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It wasn't so bad at our house because when I shop, I'm used to buying supplies a week or two ahead. I do it with cat food, TP, paper towels, Kleenex, etc. With two men in the family, I have fears of running out of these things anyway, and with everyone having allergies in a four person household, Kleenex is a routine necessity.
Over the years, I've known folks who were almost revivalists. One had turned her basement into her little store, as she called it. She had bulk paper products on metal shelves that reached the ceiling, and unreal caches of canned food and boxed dinners. It was her hobby. Her husband had an outdoor metal building full of plane and car memorabilia beautifully arranged. I bought a lovely doll house she had made, fully furnished and electrified. She had a few other childhood dolls and toys not for sale, but her living room was completely empty but for two large recliners and a very big flat screened TV. Minimizes cleaning, that's for sure.
To each his own. In the immortal words of Sly Stone, "different strokes for different folks."
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| WWI Navy Poster, public domain |
My family suffered through WWII in Europe. They tended to store lots of canned goods, and to buy everything in multiple quantities. They were ready for three or four successive Christmases. They were also a large family, with lots of nephews, god children, and other relatives. They didn't hoard and were organized with a place for everything.
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| Toilet Paper Roll Dolls, public domain |
Scouts' motto was "be prepared", and I've tried to do that. My dad took me to the grocery store from the time I was very small. I always won the class version of "Price is Right" because I was aware.
We don't have a humongous freezer, but I do buy a few things for dinner ahead of time and freeze them. I tend to prefer fish and vegetarian pasta, but my family needs and eats meat and protein. We all eat eggs. So, because I also dread going to stores these days, I try to buy dinners for a week or so ahead.
It's great if we can grow our own fruits or vegetables, or know how to forage. My grandma and her friends could boil dandelion leaves and make rose hip jelly. It does't hurt. Canning, if you have time and know how, is also a great option and fun hobby. We used to make our own strawberry jam in manageable quantities, and I watched my babysitter make tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes. I've tried it and it works well.
We don't need to panic, but the Apocalypse is not coming. The Hong Kong flu was worse, and we got through it.
If you have a surplus, share with someone. Be nice. When I make a big meal, I freeze the leftovers and share them with friends. They do the same for me.
My one missed luxury is Clorox wipes. I love them; I'm finding a canister here or there, but I also learn to use paper towels and cleaning vinegar. Also, my family used cleaning rags from worn out clothes. We even washed them. Not a bad idea, either.
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| 1973 TP crisis. Public Domain image. |
From a collector's point of view, I have to say my novelty dolls made from paper towel/TP cardboard rolls and my Kleenex dolls, are going to increase in value. Meet me on eBay!!
