| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dorinda |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 07:06:49 AM
So not long ago my kids were making fun of me because I run out and buy all the sale items at the grocery store. My pantry is loaded with food and my freezer. They said I was a food hoarder. So last night I was at a friends house playing bingo. There was about 20 of us ladies there. My friends kids came in after it was over and was checking out the food that was brought. They started telling us their Mom is a food hoarder. Hum I thought that was funny since that's what my kids said about me. So me and my friend started talking about it. We decided that we both grew up in large families and had to go a little hungry every once in a while. And maybe that's why we make sure there is plenty of food in the house to eat at all times. There was 9 kids in her family and 9 in our family. Did you grow up in a large family and have to fight every once in a while for a fried chicken leg? LOL Are you a food hoarder? LOL.....
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Penny Wise |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 7:29:02 PM
when i was growing up, my adopted mom was a lousy cook...she would shop once a week and usually there wasn't much of anything throughout the week in the cupboard or the frig-now- we never were hungry --but there just wasn't anything put up!i remember opening a cupboard and it was basically empty- a can of soup and some string beans...while her best friend had a wonderfully stocked pantry in her basement..... ok fast forward a bit..my first hubby was a steelworker and would always come home talking about layoff or strike- so we would buy extra each pay period "in case" ..finally it happened and he was laid off for two years solid before they went on lock out....so our stocking up came in really handy-wasn't always the best of food (sodium etc ) but tasty and kept the kids fed!
at one point, my family of 5 and a cat and fish moved in with hubby's parents who did grow up in the depression. mom was a card--she would open the cupboard and see the food i had stocked up on and say "we have to use this up"-could be cans that were brand new but she thought they needed to be used right away!she'd go on a cooking spree then complain because we weren't eating fast enough!
fast fwd some more- when sweetie and i moved back to ohio in january we sold our freezer and gave away the food in it (moved into a teensy apt) -well, my daughter was unpacking our cans and boxes of foodstuffs into a pantry and pitched out stuff that she felt was outdated...she and i argue about a can of spam--i am keeping it basically cuz it's an anniversary can and sweetie and i like spam (he lived in hawaii for 11 years and it's popular there!)--may never open the can but i like the graphic on it!
my birthmother, on the other hand, has food in freezers in her basement that absolutely scare me! no way would i eat any of it cuz it's probly 20 years old! and she keeps buying more...she also has a severe problem in the living spaces in the house- finding a chair to sit in or a path to walk on can be quite difficult...nuff said.
Farmgirl # 2139
proud member of the Farmgirls of the Southwest Henhouse
~*~ counting my pennies; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
| ceejay48 |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 12:22:38 PM
I agree too that it is not hoarding. Current state of economic affairs tells us that we need to be planning head, planning smart and not assuming anything. It could all change in a heartbeat! Like several has already mentioned, cycling items through for stale dates is also smart.
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
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from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
| Rosemary |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 12:05:32 PM
I agree: not hoarding, just smart, assuming you only stock up on things that you'll really use before they are stale-dated.
My mother grew up during the Great Depression, one of two children reared by a widowed mom who had no real skills. It was very tough. I think a lot of Depression survivors, like survivors of tough times in general, including the Holocaust, tend to "hoard" food if they are lucky enough to get to where they can do it. The classic graphic novel "Mauz" has a particularly moving subplot about that. |
| crittergranny |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 09:47:00 AM
Stocking up on food is smart, but if one has a bunch of expired food then they might need to start moving it out a little sooner.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
| Penny Wise |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 09:43:12 AM
i have thoughts on this and have found my "reason" in my personal history-however i am at work and can't spend long typing! i will revisit this! it's an interesting thread!
Farmgirl # 2139
proud member of the Farmgirls of the Southwest Henhouse
~*~ counting my pennies; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
| sherrye |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 09:41:10 AM
nini i love your post. i think we all need to be proud of this. when my husband ask me to marry him he quoted proverbs. we have been a great team now for almost 40 years. hats off to planning ahead and saving money too.
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| SandraM |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 08:46:02 AM
I think it is a great idea. Stock up on sale items. Food cost keep going up why pay full price when we can stock up when it is on sale.
I can so whatever I harvest this year last until next year. (well sometimes it last)
Buying Bulk can save money as well.
You are being frugal and smart.
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
| pinokeeo |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 08:36:02 AM
My pantry is constantly full, either with stuff I've canned, stuff that's on sale, and/or staples to make food from scratch. I grew up in a very large family (10 kids) and we had enough to eat, but only barely. It was up to all of us to help with canning, freezing and whatever else needed to be done. If we found a patch of blackberries, back to the house to get baskets and help for picking. If neighbors had overabundance, we were on hand to pick apples, cherries, strawberries or whatever. They would always give us what they couldn't use, and we canned everything.
Things are definitely different now, but I still make sure we have what we need. My son, who is a total geek, has started gardening and trying to save food. He sees what it does for us.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I cannot master those things that I have not tried.
check out my artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/PiNOKEEOs |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 08:33:34 AM
I don't think that makes you so much a food hoarder as financially savvy, Dorinda. I do a similar thing by stocking up on sale items we use and buying bulk items at Costco when I can. We're ahead a bit, and my shelves are pretty well stocked with things we regularly use and need..even my freezer is starting to become a little tough to close. BUT I look at it this way: First, I've saved our family money long-term. Like everyone else, we're feeling the squeeze of tough times. Right now, I can go to my shelves and pull out just about anything I need to make a healthy meal for my family, or pull out whatever toiletries we may need. It may not last more than a few months, but it sure is a comfort to know that should inclement weather hit, I won't have to go out in it. It's also quite a comfort to know that in the event we go over the fiscal cliff and fuel, food and grocery prices start to soar, and our budget is hit with normal expenses in such a fashion that it's more than the paycheck can bear, we'll be able to offset some of the expense by what I already have stored at home. Again, it won't last forever, but it should help free up some of our income for a little while so we can spend what we need to spend on other expenses; we'll be able to breathe a little better during the hard times. Another reason it's a good thing is that there are many, many times that we learn of people who are suddenly hit with serious difficulties, and all I have to do is pull out a big old box and fill it up with food and supplies to help them out a little bit.
Sometimes I do look at my storage room and I worry what people would think if they knew. But truthfully, I don't share about it with everyone. The very few with whom I have shared it usually say that I am really smart to do so rather than laugh at me. As a matter of fact, stocking up had been something that had been weighing heavily on my neighbor's mind. I explained how I had slowly added to my storage, and she asked to see. When she saw what I had done, she was amazed and just kept saying how much she really wanted to do this, too, but had no room. It opened an entire conversation about different ways and places she could "find" the ability and room to store things that her family needs. Last night her daughter was here and shared with me that her Mom was really excited about some of the ideas we discussed and has now started a special "grocery store," as she likes to call it, like mine. I think that's pretty cool.
Having said all of that, though, my hubby - who, by the way, grew up in a HUGE family - used to roll his eyes. He used to wonder when I was going to feel we have enough. Well, I'd tell him, we do rotate our supplies, so it's not like we're not using what we have. It's also not like I have a Duggar-sized store (although, that might be when I'd be "done!" LOL!). I just trying to add whenever I get a good deal. He used to say, "Yeah, you're SAVING me money by spending it!" But now, when he watches the news and follows economic forecasts, I see him looking at the whole thing a lot differently. He goes to the grocery store and has an absolute FIT when he sees how rapidly and how much prices have increased. Now he will alert me to a good sale whenever he sees or hears of it; and lately, I've noticed he's been asking, "How are we fixed for such-n-such?" He's a lot more concerned and in tune with things now than he used to be, and my system of "thinking ahead" has brought him peace of mind. A couple of times, he has needed things that he hesitated to mention, because he knew they were going to be expensive. How relieved he was to learn that I had exactly what he needed on hand and that our budget was NOT going to take the hit he had anticipated. I love to hear the air of pride in his voice when he tells his friends about things I've done to save us money, and about the skills I've learned like growing our own foods, canning and making our bread. He doesn't scoff anymore - he's proud of what I have done and sees the wisdom behind it. That's a wonderful thing! To him, it's a very big deal; to me, though, it's all about working toward becoming a Proverbs 31 wife - the wife and mother God created me to be! :)
So, I say, let them scoff and do what your heart is moved to do! Someday they will see your wisdom; but even if they don't, you can rest assured that you'll be the first one they turn to in times of crisis - and you'll be prepared to help!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 07:51:56 AM
Interesting observation--my mom isn't a food hoarder, but she is a stuff hoarder (NOT like the shows on tv, though--that's a whole different animal!). They moved so much as children, and never "owned" a home because my grandfather abandoned the family and my gran had to work 4 odd jobs (that were available to women in the 1950's). Each time they moved, my grandmother would throw out what little they had because there was no way to take it elsewhere since she had no driver's license. That's why my mom has stuff with tags on it in the basement. All neatly organized (you can walk) but it will never be used..."just in case".
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| sherrye |
Posted - Nov 14 2012 : 07:41:25 AM
3 cheers for food hoarders. in this time and economy i think its smart stuff. i was not from a large family alee, but learned from a young age to appreciate where food comes from and to have a stock pile. we canned meats and vegies and dad would buy cases of things we did not can. the couponing shows are amazing. thing is for us we do not eat that processed food. i think it is smart to have a pantry full. my kids used to laugh but now their wives are doing it too. fun post happy days to you sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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