Well, I just returned from an out-of-state milestone celebration family reunion, and while I knew that I wouldn't be able to have regular access to the internet, it turns out I didn't have access to it at all until I got home. Makes it pretty hard to write a post... :)
Soooo, if anyone comes back and actually reads this, thought I'd write about a little experience that I had while I was gone that kind of underlines what kind of position you put yourself in if you are not prepared for what is maybe not exactly an emergency, but definitely an uncomfortable situation. Turns out that I got some kind of cold while I was gone, one of those colds that make your head ache painfully from the sinus pressure. Not fun. Also not fun that I didn't have any Tylenol, (I don't work for Tylenol, nor know anyone who does, but it is usually my pain reliever of choice) and had hours of traveling ahead of me. I did, however, have a layover in an airport, and so I went to one of the shops that tend to cluster in such places. They had Tylenol available for a price--24 caplets for $9.99 + tax. Yeah, a little pricey (read: exorbitantly expensive) for my taste, but what choice did I have at that point? That, and $2.30 for a bottle of water from another shop, and I had what I needed. When I told my husband about the purchase, he had about the same reaction that I had about the pricing, but he was nice about it. Yeah, he's pretty great... :)
That little expensive bottle is now sitting next to my economy size bottle on a high shelf out of reach of my children. When I think what I could have done to avoid this situation, there isn't that much that I would change, because we were together as a family in a small space for an extended period of time, and I wouldn't have wanted to take such items that I would have worried about with the children around, with only a small chance that I would even need them. I rarely need to take Tylenol, and it wouldn't have made sense to take it and then worry about it and possible chidren's access to it for the entire trip.
If I wouldn't necessarily change what I did, what exactly is my point? This makes me think that if prices can be this high simply because you are in a confined situation and have limited choices, about what could happen if you are limited in your choices, whether because of lack of choices in your area, or because you find yourself without the resources to go out of a very small region to find what you need. Those who have what you need get to set the prices. And if you need it enough (i.e. your sinuses are making your life miserable) you will have to pay their prices. Doesn't it make sense to look ahead and avoid such a situation for as long as possible, and have extra of the things you may need, by putting some in storage? I was fortunate enough to have been able to afford it, but it sure would be nice to have that money in my pocket instead...
Like I said, not exactly an emergency, and if I hadn't had the means to buy it, I would have had to suffer through hours more of travel with no relief. In the case of having no food or water on hand, for whatever reason-- disruption of the economy, transportation of goods, or just plain lack of products to purchase-- you/I/we would have an absolute emergency. And if we aren't prepared with some kind of storage, the resources available will likely go to whoever can afford them at a very high price--and if we can't afford the price, the resources will go to someone else, and we, unfortunately, will go hungry....
I hope that everyone who has the means to stock up will do so, even if it's just a little bit at a time. In the state that we were visiting, the price of living is much higher, and I got a little bit of sticker shock just looking in the canned goods aisle. Puts a new perspective on what I consider to be expensive here in Idaho. If you do have expensive prices on just basic canned goods, it would be difficult to get in a lot of storage, but please do what you can. Every little bit helps, and hey, if you are reading this, thanks for coming back! :) Now I get to catch up on what everyone else has been writing....
7 comments:
Where in Idaho do you live? I'm in southeast Idaho.
You might try to make friends with a nurse. At our hospital, they let us buy tylenol and motrin for a couple of dollars from our pharmacy. It's a steal! Last week I got three bottles of motrin (500 count) for about $2 a piece. Tylenol is the same. Way cheap.
The Garden of Egan--We also are in the southeast section of Idaho! I had not even thought of getting Tylenol that way, but it emphasizes the fact that sometimes it's who you know, and you got a great deal...thanks for the tip, and for taking the time to comment!
Always a bit of shock when you are held hostage to higher prices at places like airports. You're right that this type of situation is just the kind we should try and prep for. Forcasting future needs can be a tricky thing...
Welcome back, we missed you!
Welcome back marie, I thought you had abandon us.
Although with events unrolling the way they are, I would not blame you at all.
Carl In Wi
HermitJim--Thanks for the kind words! The prices were kinda scary, even for the regular type food that you find outside of the airport--glad that I don't find myself in that situation too often, and this only happened because of a special occasion. Unfortunately, you're right about not knowing exactly what you may or may not need--I guess we can only do the best we can...
Carl--Hey, I wouldn't abandon this without saying, and truth be told, I often learn exponentially more from the comments than what I put out in the posts, so it really is a benefit to me--selfish, I know. It is scary how events are unfolding, though--I hope that everyone (including me) can get more and more prepared for what looks like harder times ahead...
Thanks very much to both of you for checking back, and especially for your comments--they are much appreciated!
Marie
I take an empty water bottle with me when I fly and fill it after I pass the security station.
I also have one of those little "tins" for aspirin products (I use the word "tins" loosely, mostly they are plastic now but I'm old enough to remember when they were a "tin") and they are almost impossible for me to open which means they might be childproof.
dicity
Dicity-I like the empty water bottle idea--I like to think that it hadn't occured to me because we don't fly that often... :)
I'm such a worrier that I don't think I would try the tin thing until the children are older, but it's a good idea to keep in mind until then. Thanks for your comment!
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