Late May recession proofing

I had planned to take some pictures today of my pantry area in the garage but I seem to have picked up a bug of some kind... yuk! Hubby has it, too. I'm so glad it didn't hit us yesterday (Christopher was feeling very queasy yesterday) since we had to change the well filters outside and under the sink (done in the spring and autumn).

It was also time to change the Culligan water filtration filters, which is only a once a year job. I know that is a lot of filters but our well water is very high in minerals and tastes horrible without them. For some reason, they gave us more trouble than usual making a messy outdoor job (for hubby) a WET job... inside and out.

I don't normally do any stocking up grocery shopping in the latter part of the month but there were some good opportunities to stock up on sales. Before we left for vacation, my grocery store had one of those 10 for $10.00 sale weeks which not only included the rice and pasta dishes (I believe I already mentioned) but my favorite pasta brand was in the same sale. What is normally around $1.69 was $1.00, even their higher fiber pastas that are better for diabetics.

Dried pasta lasts a very long time when stored properly. I know I've read up to a year in many lists but I had elbow macaroni that lasted well over a year (and I'm still using some of it). I store mine in large Rubbermaid containers to keep the critters away, which also helps keep it dry.

When we were in Lancaster County I shopped at one of the Amish grocery stores that sold bulk items and stocked up on spices for only 90 cents to $1.50 (which I believe was the larger container of cinnamon). Since I don't order regularly from the co-op anymore, I was hoping to find spices at the store. I purchased cinnamon, ground pepper (I use a pepper mill but I wanted this for a seasoning recipe), garlic powder, taco seasoning, celery salt, and two containers of onion powder. I had already replaced many of my baking spices when they were on sale during the Holidays.

Yesterday I was noticing the newspapers my husband had ready to go to the recycle bin in the garage and on top of them was the sales insert for the store I go to the most. It had my favorite potato chips and my favorite ice cream for buy- one- get- one- free, which are the best sales for these items. Yesterday was the last day of the sale but I was able to stop by the store during the evening hours.

While there, I saw they also had one of their five 12-packs of Pepsi products for $11.00 special (which I only find a few times a year). These are our favorite kinds of pop, including Diet Sierra Mist. (Okay, sodas for the rest of the country.)

I try to limit pop consumption but I like to have them handy in the summer. The ice cream, potato chips, and soda pop are all on my list of "purchase only when I find great sale prices" mental list. We've been without all three for sometime now. Note to self: stay away from the ice cream, Brenda (sigh...).

Once again, what is recession proofing? It is buying today (on sale when possible) for what will most likely continue to go up in price tomorrow. I have a small house with very little storage space but with some creativity, I've found ways to deepen the pantry. Hopefully I'll be able to show some pictures soon.

I have a tiny stock up budget but grocery sales, coupons (found a $4.00 cat food coupon today!), etc., help a great deal. It's all part of that whole Proverbs 31 thing... finding my food from afar. (If you haven't read Elizabeth George's book about the Proverbs 31 woman, do so this summer!)

My friends, I've had a really bad feeling about food prices and supply/demand for sometime now. I've even talked to my pastor about it through e-mails. When I arrived home from vacation and saw gas prices near campus had reached $4.15, it was alarming. However, when I passed by the gas station that sells diesel fuel near me and saw that it had hit $4.95... I had chills go up my spine. I am not joking... I truly felt a little ill.

How many truckers will have to park their rigs rather than work for nothing? How much higher will food prices go just to cover transportation costs?

You don't have to do a lot, just do what you can to deepen your pantry and anything else God calls you to do. For instance, I love Eden Organic Pizza & Pasta sauce and I used to order it by the case at our co-op. I can't afford to invest that amount of money in one item since hubby had to go on Disability. However, he qualifies for a Senior Citizen discount at the health food store one day a week and on that day... I have him buy one can of the sauce... two cans at the beginning of the month. Over time, I've been able to "put back" six cans to deepen the pantry.

There may come a time I cannot purchase ice cream or potato chips, they will go first. (There are already many weeks we don't have them.) There may even come a time I cannot deepen the pantry at all as prices continue to rise. I can only do... what I can do. A little done each week will surprise you on how quickly you can deepen your pantry with essentials. For more info, see Recession Ponderings on the side bar.

If I'd known how many people who read this blog lived in the Lancaster County area, I'd have tried to meet some of you! I know exactly how you feel though, having lived in Holland, Michigan for nine years and having tourists come and go all the time. One does take their own "back yard" for granted. I enjoyed your area very much. :)