Well, it's true that I just bought toilet paper for the first time since 1999. However, I had the room to store it (in the attic) and it's not as if it was likely to go bad! I bought it when it was on sale and am stashing a bit now as it goes on sale. Didn't have enough paper towels.

The candles, extra pots, oil lamps, ice chests, etc., were all bought at yard sales and cost very little so I don't begrudge buying them. We were at yard sales today and saw several oil lamps--had to stop myself from grabbing them! I bought a nearly new Braun coffee maker for $2.50 at our local church sale--that's a nice back-up in case our current model goes out. I also found a can-crusher for a dollar, something we need for the recycling bin anyway. Yard sales are wonderful things!

Um, I still won't have to buy duct tape for a couple of years. . .

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2001

Answers

I would have to say it was baby wipes. If we had no water we would at least be clean. I think I still have 8 packs left. Opened a pack for a friend the other day that was over and had a baby and to my surpise they were still moist. Tracy

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Yep, Tracy, had a bunch of those too! Very handy in normal times too! I put them in ziplocks to ensure the moisture stayed in them. It's something I'm stashing again--Big Lots has deals on no-name brands. With a bit of Lysol poured on them, they're good for emergency cleaning too--and less expensive than the disinfectant wipes.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Definitely stored too much tampax.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Multi-vitamins, tons of them. Had to give most away before they went over date. Also lots of rubbing alcohol. My TP ran out March of this year.

BTW, My husband installed that cheapo hand-pump on our well, remember the one made out of plastic pipe.(PVC?) Anyway it works great!! We've used it a few times when the power went out. I can't tell you all how much peace that little $50.00 device gave me the last months of 1999. At least I wouldn't have to turn away thirsty people.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Too many cans of peas. DH is the only one that will eat them and I still have several cans left that I may have to throw out.

DH thinks I stored too much dried beans, oats, and wheat berries, but I feel that since they keep for many years and would be good for helping out neighbors, it doesn't bother me.

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001

No, don't chuck 'em out! If there's any loss of quality at all, it will be in the vitamin content. (Unless, of course, you have dented, heavily rusted or bulging tins--always extremely suspect and no chances should be taken.) The director of our food bank says canned food goes way beyond the sell-by date. You can use your peas in stews or soups. Or just serve with a multi-vitamin :)

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001

Darn. I really wanted to get rid of those peas :) I do put them in soups and stews. Now that it is getting colder, I should use them up fairly quickly.

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001

Beckie,

Dear heart, you should not lament! You should rejoice!

All you need to do is get a blender, if you don't have one already.

Why?

Well, just about everywhere I look people are praying for whirled peas.

Any YOU already have a good start.

- Greybear (who appoligizes for old reworked material)

-- Got (any) new material?

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001