Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think my friend is overdoing emergency stockpiling?

808 replies

bagpuss90 · 10/09/2026 08:52

I get that we have been advised to stock up on essentials, though I think it will encourage panic buying. I will probably get a few days worth of stuff at some point . My friend however has, at least in my opinion gone ott about it. She’s stocking up a six month supply of food. She’s bought head torches, a camping gas stove and various other stuff. She thinks I’m being naive …Am I missing something here ?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
56
Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 19:59

CatnipLeaves · 15/09/2026 19:55

Or transfer light things like towels and jumpers into there and put tins on the shelves the lighter things were on? Or shoes and put the tins in the bottom of the cupboard where the shoes were?

Show quote history

Good idea. The main thing is that I have some storage space, which a couple of hours ago I didn't realize I had 😅

nomas · 15/09/2026 19:57

CatnipLeaves · 15/09/2026 19:55

Or transfer light things like towels and jumpers into there and put tins on the shelves the lighter things were on? Or shoes and put the tins in the bottom of the cupboard where the shoes were?

Show quote history

Great idea.

nomas · 15/09/2026 19:56

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 19:53

Yes, I've thought about that. I may actually take the drawers out and just use the space for storing things.

Show quote history

That's a good idea. But would you need to find somewhere to store the drawers?

What a minefield!

CatnipLeaves · 15/09/2026 19:55

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 19:53

Yes, I've thought about that. I may actually take the drawers out and just use the space for storing things.

Show quote history

Or transfer light things like towels and jumpers into there and put tins on the shelves the lighter things were on? Or shoes and put the tins in the bottom of the cupboard where the shoes were?

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 19:53

nomas · 15/09/2026 19:48

I would be mindful that those bed drawers are often quite flimsy so would likely depress over time with the weight of tins.

Show quote history

Yes, I've thought about that. I may actually take the drawers out and just use the space for storing things.

CatnipLeaves · 15/09/2026 19:53

I've had a kelly kettle for years but never ended up using it at the time I bought it. Hope it's still OK. How much do you need to put in as fuel to boil water for a cup of tea and what would you put in? Could you use bits of old cardboard or would that burn too quickly?

Morepositivemum · 15/09/2026 19:52

In Ireland and we were a week last year without electricity so definitely get on the torch and gas cooker bandwagon op, cups of tea were the only things that kept me going!!!!!

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 15/09/2026 19:49

HoppityBun · 15/09/2026 17:23

I suggest a ghillie kettle or a kelly kettle or similar. They have to be used outside

Show quote history

Thanks Hoppity, looking into these of which I was hitherto in complete ignorance.
Great rabbit hole to go down...😂

nomas · 15/09/2026 19:48

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 18:11

Yes!! Omg...I've got a bed with drawers underneath. It's only got a load of old paperwork in so I can throw it all out. Omg..thank you! 😅😅

Show quote history

I would be mindful that those bed drawers are often quite flimsy so would likely depress over time with the weight of tins.

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 15/09/2026 19:47

LilyBunch25 · 15/09/2026 17:28

There are very important safety risks, yes, in using a portable stove inside. Ours is sturdy, checked regularly, and I used it inside frequently during power cuts where we last lived. I would use it in the garden if possible, but I am not averse to using it indoors. The biggest risks are obvious: they produce gases, only if faulty or not burning correctly, carbon monoxide is a risk. We have a mains carbon monoxide detector (with battery back up) but also have a separate extra battery operated one to be doubly safe.
If using indoors, placed on top of our ceramic flat top electric cooker which is always switched off at the wall when not in use anyway, and has a stainless splashback and natural ventilation plus a large window adjacent and no flammable risk fabrics or similar nearby. This is the safest I can manage, if needed. We also have a firepit and bbq outside and large supply of charcoal and wood. I kept a few old pans in case I ever needed to heat water or food on firepit. Again, only because we have outside space do we have that option.

Thank you for another very helpful post. I really appreciate it. 💐

RedToothBrush · 15/09/2026 19:47

Yodeldodeldo · 15/09/2026 19:40

To be honest even if there aren't gaps on shelves, I think we might be looking at some serious food inflation. So a couple of cheap dinners out of the long life food cupboard might help in January when we're all skint after Xmas and putting the heating on is expensive.

Absolutely. This is my logic.

BlackeyedSusan · 15/09/2026 19:42

Whatever makes her happy.

Yodeldodeldo · 15/09/2026 19:40

To be honest even if there aren't gaps on shelves, I think we might be looking at some serious food inflation. So a couple of cheap dinners out of the long life food cupboard might help in January when we're all skint after Xmas and putting the heating on is expensive.

LilyBunch25 · 15/09/2026 19:07

tripleginandtonic · 15/09/2026 18:43

This

Show quote history

Don't disagree with that- I've said multiple times upthread that if we're looking at a situation of 6 months that's a completely different situation to preparing for a few days/week or so which is the guidance. And if we have power issues, disruption to fuel/food supplies and costs, it could be intermittent periods where having things to fall back on will not be a bad thing.

LilyBunch25 · 15/09/2026 19:05

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 18:31

No time like the present...I've just emptied the drawers, which are surprisingly deep. Just need to head to Home Bargains now to get my haul! Sometimes, Mumsnet is brilliant 👏..thank you again!

Show quote history

No problem 😊 HB is an excellent choice too

Seasidewalker · 15/09/2026 19:02

I live in the south west, my plumber today said he's been struggling to find diesel locally. I'm not sure if that's just a local blip.

RedToothBrush · 15/09/2026 18:54

Brett Erikson AT BrettErikson28
MORE: Libya may be set to declare force majeure (cancellations) of oil deliveries after protests in the country have suspended oil production in the country.

While it is easy to try to dismiss this as "it's just Libya", this yet ANOTHER blow to the global energy markets that have seen Ansarallah take effective control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Saudi East-West Pipeline (along with multiple other energy infrastructures) destroyed, Saudi cancellation of September (and potentially October) deliveries to Europe, and a global economy that is short now more than two BILLION barrels of oil as a result of the United States' reckless decision to launch a war against Iran.

We're seeing increasing signs that the global economy is BREAKING under the compounding pressures it has faced over the past 6.5 months, and this is yet another weight that the world will attempt to desperately shoulder

Oh fucking FABULOUS!

tripleginandtonic · 15/09/2026 18:43

randomchap · 10/09/2026 09:00

If it all goes to shit where 6 months food is needed, then those who have stockpiled will just be attacked and robbed by those who haven't.

This

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 18:31

LilyBunch25 · 15/09/2026 18:28

Lol 😅 it only occurred to me because I had to put my food processor in my underbed drawer (I never use it) to make space in my kitchen cupboards for stores

Show quote history

No time like the present...I've just emptied the drawers, which are surprisingly deep. Just need to head to Home Bargains now to get my haul! Sometimes, Mumsnet is brilliant 👏..thank you again!

LilyBunch25 · 15/09/2026 18:28

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 18:11

Yes!! Omg...I've got a bed with drawers underneath. It's only got a load of old paperwork in so I can throw it all out. Omg..thank you! 😅😅

Show quote history

Lol 😅 it only occurred to me because I had to put my food processor in my underbed drawer (I never use it) to make space in my kitchen cupboards for stores

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 18:11

LilyBunch25 · 15/09/2026 18:08

Under bed storage?

Show quote history

Yes!! Omg...I've got a bed with drawers underneath. It's only got a load of old paperwork in so I can throw it all out. Omg..thank you! 😅😅

LilyBunch25 · 15/09/2026 18:08

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 18:03

No bookcase unfortunately...

Show quote history

Under bed storage?

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 18:05

I suppose I could put tins and water in my mini, but then it would use more fuel due to the weight, so false economy 🙃

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 18:03

HeckYeah · 15/09/2026 18:00

Do you have a book case? If you do, behind the books?

Show quote history

No bookcase unfortunately...

LilyBunch25 · 15/09/2026 18:02

Ihateboris · 15/09/2026 17:46

This is the thing, it's OK for the government advising us to stockpile, but if you live in a flat with no storage space, what the hell are we supposed to do? And I mean "no storage space!)"

Show quote history

Totally get where you're coming from; although we're in a bungalow, we genuinely don't have a lot of storage space. I've had to clear some kitchen cupboard space and it wasn't easy, and relegated some of what was in there to up on top of the wall units. It's not a big kitchen. We aren't allowed to store anything at all in the loft due to insulation rules (new build HA) and being a new build it has literally no other cupboards. I won't store food in the shed which is only small anyway. Totally get though, having lived in small flats, no garden etc, if no space at all it is very difficult indeed.