Well, there are going to be food shortages.

[chowmama]

Not this year; this year's harvest is already in. But the new god-emperor is going to deport every agricultural worker in the US, so next summer/fall is going to be bad, and subsequent years are going to get worse. Meantime, tariffs will make imports unaffordable if they even exist.

I've had 2 major experiences with shortages. The most recent, which we all remember, was Covid. An earlier one was when DH lost a much-needed job and a planned business didn't pan out. My check barely covered our expenses, if we cut them down to the bone. The credit cards were near their limits anyway.

It was spring. I looked for a CSA (community supported agriculture farm) that would take a credit card. None did, but just one took PayPal, and PayPal takes cards. I maxed out the last card on food for the next 6 months. We picked up our box at a local coop on Monday, and I spent Sundays figuring out how to preserve anything we hadn't eaten so it didn't go to waste. Meat and other protein sources weren't the focus of any meal, but we had enough to get by, especially as they were just adjuncts and flavoring. It worked out ok and DH did eventually succumb to a courier gig by winter.

Takeaways - if you can, get a pressure canner and supplies now. An Instant Pot will not do. You want an old-school dinosaur. By the time things start getting tight, everybody will be trying to get one and prices will skyrocket. The Chinese digitals will be expensive as hell and when they break, you won't be able to replace them. Digitals are disposable; dinosaurs can have parts replaced. Mine is an All American (brand) which has the advantage of not needing a gasket, which is usually the first thing to go. Even though the pressure gauge eventually started sticking, the weighted deelybob on top that rattles as it releases pressure above the designated amount still works great. I just depend on that, even though I could order a new gauge if I thought I needed one. That thing will outlive the grandkids and I can cook in it too, if I want to.

Same goes for a chest freezer, even a small one if you have room. Whatever food you do manage to get, you'll be wanting to get enough to store. Somebody here will be glad to teach you how. Soups, stews, chilis - make big batches and stick all the now-canned excess in the pantry. When/if veg are cheap (and they'll always be cheaper than meat), they can be put by for the winter. I haven't had much use for my dehydrator, except for some dried tomatoes, but if you think it'll work for you, get it now.

On non-food issues, a basic sewing machine is also a good idea, and I don't know of any that are US made, so those prices are going to skyrocket. All you need is a straight stitch, a zigzag and maybe an overlock (although you can use a zigzag instead). Fast fashion, all made overseas, is going to be a thing of the past soon, unless you want to dress exclusively in Ivanka's stolen designs and other Trump gear from China. (What, you thought there wouldn't be an exemption for that? It is to laugh.) At minimum, you're going to be mending.

Get ahead of the crowd or you'll risk getting crowded out.