Author ScotShot Scott is an NRA and USCCA certified Instructor and Training Counselor in a range of firearms, and home and personal defense disciplines. In an Alternate Universe, he is a husband, father, grandfather, scientist, musician, educator and grumpy old professor. Just your average reactionary, short, fat, old, bald guy!

I was chatting with my aunt in Glasgow recently, and she was telling me that they had been told by Scottish Gas that the Government has agreed to a price rise for natural gas. In April, their bill is going up from eighty pounds a month to one-hundred and sixty. It is about to double. What’s more, they have been told that a further increase has been approved for October, just in time for winter. She also mentioned that gas (‘petrol’) is currently up to 1.70 pounds per litre and was expected to reach 2.00. At the current exchange rate ($1.33 per 1 GBP), that’s $2.66 per litre x 3.79 litres per US gallon = $10.08 per gallon.

Her husband suggested that they “start stocking up on things we use” and in the course of doing this, she noticed that something she had last paid 0.68 GBP for, now cost 0.75, which is a 10.3% increase. It’s happening everywhere and across all commodities. She mentioned that it was difficult to get meat (“shelves are empty”).

So I decided to ask the Silver Tigers what they were observing, and what they were doing about it. I asked who has seen food shortages and/or price rises, and what action were being taken. The answers are illuminating. People are seeing shortages everywhere – for example:

• John R: Not necessarily shortages but certain items were out. For example, yesterday I stopped at a Sam’s Club to get coffee and nuts. They had plenty of coffee but no peanuts or mixed nuts. I did buy an extra can of coffee to be prepared.
• Chet W: Meat prices are insane, shelves run empty but are filled in a day or two.
• Heidi BS: Definite food price rises! Prices are high particularly for meat. Occasional short term shortages, usually of chicken. But still seeing areas of empty shelves on occasion.
• Theresa RM: Rising prices for almost every products for groceries. Our local ‘Giant’ stores in SE PA, have had low inventory on canned goods, and some other items. Other stores are ok.
• Debbie M: Certain items, like aluminum foil, have been quietly increasing in price for the past 3 years. I was buying extra when it was on sale but am not seeing sales anymore. Check out the aluminum price increases. Aluminum Price is at a current level of $3245.79 per metric ton, up from 3005.98 last month and up from 2078.59 one year ago. This is a change of 7.98% from last month and 56.15% from one year ago.

People are up-stocking and gardening more, too – for example:

• Lateif D: I can’t fit any more in my freezers.. need to start rotating food…
• Chet W: We have a freeze dryer and preserve our own food. We go to the local farmers’ markets, and have our own chickens.
• Dawn D: My ‘hoop house’ [what is a hoop house – Ed] is full of seedlings and we’re doubling the garden size this year. We’ve added additional chickens. We have all the freezers full and I’m prepared to can all the meats if needed. I want a freeze dryer and have been sporadically researching them for what seems like years. I’ll get there eventually.
• Matthew M: I just bought a meat canner.
• Heidi BS: We started raising meat chickens last year, have had laying hens for years. This year we’re raising 2 hogs. And we hunt. Thankfully an option for us

So the question is – is this a Real Thing? If so, what are YOU doing? Not all of us has a big garden, or are fit enough to use one. My township prohibits the keeping of chickens. Are you allowed to have them? What about rabbits?

Do you even think it’s serious? If you do, then maybe start by buying an extra jar of your favorite pasta sauce and see where that takes you (if you can still get it, of course…).