I shop every two weeks. I think I will feel awkward with my TP purchase as it might falsely appear that I am hoarding.

Elizabeth - Around here stores are limiting the purchases, toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes hand sanitizer etc. to one item per customer. You may not be able to buy much.

Seconding the Home Depot suggestion. My HD had a huge supply of it on Friday.

I wanted to go to Walmart last night after work to pick up some iced coffee, ground beef and eggs but decided against it. Didn't even want to think about the massive crowd in there. I went straight home. I want to make some spaghetti so I'll check tomorrow early in the day. If the parking lot is full I'll skip it.

I am a little upset that they are now decreasing grocery store hours at Kroger and Walmart. I'll no longer be able to stop at Walmart on my way home from work during the week nights. I liked it because there is usually no one there at 1:30 am.

I’m with everybody in saying it’s bat cr*p crazy out there. I bought a few things at Publix earlier in the week that we needed for meals, nothing outrageous, and it probably looked like I was hoarding linguine(3 boxes). We had plans for hosting our Supper Club next Friday and I was doing a creole shrimp dish so thought I would go ahead and buy the pasta, plus I wanted to test the dish since I hadn’t made it in a while. I also bought a couple of other non-perishables with that dinner in mind. Well, now we have postponed the dinner which is ok.

DH went out to buy a few things at WalMart last Friday morning. He called me and said it looked worse than any day before Thanksgiving. He was just after coffee cream, plus some fresh fruit I needed and a few other things. He managed to get out of there ok and went to Publix where it was also crowded but he checked out quicker. I hope I can squeeze in a trip to Publix next week when things may settle down. Meanwhile, I have plenty of eggs, cheese, peanut butter, tomato sauce I froze last summer, pasta, and a few items in the freezer so we won’t starve. I can get creative and we don’t need to eat any full blown meals anyway.

Most supermarkets have announced early closings (8pm) to accomplish thorough cleanings (Publix and Kroger) and I understand WalMart is closing at 11 and reopening at either 5 or 6 am instead of their usual 24 hour operation. I just wish more stores had put limits on quantities of things like paper products like Publix did early on. Its so ridiculous that some are doing without when they have a legit need.

Home Depot is a GREAT place to buy laundry detergent or Bar Keepers Friend. Reasonable prices!

I usually buy a lot of what's on sale and have a smallish stockpile. This week's trip was a little different. I actually bought just what I needed due to the craziness. Well, I did get an extra corned beef because they were on sale, but one went straight into the freezer. The main problem will be produce, for me. I'm hoping that once the current situation becomes the "new normal" for the time being, people will chill out and settle down.

I always have "stuff" in reserve, so my panic shopping is not what everyone else is buying. I'll be out today and while I'm out will buy some back-up onions and garlic. I don't mean masses, just two or three bulbs of garlic and am hoping to buy a dozen eggs. If not, will try again in a week when things calm down.

It's creating a cycle where people who would normally buy normal amounts buy a little more because of the hoarding. I catch myself doing the same, though I try not to. I haven't bought more than one or two of any item.

I really can't blame that thinking though especially for elderly or other people that really shouldn't be out and about. It's really the people that are taking way more than they should that is the issue. There should be enough for everyone to take 2x or even 3x what they normally would but not 10x or 20x. The stores should have started limiting weeks ago.

I hope it calms down. A lot of people, at least in my area, are now hunkered down, giving the stores a chance to restock.

I'm going with Arcy's 'What is "normal"?'. People do what they feel they need to do to make themselves safe. I don't really have much more than I have had in the past. I do try to predict and react to what is going on around me.

I saw some interesting conversations on Facebook the other day from some folks I suspect follow the practice of storing a years worth of food that they rotate in and out. They were complaining about the hoarding. I highly suspect they have a large amount of food supplies at home. I don't have that much in advance, but we can make it for a while.

Some of our friends are American and Canadian citizens originally from China. They still have friends and family there. They are taking this a lot more seriously than other people I know. Part of it may be cultural, but I know a family who went on quarantine without exposure at the beginning of spring break last week. Others I know quit traveling. We've been texting back and forth to keep each other updated.

An extended cousin was doing a semester in Spain. Her mother drove to Dallas and got her a ticket back. I haven't seen an update, but I think she made it back. My kids had several friends/acquaintances who went to Europe this last week. I know of one who barely got back and I've heard of one who was stuck there.

There are a lot of area families who just got back from spring break. I've kind of watched in horror as too many people I know Facebooked their trips to NYC this week and now they are back. We're only separated by one or two degrees from a specific person who we know caught Covid 19 before Spring Break in NYC. I'm currently feeling a very high ick factor.

A few people noticed yesterday that a couple stores here were getting much easier to get in and out of, so I think the panic shopping is finally slowing down. I am one of those people who bought a little extra of things I normally don't buy (pasta, I hate pasta!), but working retail in a busy drugstore practically walking distance to one of the busier Canadian airports (the airplanes fly really low directly over our store as they land) which means we are one of the first stores people come to when they step off the airplane, I'm at risk for getting this virus. I can't stay six feet away from people. I can't avoid the crowds (although I took this week off, my timing was terrific!, but not planned), and how does one NOT touch their face???????? Our store cannot supply Lysol wipes or spray because everyone bought it and now we're looking for ANYTHING antibacterial that we can keep the store clean for our customers safety. *If* an employee at our store comes down with the virus we may have to shut the store down. There is a 14 day incubation period. And *if* you get sick you need that extra food in the house for the recovery time. So you would in fact be off work more than 14 days and needs a larger supply in the house. I normally have a one month supply of meat as I buy my meat in Costco. I was so glad I did when I did because it was a few days before everyone went ballistic there. Only problem was, my husband thought we had plenty of toilet paper. When we got home he said, "Oh! I was wrong but we can go back in a couple days." Well, a couple days later all hell broke lose and there's no way I'm fist fighting someone over toilet paper. So I"m using awful Royale that we sell at work. At least it's toilet paper and I have some. :) We have several Costcos in town. With the windchill yesterday it was -30C outside and there's a video of the one in the "richer" area with a lineup of people with their carts waiting for the store to open. It must've been a block long. Yet the Costco closer to my house, a friend said she was in and out in no time an hour after it opened yesterday. My daughter went to Walmart and while she found the shelves empty, it wasn't busy. Which is good because I need laundry soap. That Walmart is one of the busiest in Canada so for her to say it was good, I'll go. lol Another friend works for the same drugstore chain I do, but in Edmonton. She said it was eerily quiet yesterday not only in the store but on the streets too. So maybe everyone has what they think they need and now people can calm the ____ down.

As mentioned above, Staples sells TP. They had tons of it last week and the store wasn't any busier than usual. I imagine they stock it for the janitorial needs of small businesses. It's not the type of store that people would think stocks TP, but they do. Might be worth a try for those of you having difficulty finding TP.

The doomsday preppers are probably sitting in their bunkers just smiling at it all, "We told you so!"

Now I see a headline "we better be prepared to hunker down", so what is going to happen, even more panic buying! OMG, I'm ready to scream with the fearmongering! UGH!

I was just out at a mom and pop/independent grocery store and they had lots of everything except TP of course. They even had paper goods. I needed some fresh stuff and they had it all!

The funniest "hoard" I saw was last week. A guy appeared to be buying all the bags of marshmallows. He had both the regular size and the mini in his cart. About a dozen bags. The rest of his cart had single basic odds and ends none of which went with marshmallows. The only thing I could think of was a whole lot of smores or maybe he makes home made peeps or something.

Just got back from Target. Took DH with me. We each got one pack of Viva and I got a large pack of TP and he a smaller one. It was his first experience with this. He was too slow because he wouldn't believe the mad rush for everything. Now he understands why I have been so stressed over shopping. I bought a box of Always liners. Last week I paid 5.49. This week they were 8.49. If I can find my receipt I am calling them on it. Prices are not allowed to be raised more than 10% in California.

Now we have to go to Walmart. DH has to return something and this is the last day. So I will finally get to come home and sleep soon.

I hope people are correct and the doomsday people did all their shopping and are working or holding up in their self made prisons. I have to go out tomorrow to the dollar tree and pick up extra party supplies and awesome cleaner. I'm in spring wall washing mode. Joy, joy. Not. Then hit our local grocery store for more ribs, potatoes and jelly. I swear the hubby main lines jelly. Dinner for my DDIL birthday went from 8 to 11 next Sunday.

We eat mostly fresh produce so I need to restock every 5 days or so. I've posted a picture on some other threads showing the completely empty shelves at my Trader Joe's on Saturday...not just paper products...everything! I do have frozen vegetables and frozen protein, so we can switch to that if we need to stop going out completely.

There may come a time during this epidemic when I will wish that I had stocked more frozen and canned food because that's not a normal practice for us.

I had to run into HD in town to return a toilet flapper and buy the correct one. I saw that the parking lot at the Aldi across the street was only half full so I popped in there to get some lettuce, asparagus. Italian sausage and a couple other things on my list. The only empty shelf was the TP.

Did you hear, there is now a shortage of bullets! Why, do we need to protect the toilet paper?

Best places to go for TP Lowes , home depot, the various dollar stores, big lots. The smaller stores. Big stores like Walmart and grocery stores are out much faster. Even pharmacy stores like CVS and Walgreens are better choices. And yes Staples. I believe office depot also carries Tp.

Why, do we need to protect the toilet paper?

Of course...silly question.

I have tons of left over ammo from the days when I hunted a lot. Some of the shotgun shells are 30 years old and might not even fire if I tried them. I usually bought a new box of bullets for my 2 deer rifles every year and would only use a few most years so I probably have at least a couple hundred for each rifle left over.

My TP is safe!!!

Out here in the sticks I'll hear people shooting their AR-15s or semi-auto hand guns every weekend. They might go thru $20 worth of ammo in less than a minute. Never did quite understand the need to do something like that.

I have one roll of paper towels left. When I go to town on Wednesday, I will check out the local market to see if they have any. If they do not, I'm not going to go looking all over town to see if I can find them. I have lots of retired kitchen towels that I use for cleaning and I can use those in place of paper towels.

I've been thinking that this might actually be good time to become less dependent on certain items and to become more resourceful about using things I already have on hand. Of course, having grown up using TP, I'm not yet to the point that I'm willing to try newspaper, magazines or leaves. ;-)

TP is very low here. This is ridiculous! I got some today because I would be out in a few days, I only got the 12 pack, and was thinking of getting more in case it stays out. What next?

Why didn’t people listen when the CDC suggested shopping weeks ago?

When testing becomes more available, positive cases are going to rise. Shopping will be worse.

Dawn....our grocery store still had paper towels this morning. Dollar Tree has TP. Limit of 1 per customer....and it's not a choice brand. If you order online Home Depot or Dollar Tree will ship it to you in bulk.

DH counted, we still have 69 rolls/mega or double rolls....of toilet paper on hand. I purchased it on sale around October...or November. I'm good. :0) What they were out of....cabbage....to go with the corned beef I purchased.

This is insane! lol

Just got home from the grocery store. Thank goodness I’m not in need of any paper products! Empty shelves for hamburger, pasta and sauce, bread, flour (are people really going to bake bread?), butter, frozen foods of all kinds, and paper products. Chicken had just been restocked, so I was happy to get that.

The governor of NH has imposed no school throughout the state for this week, followed by two weeks of online learning. Guess school districts have the week to figure it out. The university I just retired from has spring break this week followed by two weeks online. Still not clear how they plan to have labs online.

Certainly an unprecedented time we are living through.

"Why didn’t people listen when the CDC suggested shopping weeks ago?"

Because few are specifically tuned into CDC publications prior to all this. And to my knowledge, I never read any suggestions made by CDC or anyone else to shop "weeks ago". In fact, what I did read is multiple statements made by the CDC to avoid stockpiling and panic shopping.

And I have read NOTHING from any source that states you avoid grocery shopping altogether. I certainly don't plan on it and I am an at-risk subject and live in a major epicenter. I will just follow normal precautions as I would anywhere else and keep my distance from others.

I had to stop at the gas station the other day. I went inside to pay and just out of curiosity I looked to see if they had toilet paper. They did..single rolls of Scott tissue which we prefer so I just picked up 2 rolls. I did ask the cashier how much they were. She said 1.25. I thought for sure they were going to gouge me..I always find everything marked up in a gas station store. I normally pay .89 to .99 a roll so I didn't think that was too bad. I bought them.

“ Because few are specifically tuned into CDC publications prior to all this. And to my knowledge, I never read any suggestions made by CDC or anyone else to shop "weeks ago". In fact, what I did read is multiple statements made by the CDC to avoid stockpiling and panic shopping.”

Where do you receive your news? Newspapers and many MSM outlets were directing people to the CDC guidelines in early February.

I am saddened that so many Americans are being so greedy and selfish to hoard items that other may actually need! Aren’t we better than this? 😩. A friend from New York said someone was advertising a bottle of hand sanitizer for $320! Here is an ad that appeared in a near-by Marketplace...”lightly used roll of toilet paper $5.00,

A lot of people do not get newspapers anymore, even on line. And not everyone is surgically attached to a news source, most of which are of dubious accuracy and quality anyway.

Because of my location, I have been tuned into CDC reports since late January and not once do I remember them stating "shop now because the end of the world is coming!!

You can't live without food or water, but you *can* live without toilet paper.

DH spent a lot of time in India in the 70s and 80s when it was really a less developed country. With a billion people and no trees, toilet paper was true luxury. That's why God invented wash cloths. Better for your septic tank and cleaner for your bottom. My friend is Indian and she has a washlet on all of her toilets as it's what she grew up with.

Let's use a little of that good American know-how and yankee ingenuity.

The CDC has been recommending that everyone prepare to self-quarantine with two weeks' worth of supplies for over a month now. This should come as no surprise.

I want an in toilet blow dryer to go with my in toilet bidet. Think how much toilet paper females can save.

^^^ But how much electricity would you use? What about the trees, the coal, the air quality? ( Joking here )

I looked on eBay when I read they were selling overpriced TP. I saw one roll for $5, $7, $10.....

went to Walmart yesterday, no TP, no eggs, no hot dogs, few cheese, soup, pizzas. ..also no cold meds, vitamin C and low amounts of pain relievers.

I hope not to have to go again soon....

Annie, I was thinking along those lines. Although I picked up a family-size pack of TP a few days ago, I am prepared to go without. Having sewed since I was a child, I have a stock of fabrics I keep meaning to use for one project or another. If worse comes to worst, I will cut it up in squares, to use for TP. It will give me something to do while I am self-quarantined. ;)

Thanks for the info, nicole. I'm not really worried about the paper towels as I have kitchen towels I can use instead, but it's good to know about other sources. We're good on TP and have plenty of food to last at least a month, but I can make it last a lot longer if I get creative and start making casseroles, soups, beans, etc.

What I'm low on are fresh fruits and veggies, but it won't be the end of the world if I have to do without for a while.

I feel like all the things I've learned during these years of rural living and having to plan for being snowed in, power outages, wild fires and because we live a long drive from the stores are going to serve me well now.

Forgot to add, while I was in Walmart yesterday there were people in the empty TP aisle waiting for some they were told would be out in about 30 minutes. I stood there with them, then an employee came out and said whoever said that was wrong, the delivery wasn't for a few more hours and they were expecting only 3 pallets.....oh well....

My husband stayed home, being 72 with COPD and on oxygen...we don't have masks either..usually he comes with me and uses the store scooter but not during this pandemic....

I do a stock up of certain things in November. Mostly cat food and kitty liter. I've got 4 (20) pound bags and 70 cans of cat food. Can go several weeks on 1 bag.

I did a minor panic shopping the other night but it wasn't too bad.

SamKaren Your resident dj

“lot of people do not get newspapers anymore, even on line. And not everyone is surgically attached to a news source, most of which are of dubious accuracy and quality anyway.

Because of my location, I have been tuned into CDC reports since late January and not once do I remember them stating "shop now because the end of the world is coming!!l

when and how do you receive your news?

how do you think it should be delivered to you?

The CDC started posting notices about the Coronavirus in January. Other outlets were referring people to the CDC in early February. All shared by numerous media.

Not a panic buyer. The only thing that could send me into panic buying mode is if it were announced that they were going to discontinue the dark chocolate covered dark chocolate oreos. Then I would throw some elbows to get to them. They freeze well. Ask me how I know😏.

I prefer to buy things fresh. I am just not good at planning a weeks worth of meals and shopping for it. We are day to day,meal to meal type people. The times I have tried to meal plan and shop for it, we wouldn't want what I had planned when it came time to make it,and I would end up going back out to get stuff to make something else.

As for other stuff, like paper products, I buy big packs of those when we run low,and it lasts awhile. I have not tried to buy paper towels or toilet paper since the freak out started. We have enough for the two of us for awhile.

I also keep plenty of cleaning supplies on hand because I keep my house clean,so there is no reason to go clear the shelves of cleaning products, i have some already.

I went back to publix today on my way to work to get stuff to make a salad with and they had lots of empty shelves in the middle aisles,but still plenty of fresh produce. No bread, no bottled water, and the only eggs left were the very expensive,organic,free range yada yada yada ones. I needed eggs so I got some. I can get eggs from my sister but her very fresh eggs are impossible to peel when boiled. I buy the older eggs in the store for boiling.

I did bring a can of lysol from home to work,because my day shift counterpart has called in sick the past 2 days. She is not sick but her poor one year old baby has the flu. And since she doesn't want to use up all her sick days, she will probably come back to work tommorow, bringing her kids flu germs with her. We share a desk and computer. I have never had the flu and would rather keep that streak going. And I will lock my lysol in my locker before I leave so that they wont use it all. My boss has gone waaaaay off the deep end lately. He had a plexiglass barrier installed to separate us from people who come in here. Madness. He would probably use the whole can on one doorknob if left to his own devices.

Someone mentioned being at Aldi's where they did have some toilet paper. They had customers form a line to hand each one package. People were actually behaving themselves while forming the line. Then some woman at the end of the line started crawling down the empty shelves to get to the front. She started grabbing what she could and no one did anything. IDK...had I been waiting in that line I might have been tempted to take her down! Just kidding, but geez!!!

No. I am not panic buying. I went to walmart yesterday to see the craziness for myself. I went to Tractor Supply to buy horse feed and it is next door...same area. Walmart carries Purina One, which is the kind of cat food I feed and at $30 a bag, I figured they would have some, and they did.

Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables...canned goods wiped out but all I needed was a small can of tomato sauce, and I got that. No tp but they did have the paper towels I like, so I got one package. I saw a. 4 pack of cheap tp discarded on the dog food aisle. I don't like cheap tp, so I left it for someone else to find.

Cereal was wiped out...I don't eat cereal. Cleaning supplies...almost gone, except there was some Tide, but I have detergent at home. I did buy a bottle of Dawn because I handwash my dishes.

Bought bird seed and cokes.

On the way out of town, stopped at another supermarket to get some catfish. Bought 2 half gallons of Blue Bell ice cream. If I am hoarding anything, it is Blue. Bell. I have 5 half gallons....but, I always have that much.

I live 20 miles from town. My pantry and freezer stay fully stocked. I could easily go a month or longer and not have to buy anything.

I saw one woman with a full grocery cart of flour and sugar. It's insane.

Jody is in Florida. I am home alone. I basically know no one here. I am totally fine by myself. I have a lot of work to do, and I welcome the chance to work on things with few interruptions. I have no desire to go anywhere. However, I have a dr appt in Galveston tomorrow, so going to that. While out will go by my favorite farm store and buy sausage. Also my favorite restaurant and buy barbecue.

While I recognize this is a serious disease, I have no fear of it. I am 73 years old, but my health is excellent. I haven't had a flu shot since 1963. I haven't been sick since 2005. I worry more about my husband, who has a chronic lung disease. But I worry about him catching a cold, but there is only so much I can do about that. He wanted to go to Florida... he went.

We have a large freezer and pantry and for the last 20 years we have kept extra stock, so we are not panic shopping. But that day may come. I've seen the empty shelves and it's crazy. I know this is a serious situation, but can I see a bit of levity here please? If shelves continue to be empty or have very little available, we may all be playing "Chopped". Hmmm... What can I make with peanut butter, anchovies, prunes and avocado?

I have not purchased one single thing that I would not have purchased anyway. I HAD masks (I have elderly parents that are frequently ill so I bought them last year as a precaution). I have medical nitrile gloves - I love them for painting and using chemicals. I have a container of hand sanitizer. I have plenty of hand soap. TP, paper towels, and kleenex. I have never been one to wait until I run out of something to restock. I could live on what I have in the house, for probably a month at the very least!

Donna, I'm thinking that those ingredients might make a very interesting pizza...

What are we going to do when they close all the grocery stores? I'm waiting for that to come next!

"What are we going to do when they close all the grocery stores? I'm waiting for that to come next!"

Italy has not closed groceries or pharmacies - I doubt we would do that either.

I think it's smart for everyone who doesn't need to be out and about to stay in for a week or so until we see what happens. Scientists in Italy said it could have saved many lives if the exposure had been limited by voluntary isolation. What to do with extra supplies.....share and trade.

It's nice to be prepared with two weeks of supplies in case of a surprise or disaster. At home use hot soap and water not sanitizing sprays. This discourages the formation of antibiotic resistant bacterias. Use the sanitizer when you're out. Throwaway gloves too if you have them.

These next weeks will be crucial to stop the spread. There may be many who are infectious but no symptoms or mild symptoms. Get out into the sunshine and get some vitamin D to go with the vitamin C.