As many of you may be aware, much of American agriculture was turned over to the production of corn in 2007 to make ethanol. This is now coming home to "bite" us. The cost of a 50# bag of cracked corn to feed my barnyard fowl has gone from about $3 a couple of years ago to $10.75 today when I bought a bag. Like many farmers, we are looking at seriously cutting back our flocks and our herds because it is just getting uneconomical to feed them. You already see the earlier cutbacks in the prices you are paying for milk and eggs. You will see relatively inexpensive meat and poultry only so long as the herds and flocks are still being thinned.

But this goes beyond your pocketbook. There are shortages of flour in the US, which is driving the price skyward. And without our usual surplus corn and flour to ship to the world, the World Bank is estimating that some 100 million folks in third world countries will starve because they just can't afford the cost of subsistence diets when the prices have been pushed upward by shortages and shipping costs.

There is a worldwide shortage of rice as well since other countries are turning it into biofuel just as we are converting corn. Today COSTCO has announced that they are "trying hard" not to have to impose limits on how much rice and flour a customer can purchase. Take this as a 'heads up' that if you possibly can, it is probably time to resupply your pantry as things such as flour, cornmeal, rice and the pastas made from flour etc. are likely to be in short supply during the next 12 to 18 months. Obviously don't buy what you won't use before it spoils, but do try to cover your needs.

Flash, Thank you for the information. I have not heard about this. I believe that we are going to see a lot more of these types of things in the future.

This biggest shortage I see in this country is LEADERSHIP, Just look at
what is running for president.

You are so right John, the canidates are all a joke. Its basicaly determining the lesser of two evils.
My community is starting to see the effects. As Flash said about the corn and recently anounced on the news is the price of rice on the increase. I heard it would quad this year. Being that everyone knows how we are struggling financially, rice is a staple at our house, its how we keep the kids full. If rice becomes more expensive what will the lower working class eat? It seems that bread, rice, and corn are main fuels for our people, I hate to see the starving over seas countries and how those people are being taken care of.But, What about what, this country is letting them do to our's? Do we really have any control? My neighbors are giving thier cattle away, they just can't afford to feed them anymore.
I am still MSing, but its hard when they don't want to pay to cover the gas, even when I mass shop and plan routes. A total 50 mile trip and countless hours down loading and putting in the reports just doesn't seem worth the minichecks they offer. We have 3 vehicle's we use, and due to the 150$(we spend in gas) a week, we aren't able to afford the upkeep. then you deduct food expences and what is left goes to bills. Its getting difficult explaining to the banks why we are making partial payments or none at all. Any ideas?

A different job?

The biggest problem about leadership in this country is that a person has to be rich to run for office, and there is no way to determine whether the person got rich through legitimate practices.

On a mystery shop in a small town about a month ago, I saw rice on sale. When I went back, it was still on sale. I bought some. I bought some for my new pastor. We were having a "pounding" (when you buy a pound of something practical and give it to a new pastor as a gift).

The biggest problem I have been facing is the cost of gasoline. Most of the time, we put in so little in the tank that my husband and I look like we are on perpetual gas station mystery shops. LOL I had to cut back on my rural trips as well as my big city trips and take only what's within ten miles. This usually means merchandising. I also have a new job starting in the fall. And to think that I used to read 30 books a year. Now I don't even have time to finish the one I got for Christmas.

The schedulers still call to see if I can take a rural assignment. I told one company that I would take several assignments in one town once a month if the bonus paid for it. Besides, that is my favorite route for bird watching. The traffic is light, so I can travel slower and look at all the birds. I have added to my list of new birds on that highway.

This is why I love telephone shops!

My car came back from the shop today, now I can shop more! I took over my parents' minivan which likes to guzzle the gas...hello Focus!

Absolutely right. Have heard good advise to start stocking up on non parishables on sale. Also heard Ethanol is not a very effecient fuel. My heart aches for this crazy situation and for the farmers. I always thought they were the main stay of everything good:, food, good social values, faith, honesty and community sharing. I don't think there is any turning back. Now I understand that old song about "Just put up a parking lot." Being a senior citizen, I'm concerned about paying off our 2 car payments. If I could afford would buy a hybrid. Must be "chicken little", because I would be afraid of being run over by an SUV driven by a woman talking on the cell phone. And I'm a woman who has nearly been run down by many an SUV

Those of you with faith, can only pray that we learn to be good stewards of what God gives us.

I like to shop at Trader Joe's. So far, the rice is the same price. I like their jasmine brown rice from Thailand. But it is true, We cant over stock, because it would only spoil or the bugs will get it.
I try to schedule shops on the days that I have to go out for some other reason. Or, if I see more than one shop that pays well. Some Company's don't want to assign more than one shop for one day.
These little Dunkin Donut shops are good if you want a free breakfast and the shop is nearby in the direction of personal travels. The pay of $7.00 doesn't cover the cost of gas. Even the $10 shops are not able to compensate for the cost of gas, unless several of them can be done in one day.
This all happended so quickly. Every time I go to the pump it is higher and higher. I try to plan days that I don't have to drive.

rlly

Why didn't I think of that, bfriend?

I stocked up for Y2K. It nearly broke the bank, too. I got important things such as toilet paper, cat food, and my favorite shampoo. If the cat food is in a bag, I'd put it in a plastic bag since gnawing critters can get through those.

I also had batteries. I still have plenty but not the size that fit my cell phone, electric toothbrush and digital camera. (Unsolicited Advice: My dental health improved dramatically after I began flossing and using an electric toothbrush. Bad dental care has been equated with diseases such as heart trouble, too.)

I have seeds in a cake tin. I garden, but I need to do more.

The Conclusion: Even with frequent grocery assignments (which I can't afford), I'd probably not be able to afford to stock up until I start my full-time job in the fall. (I'll still be with you, but I'll just be making a little more money.)

We don't have food shortages in America. We're not a Third World country. The worst that will happen is that the price of rice or corn will go up. You probably won't even notice it since the price of food is rising anyway.

The foolishness that went on during the Y2K scare was started by alarmists, religious fanatics, pessimists and radical survivalists. It was all nonsense. Many billions of dollars were spent to reprogram computers, but the world would not have come to an end anyway.

I was doing a shop today where my reimbursement will be for the cantaloupe, multi colored bell pepper and sugar pea seeds I purchased. The melons I planted this evening. Bert will get to eat them, I will get to enjoy the smell. On a previous shop I got sugar baby watermelon seeds. Planted 9 seeds in a huge pot and currently have 12 little watermelons coming along ranging in size from a large marble to a softball. Salad at dinner tonight had the first of the grape tomatoes from our plant. They will be better in a few days when they ripen more.

My husband, who knows a lot about computers, said there would be no Y2K. People probably thought there would be no Depression. Anyway, I once knew a military family (retired) that went to the PX only every six months and stocked up. Their garage was full. It was probably a lot of work, but I liked the idea of stocking up. This fueled part of my agenda. The rest was wanting to be prepared for anything. If we can barely afford things now, surely we will have problems when and if the prices do go up. I used to shop for convenience (nearest store that wasn't prohibitively expensive). If I really, really had the time and didn't need to save my money for wherever I'm mystery shopping, I'd cut out coupons every week, go to the cheapest stores first, then to the ones that have what I want that isn't at the cheapest stores. I've read register lane magazines that say it's possible. Am I optimistic or pessimistic? I keep thinking that I will do well in mystery shopping. Surely, if I manage it differently, the amounts will eventually rise over this ceiling I have hit. Ok, now you can laugh.

There was no Y2K crisis because million of computers all over the world were reprogrammed, at a cost of many billions of dollars. But had they not been so successful, we would not have had the end-of-the-world catastrophes that the oddball naysayers were predicting. You didn't have to be a computer expert, just read some reputable newspapers to know what was happening.

I just got a email from my family member that included alot of stores that were about to close or have closed. It looked really bad as far as the economy and what is happening out there. If anyone wants to know I can list the companies for them but there is alot more than I would have thought.

I've seen some places closed especially "fast food".  I'd like to see the list as I suspect there are many more than I already know about.

TTENTION SHOPPER!!!!!!!!!!




USE ANY GIFT CARDS YOU MAY HAVE TO THESE STORES ASAP. It is bad out there folks.


Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide. A company spokeswoman said the company hasn’t revealed which stor es will be shuttered. It will let the stores that will close this fiscal year know over the next month Eddie Bauer to close more stores Eddie Bauer has already closed 27 shops in the first quarter and plans to close up to two more outlet stores by the end of the year.

Cache closing stores Women’s retailer Cache announced that it is closing 20 to 23 stores this year.

Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores nationwide. The owner of retailers Lane Bryant , Fashion Bug , Catherines Plus Sizes will close about150 under performing stores this year. The company hasn’t provided a list of specific store closures and can’t say when it will offer that info, spokeswoman Brooke Perry said today.

Talbots, J. Jill closing stores. About a month ago, Talbots announced that it will be shuttering all 78 of its kids a nd men’s stores. Now the company says it will close another 22 under performing stores. The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbots women’s and J. Jill , another chain it owns. The closures will occur this fiscal year, according to a company press release.

Gap Inc. closing 85 stores. In addition to its namesake chain, Gap also owns Old Navy and Banana Republic . The comp any said the closures — all planned for fiscal 2008— will be weighted toward the Gap brand.

Foot Locker to close 140 stores In the company press release and during its conference call with analysts today, it did not specify where the future store closures – all planned in fiscal 2008 – will be. The company could not be immediately reached for comment Wickes is going out of business Wickes Furniture is going out of business and closing all of its stores, Wickes, a 37-year-old retailer that targets middle-income customers, filed for bankruptcy pr otection last month.

Goodbye Levitz. The furniture retailer, which is going out of business. Levitz first announced it was going out of business and closing all 76 of its stores in December. The retailer dates back to 1910 when Richard Levi tz opened his first furniture store in Lebanon, PA. In the 1960s, the warehouse/showroom concept brought Levitz to the forefront of the furniture industry. The local Levitz closures will follow the shutdown of Bombay.

Zales, Piercing Pagoda closing stores. The owner of Zales and Piercing Pagoda previously said it plans to close 82 stores by July 31. Today, it announced that it is closing another 23 under performing stores. The company said it’s not providing a list of specific store closures. Of the 105 locations planned for closure, 50 are kiosks and 55 are stores.

Disney S tore owner has the right to close 98 stores. The Walt Disney Company announced it acquired about 220 Disney Stores fro m subsidiaries of The Children’s Place Retail Stores. The exact number of stores acquired will depend on negotiations with landlords. Those subsidiaries of Children’s Place filed for bankruptcy protection in late March. Walt Disney in the news release said it has also obtained the right to close about 98 Disney Stores in the U.S. The press release didn’t list those stores.

Home Depot store closings ATLANTA - Nearly 7+ months after its chief executive said there were no plans to cut the number of its core retail stores, The Home Depot Inc. announced Thursday that it is shuttering 15 of them amid a slumping. U.S. economy and housing market. The move will affect 1,300 employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store for performance reasons. Its shares rose almost 5 percent. The Atlanta-based company said the under performing U.S.stores being closed represent less than 1 percent of its existing stores. They will be shuttered within the next two months.

CompUSA clarifies details on store closings Any extended warranties purchased for products through CompUSA will be honored by a third-party provide r, Assurant Solutions. Gift cards, rainchecks, and rebates purchased prior t o December 12 can be redeemed at any time during the final sale. For those who have a gadget currently in for service with CompUSA, the repair will be completed and the gadget will be returned to owners. [www.news]. com/8301- 10784_3-9834177- 7html

Macy's — 9 stores

Movie Gallery — 160 stores as part of reorganization plan to exit bankruptcy. The video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500 Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520 locations the video rental chain closed last fall.

Pacific Su nwear — 153 Demo stores

Pep Boys ž 33 stores

Sprint Nextel — 125 retail locationsNew Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse appears to have inherited a company bleeding subscribers by the thousands, and will now officially be dropping the ax on 4,000 employees and 125 retail locations. Amid the loss of 639,000 postpaid customers in the fourth quarter, Sprint will be cutting a total of 6.7% of its work force (following the 5,000 layoffs last year) and 8% of company-owned brick-and-mortar stores, while remaining mute on otherrumors that it will consolidate its headquarters in Kansas. Sprint Nextel shares are down $2.89,or nearly 25%, at the time of this writing.

J. C. Penney, Lowe’s and Office Depot are scaling back.

Ethan Allen Interiors: The company announced plans to close 12 of 300+ sto resin an effort to cut costs.

Wilsons the Leather Experts — 158 stores

Pacific Sunwear will close its 154 Demo stores after a review of strategic alternatives for the urban-apparel brand. Seventy-four under performing Demo stores closed last May.

Sharper Image: The company recently filed for bankruptcy protection and announced that 90 of its 184 stores are closing. The retailer will still operate 94 stores to pay off debts, but 90 of these stores have performed poorly and also may close.

Bombay Company: The company unveiled plans to close all 384 U.S.-based Bombay Company stores. The company's online store front has discontinued operations.

KB Toys posted a list of 356 stores that it is closing around the United States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. To see the list o f store closings, go to the KB Toys Information web site, and click on Press Information.

Dillard's to Close More Stores Dillard's Inc. said it will continue to focus on closing under perform ing stores, reducing expenses and improving its merchandise in 2008. At the company's an nual shareholder meeting, CEO William Dillard II said the company will close another six underperforming stor es this year.

I believe Linens 'n Things is in the final phases of being gone everywhere. Only a few CompUSAs were salvaged out of that bankruptcy and now seem to operate under a different owner. Circuit City I believe is closing a lot of stores, as is Footlocker and I think it was Old Navy. We have had a number of smaller chains fold and I expect to see a whole lot more store closings of companies trying to stay in business. In my area it is bizarre because there are new malls being thrown up and new retailers that already had a presence in the area. This expansion is because there is usually 2 years lead time for new commercial property to break ground and once all the contracts and such are in place you need to follow through and get it done. Two to three years ago we were still economically in growth rather than stalled or falling.

I did a few of the electronic job you mentioned and I didn't hear of closings,but then again I heard Best buy was suppose to close,but I dont know if that is confirmed or not. I was just amazed of all the different stores that were on the list,I had no idea. What does this all mean for us in the long run........

Linens and things? My favorite store. Golly!! What will I do?

Same thing here Flash a lot of new shopping centers going up and a new Mall is in the works.

The places I notice the biggest difference is restaurants in our area. Even the high end restaurants people frequent the most. We go out to eat most evenings over the weekend and the restaurants are visibility empty for the most part. Places we had to stand in line to eat are now closing off eating areas entirely.

There have been several fast foods store closing like the Dairy Queen.
Things are bad all over and we are in an area that is #10 of the fastest growing areas in the country. Nashville is #49 and we are 45 miles north west of Nashville.

The cost of oil is having big trickle down effect on people's jobs and the money they have to spend on extras. I watched the other day as a man in a truck filled up his tank with gas...$100 on the nose. He told me he drove 50miles to work one way and was filling up his tank at least 3 times a week.
Man that cuts into your spending money, time you think about groceries, utilities(which are going up too), and a mortage if you have one.

I think the signs are pretty good we are already on the thin edge of an overblown Depression, big time.

I think maybe it's time to move "back on the farm" and start raising your own grub. LOL!!

Don't know why I thought you were in CA. I grew up in Nashville. In fact my old house is now a gospel music station and I understand that they are broadcasting from my old bedroom. What a joke that is!

Where I am now there is a "tourist season" from November until Easter. This year we had a lot less "snowbirds" so restaurants and stores were in trouble by January. We have done several shops at traditionally busy places where there were perhaps 3 groups in the whole restaurant and the group at the bar we had the impression were off duty servers who were more visiting than buying. And normally I would shun restaurant shops during "tourist season" because of lines hanging out the door but I can't think when we last had to wait to be seated.

Gospel music from your bedroom!!

This is getting scary. I shop for myself so little that I knew only about Linens and CompUSA.

Life is full of little ironies.

I am curious and do stick my head into a lot of new-to-me stores to see what they offer--and most often get out pretty promptly with empty hands rather than empty pockets. In part my curiosity is for merchandise of interest to me personally, in part my visit is to see if I think the store has the management, merchandise and price margins that should make it a good stock investment. And there are many stores that fit one category or the other but few that fit both.

Restaurants get much the same once over from me and I find it interesting that very often there is not a correlation between price and quality of food/service. We went to a minor league baseball game tonight where there was a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant we shopped and a 3 day/2 night stay at the resort that has that restaurant. There weren't many folks at the game because it was raining and the sign up for the drawing was free. Our chances of winning one or the other prize were really good. I walked right past and the guy at the table caught Bert and suggested he sign up. Bert said "We were there and wouldn't go back, but thanks." The guy was almost pleading for him to sign up, saying, "Try us again and let us do it better!" Bert was right on target. Between required snack bar, dinner and after dinner bar visit for coffee and dessert, $115.75 with tips. Service miserable, food mediocre at best and the house wine totally chemical. A $50 gift certificate wouldn't start to go far enough.

I do the same thing with new stores just to get a feel for the place. But I have my good ol' standby stores like "Linens and Things" to pick up a few items for the house from time to time.  Haven't been there for a while I'll have to go check them out..maybe there are some great sales. (smile)You used to live in the "Good Ol' House" what a hoot!!! We go to Nashville from time to time and I'll be going more with Shopping.  There are a lot of apartment complex's need to be shopped. I'm thinking if I can do 4 to 5 in a day it would be well worth the trip.

My sister lives in the Gatlinburg area. Touristville USA!! LOL!! She tells me this year things have changed and most of the people are local just spending the day. Hotels are standing empty.
Going to be interesting to see how they make out over the 4th of July.

I don't often visit stores out of curiosity. A Walgreen's opened in our town, the first we've ever had. Within a week, when I went into a Dollar General to merchandise, staff there had heard the report of someone who had checked prices of it against Wal-Mart and declared WM the winner. I wonder if the price checker was curious or had a job.

We have at least 1 Walgreen's in our area, maybe a few more. They seem to be on every main route. I love Walgreen's. Cheapest prices anywhere even Wal Mart.
I can go into Walgreens and get vitamins...buy one get one free.
And they have a lot of other items a reduced prices. And things like "house wares'..candles, greeting cards. Not long ago I bought 2 boxes of greeting cards for $1.89. They are mulitpurpose cards.

You have to watch places like the Dollar Store and discount stores. Know your prices on items before you buy. Several years ago I bought shampoo at a Dollar Store and at the Grocery the same shampoo was cheaper.

And they have great deals on last minute Gift's for parties, etc.

And seasonal things are cheap and very cute!!

I include Walgreens and CVS in my perusal on line of sale flyers. There are some deals I will go in for but a fair amount of the stuff I can get at Walmart on a price match or lower. I rarely am in Dollar General because they so rarely have what I am looking for.

I get my prescriptions filled at Walgreens and I always go in to pick them up instead of using the drive thru. I like to see the specials they have and poke around the store before I do my pick up of meds.

One day I was in the store and they were adverstising 4 Pepsi 12pack for 10 and when I got to check out the cashier told me to go get another 12 pack cause for the day it was "5 for $11"

Took us months to drink those pepsi and we still have one pack left. LOL!!

I was there one day and they had the 32 load of Tide Downey for (2 for 10). Great price so I'm fixed for Tide for a few months. LOL!!

I find myself shopping at Walmaart for great prices on alot of items I need, and the drug stores CVS,Rite Aid, Walgreens have great deals on necessities like detergent,toilet paper/Towels and certain things in their ads.
I have a question for anyone out there.... In Ny I wonder if they have Apt. Complex jobs,I have not seen any in my shops? What is required to be done?
I see the merchandising jobs where they pay $8 for a 2 Hr. Job. Now taken the ride there and back, and $4 a hour,I can't see myself doing that when it also says you must stay till the job is done and can last longer. That is just crazy,how is a person to make money with these jobs?