I always keep an unopened bottle of my vitamins, supplements and medications on hand. When I run out of one, I grab an unopened bottle while immediately ordering a replacement from Amazon. Yeah, I'm not currently in Thailand.

On 4/5/2026 at 4:24 AM, fredwiggy said:

This is exactly why they have Costco's in the US, along with other countries, and millions use it daily. Buying in bulk, especially things you always use, costs less and you make less trips.

There was a store in BK that mirrored Costco. They even carried a lot of Kirkland Special items.

I shopped it once and we bought a lot of bulk items.

TOPS CLUB.

Closed in 12 months

On 4/5/2026 at 5:01 PM, Keeps said:

Not surprised you just hoard it - nobody wants to actually eat that crap. Marmite rules! 555

Less than 50% of Brits eat Marmite. OTOH, 70% of Australians eat Vegemite.

Checking your facts before you post would save you from making dumb ones.

No need to overstock if there's a 7-11 or TOPS near nearby.

On 4/5/2026 at 5:52 PM, Harry Tuchas said:

Do You Ever Overstock on Supplies?

In Australia, During the covid pandemic I saw lots of fat, younger birds stocking up with toilet paper.

On 4/5/2026 at 3:57 PM, VocalNeal said:

Get yourself a Pentel rollerball and then you can buy refills at any B2S store.

Agree 100%

I hate the usual Thai tiny and thin point pens .. I recently grabbed an Impact UniBall Gel

On 4/5/2026 at 5:29 PM, Harry Tuchas said:

I use a ballpoint pen model available in Thailand called the Uni Jetstream 101, which is made by Mitsubishi. You can usually find them on Lazada or Shopee for around ฿15 per pen.

What I really like about them is the hybrid fast drying ink. Unlike traditional oil based ink, it dries almost instantly on contact with paper, making smudging nearly impossible. I am not a fan of rollerball pens because they tend to use much thicker purely oil based ink that takes much longer to dry. They do feel smooth when writing, but the Jetstream pens are quite pleasant to use without the downside of slow drying.

I used to like the Pilot G 2 rollerballs, which are also available online in Thailand for about ฿40 (or slightly less per pen) if you really feel you must have a rollerball. However, the slow drying ink eventually put me off them.

In Asia, tip sizes are not always labeled as medium or fine, so I learned that 0.70 corresponds to a medium tip, which suits me well. I avoid fine 0.50 tips because they can dig into the paper.

If you have not tried them yet, I would recommend giving the Uni Jetstream pens a go. They write well, offer great value for money, and being retractable means no caps to lose. They are also less likely to leak in your pocket since the tip is only exposed when you click it out.

I like the 1.0 Mitsubishi Impact Gel Uniball

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Less than 50% of Brits eat Marmite. OTOH, 70% of Australians eat Vegemite.

So more people eat Marmite. (.5 x70mil= 35mil. vs. .7 x 28 = 20mil.)

Also 50% of Brits are not genetically Marmite eaters. 🤔

On 4/5/2026 at 3:34 PM, FolkGuitar said:

For important items in my life, certain foods, medicines, equipment, tools, etc., etc., I've always strictly adhered to the rule: "One in none. Two is one. Three is OK.

I never wait to run out of something. Not a matter of age for me. I've been this way since my 20s.

One is none.

This applies to appliances, as well.

I have 3 microwaves; 3 refrigerators; 3 ACs; more than 3 desktops, even though desktops and IT equipment is built to higher standards, and rarely breaks down.

Backups for appliances, such as refrigerators is even more important than bulk food purchases, maybe.

The quality here is garbage, and maybe not just "here".

When a refrigerator fails, there is no guarantee if and when it will be repaired.

Therefore, 3 units is a must.

On 4/5/2026 at 9:52 AM, Harry Tuchas said:

Something I have noticed about myself as I get older is that I have become more cautious and more prepared. Instead of just replacing things when they wear out or replenishing them when they run out, I now tend to stock up. I often end up with two or three backups of things I use regularly. In some cases, I suspect I could even survive a shortage without even noticing the store shelves have gone empty.

It is mostly small stuff, so I am not wasting large amounts of money, but it has definitely become a habit. I like the idea of never fully running out of anything. I think part of it comes from a fear that when I do run out, that will be the exact moment the world decides to have a massive shortage of whatever it is I need.

So what I tend to do is top things up before they are gone, which means I am always sitting on extra supplies. The problem is, I sometimes forget where I put the backups, or I forget that I already bought them, and then I end up buying even more. At this point, I am not entirely sure if I am being prepared or just slowly building my own mini warehouse without realising it.

That is probably just part of getting older as well, the memory is not quite what it used to be. Although to be fair, it is hard to remember what you have when you have hidden it from yourself in three different places.

That said, I do not really mind it. There is something quite reassuring about knowing you have what you need on hand. It takes a bit of stress out of things, even if it does mean you occasionally discover you have six liters of fish sauce you only remember buying one of.

You not alone...

I even have a spare Win2000 PC, in case the one I use fails and I cannot get another Win2000PC; which I today likely cannot, so a really cleaver move. The best part is that I still remember where I stored it, namely right next to the one I use...

Yes, I've learned from experience in Thailand that when you find something you like, buy extra, because it might not be there next time yoiu need to buy it. And right here it helps a lot to be a bit organized, having a storage area – a place you can remember where is – and store the extra systematically, so you know when you run low on your favorite something, and can begin deperately to search from where you can find a replacement or an alternative brand. You'll never get bored when hoarding that way, you can spend hours walking through hyperstores and foodmalls – extra benefit is the healthy exercise – and evenings searching online stores of just the Internet to find out how you can replace your favorite Pesto running low in your storage-room and seems to be sold out in all known shops...

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Less than 50% of Brits eat Marmite. OTOH, 70% of Australians eat Vegemite.

Checking your facts before you post would save you from making dumb ones.

Maybe the dumb ones are the 70% of Aussies who eat that crap. Ever considered that? I think I can safely assume that you eat it by the spoonful.

Marmite rules!

8 minutes ago, Keeps said:

Maybe the dumb ones are the 70% of Aussies who eat that crap. Ever considered that? I think I can safely assume that you eat it by the spoonful.

Marmite rules!

Nowt wrong with vegemite.

Freshly toasted crumpet lathered with a generous dollop of Devon Cream Company butter heavily smeared with vegemite and a sprinkle of brown sugar on top.

Pure heaven I tells ya.

In the past my pantry and storage room were quite full of foods and other supplies. In the good old days the shops would often run out of an item and it could be weeks before their shelves were replenished. So I would keep plenty of backup stock in the house. Now there are very few items that suffer supply chain issues. So I’m most likely to have one item in use and one backup in the pantry.

I never overclock, these days.

RAM is something too precious to risk.

On 4/5/2026 at 7:25 PM, Lacessit said:

I was in Thailand, the land of the bum gun.

While there were people in Australia fighting in the aisles over the last toilet rolls, I was taking photos of well-stocked shelves in Big C to send to my friends.

I was also posting them Covid test kits, which were $2 here and up to $50 in Oz.

In Thailand, I am a Vegemite hoarder.

I got the last QANTAS flight out of Bangkok on March 25th 2020 as COVID kicked in. They X-rayed my bag at Sydney. 36 pack of dunny roll and two jars of Vegemite. I wasn't taking any chances.

On 4/7/2026 at 1:43 PM, Keeps said:

Maybe the dumb ones are the 70% of Aussies who eat that crap. Ever considered that? I think I can safely assume that you eat it by the spoonful.

Marmite rules!

The average IQ of Australians is just under 103. In the UK, it is just under 100.

I think I know what quartile you are in.

Keep posting please. Schadenfreude rules.

On 4/5/2026 at 5:27 PM, FolkGuitar said:

He doesn't mention it, but he might be Left-handed. Lefties favor the gel roller ball pen like Pentel because they don't smear when a Lefty writes with it. Ordinary ball-point pens smear when a Lefty writes more than a few sentences.
My school papers always had a blue tinge to them. Then I found Pentel. 😊

I am a left handed person. NEVER, at school or in business, have I smudged what I have written, either ball point or fountain pen. I was taught by my parents and teachers, how to hold the pen properly, and keep my hand 90 degrees to the line I am writing and not dragging across what I have written.

Also learned to play guitar the correct way. Let's face it, both hands are needed for this. I also hold my knife and fork in the accepted way.

On 4/5/2026 at 2:52 PM, Harry Tuchas said:

Something I have noticed about myself as I get older is that I have become more cautious and more prepared. Instead of just replacing things when they wear out or replenishing them when they run out, I now tend to stock up. I often end up with two or three backups of things I use regularly. In some cases, I suspect I could even survive a shortage without even noticing the store shelves have gone empty.

It is mostly small stuff, so I am not wasting large amounts of money, but it has definitely become a habit. I like the idea of never fully running out of anything. I think part of it comes from a fear that when I do run out, that will be the exact moment the world decides to have a massive shortage of whatever it is I need.

So what I tend to do is top things up before they are gone, which means I am always sitting on extra supplies. The problem is, I sometimes forget where I put the backups, or I forget that I already bought them, and then I end up buying even more. At this point, I am not entirely sure if I am being prepared or just slowly building my own mini warehouse without realising it.

That is probably just part of getting older as well, the memory is not quite what it used to be. Although to be fair, it is hard to remember what you have when you have hidden it from yourself in three different places.

That said, I do not really mind it. There is something quite reassuring about knowing you have what you need on hand. It takes a bit of stress out of things, even if it does mean you occasionally discover you have six liters of fish sauce you only remember buying one of.

It's not about old age. I have done this my whole life. When you meet a Girl Scout, be prepared!

I stock my house in Canada with all manner of things for guests and family. It's a boat trip to the grocery and often the seas are pretty wild.

I do it here, too. To much bashing by the wife. I, too, often forget what I've bought and where it is.

Last year I didcovered a can of blueberry pie filling, expired in 2011. Not a very flavourful pie. But, hey, we didn't die!

On 4/7/2026 at 8:09 AM, Ralf001 said:

On 4/8/2026 at 8:35 AM, Front Row said:

In the past my pantry and storage room were quite full of foods and other supplies. In the good old days the shops would often run out of an item and it could be weeks before their shelves were replenished. So I would keep plenty of backup stock in the house. Now there are very few items that suffer supply chain issues. So I’m most likely to have one item in use and one backup in the pantry.

Do you live in Moscow or St Petersburg?

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

The average IQ of Australians is just under 103. In the UK, it is just under 100.

I think I know what quartile you are in.

Keep posting please. Schadenfreude rules.

It's a pity your IQ dragged down the Aussie average. They won't thank you for that.

Cranky old Aussies rule!

On 4/7/2026 at 12:43 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

One is none.

This applies to appliances, as well.

I have 3 microwaves; 3 refrigerators; 3 ACs; more than 3 desktops, even though desktops and IT equipment is built to higher standards, and rarely breaks down.

Backups for appliances, such as refrigerators is even more important than bulk food purchases, maybe.

The quality here is garbage, and maybe not just "here".

When a refrigerator fails, there is no guarantee if and when it will be repaired.

Therefore, 3 units is a must.

Here in Thailand, repair is so cheap we've had both our fridges for more than 30 years. When the freezer went out, though, it was a disaster we have not fully recovered from.

I buy a lot of perishables and bring some from abroad, too. Rice should go in the deep freeze for 24 hours to pop the strink-bug eggs. Flour goes in the freezer, good cheese and oils.

Buy a freezer, the big size, maybe B14k.

Ah, yes, my extra 2015 MacBook Pro, parts mainly, for when my working 2015 MacBook Pro fails!

On 4/7/2026 at 9:01 AM, technoronin said:

I always keep an unopened bottle of my vitamins, supplements and medications on hand. When I run out of one, I grab an unopened bottle while immediately ordering a replacement from Amazon. Yeah, I'm not currently in Thailand.

In Thailand, iHerb is brilliant!

On 4/5/2026 at 3:58 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Agreed - Important medication - 4 months backup (thats also because I sometimes travel away and can and have been stuck overseas for longer than anticipated).

I buy a year of my thyroid meds (liothyronine) from Turkey I always have to go to Chaeng Wattan postal customs. Not available here.

On 4/5/2026 at 4:25 PM, Lacessit said:

I was in Thailand, the land of the bum gun.

While there were people in Australia fighting in the aisles over the last toilet rolls, I was taking photos of well-stocked shelves in Big C to send to my friends.

I was also posting them Covid test kits, which were $2 here and up to $50 in Oz.

In Thailand, I am a Vegemite hoarder.

Sure glad they weren't photos of your clean butt!

21 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I buy a lot of perishables and bring some from abroad, too. Rice should go in the deep freeze for 24 hours to pop the strink-bug eggs. Flour goes in the freezer, good cheese and oils.

Shirley you are not advising me to store rice in the freezer for 24 hours after having just purchased it from TOPS.

Or, if you are, then are you sure this is necessary?

I store rice in the refrigerator at about 0.5-degrees C.

Should this not be sufficient?

On 4/7/2026 at 8:09 AM, Ralf001 said:

Even though my local mom N pop delivers I still maintain a 6 month supply of alcohol in the spare room.

When I was still working, I carried five or six bottles. One on the way out, buy wine and big bottles of sake in HK, bottle on the way home and one from duty-free at BKK. Some really choice bottles of single-malt.

I do a hopScotch occasionally for friends. Drink from newest to oldest.

On 4/7/2026 at 12:43 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

One is none.

This applies to appliances, as well.

I have 3 microwaves; 3 refrigerators; 3 ACs; more than 3 desktops, even though desktops and IT equipment is built to higher standards, and rarely breaks down.

Backups for appliances, such as refrigerators is even more important than bulk food purchases, maybe.

The quality here is garbage, and maybe not just "here".

When a refrigerator fails, there is no guarantee if and when it will be repaired.

Therefore, 3 units is a must.

You really need to buy a battery backup as well.

You are toast if you have a power failure.

On 4/7/2026 at 4:15 AM, NedR69 said:

There was a store in BK that mirrored Costco. They even carried a lot of Kirkland Special items.

I shopped it once and we bought a lot of bulk items.

TOPS CLUB.

Closed in 12 months

For wholesale we have Makro and GO. And lots of articles - especially all imported stuff - you can buy in normal amounts. Wouldn't want to miss it anymore.

2 hours ago, Keeps said:

It's a pity your IQ dragged down the Aussie average. They won't thank you for that.

Cranky old Aussies rule!

The two IQ tests I did do disagree with you. I am well above the average. Top 0.1% of the population in spelling and numeracy skills.

I have always said in an argument, two Brits on to one Aussie is not fair. Three on to one is better odds.

Cranky? No. I just get tired of having to recalibrate my BS meter.

4 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The two IQ tests I did do disagree with you. I am well above the average.

OMG! Please not a another Harisfan/Susan/Bignok spouting forth again about their claimed, and obviously false IQ's!

Why does anyone make such self-boosting statements when they cannot be verified?