As Americans sink deeper into anxiety over the failing economy, some are taking drastic steps. One of the behaviors that some are developing involves stockpiling...food, water, emergency supplies, etc. I'm not talking about stocking an emergency pantry in case there is an actual emergency such as natural disasters or prolonged periods of unemployment. These folks are developing something of a bunker mentality...in much the same way as people who were freaking out over Y2K almost ten years ago.
Don't get me wrong: stocking up for emergencies is not a bad thing. I have recommended it myself, prior to the current economic recession. However, I recommended having a few weeks to a few months worth of food staples on hand in case one were to lose their job and need to put food on their table for their families. The people quoted in a story about hoarders on The Today Show earlier today are stocking enough food for two years or more.
Preparing for bad economic times is not about worrying that the supermarket won't have enough food to sell. They will. Even during the Great Depression, there was plenty of food available for people to purchase. The problem was there were many people who couldn't afford it. We're not at that point yet. In fact, we're not even close. Stocking an emergency pantry is about having some food on hand in case you don't have the money to buy food, usually due to prolonged periods of unemployment. I still recommend having anywhere from eight weeks to six months worth of canned and dry good on hand, just in case.
You don't have to go nuts and spend your kid's college fund to buy this extra food, either. Whenever you see a sale on canned or dry goods (I get mine at Big Lots), buy a few extra cans and stick them away in a basement or closet designated as your emergency pantry. Then, hope you won't ever have to use it, but do use it before it expires. That's where the contents of my emergency pantry went. I stocked up prior to the current recession, but with expiration dates approaching, I finally had to eat the stuff. I'll be stocking up again soon....but nothing like the folks featured on The Today Show.
Besides, that poppy seed cake does not look appetizing at all. Watch the video...you'll see what I mean.
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that is waaaaaaaaay too much food there big guy in Pittsburgh.
Plus the chiropractor guy is buying stuff that may or may not have been made with GMO's.
Mormons are taught proper food storage, perhaps these folks need to do a bit of research.