Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

Since the US has pretty much stopped making clothes and shoes, and will take some time to switch back over, I stocked up on clothing and footwear.

I bought electronics we might want a couple of years back since those are mostly imported.

I stocked up on OTC and prescription medicine in case of some shipping crisis or anything that would keep us from easy access to a well stocked pharmacy.

I stocked up on things made of plastic because that begins life as oil, and could get expensive down the road.

I suspect few tools are now US made, even good ones, but I checked our tools over and added a few.

Most things will get made here again, I think, but I don't want to be without them in the squeeze years between the current system and the future one. I don't feel confident of a smooth transition.

Plus I'm filling holes like more water storage, more canning jars, add a little food each month, and diabetic sweets for the wife. Her maltitol in place of sugar peach and fig preserves got here and she likes them a lot. We are still waiting on the many jars of maltitol in honey flavor that she tried one jar of and liked to arrive. We get a very thin sliced bread so she can have toast with something sweet tasting on it. All the sweets in our preps had been sugar based.

Next I'm getting a bigger store of vitamins and herbs. I think most of them are produced here, but when this indian summer of the dollar passes they will go up a lot I suspect.

Retailers are trying hard to keep sales up so there are a lot of price breaks on things we need.

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

Thanks for posting this.. I have had some concerns over supplements my Daughter takes for a condition she has. I try and keep a few months supply but I think I am going to order a yrs supply. Not only do we need to be concerned over supplements being affordable and available but the SPP and upcoming NAU has its eye on increased regulations of vitamins and supplements.

Imports is something we all take for granted. There are some really bad things going on in the shipping industry at the moment; Just like other businesses some of them will not have the money to ride out the next few years.

Im going to evaluate what I am stocking up on. I have been slowly doing preps but after the holidays am going to get in full swing..

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

Seeds Seeds Seeds Seeds Seeds, and Seeds.

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

ive been buying clothings, underware, socks (ever try to knit a sock?), shoes, boots, things that i know i cant make or wont be able to get but will need. i was reading about the shipping containers being stacked up overseas unable to leave as there are no letter of credits for them.

pretty soon i think we will see shortages because of this. no one wants to deliver to uncle sam.

my daughter just had her first child, my first grandchild. im already stocking up on toddler and older sizes in clothes, boots, coats, books, toys, child meds, and lots and lots of old fashioned cloth diapers.

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

http://www.agri-med.com/site/255063/page/605990 some good cheap med

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

We've done ok on "ordinary" preps. The latest has been electronics. Oh, and boolits. Got plen-t of components.
Buying the Chinese stuff direct from China while that avenue is still available. Batteries and flashlights, some miscellaneous other stuff.
Hitting Goodwill for cast iron and canning stuff...Pyrex and Corelle plates.
The end of the year ends our bulk up phase, and next calendar year is all about loading up on dough. Post X-Mas should yield some bargains. Buy hard and fast. This squirrel expects possible shortages coming up.

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

Even better than gold.

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

But which seeds can you buy that stay good for years, are there any?

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

Good one. I got enough for us, friends, neighbors, and to donate to the garden club for local master gardeners to keep finicky or difficult seeds going.

They are inexpensive, even the non hybrid that are so important, if you shop carefully. I got best prices at Ayoobs. (I think that is the spelling. Nice lady in Louisiana.) Then I doubled sealed them in vacuum bags, but pulled no vacuum, just to keep moisture out and stored them in the fridge. I want maximum viability.

I figure, use whatever they are serving up the best way we can. Strong dollar and desperate merchants = good buying. I've been getting offers like 20% off plus free shipping from companies we wanted things from anyway.

I have a different list for the sad time when people going under financially start selling their toys in their yards. I've been too frugal for a riding mower all my life, for example, and one with attachments might come in handy. A 2nd hand electric golf cart is on my list for when cash is king but gasoline spotty. The biggest toy on my list is a low miles motorhome.

Just do each thing in its time, if you can. I don't have enough extra cash (about 1k per month because we are being frugal) to take full advantage.

OH! I also got lasers for our home defense guns. We almost never practice, and we can see how we are doing just with the laser and improve plus if god forbid we need defense, we won't miss.

I also think for those so inclined that guns may be the best barter item. Even better than booze or coffee. There are some decent inexpensive ones. I don't see mad max world, but there might be a short period when addicts are insane from coming off drugs that gets nasty. Argentina and Russia got bad for crime in their currency collapses, and stayed bad for several years.

My most satisfying purchase was really warm clothes for my wife. I don't think we can count on normal weather or utilities entirely.

I also got a bunch of huge cheap duffles on wheels so we could be evacuation packed easily, and packed them. I was astounded at how cheap brand x can be had, and they seem plenty strong enough.

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

I'm really new to seeds, and don't feel qualified to give an informed opinion, but I've had luck with http://www.gardeninacan.com

Anyone else have any good seed advice? Heirloom non-hybrid are the best, no? What about preserving seeds?

Time to dig through the GIM archives.......

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

Seed catalogs have already started showing up in my mailbox. Wife and I usually over buy on seeds, just in case...:wink:

I bought a new pair of work shoes today, didn't really need them, but my feet did. Getting old sux. Plan on looking for more work jeans, old one just about worn out.

Going to stock up on more chicken feed.

Looking into putting in a bulk oil tank for diesel - farm tractor use. Called around for pricing today.

I'm good on guns, but may look for a bolt gun in either .308 or .30-06. Also, see what I can find locally on ammo, maybe Wal Mart. Will be in town in the morning to look, probably pick up some vitamin supplements.

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

Most garden seeds will stay good for many years, even decades if stored properly. The keys are low humidity and low temperatures.

I repack my seeds in labeled paper coin envelopes and line them up inside a heavy plastic airtight Pelican box. I put a layer of large silicon gel beads on the bottom of the box to absorb moisture and stick the box in the fridge if I have room; in the basement if I don't.

I've got brassica, beet, and lettuce seeds from the 1990s that still sprout just fine.

The notable exceptions are parsley family (parsley, dill, fennel) and the onion family. These seeds don't keep too long--a few years at best.

I never have a problem with parsley though--I let mine go to seed and I have an everlasting parsley patch with absolutely no work from me!

Re: Things I've been Buying While the FRN is Up
 

Here is where I got the best prices and wonderful personal service from a lady who sounded like a smart yet down to earth cajun. I liked her a lot!

http://www.aaoobfoods.com/nonhybridseedinfo.htm