Thursday, February 23, 2012

Captain, the sea level's rising!

More cheerful economic discussion over at Mr. B's place.

You know what'll make a $2.50 can of soup taste delicious at lunchtime? Knowing that you bought it on sale for 98¢ two years earlier. Works better than any seasoning I can think of.

15 comments:

Pakkinpoppa said...

Peanut butter, coffee, sugar.

Ritz crackers...same price, but quantity in box is smaller (14.2 oz down from...I forget what).

Soup...meijer brand now what campbells was in times past...

Pakkinpoppa said...

Oh, and meijer...stocks ammo. I get some every week. Shotgun shells, .3030, 9mm, .38 and .357 at times.

My new hobby is filling .30 caliber cans with .22 long rifle. Did you know, one can fit 6 of the 525 or 550 round bricks into one of those if dumped in loose?

Anonymous said...

If only I had the money I'll be making over the next 20 years, so I can buy all the stuff now that I'll buy then...

I'm almost to the point where I plunder my 401k and piss in the wind.

jf

Anonymous said...

ammo and food will get you thru times of no money, better than money will get you thru times of no food or ammo...
screw the 401k...

Sigivald said...

What's the opportunity cost of a dollar and storage for soup for two years?

(The economist in me won't shut up.)

Scott Gelber said...

Hard to eat gold, so stocking up on canned goods makes sense. Canned goods will probably make a better currency than gold as I am not sure how one makes change for even a 1/10-ozt GAE.

As for the opportunity cost, I am reasonably sure it is not 150%, which Tam's example uses.

The Jack said...

As a trade metal silver can be better than gold. Easier to "make change" with it.

But don't worry, there's no inflation and the economy will turn around for the next great 4 year plan.

Maybe the next strongman will have a fancy hat and a dashing steed to ride.

Will said...

I read your post as: ... " on sale for 98¢ two HOURS earlier.", and was thinking, oh shit! the super inflation has hit and I wasn't paying attention...

Pakkinpoppa said...

Canned foods are a good investment, for a short term...uh, issue.

Unfortunately, my neighbors on one side are A) 80-90 and B) the fellow has onset of alzheimers. Other side, while nice, has the situational awareness level of somebody with both an Ipod, cable TV, and a jackhammer going on all at once.

Neighbors behind...um, 2 vicious dogs behind a wobbly 3' chainlink fence, 5 vehicles in the driveway but at least one of them runs, grass gets cut once a month whether it needs it or not (just the backyard, you can't see it from the street).

Sigh. Across the street...mostly rentals with folk who move in and out after about 6 months.

Mossyrock said...

I stopped by the store yesterday to pick up a few things...as in I could go through the Express Check Out line. Total? $89. Have you priced peanut butter of late? A large jar of Jiff...$8.50. Bread, cereal, canned good? All up. Oddly enough, milk hasn't risen at all in over a year.

Brad K. said...

Peter Pan peanut butter is no longer available for WIC purchase in Oklahoma. The 18 ounce jar dropped to 14.2 ounces. Just saying, I watched this at a register last night.

Tam,

"bought it on sale for 98¢ two years earlier". I would watch the expiration dates. I doubt that they will be extending out for longer periods, since shorter expiration dates means more sales and less stocking up in the pantry. All they have to do is cut back on the preservatives . . or just lie about the dates, so they aren't useful any more. And just going to the 'easy open' cans might make shorter expiration dates even shorter.


Brad K.

Tam said...

Brad K.,

"I would watch the expiration dates."

Thank you for your concern. :)

staghounds said...

I still have the 20 cases of Bon Vivant Vichyssoise my grandmother left me...

Kristophr said...

Brad K. : Please send me any whiskey that is past its expiration date.

Thank you.

Brad K. said...

Kristopher,

Sorry, the Whiskey and brandy, too, are all up to date.

I had a toothache.