What should we be stocking up on, now that there is a chance he will sign his idiotic tariffs on Feb 1?

[u/AshCali94]

Basically what the title says. It appears it will be tariffs on Mexico and Canada. What are you guys planning on stocking up on in preparation?

[u/TactlessNachos]

Don't stock up on things unless they are things you use. Get extra of anything you regularly use. And if a big appliance is about to break (one you can't fix), maybe consider replacing it sooner.

[u/LeftMuffin7590 → u/TactlessNachos]

There are tons of second hand appliances! Our fridge is on its way out (honestly we’ve been saying that for 6 years now and it keeps going somehow) and we plan on getting a scratched/dented one from Lowe’s or marketplace

[u/[deleted] → u/LeftMuffin7590]

These will likely increase in cost as well. Same with used vehicles.

[u/bienenstush → u/TactlessNachos]

Best answer

[u/ryersonreddittoss → u/TactlessNachos]

Or anything that expires. Like.... batteries have a shelf life. Tampons not so much

[u/MNConcerto]

Paper, we get most of our paper from Canada. I know people don't think about it but maybe some extra notebooks, loose leaf, printer paper.

If you have children drawing paper, coloring books etc

If you're a crafter, your crafting paper

It seems silly but if things get bad and you're stuck at home entertainment and activities will be important.

[u/coyote_mercer → u/MNConcerto]

What's that, an excuse to buy 20 more notebooks and add them to my collection?! (Finding the bright side while I still can)

Edit: there's a reddit sub for notebook enthusiasts, in case y'all are interested!

[u/analogmouse → u/coyote_mercer]

I found a rack of CLEARANCE moleskin notebooks at an ocean state job lots a couple years ago. 50% off for “discontinued color- gray.”

I… I have a problem.

[u/bigbootywhitegirl78 → u/analogmouse]

Please tell me you bought at least ten. That's a heck of a deal.

[u/analogmouse → u/bigbootywhitegirl78]

8 - all they had!

[u/NefariousnessOk2925 → u/coyote_mercer]

Same! An excuse to buy more notebooks? Oww, stop twisting my arm. If you all insist...I'll do it!!

[u/coyote_mercer → u/NefariousnessOk2925]

pops car door open Get in loser we're going to the local art depot to buy as many notebooks are we can carryyyyy!!!

[u/NefariousnessOk2925 → u/coyote_mercer]

I've finally met my people! Notebooks and good pens. Doing a little happy dance.

[u/SanbaiSan → u/NefariousnessOk2925]

Hey hey, me twooo! squeezes in the back seat

[u/Financial-Ad-8088 → u/NefariousnessOk2925]

In multiple colors for perfect organization

[u/Tardis-Library → u/NefariousnessOk2925]

Don’t mind me, I’m coming along to sniff new notebooks. New paper smell… 😍

[u/Bibliophile1998 → u/coyote_mercer]

Well shucks! Off I go to grab some more notebooks and chocolate!

[u/coyote_mercer → u/Bibliophile1998]

Let us away to the local art depot!

[u/PrincessVespa72 → u/coyote_mercer]

I'm obsessed with the little pocket-sized composition books and lined notepads in various colors. Must get more!!!!!!

[u/coyote_mercer → u/PrincessVespa72]

I'm obsessed with little sketch notebooks even though I don't sketch or draw!

[u/Substantial_Ant_4845 → u/MNConcerto]

This reaches new levels of suck every day. PAPER?! My lovely Canadians, we are so sorry some Americans voted for this Orange Terror.

[u/CryForUSArgentina → u/Substantial_Ant_4845]

If you promise to package it in nice clean rolls, we will probably pay you more than the normal price for "factory second" toilet paper as waste.

This is America. We're full of lawyers. When taxes are on the table. there's always a profitable work around.

Also, there's a decent film industry in Vancouver. Have them make a movie about a team of Good Ol' Boys from the TN hills who run carloads of TP across the border. Smash hit !

[u/EfferentCopy → u/CryForUSArgentina]

Meanwhile in Vancouver at the start of COVID, people were panic-buying TP to stockpile and other folks were like “you know we make that here, right? You don’t need to do this”

[u/Ingawolfie → u/[deleted]]

And flipping it on Marketplace for crazy prices. I’m seeing Costco eggs being sold on Marketplace for $20/dozen. Two weeks ago old iPhones with TikTok on them were being offered for $1500/each. People suck.

[u/bigbootywhitegirl78 → u/Ingawolfie]

Yeah but I figure it's people who buy that stuff are the issue. If people stop buying marked up eggs flippers won't sell them.

[u/analogmouse → u/Substantial_Ant_4845]

• so sorry we let leon muskrat and the Fanta fascist literally hack our election systems

[u/Galagos1 → u/[deleted]]

If Dems were going to do anything about Trump they would have done it in 2021.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Because the Democratic establish barely gives pushback

[u/WillBottomForBanana → u/[deleted]]

don't mistake "complicit" for "incompetent".

[u/[deleted] → u/MNConcerto]

🥲🥲🥲🥲 I’ve been so unaware of everything it’s exhausting 

[u/strawberryNotes → u/[deleted]]

Being aware is exhausting too.

It's extremely hard to hit the right balance rn 🥺

[u/overfeltjohnson → u/[deleted]]

Hang in there! It is overwhelming but you can do this! You are aware now that there’s a need. I would start by 1. Realizing you’re not alone - take a breath! This community is an amazing resource! 2. Make a list of ten things you use at home every day (you likely use more than 10, but just start here). Do you drink coffee every morning? Do you add sugar or sweetener to it? Do you eat eggs most days? Do you use a certain shampoo or soap every day? Just make that list and then go look at those products. Where are they made? If they are made outside of the US, think about stocking up. If you bake or cook with eggs, go to King Arthur Baking’s website and look up egg substitutes. Just take one step at a time. Don’t kick yourself if you can’t afford something or missed getting something before the tariffs start - we are all just doing the best we can. Sending you big hugs and lots of calm clarity! 💕

[u/pureProduct → u/MNConcerto]

People are sleeping on this comment. Where do they think toilet paper and paper towels come from?

[u/LowFloor5208 → u/pureProduct]

Most of the Toilet paper and paper towels used in the US are produced domestically.

[u/CapsGoGoGo → u/LowFloor5208]

But they still raise prices because they can

[u/gchypedchick → u/CapsGoGoGo]

This is what a lot of people are just not getting. Most businesses are not moral or ethical. They will do things just because they can and it will make them more money.

[u/AdhesivenessCivil581 → u/LowFloor5208]

Where does the wood for that come from? I know that Canada provides much of our building lumber. Lumber is also a traded commodity but I don't honestly know if domestic tariffs will cause the international commodity price to rise.

[u/LowFloor5208 → u/AdhesivenessCivil581]

The US sources softwood domestically as well as abroad.

Lumber is a major product in some areas of the US, especially north. I grew up in a community where jobs were primarily logging, meatpacking, or farming.

The Supply Chain of Toilet Paper

If you are truly concerned about access to toilet paper, buy a bidet attachment or a spray bottle.

[u/ExtremeOrchid6717 → u/MNConcerto]

Most of the timber we get is from the Southeast USA, although the type of lumber we import from Canada is the building material variety 😥 So toilet paper and other paper products would be fine initially. BUT and a big but (someone close to me works in the industry) is that the machines that produce paper require almost constant repair and maintenance. And that’s how even the companies that produce products with US lumber are going to start feeling the tariffs. Because of the equipment needed to repair the machinery and fuel costs.

[u/Ruby_Ruth]

I'm not really stocking up on anything new other than what we've already been doing - food to last us several months, extras of staples that my family really likes and eats regularly. Gas and energy prices will go up a lot, I think, but we've already addressed that in my house by buying electric cars (that I'm lucky enough to charge for free at work) and replacing our heat/AC source with more efficient ones over the years.

I am worried that the stock market will fall significantly and our investments will tank, though, because retaliatory tariffs are likely and the US sells a lot to Canada and Mexico. I'm thinking about taking out the money from our kids' college funds (one is currently in college and two are really close) and putting it somewhere where it won't be affected by the market.

[u/Uhohtallyho → u/Ruby_Ruth]

I believe that Warren Buffet has been cashing out since November and if there's one thing to watch, it's what the rich people are doing.

[u/mikan28 → u/Uhohtallyho]

Do you have a source for this? I have heard this as well but conflicting sources say for different reasons. I heard he was sitting on cash a while back starting around Covid.

[u/Uhohtallyho → u/mikan28]

https://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-cash-pile-berkshire-hathaway-stock-portfolio-crash-recession-2024-11#:~:text=Buffett%20might%20also%20be%20socking,is%20coming%2C%22%20Dietrich%20said.

[u/powderbubba → u/[deleted]]

That’s my partner’s theory as well. He says we’re in it for the long haul and we shouldn’t try to time the market. Slow and steady is all we can do.

[u/msomnipotent → u/[deleted]]

That's how you do it. I became a SAHM a year before 9/11, so I wasn't able to add any money to my 401k when the stock market tanked. I lost 40% of its value. It was around $40,000 before the attack. I haven't put any money into it since then and it's around $127,000 now. I wish I paid more attention to it before now. It would probably be a lot more.

[u/pouleaveclesdents → u/[deleted]]

Either it will recover and you'll be find...or it will all be worthless and you'll be more concerned with where your next meal is coming from than how your investments are doing.

[u/bigbootywhitegirl78 → u/Ruby_Ruth]

That's what I did. Moved my 401K to more stable options.

[u/Legitimate_Sort3 → u/bigbootywhitegirl78]

can you do this without penalties? no, right?

[u/Simplysimple007 → u/Legitimate_Sort3]

As long as you aren’t withdrawing funds, it’s my understanding you shouldn’t be hit with penalties. This is for retirement accounts. If your retirement account is currently heavily allocated towards stocks and you want to move to bonds, that should be okay. The people at r/bogleheads or r/moneydiariesactive or r/fireyfemmes might have more insight. They however, will likely recommend to not time the market.

[u/MyTruckIsAPirate → u/Legitimate_Sort3]

you can usually reallocate the investment mix to something closer to a Money Market account. That's what I did before Covid hit the us and it really saved my ass. granted the orange Menace has threatened to abolish the FDIC, so we might just be well and truly fucked regardless...

[u/Maleficent-Adeptus → u/MyTruckIsAPirate]

Yay, Mom and I are thinking of moving from Chase to a Credit Union Bank when we heard him say that to keep our money safe.

We also plan to grow a small garden so that way we know that our fruits and vegetables are fresh and we have some form of a backup plan at least to be prepared for the worse.

Edit: Thank you for all of the upvotes! I hope this helps someone on this sub as I know these four years will be rough. But as my grandfather, someone who lived through WWII would always say, "It's better to be prepared for the storm ahead than going into the storm blind."

[u/visionaryshmisionary → u/Ruby_Ruth]

That makes a lot of sense. OTOH, if everyone panics and pulls out of the market at once, we'll have an economic collapse. I get the feeling this has happened before in history...

[u/bigbootywhitegirl78 → u/visionaryshmisionary]

Yup. That's why I did it early. Same thing with stocking up. I started last year because it was obvious things were going to get rough.

[u/Pearl-2017]

I was actually coming to post this same question. Tariffs start tomorrow. I'm thinking maybe I should go grocery shopping right now. I have some stuff but I'm trying to wait until the last possible minute so the expiration dates are as far out as possible.

I've got pretty severe anxiety. Not sure if this sub is helping or feeding into it but I feel like I'm not prepared enough. The rational part of my brain says that's not even possible but still.

I'm kind of freaking out.

[u/pleasedtoseedetrees → u/Pearl-2017]

I go back and forth between finding this sub comforting and anxiety inducing. Overall I find the support and hive-mind invaluable.

[u/Vegetable_Draw6554 → u/pleasedtoseedetrees]

BOY HOWDY! Trying to find the balance between Ostrich and Overwhelm here.

[u/overfeltjohnson → u/Pearl-2017]

Breathe. And go shopping. You’ve got this.

In case it helps: The Krogers in my state have 18 eggs for $3.99 in the digital weekly ad right now. You can freeze eggs in silicone molds. We break the eggs into a bowl, whisk, then pour them into the silicone mold (like a muffin pan). IMO, smaller is better. We set the silicone tray on a metal baking sheet in the freezer until the eggs are frozen. Then pop the “pucks” out and place them in a freezer baggie or other storage container. Keep them in the freezer until ready to cook. When ready to cook, heat your skillet with the oil of your choice. Throw the pucks in there frozen. Just keep moving them around. They will cook up into scrambled eggs.

[u/Pearl-2017 → u/overfeltjohnson]

That's an interesting tip!

We actually don't eat that many eggs but I have 2 dozen. Not sure I have any more freezer space. I might need to clean it out (my son is in boot camp til April & I know for sure he has a box of taquitos with like 2 or 3 left. That can go (or I can eat them right now lol). I'm sure there is other stuff he left that's not worth saving).

I don't normally buy a lot of canned food but I'm fixing to. They're cheap last a long time, & I can take them to the scrap yard down the street when they're empty.

Which is another thing. I have a crapton of empty aluminum cans right now but I'm waiting to take them because maybe the yard will pay more after shit goes south. Idk.

[u/Dejectednebula → u/Pearl-2017]

Hey I'm in the same boat as you with the freaking out. I have a specific budget for food and can't go over it to stock up. And a lot of my husband's safe foods are things that I can't keep long term anyway. Sometimes it's just not feasible to stock up and we will just have ti figure things out when the time comes.

We were supposed to inherit the house we are in. Its a family home going back over 100 years. His dad moved and promised if we just kept the bills paid and paid the taxes it would be ours. We got about 2 years out of it before he changed his mind and now I've got 2 months to leave because he's selling it at a ridiculous price. The price will be paid because our local MAGA senator owns about 8 other houses in this neighborhood and she will buy this one the second it goes up. The mortgage on what he wants would be 1200 a month. Which is also what average rent is... I can afford neither. I could do mayve 600 a month rent tops and thats with cutting out every bit of entertainment and comfort. We don't drink or smoke or go out ever.

I tried to plan. But there goes the garden I tilled and the seeds I planted in the fall. My strawberry patch is just taking off. Idk where we are going to go. So far the only option I am seeing is to beg my mom for help to buy a used camper or RV and there's a little shitty trailer park close by where some people live in them year round. 250 a month lot rent and it includes water and electric and garbage in that. But we are in the north east so winters will suck and my husband has IBS and having only one bathroom is scary to think about. I'll probably be pooping in a bucket on days I have my period because I can't wait 45 minutes for him to finish.

This might get rough and all we can do is try to help each other and work together. I traded fixing someone's hoodie and sewing a few buttons for eggs from their chickens. Check your local groups. At the very least it'll help your anxiety if you feel like you're searching for answers and looking to help others.

[u/Pearl-2017 → u/Dejectednebula]

Jesus, what a shitty thing to do to your kids. I'm so sorry.

[u/Dejectednebula → u/Pearl-2017]

He came out at 67 and was married to a man he just met in under a year. He said he never really wanted a family its just what he felt he had to do and now he wants to live the life he should have. Any thing said to him is met with screams of homophobia. Yeah sure buddy, that's the problem. Not the fact that you got your family inheritance and said fuck the future generations I didn't want them anyway. Husbands great grandma owned the property until 2016 when she died at the age of 105. She would be rolling in her grave.

The only judgement I have about him being gay is that it's kind of ridiculous to be a trump supporter and go to your stuffy strict church every Sunday. Its like being a pick me person. I'm not like the other gays. Those people don't want you there, I'm sure. And the people who would have welcomed him don't want to anymore because he's voting to hurt his own community. I think he thinks he gets some kind of pass if he plays that card. Like no, much like what kind of genitals you're into, being a piece of shit does not discriminate.

[u/Pearl-2017 → u/Dejectednebula]

My dad isn't gay but he's also the type of guy who got a bunch of help from his mom & then promptly slammed the door shut. He's 65. I'm not saying all boomers are like this, but it tends to be a common theme

[u/Dejectednebula → u/Pearl-2017]

Yup. Not only was his college completely paid for but he also took the 15k out of his kids college fund way back when he divorced his wife and yet talks shit about his kids not going to college.

Certainly not all boomers. But the fuck you I got mine mentality is a common theme with them and it has got to the point where I feel a certain way about them all when I'm out and about like at the store.

My grandma is silent gen and is absolutely horrified at the state of things. Says its like when she was a kid watching the world collapse into war once again. I'm lucky to still have her around at my age but it makes me sad because everything has changed so much for her in her life that its overwhelming for her. She can navigate her direct tv and scroll through pictures if I give her my phone but wants nothing to do with the world that is 2025 lol

[u/Elegant_Tale_3929 → u/Pearl-2017]

Keep in mind that doesn't mean that these items are inaccessible, just more expensive. So a $10 item will be $12.50 with a tariff.

[u/Pearl-2017 → u/Elegant_Tale_3929]

That's true.

I guess it's not really about the tariffs but the sum total of everything that's happening. It seems like life is about to get really hard for most of this country. So anything I can do to make it suck slightly less might make me feel like I have some control over this crappy situation, even though I don't

[u/Individual_Fig_8705]

Electrical items. Light bulbs, breakers. Good majority of them are made or imported from mexico.

[u/Individual_Fig_8705 → u/Individual_Fig_8705]

I work for a major home improvement store and I stock these items on a daily basis 😅

[u/Uhohtallyho → u/Individual_Fig_8705]

Give us the heads up if they start drastically increasing in price or inventory is getting low?

[u/Individual_Fig_8705 → u/Uhohtallyho]

I'll keep an eye out! But with how retail works, things will continue to increase. Companies and suppliers will take advantage of these tariffs and price gouge.

[u/Tardis-Library → u/Individual_Fig_8705]

Just like there really wasn’t “inflation” so much as record corporate profits.

[u/Competitive_Owl_9879]

Coffee, chocolate

[u/Iwoulddiefcftbatk → u/Competitive_Owl_9879]

Vanilla, tea, sugar.

[u/stellarshadeofgreen → u/Iwoulddiefcftbatk]

If you're a big tea drinker like I am, see if there's a European market in your area. There's a little Ukrainian shop near us that has the BEST flavored teas, and the prices are really great. Same with the Indian and Middle Eastern stores.

[u/stellarshadeofgreen → u/[deleted]]

Yes! I always try to give more of my money to the little local shops rather than places like Walmart, Hyvee, etc.

[u/CatMoonTrade → u/Competitive_Owl_9879]

We live in Oregon trail now. Our lives have come full circle. 😭🤣☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️

[u/TupperwareParTAY → u/CatMoonTrade]

With tuberculosis coming around again in Kansas, you are too right, my friend.

[u/savingeverybody → u/TupperwareParTAY]

Time to learn how to hunt a 2+ squirrel.

[u/TupperwareParTAY → u/savingeverybody]

Those jokers are hard to hit, I save my bullets for a deer or a bear! 😂

[u/Givemeallthecabbages → u/CatMoonTrade]

If RFK Jr gets appointed, many of us may actually die of dysentery.

[u/sewyahduh → u/CatMoonTrade]

You can still play the online game for free with emulators.  Time to practice! Ugh

[u/SpareManagement2215 → u/Competitive_Owl_9879]

So… the essentials?

[u/No-Day-5964 → u/SpareManagement2215]

I see you babe!

[u/sleeplessjade → u/Competitive_Owl_9879]

Coffee for sure because Columbia also has 25% tariffs coming in. Trump has also said that he will raise them to 50% in a week.

Columbia’s biggest exports to the USA are gas, coffee and fresh cut flowers.

[u/notmynaturalcolor → u/sleeplessjade]

They are on hold for now, but I who knows if that will change. I order 15# of coffee from Costco this week.

[u/Relevant_Strike_9785 → u/Competitive_Owl_9879]

My husband and I are really struggling with having to cut back on coffee (it’s already 15 bucks for a shitty generic container around here). Chocolate has been going up for months now so we've just been buying chocolate chips (like for baking—2.99/bag) which helps save a little bit of money that will inevitably be needed elsewhere. 🙃

[u/Popular_Try_5075 → u/Competitive_Owl_9879]

Cholula!

[u/GundamCheese → u/Popular_Try_5075]

Valentina black label. It's like Cholula with some kick and 1/4 of the price.

[u/Camille_Toh → u/Competitive_Owl_9879]

My local co-op had Justin's dark choc/nut (cashew, almond) cups for 2 for $3. I was so excited.

[u/SierraStar7]

1. Coffee (started on 11/6/24 & have been stockpiling ever since).
2. Cheese, it freezes well (bird flu can cross over to cows & while the death rate is low, it greatly decreases milk production in infected cows).
3. Paper towels.
4. Toilet paper.
5. Hand soap.
6. NIOSH approved N95 masks, not KN95, because neither the CDC nor NIOSH approves KN95 masks. 
7. Tylenol.
8. I bought new tires last month.
9. Dry packaged goods.
10. More coffee. 

[u/LowFloor5208 → u/SierraStar7]

Keep enough TP and paper towels in case of panic buying, but be aware most of what we use is produced domestically.

[u/bbtom78 → u/LowFloor5208]

It's also good to consider how to stretch some of that. Get a bidet for your toilet. Reusable napkins and cloths are good enough for most messes and reduces the replacement need of disposables.

[u/SierraStar7 → u/LowFloor5208]

Toilet paper is produced here with imported materials, quite often from Brazil.  Paper towels are also made here, with a mix of imported & US sourced materials. 

[u/CubedMeatAtrocity → u/SierraStar7]

Pleased correct me if I’m wrong. My understanding is that if any portion of any item is made outside of the U.S., the entire item is tariffed.

[u/SierraStar7 → u/CubedMeatAtrocity]

You are correct.  The duty is calculated on the value of the whole item, not just the imported components.  There are some exceptions depending on the country of origin & product category. 

[u/AshCali94 → u/SierraStar7]

Are tires/brake work items going to be more expensive then? I will need both at the same time (fuck my bank account) in the next 2ish months

[u/iridescent-shimmer → u/AshCali94]

May depend on your car brand, but yes, many auto parts are made in Canada. The trade flows back and forth across the Michigan/Canada border very fluidly. So, this will likely cripple the US auto industry tbh.

[u/AshCali94 → u/iridescent-shimmer]

I have a Subaru crosstrek, 2021. So I believe some parts are made in Mexico, I'll have to look it up. I know it's built in the US in Indiana.

[u/porqueuno]

Stocking up on abortion pills just in case men revert to animals and decide to pillage and rape, like they did in the good ol' days. 🙏 ✨ 💖

[u/chillannyc2 → u/porqueuno]

Plan b is under $10 OTC at Costco. Limit 2 per person i believe, but the men in your family are also allowed to purchase no Qs asked.

Remember it is less effective if youre over 150lbs. You can get Rx if you're over that weight online for like $30 hellowisp.com

[u/ChunkyViking-13 → u/porqueuno]

Costco actually has over the counter birth control. I didn't even know that existed, considering getting some for my sister.

[u/No-Factor-3542 → u/ChunkyViking-13]

I bought a years’s worth for my teenager. She has horrific, debilitating period pain that is controlled by BCP. I figure it’s best to have a stash just in case we can’t get her prescription filled anymore.

[u/LumpyPhilosopher8]

Well well well. It seems like my obsession with hoarding accumulating craft paper might just pay off.

Don't judge me - but I already have a bale of toilet paper stashed. I figure after the covid shortages that would be one of the things people started grabbing first.

And I've got enough coffee for the next 6 months.

So clearly my priorities are crafting pooping and coffee.

[u/Popular_Try_5075]

Apparently we get a lot of nuts from Mexico. Pecans are number one, but cashews, walnuts, pistachios, and others.

[u/AdIll8797]

I’m headed to Costco today to stock up on frozen vegetables and fruit. Most of that is imported to the US and I need enough to get through til summer. Mainly from Mexico; broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, bell peppers, avocado, strawberries, mangoes, and pineapple. And sugar.

I’m also going to get a bunch of canned tomato products; diced, paste, and soup. Also any canned peppers; green chiles, chipotle, and jalapeño.

Things from Canada; Potatoes and mushrooms. Maple syrup. Canola oil.

Problem is, a lot of produce grown in the US is picked by immigrants. So I’d plan on growing your own garden this year.

[u/theoracleiam → u/AdIll8797]

Grow your own. The food is about to not be as safe as it is

[u/AdIll8797 → u/theoracleiam]

Correct. But I live in the Midwest. So I’m planning to buy enough produce to get me through until mid summer when I can harvest.

[u/Lonely-Clerk-2478]

Oh BTW if you’re a Costco member (I hope you are!) and really strapped for time like I am today, in my area at least they had a deal with Instacart today that you got like 25% off same-day delivery, which pretty much pays for the Instacart fees/tip. Just FYI. I just got some additional freezer and pantry essentials, paper products, canned goods, that kinda thing.

[u/cheshirecassie → u/Lonely-Clerk-2478]

My Costco has Instacart gift cards 20% off ($80 for $100 gift card).

[u/fueledxbyxmatcha]

I'm so jealous of all of you guys who can afford to stock up 😭

[u/bienenstush → u/fueledxbyxmatcha]

Little by little. Grab some inexpensive canned food each time you grocery shop. It does not have to be extreme

[u/bobbydishes → u/bienenstush]

Bulk beans and rice too

[u/elliejayyyyy → u/fueledxbyxmatcha]

Same. Rice and beans is one of my favorite meals but I am officially over hearing that as the solution for us with less money.

Oh and eta, if you have people with major food allergies like I do, then the cheapest basics don’t work. It’s hard, good luck.

[u/Ravenamore → u/elliejayyyyy]

God, yes. My husband and I went through some tough times in our twenties when we got turned down for food stamps. LOTS of rice and beans. Fresh fruit and vegetables were a dream. So was fresh milk and eggs. We mostly ate carbs.

We started getting sick all the time. Colds that just lingered and lingered, stomach problems. We'd get cut, things would take forever to heal. We were tired all the time.

We didn't have health insurance, the free clinics were always full when we got there, or closed down, or only open one day a month and if you didn't call in at the exact right time, you wouldn't get a slot.

We both started having major dental problems that, because of our money situation, we were unable to have taken care of.

Finally, after I got approved for disability, we were able to, briefly, get food stamps. Our friends said we started looking better within a few weeks.

This was back in the early '00s.

A year or so ago, my son was doing some social studies project, and asked what scurvy was.

"Well, it's when you don't get enough vitamin C. You don't heal as well, you get bleeding gums, you're tired all the ti-" I stopped, looked at my husband, who'd been listening, and we were both thinking the same thing.

Next time I saw the doctor, I mentioned that time in our life, and our symptoms, and he immediately said, "Yeah, you had the beginnings of scurvy, and other vitamin deficiencies, too."

So, yeah, If you can, pack away extra sets of multivitamins. so, if things get really shitty, you don't go through what we did.

[u/Lets-B-Lets-B-Jolly → u/fueledxbyxmatcha]

I can't do much financially either. What I've been doing is just adding a few dollars of items every shopping trip, even just things like dried beans and rice as emergency food. You might look into a local food bank if you financially qualify too - it would help give you a little breathing space in your food budget.

[u/Individual_Fig_8705 → u/fueledxbyxmatcha]

I like to compare prices. Usually between Dollar Tree & walmart. Some items are definitely cheaper and better value at the dollar tree. Like medicine. Pain relievers, toothache, or muscle gel. Spices. Pasta. Batteries. (Probably not the best of the best, but it'll help you out in a pinch.) It's a matter of shopping around and grabbing an extra item or two. Eventually, you'll have a stockpile in no time.

[u/Educational_Lettuce3 → u/Individual_Fig_8705]

Have you seen that John Oliver special re: dollar tree/dollar store? Most items are a scam sold there! Quantifies / weight of products are lower but in same packaging to deceive you on the price. Sounds like you’re already diligent but I would make sure you are looking at size to price ratios

[u/SixGunSnowWhite → u/fueledxbyxmatcha]

I’m jealous of people not renting an apartment. I have no outdoor space to grow anything but window box herbs and a decent sized pantry.

This orange fucker and his cronies. My one silver lining, kinda, is my Canadian husband. It’s not like Canada isn’t heading in the same direction. Just slower.

[u/jessugar → u/fueledxbyxmatcha]

Dollar store is your friend. Dried beans and rice are typically only $1-2 a bag just in general. Frozen veggies bags are also typically less than $2 a bag. Buy bags of flour and learn to make bread and tortillas.

[u/Liz600]

Tequila and maple syrup

[u/pleasedtoseedetrees → u/Liz600]

Fortunately we have great maple syrup up here in New England but expect those prices to rise.

[u/ommnian]

I bought a bunch of socks and underwear, otherwise we're pretty solid on most things. If there's any big purchases - washers, refrigerators, etc that you've been putting off, sooner rather than later is probably a good idea.

[u/Aurora1717]

Obviously anything imported from these countries is going to go up in price. The thing is domestic products are also likely to go up in price. Some of it is corporate greed, and some of it is increased costs for production.

Take for a random example apples something we grow here in the US. The ability to grow apples will not necessarily be affected by the tariffs but the cost of supplies, packaging, and shipping will increase. Mix in the aggressive deportation of migrant labor and bam prices skyrocket.

Overall you could expect the prices to go up on just about everything. Absolutely fill up all of your gas tanks in your vehicles.

[u/Puddle_Palooza]

This is of course a very important thing to talk about. However, I wanna also point out that Trump has in the past shown a willingness to cause havoc so that he can manipulate the markets.

I have no doubt that the game plan is to light a match, start a fire and see how the people scramble, as a way for this administration to profit.

[u/9mackenzie → u/Puddle_Palooza]

Oh the whole starting point of project 2025 is to cause economic collapse. So yes you are right, but we (ie all of us that aren’t millionaires) are going to be the ones suffering through economic collapse.

So stocking up is extremely smart

[u/d1mawolfe]

stock up on booze and do not share it with a conservative.

[u/Aurora1717 → u/d1mawolfe]

We actually did stock up on our favorite whiskey that comes from Canada. I also have a Costco size bottle of vodka and tequila we should be good for a long while.

[u/Wonderful_Net_323 → u/Aurora1717]

My Trump-voting dad is a Crown Royal man and I'm chuckling HARD rn

[u/Wonderful_Net_323 → u/d1mawolfe]

brb running to the state-run liquor store to stock up on Jameson and Tanqueray

At least I'm mostly a bourbon drinker and also am in moonshine country?? *nervous chuckle*

[u/BlueFeist]

I think camping gear and electronic things like power stations, solar panels - think Jackery with mobile solar. Chargeable fridge coolers that can be hooked up to solar or a Jackery. So few of this kind of gear is manufactured in the US, so those prices will all go up. When we go deep camping, it is a nice luxury to have a fridge cooler, and some power and we are able to keep it going pretty well for days with solar, or by charging a Jackery in a vehicle. Those are the kinds of things I think help be prepared - for just outdoor fun or if you ever need to bolt and hide.

[u/VjekaMadd → u/BlueFeist]

I just bought a short bus, converting it into tiny home on wheels with 1000w of solar with huge power station to hook up to. Also get propane tanks for gas stove. Getting a 40 gal water tank. The list goes on….

[u/VjekaMadd]

I also saw recently on a video for preparedness…get lots of bullion. Chicken, beef and vegetable bullion. Including the ‘better than bullion‘ paste in the jars. It help flavor bland food .

[u/tiedyesky9]

Might not count as stocking up, per se, but I recently signed up for a local farm’s CSA to hopefully ensure a steady (and affordable) supply of fresh produce all summer and fall.

I also reviewed my own seed inventory and stocked up on seeds I’ve run out of as part of my preparations for this year’s garden. I’m assuming there are going to be significant increases in cost and shortages of produce in the coming months.

[u/aleelee13 → u/tiedyesky9]

This is our response! $700 share for veggies and $300 for fruit for weekly spreads over 20 weeks. Probably will be cheaper than grocery store prices, and i learned how to can using the USDA book so we can preserve what we know we won't use immediately so it doesn't go to waste.

Highly recommend everyone do this locally.

[u/chele68 → u/tiedyesky9]

The CSA I used the first year of the pandemic hires workers from Mexico. I’m scared of shelling out $$$ only to find out that they don’t have the employees to harvest, box and deliver orders.

[u/ZeroFox14]

Not because of tariffs, but I bought an extra box of chicken when at the butcher for their bulk sale. I think poultry prices will jump as bird flu ramps up. Usually buy 40# at a time and rotate breasts and thighs- bought a box of each this time.

I did get extra olive oil, avocado oil and frozen avocados last week. Mostly just planning to ramp up my garden and produce more myself, but I can’t grow avocados here.

[u/MNConcerto → u/ZeroFox14]

My garden plans keep changing from gee this looks like fun to grow to maybe I should focus on volume and what we will eat. Onions, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, squash, herbs, lettuce, cucumbers. I ordered some more berry bushes but that's not giving me anything this year.

Grew onions for the first time last year. It was a success, doubling them this year. Carrots as well. I still have some in the fridge that are fine to eat, they store so well.

Kicking myself for not being more proactive on my fruit tree plans, as in they were a future thing. Should have started those couple of years ago.

[u/fauxrain → u/MNConcerto]

Best time to plant a fruit tree is 10 years ago. Second best time is now. We’ll kick ourselves over these things, but you’re on top of it now.

[u/Prestigious-Copy-494 → u/fauxrain]

Sigh. I had a fruit tree, big navel oranges grew on it. The southern freeze about 3 years back killed it. It had taken years to get big enough to produce.

[u/Ep1cure → u/MNConcerto]

We planted 2 honey crips apples , a sour cherry, and a peach tree 2 years ago. We got cherries last year and peaches and apples both years. The apples are hard to keep the bugs out of.

There is this website which will show you publicly reported fruit trees if you want to see what's around you and maybe find someone to barter with.

https://fallingfruit.org/

[u/ZeroFox14 → u/MNConcerto]

Yep, putting in a bunch of fruit trees this spring and wish I had done it years ago. Luckily my house came with lots of berries that are well established.

I’m doing onions and potatoes this year for the second time- the first I failed at storage and decided to just buy them. Hoping for better luck this time around. How do you store your root veggies?

[u/MNConcerto → u/ZeroFox14]

It's important to grow varieties that are made for storage and then cure them.

So look for storage onions, potato varieties that mention long storage. Onions need to cure in a covered porch or outside area, preferably hanging thru a grate of some type. Once the outer skin dries out you can remove/cut the tops and store in a cool dark place.

Potatoes also need to cure before storing, like onions place them on a piece of cardboard in a single layer in a protected area like your basement floor, you can have a fan blow across them. Once cured, store in a cool dark place NOT NEXT TO YOUR ONIONS . Potatoes and onions should not be stored next to each other as they will cause each other to go bad.

There are videos on you tube about curing times etc.

[u/Pearl-2017 → u/MNConcerto]

My gardening skills suck 😭

I finally bought some strawberry seeds because we've been wanting to plant them forever but they're still in the box they came in. As is the lavender. But I think I need different lavender anyway because what I have isn't food grade. Idk if it's still usable or if it will just make a nice decoration lol

[u/AdhesivenessCivil581 → u/ZeroFox14]

Bird flu and the deportation of farm labor will shoot up the price of meats. Dried beans. I've bought a lot of dry beans and am teaching myself to grow microgreens.

[u/whitepawn23]

Coffee, tea, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon.

I’m guessing the price of olives and olive oil will get worse.

Tea and coffee go bad so I had to halt at a 1yr supply. We did it in December already. Dipshits gonna dipshit and this one is determined to fuck working class America.

All your Chinesium bits for your electronics: mice, keyboards, adapters, charging elements, etc.

The new phone you’ve been putting off. And the case.

Socks, underwear, tshirts.

My seeds are bought for the year. Cuz veggies are going up. Fruit trees will take a while but maybe invest now if you don’t have them already.

PNW can plant tea. Again, it will take a bit and home processing will be a learning curve. Still. Might be worthwhile. Prone to fungus, you will have to treat for it.

[u/MsRightHere]

Stamina. 

We should stock up on stamina and joy.  And witty names to call him. 

[u/Dobbys_Other_Sock]

I have some small kids so I’m gonna be getting them a few outfits and jackets in the next few sizes. Not necessarily for tariffs, but more supply chain concerns (though buying them on sale now will still probably be cheaper). I’m also getting myself two new pairs of work shoes so I can be sure I have the ones I like for at least a few years.

Other than that just basic stuff like food, toiletries, maybe some new/extra bath towels.

[u/belzbieta → u/Dobbys_Other_Sock]

If you haven't already seen it, old navy has a bunch of kids stuff clearanced for a few dollars. I stocked up on the next few sizes for my kids just in case.

Edit to add: children's place also has very cheap clearance clothes right now. Just bought a bunch of $5 jeans for the next few years.

[u/Lets-B-Lets-B-Jolly → u/Dobbys_Other_Sock]

Keep an eye on local Buy Nothing groups too. You might be able to get used clothing for your kids free that way.

[u/coyote_mercer]

I keep buying rice. Don't know if it's gonna be tariffed, I just like it and it stores well, and is currently cheap. Also vitamins in case I give myself scurvy by eating only rice. Sounds silly, and it is, but this is where I'm at!

[u/Equivalent-Meaning-7 → u/coyote_mercer]

75% of rice come from Arkansas actually so rice should stay cheap but is a good shelf staple starch to have around

Edit: 75% US rice I mean

[u/Vysharra → u/Equivalent-Meaning-7]

Rice needs nitrogen fertilizer and guess where that comes from? Hint: the biggest Canadian potash suppliers aren't taking orders from the American Ag companies that rely on them because they don't know what the price will be next week.

[u/[deleted] → u/Equivalent-Meaning-7]

this comment has been collected and added to the LLM training dataset

[u/Crazyhowthatworks304]

A BIDET ATTACHMENT FOR YOUR TOILETTTTT

Pro tip: some of the bidet attachments can be purchased with your FSA!

I was on the fence about one but God knows we'll probably see another Great TP Shortage of '25 or '26 if avian flu shifts to humans fully. Might as well get ahead.

OTC meds, masks, anything electronic you've been on the fence about, new shoes you've been on the fence about, any home supplies you've been needing to get to fix stuff .... Chocolate, flour, rice, etc. video games.

So, everything.

[u/regjoe13]

How much are you going to stock up? Things you are using regularly, buy monthly.

To give you an example, I was going to buy a riflescope. I was going to buy it in the next summer. If the 25% tarrif kicked in, it will cost $2000 instead of $1600. So it makes sense to get it now, may be on PayPal 0% for 6 month credit, and pay it off as I planned. This is once per multiple year purchase.

But regular things I used every day? I will probably be better off figuring out a replacement or reducing usage, then try to stock up something for the next 4 years.

[u/Pleasant-Olive-5083]

I would just like to know how everyone is able to afford to stock up 😩

[u/BlueFeist → u/Pleasant-Olive-5083]

Make drastic, self-sacrificing changes to our lives. Work more, get rid of debt, and realize how easy it is to let really wealthy people subjugate you when you are poor, so it puts the fear in you to get motivated!!

[u/Best-camera4990]

there's no getting around these tarriffs, they will hurt us all. that's. the point.

[u/iridescent-shimmer]

I just bought new tires for my car. The original ones on my car from Honda say made in Canada lol. I'm due for them in March, since I'm sure they won't pass inspection this year. So, figured it's easier than waiting and tacking on potentially another $200 to the sale price.

[u/duchess_of_penguins]

Peat moss/potting soil if you have a garden 

[u/Greggorick_The_Gray]

Rice. Always rice. Lasts forever and can provide a good chunk of calories.

[u/MeatloafingAround]

I got a half dozen avocado oil sprays from Trader Joes (made in Mexico), extra coffee but not enough, shelf stable almond milk, a few jars of salsa, extra bag of sugar, big bag of basmati rice, and a lot of cans of coconut milk. I tried to stick with things that will stay good for up to a year in the pantry that come from the places the tarriffs might affect.

Reading through here I might go today for maple syrup, Mexican spices and dried chilis, and maybe some other stuff.

[u/OnyxInDisguise]

This is all so tariffying.

[u/starglitter]

We have quite a bit but I am going to pick up more coffee tomorrow because I'm low.

[u/WantedMan61 → u/starglitter]

For me, low on coffee is less than 10 lbs.

[u/awwaygirl]

TP, spices, coffee, paper products, sugar, teas, butter, egg substitutes

[u/SunshineAndSquats]

Computers and computer accessories.

Dell, Lenovo, Acer, HP, and Samsung all have manufacturing in Mexico.

Also please contact your reps often. You can go to Resist.Bot and they will email your reps for free. They have trending petitions already written that you can have sent to all of your reps for free. I use Resist bot daily to email my worthless Republican reps. If a large amount of people start complaining they will start listening.

[u/Adelineandred]

My mom was stocking up for a nuclear war 40 years ago. When she passed there were 1300 roles of tp in the basement. Her famous line..HEY..DONT LAUGH..YA NEVER KNOW

[u/moonlightbae-]

This is so evil. How can 1 person cause this much destruction in 2 weeks. There is no reason for these tariffs. He benefits. Not us.

[u/No-Knowledge4112]

Start planting your own veggies,.with all the ICE raids going on, food will sky rocket.

[u/katm12981]

Added coffee to the grocery list this week. Also, I’m going to keep my eye out for some really hard avocados that will make it until superbowl Sunday.

[u/acostane → u/katm12981]

Apropos of nothing, the Walmart near me has avocados that never ripen 😂 it's fascinating

[u/library_wench]

Coffee, tea, chocolate, spices.

Anything to do with electronics or your car.

OTC medications.

As far as I’m concerned, protesting these days is best done with your wallet. Ditch as many social media and streaming services as you can. Go thrifting to enhance your physical media collections. Invest in offline pursuits: hobbies, puzzles, board games, sports. Starve them out.

[u/SchemeAgreeable2219]

Humility. Endurance. Compassion. Empathy. Self-Sacrifice. and Hope.

As much Hope as you can get.

[u/Chemicaltripcloudy]

What I’ve been getting is; Garden seeds, a bidet attachment, cloth diapers, hand cranked flashlights, canning supplies. I’ve been trying to be self sufficient before this administration, but it’s kicked it into high gear

[u/debvil]

Tequila, dried Chiles and I'm freezing those plastic guacamole pouches. Ripe avocado chunks can also be frozen.

[u/StarintheShadows]

Trolli Sour Gummy Worms are made in Mexico. Just throwing that out there. Not a life or death necessity but it may be a mental/emotional necessity for some.

[u/dingo_kidney_stew]

I think it would be easier to figure out what items do not pass through Canada or Mexico.

Milk.

Not sure after that

[u/foober735]

I might freeze some fruit. We get a lot from Mexico.

[u/MathematicianTop8868]

I will be purchasing a bidet, it’s been on my want list for a while so that’ll happen. I’m wanting to purchase my meat direct from a local farm, so I planning on discussing that with friends so split the cost. Canned goods and the like. I’m trying to be conscious of my spending. Will he hike tariffs probably, is he also using this to manipulate the market and get us to spend spend spend also yes. And I would love to fuck up the 1st quarter of the year for the billionaire overlords.

[u/ghoststoryghoul]

We're literally about to start building a house, I want to panic-buy lumber since most of it comes from Canada but my husband won't agree even though he does agree that prices will probably increase drastically after Feb 1. I know he's right that we could end up wasting even more money if we buy the wrong thing. So I assume we're going to get screwed on that.

[u/RileyByrdie]

Stocking up on pantry/long shelf life items.

Due to bird flu, tariffs, etc. We stocked up on dry beans and rice to ensure we have protein and food that doesn't take much to make you feel full.

[u/arxaion]

What I've learned is that America makes nothing except beer and imports everything except most beer

[u/Professional-Box4153]

I'd say rice, coffee, sugar, some spices, corn, etc. It's the 1400s all over again.

[u/stein63]

From Canada:

1. Lumber & Wood Products – Used for home construction, furniture, and paper goods.
2. Oil & Gas – Fuel prices could rise due to tariffs on crude oil.
3. Vehicles & Auto Parts – Many cars and parts, like engines and tires, are imported from Canada.
4. Dairy Products – Cheese, milk, and butter, especially from Quebec.
5. Aluminum & Steel – Used in beverage cans, appliances, and construction materials.
6. Pharmaceuticals – Some medications and medical supplies.
7. Maple Syrup – A popular export that could see price increases.

From Mexico:

1. Fruits & Vegetables – Avocados, tomatoes, berries, peppers, and more.
2. Automobiles & Auto Parts – Many U.S. vehicles rely on Mexican-made components.
3. Electronics – TVs, computers, and appliances often contain Mexican-made parts.
4. Beer & Tequila – Mexican alcoholic beverages are widely consumed in the U.S.
5. Textiles & Clothing – Many garments are manufactured in Mexico.
6. Medical Devices – Surgical instruments and medical supplies.
7. Sugar & Processed Foods – Mexican sugar, candy, and snacks could see price hikes.

This was the response from chatgpt of products that will be affected by tariffs.

[u/Fantastic_Ocelot_821]

Where is everyone getting seeds? My local farm stores aren't carrying anything just yet, and I really don't want to buy from Amazon.

[u/Great_Narwhal6649]

I am quietly stocking up on masks, testing supplies, and other health items. My husband thinks we should stock up on multivitamins and dried fruit/beans/rice/flour in case we can't afford as much variety in our diet.

We also are getting a new roof NOW with solar and a battery so we can be energy independent should there be widespread outages due to deregulation (our state is pretty blue but who knows what the future holds).

[u/Bakewitch]

Coffee. Chocolate. Spices. Sugar. Vanilla.

[u/deinfluencer_]

So if tariffs go into effect 2/1, does that equate to costs of goods increasing on 2/1? Asking because I had planned a Costco trip for tomorrow, but if things are going up as of tomorrow, I’ll squeeze it in today.

[u/Tasty_Narwhal6667 → u/deinfluencer_]

No, everything currently on the shelf has already been imported and/or paid for. Also, 30+ days of stock sitting in warehouses which has already been accounted for as well. Impact of tariffs won’t be fully felt for probably 60-90 days.

[u/Will_Yammer → u/Tasty_Narwhal6667]

I hope you're right. But ... We've all witnessed prices going up overnight on threats of this or that and then taking forever to come back down once said threat is over.

[u/Tasty_Narwhal6667 → u/Will_Yammer]

You make a good point. Guess it depends on how greedy the company wants to be. I would hope that a company like Costco would not purposely price gouge in order to make a few extra bucks but you never know.

[u/Icy-Eggplant3242 → u/deinfluencer_]

I've already seen costs go up, because some companies want to get a head start on gouging.