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?

Well done. You have just bought items you would usually buy in 2 weeks time, now. Multiply that action by many people and the last person that rocks up to buy has no bog roll for this week.

The Supply chain can't cope with this sudden change- not because there's a shortage (your items for next week will arrive in store-next week) but because it can't keep up today with the new demand. Then everyone panics and so it goes on.

We've literally just learned this 101 lesson in the last lockdown. On our local pages posters pleading for loo roll as genuinely needed, cue lots of replies 'I've got an extra pack you can have, I was amazing and bought loads'. What good citizens 🤦‍♀️

If factories stop being able to produce food on a global scale- I suggest stockpiling might be wise. But if that happens we're so beyond screwed, I doubt an extra loo roll and spag bol will help much.

You're not avoiding the problem - you literally are the problem.

I don't understand why the vulnerable would be a consideration in an individual's shopping habits. That would just mean going against human nature - every man for himself. The vulnerable aren't my problem alone so what I do will make no difference.

@AuntPeggy

Well done. You have just bought items you would usually buy in 2 weeks time, now. Multiply that action by many people and the last person that rocks up to buy has no bog roll for this week.

The Supply chain can't cope with this sudden change- not because there's a shortage (your items for next week will arrive in store-next week) but because it can't keep up today with the new demand. Then everyone panics and so it goes on.

We've literally just learned this 101 lesson in the last lockdown. On our local pages posters pleading for loo roll as genuinely needed, cue lots of replies 'I've got an extra pack you can have, I was amazing and bought loads'. What good citizens 🤦‍♀️

If factories stop being able to produce food on a global scale- I suggest stockpiling might be wise. But if that happens we're so beyond screwed, I doubt an extra loo roll and spag bol will help much.

You're not avoiding the problem - you literally are the problem.

Well done you, @AuntPeggy , if you think being prepared is a NEW thing. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

it is selfish in the middle of shortages to go out and deliberately clear shelves, depriving other people of supplies just because you haven't prepped.

this is a bizarre statement.
If everyone just conintued to buy what they needed according to their normal pattern, then there would be food for all.
me going and doin my normal shop is not depriving people because I haven't prepped.
My rushing out and panic buying/clearing the shelves woudl be.

My point is - don't need to prep, and don't need to panic buy.

Can afford to but there is no need. Have continued to shop weekly and topped up fresh food as and when required. No plans on changing routine.

Do people really think that consistently having about 2 weeks food in over a 30 year period is some kind of panic buying stockpile depriving the elderly of loo roll.

There are something’s I always buy in bulk or if on offer I will buy extra.
Loo roll, kitchen roll, cat food, bottled water and cleaning supplies I will usually buy in bulk to last at several months. Meat and veg I buy weekly and have a few extras in the freezer from yellow sticker items and supermarket offer. I was lucky on the last lockdown that I had done a large bulk shop of staples just before lockdown so we survived fine on small tops ups from local shops. I could even offer loo roll to a few friends who struggled to find any.
I have since replaced what we used and should we go on lockdown again It will just be a repeat of before.

Youngest child born in the winter of 2009, when it snowed for weeks , since then I have always had a bit of a stash, not loads and loads but enough to not need to leave the house for a good few days

I think its more of a grey area than people realise. Obviously deliberately buying in 40 packs of toilet paper is a dick move... but there are perfectly rational reasons people might buy more than they would normally and where do you draw the line?

I'm a LP and a don't drive so if I was forced to self-isolate I'd be in a bit of a tough spot... got thinking about this last week because the son of a friend who lives locally was sent home from school for a fortnight - entire class is self-isolating due to a COVID case. It dawned on me then than if this happened at my DD's school I would be stuffed if I couldn't get a delivery -- can't go to a supermarket for a fortnight.

So I then block booked some Ocados with a higher than usual order of staples: toilet roll and pasta among them.

Now wondering if I've accidentally tipped over into stockpiler territory. Not deliberate but just aiming not to get put in a tricky position.

I can't be the only person doing this...

We have, but it certainly hasn’t been depriving others of groceries. We have been buying a couple of extra tins/ a extra bag of flour etc for several months now. We also popped to an Asian supermarket a few weeks ago and bought large bags of lentils and rice to put away.

I can afford to but was fine in March so not bothering, we had to re arrange our meal plan sometimes as couldn't get certain things but not the end of the world. I went shopping today and did grab 3 ready meals for each of us to stick in the freezer just in case we have to self isolate at some point, those along with other bits in the freezer could see us through 5-7 days whilst we waited for a delivery.

‘this is a bizarre statement.
If everyone just conintued to buy what they needed according to their normal pattern, then there would be food for all.
me going and doin my normal shop is not depriving people because I haven't prepped.’

People don’t buy following their normal patterns because the situation is different. In a lockdown people are at home more so need to buy more food to consume at home. After Brexit there may be food shortages due to import issues. During any kind of panic some people will panic buy, regardless of people telling them not to.

Prepping in advance takes pressure off you as a household and the system as whole when it is periods of sudden change.

Yes, could afford to but haven't, can't even get surface wipes or anti bac soap a lot of the time over the past several months when I try, and it annoys the hell out of me. I am not going to become one of the arses that annoys me, by stock piling and adding to the problem.

Me. There’s no need to. There’s enough food for everyone if we are not selfish.

We always buy an extra tin or packet of non-perishables with every shop - to go in the "Brexit box". But if we end up using it before that because of Covid lockdown, so be it and we'll just have to take what the year-end throws at us...

I have prepped, I have also stocked up on loads of Gin.....

I have learnt from the last Lockdown that having 4 Teenagers, home schooling, and working from home in need Gin.

Toilet roll who needs it.

I haven’t stockpiled but I always have well stocked freezer and cupboards anyway. My family could probably live for about 4 weeks if we couldn’t leave the house. Might be a bit mismatched and plain near the end though.

(I thought it was a normal amount to have in til I read some threads on here)

There’s no need to! Usually I prep to the high heavens, but the shops were fine at the last lockdown: so I assume they will be this time. Have food in the feeezer and various tins as I would normally, but not doing any extra purchases

We could afford to but we don't because we eat mainly fresh stuff. However I do have an extra pack of loo roll, some pasta, ice pops, bleach, cereal/ porridge but not for covid reasons just because I've always done that due to past experiences of being snowed in / stuck in with sick kids when dh is abroad etc.

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I could afford it but don't have the space.

I do as PP mention and rotate weekly depending on our needs (toilet roll and kitchen roll this week, laundry stuff next week, cleaning products the week after)

Although we've just been forced into a 14 isolation (couldn't get a test) and had I not already had my delivery slots in place, we'd have been fucked so I'm mindful to have some supplies in.

@steppemum you're missing the point completely of prepping.

I buy as much as anyone else on a weekly basis, just to replace what I've used during the week before, but because I have a prior stash of food and toiletries this means I have enough at home that if needed I can go 6 weeks without visiting a shop.

If in the middle of a shortage I went out and bought 6 weeks worth of food that would be selfish as I would be depriving other people for my own benefit.

Buying and stashing when the shops are able to easily and quickly refresh their supplies has no impact at all on the supply chain. Buying and stashing when shops cannot refresh their stocks leaves shelves empty.

@EinsteinaGogo being prepared isn't a new thing, most people have some kind of stock in their cupboard. But radically changing buying habits to buy lots of specific items of shopping today is stockpiling - to put 3 family packs of loo roll in today rather than over your usual 6 weeks/whatever. And everyone is so keen to point out their individual circumstances that make them exempt from this but it's the cumulative effect of stockpiling that is precisely the problem! It's not a problem if you do it usually, it's a problem because we all do it suddenly!

This was literally seen first hand in the last lockdown.

Why would I?