I see things getting much worse. Stephen Miran, the chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, sounded an upbeat note about today’s jobs data, which showed that U.S. employers added 177,000 jobs in April and that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent. Look, Stephen. The jobs report is jobs added through April 12. The April 2 Liberation Day tariff war was just starting.stopping.starting.stopping.something. Give me a break.
Trump will add $720 billion to the annual budget first, and then say he wants to cut $163 billion (that won’t fly). That add that I see is before the new tax cut happens. The $720 billion added includes the expiring TCJA, the 2017 old tax cut. Speaker Johnson does not want you to see him hiding that renewal. Look at the real numbers and the source data. It is frightening, but we will try to shut them down.
Maybe three weeks ago, my roommate put Hershey’s cocoa powder on the shopping list. She knows to specify if she wants a name brand instead of a store brand, and she prefers the Hershey’s.
There wasn’t any. The whole section was empty except for eight or ten cans of the store brand. Somebody had cleaned them out of ALL the name brand, every size and variety. They’ve never restocked it.
It’s already started.
Despite stocking up a month ago and being nowhere near ready for more, I just bought enough coffee to last me through the end of the year.
If it will keep and we don’t make it here - like coffee and cocoa - stock up if you can. It’s sure not going to get any cheaper in the future regardless of what happens next.
I too have stocked up on coffee, and Lindt 85% chocolate bars. (And semolina pasta, wedges of parmesan, tomato paste, Dijon, olive oil, and canned tuna and sardines.)
Hard cheese that you grate yourself is cheaper than pre-grated. “Hard cheeses last 3–4 times longer in the fridge than soft cheeses since they contain less moisture and are therefore less prone to spoilage from bacteria…”
My boyfriend haaaates spending money on groceries. Drives me nuts that he doesn't keep a basic stock of things he eats, like pasta. Or that he'll eat through everything before buying more, so the house is empty for a day or two. We don't live together so I keep my own pantry I live in a small apartment in urban suburbia so I can't store a lot, but, except for fresh fruit/veg and dairy, I could probably make it a month before having to buy groceries. Guess who grew up relatively rich? My boyfriend - to him, the store is always open, and stuff is readily available because he's always had money. There's some stuff about money/groceries that's going on in the background right now, but I'm going to have to have a serious talk with him this weekend and convince him that maybe he should take the L and stock up on basics - pasta, tuna, cat supplies, lactaid. I'm also weirdly concerned about salt?
I get it from both sides. Nothing like raw experience as a teacher. Growing up I experienced the total devastation, and resulting shortages, of 3 major hurricanes. Made a permanent impression. As for salt, ya I get that too. I have probably 20 pounds of the stuff, it lasts FOREVER.
Having been through hard times before, I'm sure we'll survive this one as well. One thing I know for sure, is that the United States will never be the same again. All of this is a wakeup call for a lot of people and change is coming, good or bad is yet to be determined.
I'm like you. I saw this coming, and with a little push from a frozen water line in late January, I told my wife that we need to spend our money now, for the things we might have put off for a month or two. We had put aside a bunch of money from a windfall a couple of years ago for a big vacation, so we're doing that this year while we still can. Once we return, I plan to settle in for the long, lean haul ahead to finish out the year and into the next year. I think things are going to get tough until the people vote these idiots out of congress in 2026 and the new congress makes an attempt to corral Trump and company in 2027 and beyond. Let's hope we survive that long as a nation and we don't let it go into something worse.
Because my allergy medication is Actifed, I must show my ID whenever I buy it and the amount I can purchase is limited by law. And yes, during the pandemic I ran out. The company that makes it tried to stop. Fortunately, there seem to be many more people like me—only Actifed helps us. None of the newer meds are effective. So we made a fuss and the original formula was reinstated and the medication is still available, with constraints. Walgreens sells it as a cold and allergy medication, bless them. But I could never legally stock up on it.
We lived frugally when I was young. Mom collected blue chip stamps and cut coupons. She sewed our clothes, and we had a victory garden plus fruit and citrus trees in our back yard. I was taught to both sew and cook. (In fact they taught that in middle school.) I even took a class in wood-working.
Today, I know how to brew kombucha, make sourdough bread, and create a tasty meal without a recipe using just about anything in my fridge and pantry. (Thank you Gordon Ramsey/ Master Chef.)
25 years ago I married a gentleman from Hungary who can build and repair just about anything. He has a truck full of tools and a storage locker full of widgets he’s collected… just in case. We’re already in a “prepared” mode as I never disassembled my pandemic pantry. Not to mention as a trained health care provider, I’ve three cabinets full of medical supplies.
I fear for the young folks raised on technology, with no practical survival skills. It’s going to be quite shocking when the world as they knew it disappears. Fortunately, I never got accustomed to living “high on the hog.” I’m content with my well-worn furnishings, eclectic collection of clothing options, and homemade meals.
Thank you for this insightful and helpful post. Changes are coming and we need to be ready for them.
Also make sure you have enough of your commonly used spices and seasonings to get you through the next year. Also tea or tea bags.
Buy and use Spray & Wash. It might take a little work, but most stains will come out of clothing. My husband can be sloppy, but he has 30-year old favorite t-shirts that are still in excellent condition.
I have a mixed reaction. My summer job was as a TV station engineer. Of course that required ability. However, I also mowed lawns and in the winter I cleared driveways and sidewalks i the Michigan Upper Peninsula. I can attest that getting out a 6 AM in 20 below zero weather to blow snow is enough hard work for anyone.
OTC pain medicine, enough to last, and to trade. I’ve read that scissors are not made in the U. S. , likely lots of ordinary kitchen/hand tools
( can openers?), too. Extra pair of eyeglasses.Probably masks, as another pandemic is very likely and there will be little, (or no) warning or governmental help. Watch for news of other countries shutting down, like China did with canceling their New Year celebrations in January of 2020.
Poshmark is the best resource I know for new and used items, anything from kids’ games to men’s socks to unused Tupperware to fancy handbags and jewelry. Books, records, CD’s galore and more clothing than you’d ever need. Frankly we don’t need so much new stuff; there are bargains to be found everywhere when buying used or vintage, but our consumer society has sold us on new, new, new and more, more, more. While I agree with nothing two doll donnie does, we also ought not be outraged because buying cheap goods from China will be unavailable to us. Unaffordable food is something different.
I found myself nodding through the entire article.... right on!
"How is your supply of dish detergent, by the way?" I keep large bottles of liquid castile soap around for making: dish detergent, shampoo, hand soap, etc. So versatile and cost effective. Well, a bottle isn't cheap but it is concentrated and goes a long way.
I see things getting much worse. Stephen Miran, the chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, sounded an upbeat note about today’s jobs data, which showed that U.S. employers added 177,000 jobs in April and that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent. Look, Stephen. The jobs report is jobs added through April 12. The April 2 Liberation Day tariff war was just starting.stopping.starting.stopping.something. Give me a break.
Trump will add $720 billion to the annual budget first, and then say he wants to cut $163 billion (that won’t fly). That add that I see is before the new tax cut happens. The $720 billion added includes the expiring TCJA, the 2017 old tax cut. Speaker Johnson does not want you to see him hiding that renewal. Look at the real numbers and the source data. It is frightening, but we will try to shut them down.
.https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/over-budget-chaos?r=3m1bs
Maybe three weeks ago, my roommate put Hershey’s cocoa powder on the shopping list. She knows to specify if she wants a name brand instead of a store brand, and she prefers the Hershey’s.
There wasn’t any. The whole section was empty except for eight or ten cans of the store brand. Somebody had cleaned them out of ALL the name brand, every size and variety. They’ve never restocked it.
It’s already started.
Despite stocking up a month ago and being nowhere near ready for more, I just bought enough coffee to last me through the end of the year.
If it will keep and we don’t make it here - like coffee and cocoa - stock up if you can. It’s sure not going to get any cheaper in the future regardless of what happens next.
I too have stocked up on coffee, and Lindt 85% chocolate bars. (And semolina pasta, wedges of parmesan, tomato paste, Dijon, olive oil, and canned tuna and sardines.)
Oh, I should get more cheese :)
Hard cheese that you grate yourself is cheaper than pre-grated. “Hard cheeses last 3–4 times longer in the fridge than soft cheeses since they contain less moisture and are therefore less prone to spoilage from bacteria…”
Oh, believe me, I have been known to purchase very large quantities of Parmesan! I have a handy little Zyliss grater that gets a workout.
My boyfriend haaaates spending money on groceries. Drives me nuts that he doesn't keep a basic stock of things he eats, like pasta. Or that he'll eat through everything before buying more, so the house is empty for a day or two. We don't live together so I keep my own pantry I live in a small apartment in urban suburbia so I can't store a lot, but, except for fresh fruit/veg and dairy, I could probably make it a month before having to buy groceries. Guess who grew up relatively rich? My boyfriend - to him, the store is always open, and stuff is readily available because he's always had money. There's some stuff about money/groceries that's going on in the background right now, but I'm going to have to have a serious talk with him this weekend and convince him that maybe he should take the L and stock up on basics - pasta, tuna, cat supplies, lactaid. I'm also weirdly concerned about salt?
I get it from both sides. Nothing like raw experience as a teacher. Growing up I experienced the total devastation, and resulting shortages, of 3 major hurricanes. Made a permanent impression. As for salt, ya I get that too. I have probably 20 pounds of the stuff, it lasts FOREVER.
Having been through hard times before, I'm sure we'll survive this one as well. One thing I know for sure, is that the United States will never be the same again. All of this is a wakeup call for a lot of people and change is coming, good or bad is yet to be determined.
I'm like you. I saw this coming, and with a little push from a frozen water line in late January, I told my wife that we need to spend our money now, for the things we might have put off for a month or two. We had put aside a bunch of money from a windfall a couple of years ago for a big vacation, so we're doing that this year while we still can. Once we return, I plan to settle in for the long, lean haul ahead to finish out the year and into the next year. I think things are going to get tough until the people vote these idiots out of congress in 2026 and the new congress makes an attempt to corral Trump and company in 2027 and beyond. Let's hope we survive that long as a nation and we don't let it go into something worse.
Right on!!
This is all great and I feel very angry, as should everyone!
Because my allergy medication is Actifed, I must show my ID whenever I buy it and the amount I can purchase is limited by law. And yes, during the pandemic I ran out. The company that makes it tried to stop. Fortunately, there seem to be many more people like me—only Actifed helps us. None of the newer meds are effective. So we made a fuss and the original formula was reinstated and the medication is still available, with constraints. Walgreens sells it as a cold and allergy medication, bless them. But I could never legally stock up on it.
This is unjust and I hate injustice. Frankly, I’d ask a friend or two to go purchase it for you. Be careful!
You shouldn’t have to do without a needed medication.
We lived frugally when I was young. Mom collected blue chip stamps and cut coupons. She sewed our clothes, and we had a victory garden plus fruit and citrus trees in our back yard. I was taught to both sew and cook. (In fact they taught that in middle school.) I even took a class in wood-working.
Today, I know how to brew kombucha, make sourdough bread, and create a tasty meal without a recipe using just about anything in my fridge and pantry. (Thank you Gordon Ramsey/ Master Chef.)
25 years ago I married a gentleman from Hungary who can build and repair just about anything. He has a truck full of tools and a storage locker full of widgets he’s collected… just in case. We’re already in a “prepared” mode as I never disassembled my pandemic pantry. Not to mention as a trained health care provider, I’ve three cabinets full of medical supplies.
I fear for the young folks raised on technology, with no practical survival skills. It’s going to be quite shocking when the world as they knew it disappears. Fortunately, I never got accustomed to living “high on the hog.” I’m content with my well-worn furnishings, eclectic collection of clothing options, and homemade meals.
Thank you for this insightful and helpful post. Changes are coming and we need to be ready for them.
My husband (also an immigrant—Dutch) has similar skills. I bake sourdough every few days! We do not have any formal medical training, though.
Nagyon yo!
Koseinem seipen.
Viz latash,
Tio Mokushka
Also make sure you have enough of your commonly used spices and seasonings to get you through the next year. Also tea or tea bags.
Buy and use Spray & Wash. It might take a little work, but most stains will come out of clothing. My husband can be sloppy, but he has 30-year old favorite t-shirts that are still in excellent condition.
Grow herbs in pots! Then you have them all winter.
I have a mixed reaction. My summer job was as a TV station engineer. Of course that required ability. However, I also mowed lawns and in the winter I cleared driveways and sidewalks i the Michigan Upper Peninsula. I can attest that getting out a 6 AM in 20 below zero weather to blow snow is enough hard work for anyone.
You woke me up! Thanks!
Good! That makes me feel it’s all worth it.
OTC pain medicine, enough to last, and to trade. I’ve read that scissors are not made in the U. S. , likely lots of ordinary kitchen/hand tools
( can openers?), too. Extra pair of eyeglasses.Probably masks, as another pandemic is very likely and there will be little, (or no) warning or governmental help. Watch for news of other countries shutting down, like China did with canceling their New Year celebrations in January of 2020.
Poshmark is the best resource I know for new and used items, anything from kids’ games to men’s socks to unused Tupperware to fancy handbags and jewelry. Books, records, CD’s galore and more clothing than you’d ever need. Frankly we don’t need so much new stuff; there are bargains to be found everywhere when buying used or vintage, but our consumer society has sold us on new, new, new and more, more, more. While I agree with nothing two doll donnie does, we also ought not be outraged because buying cheap goods from China will be unavailable to us. Unaffordable food is something different.
I found myself nodding through the entire article.... right on!
"How is your supply of dish detergent, by the way?" I keep large bottles of liquid castile soap around for making: dish detergent, shampoo, hand soap, etc. So versatile and cost effective. Well, a bottle isn't cheap but it is concentrated and goes a long way.
Thanks for the tips. They’ll be useful.
Always a good read.