countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Mar 23, 2020 10:17:37 GMT -5
Not mine, my 5 bags of flour are in the freezer and will be used, oldest first. Don't assume all of us are just buying up what we will not use. Of course there will be some but not that much for folks like us.
I just hope those running out of money soon will be able to eat. Even if we forgive rent they still need money to buy food. That I cannot give them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 10:30:12 GMT -5
I really don't get all the stock up on stuff (like dish soap). I suspect there will be alot of spoiled food (or just food noone wants to eat (canned sardines? Canned asparagus? the bags of flour/sugar purchased when no one actually bakes in the household) and other products hitting the landfill within a year. This is what I find really sad. Even before this I'd done some research on food waste and it's a huge problem. Some of it is the stuff left in the fields, some spoiled in transit, some not sold in the stores, but much that becomes inedible after the consumer takes it home because it's molding in the back of the refrigerator or it's past the sell-by date, when even food banks won't take it. I've gotten my post-purchase waste down to about nothing, between having a big freezer and keeping track of sell-by dates so that I can donate things I won't be using. I hope the hoarders do the same.
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hopetoberich
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Post by hopetoberich on Mar 23, 2020 10:48:23 GMT -5
Food waste was terrible in commercial kitchens. Events, weddings, graduations...I worked a lot of events and 15-25% of foods were thrown out. Horrific. I always took food home from these events I hate waste. Loved the free food! With less people. If you believe the numbers, there will be more available.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Mar 23, 2020 11:03:51 GMT -5
I just came from the Walmart Neighborhood Market. Picked up 2 RXs and $200 of groceries. Very few aisles were empty, Chef Boy ar Dee had been hit hard, toilet paper was there, but talk about cheap. Some paper towels were on display. No one was running around grabbing anything they could find just because it was there. Plenty of meat/chicken/pork/milk. Soda and water was plentiful. Interesting that the display for Tylenol & Advil etc. was almost empty.....who knew Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, it was obvious the employees had worked long and hard to supply us with items we needed. I should have enough in the house now to last me to perhaps late August or early sept. with the exception of milk, bread. I'm grateful for Walmart, their employees and that I have the money (if I'm careful) to live in a comfortable way.
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haapai
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Post by haapai on Mar 23, 2020 11:19:42 GMT -5
Sunday's sales in my store were anemic. I consequently wrote a very light produce order and began thinking about how to fill space (to minimize waste) if this trend continued.
At around 9:30, after an extremely slow start, the store started filling up again. By 10:30, they weren't shopping any more, they were grabbing.
A little before 11, the governor issued a stay-at-home order effective midnight tonight. It contains the usual language allowing grocery stores to remain open but customers will hit us hard again, probably harder than we've been hit so far. I will be mildly surprised if the store doesn't land up closing early due to overcrowding or disorderly behavior.
Despite the frustration of sales and stock being completely unpredictable, I think that the order is probably a good idea. The number of confirmed cases in the state has been doubling every day or so despite limited/rationed testing in most areas. That is, in most parts of the state, you will not be tested if you are asymptomatic, no matter what exposure you have had to a confirmed case. The increase in confirmed cases is pretty much confined to the counties that have hospitals that can run their own tests and can therefore test a broader range of folks. My God! The shelves are going to look like hell tomorrow and stay that way for quite a while.
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buystoys
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Post by buystoys on Mar 23, 2020 11:29:52 GMT -5
I don't make menu plans for a week ahead. I tend to shop for the bargains and then make meals from what I have at home. With the grocery aisles being so empty, my current method is to fill in spots of what I've used the past week or so and keep my eyes open for the missing items in order to grab them. I copy all my gaps from the current grocery list to the next one. It's getting longer every week as things I use aren't available.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Mar 23, 2020 11:44:33 GMT -5
I think some of these people are grabbing everything they can and have no plan. They also probably don't cook regularly at home. I know all these people did not suddenly become Betty Crocker. Even for holidays the stores are not emptied of flour.
I don't know what they are doing with all the produce. You can't freeze lettuce. I have bought 1-2 extra of things we use normally. I try to keep stocked on non perishable stuff anyway so we don't run out.
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on Mar 23, 2020 13:10:00 GMT -5
I really wish stores had limited purchases a lot sooner than they did. The problem I don’t think anyone saw it coming... heck I pass up on toilet paper and paper towels at Costco when the limit was 2 and no limit on water. Now they even have limit of 1 for a water... The problem is we have been lied to about it was nothing for so long that we ignored it and the bad news followed bad news is what made it worse. school after school closing, job closing, government closing everything, cases skyrocketing... It hit us all like a ton of brick out of nowhere and everything said: FUCK and freaked out! I think the highlighted part above is what is going to make this change in shopping patterns to stick around for the duration (and after until people stat to "forget"). Our consumption pattern as a society has changed. I.e. if you spend most of your waking hours away from home at work, then that is where most of your TP usage will be. Now every time you have to go you are cutting into your stash. Or take the food situation. We as a society have taken to eating out a lot even if for many that is just fast food. Now we need to not just prepare food, we will have to have ingredients on hand to do so.
We may not have a shortage problem but a packaging (from corporate use size to family size packaging) and distribution problem. In the short run, the next couple of weeks/months, I do not expect things to get resolved. And at the end of this COVID19 problem we'll probably see this all play out in reverse with people not buying as they are using up stock and companies not being able to cover their needs.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 13:19:36 GMT -5
I'm curious to see what happens if the stimulus checks ever happen. There are only a few options for spending that money on food/supplies...
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jerseygirl
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Post by jerseygirl on Mar 23, 2020 13:49:15 GMT -5
I'm curious to see what happens if the stimulus checks ever happen. There are only a few options for spending that money on food/supplies... Or rent !
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Mar 23, 2020 13:54:07 GMT -5
trump is talking about not having the stay at home orders as of next Tuesday, he is going to look at it and maybe lift it.
He and some financial leaders are saying the finance situation is worse then the virus. So he lifts it and lets people run around what a mess I think that would be. But I expect him to do it. What will happen then? Will the virus go totally unchecked? Here people are running around all over. I saw a big line at McD's today, Walmart and grocery full and quite a few people at the Dollar Store. I went in none of them, just to work at the house in town.
I am cooking things we have. DD finished the potato salad for lunch. I had 2 egg rolls. Will fix hubs something. He likes of all things those old canned tamales, yuck, but he likes them so easy today.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 13:57:53 GMT -5
I'm curious to see what happens if the stimulus checks ever happen. There are only a few options for spending that money on food/supplies... Or rent ! On the west coast there are rules in place preventing evictions. I can see people buying food over paying rent.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Mar 23, 2020 14:10:16 GMT -5
Some local restaurants are selling chicken and stuff. They've got more than their take out orders will support. Better than throwing it out and there's certainly a need for meat in my area.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 14:16:25 GMT -5
I think some of these people are grabbing everything they can and have no plan. They also probably don't cook regularly at home. I know all these people did not suddenly become Betty Crocker. Even for holidays the stores are not emptied of flour. I don't know what they are doing with all the produce. You can't freeze lettuce. I have bought 1-2 extra of things we use normally. I try to keep stocked on non perishable stuff anyway so we don't run out. I haven’t become Betty Crocker, but I haven’t eaten from a restaurant in over a week now. That was when I decided I wasn’t going anywhere unless it’s absolutely necessary, even if I have to cook at home. I kinda had a plan when I made my grocery order for pickup last Tuesday, and was getting what I needed for dishes and meals I planned to cook. I didn’t know until they texted me a couple hours before my scheduled pickup that they didn’t have half of what I’d ordered. So now, my plans have a few holes in them. I’m not a good enough cook to figure out substitutes for a lot of things, but I still have enough food to prepare meals, just maybe not the ones I’d planned. I also now have some odds and ends that I wouldn't use for anything but a specific dish, and now I don’t have all the ingredients for some of them. But fortunately, the odds and ends are either refrigerated items that won’t go bad quickly, or shelf stable. The only fresh produce I bought was a cabbage. We already had potatoes and onions, which won’t go bad quickly.
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trippypea
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Post by trippypea on Mar 23, 2020 14:57:28 GMT -5
I'm in PA. I went to the grocery store, first time since before things went crazy. I picked a grocery store that was on the rural side of town instead of the ones right in the heart of town. It wasn't nearly as crowded as I had expected. The store definitely had less stock than usual, but at least some of most items. I was limited to 2 rolls of toilet paper (not packs. rolls.). The paper product aisle was bare but I found a display of paper towels elsewhere in the store. There was a decent selection of meat and the produce looked completely stocked. Canned goods more sparse, but still some on shelves. I was able to get everything on my list.
They had lines on the floor near checkout to try and keep people at a distance from one another. In my lane, there were two people in front of me, and the first was already paying. I've spent longer waiting in line on a regular shopping day. Seemed like there were a lot of people just out casual shopping rather than shopping with the purpose of getting in and out really quick (like me). Nobody in masks or gloves.
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MN-Investor
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Post by MN-Investor on Mar 23, 2020 15:29:54 GMT -5
trump is talking about not having the stay at home orders as of next Tuesday, he is going to look at it and maybe lift it. Since those are state decrees by their governors, I'm pretty sure he has no say in their stay at home orders.
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pulmonarymd
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Post by pulmonarymd on Mar 23, 2020 16:05:19 GMT -5
trump is talking about not having the stay at home orders as of next Tuesday, he is going to look at it and maybe lift it. Since those are state decrees by their governors, I'm pretty sure he has no say in their stay at home orders.
I don’t see those orders in NY, NJ, CA, and WA being lifted anytime soon. What percentage of economic activity does that encompass. In addition, cases will undoubtedly spike in areas already affected that ease restrictions. Interesting to see what will be done then
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 16:11:02 GMT -5
Properly stored, food doesn't go bad as quickly as you guys think. If it is in the freezer, look for freezer burn, etc. But even that means the quality is compromised, not the safety. So you may be able to cut the freezer burned areas off and use most of it. If it is in a can, it doesn't go bad the day after the "Best used by" date. Open the can and sniff it. I used tomato sauce that "expired" in January last week, and I am still alive to type this. You should look up food that doesn't really expire online. You will find sugar doesn't spoil. Nor does honey or maple syrup. Or water. But they all have to have expiration dates printed on them. I was guilty of incredible food waste before this. I'd make something, eat it for a day or so, and then let it sit in the refrigerator until I tossed it. I'd buy potatoes, let them sprout, and toss almost a whole bag. I'd buy a new loaf of bread and toss what was left of the old one. (Well, in winter, I usually tossed it off the deck for the birds.) I am being more conscious of food waste. I had 7 eggs with a "use by" date of tomorrow. I know eggs stay good longer, but I also have a 6-pack of eggs with a mid-April date. So I saved two for tomorrow's breakfast (French toast, I am thinking, with leftover bread from last week) and boiled the other 5. One will go into chicken salad, and the rest will get eaten for two breakfasts. Do I love boiled eggs for breakfast? Not really, but it's not the worst thing I've ever eaten. And as NomoreDramaQ1015 pointed out, eggs are a good source of protein. That is one of the lessons I hope I take away from this: waste not, want not. I don't want to become a hoarder like many who survived the Depression did, but I want to become more careful with resources.
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Happy prose
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Post by Happy prose on Mar 23, 2020 16:15:37 GMT -5
The stay at home order in NJ is bs. My husband works in shipping/receiving warehouse for a dental implant company. The company put out an email saying the legal dept looked it over, and they are exempt because they sell medical/dental supplies, to keep people out of pain. Give me a break. An implant isn't a necessity, nor does it avoid pain, as the tooth has already been pulled. And dentists should only be open for emergencies. So many occupations are exempt, which makes the order useless in my opinion.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 16:17:58 GMT -5
You should look up food that doesn't really expire online. You will find sugar doesn't spoil. Nor does honey or maple syrup. Or water. But they all have to have expiration dates printed on them. <snip> That is one of the lessons I hope I take away from this: waste not, want not. I don't want to become a hoarder like many who survived the Depression did, but I want to become more careful with resources. I agree although I have read that sniffing canned goods is not a reliable way to tell if they've gone bad. Some can go bad and still smell OK. I'm pretty lax about expiration dates, especially if an item is non-perishable (sugar, beans) or frozen. I ate some fish that had been frozen 3+ years ago (and kept frozen)- no problems at all. A couple of months ago someone from outside the church donated some 50-lb. bags of rice. We later discovered that 2 of the bags were past their "sell-by" date and were concerned that food banks might not take them. Our pastor was going to check into it. I'm sure the donor took a deduction for full retail value.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Mar 23, 2020 16:19:26 GMT -5
I agree although I have read that sniffing canned goods is not a reliable way to tell if they've gone bad. Some can go bad and still smell OK
Bulging is a sign they have likely gone bad. Anything rusty or bulging get rid of ASAP.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Mar 23, 2020 16:34:44 GMT -5
Since those are state decrees by their governors, I'm pretty sure he has no say in their stay at home orders.
I don’t see those orders in NY, NJ, CA, and WA being lifted anytime soon. What percentage of economic activity does that encompass. In addition, cases will undoubtedly spike in areas already affected that ease restrictions. Interesting to see what will be done then Add IL, and (WI as of 11:59pm tomorrow).
And Trump can tell us to shop and not worry about COVID-19, but I don't think that is going to significantly change people's behavior. We already lost a significant part of our 401K, DH's business renewals will probably be way down, so it will also affect future income. I don't want to get sick, and I am concerned about future income and debt- so I will not be shopping or travelling as much in the future.
I also am concerned about the extent that businesses have been forced to embrace electronic means. We are trying to get direct deposit set up, and we should have at least had that 12-15 years ago. But they now have the ability to scan and invoice, and pull it into the accounting system, and the computer can assign GL codes and distribute for approval. You also can save an electronic copy of the invoice on your computer, so no manual filing, and when it comes time to pay, instead of cutting a check, you can pay electronically.
People are going to be using more electronic banking, deposit checks from you smart phone, use debit card to withdraw $$ at the bank, use cc or smart phone to pay without having a cashier - b/c right now you have less concern with a machine transmitting a disease to you than a human checker. We are also getting all kinds of people to embrace the Grocery Pickup and using things like Amazon for delivery of Groceries or Staples. This will have a significant effect on retail in the next year.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Mar 23, 2020 16:37:01 GMT -5
Oh my, mine don't last long enough to bulge or rust. That would be really bad. I know when I cleaned moms closet out she had stuff like that. I don't think she had cooked at home in years.
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MN-Investor
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Post by MN-Investor on Mar 23, 2020 16:42:05 GMT -5
My sweetie loved a number of Chunky style soups and certain canned vegetables. After he passed away, I donated a lot of the newer cans to charities. I threw away some of the oldest cans. I still have a bunch of cans which are after the "use by" date so, if worse comes to worse, I suppose I can use them. I just don't care for them. I also have a bunch of frozen dinners in my downstairs freezer which my sweetie liked. It's been two years so they're past their prime. Again, if worst comes to worst. As long as I'm not sick, I'll continue to go to the grocery store and they had plenty of the things I wanted to buy today.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 16:42:53 GMT -5
I agree although I have read that sniffing canned goods is not a reliable way to tell if they've gone bad. Some can go bad and still smell OKBulging is a sign they have likely gone bad. Anything rusty or bulging get rid of ASAP. Well, I took that for granted. And I wouldn't use something even without signals like that or smell it it was 6 months past. But a few months . . . ? Well, maybe. BTW, I take a marker and put the BB date on the label in large enough numbers so I can see which of my canned goods needs to be eaten soon.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Mar 23, 2020 16:43:47 GMT -5
The two banks where I have money have closed their lobbies. They are encouraging online banking or mobile banking. If you have to go to the bank, the transaction is conducted at the ATM only. You will not get inside the bank.
I have never used grocery pickup. This will be my go to way of shopping from now on. I did mark no substitutions because I've heard they make unusual substitutions.
The City of Denver is under stay at home orders as of tomorrow. Liquor stores and recreational dispensaries are not essential. Medical marijuana dispensaries are essential. Problem is there are all kinds of suburbs around Denver so it just moves the $$$ for alcohol and weed there.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 16:48:52 GMT -5
Well, this was timely. An article about how long foods last was in my Yahoo mailbox. Those frozen dinners are probably fine, MN-Investor. link
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 16:48:55 GMT -5
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Mar 23, 2020 18:04:41 GMT -5
Yes, if they get money, I hope they pay us rent. I have lots of bills coming due in the next couple of months. Many thousands in insurance and property taxes.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 23, 2020 18:07:42 GMT -5
The two banks where I have money have closed their lobbies. They are encouraging online banking or mobile banking. If you have to go to the bank, the transaction is conducted at the ATM only. You will not get inside the bank. I have never used grocery pickup. This will be my go to way of shopping from now on. I did mark no substitutions because I've heard they make unusual substitutions.The City of Denver is under stay at home orders as of tomorrow. Liquor stores and recreational dispensaries are not essential. Medical marijuana dispensaries are essential. Problem is there are all kinds of suburbs around Denver so it just moves the $$$ for alcohol and weed there. I have been reluctant to use grocery pick up. First reason is that apparently all the slots are booked up very far in advance. As of last Friday, the local stores were booked through Wed. Secondly, if something on my list is not available, I can see what the store has that would be an acceptable substitute. However, in my experience if they do substitute a different size or brand. I think in the past I have gotten a bigger container of sour cream than I ordered once, and they substituted a generic dairy product that I normally don’t buy as the expiration date passes before I get a chance to use it up....and it goes bad past that point. First was acceptable, second I was not happy about.
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