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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask how you’re preparing for Brexit?

999 replies

CircleSquareCircleSquare · 13/03/2018 15:54

There is so much uncertainty surrounding what will happen with trade deals and goodness knows what else, that I’m starting to wonder about making some sensible plans.

We have put a stop to some planned works we wanted to do to our house, we have downsized to one car and we grow a small amount of veg. We keep some stocks of food in the house but we have a large family so I never feel like we’d have enough.
We have discussed not taking a holiday this summer and DH is taking every training course possible at work in order to diversify his skills should his industry go tits up.

I’m wondering what decisions you’re making in your homes for what could possibly be a really uncertain time for a few years.

OP posts:
falcon5 · 16/03/2018 07:15

I really mean for the purposes of this thread. There's lots of other brexit threads but this one was about what people are doing to prepare right now. Does it mean your answer to that question is "nothing. Because i think we shiuld be focusing on stopping the outcome"

Peregrina · 16/03/2018 07:21

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. A person can try to stop the direction May seems hell bent on taking us, whilst at the same time trying to make preparations should the worst happen.

Apart from tightening our belts, we haven't done a lot - we haven't laid in stocks of tinned food, for example.

Icomehereseekingpeas · 16/03/2018 07:22

Brexiteers with their ideas that people should "chill out" "calm down" and "wait and see" - don't you feel in the least part worried over what the future might hold, or do you normally live your lives leaving everything to chance?

Genuine question.

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 07:25

I think a lot of people are concerned but it's hard to know what people are supposed to do about it. Do you usually live your life thinking that you have so many choices the problem is picking the right one?

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 07:28

We've moved savings
We've cancelled our holiday
We've applied for citizenship of another country
We have made sure we have globally transferable skills

Not many people can do any of these things.

If you can't, the best thing you can do for your own mental wellbeing is to remain positive.

FaithHopeCharityDesperation · 16/03/2018 07:42

*Brexiteers with their ideas that people should "chill out" "calm down" and "wait and see" - don't you feel in the least part worried over what the future might hold, or do you normally live your lives leaving everything to chance?

Genuine question.*

I honestly don't feel worried.

Wrt living life leaving everything to chance - not everything, no.
I have plans etc, but none are rigidly set in stone - I'm always ready to adapt & overcome.

I've learned the hard way that the things you were most certain of can change in a moment - I focus on the things I do have control over, and am at ease with the notion that everything is half chance in the end.

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 07:59

We've moved savings
We've cancelled our holiday
We've applied for citizenship of another country
We have made sure we have globally transferable skills

Should have made it clear that these were quotes from other posts. We haven't done any of these things!

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 08:00

I've learned the hard way that the things you were most certain of can change in a moment - I focus on the things I do have control over, and am at ease with the notion that everything is half chance in the end

Absolutely agree.

Icomehereseekingpeas · 16/03/2018 08:04

@Tralalee no I usually pick the most logical option that will cause little to no ill effect

Icomehereseekingpeas · 16/03/2018 08:12
  • We've moved savings We've cancelled our holiday We've applied for citizenship of another country We have made sure we have globally transferable skills*

This above doesn't apply to me as I have little savings and I can't apply for citizenship elsewhere.

Fortunately for me I have a fairly 'safe' vocation which looks set to stay that way for years - but you never know what could happen in the meantime. I've no doubt there will be the effects of Brexit upon my place of work but I'm hopeful my role is safe. Nothing happens in a vacuum though does it?

There's very little I can 'plan' for wrt to leaving the EU bar the obvious tie down my mortgage and overpay.

I think we will be throwing a lot away when we leave the EU and I am struggling to see the positives of it. Many people feel this way which is why they are taking steps such as the above to mitigate the risk. There's nothing wrong with being risk averse and equally there's nothing wrong with taking a calculated risk. Brexit is far from a calculated risk. Self-destruction springs to mind.

Quickerthanavicar · 16/03/2018 08:13

I would take citizenship in another country if I could.

falcon5 · 16/03/2018 08:24

I don't have any rights to citizenship of another country as things are now... but has anyone else looked at moving now on eu basis and then trying to stay long enough to get indefinite right to remain / citizenship?

falcon5 · 16/03/2018 08:24

Any other European country.

Icomehereseekingpeas · 16/03/2018 08:30

It amazes me people don't feel worries about a lack of a deal I.e. hard Brexit.

How I'd love to live in that bubble but my conscience won't allow it

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 08:58

It's not a 'bubble' peas

It's a knowledge that there is nothing that can be done. Some families have more pressing worries.

I think if you habitually find yourself catastrophising about things outside your control then CBT is very helpful.

Talkstotrees · 16/03/2018 09:00

No deal is impossible, because of Ireland. The only option is Customs Union (the or a) and Single Market. Brexit is a pointless waste of money and energy. We’ll end up with less influence (and effectively, reduced sovereignty) and we will still have FOM. Hopefully, if we pay enough, the EU will still help out our deprived regions in some way. What a mess.

TatianaLarina · 16/03/2018 09:00

Brexiteers with their ideas that people should "chill out" "calm down" and "wait and see" - don't you feel in the least part worried over what the future might hold, or do you normally live your lives leaving everything to chance?

They’re not worried because they haven’t remotest idea what’s ahead.

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 09:01

Nor does anyone tatiana

TatianaLarina · 16/03/2018 09:09

Many if not most have a much better idea than you of the options and their consequences.

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 09:11

Reading this thread properly it does seem that people who have very well paid jobs and large city mortgages who are crapping themselves.

I suppose it makes a change!

falcon5 · 16/03/2018 09:12

Well I'm not catastrophising. I'm reviewing my options over things I do have control over right now which are making choices to move or not because of the uncertainty around what will happen. And yes... I could be hit by a bus tommorow and spending time thinking about this could all be a complete waste of energy. But if anyone else is looking at any options it'd be really interesting to hear them too.

TatianaLarina · 16/03/2018 09:15

Maybe they know something you don’t, those people who pay everyone’s benefits.

Ignorant Brexiters who have spent zero time engaging with the issues assume that nobody knows because they do not.

Unfortunately your schadenfreude won’t last. Those with the least income, most dependent on public services will suffer the most.

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 09:17

Why would they know more than anyone else?

Tralalee · 16/03/2018 09:21

What do you know tatiana? You can't possibly know! Even the powers that be have no idea how this is all going to work out. You may think you know, you may think you OUGHT to know. But you don't and can't.

AgnesSkinner · 16/03/2018 09:24

Even the powers that be have no idea how this is all going to work out.

Which is the problem in a nutshell.