8 March 2008
Put in a Buy Order…for Food
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: Emergency Preparation; World Economy .
There is a snowballing effect in a variety of areas and now is when we need to seriously begin gathering our courage. From the outbreak in violence, to political power grabs by courts and special interests, and finally to the economy, most of us are seeing and sensing a sudden increase in momentum. As a family we are trying to scrape up enough spare income to put away a little more food. The dollar is buying less and it is getting harder. In spite of that, I want to encourage all who possibly can to put away food.
Do it now…do it this month. The Fed is again set to lower interest rates. You cannot fix inflation of the dollar with more inflation. As we lower interest rates, it is easier to borrow and as more dollars flood the system, they buy less.
Last July I sent an email to friends and family urging them to consider selling stocks by November. The middle of November was when there was a big dip in the market. Later I urged some close friends to ride out the slight February bump up then sell. Thank goodness they did. Am I a genius? No, I have been reading articles by economic forecasters. This is why I am suggesting buying food storage now. Prices are going to continue going up very quickly for three reasons; greater shipping expenses due to high oil, inflation of the dollar especially after the next rate cut, and shortages of supplies, especially grain.
Peter Schiff is one of a number of economic forecasters I respect. He and many other experts disagree with those who belief the recession will be light and short. I thought it would be good to establish his credentials by giving his predictions from 2006 instead of his current predictions in order to demonstrate that he then predicted where we would be now and why. Thanks to Peter Anderson who always sends me Schiff’s reports.
35 Comments so far...
Cameron Says:
8 March 2008 at 9:16 am.
Okay, will do. It will only get harder if I don’t do it now.
Debate on Economy Grows More Urgent
A surprisingly bleak employment report sent tremors through Washington and roiled the presidential campaign yesterday, infusing new urgency into the debate over how to reverse an accelerating economic slide and fueling a political contest over who to blame for it.
Mac Says:
8 March 2008 at 10:13 am.
That other guy is an idiot. I wonder if he ever paid his penny?
Angela Rogin Says:
8 March 2008 at 11:17 am.
You’re not being very cheery this morning, Joy.
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 11:33 am.
Angela, I have been concerned about that. At first I didn’t want to go so negative but lately, as I have seen how correct the economic forecasters have been, I decided it would be very irresponsible of me not to pass along my concerns. I will definitely do this a lot less after April because it is now that I think people should put away something for a rainy day before it gets too expensive. Later I will just give occasional updates on the situation unless I see another major downturn or event possible. Trust me, it feels good and peaceful to have something put away. It makes it so much easier to ride the waves.
Jeezer Says:
8 March 2008 at 12:11 pm.
Joy
Are you saying you think something is going to happen soon that we will need this food for?
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 12:30 pm.
Not necessarily, Jeezer. What I am saying is that I think within the next two months, we should finish any preparations we want to put in place because of rising prices on food and oil. The coming further rate cut is expected to be steep. As I said, you don’t fight inflation by creating more inflation. Food and water put away for a rainy day can be needed at different times for different families. Here in Vegas, we are beginning to see a lot of layoffs in the construction industry. Job loss can create a need for food storage. I do expect to see a time when everyone will need food storage, I just can’t predict when that time could be. I do know it is a bad time to put off preparing because of rising prices.
T. Fan Says:
8 March 2008 at 1:04 pm.
It sounds like maybe you personally think something is going to happen in a couple of months. If you really think that you should tell us.
Saddened Says:
8 March 2008 at 1:09 pm.
Isn’t it in May that the president’s relief money starts going to people? It seems like that might help some.
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 1:28 pm.
No, I don’t expect anything specific to happen within the next few months. I really do just see a variety of signals all coming together to raise food prices though. I think most people will find it too difficult to scrap up enough for food. And as far as the president’s relief plan, there is nothing there to create real wealth and stability. You can’t rob Peter to pay Paul and solve any problems. In this case you are robbing Peter to pay Peter. Peter needs to cut costs and put away food and invest in silver which is set to faster than gold. Not higher but a better return on investment.
Stumpy Says:
8 March 2008 at 1:40 pm.
Not only all that but all y’all need to plant gardens this spring to. See its gonna get ugly out there and we gotta prepare. So Im startin mine now. Cant wait til all those veggies are ready - yum. Me and Cat will sit on the porch with the shot gun and shoot our evenin meal as those rabbits eat there veggies. That way we git our meat and veggies all packaged up together.
Saddened Says:
8 March 2008 at 1:43 pm.
Stumpy, you eat those vegetables yourself and leave those poor bunnies alone.
Stumpy Says:
8 March 2008 at 1:46 pm.
I think I all petered out Joy. Peter sent you the video about Peter. Peter robbed Paul and then himself before he got him some food and silver. Give peter a rest will ya.
And as fer you Saddened, I spose you want me to let them sweet ole jack bunnies all get left for a nice easy death them coyotes will give. And y’all want me to teach Cat to eat carrots? He would eat me right up before he would do that girl.
T. Fan Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:06 pm.
Joy, you are being vague. I can see why you wouldn’t want to make firm predictions but both your husband and Terrie have said you are good with patterns. In this blog it sounds like you nailed the Nov. and March declines in the stock market. Do you see any patterns for the future and can you share them if you do?
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:13 pm.
Wow, you’re really putting me on the spot, T. Fan. I’m concerned about job cuts, bank closures and a number of other poor economic indicators in the near future. I am concerned about OPEC following Greenspan’s advise and dumping the dollar. I am concerned that other countries will follow Russia’s lead and raise export tariffs so we have a harder time getting food that we should have been growing for ourselves. I have a very strong feeling we need to make any preparations right now. Seriously, right now.
T. Fan Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:16 pm.
I’m trying to nail you down and I know you aren’t comfortable doing it but we have become like family here. What are you telling your own family? Do you think it will only be a rising of prices and things will be a little harder but will still roll along for the next…say, two years without a major crash or incident that would make us need that food? I’m asking because I sense you really are warning us to get set now for something that is coming.
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:21 pm.
I think you have me mixed up with Moses. Sorry, not him. And I’m sure some of the people I know who read this blog are rolling their eyes. I don’t have a crystal ball or a spirit guide so I won’t attempt predictions today. Sorry.
Saddened Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:37 pm.
I don’t think he was asking for visions or anything but just your gut feelings on where we will be, say, in six months or a year. It does kind of seem like you are telling the people you are close to that kind of thing.
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:44 pm.
Okay, let me tell you the problem as I see it. If I said that I thought there could possibly be a little problem in August, maybe even more of a chance in October, and that I am definitely concerned about 2009, then a lot of people would wait until July to do any preparations. See, it isn’t specific events that we should prepare for because that is taking a gamble on predicting those events. Don’t gamble with your family. And that would be missing the point that if there were to be something happen in October, and people waited until September, then food and oil prices could be too high then to prepare. Or there could be limits placed on buying, or any unforeseen reason.
We absolutely should not focus on event predictions for preparation. We should focus on preparation now then not fear future events.
T. Fan Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:47 pm.
Then that answers my question. You really do have a bad feeling about 2009. Thanks.
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:51 pm.
Well I have to admit I do but that wasn’t my point at all. When Joseph of Egypt had his dream about seven good, then seven bad years, if people waited until the seventh good year to prepare, they would have all died of starvation. When an event happens, we trust the Lord to get us through and we are comfortable doing that because we have already finished what preparations we could make before it happened. So let the Lord worry about when prophecies will come to pass, and we focus on preparing while we can before, as they say, it is everlastingly too late.
Saddened Says:
8 March 2008 at 2:55 pm.
That makes sense. But I think I noticed the same thing T. Fan did. You feel very strongly right now about getting ready. You said the next two months. Is that only because of the economy?
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:00 pm.
All right, I will probably really regret doing this but I will tell you one thing. For the last two years I have been telling a few people close to me that I felt we needed to be ready by March of 2008. I also made it very clear to them and hopefully you won’t miss this point, that I was not saying we were going to fall off a collective cliff in spring 2008. I said that I personally felt uncomfortable putting off being prepared after that point. Things seemed dark and uncertain after that. I probably was just putting together a number of collected data to come to that conclusion. The human brain can analyze a lot of things and add it up to give which may seem mere predictions but it is just that the brain is a great machine. I truly do not expect a huge event within the next three months. I do expect the economy to make preparations harder.
T. Fan Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:05 pm.
I know we were being pushy but I think it is just that we are all a little scared right now. Things seem so uncertain. I guess you are right. We need to focus right now on doing everything to get ready because we can’t be sure when things from scripture will come to pass. And I admit I am not ready and I know I will not be so afraid if I am prepared. So thanks for the warning, I’ll get on the ball today and not wait any more.
Saddened Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:09 pm.
T. Fan, that’s exactly how I feel.
Joy, thanks for being honest. I am sure it is kind of scary because you don’t want to look stupid if you are wrong but what really is the consequence if you are? We all get a kick in the butt to get ready and we do. Anyone who believes the Bible knows things are going to happen and we need to be prepared. So the worst that can happen is that it takes a little longer for the prophecies to happen but you still save lives by warning us. I don’t think any real Christian will think badly of you warning us. We all respect you here and we don’t think you are an alarmist or anything, your just not blind. So thank you.
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:11 pm.
phew, sounds like we’re done. Glad you are going to prep.
Pickles Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:15 pm.
Been quietly watching. I don’t do quiet real well normally but I was very curious and was glad t.fan and saddened were pushy. I’m going to tell my parents about this and make sure they are ready. Thanks Joy.
M.G. Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:18 pm.
haha, me too Pickles.
Stumpy Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:20 pm.
Yup I love fishin so much I even like watchin others fish. That ole T.Fan had Joy on the hook and she fought but he jist kep reelin her in. hehehe nice catch T.
Joy Bischoff Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:23 pm.
Well aren’t you all just sweet today. NOT! Watching me squirm and laughing at me. Go soak your head, Stumpy. I hope Roy and the kids don’t read this today. They’ll laugh at me too.
Stumpy Says:
8 March 2008 at 3:26 pm.
ssssschmack!
Sharon Anderson Says:
8 March 2008 at 10:31 pm.
Well I just spent much of the day adding to my food supply while you guys were talking about it. Now that I have read all of your excellent comments I would like to make a few of my own.
For as long as I can remember, the leaders of the Mormon church have encouraged us to store food and other necessities to last a year or more. So far, we have not seen a universal need for such preparations, but many families have found that following this counsel has made it easier when they were faced with illness, unemployment or other unexpected difficulties. Still there are some Mormons who do not feel the need to prepare. Perhaps they expect that others will take care of them if the need arises. Personally, I would rather be able to provide for my family and have some extra to share with others.
Joy has mentioned in the past about President Hinckley’s references to the seven “fat” years and the seven “lean” years. Other comments by church leaders have given me and others I know a sense of urgency about being obedient and preparing.
Last year in a general conference of the Church Bishop Keith B. McMullin said, “The revelations speak of signs and wonders on earth and in the heavens. They point to troublesome times and pending events vast in scope and duration.
Bishop McMullin went on to counsel fathers repeatedly to “lay up in store.”
He said, “Wives are instrumental in their work, but they need husbands who lead out in family preparedness…” And then he continue by quoting President Hinckley who said, “The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes… We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months… Begin in a small way,….and gradually build toward a reasonable objective.”
As we do our very best, we can be confident the “the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail.” We shall enjoy greater wisdom, security, peace of mind, and personal well-being. We shall be prepared, and because we are prepared, we “shall not fear.”
Joy is not a prophet, but she has been listening to those have prophetic vision and wisdom and now because she cares about us, she is urging all of us (whether we are Mormon or not) to be prudent and wise and lay up in store.
Here is a link to a site that addresses home storage, finances, and many other facets of preparation. http://www.providentliving.org/ This site even has a food storage calculator to help you figure out how much to store for different family sizes and different lengths of time. http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7498-1-4070-1,00.html
Sharon Anderson Says:
8 March 2008 at 11:09 pm.
PS I hope I didn’t sound like I think I’m “all that” or that I’m better than you guys ’cause I was working on this today. It is so good that we do talk about these things so we can make plans for what we need to do. I just hope that we will take action and not procrastinate.
I have been reading so much about the falling dollar and the failing economy that I will be surprised if we don’t need the things we have set aside. I often think about what we might need if we couldn’t get anything from the store for an extended period of time. So when I went to a couple of baby showers last week along with the little outfits I gave a gift that I told the mom’s I hoped they wouldn’t have to use — a dozen cloth diapers and some vinyl pants just in case they couldn’t get disposables. Which brings up another item — laundry detergent. What things besides food would you want to store?
PPS I just found another page that some of you might like. It has links to various recipes for using basic food storage items. http://www.providentliving.org/content/list/0,11664,2017-1,00.html
Hank Says:
8 March 2008 at 11:17 pm.
I really do admire that about you Mormons. You are very self sufficient and set a great example for the rest of us. I have to say this will get me more on the ball. Sharon I am glad you gave those links because some of us really don’t know what we are doing. I have canned goods put away but I need some wheat and a few other things and I need this help to know what to do with it all.
Jesse Says:
9 March 2008 at 12:08 am.
Got most of mine already.
Nalvy Says:
9 March 2008 at 10:39 am.
Joy peer pressure is not a good thing…. but in this case I guess falling under it is okay… ANYWAYS
I do agree with you … get on the move people, store your food plant your gardens get ready for whatever is coming… it is probably going to be big and mean.
I am not talking about Stumpy on a rampage here LOL
Hey and whoever said that Joy was starting off dark today…things right now are dark. We can all be hard pressed to find things to talk about that aren’t.
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