I’ve done some research on this topic, talk to people about what they think they should stock up on, and I want to share some of this with you so that you are not caught off-guard.

According to this NPR article the tariffs on China are going to affect shoes, toys, game consoles, electronics, machinery and equipment parts, iPhones, iPads, tablets, and laptops. This article goes on to say that the sticker price may not necessarily go up but wages will decrease as well as employment because employers will have to pay more to get these items imported, and they will not be able to hire as many employees or pay them fairly.

But in my personal opinion it’s not going to matter anyway. You’re not going to need a computer or an iPad or a game console because you’re going to be broke. You’re not going to have the money for it, and most likely, you will not have internet access anyway. Donald Trump and The Heritage Foundation are going to strip us of all the comforts we have in life, and we will be down to bare minimum. We’ll be lucky if we have electricity. Now this is just my bleak outlook on things, but I think that it is a strong possibility.

The NPR article goes on to say that Mexico and Canada provide a lot of fresh produce. Things impacted would be tomatoes, raspberries, bell peppers, strawberries, and avocados. Apparently, the U.S. grows more tomatoes in the summer, so in the winter we get them imported from Mexico. So tomatoes might be hard to come by until we’re able to grow them here. Car parts and gas will be impacted and gas could go up 10 to 20 cents a gallon to start. And of course, if you wanted to buy a car, now would be the time to do it because when a car is built, it goes over the border back and forth for a while until the entire thing is completed. Building materials will also be impacted. It says that toilet paper is mainly made in the USA, and the expert they consulted with recommended not to go buy a whole lot of toilet paper because it will lead to higher prices and shortages, like it did during the peak of Covid. Now I’m not advising you to go run out and buy all the toilet paper because that would really piss me off but buy a couple of packs so that you have them. Store an emergency pack in case you need it later.

The next article I consulted was about things to stock up on in preparation for these tariffs. It stated you might want to stock up on your meat and seafood because processed sausage, cured ham, and shellfish mainly come from Canada. It also stated that nuts come from south of the border. Other suggestions were to stock up on canned beans and lentils Frozen fruits and veggies.

Items impacted by tariffs:

These may become scarce or go up in price.

• Avocados
• Guacamole
• Raspberries
• Bell peppers
• Strawberries
• Lettuce
• Eggs
• Tomatoes
• Corn
• Rice
• Tortillas
• Coffee
• Cooking oil
• Rubbing alcohol
• Feminine products
• Diapers
• Paper products
• Chocolate
• Candy
• Processed sausage
• Cured ham
• Shellfish
• Nuts
• Canned beans
• Canned lentils
• Frozen fruits
• Frozen vegetables
• Fast food

Foods to stock up on:

• Flour
• Sugar
• Yeast
• Beans
• Canned goods
• Peanut butter
• Powdered eggs
• Powdered/boxed milk
• Rice
• Tortillas
• Canned Soups
• Broths
• Canned meats
• Pasta
• Bottled water
• Shortening
• Juices
• Sodas

Other items to stock up on:

• Pet food (Please don’t forget about them!)
• Cat litter
• Any other pet necessities
• Diapers
• Feminine products
• Paper products
• Toilet paper
• Baby wipes

• Deodorant
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Necessary hair products
• Toothpaste
• Extra toothbrushes
• First aid kits
• OTC medications
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• Candles

It may seem crazy, but we don’t know what the future holds under this administration and beyond. The damage that Trump and the Heritage Foundation are doing to this country is going to take years to recover from. It is best to be prepared. I know a lot of us are on fixed incomes, and it may be hard to come by some of these extra products. I know it certainly is for me. That is why it is so important to find community right now so that you have people to lean on. You may have things that they don’t and vice versa. During the Great Depression, people shared and that is what is going to need to happen now.

These are not exhaustive lists, and they are works in progress. If you have anything to add, I welcome you to leave suggestions in the comments. Keep in mind that it may get to the point where some of us are not able to leave the home easily without getting arrested for some reason so it is better to stock up on as much as possible. Make sure that it is stuff you will use, in case things don’t get as bad as we anticipate. Also I recommend learning to bake your own bread.

Be well and be safe💗