DEAR HELOISE: It comes as no surprise that groceries are getting a lot more expensive. Where I live, we are often snowed in for a few days during the winter, or the roads get so bad that it’s nearly impossible to get to a grocery store. So, starting in September, I begin to stockpile food that will not perish for a long time such as canned chili, canned soups, pasta and various sauces, or materials to make a sauce.

Items such as laundry soap, hand soap, toilet paper, paper towels and shampoo can be stored in large plastic bins or cardboard boxes in the garage, and food items are stored under beds, in closets, or in any place with a little extra room. I buy a little at a time, and this way, it’s not such a strain on our budget. Even if it doesn’t snow, and we have a rather “lean month,” I

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