Is it only on mn that people are stockpiling?

[ScafellPoke]

Seems to be a lot of pre brexit stockpiling going on here. But none in real life

I never speak to anyone in RL

Plastic storage boxes, der, that's so obvious and I hadn't thought about them, thank you Poppiesway. I'm fine for storing pasta, rice etc but was worried about bread flour, plastic storage boxes with clippable lids are what I need...

I am stockpiling a bit, but I am rural and it doesn't do any harm to have extra supplies in. Around here, the worst of the snow is usually end February, or March, and that can mean being stuck in for a few days anyway.

I was chatting with a friend last night and mentioned I was stockpiling (and have also bought a bread machine). She went very, very quiet, so I don't think she has at all. Which is slightly odd, because she usually plans her life down to the tiniest degree, years in advance.

I suspect this thread mirrors life. Many people are but will not admit it. I know one of the posters who has said they’ve not seen it in RL frequents the prepper boards...

I am stockpiling but RL friends thinks I’m nuts!

I’ve stockpiled.
I’m not the only one - we’re all very open about it and we all have. Most of my friends live very rurally though, so a full freezer and enough food in for 10 full days or so is the norm in winter because of snowing in.
Mind you, it’s been over time and when my favourite things are on special offer-half price on my favourite (expensive) tea so I buy loads.

And preppers/prepping are something we’re all generally interested in anyway.

That’s how I’ve done mine. Very little bought full price so it’s a very good way of protecting from the food price rises too.

were doing it.

i thought i was the only one

im really not

I’ve also had most of it delivered too. Delivery drivers have reported that loads of people are doing lots of bulk buying in advance.

Well. Yes. If you aren’t getting your pantry stocked up you are missing something.

Look at the guardian today (sorry, can’t link) - there’s an entire article about the millions being spent by the major retailers and food producers to try and ensure food supplies aren’t too disrupted (but they make no promises the price rises).

The army is ‘forward purchasing’ aka prepping.

The Secretary of State for farming et al has confirmed there will be tariffs (which means your shopping just got about 20% more expensive - less if you’re a veggie).

if you want to insulate yourself from the massive economic shock that we are hurtling towards, to ensure that you aren’t overly affected by disruption and can ‘smooth’ your introduction to higher prices, you need to have some supplies in

And if you want to understand all the whys and wherefores regarding how and when prices will rise, and the problems with tariffs and customs checks, please go to the Brexit board and read the Brexit cupboard threads.

The majority of my friends are or plan to. We have.

I just wonder why anyone would be naive enough to think that because nobody you know has told you they're stockpiling, that means nobody you know is doing it.

It makes sense because there isn’t enough warehouse space in the country for retailers to stockpile. They rely on “just in time” stock systems that could be very badly affected by a no deal Brexit and normally don’t warehouse very much. People stockpiling makes use of all the spare space in people’s homes, under the bed, on top of wardrobes, in corners of the garage, thereby vastly increasing supplies. And yes, a no deal could be catastrophic for food and other necessities and currently looks very likely.

I am not purposely stockpiling for Brexit but I always have full cupboards and freezers. I buy big bags of lentils, chickpeas, beans etc because me and DH are vegetarian and it's cheaper to buy them that way.

I would say that we always have around a month to 6 weeks of food easily. If we were willing to eat some boring and/or strange meals we could probably last around 3 months.

I honestly don't think anyone I know is stockpiling. My parents and siblings definitely are not. Quite a few of my friends and neighbours shop every few days and only buy what they need so they can't be either.

I’ve seen loads of people stocking up. One woman at Lidl last week literally couldn’t get anything more in her car
how on earth do you surmise she was stockpiling for brexit?
maybe she has a massive family?
maybe she was doing the shop for the care home she works in
maybe she's having a big party
maybe she's due to have an operation and wanted to make sure she had everything she needed for a few weeks
maybe she's a competitive eater and wants to practise

I've not heard from anyone I know in the UK (though they might not be saying). I'm in Ireland and was advised by a male (lowering the chances of being on MN) colleague to stockpile. So in the UK I imagine it really is occurring outside of MN.

Are you really that familiar with your neighbours shopping habits? We're all friendly on my road, we're northern, and there's a fair degree of knowing each other's business. Even so, I can't see how I'd be able to tell if they'd added an extra tin or small bag of pasta to each shop for the last few months.

I am thinking of stockpiling but have a lack of space.
How long are you prepping for?

Nope. Know lots of intelligent, sensible people who are, one or two in positions where they’ve actually seen what the predicted worst cases are.
I initially didn’t tell anyone, felt a bit stupid. It’s feeling less and less stupid the closer we get to no deal. In fact I’d say it’s tipped that much now that you’d be stupid not to, if you have the means and space. Will free up short supplies for the millions who can’t afford to as well.

how on earth do you surmise she was stockpiling for brexit?

I surmise because its a logical assumption given that we are about to go into a significant event that could have a massive impact on the economy and peoples ability to feed their families. I don't know for sure because I didn't ask her, but it is one of the options to add to your list and is certainly more likely than many you've listed.

To be honest, whilst I believe it is in everyones interests for as many people as possible to have a sensible stockpile of food (since that relieves the pressure on the muppets who haven't bothered) it only makes me think people are naive and irresponsible if they have't thought about it. You would literally have to be going round deliberately trying to block out the news to have missed all of the information out there telling us that this is going to be a very bumpy ride.

I have the money and thus it is the responsible thing to do to buy the food my family needs now whilst its definitely available and whilst that then enables the supermarkets to restock. My obligation is to my own children at the end of the day. If I don't need it then we'll eat the stuff gradually over time so there is literally no downside to having a very full pantry.

I am thinking of stockpiling but have a lack of space.
How long are you prepping for?

if you pop over to the brexit topic there is lots of good advice. Initially start out thinking about a supply covering all meals for a few days. Personally I think that if you can afford it, enough for 3-4 weeks is a good goal. It doesn't need to be exciting or varied, it just needs to feed you and supplement whatever else is available.

Lots of places to store things when you think about it. But again it doesn't need to look pretty. A couple of boxes stacked in the corner of a room will do.

Are you really that familiar with your neighbours shopping habits?
Not usually but came up in a conversation about if we had got extra animal feed and basic food was brought up too!

Someone's said it but it's worth repeating because it's been overlooked in all the political kerfuffle this week: Michael Gove has confirmed there will be tarriffs on food imports, ie people outside the UK will have to pay extra to sell us their food. So prices will go up.

The other aspect is that there's still a lack of clarity on agricultural subsidies which are currently paid to our farmers by the EU. If they stop or reduce then food grown in this country will become a lot more expensive.

Anyway I'm probably going to lose my job because Brexit has already fucked up the economy before it's even happened, so while I'd love to stockpile I'm not sure I can afford to.

But that's fine, because sovereignty. Or immigrants. Or whatever your fucking excuse was for not bothering to find out what it was you were voting for.

I've been trotting out an "imagine what you need if you are snowed in for three days" thing for months now on here. Do more if you want, don't do less.
Include hygiene needs. Include pets. That kind of thing. It's a good place to start and is affordable if you do it slowly. We are running out of time to do it slowly.

And it's Buy shelf stable/freezable versions of What You Eat