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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Prices Are Going Up! Make a Plan Now!


by Carolyn


This is just a quick summary of the information I presented on Ready Or Not this past Tuesday. There are more statistics on the show than in this post. Please take time to listen to the show to kick start your food production and storage efforts.


Oil prices were up 6% on Monday and 8% Tuesday and oil up to $100.00 a barrel by Wednesday. It's still too early today to know what will happen by the end of the day's trading. In the United States we do have oil that is just sitting due to inadequate pipelines to get the crude to the refineries. Monday the average gas price was $3.17 with the price last year at $2.54. If you are an average driver and don't fuel up more than once a week, I really don't know who that is, the increase is costing you $378.00 per year per car, more than last year and with the price of crude up again that is sure to go higher. 


Airline prices are going up as well. "As the carriers have tried to keep up with rapidly rising oil prices, they have already increased their fares four times since the start of the year, compared with only three increases for all of 2010. The airlines have also raised some of their fees, imposed summer peak-time surcharges and added hefty fuel surcharges on international flights".




Food prices are up also:

cocoa up 42% since September

Since June just seven months, world prices have gone up 

wheat 75%

sorghum 88%

Rice 17%

corn 73%

sugar 73%

edible oils prices (soybean, corn, palm…) up as much as 43%

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates corn used for ethanol will rise from 31% of U.S. corn output in 2008/9 to a projected 40% in 2010/11.


Don't be fooled, prices have already gone up, 9% in the U.S. and 10% in England. Check the size of the containers your food comes in. Has it gotten smaller. If not check the number of ounces in the container. Have they gotten less? If you paid $2.00 last year for 16 ounces of cereal and this year $2.00 for 12 ounces of cereal that is a 20% increase. Some cereals are now only 12 ounces. Have you noticed that? The same is true of less yogurt in a cup, fewer slices of cheese in a package. Don't be fooled!


If food prices were to increase 10% this year, and according to experts that is very optimistic, if you spend $100.00/week on groceries now you will be spending $40.00/month and $480.00/year more by the end of the year. Some experts are saying some food prices could rise as much as 40% but even a compromise of a 20% increase would mean $960.00 per year more. Now how many of you with a family only spend $100.00 per week. 


If you are currently eating out at all now is the time to stop! Take that money and invest it in food storage. There will continue to be coupons and sales for food and IF you have your General Store stocked for three months you will NEVER have to pay full price for any of your food.

This is the time to get serious. It's time to plant a garden, no matter how small. It's time to learn to can what you grow. It's time to learn to bake and cook from scratch. We can help. 


In the yahoo group this week we have been talking about how to make your own hot cereals from grains. What would you like help with? Take time to listen to Tuesday's Ready Or Not and commit now! Start looking on Craig's list, asking friends, family, and everyone you know, for old canning jars. Find a gardening buddy and share your harvest. What sacrifices will you need to make in the future if your grocery bill goes up 20%. Will you need to give up music lessons, sell your second car, move to a smaller home or apartment, eliminate a favorite hobby, get rid of satellite TV or internet on your cell phone? Sacrifice a little time now to make a plan and a little time and effort to work the plan.


Listen to my radio show READY OR NOT…every Tuesday night 9:00pm Eastern, 6:00pm Pacific…if you missed some listen now.








2 comments:

  1. I agree with you, now is the time. With prices on the rise and you are getting less for your dollar at the store having food storage is just a smart thing to do. Also get some gas in 5 gallon cans and put sta-bil in them and fill them up. This way when gas goes way up this summer you will have some gas at the much lower price that we have right now.

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  2. This is good advice. There are still good prices out there. Costco still has 25 lb bags of rice for under $10. Flour is still cheap. Sugar prices have risen a little but is still cheap ($12 for 25 lbs). Don't wait. If one of the major food producing countries has a drought or other crop disaster this summer this problem will get far worse.

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