I don't do delivery and only do online pickup orders. I get groceries about once a month as I did a lot of dining shops. When doing dining shops I always tried to order something that would allow me to take half home to freeze or reheat the next day. I sure miss those! I find cooking for one to be a PITA so pretty much stick to making crockpot soups and stews and freeze what I don't eat right away. I also keep crackers, cheese, some of those tuna packets (like the Lemon one) on hand for a quick light meal.

@Jill_L wrote:

I have rental properties. I think I'm going to lose my properties. IDK

I don't know why you would? Some mortgages can't be foreclosed on for 120 days and most banks have said they won't be foreclosing on anything during this crisis. We are much more concerned with our tenants. One just went through several surgeries and just went back to work 2 weeks ago, at a gas station. :/

I would never shop early with the elderly. I think this is a mistake putting everyone together.

This is VERY ENCOURAGING and should be able to be used in hospitals very soon. It's a ventilator that can be adapted to be used by FOUR patients at ONE TIME. Developed by a doctor in SC in the Prisma Health System. Read here....
[www.foxcarolina.com]

Here's a real conundrum. Local grocery stores are getting in small quantities of paper products. They stock them overnight. The same stores are also reserving their early morning hours for senior shoppers. By the time anyone else can get into the store all the paper products are gone. So here we are practicing isolation to protect the at risk population and some of that at risk population isn't considering we also need supplies. It makes me really wish we had a face palm emoji.

I do feel quite lucky. In January there was a 20% off 'friends & family' sale at Big Lots and with a discounted gift card from Raise I was able to buy big packages of TP and paper towels inexpensively. I probably have adequate to last into June, knowing they would have another 20% 'friends & family' sale before then. I do respect the stores that are limiting folks to 1 or 2 packages and certainly have not attempted to get any during the current crisis.

Because I cook 5-6 days a week, my pantry is always well stocked when things come on loss leader sales, so my major stock up in February for the current emergency was more for items I don't usually get around to making but which would be likely to . . . comfort foods. 6 doz eggs, 10# of bread flour, 5# AP flour, canned pie fillings, boxed cake mix, oil, yeast, brown sugar, dried pastas, shelf stable milk and lots of cheese. From scratch mac 'n cheese baked with frozen shrimp, frozen bay scallops and frozen peas stirred in is a recent big winner and pretty shortly I will be making homemade bread because the bread aisle at the store last visit was empty. I have a 'batter bread' that doesn't require kneading but is a yeastie thing with an almost cake-like crumb that is spectacular for French toast as well as grilled cheese sandwiches. Or I can use the bread machine (or the dough hook on my mixer) to make yeast breads with more traditional textures.

My son's once in a lifetime summer internship in Alaska was postponed indefinitely today. The facility that he trains with locally has already hired someone to fill in for him over the summer, if they allow interns back in by then. He's devastated and going crazy with nothing to do. I'm trying to convince him to use his skills training my foster cats but apparently it's not the same as holding stinky fish up for marine mammals. Now I get to try to convince the airline to refund the airline ticket (the departure is within their Covid19 refund guidelines but not the return).

@MsJudi wrote:

I am interested in seeing what the minimum monthly income will be to be eligible to collect this special UE insurance or assistance money. I hope it's LOW, 'cause I don't make a lot per month after deductions.

Here's a bit of an article I found about the new coverage. i have to admit, I do not understand the info on the linked page.

Are gig workers, freelancers and independent contractors covered in the bill?

Yes, self-employed people would be newly eligible for unemployment benefits.

Benefit amounts would be calculated based on previous income using a formula from the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, according to a congressional aide (links to [www.law.cornell.edu])

Self-employed workers would also be eligible for the additional $600 weekly benefit provided by the federal government.

@wwin Certainly everyone's summer plans as well as daily schedules are being impacted. Sympathy is about all you can offer your son for his loss. Any alternative activities you can offer him that wouldn't seem like just chores? Repainting the house? Learning to make perfect pie crusts? Putting in a vegetable garden? Rehabbing old bicycles to give to needy kids?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2020 08:58PM by Flash.

I crunched some numbers just now and found an interesting topic, as I'm fully oblivious how crucial that $600/week unemployment "relief" pay in the stimulus is for many....

I'm obviously NOT advocating one way or the other, as politics often turns ugly, but from PURELY an objective view, here's what I found....

I am from Colorado and from some quick searches, the max unemployment benefit a person can get is $618/week, which accounts for 50-60% of your adjusted gross income. Now you take into consideration the $600/week "bump" for the next 4 months (or whatever ultimately ends up being the time agreed to in the stimulus bill), this bumps this to around $1218/week, or an optimum $1200/week for the next four months. So theoretically, $600 / 50% * 52 weeks =$62,400. This means that the $62,400 is the "sweet spot" for this that would optimally benefit from this $600 extra money per week, AND you don't have to work for the next four months (minus obviously meeting the requirements for unemployment such as applying for jobs, submitting the paperwork, etc.).

And, the less you made, the more you benefit, as unemployment WILL pay you more the less you make since it's a fixed $600/week for all unemployed beneficiaries. For example, let's say you made $15/hour, full time, so $31,200 is your yearly income, or $600 per week. Let's say for unemployment, you can get paid 50-60% of your wages, or $300 to keep the numbers simple. The added $600/week bump from the stimulus brings your total unemployment benefit to $900/week. So $900/week on unemployment not working vs. bring in less income at $600/week working your normal hours.

That kinda brings some perspective on how anyone making $62,400 a year or less, may arguably be better on unemployment for the next couple months instead of working. Interesting how the numbers play out, right?

From former U.S. Labor Secretary and UC Berkeley Professor of Public Policy, Robert Reich:

[twitter.com]

@ wrote:

Under the bailout bill, execs who raked in more than $3M last year could get $3M plus half of any sum in excess of $3M.

So if they got $20M in 2019, they could get $3M plus half of $17M or $11.5M.

A shameless windfall at a time when millions are barely getting by.

@Tarantado wrote:

I crunched some numbers just now and found an interesting topic, as I'm fully oblivious how crucial that $600/week unemployment "relief" pay in the stimulus is for many....

I'm obviously NOT advocating one way or the other, as politics often turns ugly, but from PURELY an objective view, here's what I found....

I am from Colorado and from some quick searches, the max unemployment benefit a person can get is $618/week, which accounts for 50-60% of your adjusted gross income. Now you take into consideration the $600/week "bump" for the next 4 months (or whatever ultimately ends up being the time agreed to in the stimulus bill), this bumps this to around $1218/week, or an optimum $1200/week for the next four months. So theoretically, $600 / 50% * 52 weeks =$62,400. This means that the $62,400 is the "sweet spot" for this that would optimally benefit from this $600 extra money per week, AND you don't have to work for the next four months (minus obviously meeting the requirements for unemployment such as applying for jobs, submitting the paperwork, etc.).

And, the less you made, the more you benefit, as unemployment WILL pay you more the less you make since it's a fixed $600/week for all unemployed beneficiaries. For example, let's say you made $15/hour, full time, so $31,200 is your yearly income, or $600 per week. Let's say for unemployment, you can get paid 50-60% of your wages, or $300 to keep the numbers simple. The added $600/week bump from the stimulus brings your total unemployment benefit to $900/week. So $900/week on unemployment not working vs. bring in less income at $600/week working your normal hours.

That kinda brings some perspective on how anyone making $62,400 a year or less, may arguably be better on unemployment for the next couple months instead of working. Interesting how the numbers play out, right?

It used to be $450 a week in CA, since it’s really cheap to live here, you know?

@SoCalMama wrote:

It used to be $450 a week in CA, since it’s really cheap to live here, you know?

Since the shutdown beginning a week or two ago, the meters have all been free parking! So theoretically, the cost of living potentially has dropped significantly for the next 4 months, if Van Life is still a thing for my generation and Gen Z, and you're able to move into the priciest areas in Denver for free!

@Tarantado "AND you don't have to work for the next four months (minus obviously meeting the requirements for unemployment such as applying for jobs, submitting the paperwork, etc.)" Those requirements will be waived while cities and states are under shelter in place orders. The rest of your post makes the assumption the employed people being assisted won't have jobs to return to in as we re-open.

@Tarantado wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

It used to be $450 a week in CA, since it’s really cheap to live here, you know?

Since the shutdown beginning a week or two ago, the meters have all been free parking! So theoretically, the cost of living potentially has dropped significantly for the next 4 months, if Van Life is still a thing for my generation and Gen Z, and you're able to move into the priciest areas in Denver for free!

That’s why I have an HOA.

@LisaSTL wrote:

@Tarantado "AND you don't have to work for the next four months (minus obviously meeting the requirements for unemployment such as applying for jobs, submitting the paperwork, etc.)" Those requirements will be waived while cities and states are under shelter in place orders. The rest of your post makes the assumption the employed people being assisted won't have jobs to return to in as we re-open.

The 4 months short term timeline is referencing the current length of the added $600/week stimulus for unemployment benefits, so the employed people simply being furloughed without pay until things turn back to normal also counts in my assumption.

Huh?

@Flash wrote:

From scratch mac 'n cheese baked with frozen shrimp, frozen bay scallops and frozen peas stirred in is a recent big winner ...

OMG, that sounds wonderful!

@LisaSTL wrote:

Huh?

???

@Tarantado wrote:

That kinda brings some perspective on how anyone making $62,400 a year or less, may arguably be better on unemployment for the next couple months instead of working. Interesting how the numbers play out, right?

...and that's how things will get even worse. This is ranging on a political discussion, but if the idea is to put perceived wealth into woking class hands to prop up the economy, it will also have unexpected side-effects.

My sister works for a firm that's switching over a factory to make needed ventilators. The factory workers have apparently figured out that if they claim to have COVID symptoms, they will automatically be sent home and able to collect EDD, earning more than they would in the factory at their standard wage, making ventilators to keep sick people alive.

Now the price of the ventilators just went up!

@SteveSoCal wrote:

...and that's how things will get even worse. This is ranging on a political discussion, but if the idea is to put perceived wealth into woking class hands to prop up the economy, it will also have unexpected side-effects.

My sister works for a firm that's switching over a factory to make needed ventilators. The factory workers have apparently figured out that if they claim to have COVID symptoms, they will automatically be sent home and able to collect EDD, earning more than they would in the factory at their standard wage, making ventilators to keep sick people alive.

Now the price of the ventilators just went up!

Exactly. While I understand the intent, which puts relief on basically the average working American and also encourages them to stay home while we weather through this crisis, the hole this creates becomes more and more apparent..... That's if people did the math and noticed this, like I did.

And like I stated earlier, this, plus the $1,200-2,400 lump sum payout proposed, still neglects a good chunk of the middle class AND/OR those living in drastically high cost of living areas (i.e. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, NYC, etc.).

In my area I can't get a slot for grocery delivery at all (at least through mid April). So I will have to go grocery shopping in person very soon.

I had to go to multiple grocery stores over the past few days to get supplies for my sister, since most places were out of this or that, and I had to get several cases of water for her (limit of 2 per person) plus nutritious foods, and of course wine!

My sister is evacuating Pakistan since they are closing the airports and airspace soon, and someone at the embassy tested positive for the corona virus, so most people want to get the hell out of there. It was a person who had just come back from London and had jet lag, so they had not been in contact with anyone else after coming back from England. Still, my sister had to fly into DC with a group of diplomats today (she should be in DC now) and then she will fly to Cleveland tomorrow. I found her an air bnb near my house where she can self-quarantine when she gets here so I am going over tomorrow to disinfect and put the supplies away for her.

I did my last merchandising job today (I took a leave of absence) and begin to self-quarantine with my husband starting today so that we can all spend time together in a few weeks. It sucks I can't spend time with her now, I haven't seen her in a few years. She has a weakened immune system due to contracting some parasites while living abroad, so she can't get sick (plus she is mid 60s). At least she will be here until June 1st (or longer) so it will be nice when we are all sure we are healthy.

And now I am freaking out because I just got an email from her that her flight from Dulles to CLE tomorrow has been canceled and they rebooked her flight for tomorrow evening into New York/Newark (EWR) where she will arrive there at 11:44 p.m. and then her connecting flight is at 7:59 a.m. OH HELL NO!

New York is the "new Italy" and a virus hotspot, and her spending 8 hours in an airport where germs are rampant? I replied for her to rent a car and drive here, it's about 7 hours. I am really worried, this really sucks. I already woke up a few days ago in the early morning and vomited because I literally was "sick with worry".

I'm with you, she should just drive and avoid the crowds.

I was sitting at the computer when her email came in and I replied immediately. She just sent a confirmation of her car rental, she is driving over tomorrow. OMG I am so relieved.

@Tarantado wrote:

@SteveSoCal wrote:

...and that's how things will get even worse. This is ranging on a political discussion, but if the idea is to put perceived wealth into woking class hands to prop up the economy, it will also have unexpected side-effects.

My sister works for a firm that's switching over a factory to make needed ventilators. The factory workers have apparently figured out that if they claim to have COVID symptoms, they will automatically be sent home and able to collect EDD, earning more than they would in the factory at their standard wage, making ventilators to keep sick people alive.

Now the price of the ventilators just went up!

Exactly. While I understand the intent, which puts relief on basically the average working American and also encourages them to stay home while we weather through this crisis, the hole this creates becomes more and more apparent..... That's if people did the math and noticed this, like I did.

And like I stated earlier, this, plus the $1,200-2,400 lump sum payout proposed, still neglects a good chunk of the middle class AND/OR those living in drastically high cost of living areas (i.e. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, NYC, etc.).

I feel for the "heroes" risking their health manning checkout lines and mopping hospital floors for $9 an hour, while others whose work turns out to be not really important after all are are pulling $18-$30 an hour binging Netflix. I understand the need to keep people home and not tank the economy at the same time, but I wish something more would have been done to stimulate those who have to keep working.

I got Amazon deliveries today.

Wondering what tips ppl might have on handling them. So far, I've:

a.) quarantined them into a separate storage box (with lots of pennies in the box, because pennies kill bacteria and viruses - I believe I read COVID can live 4 hours on a penny) and not opened them yet.

b.) I immediately sanitized and washed my hands after touching the packages.

c.) WON'T open the packages for 4-5 days - is this weird/extreme? Don't want to touch them for a while.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2020 03:19AM by shoptastic.

Mostly, being cleaner and some stress. I hate the shock tactics. It will pass according to Dr. Nanchang, discoverer of the original SARS virus, by May. I can see that. He said it may come back as a seasonal nuisance problematic for old people or disappear for ten years and then return in a milder form. He does not believe millions will die or half the world will be infected. Considering only 0.3 to 1 percent die under sixty, and 3.6 percent up to seventy, then fourteen percent after seventy, I think it is ridiculous to claim a high death rate or call it a killer. My roommate told me that he would rather have coronavirus than cancer with those rates. Good point. No treatment is required in eighty to ninety-four percent of cases, it goes away, and you get immunity. Your chance of dying is small in most cases. How this thing became a social-economic-health nightmare is beyond me. The virus looks manipulated by government, not natural. By the Wuhan Clan against Hong Kong.

I really believe if this had happened under Clinton or Obama, there would be no scare tactics or fenagling on the part of government. And they would be more clever than suggestion of long-term lockdowns up to eighteen months, mass quarantines, and ignorance about using technology, science, medicine, and research to solve the problem. America could be at the forefront of medical research on this, but the media thinks people should hide in a cave.