Preparation on a budget

[PA PATRIOT]

Quick question on freezing the pasta and rice to kill parasites, does not the freezing process and then the defrosting cause moisture on the surface of the pasta and rice which would cause bacteria to grow? Next week I was going to pick up "four" fifty pound bags of rice at the local BJ's who has them at a great price. I already have new and cleaned food grade five gallon resealable buckets and a empty frost free stand up freezer were I can knock down the temperature to -20 degree's or better. Is there any research on food storage out there which has the best ways to store dry goods?

[PA PATRIOT]

Back to Firearms,

This Saturday I did a little road trip to the area gun shops which in total are nine shops within a 10 miles radius. I was looking used only and was hoping to see at least a shotgun and a pistol for under $600 OTD. Well I was very surprised to find that the shops visited had a large variety of used choices and the prices were extremely decent. This variety was strange since the last time I did this type of road trip a few months back the used market for firearms was really tight without much selection and high prices. It appears that the current economy is to blame and many laid-off gun owners are thinning their collections to paid bills and to buy food. So Gun shops have been buying or selling on consignment a large amount of guns lately and the increase in inventory has reduced prices to move the stock. Well my very first shop had a like new Remington 870 Tac Desert Recon 12 gauge for $250.00, as soon as I pick the Remington up the shop owner called over that he would knock off $25.00 and do the back ground for $10.00 (I'M Known in these parts as a discount buyer who barters price like the best of them) so the reduced offer was a attempt to avoid a lengthly negotiation. I have never seen a Remington like this and the action was smooth and the trigger pull crisp so I started to walk toward the shop owner with shotgun in hand. This signals that I was now ready to negotiate my buying price and the shop owner flat out stated "What do you want to pay for that" I replied $200.00 OTD and without hesitation the shop owner returned with $210.00 finial price. So since this shop has its own range I wanted a few test fire rounds to function test the shotgun and after 10rds of old high brass #2 shot I decided that my research trip just turned into a buying spree. On the rack there were several other 12 gauge shot guns from different manufacturers all in great condition and at good price. I did not see any thing in a pistol but he had a few S&W Model 64's stainless .38spl around $250.00



Shops 2-3-4 had a few items of interest but nothing I really would have jumped at as I don't place much stock in older S&W auto's or Mil-surplus pistols for serious work. Shop Number 5 does a lot of Police department deals so they sell the turn-In's from these departments. Glocks seem to be the latest trade In's with most being 9mm's with a few .40S&W and .45acp's thrown in. A few Model-17's and 19's were in excellent shape and some were really clean like-new pistols which shined through, most of the remaining showed normal holster and cosmetic handling marks but the actions were solid. The pistols were priced per condition as one would expect with the best running at $375.00 with three magazines and night sights of unk age but serviceable. Since Glock 9mm's are well known for there durability and drop dead reliability out of the box these pistols would make for a serious SHTF firearm. So off to barter with the "Man" for the best condition Model-19 which appeared to have less then a few hundred rounds fired at best. He saw me coming and asked if I was there to "Violate Him" on a counter offer to the pistols sticker price. I said "Of Course" and fired a $300.00 OTD offer to him. As the man choked on his coffee he told me to return when I had a serious offer. Needless to say we went back and forth until a $320.00 OTD and a 10.00 back ground fee was agreed to. So far a total of $540.00 was now spent on two firearms and I paid a additional $60.00 for three extra used Glock Model-19 magazines and four 50rd boxes of Wolf Polly Coated 9mm ammo. I was given a used but like new Uncle Mikes plastic Paddle holster with thumb snap that fit the Model-19 perfectly by the owner as a bonus for being the only one that week that "F*** Him" as good as I did. Its not like I got the greatest deal on the Glock but shop owners now have to make some price concessions to move inventory and pay their own bills.

So I get home from this fact finding mission that turned buying spree after only five out of nine shops visited and I was able to procure a decent home defense option for $600.00. Now as a man I should not be posting this but the Glock Model-19 has been appropriated by the wife as consequence of my reckless spending spree (I used 60% of my Uniform Allowance Check I get every year from the department to fund the spree) and now she at this very moment at the range pinking away with her girlfriend.

I really didn't need these guns but good deals don't come that often and I'll get another Uniform check next year. I did surprise myself by staying inside my spending limit and coming away with what I did. Well the good thing is I will get my Glock Model-26 back that was "appropriated" a few years ago after a similar gun shop road trip occurred.

[K.L. Davis]

BOGO... as was already mentioned is Buy One, Get One and I think it is also the warcry of women's shoe sales; however, it is something to keep an eye on in grocery stores, it looks like obucina would know more about how stores stock their shelves than I do, but I know that they run on short cycles and often food is trashed at the store... The sales to get that stuff off the shelf before it is trashed can be quite good, keep an eye on these and think of the buy-one-get-one as "one for now, one for later" when you shop... or two for later

A very wise man, named Kino, recommends freezing the pasta before storage to kill weevil eggs

Holy crap! There is one?

[jaholder]

Start small, $10-20 every payday. Hit the stockup stores like ALDI, rotate your stock and it won't be long until you have a 6 month plus supply of canned and dry goods.

We've never had trouble keeping rice and beans good, but we never bought them by the huge bags, either. Personally I think there's more of a chance of spoilage/infestation of one 50 pound bag than 50 one pound bags you would get at the store.

[Outlander Systems]

BOGO... as was already mentioned is Buy One, Get One and I think it is also the warcry of women's shoe sales; however, it is something to keep an eye on in grocery stores, it looks like obucina would know more about how stores stock their shelves than I do, but I know that they run on short cycles and often food is trashed at the store... The sales to get that stuff off the shelf before it is trashed can be quite good, keep an eye on these and think of the buy-one-get-one as "one for now, one for later" when you shop... or two for later


Holy crap! There is one?

Oh shit. I just went to try and quote it, and it was HeavyMetal, not you! My bad bro...



You're still wise, though, my good man.

[obucina]

BOGO... as was already mentioned is Buy One, Get One and I think it is also the warcry of women's shoe sales; however, it is something to keep an eye on in grocery stores, it looks like obucina would know more about how stores stock their shelves than I do, but I know that they run on short cycles and often food is trashed at the store... The sales to get that stuff off the shelf before it is trashed can be quite good, keep an eye on these and think of the buy-one-get-one as "one for now, one for later" when you shop... or two for later


Holy crap! There is one?

yepper. our sales system runs on what can best be described as a three tier system...our weekly sales ad, which runs from thursday-wednesday. The sales flyer is distributed 48hrs prior in the local newspaper..Our "advantage buy" which runs on a temporary price reduction for 6 weeks, as our warehouse allocated items run on 6 weeks price changes, and now our "essentials" program that drops the price on typical staple items...right now the 6pk of Top Raman is dirt cheap(yay). Our weekly sales stuff typically doesnt disappear completely, we are on an automated ordering system and im quite gangster with my inventory numbers but also, if its gone and on sale ask for a rain check. for any of you in the southeast who shop at the store with the ginormous green P, you will notice that many items are on a cycle.....and seasonal/holiday type stuff is quite consistent. The pasta for example rotates brands almost every week, gatorade sales are rotated in terms of size type, 64oz, 8pk, 128oz, etc...So, you can count on some consistent items every time. Also, large quantities can be had for cheap at the hispanic micro-chains. The P does is also in certain hispanic dominated neighborhoods. Finally, since its football season, the most important staple of all will be perpetually on sale until after the Pro Bowl.....and thats BEER!
Oh, and in the event of one of those twirly tropical things, dont panic over getting bottled water, our multi million dollar Cat generators will mean he have full power and that means the 'puters will run, so orders may be verified....and corporate will run drop ships of palletized half liter multipacks like its X at Burning Man.

[NC_DAVE]

[QUOTE=obucina;461659]I would assume that the containers for the rice and pasta are sealed, no? I am employed by this certain grocery chain and he have issues in the summer with contaminated rice and pasta. Primarily weevils, the heat and humidity especially when being warehoused seem to be the largest issue..of course, per our regulations, the product is a "dispose at store level" which means scan and trash...

This is some thing I have come across serval times while reading up on gardening as i do bit of that as well. Thought this may be worth a try if you have weevils. But I have not peronally tired it.

BAY LEAF Grow bay outside in S.C. Buy dried bay leaf if you are unable to grow it; Dried basil works for keeping pests away. One bay leaf in white flour keeps weevils out and also protects barley, cornmeal, oatmeal, quinoa, and rice. Scatter a few leaves on shelves to repel moths, roaches, earwigs, and mice. Flies hate the smell of bay leaves.

[PA PATRIOT]

Some assorted gear from Blackwater on clearance at BoTach Tactical, all selling for $2.95

http://www.botachtactical.com/blackwater.html

[Icculus]

Some assorted gear from Blackwater on clearance at BoTach Tactical, all selling for $2.95

http://www.botachtactical.com/blackwater.html

From the botach site:

*** PLEASE NOTE: Blackwater SALE has been put on HOLD as we verify inventory levels.

[Cold Zero]

I was fortunate to be able to get my emergency candles at $1.00 for 10, but it's been awhile since I've seen those as well.

The 'Mart has the best prices on Mountain House, as well, but the selection isn't anything close to REI's.

My brother manages to beat me out on "doomer deals", hands down. He picked up a Windmill Trekker for $5.00, an in-line Camelbak water filter for $9.00, an Aquastar UV filter for $5.00, and a CFP-90 for $30, among other insane bargains.

The next time you or your sharp brother cross paths with more insane bargains, can you let the rest of us here know about it ? Those were some realy good deals, too cheap to pass up.

BTW, what is a BOGO ?

Thanks.