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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to call dh a panic buyer?

163 replies

Knitwit101 · 29/09/2021 09:12

We have a small electric car we use every day. We have a massive diesel car we use for long journeys with all 5 of us plus dog, and towing the caravan.

We are taking the caravan away on 16th October. Nearly 3 weeks away Large car has half a tank in it, we've no plans to use it, might take it on a 20 mile round trip next weekend if we all go out for the day, probably will just take the small one because its rare for all the kids to want to come out with us now.

Dh went out last night and filled up the tank so we have a full tank for going away in nearly 3 weeks time. Then was lecturing the kids this morning on the stupidity of panic buying when we were listening to the radio.

I said he was a panic buyer, he got quite offended and said he was just being sensible and planning ahead. But we didn't need that extra fuel, we're not going to need it till maybe 15th October when we get organised for going away the next day.

He's a panic buyer, right? He's contributing unnecessarily to this nonsense at the petrol stations then ranting on about the idiots who cause fuel shortages.

OP posts:
thinkfast · 29/09/2021 22:23

We didn't panic buy petrol. We re now very low. Can't find a garage nearby with any to fill up. DH works for ambulance service and will struggle to get into work next week if we can't find some...you DH is sensible.

BoredZelda · 29/09/2021 22:46

Why does it matter? He’s done it now. You aren’t going to change his mind, are you just looking for the satisfaction of people here saying you are right?

DrSbaitso · 29/09/2021 22:57

@BoredZelda

Why does it matter? He’s done it now. You aren’t going to change his mind, are you just looking for the satisfaction of people here saying you are right?
Well, to be honest, the thing that annoys me about this story isn't that he panic bought. It's that he is lecturing the kids about the stupidity of panic buyers while panic buying himself.
Rainbowsew · 29/09/2021 23:08

I'd say panic buying if you don't need it for 3 weeks. That's what panic buying is its people hearing the news and thinking I'd better get some "just in case" but because everyone does it the same time, the demand outstrips supply. Unfortunately most of these "prepared" people only see the problem in those filling drinks bottles and carrier bags with petrol or the 200 loo rolls in one go not in themselves.

My mum went on about the loo roll buyers in the first lockdown and then got huffy when I told her she was one of them as she had about 50 in the house!

FrozenoutofCostco · 29/09/2021 23:09

@JasonMomoasgirlfriend I get 220 miles on a full tank! 🤣🤷🏼‍♀️

FrozenoutofCostco · 29/09/2021 23:12

@JauntyJinty

I was talking to my friend at the weekend who explained how as soon is it came on the news he filled his van up, then went home to get his car and fill it phoned his wife if fill her car and finnished off saying he had to "because of all the bloody panic buyers"

Everyone thinks everyone else is a panic buying idiot and they're just being sensible and prepared amidst the panic!

as soon is it came on the news he filled his van up, then went home to get his car and fill it phoned his wife if fill her car and finnished off saying he had to "because of all the bloody panic buyers"

PLEASE tell me you pointed out his hypocrisy 🙏🏻

BogRollBOGOF · 29/09/2021 23:54

I heard the term "surge buying" this week which is a better description. Less judgement.

In his case, I'd be holding off for a couple of weeks hoping that supply and demand would catch up by then and if not, trying to get some with a few more days notice than usual.

I was on one bar on Friday when events kicked off. I normally fill up at that point and it then keeps me going for two weeks. I needed to refuel by Monday, so headed out late on Friday when the worst of the chaos settled for the evening. I weighed up doing a half fill, but if things weren't calming down (and they're not quite there yet) that might have made getting caught up a second time more likely. Plus there was a chance of overnight deliveries.

I've not significantly changed my usual habit, but it would have been foolish to end up on red assuming I could fill up easily on Monday morning at the start of my journey.

BoredZelda · 30/09/2021 00:04

Well, to be honest, the thing that annoys me about this story isn't that he panic bought. It's that he is lecturing the kids about the stupidity of panic buyers while panic buying himself.

Even with that, he clearly isn’t going to change his mind, what’s the point in going on about it.

In his case, I'd be holding off for a couple of weeks hoping that supply and demand would catch up by then and if not, trying to get some with a few more days notice than usual.

Or, you could wait three weeks and prices rise even more, adding to the cost.

Notashandyta · 30/09/2021 00:06

You're policing your own husband for getting petrol

What a mad world

Dillyjones72 · 30/09/2021 07:34

He’s the very definition! People buying what they don’t need now because other are panic buying is literally the definition of panic buying!
Everyone thinks that they have a good reasons and are the exception… that’s the problem….

londonrach · 30/09/2021 07:37

Didn't realize that there still an issue with petrol..loads in my large town and no queues. He was panic buying but no need for it as it's not really an issue now unless you read the daily mail who now saying there be no Christmas now...

dearfanny · 30/09/2021 18:19

My OH is the same. We would'nt normally need fuel until early next week but he saw the queue at our local station was fairly small on Tuesday so jumped in and filled up. He waited 10-15 mins

I called him a panic buyer

Whyareblokesonhere · 30/09/2021 18:42

so many idiots, yes idiots.

I have deviated from my normal routine is that panicking. yes, yes it is and it just adds 'fuel' to the flames.

so so many idiotic and selfish people

purplebunny2012 · 30/09/2021 19:05

Yep, he's a panic buyer. Everything should be resolved by the time you go

Neonplant · 30/09/2021 19:09

Of course he's panic buying.

DrSbaitso · 30/09/2021 19:16

It might be selfish but it's hard to argue that it's idiotic. If the purpose is to ensure that you have fuel or bog roll or whatever when there's none left to be had, it works very well.

Etherealhedgehog · 30/09/2021 19:21

Urgh all these people buying fuel for trips in a few weeks time and justifying it as not panic buying. I'm probably going to miss an old friend's wedding this weekend because we don't have enough to get there and back and can't risk getting stranded. If you behave like this now the problem WON'T be sorted in a few weeks because they'll never be able to deliver enough fuel to keep up with the perpetually elevated demand. Thanks a bunch.

PurBal · 30/09/2021 19:23

@MyCatDribbles

If he made a special journey to fill the car up unnecessarily then yeah he is a panic buyer
Agreed. If it doesn’t sort itself out I’ll have to miss a family funeral. At least during lockdown I was able to attend funerals.
Mamanyt · 30/09/2021 23:19

Nope, and in fact, cars have better fuel mileage the fuller the gas tank. As the tank empties out, more and more fuel will vaporize to fumes to fill up the volume of the tank above the liquid. With a fuel-guzzler, it is more cost-effective to keep that tank full.

Margerine78 · 01/10/2021 10:22

I'd say slightly panicky, I'm running out of fuel but I'm waiting for the craziness to pass before topping up as I don't need the car for a few weeks. Doing it now means it's on his mind for sure.

Tinpotspectator · 01/10/2021 11:01

I think generally there is too much judgement. Our local Facebook page is stuffed with it, despite knowing nobody's circumstances.

I put £15 worth petrol in my car on Wednesday (not even diesel) because I don't need to drive much at the moment, and a van driver behind me starting yelling at me about whether that was bringing me to a full tank. It wasn't, as it happens. But FFS.

Mollymoostoo · 01/10/2021 18:03

**This is so bizarre to me. It literally takes five mins to buy fuel.
200 miles is nothing. 400 miles you'd still get on a whole tank so to have a rule of no less than 3/4 it's crazy to me

Depends on your car. Mine is a ford KA so wouldn't get 400 miles out of 3/4 tank. Where I live petrol stations are still closed so it isn't that easy. That said I leave my car till it is on empty so we were screwed.

Floomingfootball · 01/10/2021 18:16

My OH did the same on Saturday. Drove around for ages to get petrol ‘just for the week’. We both work from home and still got nearly a full tank sitting outside.

Limejuiceandrum · 01/10/2021 18:26

I can’t believe people on here don’t understand the concept of panic buying

DrSbaitso · 01/10/2021 18:30

@Limejuiceandrum

I can’t believe people on here don’t understand the concept of panic buying
I can. I bet if you asked everyone who was draining the pumps last week (at a point when they wouldn't usually be filling up) if they were panic buyers, almost all of then would say no.

As has been amply demonstrated by OP's husband and others on the thread: I'm planning ahead and being sensible. YOU are panic buying!

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