If/when Covid19 hits what effects on personal finance

[haapai]

Mar 5, 2020 9:04:42 GMT -5 resolution said:

My husband has already gotten into my coronavirus supplies and started eating the Oreo cookies. We had a bit of a showdown over it and he outstubborned me, so I have to come to terms with the fact that if we have to ever self quarantine, we won't have any snacks left that are tempting to him.

I don't know why people are going for the toilet paper, but my grocery store was almost out on Tuesday night when we did our normal grocery shopping.

It's a good thing to stock up on.  It almost always cheaper to buy in bulk.  It doesn't go bad.  You will use it eventually. 

It's also pretty much the last thing that you want to leave the house in search of when you think that you should be staying home.  And since few of us have newspapers delivered anymore, it is a necessity.

[movingforward]

Yeah, toilet paper is not really something I want to run out of if I am stuck at home for 2 weeks. In general, I keep it overstocked anyway. I do the same with kleenex (usually buy the 4 pack).

[Deleted]

It has changed my shopping patterns somewhat.  I've been buying milk by the smallest bottle possible and still end up throwing 2/3 away.  I am lactose sensitive sometimes. But you need milk sometimes when you cook.  So I bought a canister of powdered milk today.  I've actually been looking for it for the past few weeks.

And Publix had Breyer's ice cream BOGO so I bought two instead of one.  I bought both hot dog buns and hamburger buns and froze half of each package.  That's what I figure will get to me if I have to stay home for an extended time: there will be "food" at my house but not in a form I want to eat.  The freezer is fully stocked, though, so it is time to quit worrying about it.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mar 5, 2020 13:34:54 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

It has changed my shopping patterns somewhat.  I've been buying milk by the smallest bottle possible and still end up throwing 2/3 away.  I am lactose sensitive sometimes. But you need milk sometimes when you cook.  So I bought a canister of powdered milk today.  I've actually been looking for it for the past few weeks.

And Publix had Breyer's ice cream BOGO so I bought two instead of one.  I bought both hot dog buns and hamburger buns and froze half of each package.  That's what I figure will get to me if I have to stay home for an extended time: there will be "food" at my house but not in a form I want to eat.  The freezer is fully stocked, though, so it is time to quit worrying about it.

I just bought some shelf stable milk to have on hand.  All I could get was a package of 12 x 8 oz boxes, but I figure it would be sufficient for using milk for cooking.  

[plugginaway22]

I am worried about our hourly employees who are lower paid and terrible about managing their available PTO hours.  If we would have to shut down for 14 days they would be in big trouble financially.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mar 5, 2020 16:58:20 GMT -5 plugginaway22 said:

I am worried about our hourly employees who are lower paid and terrible about managing their available PTO hours.  If we would have to shut down for 14 days they would be in big trouble financially.

I used to have a lab helper that was like this.  She was paid hourly, but she still got vacation and sick time accrued just like other employees who were salaried.  She took every single hour she got as it accrued.  I spoke to her once about this, about needing to keep something in reserve but the suggestion went in one ear and out the other.  There is only so much you can do about this as a supervisor, unfortunately. 

This was the same woman who I had to convince to sign up for the university's 403b.  Signing up was mandatory, and the university contributed 10% of your salary to the account.  It took me a lot of talking to try to make her understand this.  
 

[Deleted]

Two confirmed (not presumptive positive) in my county today, but not in my city.  We're just being much more aware of face contact and hand sanitation.  Many local stores are low on cleaning supplies and not a prayer of hand sanitizer.  I'm going to try to get a couple more bottles of rubbing alcohol (and a LOT more of drinking alcohol) plus toilet paper.  DH had to go to the pharmacy today for his RX refill but I can't get a refill of mine for about 3-4 weeks.  

[Opti]

Apparently there has been a run on small animal supplies. I need to go shopping for hay later tonight. 

[Deleted]

I plan to pick up another 50# bag of dog food next time I have to leave home to get my mail, probably on Saturday. That will ensure I can keep feeding the beast if we get stuck at home.

My case of TP came from Amazon today and I felt a bit silly that the box clearly announced to the neighborhood what I had purchased...  lol 

Thankfully, the biscuit mix and soup I ordered that was shipped to the local post office came in plain Amazon boxes. 

[wvugurl26]

I just ran to the local pharmacy to pick up a regular refill. They had a sign on the door that they were out of hand sanitizer and face masks.

[giramomma]

It seems as if the Gov of Washington state is trying to address some of the financial stuff

www.governor.wa.gov/node/439842

[Gardening Grandma]

DH was finally able to buy TP at Costco yesterday.  They were limiting purchases to 2 packs (each pack is 24 rolls??)

[Gardening Grandma]

Mar 6, 2020 7:40:56 GMT -5 giramomma said:

It seems as if the Gov of Washington state is trying to address some of the financial stuff

www.governor.wa.gov/node/439842

I have to say that so far, I am impressed with the way Gov Inslee is handling this..

[Tiny]

Mar 5, 2020 13:34:54 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

It has changed my shopping patterns somewhat.  I've been buying milk by the smallest bottle possible and still end up throwing 2/3 away.  I am lactose sensitive sometimes. But you need milk sometimes when you cook.  So I bought a canister of powdered milk today.  I've actually been looking for it for the past few weeks.

And Publix had Breyer's ice cream BOGO so I bought two instead of one.  I bought both hot dog buns and hamburger buns and froze half of each package.  That's what I figure will get to me if I have to stay home for an extended time: there will be "food" at my house but not in a form I want to eat.  The freezer is fully stocked, though, so it is time to quit worrying about it.

Just an FYI:  if you are using milk primarily for cooking - you can freeze it.  I usually have a couple of 1 cup and 2 cup containers of milk in the freezer.   It kind of "separates" when it thaws so you have to whisk or shake it back to milk.   It works perfectly if you are cooking with it (I use it in baking or to make Jello Pudding or from scratch rice pudding or for "creamer" in coffee - guests have been ok with it too.).    A little weird to drink straight  (texture? mouth feel?)  but it still tastes and performs like milk.     

(my SIL use to keep gallons of milk in the freezer - and the family used it on cereal and to drink -   I'm pretty sure that's why all her kids shake the bottle of milk before they pour.      

[Tiny]

I finished a "stock up" last weekend ...  basically all the "dry goods" I stock up on in early November to carry me thru to the end of February.   That's the time of year I don't want to have to worry about making "special trips" for store-able doesn't go bad  stuff I use daily or weekly or once a month during the holiday season/bad weather season.    It limits the amount of time sucking shopping runs and the stress it brings (when I don't really have the "time").         

I'm not so concerned about being told to stay home for weeks  -  I'm going at it from the  if I don't  have to go shopping so much/so often  I may be able to  limit my contact with the "greater population" and their germs.          


and another useful freezer tip: 
I've got lemons and limes in the freezer - the juice is an ingredient in lots of recipes I make...  works great for juice - if you need the zest - zest them before hand and freeze the zest separately.       

[Gardening Grandma]

Mar 6, 2020 10:57:06 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I finished a "stock up" last weekend ...  basically all the "dry goods" I stock up on in early November to carry me thru to the end of February.   That's the time of year I don't want to have to worry about making "special trips" for store-able doesn't go bad  stuff I use daily or weekly or once a month during the holiday season/bad weather season.    It limits the amount of time sucking shopping runs and the stress it brings (when I don't really have the "time").         

I'm not so concerned about being told to stay home for weeks  -  I'm going at it from the  if I don't  have to go shopping so much/so often  I may be able to  limit my contact with the "greater population" and their germs.          


and another useful freezer tip: 
I've got lemons and limes in the freezer - the juice is an ingredient in lots of recipes I make...  works great for juice - if you need the zest - zest them before hand and freeze the zest separately.       

I'm not so concerned about being told to stay home for weeks - I'm going at it from the if I don't have to go shopping so much/so often I may be able to limit my contact with the "greater population" and their germ


That's my approach as well.  Besides,  we save money by making fewer shopping trips.  DH cannot go into a store and stick to a list.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2020 10:57:06 GMT -5 Tiny said:

    

I'm not so concerned about being told to stay home for weeks  -  I'm going at it from the  if I don't  have to go shopping so much/so often  I may be able to  limit my contact with the "greater population" and their germs.          


and another useful freezer tip: 
I've got lemons and limes in the freezer - the juice is an ingredient in lots of recipes I make...  works great for juice - if you need the zest - zest them before hand and freeze the zest separately.       

After living in a remote area and grocery shopping once or twice a month, it boggles my mind that people go to the store every day or two when living in town.

Maybe it's just that I hate shopping in general, but even with the store down the road I don't understand how people don't have a pantry they cook from and why anyone would want to go to the store everyday. It's such a time suck and easy way to spend way too much on groceries.

I now live in a town with no mail delivery route. I'd assume if anyone in this area gets the virus, then the local post office will become ground zero for spread... The little building is always a beehive of activity.

As with the grocery issue - having to go pick up mail is also a pain... 

[Opti]

Mar 6, 2020 11:10:06 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

Mar 6, 2020 10:57:06 GMT -5 Tiny said:

    

I'm not so concerned about being told to stay home for weeks  -  I'm going at it from the  if I don't  have to go shopping so much/so often  I may be able to  limit my contact with the "greater population" and their germs.          


and another useful freezer tip: 
I've got lemons and limes in the freezer - the juice is an ingredient in lots of recipes I make...  works great for juice - if you need the zest - zest them before hand and freeze the zest separately.       

After living in a remote area and grocery shopping once or twice a month, it boggles my mind that people go to the store every day or two when living in town.

Maybe it's just that I hate shopping in general, but even with the store down the road I don't understand how people don't have a pantry they cook from and why anyone would want to go to the store everyday. It's such a time suck and easy way to spend way too much on groceries.

I now live in a town with no mail delivery route. I'd assume if anyone in this area gets the virus, then the local post office will become ground zero for spread... The little building is always a beehive of activity.

As with the grocery issue - having to go pick up mail is also a pain... 

Everyone shops different and much depends on where you live, what you do for a living, etc. I'm not in a remote area, and in my part of CNJ I can hit one big grocery store just by taking a slightly longer way home or stop by Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's & a regional Spanish grocery store. So its pretty easy compared to planning ahead and cooking from one's pantry.
Mine is small because my kitchen in my apartment is small, as is my freezer part of the refrigerator.

When I was married to another engineer we regularly ordered food about twice a week because we were so exhausted when we came home. It was easier, and we made enough to be able to afford that. Now, I make so little, its better if I do cook from what's at home, but some days working at a healthcare facility can be righteous heck. If I made more I'd probably be buying alcohol along with a meal on the cheap side.

It often takes less time to pick up something than it does to go home, clean dishes, make food and the clean dishes again.
YM obviously varies. (YMMV)

[Deleted]

Our grocery store is real easy in and out and right on my way home.  I stop there quite a bit or even will run there at lunch and grab a couple things just to get out of the office.  I'm generally back in my cube within 30 minutes.  But more often than not I am stopping at the gas station for food items.  All the MN/WI people on here will understand the Kwik Trip reference.  Cheapest place to get the staples that we go through a lot of. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mar 6, 2020 10:57:06 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I finished a "stock up" last weekend ...  basically all the "dry goods" I stock up on in early November to carry me thru to the end of February.   That's the time of year I don't want to have to worry about making "special trips" for store-able doesn't go bad  stuff I use daily or weekly or once a month during the holiday season/bad weather season.    It limits the amount of time sucking shopping runs and the stress it brings (when I don't really have the "time").         

I'm not so concerned about being told to stay home for weeks  -  I'm going at it from the  if I don't  have to go shopping so much/so often  I may be able to  limit my contact with the "greater population" and their germs.          


and another useful freezer tip: 
I've got lemons and limes in the freezer - the juice is an ingredient in lots of recipes I make...  works great for juice - if you need the zest - zest them before hand and freeze the zest separately.       

THANKS!  I bought a huge bag of 12 lemons last week at Costco because they were only $4 and I was paying over $1 for one at the store.  I was wondering what to do with all the lemons.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mar 6, 2020 11:10:06 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

Mar 6, 2020 10:57:06 GMT -5 Tiny said:

    

I'm not so concerned about being told to stay home for weeks  -  I'm going at it from the  if I don't  have to go shopping so much/so often  I may be able to  limit my contact with the "greater population" and their germs.          


and another useful freezer tip: 
I've got lemons and limes in the freezer - the juice is an ingredient in lots of recipes I make...  works great for juice - if you need the zest - zest them before hand and freeze the zest separately.       

After living in a remote area and grocery shopping once or twice a month, it boggles my mind that people go to the store every day or two when living in town.

Maybe it's just that I hate shopping in general, but even with the store down the road I don't understand how people don't have a pantry they cook from and why anyone would want to go to the store everyday. It's such a time suck and easy way to spend way too much on groceries.

I now live in a town with no mail delivery route. I'd assume if anyone in this area gets the virus, then the local post office will become ground zero for spread... The little building is always a beehive of activity.

As with the grocery issue - having to go pick up mail is also a pain... 

I don't live in a remote area, but I live 7 miles from the closest grocery store.  So going into town and going shopping just does not happen.  When I was single, I lived across the street from a grocery store and it was a lot easier to pop in for something to grab to fix if I hadn't thawed something from the freezer.   

We need milk and a few other things so I will be hitting the grocery store today.  

[TheOtherMe]

I live about 15 miles from a grocery store.  I try to go once a week.  Sometimes I can spread it out to two weeks.

[Deleted]

I enjoy going to the grocery store.  DH went almost every day to Publix.  He liked fresh fruit, but he also liked to just walk around.  When you are retired and go when most people are work, it can be a fun experience.  They frequently have someone cooking, and they have racks of really good recipes.  

I can understand why busy people want to go as infrequently as possible.  And it can be a budget buster.  I only go to Publix one or two times a week.  But most of my groceries come from a Super Walmart (not meat or produce) so if you add a couple of trips each week to WM for other stuff when I also pick up a grocery item or two, I probably go to the "store" three or four times a week.

[Tiny]

Mar 6, 2020 12:15:18 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Mar 6, 2020 10:57:06 GMT -5 Tiny said:

 and another useful freezer tip: 
I've got lemons and limes in the freezer - the juice is an ingredient in lots of recipes I make...  works great for juice - if you need the zest - zest them before hand and freeze the zest separately.       

THANKS!  I bought a huge bag of 12 lemons last week at Costco because they were only $4 and I was paying over $1 for one at the store.  I was wondering what to do with all the lemons.

And one last tip:   Save and use a cereal bag or cracker bag (the crinkly  liner bag from a box of cereal or triskets/wheatthins) .  Those bags are made to be "air proof"  - way more so than a zippy Freezer bag.   Put your lemons/limes in a cracker bag, roll/fold the top/seal it maybe with a bit of masking tape - put that into a freezer zippy bag and your fruit is good for 4 to 6 months.    
The fruit will be a bit wet and 'smushy' when it's thawed - but you can still "squeeze it for juice"  or you can cut it up into peices when it's still firm but not solid frozen and use it in water or Adult beverages.       You can 'quick' thaw a big lemon in the microwwave ( give it 30 secs let it sit for a few minutes, give it 30 secs, let it sit out while you prep the rest of your recipe -  you don't want to cook or boil it... just thaw it).    

[Tiny]

Gosh, even with 3 grocery stores within a quarter mile of my house - I try to avoid going shopping.  It's a giant time suck.   I don't have that kind of time.  So, I generally go every other week. but can plan it so I only have to go once a month or less.     I also "ninja shop" with a list and only go down the aisles I need to go down... no wandering and looking at stuff I might need or didn't know I needed.      

[Deleted]

Went to our little WalMart Pantry today and water, beer, and cleaning supply shelves were empty.  No rubbing alcohol of course or hand sanitizer.  I got some marked-down mangos and two jugs of Lysol cleaner

[Ava]

I went to Walmart last night and it was well stocked. People were out and about as normal.

The only product I could see out of stock was hand-sanitizer. 

There have been no Coronavirus cases in this state..... yet.
I think it's just a matter of time since we are close to NYC. Morgan Stanley has directed some NYC employees to work in an office in CT, and there's also a nurse who lives in NY and works at two hospitals here who has the virus. She's in quarantine in NY.

I'm not worried about my company closing or not having a job anymore. I may have to be out of work for days or a couple of weeks, I may have to work from home, etc.
At this point I have 19 PTO days to use and I have 22K in a Roth IRA I could tap as a last resort.

If the virus hits me, I am not elderly and I have a good immune system. It should be like getting a bad case of the flu at most.

I'm more concerned about a recession. That wouldn't surprise me, it seems we are heading in that direction in a big way.
And I am also concerned for those in the US who have no sick days available and no access to healthcare.

This virus has made a better case for universal healthcare that I could ever make. Even if you are completely selfish and don't care about the wellness of others, we as a society are as strong as our weakest link. The working poor spreading the disease by not getting treated and going to work infected is a real concern here.

[Deleted]

After the CDC recommendation yesterday that folks over 60 avoid large crowds, I cancelled on two events this coming week both of which will draw 100-500 attendees.  I still have three other meetings, but two of those draw fewer than 25 folks, and the third will probably be less than 100 in attendance.  

We'll have to brave Costco soon for hearing aid batteries and other over-the-counter meds.  Yesterday I convinced DH to use Amazon for some of his supplements and the new mouthwash his dentist said he needs.  I went to two different CVS pharmacies and a Walgreen's but they were out of everything, period.  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Mar 7, 2020 14:14:46 GMT -5 Ava said:

I went to Walmart last night and it was well stocked. People were out and about as normal.

The only product I could see out of stock was hand-sanitizer. 

There have been no Coronavirus cases in this state..... yet.
I think it's just a matter of time since we are close to NYC. Morgan Stanley has directed some NYC employees to work in an office in CT, and there's also a nurse who lives in NY and works at two hospitals here who has the virus. She's in quarantine in NY.

I'm not worried about my company closing or not having a job anymore. I may have to be out of work for days or a couple of weeks, I may have to work from home, etc.
At this point I have 19 PTO days to use and I have 22K in a Roth IRA I could tap as a last resort.

If the virus hits me, I am not elderly and I have a good immune system. It should be like getting a bad case of the flu at most.

I'm more concerned about a recession. That wouldn't surprise me, it seems we are heading in that direction in a big way.
And I am also concerned for those in the US who have no sick days available and no access to healthcare.

This virus has made a better case for universal healthcare that I could ever make. Even if you are completely selfish and don't care about the wellness of others, we as a society are as strong as our weakest link. The working poor spreading the disease by not getting treated and going to work infected is a real concern here.

Amen.

[Gardening Grandma]

Mar 7, 2020 17:07:42 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Mar 7, 2020 14:14:46 GMT -5 Ava said:

I went to Walmart last night and it was well stocked. People were out and about as normal.

The only product I could see out of stock was hand-sanitizer. 

There have been no Coronavirus cases in this state..... yet.
I think it's just a matter of time since we are close to NYC. Morgan Stanley has directed some NYC employees to work in an office in CT, and there's also a nurse who lives in NY and works at two hospitals here who has the virus. She's in quarantine in NY.

I'm not worried about my company closing or not having a job anymore. I may have to be out of work for days or a couple of weeks, I may have to work from home, etc.
At this point I have 19 PTO days to use and I have 22K in a Roth IRA I could tap as a last resort.

If the virus hits me, I am not elderly and I have a good immune system. It should be like getting a bad case of the flu at most.

I'm more concerned about a recession. That wouldn't surprise me, it seems we are heading in that direction in a big way.
And I am also concerned for those in the US who have no sick days available and no access to healthcare.

This virus has made a better case for universal healthcare that I could ever make. Even if you are completely selfish and don't care about the wellness of others, we as a society are as strong as our weakest link. The working poor spreading the disease by not getting treated and going to work infected is a real concern here.

Amen.

Second that amen