Is it actually selfish to stock pile?

[Orange89]

Now I haven’t gone crazy with the whole loo roll situation (I currently only have 2 rolls left) and have been doing my usual shops (average of 3 small shops a week) but it’s safe to say I’m focusing my food on long life semi-healthy foods I can store in the cupboard space we have. It’s a little more than usual but nothing crazy. All I’m hearing is stockpiling is a stupid move but surely and obviously more people are doing this than letting on as the shops are emptying. But surely this is purely practical move? I know this could face backlash from people saying some people can’t afford to stockpile (I can’t really either) but I’m talking high calorie, cheap alternatives instead of the fresh foods they’d normally buy. Or that demand can’t be met but I bet there’s another baked beans / rice / powdered custard etc to last a couple months... Just in case

@29ladylunchalot
That example of 14 bags you gave, this is what I ment in my post earlier, should not be allowed at point of paying.
Shops should put this in place via signs in Windows etc and ensure it is enforced at check out.
That way you g elderly etc all will have something
.

Yes, worrying about feeding my children during a pandemic is dreadfully self centred
Because you're the only special person with kids!

I went through a tough time 10 years ago and had literally nothing in the cupboards, until we got help from red cross it was terrifying to me being a single parent with 3 children, now times are much better and I do have plenty in the cupboards and freezer, so that if money stops coming in, or anything happened I would have food. This stock was built up over time, and as I use something I replace it on the weekly shop.

I am high risk as have chronic conditions, we are in lockdown now, shops still reasonably well stocked and I have store cupboard and freezer stuff, but I still slight anxiety that I havent done enough to prepare, still not going to shops panic buying though.

It is awful to see people loading trolleys with tray loads, boxes full and multiple pack of stuff depriving others, but I wouldn't want to challenge people loading their trolleys, those sort of selfish arseholes are the type who would turn nasty and aggressive.

I hope everyone who needs stuff gets it, happy to try to find and send stuff if people need it

@MrsRagnarLothbrok grateful we still have people like you amongst our society

We've gradually increased stocks since the news about Wuhan emerged. The supply chain can deal with that. We've bought things we use anyway, and not stripped away half the stock to deprive others.

DH is already working from home. There is so much speculation that schools will close in the near future. That puts more catering demand on my kitchen, not the school canteen and the cob shop near the office. It is prudent to consider that it is possible that if we fall ill, shopping will not be done as usual, so being more stocked up than usual is wise. We could be in a position of needing the children to cater for themselves with simple to prepare tinned/ oven food.

Because we prematurely went to Costco in February and updated our toilet roll supply, it's meant that I don't have to worry about finding any now it's scarce. Apparently the local Costco was stripped of it in the first 6 minutes this morning (according to the demonstrating lady).

For most of the items that are being panic bought, stocks are out there, it's keeping it on the shelves at present that is the problem. Panic-buying is ill-considered and impulsive, not considering how much is genuinely useful, and what is better to leave on the shelves. Gradually building a considered stock-pile has far less consequence to those who need to shop little and often.

Because you're the only special person with kids!
I never said I was. But oddly enough, I'm going to prioritise my own childrens welfare over that of other peoples, as would anybody else. No matter what some of the martyrs on this thread would say.

I've recently come back from America Florida and I work in the NHS do you think I should self issloute, and also with all this stock piling I have health issues a lot I have a low immune system and neurofibromatosis which affects the nerve systems and brain , before I went to America there was so much stuff left now there is nothing left at all there was no hand gel in Florida either they had all ran out please help what do you think I should do

@namechangetheworld you've got bigger problems likely to get you far closer to home than any virus.

namely, your stupidity and your ignorance.

good luck

@PenisBeakerDipper what a kind offer x

@GameSetMatch yes. My corner shop has lots in. In a way o feel safer popping there as usually only one or two other people. Although the prices are inflated (£3.50 for a jar of pasta sauce).

@namechangetheworld you've got bigger problems likely to get you far closer to home than any virus.namely, your stupidity and your ignorance.

Because resorting to name calling just screams intelligence and understanding, of course.

I am trying to avoid being out in the shops now, so when I did my weekly shop, I topped up non-perishables just to make sure we had a little supply for us, and to share if necessary. However, I'm talking about 2 extra pasta packets, a couple of extra tins and a few loaves of bread to freeze...i was aware that clearing the shelves, or shopping to fill out empty chest freezer is just a selfish thing to do at the moment!

Marks and Spencer’s made me laugh today - pasta aisle completely wiped out...except for the brown pasta 😂😂😂 like things are bad guys, but they aren’t brown pasta bad yet!

Also made me chuckle the photos on the DM of grumpy shoppers with trolleys piled high with “essentials” eg fizzy pop and crisps 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🙈

I always shop this way, as we are rural and have hungry teens, so I always have stores of food as a backup. Not for covid-19 panicking, but this is what I always have. I haven't done any recent stock piling, just my normal shopping (backfilling what we have used) but felt guilty with my shopping trolly piled high the other day - even though that is what it always looks like when I go shopping! I only go to the big shop once a month and then local stores for the fresh stuff every other day.

But it seems silly to let my stores go down at this point in time so I am keeping my stocks at their normal, slightly preppy, level.

DH thinks I am mad but that is normal for us too.

Of course it's selfish, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't like to think of anyone going without but I'm certainly going to prioritize feeding my children over some random elderly people down the street. I'm getting sick and tired of the pious 'people are being so selfish - think of the elderly!' posts on social media

nothing about what you've said deserves understanding and you are certainly in no position to judge anyone else's intelligence if this is anything to go by

I spent the same on my weekly shop this week as always - I don’t see there will be food shortages - 60% of the UK is fat so potentially having to scale down a bit is hardly a hardship

nothing about what you've said deserves understanding and you are certainly in no position to judge anyone else's intelligence if this is anything to go by

I'm interested to know exactly which part of what I said has riled you so much? The part about being worried about feeding my children during a pandemic? In an ideal world everybody would get their fair share of supplies to get them through this. But this is far from an ideal world. And if I have to prioritise my own children over other peoples families by buying a bit more food to put away than so be it.

@namechangetheworld read my original post on this thread to see why I'm so riled up. elderly 80 year old people going without who are immunocompromised (you know - the actual most at risk groups) unable to get what they want and children getting injured cos people are that desperate to get the last pack of toilet rolls.

but hey, as long as you and your kids have got things you'll probably not even need right

Bmputting 10 toilet roll packets in the trolley, or 9 large yoghurt pots, the whole box of noodles and pasta is definitely selfish. You do not need that much food or toilet rolls even if you had kids! If you run wash your bits with water and soap or use a washable cloth.

And yes we should be thinking of the elderly since the over 70s are heading to a 4month stay at home order. They should be prioritised to make sure they have got that much food right now.

selfish as fuck when I see 80 year old woman going round tesco unable to get the stuff she needs for her and her immune compromised husband because everyone else who dont actually need the extra and are doing it "just in case" when they're not even in a vulnerable group

sorry folks but dress it up how you want. if you are buying more than usual or more than you need you are leaving the vulnerable and the rest of society in a shit position.

Well said. I wish the supermarkets would stop the fucking idiots doing it, but then again they'd probably just travel to multiple shops anyway 🤷‍♀️ And selling supplies online for 4x their worth is fucking disgusting, absolute low life pricks!

@Cherrysoup
As I said upthread, I haven't 'stockpiled' anything - we can't afford it and don't have the space. I've put away three extra boxes of baby formula and three extra packets of pasta. But if I was in a position to 'stockpile', in all honesty I would, and completely understand why others are. It's very easy to say that we 'probably' won't need extra supplies or be confined to our houses for days at a time but the reality is that there's so much uncertainty surrounding this virus that nobody knows, and I would much rather be overprepared than under. Especially when it comes to keeping my children alive and healthy.

Whoops sorry random MNetter - that was meant for @cherrylovex3

We could do with some more bog paper. We've got some but will soon need more. There's none to be had in the shops I've been in although I haven't gone out hunting! I have an autoimmune disease and DH has Parkinson's. I suppose we'll be alright

@crispysausagerolls

Marks and Spencer’s made me laugh today - pasta aisle completely wiped out...except for the brown pasta 😂😂😂 like things are bad guys, but they aren’t brown pasta bad yet

I noticed this too! Very funny 😂

But if I was in a position to 'stockpile', in all honesty I would, and completely understand why others are

I'm alright jack...... so fucking selfish.