With Rampant Inflation, Are You Stocking Up Now In Case Prices Continue To Rise?

RadishRose said:
That's me too, @Jules. I stay ahead on just a few things: coffee, canned tomatoes, frozen veggies. But no more than 4 to 6 of anything.
Click to expand...
See I should learn that.. no more than 4-6 of anything. Earlier I went out to the larder freezer in the barn to find something for dinner.. it holds, large pies, Frozen veggies, ( lots of those) dairy and home frozen batch cooking.. as well as fresh frozen chicken .Couldn't find anything I wanted so I made my way to the chest freezer in the shed..which is one I use less often.. because it tends to hold big bags of things like frozen roast potatoes, meatballs, bread sausages , frozen deserts, ice-cream- big bags of frozen fish.. and the freezer is full .

So.. while I was searching for inspiration for dinner, I decided to pull everything out of the freezer, and redistribute it all, putting the stuff at the bottom of the freezer to the top... . I was astounded to find in there.. another 9 big bags of various veggies.. Veggies don't live in that freezer, so I've been restocking veggies when I've seen them get low in the big freezer, not realising I have a ton of them in the chest freezer.

I've discovered many things which I seem to have no recollection of doing this last 9 months, while my head was somewhere else due to the problems occurring at home....and that's clearly one of them. ..but now I'm aware, it won't happen again, but I really don't know how I'm going to get through 14 pounds of frozen onions... 7 pounds of Sprouts .. 9 of Broccoli.. several pounds of swede.. and asparagus.. ..all by myself..:LOL:
 

Last edited:
katlupe said:
I don't have room to stock up very much. I buy larger packages of things like toilet paper and paper towels and keep most of the supply downstairs in the storage locker. But I have always done that. I am not really shopping any different than I ever have.
Click to expand...
When the pandemic first hit and we had the infamous TP shortage mainly caused by people stocking up... I could never figure out where people were storing it.. because unlike us most people here don't have barns and sheds as we do ... also a spare room....until I overheard 2 women talking , and they said they stored everything in the attic..

It never even occurred to me to store shopping in the attic.. if I did, I would probably not have to shop for TP or anything for years !!:D
 

I have shopped in bulk at Costco for decades. After my husband died and I lived alone, I still kept doing it. Some items will last for several months; others for more than a year. Most are items I know I will continue to use, so sometimes I'll buy two of them when they are on sale. Taking advantage of those savings indeed helps to counteract the effects of inflation, even if only for several months to a year. Another thing about shopping at Costco...they rarely raise their prices. In fact I've seen where they've lowered prices (not sale items) to reflect discounts they received. I recently discovered that I like Kirkland (Costco) brand agave now that they are stocking the light, not dark. Buying that will save me about 11 cents an ounce, which is great because I use agave daily.

I also bulk shop (in a way) at our local supermarket. When items I need are on sale, I'll buy as many as I can carry. That supermarket has great prices that rival Walmart and also often has really good sales. Luckily we have great cabinet and storage space here although the apartment is considered a "small space"...less than 700 sq ft. I bought decorative storage cubes and a hassock for the living room that provide extra storage. You really could go shopping in my apartment. LOL :D
 
hollydolly said:
See I should learn that.. no more than 4-6 of anything. Earlier I went out to the larder freezer in the barn to find something for dinner.. it holds, large pies, Frozen veggies, ( lots of those) dairy and home frozen batch cooking.. as well as fresh frozen chicken .Couldn't find anything I wanted so I made my way to the chest freezer in the shed..which is one I use less often.. because it tends to hold big bags of things like frozen roast potatoes, meatballs, bread sausages , frozen deserts, ice-cream- big bags of frozen fish.. and the freezer is full .

So.. while I was searching for inspiration for dinner, I decided to pull everything out of the freezer, and redistribute it all, putting the stuff at the bottom of the freezer to the top... . I was astounded to find in there.. another 9 big bags of various veggies.. Veggies don't live in that freezer, so I've been restocking veggies when I've seen them get low in the big freezer, not realising I have a ton of them in the chest freezer.

I've discovered many things which I seem to have no recollection of doing this last 9 months, while my head was somewhere else due to the problems occurring at home....and that's clearly one of them. ..but now I'm aware, it won't happen again, but I really don't know how I'm going to get through 14 pounds of frozen onions... 7 pounds of Sprouts .. 9 of Broccoli.. several pounds of swede.. and asparagus.. ..all by myself..:LOL:
Click to expand...
Maybe have a big dinner party?
 
I curb my food shopping impulses because it would be so easy to slip into a food hoarding mindset. As it is, hubby and I could survive for many months with the food we already have on hand.

@hollydolly, do you freeze onions or buy them already frozen?
 
Aunt Bea said:
I'm not a big believer in spending money to save money.

I've been buying less or at least differently.

I was on automatic pilot and bought many of the same items from week to week.

Now I try to look more closely at value vs. price, cost per meal/serving, etc...

I also try to look at less expensive options, skip the deli in favor of a can of tuna, frozen vegetables over fresh, etc...

I feel bad that I wasn't more mindful before the price increases.

I have to admit that what I consider to be a meal today doesn't come close to the meals that I grew up with.
Click to expand...
"I'm not a big believer in spending money to save money."

Man! You really hit "the nail on the head". Whether you realize it or not, you have hit the heart of the capitalist/advertising mantra. It's always, buy, buy, buy to save, save, save. I always laugh this kind of very illogical thinking. To my way of thinking, you really save a lot of money when you don't buy whatever they are advertising.

Here in Canada we have a store, "Canadian Tire" which really should be called "China Tire." The only thing there are the Canadian employees. Everything comes from China. For years, their flyers always say, save 50%, save 60%, or save 70%. When you think about it, don't buy anything and you save 100%.
 

Attachments

  • Canadian Tire.jpg
    Canadian Tire.jpg
    67.6 KB · Views: 0
I am one who worries about eating food that has been in the fridge and freezer too long. So, we don't buy an abundant amount of food. Hubby loves to go to the grocery store.... so, he just buys enough food for the week. He also prefers 'fresh' foods as I do.
 
Packerjohn said:
"I'm not a big believer in spending money to save money."

Man! You really hit "the nail on the head". Whether you realize it or not, you have hit the heart of the capitalist/advertising mantra. It's always, buy, buy, buy to save, save, save. I always laugh this kind of very illogical thinking. To my way of thinking, you really save a lot of money when you don't buy whatever they are advertising.

Here in Canada we have a store, "Canadian Tire" which really should be called "China Tire." The only thing there are the Canadian employees. Everything comes from China. For years, their flyers always say, save 50%, save 60%, or save 70%. When you think about it, don't buy anything and you save 100%.
Click to expand...
I disagree that it's illogical to spend money to save money, well...to a point. When people buy something just because it's on sale, but don't normally use that product or really need it, then I agree with your assessment. But how can taking advantage of sales on what you know you'll need and always have use for be wasteful?! I know I'm always going to always need TP and can't do without my baby wipes. I know I'm always going to need laundry detergent, softener, shampoo and my facial wipes. I always pack snacks when I'm on the road rather than pay $1.25 each for something I can get for 37 cents each. With just those items alone I save close to $100 which would pay for more than a month of my utility bills or buy me a month's worth of groceries. With inflation being so high, we need to save wherever and however we can IMHO. @Aunt Bea
 
Last edited:
Leann said:
We have all dealt with supply chain issues during the height of the pandemic, unable to find different products. Now inflation has reared its ugly head and it seems like costs are rising daily. Keeping that in mind, have you been purchasing multiples of things since they are likely less expensive today than they might be a week from now? I'm not specifically referencing food, although that could be included, but other things.
Click to expand...

Oh, I think all caution is in order right now. Buying in quantity to save money? Sure, makes complete sense. I mean, to a degree. Hoarding is a bad idea. But buying extra makes sense.

I have a lot of injuries and chronic pain. So, when I go to the store, I will often buy a lot...because I just can't get out much.

The younger folks who have health and energy...they can run around at the last minute.
 
PamfromTx said:
I am one who worries about eating food that has been in the fridge and freezer too long. So, we don't buy an abundant amount of food. Hubby loves to go to the grocery store.... so, he just buys enough food for the week. He also prefers 'fresh' foods as I do.
Click to expand...

Definitely do not get in the habit of eating old food...or even older food. Food that is still safe to eat, but older, definitely has a nutritional loss. And if you eat that kind of stuff regularly, your diet is really going to start to lack in nutrition.


If you Google weather frozen food loses nutritional value, all these articles will come up with statements about how frozen food is just fine, etc. etc. etc.

But, you know, 98% of those articles were written by PR people working for frozen food companies.

Any time you do anything to food, it is going to lose nutritional value. Heating food will destroy a range of vitamins. Freezing food breaks the cell wall as the internal cellular fluid expands into ice.

It's just common sense. So, trust that.

In Hatha Yoga and many natural diet plans, they say that an ideal diet should be something like 80% raw food. Raw food is what retains the most nutrients. I don't do that, because my digestion is horrible. I can eat a salad a day, but not three. But if I don't pay attention and, say, don't have a salad for a few days in a row...I can feel the difference.

But, you know, try to do as healthy as you can. Lightly steamed veggies are going to have a lot more nutritional than sauteed...etc. etc. etc.

Freshly cooked food is going to have much more nutrition than leftovers, canned food, etc. etc. etc.

In terms of money, spending more money to eat fresh and healthy food is going to pay off in the long run...with less expense and troubles with medical bills and medical problems.

My grandmother refused to ever eat from a can or eat in a restaurant. She was from the old country. She made everything from scratch. She lived to be 104. Not joking.
 
JonSR77 said:
Definitely do not get in the habit of eating old food...or even older food. Food that is still safe to eat, but older, definitely has a nutritional loss. And if you eat that kind of stuff regularly, your diet is really going to start to lack in nutrition.


If you Google weather frozen food loses nutritional value, all these articles will come up with statements about how frozen food is just fine, etc. etc. etc.

But, you know, 98% of those articles were written by PR people working for frozen food companies.

Any time you do anything to food, it is going to lose nutritional value. Heating food will destroy a range of vitamins. Freezing food breaks the cell wall as the internal cellular fluid expands into ice.

It's just common sense. So, trust that.

In Hatha Yoga and many natural diet plans, they say that an ideal diet should be something like 80% raw food. Raw food is what retains the most nutrients. I don't do that, because my digestion is horrible. I can eat a salad a day, but not three. But if I don't pay attention and, say, don't have a salad for a few days in a row...I can feel the difference.

But, you know, try to do as healthy as you can. Lightly steamed veggies are going to have a lot more nutritional than sauteed...etc. etc. etc.

Freshly cooked food is going to have much more nutrition than leftovers, canned food, etc. etc. etc.

In terms of money, spending more money to eat fresh and healthy food is going to pay off in the long run...with less expense and troubles with medical bills and medical problems.

My grandmother refused to ever eat from a can or eat in a restaurant. She was from the old country. She made everything from scratch. She lived to be 104. Not joking.
Click to expand...
You've made some very good points Jon. But consider that "fresh" produce isn't as fresh as we might think (unless they are plucked right from the consumers' gardens). I once read that frozen is actually better because it's picked and flash frozen whereas fresh gets picked, sits for who knows how long between loading, transporting (sometimes quite a distance) and unloading, then sitting in the store again. You can sometimes see in the bins when fresh produce seems like it's seen better days.

Besides what you mentioned about best ways to cook foods, hopefully the best by dates are a good method for gauging whether or not nutrients survived. However, there are foods that are good to eat after the BB dates and some long after. My father was like your grandmother....he did not eat restaurant food. He would eat at the church every now and then when they had the family breakfasts and wasn't too crazy about doing that. He was used to his home cooked meals..my mother was a great cook and she cooked often.
 
Last edited:
Not stocking up on anything. Except cat food maybe. My cats have 60+ cans of fancy feast. I didn't buy them all at once but here and there. For a time I couldn't find the pate chicken and liver or turkey. Only the plus gravy cans so I got those. Supply seems to be back and my tabby has a fish allergy so she can't have some cans. Plus I buy food for the 3 ferals at work.

Edit to add, I'm upset and worried over housing prices. All I want is a decent mobile in an adult park.
 
Marie5656 said:
A week from today. The 24th. I did start a diary thread as well, so I can keep people posted. But, I will probably still mention it elsewhere too...that being said, I am going to update the diary now.
Click to expand...
Thank you for letting me know. I never look at the diaries. I'll need to check that out. Want to be thinking of you and wishing you well that day.
 
I went to the gas station this morning, to fill up my mower gas cans....the price of gas rose 20 cents from just a couple of days ago. If things keep going like this, today's prices may seem like a bargain by year end.

More and more of the "experts" are predicting a recession by 2023, and I wouldn't doubt it. It would probably take a recession to drive prices back down to anywhere near reasonable.
 
I don’t like to grocery shop so only go once a month. Then I pick up perishables as needed. When I was married my husband would buy stuff and not eat it. I would always take it to the homeless shelter so it didn’t go to waste and they were happy to get it.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top