Page 3 | Are you stockpiling?

silentpool · 02/09/2021 02:12

I always have 2-4 weeks worth of food in and do things like buy flour and TP/paper towel in bulk. Partly because I take advantage of sales and purchase my meat from farms, but also because I don't want to be a panic buyer. I also have spent time in less developed countries so am always mindful of supply chain breakdowns, due to personal experience.

I was not affected by any shortages in the shops, during the early Covid panics and will continue to avoid a Just In Time approach to shopping.

Anon778833 · 02/09/2021 02:18

I think there will be shortages around Christmas and people will be complaining they can’t buy there usual mint sauce and Christmas will be ruined!

What? Who TF has mint sauce on turkey??

Time40 · 02/09/2021 02:19

Yes. We can't get in the door for toilet rolls (have to climb through the window). We bought so many that they sent us the Andrex puppy as well so now we also need to stockpile dog food (DH has several cans under his pillow). We are keeping three live salmon in the bathtub in case the army welds us into the house, but DC has given them names so it's going to be difficult to DTD when the time comes. I have also bought up the entire online stock of Fortnum and Mason's Rose and Violet creams in case things get really bad... cost an arm and a leg but it's good to be prepared

@Goldbar Not much on MN really makes me laugh out loud ... but this did.

LemonViolet · 02/09/2021 02:42

I would say well stocked/prepped rather than stockpiling - as it isn’t something I just do in one big bulk panic-buy purchase when things look dicey, it’s something I’ve built up over years since well before Brexit and keep up various monthly subscriptions for many tins/dried goods/toiletries/cleaning products/otc medicines/pet supplies etc. I never run out of things like toilet rolls, cat litter, laundry supplies, toothpaste or tinned tomatoes, as it arrives automatically each month and just goes in the relevant storage places in the house. Most things like that I have a few months worth “in stock” at any one time, and have done so for a long time. It just means we always have our preferred stuff in the house and don’t have to worry about it when it comes to normal grocery shopping, which is mostly just fresh stuff as and when.

And yes when the covid shortages hit, I was able to give toilet rolls to neighbours in need as we had plenty in stock anyway and had our next delivery from Who Gives A Crap guaranteed. It wasn’t us causing the supermarkets shelves to be empty.

Marchitectmummy · 02/09/2021 03:17

No way, there really is no need and let's face it stock piling last time didn't exactly go well for thr UK did it. I'm sure all of these stock piling people must end up creating food waste and that is maddening.

1forAll74 · 02/09/2021 03:29

Supermarkets are going to limit what you can buy,as in the usual stockpiling items. They are fed up of the mayhem and panic in the aisles, when food shortages are threatened.. Fights have been known to break out. near the toilet rolls , and pasta shelves. There was a shortage of paracetamol at one time. people must eat the stuff, when they can't get any food.

Nancydrawn · 02/09/2021 03:52

Whilst I'm not stockpiling, I am buying Christmas presents a bit early this year, as I've heard from friends in logistics that the supply chain is a bit fragile at the moment.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 02/09/2021 04:39

@Itsnotover

I think there will be shortages around Christmas and people will be complaining they can’t buy there usual mint sauce and Christmas will be ruined!

What? Who TF has mint sauce on turkey??

If you put mint sauce on turkey, you deserve to have Christmas ruined.

I’ve just got back from the shops and was surprised to see quite a few empty shelves. There were alternatives available, just not necessarily my usual brands.

However, I do a big shop once a month and then top up on fresh food as necessary through the month so it hasn’t really affected my shopping habits yet.

Rhinothunder · 02/09/2021 04:52

Eh? Stockpiling?? Why?

BarbaraofSeville · 02/09/2021 05:45

It's important to understand the difference between stockpiling and being sensibly prepared.

Of course it's not necessary to have months and months supply of anything to the degree that your house looks like Costco, but there's an awful lot most people can do to protect themselves from the vulnerabilities of the just in time distribution system.

If you keep a few spares in of basic essentials, you can avoid the shops during any panic buying events, or during bad weather, or just use your stocks if there's a shortage of what you want/need. So far from being prepared causing the shortages as some people keep saying, they're actually helping not make it worse.

We barely went to the shops at all last March when it all went crazy. We just used what we had in and got milk from the Co-op or local shops, and fresh veg from one of the market stalls, greengrocers etc that we normally use. We had canned tomatoes, pulses etc, frozen bread and veg, part bake bread or flour and yeast for the breadmaker, plus a basic supply of pasta, rice, frozen meat, etc etc.

It also works out much cheaper over time because you buy bulk packs or special offers when you see them, rather than paying full price on small packs week to week (note that I'm not talking about families who live in tiny flats with no money and no space, but the vast majority who do have a small amount of extra cash and the space for more than a week's supply of toilet rolls at a time).

GeorgiaGirl52 · 02/09/2021 05:45

Am buying more meat and freezing one or two portions each week.
Stockpiled enough Diet Coke to last until Christmas. I don't drink wine so Coke is my vice.
Have made my Christmas gift list and am buying a gift each week - should be all done by Halloween (and we cut our gift expense limit in half as a family).
Instead of ordering in and buying special chocolates, cookies, etc. I am collecting recipes and buying ingredients and planning to do a lot of baking and cooking myself.

DiscoDown21 · 02/09/2021 05:49

@Itsnotover

I think there will be shortages around Christmas and people will be complaining they can’t buy there usual mint sauce and Christmas will be ruined!

What? Who TF has mint sauce on turkey??

I don’t have it on turkey but I do have it for my roast potatoes. It doesn’t go near the turkey!

seaandsandcastles · 02/09/2021 05:51

No, and it’s people who do stockpile that create the empty shelves for the rest of us.

Meraas · 02/09/2021 05:54

@CravingHobnobs

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.

Nope, not even in the height of the hysteria last year, when people were fighting over loo roll.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 02/09/2021 05:59

We have kept extra in since covid but always did in winter in case of snow. Christmas I aim to have done by Halloween anyway but I know we may end up with restrictions or shortages so want to be done sooner. The thread has reminded me to check standard medications though just to be on the safe side as some things may be out of date now.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 02/09/2021 06:01

When the first lockdown hit and shelves got emptied, didn't it transpire it was mostly because lots of people bought an extra few things rather than people buying excessive amounts? If in one week everyone decides to buy, say, two tins of beans rather than their usual one, then the JIT system can't cope.

We have always had enough food for two weeks, ever since the petrol strike when the dc were tiny and we lived rurally. That really scared me as we almost ran out of food. Now, our freezer is always fully stocked and we have a cupboard in the garage with spare tins, pasta and cereal.

I'm not going to add to it in case of another lockdown, that seems pointless. And I can't think of anything foodwise I would buy now for Christmas.

EdithWeston · 02/09/2021 06:08

I think shopping ahead might be a good idea.

I was brought up by wartime thrift parents, so have always kept a good store cupboard, and think it's a good idea right now for everyone - if they can - to have about a week's worth because the call to isolate could come at any time (used to say 10 days to cover it all, but online delivery slots are pretty normal, plus there's much more on deliveroo groceries)

You don't buy tins of stuff you never touch and let them go out of date. You have some tins, and use in date order and replace. It's nothing like panic buying, because you're not suddenly going out and buying 50! You add an extra tin every now and again (eg from BOGOFs) and after you have your preferrred domestic level, you then are buying in your normal consumption pattern, not stripping the shelves

SpeakingFranglais · 02/09/2021 06:09

No I’m not, I didn’t last time and I won’t this. I carried on as normal, but because of stockpiles I did get a bit concerned when I got to my last two loo rolls and there still weren’t any on the shelves.

As for Christmas, no bloody chance. I’ve told mine we are not going mad this year and if there’s only two types of mince pie available instead of 22 then so be it.

purplesequins · 02/09/2021 06:10

we always have a few days extra food at home.
we had to isolate recently and getting a delivery slot was cumbersome and only available a couple of days later than we wanted (we usually shop in person).
at least we had a few things in the freezer and some extra tins.

daisychain01 · 02/09/2021 06:27

Sure, let's all create mass panic on here by comparing stockpiles and soon it will really kick off.

RoseAndRose · 02/09/2021 06:32

@Marchitectmummy

No way, there really is no need and let's face it stock piling last time didn't exactly go well for thr UK did it. I'm sure all of these stock piling people must end up creating food waste and that is maddening.

The people with stockpiles weren't the ones who went dashing out to buy up everything from supermarkets. Because they were already prepared, and have no need to panic buy.

Sparklingbrook · 02/09/2021 06:36

No I’m not. What’s the point of doing it really. I wonder if people are still working their way through the loo rolls/pasta/tinned tomatoes mountains from last year.
And Christmas isn’t that important to me that I’m going to be sorting it in early September.

makingmyway10 · 02/09/2021 06:37

No you are the reason shortages happen. Stop it please .

lannistunut · 02/09/2021 06:42

I usually have quite a lot of food in, but currently have been running them down as need to liberate the space prior to a kitchen change - doesn't feel the best time to do that!

The problem here in the UK is that we used to have a very effective 'just in time' supply chain which, for a variety of reasons including but not limited to Brexit, is not now functioning as well.

Agree people with existing stockpiles are the opposite of panic buyers.

FindingMeno · 02/09/2021 06:43

I'm all in favour of keeping a larder. I do.
So many reasons to.
But it should be a lifestyle not a sudden knee jerk bulk buy.
To put a positive in this thread, can everyone who has a larder/ pantry/'stockpile' go through it in the next couple of dates and donate anything they're unlikely to use to the food bank, and only keep what your own family likes and eats.
And can everyone in the situation of having a small stock be prepared to help out neighbours and friends.
The hgv driver problem is the end result of shite conditions and pay for years, which has resulted in it losing its appeal because its expensive to pass your hgv and often hard work and not very family- friendly.
Anyone who is into preparedness should also perhaps also take political interest in making sure that those people who keep the basics of our comfortable life running are rewarded fairly, if they don't already.