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Original poster

Are you stockpiling?

581 replies

CravingHobnobs · 01/09/2021 23:22

Are you stockpiling food, clothes, toys, medicines? I’ve gotten a bit worried lately with the news of price increases and limited supplies. Shelves seem fairly full where I am (London) but perhaps that’s not going to last? Can’t help but notice much of my food comes from abroad, not to mention medicines, DC clothes and toys, etc.

I’m a bit skint already but if prices will rise and I can do a bit of Christmas shopping for DC now I reckon I’d rather have it sorted.

OP posts:
FfrothiCoffi · 04/09/2021 14:58

Well yeah, I’d think that as Id have nowhere to put another bag of cat litter.

AfternoonToffee · 04/09/2021 15:00

@LoisLane66

I stand by my comments. Stockpiling and panic buying are, more or less, one and the same thing IMO. Unlike one poster who mentioned getting her monthly stock of pet food and household products, I have no need to look in my cupboards for reassurance and comfort. I know that if I go to my three local supermarkets Waitrose, M&S and Tesco, they will have what I need. They're only closed for 2 days at most over Christmas. There is a local twice weekly veg and fruit market who come from Covent Garden plus a village bakery a 2 minute walk away. None of that will change so I will be able to get everything I want and more than I will need. Overbuying is ridiculous and no wonder so many people are overweight.
Can you not recognise how fortunate a [geographic] position you are in though? Not everyone has 3 supermarkets nearby, plus a bakery and a covent garden veg market?
NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 15:05

@FfrothiCoffi

Well yeah, I’d think that as Id have nowhere to put another bag of cat litter.
This was a small bag, think it's a 4kg one I use places like bottom of the wardrobe, kitchen cupboards, under the bed, anywhere really. Under bed boxes are my friends! Stuff like coffee doesn't take up much room either
YetAnotherSpartacus · 04/09/2021 15:07

I agree. I used to use the top of my wardrobe for spare things and I'd cover it with a nice cloth.

Miniroofbox · 04/09/2021 15:28

I have one supermarket that delivers and slots are like gold dust, a ten mile drive to one (in the next town) and the shop in the village is poorly stocked and expensive. There is no veg market for Covent Garden and no bakery.

itchywoman · 04/09/2021 17:24

Unlikely to stock pile but recent shortages have made me review how much we have in. Most things I can work around but with 2 autistic kids some I can't. I don't drive either so I can't keep checking back. Medication I can't do anything about as I can only request within a certain timeframe. Toys aren't an issue and clothes well we are still searching for some uniform for youngest as out of stock online and in shop and he will only wear the same ones, luckily we have some so just have stay on top of washing! As for Christmas, the main thing is being together, and hopefully we get that this year!!

ButteringMyArse · 04/09/2021 20:07

I have no need to look in my cupboards for reassurance and comfort. I know that if I go to my three local supermarkets Waitrose, M&S and Tesco, they will have what I need. They're only closed for 2 days at most over Christmas. There is a local twice weekly veg and fruit market who come from Covent Garden plus a village bakery a 2 minute walk away. None of that will change so I will be able to get everything I want and more than I will need.

This is an example of the unacknowledged and uncomprehending privilege I mentioned upthread.

lockdownmadnessdotcom · 04/09/2021 21:26

Stockpiling and panic buying are, more or less, one and the same thing IMO

of course they're not the same!

If I go out and buy a couple of extra tins of soup every time I do my weekly shop that is stock-piling. There is plenty left for everyone else and the shop can order more in.

If I go out and buy the entire stock on the shelf, that is panic buying,

Can we really not see the difference?

Nsky · 04/09/2021 21:33

I think it’s wise to be flexible, More low key this year, early retired ( choice and work issues), I shall try and get what I hope for ( Christmas lunch at friends), turkey, always get extra for leftover meals.
I don’t buy extra chocs, nuts and don’t drink, dislike booze.
Less presents too, and less cards

Spottyphonecase24 · 04/09/2021 21:34

It shocks me that people can’t see the difference. There was a lot of people in here calling stockpilers/preppers selfish last year when they struggled to get food.

I did my ‘covid shops’ in January and February. I live rurally and I can’t get to a shop everyday. Surely me being at home was better than me in the shop trying to get food the same s everyone else?

I personally find it selfish of those who can afford to have a bit in but don’t. As you keep saying it’s not fair on those who can’t afford to stockpile, surely it’s better when we have shortages that you aren’t in the shop tryi go get the food that they need? T

HungryHippo11 · 04/09/2021 21:44

Overbuying is ridiculous and no wonder so many people are overweight.
You don't have to eat it all in one go 😂

SpindleWhorl · 04/09/2021 22:08

@HungryHippo11

Overbuying is ridiculous and no wonder so many people are overweight. You don't have to eat it all in one go 😂
Two years' worth of tinned corned beef in one sitting, puts Adam Richman to shame.
LovePoppy · 04/09/2021 23:22

@FuckPilledLatteplus

We’ve still got about 10 years before shit properly hits the fan
Well that’s not at all terrifying
Miisty · 05/09/2021 06:50

Yes only it’s tiny bit extra Son in law got grandchildren a Happy Meal on Friday at 12 NO Milkshakes and No coffee ! He helps run a haulage company at night lorry drivers are getting offered a lot of money by different firms Yes their will be a shortage so get organised Now

CosmicHeat · 05/09/2021 07:42

Yes, because having a bit of prepping done helps in a crisis, and if 2020 has shown anything it is that out distribution chains are very fragile. Also that massive shipping container ship that got stuck in the Suez isn't where it's supposed to be right now and China shut down one of their really large ports so none of that stuff is where it's supposed to be either. Those knock on effects are due to hit in and around Christmas and largely affect goods rather than food. I have Xmas shorted for the kids, not so fussed about the adults.

LynetteScavo · 05/09/2021 07:49

Stockpiling and panic buying are two different things.

One is about being prepared, the other is about being totally unprepared.

I think if people learned nothing else from the pandemics, they should have realised that if at all possible to have a bit extra stored away. It's a good idea to buy one extra tin a week. After a year you'll have 52 extra tins which should keep you going incase of emergency. And it's important to rotate them, as I discovered an old tin of peaches recently that had apparently gone past their best by date.

The panic buying last year was ridiculous. All the pasta shelves were empty, wait they weren't, the wholemeal pasta was left. People couldn't have been that desperate for pasta Grin

MargosKaftan · 05/09/2021 08:04

We have a stockpile. Effectively I started it pre Brexit as I realised if we did "no deal", the lorries would stop. Dh thought I was being ridiculous then covid hit and we were better stocked than most, but I had assumed fresh food would be an issue, so filled the freezer with frozen veg and meat, hadn't occurred to me that sanpro and toilet roll would be in short supply. (Hadn't quite grasped the UK supermarkets dont warehouse lots of the long life goods but have the same "just in time" supply chain as fresh things.)

Anyway, DH put up shelves in our shed and we've bought a little extra on each shop since life got more normal and filled lidded boxes. This has meant weve had space to buy things like pasta /rice when on offer.

Also got a 2nd freezer. Need to do a check through what stock we've got in that as my plan to have extra batch cooked meals (for quick food if dh and I are sick/stressed with work), lots of frozen fruit and veg, has been rather over taken by dh and dcs desire to fill the extra space with a range of icecream/lollies.

ButteringMyArse · 05/09/2021 08:48

I personally find it selfish of those who can afford to have a bit in but don’t. As you keep saying it’s not fair on those who can’t afford to stockpile, surely it’s better when we have shortages that you aren’t in the shop tryi go get the food that they need?

Quite.

It's amazing that there are people who could take action to minimise the strain they put on the supply chain in times of difficulty, leaving what's available for those who really need it when there are shortages, but won't, yet somehow imagine they're in a position to be critical of anyone else.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 05/09/2021 08:54

buying extra when on offer smacks of selfishness
what about other people who want the offer

BluebellsGreenbells · 05/09/2021 08:55

The point of the offer is it’s smacks of over stock which the shop needs to make room - those Christmas chocolates for example are always on offer so people buy early to either stash away or in the hope they break them open early and buy more.

Plus quite a few of these offers end up in the food bank stash at the entrance

MrsLargeEmbodied · 05/09/2021 08:55

and tbh what offers?
lurpak for example is always on offer Somewhere!

MrsLargeEmbodied · 05/09/2021 08:57

cautionary tale/tail

i had lots of pasta/rice/flour so much
then we got mice!
ate them all!

so now they are in boxes and i am limited

Tyredofallthis1 · 05/09/2021 09:22

To be fair, I once accidentally stockpiled wrapping paper. I made a habit of picking up half a dozen rolls after Christmas every year when the shops were getting rid of it. I once got an armful of wrapping paper that had been reduced to 10p per roll. I'd just grab some, especially some neutral stuff that would do for all occasions, and stash it somewhere. Then one year I was clearing some stuff out and rounded up all the paper in the house. I had over fifty rolls.

That was a while ago and I'm almost out, so considering looking around after Christmas this year. Mind you, I'm also thinking of just using the brown paper that comes in the Amazon packages, but maybe tarted up a bit. I'm no longer wrapping a gazillion tiny bits of plastic for a small child. It's Amazon vouchers all round here.

mum2jakie · 05/09/2021 09:27

@MrsLargeEmbodied

buying extra when on offer smacks of selfishness what about other people who want the offer
Lol - I don't think the shops and manufacturers are bothered about the motivation for people buying offers. They just want to shift more of the product - if people didn't buy more than usual it wouldn't be a successful promotion! Why do you think they have BOGOF or buy two get one free - so people buy more items than they would have ordinarily!
Gothichouse40 · 05/09/2021 09:36

Re mice etc. Try to store your rice or pasta in glass or BPA free plastic jars/containers. That will keep little visitors out.