Why Stock Up?

ErinP · #41 02/06/14, 09:42 AM

Something I find interesting, that no one seems to have caught:

Like I said, the book I was reading was saying people shouldn't be storing more than a couple weeks worth of food, huge multi-packs of TP, etc, etc.
Which, to me, would indicate that if it's worthy of mention, it must be fairly common that people stock up.

I know, I know. We all like to think we're the ants surrounded by grasshoppers, but it seems that might not be so...

JoePa · #42 02/06/14, 09:57 AM

Now - what would you do - you stock up on food, fuel and other esentials but your neighbors don't - a real bad disaster occurs - it look like it will last for a very long time - they all run out of food and can't get any - but you have enough for your family for quite a long time - they want some of your food - do you give it to them realizing that if the disaster lasts long enough you may also be out of food - if they try to take food from you do you use force to prevent this from happening - what do you think?

Kristinemomof3 · #43 02/06/14, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

Something I find interesting, that no one seems to have caught:

Like I said, the book I was reading was saying people shouldn't be storing more than a couple weeks worth of food, huge multi-packs of TP, etc, etc.
Which, to me, would indicate that if it's worthy of mention, it must be fairly common that people stock up.

I know, I know. We all like to think we're the ants surrounded by grasshoppers, but it seems that might not be so...

Just curious, what is the title of the book?

Nimrod · #44 02/06/14, 10:02 AM

I stock up. I come by it honestly, mom always had a full pantry when I was growing up. The difference is that she was stocking up for the aftermath of a nuclear attack. Even back then the gooberment was not telling the truth. If the Ruskies had set off a nuclear bomb over the Twin Cities it wouldn't have mattered how much you had in your pantry. Remember, duck and cover.

Delion · #45 02/06/14, 10:02 AM

We were talking with a neighbor about stocking up to save through bulk purchases, and living free of debt -- basically a self sufficient lifestyle -- and he got this blank look and said: "If everyone did that, what kind of economy would we have?"

After the Depression, where saving and stocking up was a given, for most folks, the government worked to get a free-spending mindset happening, to get the economy rolling. In Canada, they gave mother's a small monthly allowance for each child, then pensions for seniors, etc. Once credit cards came along that was like throwing gasoline on a blazing fire.

What may have started out as a sensible strategy back in the 30's, has gone too far the other way. Those who save are helping to stabilize an economy driven by a spending mindset that's dangerously unbalanced. Anyone who puts thought and planning into their purchases, be they ants or squirrels, are the "wise" of this generation.

ErinP · #46 02/06/14, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristinemomof3

Just curious, what is the title of the book?

Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD

sisterpine · #47 02/06/14, 10:24 AM

I find it difficult to rotate/use my stores. Paper goods ....no problem. But being a single older person I find that I do not make fresh baked goods for just myself. Seems wasteful. Do sometimes bake a cake or some such and then give half to someone. I have canned veggies and soups and sauces etc that I will likely not use for a couple of years....they may not be great but they wont be horrid either.

mnn2501 · #48 02/06/14, 11:01 AM

Is it common for people to not stock up? yes, most people live in cities within a couple of miles (or much less)of a grocery store and can't even imagine the food not being there.

I know people who stop at the store on their way home from work every night to pick up dinner - that's assuming they don't just go out to eat.

I couldn't live that way, but many people do.

ccfromnc · #49 02/06/14, 11:06 AM

Stocking up or buying as you need it is a personal choice. I come from a frugal family that stocked up for the winter, emergencies, etc so it's natural and has always served me well. If that's considered hoarding so be it, it works well for me and mine.

As to the book on organizing for ADHD adults, that makes sense but the principles shouldn't be applied to society in general since it addresses a specific condition.

What would I do if someone who isn't prepared comes to me for help knowing that I well stocked. It depends on whether they are looking for a handup or a handout. I would share as best I could as long as the person is willing to invest some effort in becoming more self sufficient on their own. Otherwise they fall into the category of predator, a totally different scenario.

Just my 2 cents.

ErinP · #50 02/06/14, 11:26 AM

Quote:

As to the book on organizing for ADHD adults, that makes sense but the principles shouldn't be applied to society in general since it addresses a specific condition.

Considering much of society struggles with organization (it's one of the most popular blog topics) it would seem it COULD be applied to society in general.

And that also doesn't change the fact that "stocking up" is common enough that it's addressed.
We aren't as special as we like to tell ourselves.

Billie in MO · #51 02/06/14, 12:00 PM

I've been thru a few mild disasters, cat 3 hurricane, no power for a week, snowed in for 11 days, etc. Got thru them just fine with what I had. But the biggest thing Bill and I went thru was no job for almost a year. Had a mortgage in CO and rent/utilities in MO. I brought all of our supplies with us to MO and without them we would not have made it. It is that simple, without me stocking up we would not have made it that year. That's why I prep.

TRAILRIDER · #52 02/06/14, 12:24 PM

We were out of electric for 17 days and iced in for most of that one January. I was glad that I keep lots of food and supplies stored. I'm even better prepared now.
There are many more things that can go wrong then a blizzard. There's natural disasters (hurricanes and major floods can cut you off from supplies for more than two weeks) and civil unrest (don't think it can't happen here). I won't even get into solar flares, war etc.But more important if I lose my job or have a major illness or injury I have what I need to last. I can stay out of a store for months (maybe years!) at a time. That's money that I don't have to spend, when I don't have any coming in. Its nice to have an emergency fund in place and have a mortgage paid off or paid many months in advance.
That's good insurance.

TRAILRIDER · #53 02/06/14, 12:29 PM

And the majority of people nowadays think the gov't will take care of them. Just like people think social security will always be there. I wouldn't count on it.

ccfromnc · #54 02/06/14, 12:31 PM

ErinP, I'm not interested in a back and forth exchange on my opinion, if it's your way or the highway I'll take the highway. I simply don't agree that all of society can be lumped in one basket based on a specific condition or set of circumstances. Let's just agree to disagree and let the discussion continue.

mzgarden · #55 02/06/14, 12:34 PM

I remember when we had an ice storm and electric was out for a few days. My boys were teens and over a period of hours, one-by-one, their friends were showing up. Before too long we had a bunch of teen boys in the basement. No problem, but I was curious. I went downstairs and asked, how come you all decided to come here? oh, Mrs. Z. there wasn't any food at our place but we knew you'd have food and a way too cook it. lol, pretty cute.

am1too · #56 02/06/14, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishhead

We should also be thinking long term when it comes to water because of what seems like a spreading worldwide drought. I'm not saying everywhere is drought but some very important food production areas are getting hit with drought. With our exploding population the intersection between food supply and food demand is approaching for us. It used to be just for third world countries but now we are in for a taste of it.

Here's an interesting read on storing water in the ground.

http://ag.arizona.edu/oals/ALN/aln46/lancaster.html

Similar projects are taking place in India where villagers are learning how to store rainwater in ponds and water seeping into the ground is replenishing the wells that were running dry.

I'm beginning to understand this is because of bad agricultural practices of not putting in the soil what we take out. Yes that mean organic material. When there is nothing left of the mine its abandoned.

am1too · #57 02/06/14, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

No, it's not just the grasshopper/ant thing.

I'll be the devil's advocate because I just saw this in an organizing book recently. Organizing for adult's with ADHD, actually, so we're talking people who need serious help.

An over-arching theme is to keep things minimal. No cutesy storage baskets unless you can see directly into them, and they only hold the essentials. No place settings for more people than you actually have in your family (keep Thanksgiving/Christmas tableware in an out-of-the-way spot and ONLY bring it out then).
And no mega-packs of TP, multiple shampoos, more food than you'll eat in a couple of weeks, etc.

The point was that most of us are no more than 20 minutes from a store so we don't need to keep so much stuff on hand. And instead, by doing so, we create stress and disorder for ourselves.
Ie, the rare times when those extras truly come in handy creates a stress for those most-of-the-times when they are unnecessary.

I would venture to guess that struggling with too much "stuff" is more of a problem for people than actually running OUT of "stuff."

Its OK with me if you want to spend more for less. Don't ask where your money went. I save a bundle by buying on sale only and bulk. Sometimes 50% or more. That would be $50 out of a hundred I can save or spend elsewhere.

am1too · #58 02/06/14, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Most folks (not us, BTW) may be within a 20 minute drive to the grocery store, but when you have a major weather event or other event that stops trucks, the stock on hand at Kroger or Walmart will become non-existent.

There are no such things as local warehouses anymore. The "warehouse" of today - aside from distribution centers - is the OTR truck.

Let something really big happen, and that "local" store may as well be a million miles away. They won't have a blessed thing on the shelves.

Because of our tax laws its actually cheaper to store it in an OTR truck than to have it in the warehouse. Inventory is taxed.

am1too · #59 02/06/14, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael W. Smith

People don't know where their food comes from - other than the grocery store. And why would you stock up when there is "always" food at the grocery store - if they run out, they just go to the back of the store and bring out more food to stock the shelves. (I think some people think the food is "made" right there in the back of the grocery store.)

People don't think that the grocery stores depend on trucks coming continuously. If some major event would happen - and the trucks could not get to the grocery store, most grocery stores would be empty in a matter of days.

Many companies are going to a concept called "Lean thinking" where you order the products that you need just when you need them to arrive. No one wants to stock anything, because that is money taking up room and space.

Of course, what no one takes into consideration is ALL the companies are doing "Lean thinking". Since no one has stock of anything, things get really balled up when the one company can't get the materials needed to build the "widget" to sell it to Company B so they can build their widget to sell it to Company C so they can sell their widget to Company D.

In the above scenario, company D places their order to arrive next week. But company A doesn't have the metal to build their widget and won't get the metal in for 6 weeks. Company C is now being yelled at by Company D because they need their parts so Company C then calls Company B to yell at them "Where are our parts?" Company B then calls Company A to yell "Where are our parts?" and Company A tells the story "Our supplier is out of metal and it won't be delivered for 6 weeks." Once Company B get the widgets, it takes them a week to made the widgets for Company C, and it takes another week for C to make the widgets for Company D. In the end, Company D is told - "There is a short supply of metal and you won't get your parts for 9 weeks or more."

Makes the world go round and keeps the pharmacy people happy.

Wendy · #60 02/06/14, 01:09 PM

It makes me cringe at people not having enough food in their home to last them more than a week..especially when they have children..
I start having little panic attacks when Im down to only having one jar of mayonnaise left on the shelf ( although I learned that I can make a copycat version recently) in example..I HAVE to have my freezers,pantry,baking items,canned goods,medicines,a couple years worth of TP stocked at all times! That also includes batteries,lightbulbs,5-gallon gas cans filled ( for our generator) propane cylinders,extra belts for our snow blower,pretty much anything I know we will need.

I have back ups for foods I run out of..like fresh onions ( did buy several pounds of onions and potatoes from the farmers market since I cant seem to grow them here..for winter storage..the potatoes are almost gone and only half of the onions made it the other half rotted..and thats putting them in a pair of panty hose hanging from the ceiling) so I have dehydrated onions and instant potatoes for those times that I know I wont be hitting the grocery store...another is fresh milk even though I buy 5-7 gallons at a time..I have cases of powdered milk for my backup stock..

I planted a fruit orchard,several blackberries,blueberries,raspberries,elderberries, juneberry,rhubarb asparagus,strawberries,grape vines,herb garden,mint garden,several raised beds plus a greenhouse..plus I have chickens to help build up my food storage!

I'm adding mushroom spores to plant to my edible landscape..Im always thinking of what I can add to our property thats edible..while other people are planting flowers and trees that don't give them any food in return..just a pretty lawn!

I'm fortunate that I live near several working farms..my neighbors are family members mostly..my family owned a couple of farms in the 80's...not enough money so they sold our cows..they still have all the tractors several 100 acres that could be farmed again if needed be..plus they barter,trade and help the farmers in our area..so we have connections which is awesome..

I probably went way overboard with my post..Im obsessed with making sure my family has what we need at all times..I pay our bills and the money leftover is always used to stock more foods or non food items or buy more edibles to plant BEFORE any unnecessary spending of wants are made.