Americans are living through interesting times, economically. The tariffs imposed, delayed, and frequently adjusted by the government have thrown household budgets into confusion. One thing that’s pretty certain is that the baseline tariffs applied to just about every country are likely to raise prices at the grocery store no matter what happens from here.For families that are already struggling to make their grocery budgets work, this is unwelcome news, but there is one thing you can do right now—while prices are still largely unaffected by tariff chaos—to help mitigate the impact and protect you from future grocery inflation: start putting together a “tariff pantry.” This involves laying in a supply of nonperishable groceries to lock in today’s prices, and focusing on recipes and meals that will keep your grocery costs down in the coming months. Here's what to consider.How to plan out your tariff pantrySetting up a “tariff pantry” requires a little planning. “Take inventory first,” advises food blogger and bestselling cookbook author Kyndra Holley. “Know what you already have and make a list of essentials—stick to long-lasting pantry staples you actually use. Stock up gradually. Monitor prices and buy when it makes sense, not out of fear. Then set a budget and stick to it: Decide how much you can spend and avoid impulse buys or panic stockpiling. Buy what you already use when it’s discounted—don’t get lured by deals on items you wouldn’t otherwise use or need.”Holley also warns against relying too much on bulk-buying. “Bulk can save money—but only if you’ll use it,” she says. “Always check unit prices and shelf life, and don’t buy more than you can store safely. Use airtight containers and freeze what you can’t use quickly.”Changing your whole diet and meal-planning approach can help deal with tariff cost increases. “Go more plant-based,” Holley suggests. “Reduce meat and opt for beans, lentils, eggs, and grains. They’re cheaper, filling, and shelf-stable. One-pot, sheet-pan, and slow cooker meals use fewer ingredients and repurpose leftovers easily. And simplify recipes—use fewer, local ingredients. Stick to basic seasonings like garlic, onions, vinegar, and herbs.”Careful meal prepping can also reduce waste and make the most of items bought in bulk. “When you cook in bulk, you maximize every ingredient, stretching your dollars further,” says Laurie Hise, founder of the budgeting blog Passionate Penny Pincher. “Think buying meat in family packs, prepping meals in batches, and locking in today’s prices before more inflation sneaks in!”Hise also suggests broadening your grocery store choices. “Don’t put loyalty above savings! Make sure Aldi is in your store rotation, and scan weekly ads to get your must-haves for the cheapest. Eggs are almost always the cheapest there, they have a great Keto and Gluten Free selection, and you can buy meat for cheap on Wednesdays.”What to stock in a tariff pantryAlthough the blanket tariffs imposed will likely raise prices in general, the grocery items most likely to be affected by tariffs include fresh fruits and vegetables, coffee, cheese, olive oil, seafood, nuts, and candy. Aside from dodging future price hikes, you want to focus on items in those categories that have lengthy shelf lives and flexible uses. “Stock up on items that are both cost-effective, long-lasting, and versatile,” Holley advises, including:Grains and legumes, like rice, pasta, lentils, dried beans, and oats.Canned and frozen goods. “A variety of canned tomatoesare perfect for sauces, soups, and stews,” Holley notes. “Canned vegetables and fruits can be stored for long periods, and frozen vegetables are often cheaper than fresh, and retain nutrients. And canned tuna or salmon are protein-rich and shelf-stable.”Baking ingredients like flour, sugar, yeast, baking soda, baking powder, and cornstarch. “Basic ingredients for a wide range of uses,” notes Holley.Shelf-stable dairy and dairy alternatives like powdered or evaporated milk can be rehydrated and used for baking, cooking, or even drinking, protecting you from price spikes on the fresh stuff.Oils and vinegars are likely to go up in price and are useful in cooking, dressing, and preserving food.Seasonings and spices—the U.S. imports a lot of spices from countries like India, China, and Peru, so they’re vulnerable to tariff price spikes. Laying in a supply of herbs and spices like salt and pepper, garlic and onion powder, paprika, chili powder, ginger, basil, parsley oregano, thyme, as well as soy sauce, hot sauce, mustard, and bouillon cubes will help ride out any disruptions or price hikes in the seasonings aisle.Nuts and seeds—Holley recommends adding a supply of peanut butter or almond butter. “They’re high in protein, and last a long time.”Coffee and tea. “Tea is a low-cost way to diversify your drink options,” notes Holley.Canned meats and proteins. “Canned chicken or Spam can be used in a variety of meals, especially in emergencies,” Holley notes. “And canned ham or sausage can add protein and are good for quick meals.”Building up a tariff pantry will pay off even if the impact of those tariffs is overestimated—as we all know too well, prices never go down. #how #stock #039tariff #pantry039

If you’re like most people, you’re getting a real-time crash course in tariffs, imports, and exports these days. Realizing that tariffs are going to increase costs for just about everything is just the beginning: The next phase of acceptance is realizing what “everything” means. We import so much of the stuff we use in our daily lives that it’s going to be impossible to avoid what is essentially a new tax on stuff.That means that any plans you have to renovate, remodel, or repair your home are going to be a lot more expensive. How much more? Some experts suggest a blanket 25% increase in your budget, driven by an estimated increase in building materials costs of about $7,500 to $10,000 per house. That’s a lot of money no matter how big or modest your renovation plans are, and might make you think twice about your project. But there are strategies you can use to blunt the impact of those tariffs if you plan your home project carefully.DIY thoughtfullyYour first step is to consider where you can offset those extra costs by doing some of the work yourself. Demolition is often an easy way to shave a bit of money from a renovation budget, and if you have any other applicable DIY skills (or the willingness to learn), you can offset extra costs by doing some tiling, painting, or installations yourself. Just be thoughtful about it—you won’t save anything if you screw up part of your renovation and have to pay someone to re-do the whole project.Pad the budgetThe worst outcome of a renovation or remodeling project isn’t extra costs, necessarily—it’s not being able to finish the job because you run out of money and finding yourself doomed to live in a half-finished house. To avoid that fate, review your renovation budget—which should already include some padding against unexpected costs—and add an additional “pad” to cover potential tariffs.Since everything about these tariffs changes more or less constantly, you can’t accurately predict each and every impact. Assuming an additional blanket cost of about 20% on top of your current estimate is probably a pretty safe course.Buy materials nowWhen, exactly, prices will start jumping due to tariffs is difficult to quantify; it depends on how large a supply remains, the specific country a material is sourced from, and when the last non-tariffed shipments arrived. But if you have plans for a renovation in the near future, it might be smart to buy your materials now, even if you’re not ready to engage contractors for a while. If you know you want imported marble tile, for example, chances are they’re as cheap right now as they’re going to be for a very long time. And if your kitchen reno involves all-new appliances, you’ll almost certainly pay less today than you will in a few weeks or months.Go domesticOf course, you also ask yourself if you need imported materials at all. While the U.S. isn’t a manufacturing powerhouse, you can identify domestic options for a wide range of renovation and remodeling materials. Costs still may go up if those companies need to import goods to produce those made-in-the-U.S. products, but this strategy may help mitigate costs. A few examples include:Chasing Paper offers made-in-the-U.S. peel-and-stick tile and wallpaper.Mohawk flooring offers laminate flooring and other flooring products that are free from tariffs.Copeland Furniture manufactures collections that are mostly made in the U.S. (like most furniture makers, they import some machined parts, like nuts and bolts), so tariff impacts will be minimal.Barker Cabinets makes kitchen cabinetry right here in the U.S. using domestic lumber.A little research and consultation with your contractors can identify many domestic alternatives for materials that can help offset or eliminate tariff costs.Work the contractWhen you hire a general contractor or a subcontractor, there’s always a negotiation (or there should be). That means you might be able to claw back some of the extra tariff-related costs by pursuing some strategies in the renovation contract:Price locks. If you’re relying on your contractor to supply the necessary materials for your project, ask to insert price locks in the contract. This is language that freezes the cost of those materials for a period of time (typically a few months). This at least insulates you from a sharp uptick in costs due to sudden shifts in trade negotiations and tariff rates.Guaranteed Maximum Price ("GMP"). You can also ask to have the maximum cost of the project written into the contract. A GMP is the most the contractor will be able to collect from you, no matter what else might change in terms of their materials costs (or any other cost). It usually includes some padding to cover reasonable overages and their fees, but it can be a useful defense against uncertainty when it comes to the cost of the project.Shared savings clauses. You can also suggest that you and the contractor “share savings,” which means that if they identify lower-cost options for materials, labor, or any other aspect of the job, you agree to pay them a percentage of the savings total. This incentivizes the contractor to evade tariffs, seek out domestically sourced alternatives, or find materials already sitting in a warehouse somewhere that don’t need to be imported new.Wait for the off seasonAnother way to offset tariff increases in a reno project is to wait. Many renovation projects have a season, and contractors often go through skinny periods when business drops off. They’re often motivated to offer discounts or work with smaller budgets during these periods, so if you’re willing to endure some extra logistical problems (like having work done during the winter months), you can make up at least some of the difference in terms of tariff costs. Some examples of renovation “seasons” include:Most kitchen, bathroom, and landscaping projects are done in the spring, as are most roofing and HVAC projects. These contractors may be more amenable to discounts in the fall or winter.Window replacements and hardscaping projects like patios are usually done in the summer.Exterior paint is typically done in the fall, when temperatures are cooler and humidity is lower, but you can have your house painted as long as temperatures are above 35 degrees, so painting companies may be motivated to offer discounted work in different seasons.Many flooring installers run promotions during the winter, when business is slower.If you buy your materials now to save some money and then start the project in the off-season, you can maximize your savings. Source: https://lifehacker.com/money/tariff-proof-home-renovations-and-repairs?utm_medium=RSS #six #strategies #039tariffproof039 #your #home #renovation #project