Is anyone out there stocking up on food?

[FromAKtoAZ]

If you are, let me know why, what, and how long you think you will need food for. I am not a doomsdayer, but, I am concerned about the cost of food and am just trying to get a feel from the public, as the news media will not address this issue. I am only hearing about where to invest my money.... What Money?

[JoJo626]

We keep stocked up on staples like flour, sugar, rice, etc. When there is a sale at the grocery store, I stock up and put it all in the 2nd fridge to keep it fresh. I also keep lots of bottled water.

I've been a week without electricity due to storms, so our house is prepared for winter and summer storms. We also have kerosene heaters and a 20 gallon reserve of kerosene and a generator. The husband has a 100+ gallon fuel tank on his truck, so we can fill up before a storm hits.

[heball]

We first noticed the increase on DLM cat food @ $1.25 for 18lb, then WMT jacked up PEP and KO family size $0.25. We shifted to KoolAid (KFT) which last 4 times longer. Will be stocking up on Burpe seeds (privately owned Co.) buy some BLL jars to last the Fall, Winter, and Spring.:frown:

Our family buys in bulk, which means less trips to grocery, and less RDS-B or BP in the truck, but I keep my BPL stock for the $3.55 annual dividends.:D

[Droog]

If they impose price controls, which is distinctly possible, you will see food shortages, and shortages of all kinds depending on what they impose the controls on.

[Okiemomx2]

I've already seen a rise in food cost in our area. I've tried to compensate by using coupons. Unfortunately very few food manufactures are giving out decent coupons these days. I plan to put out a large garden this spring. I also plan to learn how to can. We are trying to get our house ready to sell while the market is still good in our area. We are planning to buy whatever that we can afford out of our equity. I think that they are rough times ahead & I want to be prepared.

[sgdp]

I'm stocking up on Red Bull and tea. Going to have a busy few weeks. :mrgreen:

[ChrisSpencer]

If you are, let me know why, what, and how long you think you will need food for. I am not a doomsdayer, but, I am concerned about the cost of food and am just trying to get a feel from the public, as the news media will not address this issue. I am only hearing about where to invest my money.... What Money?

We are in a deflationary period. If you're buying NOW because of concerns for food cost in the FUTURE you are buying into the "market" not at the lowest cost point, so from a principled approach I think stocking up on food right now is absurd.

From a realistic perspective I think it's also absurd to stock up on food because despite the fact that many people have been successfully persuaded that this economy is the worst crisis we've ever seen, in reality the recovery is forecasted to begin at the end of 2009 and by 2011 we should be fine.

[2Parties1GlobalistGoal]

We are in a deflationary period. If you're buying NOW because of concerns for food cost in the FUTURE you are buying into the "market" not at the lowest cost point, so from a principled approach I think stocking up on food right now is absurd.

From a realistic perspective I think it's also absurd to stock up on food because despite the fact that many people have been successfully persuaded that this economy is the worst crisis we've ever seen, in reality the recovery is forecasted to begin at the end of 2009 and by 2011 we should be fine.

Why is it "absurd" to be prepared? I've never understood that mindset...

[ChrisSpencer]

Why is it "absurd" to be prepared? I've never understood that mindset...

If we first assume that there will be a food shortage in the future (which I think is entirely unlikely) then from a cost perspective it would make much more sense to buy all your food and stock up on it when you see an end to the current deflationary period because you will be spending less on the food, thereby allowing you to buy more of it.

[2Parties1GlobalistGoal]

If we first assume that there will be a food shortage in the future (which I think is entirely unlikely) then from a cost perspective it would make much more sense to buy all your food and stock up on it when you see an end to the current deflationary period because you will be spending less on the food, thereby allowing you to buy more of it.

If you stock up on things you already eat you can't lose. You are gambling on an opinion, and if you are wrong you will be in trouble. Anyone who stocks up now and is wrong, so what? They eat the food they have and even if food prices go down the food is already paid for.

[ChrisSpencer]

If you stock up on things you already eat you can't lose. You are gambling on an opinion, and if you are wrong you will be in trouble. Anyone who stocks up now and is wrong, so what? They eat the food they have and even if food prices go down the food is already paid for.

It's a matter of perspective, we can agree to disagree

I personally highly doubt that there is any sort of food shortage to come.

[Voxpopuli]

Yes, we stock up every week or so. I have 3 boys and they eat a lot. :)

[Okiemomx2]

Within the past 15 years, 190 breeds of farm animals have gone extinct worldwide, and there are currently 1,500 others at risk of becoming extinct. In the past five years alone, 60 breeds of cattle, goats, pigs, horses and poultry have become extinct. In the US, a few main breeds dominate the livestock industry: ii


83 percent of dairy cows are Holsteins, and five main breeds comprise almost all of the dairy herds in the US.
60 percent of beef cattle are of the Angus, Hereford or Simmental breeds.
75 percent of pigs in the US come from only 3 main breeds.
Over 60 percent of sheep come from only four breeds, and 40 percent are Suffolk-breed sheep.

·99% of all turkeys raised in the U.S. are Broad-Breasted Whites, a single turkey breed specially developed to have a meaty breast. vi
·Almost 96% of the commercial vegetable varieties available in 1903 are now extinct.
·Reliance upon modern varieties of rice caused more than 1,500 local rice varieties in Indonesia to become extinct.

Source http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/heritage/

[stoked]

I think it's a good idea. Pasta, rice, beans (dry and canned), canned chicken/fish, juices, nuts, flour, sugar, vegies/fruits, peanut butter, stuff that won't go to waste (include your goodies). I try to stay way ahead on everything (don't forget your pets).

[Drive Business]

Food prices should fall. Land costs are down, fuel is less, labor is less...
The prices have not fallen through the floor because sellers are trying to offset falling demand by keeping inflated prices.

A food shortage or rise in cost would not be due to economic factors.

The OP with no money to invest, stocking food is an investment. (unless you're growing it yourself) You're not buying based on consumption, but rather saving for future allocation. Any money you're spending on stocking food is money that could be saved or invested in other resources.

Stocking food to be prepared is always a good idea. We could have another dust bowl to go along with our recession. However, I think it's a safe bet that food prices will not rise due to economic conditions.

... unless China decides it's going to start taking it's money out of the US economy in food. It could subsidide it's own agricultural production which has been highly susceptible to climate changes. However, I don't think China cares that much about it's citizens to do this. This could also cause problems with it's rural farming population.

[dmddoherty]

You should see Ainsley Earhardt's report on Mar 2, 2009 concerning the deficit. Her graph of the deficit in 2006,2007,2008 and 2009 projection. Her graphic prespective of the 4 years is very very clarifying. It is difficult , if not impossible for the average human to envision 248 billion, 161 billion , 455 billion and finally 1.9 trillion for 2009. I find it impossibe to even imagine a trillion...You cannot help but be frightened after seeing these figures graphically.

[Drive Business]

You should see Ainsley Earhardt's report on Mar 2, 2009 concerning the deficit. Her graph of the deficit in 2006,2007,2008 and 2009 projection. Her graphic prespective of the 4 years is very very clarifying. It is difficult , if not impossible for the average human to envision 248 billion, 161 billion , 455 billion and finally 1.9 trillion for 2009. I find it impossibe to even imagine a trillion...You cannot help but be frightened after seeing these figures graphically.

What does this have to do with stocking up on food? I'm missing the connection.

[WarEagle]

One as a christian you shouldn't worry about such things because God will provide you needs. Two don't think the US will go into total chaos Obama will be impeached before that happens

[6kiddos]

I didn't vote BUT I do stock up on food. I have at least 6-9 mo of staples for my family. I have done this for years. Now that dh was laid off last week (and I am a SAHM) it will come in handy. =)