I would like to know what are some of the items that you all have on your "last minute" list to buy. I have margarine, p-nut butter, nuts, mayonaise for starters. If its something off the wall, will you tell us why you are waiting to buy it?

I got beans...whata I need now???

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), March 30, 1999

Answers

Sounds silly, but, I am going to wait until end of year and buy potato chips/snack type food/ boxed cereals etc. They will be fresh and if it only lasts a short time (not counting on it) cereals etc are easy to fix. I will save hard core preps for as long as possible! Chips will keep people happy while playing cards by candlelight!:>

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), March 30, 1999.

Damn....!! Cards, cards, cards.......where is that list??

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), March 30, 1999.

Not a silly question at all. I'm waitng on the 6-9 month shelf life items: cholcolate, cookies. cereal, crackers. velveeta cheese, margarine, canned tomatos, raisins, trail mix, nuts, etc.

My plan is 1st quarter - additional long term storage items 2nd qtr - canned foods (beginning that now, in earnest) 3rd quarter - shorter shelf life and comfort foods.

Good luck!

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), March 30, 1999.

I'm also trying to hold off on shorter-shelf-life items. Here's my plan in a nutshell--buy things based on (1) shelf life and (2) in quantities such that stuff will be good for at least 1-3 months into 2000 and I'll buy only enough that I can use it all during that period.

If there's any short-shelf-life stuff still available late this year that would get me further into 2000, so much the better--I'll get some more; if not, rely on the beans, rice, wheat, etc. for later in 2000.

-- Don (whytocay@hotmail.com), March 30, 1999.

chocolate and cracker type stuff.Also- more yeast.

-- anita (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), March 30, 1999.

Power bars, Slim Fast, crackers, gasoline.

Jolly

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), March 30, 1999.

Taz - peanut butter stores for 18 months unopened, 3-4 months unrefrigerated after ya crack it open.

Costco sells bulk boxes of individually-wrapped mayonaise. I called the manufacturer & they say the product has a 6 month shelf life from date of manufacture. Mayo is high on my 'would-like' list. Grettes are 'would-like' items that are best served fresh. Great for barter.

I'm not much for sweets. Snacks such as chocolate, cakes & the like would probably be good to have on hand for the sugarholic neighbors.

Condoms, an obvious must-have for those souls who've not achieved monkhood (next time around perhaps), are both perishable & sure-fire winners for barter.

Another good question. Thanks Taz.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), March 30, 1999.

What about yeast for all that wheat we stored?

-- boyscout (lcrow@gte.net), March 30, 1999.

this may sound strange, but around september, I'm going to stock up on frozen food, and meats to freeze. My reasoning is, I don't want to go to the grocery store much towards the end of the year. *If* the panic starts, I would prefer to be prepared to make the fewest trips shopping as possible. My plans are to buy enough to get me to 12/29, and after that all bets are off. If for some reason we lose power before 12/31, everything melts, and I lose my bet.

-- Arachnid (itsybitsy@spider.com_), March 30, 1999.

A very, very large container of tobasco and a quart jar of cayenne (both are available at Costco for a modest price). Beans and rice can get pretty flat, and heating them up will do wonders for the palate and disgestive system. Canned sausages (or even spam) and you can do a real "red beans and rice."

-- anon (anon@anonymous.com), March 30, 1999.

I will be canning meat and fish. I don't think there will be a run on fresh food. Also plan on loading freezer with meat. If power goes will can it to.

-- SCOTTY (BLehman202@aol.com), March 30, 1999.

anon;

>Canned sausages (or even spam) and you can do a real "red beans and rice."<

You also will "need" a large can of "Tony Chachere's" too if you want REAL red beans & rice. You should have a can of it anyway just for everyday use. It's good stuff Ollie.

S.O.B.

-- sweetolebob (buffgun@hotmail.com), March 30, 1999.

Replace car battery as late as possible, so that I'll have use of the new one as long as possible (that is assuming I will want to drive anywhere)

* *

Anything too tempting to stare at for the next 8 months, such as those "comfort" foods. mmmmmmmmmmmmm...

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), March 30, 1999.

I'll buy a couple dozen eggs and hard boil 'em. Here in the great Pacific Northwest, at that time of year, I can keep them out on the porch to preserve them, during the day; bring 'em in at night so they don't freeze. I also purchased two rectangular plastic boxes with tight fitting lids. One holds 14 gallons, the other 10 and the latter is stacked on top of the other in my tiny apartment. On Dec. 30, I'll fill them with water to use for "sponge baths," laundry, cooking. Of course, I'll also be able to collect rain water here where we all have "webbed feet!" Finally, I'll purchase some fresh fruit and veggies to last a couple weeks, providing they're available. Otherwise, it'll be a matter of opening the packages of those I've dehydrated. Onward, all! Granny Holly

-- Holly Allen (Holly3325@juno.com), March 30, 1999.

In addition to the 4 C's (cookies, crackers, chips, and cereal), I will also be stocking diet cokes, summer sausage, and lot and lots of TATERS

-- Ruby (geri498615@aol.com), March 30, 1999.

Three-year rabies and other shots for the animals, 'round about November. Stock up on prescription meds, maybe as early as August or September, have to see how it looks.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 30, 1999.

Fuel in ocktober(Sorry october) and edible oils around thanksgiving time. As cold as the basement is the rest of the stuff will be ok.(Or cold and rancid).

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), March 31, 1999.

Arachnid, what a good idea! I've been so obsessed with the Big Day, I never thought about wanting to avoid shopping in the 4th Qtr.

More canning jars and lids on my list!

End of year stuff; last family trips to dentist & optometrist & vet (as needed depending on species), tetanus boosters, etc.

I think that we shouldn't wait too terribly late to stock up on meds & prescriptions... the panicking public will gobble those up as quickly as they will the long-term foods.

I think we may 'stock up' on things we might not be able to do anymore, like waste a day at the mall, or see a bunch of movies. Right now our $$$ and energies are spent on preparing and coping (not necessarily in that order!), so it will be extravagant and luxurious to fritter away an afternoon or two in the movie theater...

-- Arewyn (nordic@northnet.net), March 31, 1999.

Guinness Stout and Double Diamond

Antibiotics and other meds, both human and animal

Gasoline as available

We, too, will be stocking our freezer, especially with meat (gonna have 25-50 Cornish Rocks "on the hoof" for butchering all winter, too). The stuff in the freezer should stay frozen in the shed all winter, even without power, and we can always can what's left at the thaw.

More onion and leak seeds, if available (they only last about 1 year)

Grain for the animals

Lotsa other stuff if gold prices go way up ;-D.

-- Franklin Journier (ready4y2k@yahoo.com), March 31, 1999.

Taz, Dairy foods generally,milk,cream,butter,bread,live yoghurt,cheap turkeys(they reduce them to 1/2 price for the holiday season,yeast & rennet. Can you buy haircuts ?

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), April 01, 1999.