Hi All, this is my first post for a long time. I posted way back a few years ago when we didn't have to be registered.

I also like to save the condiments and keep them in various places like my car, purse and salt in the first aid kit, etc. I do put dates on some of them. But I usually go through them every 2 or 3 years and throw out ones that might be old.

One thing I have discovered is that some health food stores have free samples for vitamins, teas and stuff. One store (Whole Foods), has a basket that they put all their free samples in for the customers to help themselves. I love to go through it and look for things that I can add to my BOB's and first aid kits. I try to not be greedy and only take 2 or 3 samples each time I visit, which is only about once every 3 weeks or so.

I don't think all Whole Foods do this, because another one I visit has their free samples in a basket on a desk. So it isn't for customers to go through to take what they want.

I find mens and women's supplements, creams for dry, itching and cracking hands, shampoos and conditioners, etc. I always picture people in survival situations with burnt peeling skin and lips and am so happy to have these little individual packets to add to my emergency supplies! I am especially happy when the sample is a brand I use and love and can add a small packet to my kits.

I have gotten samples for my grandson too! I send them to him in the mail! He loves some of the ones I send him, so I ended up buying him 2 different kinds of children's supplements. The samples save me money by testing them first!

One thing about these samples is that they usually do have an expiration date on them. If not, I use a sharpie and quickly jot the date I got it on. So far I haven't found any out of date samples.

Joy

Yeah, I too tend to squirrel these things away, although primarily for hiking/backpacking/camping/BoB use as opposed to using them at home. Like most of us I always bring the extra freebies home with me, although I have purchase several of the more eclectic ones from Minimus.

Jim

Ditto figtree.

Love the little mayo packets for backpacking and have put a ziplock baggie of them in the hurricane box as well.

Snagged a few of the Tony Chacere's seasoning packs as well.

Worst case, they turn into barter goods.

Welcome back Joy.

Thank you LED! It is good to be back! I really enjoy reading and learning from everyone. There is so much great information here!

Joy

This is great! I thought it was just me! Wait 'til I tell my wife. She will be, um, pleased.

A

Ketchup seems to go bad really quick outside the refrigerator. I opened up a packet and I found that the bright red color had dulled. I didn't eat it, so I don't know if it was really "bad" or not. Does someone know if that color change is acceptable or edible or whatever applies? Does anyone have a list of the shelf lives of these packets outside the refrigerator? I don't have enough space inside the fridge for 5 pounds of condiments. Soy sauce sure seems to last a long time, though.

Thank you

Ketchup doesn't require refrigeration. read the labels on the side of the bottles of the product in question & you'll find those answers.

All food items need to be stored in cool places (room temperature).

Most bottles of ketchup I've read DO require refrigeration...however real ketchup won't go bad if not refrigerated...same with real mayo. I keep mine in the chill chest just because I don't use them very often and they stay 'fresh' longer if you do.