Hi,

I get a lot of food at a local store that caters to Asians. I'm a WASP, but made good friends with the owners. I can get bottles of hot sauce, biscuits, canned fish, pretty much everything. It simply takes a sense of adventure and a willingness to try something without English on the label. Usually the owners and their staff will tell me what's good and what's fresh, and I can get some terrific deals.

Where do you get your cheapest luxury goods. While I can buy the rice, put it back while it's cheap, I occasionally like some special items.

Personally, while I like Frank's Red Hot, I don't mind having the Japanese version for 1/3 the price.

Does anybody see the value of putting away special items for trade, or as incentive goods for friendly troops.

CK

There's an example of thinking outside the box. I like it!

Onward and upward,
airforce

Their are also a chain of dented can stores where you can get good discounts on canned items. The cans aren't ruptured so the contents is still good.

I was taught to be wary of botulism with dented cans.

As long as the can isn't ruptured, a dented can is safe. If the can is bulging, that's a bad sign.

Onward and upward,
airforce

I've heard the same thing about dented cans. When the structural integrity of the can is not present, things can get in. I know when the can is bulging, that's a sign of bacteria, but I worry about tiny tears in the can which are not immediately noticeable.

There are so many good sources for food, that gambling on whether a can is alright, is something I don't want to do. Dollar stores can be a source of cheap canned meat, and they are generally in perfect shape. Sure, you might be eating snails and sardines, not spam and canned ham, but I can find cheap food all over.

CK

One thing to be careful of with dented cans is that with certain high acid foods, the cans may have a protective lining. If the lining is damaged, the higher acid foods may corrode the can from the inside.

OMG I remember an ftx with the old Kenton's group. I found a can of beans in a shack that was over 8 years old I ate them. they tasted ok for old beans and all. Can wasn't dented or poofy . just a little rusted in spots.

Alpo isn't bad either taste is acquired but it didn't kill my dog. A car did.

SPAM is awesome find it on sale stockpile a can at a time. it has so many preservatives it think the stuff from WWII is still good.

Sardines Herring and Pickled things I think last a long time. Rice bulk buy with a few friends.

Here in the US its not a good Idea to repeatedly Bulk Buy Sugar when your grand father was one of the largest moonshiners in the state. this I know for fact and experience. I will forego any sugar purchases over 5 pounds. Thanks grandpa..

Salt is important stockpile that. you need it for health as a supplement. Animals need it too. both wild and domestic animals.

Gibbs traps are a good thing to get you can trap all year round.

another thing to think about getting are the old Rubik's cubes simple puzzle toys like that not only ease boredom but they teach left handed rationalization and problem solving skills.

Once when I was involved with a Boy Scout troop we did some community service at the county social services office. It was around early fall and they were clearing out the older food stocks to make room for the new stuff that would soon be arriving with the pre-Thanksgiving food drives. The closets were full from ceiling to floor almost exclusively with canned peas and green beans. None of it had reached the expiration date printed on the can. Our job was to throw it all away. Yep, it all went in the dumpster.

This was long before I was ever involved with prepping or the Militia. Had I known what I know today, I would have backed my truck up to the door and hauled it out myself. Maybe I'll volunteer this year to help clean off their shelves.