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AIBU?

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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:
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56
autumnisherenow · 11/09/2026 16:33

ShortColdandGrey · 10/09/2026 09:07

My parents are Mormons and they always have a store cupboard for emergences but the church is ramped it up to the extreme. I think it was covid that changed it. So I know if there is ever an emergency I just need to find the nearest Mormon, or go visit my parents 😀I think it is a good idea to have a small stockpile just in case, but I will not be panic buying.

I didn’t know this was something Mormons did? Is it because they believe we’re in the end times? Are they actually taught to stockpile food?

Justthethingsthatyoudointhisgarden · 11/09/2026 16:30

FairKoala · 11/09/2026 15:23

Apart from the fact I have not got any money to buy anything other than for the next few days, its people like your friend who are causing huge problems.
Sick of going to my local Tesco and finding empty shelves
Sick of this government helping people and causing untold damage.
I am out of work because of the governments “helpful” legislation and I can’t actually buy food when I get to the supermarket because of people like your friend.

I wouldn’t want to be friends with someone this gullible.

Governments create a crisis then rides to the rescue

Are there any elections due?

Edited

Seriously? I haven't seen a single empty shelf in the supermarkets in our town. You sound like a professional victim.

FairKoala · 11/09/2026 16:17

worldshottestmom · 11/09/2026 16:09

Careful, having common sense doesn't go down well on this site.

I’m not anywhere near Winchester so if the worse happens I don’t think having 104 cans of tin beans or tomatoes is going to do me any good

FairKoala · 11/09/2026 16:14

LilyBunch25 · 11/09/2026 15:45

I don't really need government guidance to know that the way things are going there is absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of common sense preparation especially if, like me, I have someone with severe health conditions to consider.

Enlighten me on what you mean by the way things are going.

HeckYeah · 11/09/2026 16:12

InterestedDad37 · 11/09/2026 15:50

I plan to go to the Winchester, have a nice, cold pint, and let it all blow over 😃 🧟 🧟 🧟

Make sure the pub looks like this

AIBU to think my friend is overdoing emergency stockpiling?
worldshottestmom · 11/09/2026 16:09

FairKoala · 11/09/2026 16:07

Tbh I have never stockpiled. Mainly because (maybe it’s my autism) I hate looking at cupboards and fridges full of food
It annoys me.

I like to open a cupboard or a fridge and see exactly what I want.

I have lived through powercuts and walking past refrigerated lorry’s with dead bodies in parked on the street
I have lived through IRA bombings, tube bombings and worldwide pandemics without panic buying.

Look back on the threads on here and people have been stockpiling piling for years for a disaster that has yet to happen.

One day it might and those that stockpiled can be smug they have enough bog roll. Till someone finds out they have 6 months supply of food and then that stock pile might as well be a target on their backs

Careful, having common sense doesn't go down well on this site.

FairKoala · 11/09/2026 16:07

Tbh I have never stockpiled. Mainly because (maybe it’s my autism) I hate looking at cupboards and fridges full of food
It annoys me.

I like to open a cupboard or a fridge and see exactly what I want.

I have lived through powercuts and walking past refrigerated lorry’s with dead bodies in parked on the street
I have lived through IRA bombings, tube bombings and worldwide pandemics without panic buying.

Look back on the threads on here and people have been stockpiling piling for years for a disaster that has yet to happen.

One day it might and those that stockpiled can be smug they have enough bog roll. Till someone finds out they have 6 months supply of food and then that stock pile might as well be a target on their backs

worldshottestmom · 11/09/2026 16:07

LilyBunch25 · 11/09/2026 15:45

I don't really need government guidance to know that the way things are going there is absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of common sense preparation especially if, like me, I have someone with severe health conditions to consider.

It doesn't matter who you have to consider if the country gets nuked. 50 bags of pasta isn't going to help if your house has been bombed mate

However, that is extremely unlikely to happen, and anyone with a brain knows why. In terms of potential outage of water/electric for a few days, yea, get a bit of extra food in. As i said to PP, im mostly referring to panic buyers who call it stockpiling when it really isn't. There's no need to clear the shelves of Tesco and call it 'common sense' cos the media has convinced you the country is going to collapse. Again, did we learn nothing from Covid?

worldshottestmom · 11/09/2026 16:03

CandidHedgehog · 11/09/2026 15:46

Nobody (or very few people) is suggesting selling everything and constructing a bunker in the Outer Hebrides . If you don’t want to get a few tins and a couple of bottles of water in to cover 3 days of a possible power cut / supply chain disruption, you don’t have to.

I have spent probably £100 on a bit more food and a wind up radio. Hopefully you are right and I won’t need it but I see it like house insurance. I’ve never claimed and I’ve probably spent a couple of thousand on insurance over the decades - I’m still planning on renewing when the day comes.

Can you quote me on where I said that's what they're suggesting? You dont have to get defensive, I'm not attacking you.

I'm moreso referring to people panic buying and calling it stockpiling since some people can't seem to differentiate between the two. The governments advice to do this is just going to create unnecessary moral panic, as it has before, and they know that.

It's just like at Christmas when shops close for a day and there's people buying 30 loaves of bread to 'survive' it. By all means, buy a bit extra food and supplies, but don't go raiding supermarket shelves cos the gubbermint told you to do so.

RedToothBrush · 11/09/2026 15:56

InterestedDad37 · 11/09/2026 15:50

I plan to go to the Winchester, have a nice, cold pint, and let it all blow over 😃 🧟 🧟 🧟

This is so tempting.

Hope the Winchester is within walking distance.

InterestedDad37 · 11/09/2026 15:50

I plan to go to the Winchester, have a nice, cold pint, and let it all blow over 😃 🧟 🧟 🧟

CandidHedgehog · 11/09/2026 15:46

worldshottestmom · 11/09/2026 15:39

Did we learn nothing from Covid? People actually still listen to government lunacy 'advice'?

I can't shake my head hard enough ffs

Nobody (or very few people) is suggesting selling everything and constructing a bunker in the Outer Hebrides . If you don’t want to get a few tins and a couple of bottles of water in to cover 3 days of a possible power cut / supply chain disruption, you don’t have to.

I have spent probably £100 on a bit more food and a wind up radio. Hopefully you are right and I won’t need it but I see it like house insurance. I’ve never claimed and I’ve probably spent a couple of thousand on insurance over the decades - I’m still planning on renewing when the day comes.

HeckYeah · 11/09/2026 15:45

HouseBee · 11/09/2026 15:34

What id like to know is WHAT are people stockpiling.

Not in sneezy way but in a what the heck am I supposed to do way.

We had a brexit stockpile and tbh I didn’t find it particularly great. Over time, It all got used that wasn’t the issue.
But it’s the ‘I have stock for 6 months’ that makes me wonder. It can’t be 6 months worth of food all in cans and dry food (rice, pasta etc….).

I wish someone would explain,

Plenty of explanations in this and all other threads already.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/chat/5570978-hm-gov-telling-us-to-get-tinned-food-and-bottled-water?page=22&reply=154561241

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/preppers/5571022-uk-to-warn-citizens-to-stock-up-on-food?page=3&reply=154589651

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/ami^being^unreasonable/5573921-aibu-to-think-the-stockpile-advice-suggests-something-to-come?page=15&reply=154664834

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/ami^being^unreasonable/5576178-do-we-actually-need-to-get-two-weeks-of-food-in?page=15&reply=154668927

Page 3 | UK to warn citizens to stock up on food | Mumsnet

As there is already a thread on chat I thought I would link it here as it will drop off the other board. Original thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/tal...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/preppers/5571022-uk-to-warn-citizens-to-stock-up-on-food?page=3&reply=154589651

LilyBunch25 · 11/09/2026 15:45

worldshottestmom · 11/09/2026 15:39

Did we learn nothing from Covid? People actually still listen to government lunacy 'advice'?

I can't shake my head hard enough ffs

I don't really need government guidance to know that the way things are going there is absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of common sense preparation especially if, like me, I have someone with severe health conditions to consider.

LilyBunch25 · 11/09/2026 15:44

Widoeeyes · 11/09/2026 15:38

Prepping over a long period of time does not impact the shelves; panic buying does z

Exactly.

Widoeeyes · 11/09/2026 15:42

HouseBee · 11/09/2026 15:34

What id like to know is WHAT are people stockpiling.

Not in sneezy way but in a what the heck am I supposed to do way.

We had a brexit stockpile and tbh I didn’t find it particularly great. Over time, It all got used that wasn’t the issue.
But it’s the ‘I have stock for 6 months’ that makes me wonder. It can’t be 6 months worth of food all in cans and dry food (rice, pasta etc….).

I wish someone would explain,

Well, we don’t have 6 months worth… but…
tins of beans, chickpeas, veg, potatoes, fruit.
packets of microwave rice (they can be eaten cold)
tins of salmon; tuna, tomatoes.
oats, crackers, jars of hummus, baba ganoush

LilyBunch25 · 11/09/2026 15:41

HouseBee · 11/09/2026 15:34

What id like to know is WHAT are people stockpiling.

Not in sneezy way but in a what the heck am I supposed to do way.

We had a brexit stockpile and tbh I didn’t find it particularly great. Over time, It all got used that wasn’t the issue.
But it’s the ‘I have stock for 6 months’ that makes me wonder. It can’t be 6 months worth of food all in cans and dry food (rice, pasta etc….).

I wish someone would explain,

It is very, very rare for anyone to have 6 months - or even 3 months - stocked up. Imo getting into those lengths of time would mean we were in a serious war and, frankly, I couldn't and wouldn't prepare for that. We would be in a national emergency situation. Most people couldn't prepare for that. I have what equates to approx 6-8 weeks worth of food, water, etc; I'm prepared to that extent because I have a severely disabled DH and frail relatives who I need to know I can help if need be (as well as a neighbour who is blind and his wife, and have no family.) I'm prepared for severe weather/cyber/power issues. Anything longer is a different scenario.

worldshottestmom · 11/09/2026 15:39

Did we learn nothing from Covid? People actually still listen to government lunacy 'advice'?

I can't shake my head hard enough ffs

Widoeeyes · 11/09/2026 15:38

FairKoala · 11/09/2026 15:23

Apart from the fact I have not got any money to buy anything other than for the next few days, its people like your friend who are causing huge problems.
Sick of going to my local Tesco and finding empty shelves
Sick of this government helping people and causing untold damage.
I am out of work because of the governments “helpful” legislation and I can’t actually buy food when I get to the supermarket because of people like your friend.

I wouldn’t want to be friends with someone this gullible.

Governments create a crisis then rides to the rescue

Are there any elections due?

Edited

Prepping over a long period of time does not impact the shelves; panic buying does z

Widoeeyes · 11/09/2026 15:37

Im not sure why people in the UK find the idea of a little bit of prepping hilarious. appreciate not everyone has the space or money; but having a weeks worth of food and some water in the house is useful. A few years ago our water supply went out for 24 hours: we were all taking buckets to our neighbors hot tub to use for flushing toilets

HouseBee · 11/09/2026 15:34

What id like to know is WHAT are people stockpiling.

Not in sneezy way but in a what the heck am I supposed to do way.

We had a brexit stockpile and tbh I didn’t find it particularly great. Over time, It all got used that wasn’t the issue.
But it’s the ‘I have stock for 6 months’ that makes me wonder. It can’t be 6 months worth of food all in cans and dry food (rice, pasta etc….).

I wish someone would explain,

FairKoala · 11/09/2026 15:29

FatMrsHoot · 10/09/2026 13:56

She's probably quite anxious and you're maybe a touch complacent.

When COVID kicked off, did you have enough food to stay at home for a little bit, or were you part of the panic buying masses?

I was the part of the working masses who didn’t stay home.
Went to the supermarket as normal and just joined the queue to get in.

Didn’t actually run out of anything
Didnt panic buy either

FairKoala · 11/09/2026 15:23

Apart from the fact I have not got any money to buy anything other than for the next few days, its people like your friend who are causing huge problems.
Sick of going to my local Tesco and finding empty shelves
Sick of this government helping people and causing untold damage.
I am out of work because of the governments “helpful” legislation and I can’t actually buy food when I get to the supermarket because of people like your friend.

I wouldn’t want to be friends with someone this gullible.

Governments create a crisis then rides to the rescue

Are there any elections due?

EvieBB · 11/09/2026 15:05

HelpMeGetThrough · 11/09/2026 11:58

I’m stockpiling nothing. There’s a field of cows at the bottom of our road. One of those buggers will keep us going for a week or two.

😆

LilyBunch25 · 11/09/2026 14:56

DecoratingDiva · 11/09/2026 14:38

Clearly I live under a rock but what exactly is it we are supposed to be stockpiling for?

There are various links to news stories and govt guidance on this thread and several other similar ones

Swipe left for the next trending thread