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Original poster

Are you taking any steps because of the Ukraine situation?

616 replies

DetailMouse · 25/02/2022 09:16

The situation for those in the country is heartbreaking, I've sobbed at several news stories this morning and my heart aches for a Ukrainian friend whose family is still there.

On a far more selfish, practical level have you "done" anything to protect yourself and your own situation? If nothing else I can see an impending deepening of the financial crisis. A friend has taken all her money out of the bank, for example, but it's true she's prone to a bit of drama. Gas supply worries me a lot.

Is there anything we should be doing now to help a bit if the situation is prolonged or worsens?

OP posts:
TheUsualShitshow · 25/02/2022 15:56

That would be what I'd have to take out, right enough Grin

cheddez · 25/02/2022 15:59

crisis. A friend has taken all her money out of the bank, for example,

that will help!

cheddez · 25/02/2022 16:00

I would hope most people realise panic buying is unnecessary after covid.

cheddez · 25/02/2022 16:01

There'll be people in Ukraine now who wish they'd taken steps earlier.

what should they have done?

HomeHomeInTheRange · 25/02/2022 16:01

I am considering going back to work.

COVID ate my job, I had been saving like mad as I approach retirement age, and have been ekeing out my redundancy pay, trying to manage in the run up to taking my pension at state pension age late next year.

But my pension pot has taken a bit of a battering due to this situation. And it could well continue like that. I might not be able to afford to start using it as soon as I hoped. So might need to look for a job, any job.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 25/02/2022 16:02

@DetailMouse

I work in school and there have been discussions today (I'm not in work but in the emails) about how best to support children. We're seeing a lot of anxiety in students. It's not just on MN
But then surely the children should either be shielded from this or, if they're older, to have it explained to them in a way that they can understand so that they're not scared?

I remember seeing stuff on the news about the Iraq war and Saddam Hussein saying he was going to attack the west, and I was really scared. I was probably about 10. My parents put a stop to us watching the news (easier in those days, I know) but also explained why this wouldn't happen.

cheddez · 25/02/2022 16:03

If the shit hits the fan it's bright light & they we are all gone. If food runs out & money collapses then I'm not really sure having a fully stocked pantry will help. How will you fend off looters for one? 😆

RiverFlowers · 25/02/2022 16:06

The petrol stations local to us have people panic buying YET AGAIN - it's ridiculous. There is no shortage and if the prices do go up because of what is going on, unless these people aren't planning on driving anywhere - they will need to fill up again anyway?!

peboh · 25/02/2022 16:07

What are we meant to be doing?
Stockpiling groceries again, so those who have less money can't even buy pasta or toilet roll? Take all our cash out of the banks, so eventually banks run out? (They don't keep near enough physical cash to cover everyone doing this)
Stock up on fuel Cannisters for our cars?

All we can do is continue as normal, hope that things don't get worse and hope like hell that Putin gives up soon.

User5rh · 25/02/2022 16:07

People are filling up with petrol because if you leave it a tank will cost £5-£10 more at least, you can guarantee it will go up asap, any excuse, they walloped about 10p on it when it was the fuel shortages and it didn't come back down.

sonjadog · 25/02/2022 16:07

If hyperinflation sets in, her withdrawn savings will quickly become worthless.

The only thing I have done was fill up the car when I was out doing messages in town last night. I usually do it on a Sunday, but I thought if petrol prices do go up, then I'd be annoyed that I didn't do it there and then. I think that is about all I am prepared to do in preparation.

cheddez · 25/02/2022 16:07

@RiverFlowers clearly I spoke to soon!

BrightYellowDaffodil · 25/02/2022 16:07

@cheddez

I would hope most people realise panic buying is unnecessary after covid.
Also panic buying begets more panic. See also: The Great Loo Roll Shortage of 2020 and the Petrol Crisis of 2021. It will be the same if people start runs on banks/cash points and it often hits the poorest hardest who can't afford to stock up to mitigate flaky supplies or buy more expensive goods if that's all that's left or keep a little 'spare' cash. And it's almost always unnecessary because the supplies are there, they're just being used up faster than they can be replenished.

Such panics are almost always self-inflicted because people start to 'buy a bit extra' or 'fill up a bit early' and suddenly we've got queues down the block and everyone needlessly stressed.

Original poster
DetailMouse · 25/02/2022 16:09

@cheddez

If the shit hits the fan it's bright light & they we are all gone. If food runs out & money collapses then I'm not really sure having a fully stocked pantry will help. How will you fend off looters for one? 😆
Quite and if you'd read any of my posts you'd know I agree with you, but there's plenty of minor crisises that could happen in between here and "bright lights" where a full tank, emergency drinking water supply, good food stocks and a bit of cash might help.
OP posts:
cheddez · 25/02/2022 16:09

@BrightYellowDaffodil exactly

cheddez · 25/02/2022 16:11

@DetailMouse

Quite and if you'd read any of my posts you'd know I agree with you, but there's plenty of minor crisises that could happen in between here and "bright lights" where a full tank, emergency drinking water supply, good food stocks and a bit of cash might help.

Like what? What would you need good food stocks & drinking water for? And for how long?

sonjadog · 25/02/2022 16:12

"a full tank, emergency drinking water supply, good food stocks and a bit of cash might help"

Thing is, if there is a real shortage of these things, then you will be the first people to be looted. Those who stockpile these are working under the assumption that those around them will be looking on enviously without doing anything. In reality, there will be someone at your door with a gun/baseball bat as soon as real shortages start to be felt.

DSGR · 25/02/2022 16:12

No of course I haven’t

cheddez · 25/02/2022 16:14

@sonjadog exactly it's so bloody short sighted. Im excellent at archery & DH boxes, that's my prep 😆

caringcarer · 25/02/2022 16:15

I always have £100 in cash I keep in the fire safe. I'm not doing more than that. Has anyone seen anywhere where I could donate some money to people in Ukraine?

MintJulia · 25/02/2022 16:18

No. Only cutting down on use of gas but I was doing that anyway.

waterproofed · 25/02/2022 16:21

It’s not sensible to think about highly unlikely catastrophic scenarios. It’s an anxiety spiral. It won’t protect from nuclear obliteration or from a cyber attack. We’re vulnerable and we have to live with that vulnerability.

Worrying about not being able to access your money in the bank in case society collapses also missed the point that by then you’d have bigger problems anyhow.

Getting help for your anxiety, on the other hand, may mean your mental health improved and you get to live a life free from spiralling fears regardless of the global geopolitical situation.

Chakraleaf · 25/02/2022 16:28

Money would be useless. If the majority didn't have any then it wouldn't be worth having as you would get robbed.

User5rh · 25/02/2022 16:31

@RiverFlowers

The petrol stations local to us have people panic buying YET AGAIN - it's ridiculous. There is no shortage and if the prices do go up because of what is going on, unless these people aren't planning on driving anywhere - they will need to fill up again anyway?!
I only fill up about every 5 or 6 months, we don't all drive miles
ancientgran · 25/02/2022 16:33

Just been into town to pick up GS, no queues at ATMs, no one using most of the ones I passed. Went past 2 petrol stations, both were busy with maybe a couple of cars waiting for a pump but on a Friday of half term that is pretty quiet, seaside town with lots of visitors who normally fill up on a Friday before heading home. Locals avoid the petrol stations on a Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday morning due to queues.

So the panic doesn't seem to have hit the west country.