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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:
daisychain01 · 01/10/2021 21:36

@Limejuiceandrum

I can’t believe people on here don’t understand the concept of panic buying
I can't believe how sanctimonious people are on here.
DrSbaitso · 01/10/2021 21:54

I can't believe how sanctimonious people are on here.

Are you new?

daisychain01 · 01/10/2021 21:57

@DrSbaitso

I can't believe how sanctimonious people are on here.

Are you new?

Yes comparatively speaking, about 10 years and counting Grin

It never ceases to amaze me though.

Allthebubbles · 02/10/2021 10:24

It's weird isn't it, I was not going to buy any fuel until we needed it but having driven 90 mins to see an elderly relative and passed 4 major services with no fuel yesterday, I did stop and fill up on the way back when I saw one had diesel as my husband has a long drive next week. I didn't technically need to fill up but I was shaken by the lack of availability and suddenly thought maybe this is a longer term issue. And now I'm cross with myself for panic buying.

nofuelshortagehere · 02/10/2021 10:30

Yes I think it is panic buying.

bumblingbovine49 · 02/10/2021 11:00

@SpiderinaWingMirror

I think we would all do better to just acknowledge that "panic buying" is just fundamental human nature and act accordingly. If someone said there's a bread shortage and posted some pic of empty shelves on line, the shops would be empty of it by the evening and yeast would be going for silly money on Amazon.
This is so true. It is human nature and berating everyone for normal behaviour is pointless ( I exclude those who fill Jerry cans in normal) I keep saying that we should have a MINIMUM petrol charge which will stop most people buying petrol until they actually need it They will fill up less often if every visit they have to pay a minimum of £40 ( or something) regardless of how much they actually buy. A maximum charge just encourages people to fill up more often not less often

You need to work with human nature not against it if you want to change behaviour.

DrSbaitso · 02/10/2021 11:05

I keep saying that we should have a MINIMUM petrol charge which will stop most people buying petrol until they actually need it They will fill up less often if every visit they have to pay a minimum of £40 ( or something) regardless of how much they actually buy.

How will that work for people who have to budget for less than that at a time? Or people who are on long journeys but with fuel levels just above the allowance when they have a convenient fill up point? Or people who start filling and realise too late that they weren't quite empty enough to reach the minimum spend? How would you check fuel levels before someone starts filling?

DrSbaitso · 02/10/2021 11:08

@Allthebubbles

It's weird isn't it, I was not going to buy any fuel until we needed it but having driven 90 mins to see an elderly relative and passed 4 major services with no fuel yesterday, I did stop and fill up on the way back when I saw one had diesel as my husband has a long drive next week. I didn't technically need to fill up but I was shaken by the lack of availability and suddenly thought maybe this is a longer term issue. And now I'm cross with myself for panic buying.
Funnily enough, I actually don't think of THIS as panic buying. It's a week after the pumps started going dry, you've passed four dry ones and you've got a long journey ahead.

I guess it really is hard to define!

takenforgrantednana · 02/10/2021 23:22

depends on where your going with the caravan really, as its only really the south east thats got a problem, up here in the north east we are just going about things as normal, no ques at all

takenforgrantednana · 02/10/2021 23:28

@DrSbaitso

I keep saying that we should have a MINIMUM petrol charge which will stop most people buying petrol until they actually need it They will fill up less often if every visit they have to pay a minimum of £40 ( or something) regardless of how much they actually buy.

How will that work for people who have to budget for less than that at a time? Or people who are on long journeys but with fuel levels just above the allowance when they have a convenient fill up point? Or people who start filling and realise too late that they weren't quite empty enough to reach the minimum spend? How would you check fuel levels before someone starts filling?

if your car has a 40 ltr tank, (most cars are about that) then you would wait until you are down to 1/8th a tank and then go and fill up. it doesnt matter if normally you would put £20 a week in it or £40 every 2 weeks, because your still going to be spending the same amount to get the same mpg.

it would be so much better if they would do the minimum £40 but what amazes me checking the live web cms for london where most of the problem is, is the sheer number of cars on the road! the city with the best public transport system in the country and yet they are all panicing about lack of availability of fuel! why? use the bus/train whatever and leave the car for when you really do need it

CurlyMango · 03/10/2021 19:30

I always let mine go to the yellow light going on. Then it might do 280 miles when full. Every care is different, would dream of filling up for three weeks time or when on3/4 of a tank.

TimeToChangePassword · 03/10/2021 19:52

Would you be complaining in a few weeks - when you want to go on holiday - and he hasn’t had the foresight to fill up when he can?

daisychain01 · 03/10/2021 20:55

@TimeToChangePassword

Would you be complaining in a few weeks - when you want to go on holiday - and he hasn’t had the foresight to fill up when he can?
Quite! Then the OP won't be slagging her husband off on MN, she'll be pleased he planned ahead, and not only that but filled up his tank on "cheaper" petrol. The news tonight is that petrol prices are going through the roof.

So, if I were you OP I wouldn't be so hand-wringy to your husband, give him some support and loyalty and thank him for thinking about his family, instead of wanting to throw rocks at him.

Never let a good deed go unpunished as they say....

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