When we moved to Cambridge from LA, I kept food stocked in case of earthquakes (really), hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms...you name the disaster and I had thought of it and prepared for it. Then came Y2k. Yep, I prepared...just in case. I have never regretted this way of living. It doesn't go bad. Well...except for the bins of whole grain.
After 9/11 I started stocking up again. Gas prices started going up and I watched the price of paper products rocket skyward, just like my mom predicted. My kids have laughed and laughed and laughed at my thought processes. I just figure it gives them great stories for the future holidays when they can laugh around the table with their own kids at my "eccentricities". Thom always says, "do what you feel you need to hon, I'm behind ya..." And slips me whatever extra cash he can afford to.
I have begun ratcheting up the buying in the past few weeks once again. This time the kids are not laughing. They watch the news with me and they're starting to question whether I am buying enough. Jedd with his new bread machine and baking habit keeps loading flour and sugar into the cart, because he hears how prices of these items are rising. I don't stop him. I'm trying to teach them the difference between stocking and "hoarding". It's okay to load up now. As long as it's something we use and buy anyway. But if something happens...banks crash, truckers strike, terrorist attack, terrible natural disaster...then it's too late. Then it's wrong. Then it's hoarding.
I'm sure some of you may be shaking your heads. But I have a feeling there are more of you out there considering doing a bit of extra shopping this week or month, than there was before Y2k. Times are shaky and prices aren't going down any time soon. The dollar is weakening. It's weak. I figure I am actually stimulating the economy whilst I'm preparing as well:)
I hope just like the year 2000 and 9/11 and the lack of natural disasters, that this is all un-necessary. But I also hope my children are learning to think about being prepared. Because it can't hurt.
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8 comments:
I still have my Y2K grain. Wish I had bought more oat groats-we liked those. No one likes to make homemade bread at my house.
I'm with you...have my canned goods from last year for the bird flu; have my yearly powdered Gatorade in case of regular flu.
BUT, I am spending so much at the grocery store already and I am APPALLED! I've had the OPPOSITE reaction! I am trying to USE everything in my freezer and pantry because I feel like I just keep going to the store and spending, spending, spending!
What I want advice on is how to eat "fresh" and healthy, but on the cheap. Fresh fruit and vegies are so pricey and anything organic or whole grain is up there too(though I found Walmart now has a fair selection of our favorite organic items for HALF the price of the other stores-but they have lousy produce).
Maybe if I cut my consumption in half...
yes riverrat, it is much more expensive in the grocery store, but..."they" are already saying that flour is going to go up even higher, as well as corn and sugar. And if gas goes up at all, well, maybe even if it doesn't because the truckers are rebelling and threatening to strike. So prices could go up even more and since our money isn't gaining any interest in the bank, let's let it save future expenditures by buying now....hmmmm. just something to ponder....:)
As to eating fresh and healthy. I guess this is the year for anyone with the ability to, to start a garden!
The concept of stocking up doesn't bode well here...though now that we are empty-nesters there SHOULD be space to put extra items. The catch is CARRYING everything from the store!
We, too, are feeling the dollar crunch. Prices have skyrocketed here (not sure why!) and the dollar is as low as right after 9/11. Not a good combination.
Praying with you, kibbe, that the preparation is for naught. But it's worth being prepared.
riverrat -- there are several books out (we purchased before we came here) about simplifying, particularly in the kitchen. I'll try to think of the titles; they may be very handy in this day and age.
I have been stocking up, but for other reasons. Elections are coming! No one knows what is going to happen and rumors are that there will be a total shut down of the country. That means no food coming into the Valley. Therefore, I've been purchasing a couple extra cans of food and always have extra rice on hand as well as toilet paper and cleaning supplies JUST IN CASE! I know it will be used, so I don't worry about wasting money. Actually, I think I won't have to purchase food for a month... that is except for fresh produce. I like the idea of having a stock-pile that I could survive on for at least two weeks. You never know in this crazy country. BUT although produce has risen a bit in price, it's still quite affordable even for a Nepali salary.
Here's a different perspective....Here in Bolivia we have to stay 'stocked up' because of political turmoil that can erupt at anytime and then prevents us from leaving our walled house. Also there are many strikes here that can stop food supply. And one more thing that you all might not have thought of...the weak dollar affects missionaries all over the world. Their dollars don't buy what they used to...just like in the US, but often worse because it's also coupled with inflation in their resident country. The difference in what we can buy now and what we could last year with the same salary is a good 40% less. Not whining...just sharing a different experience. God is faithful to provide for us all and we need to be faithful to be good stewards of His gifts.
Denise,
Very good point. I hadn't thought about how the dollar's de-valuation would affect missionaries. 40% is a huge cut in pay if we look at it like that....thanks for your input...
Yes, we missionaries have certainly taken a cut in pay coupled with skyrocketing prices in our host countries. But God is so very faithful! We still consider ourselves spoiled...in the sense that we have no REAL worries like others who don't know if their loved ones might be kidnapped, etc. As I have said before, life is good...and we still have coffee!
Ukrainiac, If you still have coffee, life is good indeed:)
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