I'm a homesteader/prepper. I hoard critical supplies. My business sales tanked in early January but I had spent months, years actually, stockpiling and hoarding for a catastophe, or a rainy day, and so, I can easily tighten the belt and get by paying the cash bills, like utilities, until sales pick up again. I've got about 30 pounds of lovely WLT leaves stashed on my pantry shelves. The unopened packages will age as they sit there, but the 5 kilo bag of threshed lemon bright is a fantastic deal and forms the base of my blends. I'm really glad I tried it this year. I have several pounds of various Turkish leaf and almost a pound of Latakia, because I like to switch things up each time I shred a new blend. I planned ahead for months before the black Friday sale last Fall, to save up and afford a years worth of leaf and achieve total tobacco independence and proudly evade all the taxes. Yeah, its work, shredding leaves once a week or more, and stuffing tubes every day, but I've already saved almost a thousand dollars since Thanksgiving alone, and it doesn't take up much time. Ive been doing it for 18 months now, and even American Spirits taste inferior to my own. I know a few people here in town who also make their own, but they buy that disgusting Gambler shredded stuff at the convenience store, at astronimical prices. The commitment to shredding my own leaves and stuffing tubes was a fInancial no brainer, not to mention knowing exactly what I am and not smoking, free of unknown additives and chemicals. Like any hobby or business, there is a cost to get set up to do it on a serious level, but the cost is recovered quickly. I also got a cigar kit to learn with. Haven't played with that, yet, but I will, soon. I understand wanting to sample thing in smaller quantities, and there is the 9 types sample leaf offering by WLT, but the whole purpose behind my leaf purchases is large quanities, bulk, and stockpiling the leaves I like to smoke. I'm holding on until things improve and am thankful I was prepared.
