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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:
onelittlefrog · 02/09/2021 07:21

@lannistunut

I never understand the view that it is 'irresponsible' to discuss what is happening in the real world.

It is more irresponsible for the government to continue to ignore it to protect themselves politically! People's jobs are being lost - what we see in the shops is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of disruption.

It's not discussing what is happening though. OP doesn't want a political disussion about Brexit. They want to know if everyone is about to start running to the shops and emptying the shelves, and it is when people start discussing the idea of this that people then start worrying and it spirals out of control.

Irresponsible.

lannistunut · 02/09/2021 07:21

@Twentypast

Not stockpiling but I have a few extra bags of bread flour and packets of yeast. I've always made ny own bread. During lockdown people were buying these in case bread was sometimes not available and months later throwing them out as out of date and they had no intention or inclination to make bread.

Such a waste and so selfish when those of us who use them regularly couldn't get.

Yes we found this annoying too! We now keep twice as much flour as previously - but that was one additional purchase about 15 months ago just so we have double in stock - overall we are not buying more as we are eating at the same rate and our weekly flour purchase is the same as it ever was.

The extra stock means if it does go out of stock again, we will have time to shop around or wait for the next delivery.

lannistunut · 02/09/2021 07:22

@onelittlefrog

I think it is a fair question, personally. Clearly there is an issue in the country, people are going to discuss it.

Trillogy101 · 02/09/2021 07:22

No, because I understand how the supply chain works and how buying "just a few" extra bits and pieces messes it up! Also, I'm not a selfish prick.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 02/09/2021 07:22

@lannistunut

We may not have the choice - it may just be turnips - but there will be something. Well that is reassuring Grin
As long as it isn't just kale - that's my big worry. Grin
lannistunut · 02/09/2021 07:26

Oh there is always bloody kale isn't there @SchadenfreudePersonified Envy

Bluesheep8 · 02/09/2021 07:28

We're expecting online shopping to go berserk when the next Lockdown hits, with delivery slots rarer than hens' teeth. And we really don't want to leave the house

Eh? Confused

User5827372728 · 02/09/2021 07:30

It hadn’t even crossed my mind

stepupandbecounted · 02/09/2021 07:30

Of course not....some people really do need to get out a bit more.

Mindyourbusiness22 · 02/09/2021 07:31

If you don’t want items to run out, don’t stockpile!

borntobequiet · 02/09/2021 07:31

@Trillogy101

No, because I understand how the supply chain works and how buying "just a few" extra bits and pieces messes it up! Also, I'm not a selfish prick.
It doesn’t mess it up when the supply chain is working normally because stock is replenished immediately. Right now, with some levels of disruption, you’re partially correct. Those of us who are used to keeping stores of food for any reason - live remotely, are used to being snowed in, the well-advertised and entirely predictable effects of Brexit/Covid - will have got supplies in months ago, and are not selfish at all, just sensible and well-prepared.
stepupandbecounted · 02/09/2021 07:32

Sometimes I seriously wonder if I am living in a parallel universe.
Next lockdown - there isn't going to be one
Ocado slots - are plentiful
We really don't want to leave the house - what?

It is only on threads like this that you realise what a disturbing impact this pandemic has truly had on some people's mental health.

Bluesheep8 · 02/09/2021 07:34

If you don’t want items to run out, don’t stockpile!

But items aren't going to run out for stockpilers, just for everyone else.
Which they probably don't care about.

stepupandbecounted · 02/09/2021 07:36

I am de stockpiling if anything, clearing out the cupboards, spring cleaning, stripping out any tinned food and all unhealthy stuff aiming to lose as much weight as possible by christmas. The last thing I am thinking about is more pasta (that we threw out last time) and more loo rolls!

ifonly4 · 02/09/2021 07:39

I don't stockpile - I keep my prepping (in case) up to date - ie always have a couple of packs of toilet rolls, rice, pasta, cans tomatoes, pulses, longlife milk, as well as some coffee, tea, cereals and cleaning essentials. If I can't get something, I'm ok for a week or two that way and don't need to panic. I'm fairly careful anyway and I know we can cut back and manage if prices go up (we've lived on a very low budget before).

bumblingbovine49 · 02/09/2021 07:41

I'm not sure buying Christmas stuff now is considered stockpiling . Some on the Christmas threads seem to have bought everything by the end of August!!!..That seems to be called being organised instead Hmm

I think it's fine to get a start on Christmas buying early just don't call ot stockpiling on here because as you can see you will get a roasting .

I've also bought DS a load of clothes in advance of him starting college. He has more than he needs but I got extra.so I don't have to worry about it for the next 6 months or so. Is that stockpiling?. Maybe except it is how we always shop for DS's clothes

I also have at least 1-2 ( sometimes a lot more ) of staples I use a lot of in the house. That way I rarely run out of stuff that I regularly need . Is that stockpiling? I call it being organised

Keladrythesaviour · 02/09/2021 07:42

@DucksFlyTogether

No.

Stop it. It's not necessary, what are you really going to do with the £50 of extra tins in your cupboard in 6 months time...

Buy what you need, when you need it. Don't be selfish. Some low income families can literally only afford their weekly shop and can't buy extra. They need that food on the shelves, not in your Armageddon pantry....

Actually, it's more beneficial for people to do this now whilst products are plentiful and the supply chain is (relatively) uninterrupted. That way should problems occur and shelves become empty they can use their surplus, leaving the limited products available for those who can't afford to by in bulk. That and sharing/donation to food banks can occur should people wish to use their surplus in that way.

Saying that, I don't think it's necessary to 'stockpile'. We are lucky enough to be able to afford more food than we consume day to day, so I keep a healthy surplus of tins, dried food and a full freezer. We live rurally so it's always sensible incase we get snowed in, our car breaks down or one of us becomes immobile for any reason and getting to the shops is tricky. But I think anyone who can afford to keep some extra tins (including tinned vegetables and fruit!) should probably think about doing so.

I never take the last item on the shelf (unless I specifically need it) and I like to make use of the offers on products, especially tinned food, ie bogof. We eat and use in rotation and mix them in with fresh food etc. Get a bulk meat delivery from a high welfare producer once a month, but always buy a few extra cuts over what we need. Freeze almost all of it and just defrost as necessary.
Dried grains and pulses, pasta etc in sealed jars.

For some reason I never remember to buy multiple of household goods so constantly running out of toothpaste and shampoo Confused

None of this is prompted by Brexit or the pandemic or anything really, I just think it's common sense if you can do it. I'm very very controlled about food waste. I wouldn't do it if I found I was throwing stuff away.

User875906 · 02/09/2021 07:45

We always have a few months non perishables, cleaning consumables and frozen food in anyway, there are only two of us so we have plenty of room and use stuff quite slowly.

User875906 · 02/09/2021 07:47

It's sensible to buy some more general Christmas presents early to avoid the rush just before Christmas, best to do this each year not just this one.

NotQuiteUsual · 02/09/2021 07:48

I am, not because of any doom mongering though. I always start my Christmas stocking up now. So far I've got the chocolate tubs and goose fat. From now till Christmas I get at least one or two things so it's spread out. I'll start Christmas shopping too, there's good deals at the end of the summer holidays sometimes and DD has some specific OMG dolls she's asked for.

stepupandbecounted · 02/09/2021 07:48

There is a world of difference between being calmly organised and keeping stocked up in life, and panicking about the next delivery slots/next lockdown/cupboards crammed with pasta.

A world of difference.

EdithWeston · 02/09/2021 07:48

@Keladrythesaviour - what you describe is exactly what I'd call keeping a stockpile!

And I agree it reduces shelf-stripping panic buying

LittleBearPad · 02/09/2021 07:48

Did you happen to vote for Brexit OP…

As for the poster who can’t get a specific size of trousers in Sainsbury’s other shops are available.

EdithWeston · 02/09/2021 07:50

Oh, and Christmas shopping always starts in September (trade village at Burghley Horse Trials, unfortunately not happening this year though)

MrsLargeEmbodied · 02/09/2021 07:50

i hate shopping so have an online shop
my cupboards always have plenty of tins.

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