There any sense on what would be good to stock up on now? When I’ve searched this, the advice is usually pretty worthless. Just advice indistinguishable from general prepper stuff. I’ve seen recommendations to stock up on things like flour, things that the US produces domestically in abundance. But some necessities are going to be more vulnerable to disruptions in shipments from China than others.
Anyone find a good guide or have a sense of what basic household necessities are going to be most vulnerable to disruption of trade with China? I’m not concerned with things like consumer electronics right now, those are luxuries. I’m talking basic food and household staples. I don’t need the standard prepper list that’s meant to prepare you for grave natural disasters. What’s really needed is an analysis of precisely what necessities are most likely to be interrupted by this.
Has anyone seen such a list, or have a sense for what necessities are most vulnerable here?
It’s impossible to know, the economy is complex. Even your example of flour may be affected. Many things aren’t done by hand, and if a machine used in producing flour needs parts that’s sourced from China, there could be a problem that disrupts production. Many things from China comes by ship there’s already been a significant drop in shipping from there. Remember it takes more than a month for a ship to cross the Pacific, and from there it may need to go by rail to where you are. If you live towards the east coast, it will take longer, and if there’s disruptions at the Panama Canal, there could be even more of a delay.
Shipping was busy before the tarrifs, companies were frontloading and warehouses are full. But if people start panic buying, that’ll empt the warehouses really quick and it could be months before anything new gets shipped in and who knows what the prices will be?
Some stuff that’s made in China might be fine if no one panic buys is. Some things made in USA there may be shortages or massive price increases because they need materials from other countries to manufacture them.
So the generic prepper stuff is pretty much the best anyone can offer you. Make sure you have a month’s supply of everything you need, more if possible. You’d need to know the specifics of every industry’s material needs and also know what people might panic buy to be able to be more specific than that.
This is why Trump’s broad tariffs are insane, it’s just pure economic chaos that’s going to hurt Americans more than it will hurt anyone else in the world.
If you’re just worried about the possibility of shortages and not being able to get food easily then stock up on things that will last a long time in the freezer, is something that you will regularly use regardless, and won’t break you to buy in bulk.
Even with some of the prices already going up a little bit chicken is a good example, you can go by huge packs of it at Costco for a reasonable price still at the moment and other similar stores, vegetables like broccoli florets tend to hold up decently in the freezer for a little while (4-6months) and there multiple types of bread that deal well with being frozen and then later thawed out if you use bread a lot.
Basically instead of trying to hyper optimize like some type of prepper just look at what you generally go through, evaluate what out of that is something that will last in a freezer for a good amount of time, and then bulk up on it and just continue using your food like you normally would. Worst case scenario you saved tiny bit of money by buying in bulk which usually comes with a slight savings. Best case scenario shortly after your bulk buying price is Skyrocket and you can try and ride it out off of your supplies.
Avoid the toilet paper problem by getting a bidet, I spent money on the nice $300 one it has heated water which I like and now a single pack of toilet paper from Costco is like almost a Year’s worth of toilet paper because I only use it to help dry a little faster than the weird but hair dryer does so i use almost nothing
I think the tp during COVID was kind of a fluke. It could have been anything. Laundry detergent, some food product etc. TP was just what the news hung their hat on so it’s what everyone thought about when they went to the store.
I’m personally buying rice, beans, and lots of spices to make some delicious meals and wait out the price shocks of food.
Besides that, I mean what do you really need need when it comes to this stuff? I can think of a few things but it’s a very short list. Really we’re just going to have to ride it out and hope it doesn’t get bad bad
Supposedly the TP issue was that the supply chain was segmented out by office TP and home TP, can’t easily switch over easily but everyone was crapping at home.
There’s travel options that are a bit like using one of those picnic ketchup bottles. But if you’re like me, you want to blast your ass with a pressure washer and a squeeze bottle just won’t cut it. Some people suggest using a travel water pik but I haven’t tried it myself.
We got a new toilet several months ago and it took some time for the new bidet to get here. Those couple weeks have never felt more disgusting and it removed absolutely any doubts about their superiority.
We have started a sort of bidet pyramid scheme and have converted so many people. Housewarming? Bidet! Christmas? Bidet! Birthday? That calls for a bidet!
I must admit we’re a bit selfish in that we want to minimize the likelihood of bidetless crapping when we’re away from home.
Come to find out, thanks to bidets thorough, frictionless cleaning they’re incredible for people who suffer from hemorrhoids. They’re really hygienic and beneficial and everyone should just get on board already.
There any sense on what would be good to stock up on now? When I’ve searched this, the advice is usually pretty worthless. Just advice indistinguishable from general prepper stuff. I’ve seen recommendations to stock up on things like flour, things that the US produces domestically in abundance. But some necessities are going to be more vulnerable to disruptions in shipments from China than others.
Anyone find a good guide or have a sense of what basic household necessities are going to be most vulnerable to disruption of trade with China? I’m not concerned with things like consumer electronics right now, those are luxuries. I’m talking basic food and household staples. I don’t need the standard prepper list that’s meant to prepare you for grave natural disasters. What’s really needed is an analysis of precisely what necessities are most likely to be interrupted by this.
Has anyone seen such a list, or have a sense for what necessities are most vulnerable here?
It’s impossible to know, the economy is complex. Even your example of flour may be affected. Many things aren’t done by hand, and if a machine used in producing flour needs parts that’s sourced from China, there could be a problem that disrupts production. Many things from China comes by ship there’s already been a significant drop in shipping from there. Remember it takes more than a month for a ship to cross the Pacific, and from there it may need to go by rail to where you are. If you live towards the east coast, it will take longer, and if there’s disruptions at the Panama Canal, there could be even more of a delay.
Shipping was busy before the tarrifs, companies were frontloading and warehouses are full. But if people start panic buying, that’ll empt the warehouses really quick and it could be months before anything new gets shipped in and who knows what the prices will be?
Some stuff that’s made in China might be fine if no one panic buys is. Some things made in USA there may be shortages or massive price increases because they need materials from other countries to manufacture them.
So the generic prepper stuff is pretty much the best anyone can offer you. Make sure you have a month’s supply of everything you need, more if possible. You’d need to know the specifics of every industry’s material needs and also know what people might panic buy to be able to be more specific than that.
This is why Trump’s broad tariffs are insane, it’s just pure economic chaos that’s going to hurt Americans more than it will hurt anyone else in the world.
If you’re just worried about the possibility of shortages and not being able to get food easily then stock up on things that will last a long time in the freezer, is something that you will regularly use regardless, and won’t break you to buy in bulk.
Even with some of the prices already going up a little bit chicken is a good example, you can go by huge packs of it at Costco for a reasonable price still at the moment and other similar stores, vegetables like broccoli florets tend to hold up decently in the freezer for a little while (4-6months) and there multiple types of bread that deal well with being frozen and then later thawed out if you use bread a lot.
Basically instead of trying to hyper optimize like some type of prepper just look at what you generally go through, evaluate what out of that is something that will last in a freezer for a good amount of time, and then bulk up on it and just continue using your food like you normally would. Worst case scenario you saved tiny bit of money by buying in bulk which usually comes with a slight savings. Best case scenario shortly after your bulk buying price is Skyrocket and you can try and ride it out off of your supplies.
Avoid the toilet paper problem by getting a bidet, I spent money on the nice $300 one it has heated water which I like and now a single pack of toilet paper from Costco is like almost a Year’s worth of toilet paper because I only use it to help dry a little faster than the weird but hair dryer does so i use almost nothing
Keep in mind that flour might be in abundance now, but if everyone in the country buys it, the supply might drop quickly.
Apart from that, dried beans and lentils are probably a good source of nutrients, easy to store and last for a while.
I think the tp during COVID was kind of a fluke. It could have been anything. Laundry detergent, some food product etc. TP was just what the news hung their hat on so it’s what everyone thought about when they went to the store.
I’m personally buying rice, beans, and lots of spices to make some delicious meals and wait out the price shocks of food.
Besides that, I mean what do you really need need when it comes to this stuff? I can think of a few things but it’s a very short list. Really we’re just going to have to ride it out and hope it doesn’t get bad bad
Supposedly the TP issue was that the supply chain was segmented out by office TP and home TP, can’t easily switch over easily but everyone was crapping at home.
Who are all these psychopaths crapping at work
I avoid that scenario as much as possible 😅
Boss makes a dollar, I make a dime.
That’s why I poop on company time.
(Except I’m salaried and WFH but the principle is the same.)
If it’s really like Covid, toilet paper will be the first thing to go.
I agree.
90% of toilet paper is apparently domestically produced in the USA.
Doesn’t matter. The shortage wasn’t rational then and it won’t be rational this time. It will just be the first thing people hoard.
I installed a bidet like two weeks before that entire shortage started. I have never felt more smug about a decision.
Any fellow bidet user should feel smug about it, I say in half jest. Not using a bidet is barbaric, I say in full seriousness.
Can never go back after getting one
More hotels need to have them 😫
Couldn’t agree more. Went on vacation couple weekends ago and felt like a fool using TP
There’s travel options that are a bit like using one of those picnic ketchup bottles. But if you’re like me, you want to blast your ass with a pressure washer and a squeeze bottle just won’t cut it. Some people suggest using a travel water pik but I haven’t tried it myself.
We got a new toilet several months ago and it took some time for the new bidet to get here. Those couple weeks have never felt more disgusting and it removed absolutely any doubts about their superiority.
We have started a sort of bidet pyramid scheme and have converted so many people. Housewarming? Bidet! Christmas? Bidet! Birthday? That calls for a bidet!
I must admit we’re a bit selfish in that we want to minimize the likelihood of bidetless crapping when we’re away from home.
Come to find out, thanks to bidets thorough, frictionless cleaning they’re incredible for people who suffer from hemorrhoids. They’re really hygienic and beneficial and everyone should just get on board already.