Looking at the 'stockpiling' threads..

[EinsteinaGogo]

Is there genuinely ANYONE who could afford to get a couple of weeks shopping into the house, who hasn't?

And if so, WHY?

At the height of lockdown I was supposed to be medically sheilding but was forced to walk miles every day (I don't drive) visiting different supermarkets trying to get food for my family of 6. Pride stopped me from registering my details with my local council to get voluntary help

That is dumb - unnecessarily putting yourself at risk because pride prevented you from accessing a scheme designed specifically for people like you

I could afford to get a couple of weeks shopping in.

I don't because a) I don't have much storage space and b) I do not see the need. Shops were not closed during the lockdown and there was nothing that I couldn't get.

If I had to isolate I have plenty of family living nearby who would be happy to fo a shop for me.

If I had to isolate I have plenty of family living nearby who would be happy to fo a shop for me

Apparently this is the height of selfishness, according to some preppers on this thread.

If I had to isolate I have plenty of family living nearby who would be happy to fo a shop for me

I'm an only child, single parent, both my parents are dead, my children are too young to go to the shops alone. What do you suggest I do? Should I get in some extras to tide us over as a family in case we have to isolate for 14 days? Might that be a responsible way of looking at it?

The level of wilful misunderstanding on this thread is and

Enoughnowstop the question was, why don't people do it. If you have family/a support network that will shop for you, that's one reason. Certainly that's my experience and plenty of my friend's experience.

I'm sure most people muddle through with a combination of extra bits in the freezer, friends and family and home delivery - I certainly used Amazon a lot for medicines, cleaning products and Monkey Shoulder whisky when I was incapacitated.

It's also a mindset. Running out of some foods I normally buy just doesn't bother me in the slightest. I don't have any kind of fear that we are going to be starving. If the worst came to the worst I have an air rifle and a vegetable patch (but no pantry )

SuperCaliFragalistic

Haha, hangover from the 70’s Country living, me too, my chest freezer is always full despite living 5 mins from a decent sized shop. Having said that it has come in handy in the snows, floods & lockdown.

@Enoughnowstop where did I say not to do that? You do what's best for your circumstances. The OP asked why people don't stockpile, I answered based on my circumstances. I don't care what you do.

I'm an only child, single parent, both my parents are dead, my children are too young to go to the shops alone

Then you need your 14 day buffer and also to try and cultivate a support network.

@Janevaljane bizarre isn't it. Seems like some people can't understand that some families are very close and don't mind doing favours for each other.

I have lots of pasta and tins, lots of loo roll in my cupboards. I’ve always carried a buffer cos I’m a single parent and it takes pressure off during illness or other tough times. When it was in the news that the shelves were bare of flour and loo roll and pasta, I couldn’t get an online shop and when Covid really felt quite scary, I didn’t need to go to the shops so I didn’t contribute to that pressure in the system.

It’s absolutely incredible that people can’t tell the difference between stockpiling to prep and panic buying

It’s absolutely incredible that people can’t tell the difference between stockpiling to prep and panic buying.

I'm sure they probably do, really, but it doesn't suit their narrative as they want to argue.

We have close family nearby (one household) but we're both taking responsibility for having a bit of a back-up, just in case the other household can't help for whatever reason. I'm sure friends would help, but I'd only ask if absolutely desperate, as they all have families of their own to consider.

Not sure if we are stock pilers or not, we always have a couple of boxes of tea & coffee in advance, always have a multi pack of loo roll in advance, same with milk (we use UHT anyway). We always have big bags of meat and veg in the freezer along with home made meals. We probably have dried foods that most don't including egg, but that's just us and being aware that my husband is the driver and I don't go out on my own. He doesn't do 'online', so it's a case of our being able to manage without going out if needed, nothing to do with Covid.

I don't think it matters what you call people who keep a big stash of loo roll! Someone's buying it, the supermarkets don't care if its preppers or panic buyers, they are making profits out of all of them!

It's all fiiiine. Everyone looks after everyone else.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/student-19-isolating-covid-19-19056169

[whispers: what if everyone you know is poorly]

I'm an only child, single parent, both my parents are dead, my children are too young to go to the shops alone. What do you suggest I do?

Leaving the stockpiling/panic buying/prepping/buying a bit extra out of it, have you checked if there a local group that can help out? We have a village network that helps out when people can't get out. It predates covid but proved a lifeline for many during lockdown.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with reasonable stockpiling in most circumstances. Obviously bulk buying a year's supply of loo roll when supplies are already running low is selfish but there has been plenty of opportunity since supermarket shelves got restocked to have a 2 week supply of non perishable stuff in your cupboards.

Some people have a strong local network and don't need to do this - that's fine, but other people do feel the need to and that's fine too.

I’ve been chucking a little bit extra in the trolley for the last 6 weeks or so. It never occurred to me that it was selfish to do so. In my mind I’ve avoided all sorts of problems to myself and others in the event of lockdown.

• won’t be taking up a delivery slot that would better serve an old person or a single mother etc.
• won’t be in the shops with countless others trying to get the last packet of loo roll
• won’t be in the shops at all for extended periods if necessary, reducing the risk I present of catching and spreading the virus (the whole point of lockdown surely)
• won’t be asking others to go to the shops for us (not too proud, we had to last time as weren’t prepared) so that’s more trips and opportunities to spread the virus that won’t be necessary

I’m obviously the absolute worst ever.

It's not selfish, but it might contribute to empty shelves as apparently it was people buying ' a bit extra' that caused this last time. I did it myself (bought 2 x of things) so no judgement from me!

But I’m talking buying a bag of pasta and a few tins ahead of time, not clearing the whole shelf. Shops can adjust supply with demand over time. It was the sudden surge in demand of everyone buying x2 or x3 what they normally do at the same time that caused the problem last time. The more people who prepare if they are financially and practically able, the less pressure there will be on the shops at key points.

I shop daily, even through lockdown. Doesn't matter how much food I bring in to this house, be it a days worth or 2 weeks worth, my teenage sons will eat it in 12 hours. One is ASD with a food obsession (got so bad at one point he was tested for Prader-Willi syndrome) & the others get in quick before ASD son eats the lot. I always have a few dry goods hidden away but that's it. If the streets were filled with zombies it'd still have to make a run for a supermarket every day.

GarlicMonkey

Self satisfied goady thread of I ever saw one.