Covid-like shortages for US consumers ‘within weeks’
Covid-like shortages for US consumers ‘within weeks’
Shipping data shows container traffic from China to the US is collapsing
MAGA's gonna party like it's 2020!
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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?
I just want to add this here, in the hopes that people see this.
From what I have read the shortage of toilet paper during Covid that became a meme representing the whole experience of supply chain shocks is actually misplaced.
The major reason there was a shortage of toilet paper was not really because there was a panic buy of toilet paper that cleared the shelves out, or rather that happened only after there was a genuine shortage cause by the fact that a massive amount of people moved from using toilet paper at their jobs, in their employers bathrooms, bought from a B2B company and delivered by a truck specialized in delivering supplies for businesses... to buying toilet paper from distribution networks positioned to deliver products to consumers in grocery stores and such.
Those are seperate logistics networks with seperate companies, seperate delivery trucks, seperate everything, distribution and sales of toilet paper not smoothly adapting to the shock of Covid was a product of this, not just some purely irrational fear in consumers, there is a legitimate reason it happened and it won't likely happen again unless there is mass unemployment... at which point there are bigger problems....
My advice is if you need something electronic or mechanical and it’s expensive buy it now. I just replaced my hvac last month because I know this summer will be a mess. Most air conditioners are made in Asia. You want an e-bike, buy it now.
The more parts something has the more likely it’s going to be affected by tariffs.
Start growing some food if you can it’s a great way to be more resilient. I’d recommend buying things like coffee and tea and chocolate that are not easily grown in the US. There’s actually a pretty bad chocolate shortage right now I believe.
Also for other stuff, buy used, in thrifts or on eBay. Not only are you recycling, most sellers are individuals rather than big corps. Also, if you have old stuff you are not using, it’s a great time to sell. My eBay sales are up 10% this year.
Big fan of buying used on eBay, here. Works amazingly for clothes, too. They aren't nearly as poor quality or as dirty as people would imagine. I can get brand new shoes or pairs of pants for $10-$20 per pair!
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.)
Haha yeah I guess in that case I poop at work on company time too.
I'm still in the group chat for the office nearest me and there was a LOT of outrage last week because the company mysteriously removed all of the bidets. I was outraged on their behalf!
Same, especially if it's a high-traffic one. Our office has one shared for the floor, with 2 other businesses on the same floor sharing it. It's like Grand Central Station in there...
Dear God, that's horrifying!
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
Buy a chest freezer! It opens the world imo.
If it's really like Covid, toilet paper will be the first thing to go.
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.
TIL! Is there anything they can't do?
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.