Originally Posted by
neil
When I started my current job, it was common for my bike to be the only one in the rack, even in summer. Some days there'd be a second bike. Now in the summer, the rack is full most days (about 10 bikes), and I see there was even a second bike there this morning, when it's -20º out. At the bike co-op, we've also noticed such a big increase in demand that we are trying to acquire a second location. Currently, the shop is pretty much full whenever we're open, all summer. Winter still has some extra space, but even that's getting busier every year.
Off topic, but I'm amused that you suggest saving your money as a way to plan for inflation. I don't want to get into whether inflation is coming or not, since even amongst the experts forecasts for both extremes are common. But the simple fact is that if you expect inflation, the rational response is to spend your money now and horde durable goods, since they'll be more expensive later. Saving money is a way to plan for deflation. Or retirement.
My point was It is a time to cut your expenses and be wise with your spending. Being able to produce some of your own food is a good way to do it and gets you a leg up on when producing your own may become a necessity.
When Bread is $5 a half loaf and a pound of ground beef is $25 what are you going to buy it with if you dont already have the money? Our salary (for those that manage to stay employed) is not going to suddenly increase with inflation. It will stay the same and if we don't like it there is a line of people willing to work for what we are making.
We are going to end up just like the Russians if this continues, throwing away the dollar bills because they take up space and have no value and smelting the coins because the metal is worth 50 times its face value as money. HELL our penny is already worth more for its metal then its face value as currency.
You are correct though, we do need to buy necessities now that are not a perishable and hoard them away while we can afford it.