The president revealed another part of his plans for the US. It happens I recognize the danger our nation is facing, and I agree with the president on the path he's chosen. Past that, my opinion is meaningless to anyone else and my knowledge is both limited and probably faulty.
Before jumping on the Trumping and blaming him, I try to remember he was handed a true pile of shit. FIVE YEARS of propping up the economy by running the money machines full blast. I fully believe it's a situation straight out of Atlas Shrugged, with the looters demanding the competent man lead them back to prosperity.... so they can keep on looting.
What remains for the family and I is to do what we can to cushion the blows and harsh edges of what is coming our way. As I am the only person in the family who see's the problems or cares about them, it falls upon me to do what I can.
The dichotomy comes between choosing to buy stocks (TINY amounts on Robinhood) on the dips while looking for long term recovery and gains, or spend those pennies on short term needs like food, energy, and reserves. Stocks or stockpile?
Looking at our lives and the commercial and international disruptions I foresee as likely, what can I do? On the long term, get/keep debt as low as possible. Debt is slavery. Next on the long term, think about investing whatever I can spare in ways I understand and are most likely to grow instead of being sucked away. Stocks, items, stuff, things... because wild inflation is still on the table. In fact, it's seated at the head of the table and getting ready to carve the turkey. That spare Hunert I have this week will not buy as much next week. A cash reserve is a valuable safety net for a family, but in considered moderation. A heating oil tank filled at Summer prices and a steadily growing stack of firewood will retain every penny of their value to us.
Short term? Looking at the tariff/trade situation , I think the first call is to look at what the family uses from outside our borders. That situation may get quickly better, or far worse, but I'm betting at least a few years of significant disruptions.
We are not wealthy people. We don't operate the family budget on a macro scale, but instead it's micro to the max. To be blunt, the weekly sale at the local grocery store often drives our menu for the coming week. Roast beef is lovely, but being able to *eat* chicken beats just sitting there *thinking* how nice a roast would be.
What does my family use on a regular basis that will be effected by international trade disruptions? Necessarily, things we don't buy rarely but use frequently, if not daily.
Coffee. We grind our own and brew one or two pots a day. It's not something we would enjoy being without, so I've taken our coffee bean stock from "How Much??" to "Are You Kidding Me??". We are at the point where quality loss over storage time might rear it's ugly head.
Spices, condiments, and culinary ingredients. I'll admit these are a primary part of any overseas shopping we do. Luckily I have always gone with 'If you need one, buy two' in this genre. Besides stocking up now, I have also begun the learning journey of what we can grow or source locally that will support our culinary demands. It's a wide world when it comes to food, but we live in the best farm lands our nation has. I don't have to buy Calabrian peppers from Italy if I can grow Calabrian peppers, you know? Olive oil, on the other hand, I cannot produce. Thus I've increased our stock to a years worth of normal usage.
Luxuries like cigars and booze, all on my side of the ledger. Simple enough really. Back off on frequency and find other options. I'll drink a good Scotch on occasion, and smoke a decent import cigar with it. But, I can and do make my own wine, and domestic pipe tobacco is quite pleasing. There are ways, and they are not painful.
Medications.... now a totally international concern. Frankly, aside from the miniscule stockpiling possible under our regulations, I'm stumped on this one. The best thing we are doing is attacking the problem from the other side. We are trying hard to reduce our need for various medications by losing weight, eating healthier, and living heathier lives. Not an easy road for a fat old retired instructor with a bum heart, and a lovely woman who has her own challenges.
Most of all, knowledge is key. Study, learn, and think. Doing this revealed to me the US buys $1.5 billion in Canadian toilet paper each year, and most of our domestic production is done with Canadian pulp. This is just something one does not think about, and as a result I've bumped our home stock of toilet paper by 400%.
Long term, short term. Cash money or consumables or investments? What mix of what ingredients is best for THIS family? Roll the dice, take our chances, and remember that Hope is not a plan.
