Note to food buyers in the S.E. US.

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If you live in Florida and are doing food preps at your local food stores, here is a pretty good deal for you. All store brand canned veggies are 3 for a dollar at Publix. The sale starts today 02-04-99 ;) and runs for one week. I want you all out there buying, so that I don't stick out like a sore thumb.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 04, 1999

Answers

We've got 4/$1.00 these days on canned veggies at my local store. I've put 40-50 cans in my basket at once, & no one even glances in my direction. Wish I could read their minds. It's the most paranoid experience of my life so far (& so much more fun on the way).

-- the truth (is@out.there), February 04, 1999.

For Houston and surrounding areas:

Randalls has their store brand vegetables 5 for $1

HEB has the 19 oz can of Wolf Brand Chili (with or without beans) for .88 cents.

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), February 04, 1999.


Hate to harp, but please remember triple-couponing at Randall's and any other local store that participates. Austin-area Randalls triple- coupon Sun, Mon & Tues.

Ex: $.50 coupon for 1.50 Prego (35oz), tripled = FREE.

Name-brand cleaning supplies (anti-bacterial) = $.57 after coupons.

HEB: $.88 for 12oz house-brand Spam(tm).

-- Lisa (lisa@s.com), February 04, 1999.


BTW, don't forget that "regular" (non-Y2K) food & supplies will probably become scarce Oct-Dec of THIS year, what with all the last- minute preparing going on.

Plan on buying an extra 2-3 months worth of supplies twixt June-Sept.

Man, that's not very far away, is it?

-- lisa (me@gain.here), February 04, 1999.


to "the truth" I wouldn't be concerned about what people think when they see you hauling large quantities. I honestly feel that John Q Public still has no clue that the worlds biggest train is barreling down on them and they're asleep on the tracks. Last week when my wife and I bought 3 cases of canned food at Giant (4/$1) the cashier commented on how brand x tasted just as good as brand z blah blah blah. There was no underlying aggression toward the "hoarders" Even if there were, tough.

-- (rc@@@.com), February 04, 1999.


Outstanding!

That was my purpose for this thread, good hard info for "Preppers"

BTW, I see in todays paper, 4/$1 green beans and corn at Albertsons.

Thanks to all contributers, Perhaps we should start a "Good Buy" thread.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 04, 1999.


Here's another good buy for preppers. Nissin Top Ramen dried noodle soup is selling for $3.00 per case. A case contains 24 packages. Each package makes enough to feed 2 people....and its pretty darn good, I prefer it to campbells and its a lot cheaper. Also its very light and compact and would make a good addition to a "bug-out" bag.

-- Cary Mc from Tx (Caretha@compuserve.com), February 04, 1999.

Speaking of bargains!

I found mummy sleeping bags at Wal Mart on clearance for $15.00 down from $40.00 rated to 25 degrees. For my family of four that's a savings of $100.00!

This will be the last winter 'clearance' pre y2k.

Deborah

-- Deborah (sales@sales.$$$), February 04, 1999.


Savealot had alot of different veggies at low prices. Aldies chunky soup is good and about 99 cents a can.

I'm seeing a lot of sales on beefstew and various prep foods. Found Can's of Koolaid..the real stuff with cupons for .75 off. Made the cost about 1 dollar after the sale price. Great for bad tasting water. They some of the IGA's.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), February 04, 1999.


If you live in Georgia, Ingles has Maxwell House Coffee regular, Lite, and Master Blend 4.99 for 36 oz. can, and decaf for 5.99. I have bought 15 cans thus far( 3 trips 5 cans each trip) and have had to laugh off some caffeine junky jokes. Had a couple of other customers comment about it, but I just laugh and say at this price I want to stock up.

Dian

-- Dian (mybit@cyber.space), February 04, 1999.



There's been a new Albertson's open here in the last week. I have watching the ad sheets from existing sheets, sure enough, a price war has started and I'm canning, drying, and stockpiling some great bargains! Paranoia in the grocery industry is helping me stretch my y2k bucks farther. Thanks, Albertson's

-- newbiebutnotdummy (bargains@newstores.com), February 04, 1999.

If people look at you funny about buying case quantities of things, start talking to them (or yourself) about how much teenagers eat...

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 05, 1999.

Course y'all know you gotta keep doing this.

As the year progresses you'll have to keep adding to the stores and rotating to keep FIFOing.

Self and Mama Bear plan to be right in there with the best of the panicers crying "woe is me" and grabbing what ever we can at the last minute. (Want all the neighbors to believe we're just as bad off as they are)

Unc, whatdda you think about a weekly (midweek to avoid most of the trolls) thread titled something like - Best Grocery buys this week. As well as sharing with GIs, a lot of newbies could be helped.

Greybear

- who doesn't *really* need any more stuff til about june 2001 (except storage space)

- Got zip lock bags?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 05, 1999.


I concur. Keeping the signal ratio high for newbies is a noble cause.

PS, Me an' the Mrs. are set up pretty good in the eats dept. Now is time to be setting aside for those who will be in need.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 05, 1999.


How long are Ramen noodles good for when stored??? I bought a few but haven't been able to locate info on them. They are dried so are they good for a long time?

I like the grocery idea for a thread. As preparation continues we don't talk about alot of the basics as we have progressed past them. I think that is why there are alot of conversational type threads right now. After you research some things there just isn't any more to say. But info from Grocery stores etc would be great and keep things rolling for all of us and newbies too!

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), February 05, 1999.



Do y'all leave the Ramen Noodles in their original plastic wrapping, or do you put them into something else for long-term storage? Sorry if that's a rookie question but -- I gotta lotta noodles & don't want "little visitors" getting to them before we do.

-- thanks (in@advance.guys), February 05, 1999.

I'm storing my Ramen noodles left in their packaging in an airtight 5 gallon plastic container to keep the little creatures away. As far as shelf life, I'm not certain either, but I would imagine it would be for a long time. They're so cheap and self sufficient, that I've decided that if I need to do handouts to those in need, that this will be my choice of passout goods. Can't go wrong, feed two hungry people for 12.5 cents.

-- Cary Mc from Tx (Caretha@compuserve.com), February 05, 1999.

People! Make sure you check the "Limit 2" or "Limit 10" on any sale items. Don't go into Randall's like I did today, with a forklift, only to wind up in an ugly argument with a manager.. logic & sweettalk won't work......

-- Lisa (hangin'@grandma's.now), February 05, 1999.

Lisa....if there is a limit on things, buy the limit, take it to the car, go back in, get in a different line. Usually works for 3 or 4 trips. If any of you are stocking a freezer, find out when the meat stock is rotated for nearly out of dates. I got 7 huge hams, regularly priced at $.99/lb for $.49/lb. Avg. 18 - 20 lbs.... $18 and $20 hams for only $8 - $10 ! Mrs. Kennedy thought I had a medical problem when I started bringing them in, but she understood when she saw the price.

We store Ramiens in zip lock baggies. We also looked at consolidating items where one would do for several such as....we bought 4 of the largest boxes of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. I'll probably get more too, since we've discovered more uses for it besides antacid, tootpaste substitute, cleaning abrasive, mouth wash/gargle, clothes wash deodorant, trash can deodorant, and.....baking of course. Makes a good paste for cuts if you can stand a little stinging too.

NC isn't doing overly well on canned good bargains. It's a lucky day to find the specials for 3/$1. Can't wait till the farmers market opens up. I'll be there with strawberries and such to trade for other things.

Anyone want to start swapping some hybrid seed types?

Mr. K

-- Mr. K (shoppin@the.org), February 05, 1999.


I'm outta state at the moment - don't have my notes with me...

The brick-style ramen packed in thin plastic has a shelf life of one year, according to one of the manufacturers. I'm holding off on a large purchase until later this year.

Let's keep these food threads going, folks.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), February 06, 1999.


Bingo,

Thanks for Ramen noodle info. About a year ago I found a long lost RN package in the back of my cabinet. Probably over a year old. Thought I would use it....Nasty Nasty bugs when I dumped in water. Definately can't just keep them as is. Currently have in sealed bucket but not even sure about that.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), February 06, 1999.


The two biggest enemies of dried foods are bugs and molds. Storing in an air tight oxygen purged container will help with the bugs. Keeping the moisture level below 10% will help with the molds.

Good luck to all, and keep the hints coming.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 06, 1999.


Yes, love the idea of a food thread. Perhaps we could start a new one every Wednesday, when weekly specials usually appear, otherwise they'll get too long. Anyone have print-'em-yourself coupon site URLs?

Mr. K, is there a Big Lots in Raleigh? If not, it's worth your while to come to the one in Durham (but come in daylight!). Excellent buys, too many to mention all, but how about Baxter's gourmet soups (from Scotland) at .39, cuppa style soups and sides at .59 (2 servings on the sides, one on the soups), small cans oysters, sardines and crabmeat, around .99. These will all add much-needed variety to the beans and rice. Also, cleaning supplies, drugstore items, some pet supplies, hardware, linens, socks, candy, coffee, pickles, pasta, candles, toys, kitchen stuff--on and on, I even found pound cake in a can for Sweetie. They take credit cards.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 07, 1999.


Thanks to Uncle Deedah for starting this thread, and everyone else for adding to.......

We spent most of the day today, 'gathering'.......started early, with yard/garage sales (in Southern FL you can do that in Feb), and found a few 'useful things', then on to Publix, WD, and finally Sam's......

Of course, I've still got some 'stuff' sitting out and about, til I shuffle things abit, to make some more space :):):)

Anyway, decided to take the evening, to try and catch up on what everyone's been talking about today...:):):)

Thanks again, for all the GREAT SUGGESTIONS on both bargins and storage :):):)

Sandy

-- Paul & Sandy Stambaugh (patches96@worldnet.att.net), February 07, 1999.


I hadn't thought about big lots..do they have groceries?? Thought they just had walmart type items. HMMM, will go check one out.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), February 07, 1999.

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