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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:
LindaEllen · 02/09/2021 09:52

Fucking hell, no.

It's ALWAYS sensible to have plenty of food in the freezer/cupboards to cover perhaps two weeks if you couldn't get out for whatever reason. But that's always, not just now.

Other than that, don't be so silly.

Thebookswereherfriends · 02/09/2021 09:54

I’m not stockpiling, but I have bought my daughter’s main present already, as I’m confident she’ll still want it in December and I am slightly concerned that it may be difficult to get things like toys as easily.

PattyPan · 02/09/2021 09:54

@stepupandbecounted

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!
Why did you throw pasta away? It doesn’t go off Confused
vodkaredbullgirl · 02/09/2021 10:01

Bread flour, bog roll, hand sanatiser, tinned food, dog food. Grin

vodkaredbullgirl · 02/09/2021 10:02

oh ffs I forgot the pasta i'd best get to the Asda ASAP.

ThickAndTired · 02/09/2021 10:15

I always have food in the freezer and cupboards because I cook a lot and only shop once a week. I am not stockpiling.
I buy household paper goods online in bulk because it is easier, not because I am stockpiling.

Shortages in shops might be a bit more noticeable, not all shops and not all at the same time, however, at the end of every season, every year I have been aware that items run out on the shelves and then the new season items appear.

Panic buying because a certain flavour of Pringles is sold out is stupid, it is more than likely that there will be new stock for Christmas when all the greedy buggers will be filling their trolleys will 50 packs of crisps, 200 boxes of various chocolates, and a million cakes and raiding the freezers for 15 turkeys, just in case someone else wants to buy something and they want to get in first.

Start a thread about something that happens every season and start a panic...

swg1 · 02/09/2021 10:24

Those people who are very insistent that "there will always be food" be aware that for quite a large minority of people that isn't an option - and it's an ever growing number with the current NHS woes.

I can't eat high carbs - my blood glucose is wonky. I need lots of fibre and lots of protein or I get migraines and my prediabetes gets worse. Currently that's lots of salads, cheese, eggs and meat but I'd be an idiot if I relied on fresh salad always being available. Could I risk letting it lapse? Not a clue, NHS is out of blood vials, not taking the chance.

My friend needs her gall bladder out. NHS is on its knees. Can't eat fat or it brings on an attack.

My other friend gets really ill if she eats gluten. Last time gluten free stuff vanished - and that wasn't solely due to stockpilers, I had supermarket deliveries where the bread I ordered wasn't available so they "helpfully" gave me gluten free. She stockpiles or she starves.

I don't even have that wide a social circle. People with medically required diets aren't exactly rare.

Tyredofallthis1 · 02/09/2021 11:31

Here's the thing...

I've got a voucher for 10% off gluten free pasta at Morrions with the Morrisons More card. I am gluten free because I get ill if I eat gluten.

Before the plague, I would have gone large on this. In fact, I used to buy a year's worth of pasta during Tesco's Coeliac week. I don't know what to do now. I'll probably buy a couple of bags, but we can easily get through two bags a week.

Gluten makes me poorly. I am worried that I will have to get a load of the stuff in.

PattyPan · 02/09/2021 11:38

The NHS isn’t ‘out of blood vials’, they are a bit short and prioritising their use. I’ve literally just had a blood test 10 minutes ago.

Inim · 02/09/2021 11:41

If you think there’s going to be a shortage of food why would you hoard it? Do you think other people don’t need to eat!?

YetAnotherSpartacus · 02/09/2021 11:50

I don't call it 'stockpiling' but I always make sure that I have plenty of the basics - the three pasta varieties I use, rice (LOTS of rice) canned and dried beans, canned tomatoes in various forms, baked beans, different varieties of flour, yeast, butter, at least two months supply of all medicines, cheese (LOTS of cheese) emergency dried milk, 130 rolls of loo paper, 30 boxes of tissues, spices (bought in bulk and I roast, grind and blend them myself), etc.

Thing is I have always done this and I learnt from my mother who was born in the 1920s, saw the depression and the war and rationing and we grew up poor. If something was reduced/on offer she bought it and froze it or casseroled it if it was meat or stored it if not. It was what you did if you were poor but not 'living for payday' and it gave you a few extra for luxuries.

I've never understood people who buy toilet paper, kitchen towel and tissues at full price and who don't have a good stock of everything in case of emergencies!

Neverrains · 02/09/2021 11:51

I've never understood people who buy toilet paper, kitchen towel and tissues at full price and who don't have a good stock of everything in case of emergencies!

I have nowhere to put it. Very small fridge and freezer, and no storage space.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 02/09/2021 11:52

If you think there’s going to be a shortage of food why would you hoard it? Do you think other people don’t need to eat!?

Oh Lordy. Do we really need to explain this again?

Those of us who maintain large stocks when there is plenty won't need to run screaming if there is a shortage. We are being the responsible ones.

GintyMcGinty · 02/09/2021 11:52

No

MolyHolyGuacamole · 02/09/2021 11:54

No because I don't have the privilege of earning enough to be able to

Those who are stockpiling should be mindful of this

YetAnotherSpartacus · 02/09/2021 11:54

I have nowhere to put it. Very small fridge and freezer, and no storage space

Fair enough. I used to be like that. I used the top of my wardrobe, and under my slat bed and every cupboard was carefully crammed.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 02/09/2021 11:55

Those who are stockpiling should be mindful of this

How will us not 'stockpiling' help you?

MolyHolyGuacamole · 02/09/2021 11:59

@YetAnotherSpartacus

Those who are stockpiling should be mindful of this

How will us not 'stockpiling' help you?

Because those of us who live from week to week won't be able to buy any loo roll or pasta when they've all been hoarded 🙃

Did you miss the whole drama of last year?

YetAnotherSpartacus · 02/09/2021 12:03

Because those of us who live from week to week won't be able to buy any loo roll or pasta when they've all been hoarded

Really? You are so totally missing the point. This was explained by many last year. Those of us buying NOW are not the problem. Stock can currently be replenished. It is if it can't be replenished later and/or if there is a rush later (when we don't need to join in because our stocks are full) that those who are worse off will be affected. We are actually helping you and not hindering as it was explained ad infinitum last year.

playmelikeasymphony · 02/09/2021 12:04

I’m usually housebound for a week or two most winters - wheelchair user who doesn’t drive and snow/ice not always a good mix. So at that time of year I tend to keep to one in use and one in hand of certain key things that have won’t go off. Marg, cheese, washing up liquid, washing powder, lemonade, cookies etc. And a few emergency bits in the freezer. Since covid I’ve done that year round. But otherwise, no.

swg1 · 02/09/2021 12:05

@PattyPan

The NHS isn’t ‘out of blood vials’, they are a bit short and prioritising their use. I’ve literally just had a blood test 10 minutes ago.
Right. They've stopped routine blood tests. Which includes for pre-diabetes.

I am ironically really incredibly lucky that my blood glucose decided to go completely off the charts wrong in March and I pestered for an early blood test then when I realised I wasn't feeling right (despite some "but you're not due - but okay" from the GP). Because I'm high risk and meant to be on annual checks... and my usual check is August. Right now all checks from my surgery are delayed by at least a month.

I was really miserably not right in March (and had been a while but was blaming it on pandemic depression). I am doing better now through application of a fairly strict diet. I am honestly fairly nervous about some parts of that diet vanishing off the shelves because I would really rather not return to Too Tired To Get Off The Sofa land.

Arrowheart · 02/09/2021 12:06

@MissCruellaDeVil

No because I'm not a selfish arse who drives the prices up.
This
YetAnotherSpartacus · 02/09/2021 12:08

How is buying now, as many of us have always done, when there is plenty of stock, driving prices up?

Arrowheart · 02/09/2021 12:09

@NannyAndJohn

All Christmas shopping done, a couple of months worth of food stocked up in the cupboards and freezer.

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.

Do you also keep all your negativity stockpiled too for when happiness and hope goes berserk?
Horehound · 02/09/2021 12:11

Nope, if anything my cupboards are on the emptier side because I can't be bothered going shopping! 😂

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