy extra water every single time I go to the store. I refuse to experience death by dehydration.
I live at the beach. I don’t even have a hurricane kit. I have no evacuation plan. Nothing. We have never been prepared. Lately, I’ve been thinking that needs to seriously change. This post only reinforces that. Thanks for the reminder!
Tonyne recently posted..Ready to go, kind of *edited*
Twitter: YumYucky
says:
omg, Tonyne! You gotta do this soon! Make a list of needs in order of priority and start busting it out. Not saying you have to get everything at once, but just set it in motion.
I too have noticed the stealthy price increases. Really, the number of sheets in a toilet paper roll has gone from 300 to 284 just recently but the price for said roll has stayed the same! I have long intended to stock up on junk but have not started yet. This reminder you have given should propel me to action.
Twitter: YumYucky
says:
You’re kidding me? They reduced the number of toilet paper sheets? Grrrrr. I have about a year’s worth of toilet paper on hand at the moment. The thought of not having any TP on hand when I need it makes me shudder. LOL!
Yeesh. I just got the months groceries yesterday and I know what you mean…we now go on the monthly 10% off day just to get about the same as we did before for the same $$. Everything seems to be a few dollars more or smaller for the same price. The smaller for the same price really cheeses me off, as I have recipes based on certain volumes in cans and jars and it changes things ever so slightly…
I get teased a lot that I stock up on things I use when they’re on sale and always have a well stocked pantry with lots of canned goods, but it’s come in handy on more than one occasion when life threw us a curve ball (like being suddenly out on strike for a month) and we didn’t have to worry about food because we had enough staples to get by. Being a hiker/camper we usually have most gear around we’d need in an emergency with bottled water and a camp stove in the basement so that we can last a few days and help out our neighbors in a minor emergency.
We tore down our front rotting old deck last year and I am very tempted to put in a few raised garden beds to plant veggies to try and keep costs down…and then learn to can them so I know they’re as fresh and healthy as I can make them.
Geosomin recently posted..Oh Vannah?
Living in South Florida, we keep “hurricane food” around all the time. Right now, that’s leftover Nutrisystem meals
Every now and then I’ll buy only the essentials, which in my house is Diet Pepsi (for the husband) and yogurt, then I’ll make dinners to use up stuff languishing in my freezer and/or pantry. Sometimes I’m amazing at what is hiding in the kitchen. I also use coupons religiously and buy store brands for things I don’t have coupons for.
Gail recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Jellyfish wishes
Because of how blizzards can be here in New York, we are usually stop up to be hunkered down for 5 to 6 days. Now that the hurricane season could have a strong impact on us again-like hurricane Sandy-we make sure we have food, water, the essentials in this household. It does not hurt being a member of BJ’s either.
KalleyC recently posted..I Wish…
I meant to say stocked up. That’s what I get for using the dictation mode on my Mac. (It does help when you have no hands)
KalleyC recently posted..The She Cave
Gimme the cake, errrr I mean bonus points.
We are prone to tornadoes, floods, and blizzards, so an entire shelf in our laundry room is devoted to supplies. I need to go through and check things for expiration, but we have at least 20 gallons of drinking water and a week’s worth of food, along with our first aid kits, batteries, clothing, blankets, etc. We have 2 different charcoal grills and a huge stock of charcoal. I dread having to replace any expired items, but I rely on sale flyers to replenish the stash. If it’s not on sale, I’m not buying it. We’ve been able to get some good deals the past few weeks and stock up. Our store recently introduced a fuel rewards program; certain items will give you “cents-off” per gallon. I filled up on Friday; gas was $3.39/gal but with my fuel rewards I filled up for $3.01/gal.
Food prices are just getting ridiculous. Makes you wanna go “off grid” and find a cave and some berries somewhere.
I am the worst slacker in the area. I do agree with you though being prepared is really important. I did notice my last 2 trips to the store seemed high but didn’t look closely at it. This is something I really need to do more of and think about more often.
Shannon recently posted..ONE-derland WOOT WOOT!
Twitter: YumYucky
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C’mon Shanney Pants! you bettah git ta stocking up!!
I had not paid attention, so thanks for bringing my eye to this. I think I may stock up on dried leaves if toilet paper gets too expensive. I mean, how did our ancestors booty wipe after all?
KymberlyFunFit recently posted..Water: What is it Good For?
Very interesting post Josie. My parents were preppers, not hoarders. There is a difference. Growing up we had a 2 year supply of food in our basement, and a 14 day supply of drinking water. They made some mistakes in their prepping. They didn’t have an alternate fuel source for heating or cooking and other examples. (too many to list) I’ve learned from their mistakes. I have 3 son-in-laws, daughters and their families within 4 miles of us. We have a share and share alike mentality. No one will go hungry or everyone will. We are prepared for most contingencies as a family group. It is impossible to prepare for everything. You can prepare for most things even on a budget.
Marc recently posted..2013 – 2nd video weigh-in
Twitter: truth2beingfit
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Ummmmmmmmmmmmm, I best go shopping!
GREAT POST JOSIE! Always need a nudge & reminder about this PLUS I live in earthquake country!
Jody – Fit at 55 recently posted..One of My Biggest Secrets Revealed! Important Info Follows!
Twitter: YumYucky
says:
Make a list of essentials and get that shoppin’ done, woman! Start with water bottles. So very important.
I have a video about the things that will run out first and I haven’t watched it yet. Need to do that and start stocking up!
MamaBearJune recently posted..Wednesday weigh-in – 176.0
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get on now and watch that video, MamaBear! (good gawsh, I love your name)
Yikes. As someone who lives in tornado country, I really should be more prepared. Okay, time to start storing some staples!
Jeremy Logsdon recently posted..An Open Letter to Four Month Old Moon Pie
Twitter: YumYucky
says:
Yes yes. Please get some staple items asap. Moon Pie is counting on you, Jeremy!
I mostly live in denial, but I do notice grocery price increases, and there are some things that I will only buy on sale because I know the regular prices are so inflated.
Coco recently posted..One Space Or Two?
Well, you’ve sealed it for me. Going. To. Live. On. Cake. Thank you.
Adrienne recently posted..Illness Gratitude
Twitter: YumYucky
says:
Well then it’s settled. Purchase the Cake Kabob and you’ll never go hongray again.
I am like amazed by how much things are rising and how no one is saying anything (except you of course) It’s so bad! I remember when I could buy pork chops for my family and not even flinch, these days its twice as much as it was last year! I can go on and on, but this is a fantastic list to have in case of emergency,I have everything except the portable charger…but if the electricity is out there are no cell phone towers…(which we learned during Sandy) so I guess im screwed either way
Nellie recently posted..Flowers, Chocolate and a Birthday Bootcamp Beatdown
Hmm, stocking up is easier for people who don’t live in tiny little apartments…and for people who have cars to carry the things back from the store, instead of lugging them up tall hills on foot.
Grocery prices are always expensive in SF, so I haven’t noticed the increase, but I’m sure you’re right. I tend to buy in-season fresh fruit and veggies, and then random on sale things, then just make up my meals around them, it’s cheaper, even though it means less recipes to post on my blog. Fortunately, as a one-person family, I have a little more leeway on budgets than other people do, so I am really lucky. I’ve def been working on mint.com to get the grocery store slice of the pie way down tho!
merri recently posted..Last Chaos and the Next One
I think I will be taking this advice. I went today and was like WTH. When free range chicken is the price of regular chicken but still at $10 for three breasts. Lawd.
I am definitely going to start hitting my farmers market up for our fruits and veggies. At least if I am going to pay the same thing I would rather them be from the farmers market.
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