C’mon everyone - it’s a hoarding party!
So you think we’re heading toward economic collapse, total financial TEOTWAWKI, cash chaos, and dollar dumping. Now you want to stockpile goods, hoard what you can, fill the shelves, and stand smiling in your living room as you watch the sun set on good financial times . . . . or maybe you just want to be prepared. Your solution? Buy in bulk!
Buying in bulk has advantages:
- it’s cheaper on the whole
- you can split orders with family and friends
- there’s less packaging
- bulk foods are usually better, healthier foods
- some items are only available in bulk
These are the techniques you’ll want to keep in mind to keep costs down:
- get a membership to Cosco, BJ’s, Sam’s Club, etc. - these places specialize in bulk
- clip coupons and combine with promotional offers whenever possible
- buy at liquidation stores
- watch for sales
- make a list BEFORE you head out, this way you stay organized and on target, a list also means you’ve made a written plan and thought things through
Buying in bulk means a few things. First you’ll want to clear space. Toss out useless crap for the incoming goods. Assess how much space you have before you go shopping, this may dictate what you purchase. You might even need to make shelves. Think creatively if you live in a small house or apartment. You can put your bed up on blocks to create space. You can make a loft for your bed, put a computer desk under the bed, and suddenly you’ve “made” room. There might be space in closets, your garage, etc.
You may want to puchase large, clear, plastic totes to store goods in. These are particularly useful for basement storage. You can see what’s in the boxes without having to take the covers off. Labeling is an option, but clear totes allow you to see inventory - it’s easier. You’ll likely want to label dates of purchase anyway, but ALWAYS rotate stock. This keeps good fresh. When you eat or use whatever you’re hoarding, use the oldest item first, replace it, and rotate. Don’t forget household goods, shampoo, soap, toilet papers, etc.
Gear up, SHTF party peeps. It’s gonna get worse before it gets better!
- Ranger Man
BTW: The price of gas just hit a new record average retail price of $3.20 a gallon. The price has risen 64 cents in the past 12 months. Analysts are predicting it’ll move up another 20-30 cents in the next month. Got diesel? That’s averaging $3.80 a gallon. Scope the article here.
13 responses so far ↓
1 ryan // Mar 10, 2008 at 10:21 am
Take a calculator to make sure it is the best price around. Bigger packages do not always mean the best deal. Take 30 seconds and do the math.
2 tmo // Mar 10, 2008 at 11:10 am
diesel just hit 4.09 a gallon in western colorado. is gone up 64 cents in the past 4 weeks
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3 JB // Mar 10, 2008 at 11:10 am
It’s not hoarding! Hoarding is taking more than your share when resources are scarce. In times of plenty, we STOCKPILE to minimize our need for resources when they ARE scarce… Remember - stockpile good, hoarding bad!
4 oldman in the boonies // Mar 10, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Thanks JB for clearifying the difference. If people fail to prepare then Screw-em.
Diesel in the great white North is $3.89 providing you can get it. MY local BP is 10 to 20 cents higher than the Mobil. I asked my preper neighbot to remind me once again why we bought Diesel Trucks….
5 Rushman // Mar 10, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I agree with the term “stockpile” not hoarding. Another thing to remember is expiration dates are there for legal reasons some foods keep longer. Check with “LDS” and other organizations for expiration dates. One thing that has also helped me in rotating stock is I write the year on top of the canned and boxed goods with a marker so it is easier to use the old stuff first.
6 Dirk Tungsten // Mar 10, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Note about “club stores” ( costco etc.) : If you’re a tinfoiler, and concerned about such things, (allegedly) records of all purchases made at these places are retained, and Dept. of Homeland Security has access to all of these records. Purchasing patterns are linked to your ID, and apparently scrutinized. I have a hard time thinking that DHS is coming after me over 4 gallons of peanut butter, but still unsettling.
7 BigBear // Mar 10, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I prefer 5 gallon buckets for storage, granted you cannot see through them but they are much easier to carry if you need to move your supply depot.
8 SurvivalTopics.com // Mar 10, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Good point Dirk. During an emergency, the big Gov can legally confiscate your stash and dole it out to themselves, errr, I mean the general public. So it is essential for you keep your preps under wraps unless you want to share it with those who are too lazy to prepare for themselves.
Also, don’t forget it is less time consuming and saves on transportation costs to buy in bulk rather than go out twice a week food shopping.
9 Wolverine // Mar 10, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I distinctly heard Betty ask, “Who you calling a hoard?”
10 Dirk Tungsten // Mar 10, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Oh yeah, not sure exactly how anonymous this would be, but anybody try one of those “disposable” Visa gift credit cards they sell at the supermarket? It would have the advantage of keeping “unusual” purchases off of your main CC bill.
11 noisynick // Mar 10, 2008 at 9:30 pm
They monitor everything else in this country anymore. Why not food purchases………..
I wonder if they’ll torture us too find our hidden stashes better have mor e than one give one up and eat the rest.
We survivalist arent’t hoarding were just food collector Myself I collect hard red winter wheat………………… and a little bit of cocoa powder as well LOL
12 Iridium // Mar 10, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Just hit costco yesterday stocking up, and yes, there are some great deals to be had as well as some not so great. You really just have to look and compare to other stores.. but for the most part.. my SHTF stash is stocked from costco. Mountain house freeze dried stuff is great as well..
As to keeping SOME of your purchases private.. I just pay cash.. no need for ATM cards or credit cards.. Cash only even at costo where I had to sign up.
If I buy stuff on-line its via an ATM card in my business name.. I put cash in there.. just enough to make the purchase and buy.
Yup. just another “food collector” here.. lol
13 TopoGigio // Oct 14, 2008 at 2:44 am
greetings, do any of you know folks in denver/aurora, co I could talk with in person about thses ideas?
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