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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How much of this extra bread and milk bought because it was forecast to snow will be binned

53 replies

Fomm · 10/01/2026 14:41

Do people chain eat when it’s snowing?

I ate roughly the same amount of calories yesterday as I normally do.

I bet a lot of the extra milk and bread will be chucked. As don’t have the space to freeze

99.5% snow here gone just a few bits where people cleared snow from cars.

OP posts:
ChuisEpuisee · 10/01/2026 18:40

scalt · 10/01/2026 18:36

I blame the Mumsnet "Preppers" board, and the bright spark in government in 2020 who decided "the only way to communicate with the public is to frighten the pants off them".

It really is pathetic the way this country shuts down for the tiniest dusting of snow, or ordinary summer sunshine, which then becomes "HELP!!! MURDER!!!" EXTREME HEAT!!!! CLIMATE CHANGE!!!! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!". My Facebook feed has been full of "extreme weather alerts" for the last few days.

The country doesn't shut down for the tiniest dusting of snow though, does it? Most people take sensible precautions if extreme weather hits, that's it really. And if you don't want to see overdramatic clickbait, I'd advise getting off Facebook - it's literally how it makes its money.

Fomm · 10/01/2026 18:41

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 10/01/2026 18:21

This is like when Covid first hit and posters were complaining about the people stockpiling and how they would eat all the food. Then sainsburys put out the data and it equated to the average shopper spent an extra £20 a week at the height of food shortages - easily covered by the extra food needed from people who had school dinners /bought coffee shop sandwiches for their lunches near their offices now being at home all day. The biggest change was people who shopped daily or every other day suddenly buying enough for a whole week in one go. That change in shopping days not the overall quantity was what fucked up our supply chains. (Toilet roll was different- that was people being silly)

Those people who have the space and money to buy and store a week’s shopping plus topping up store cupboard items but decide to buy every two days. That’s a more expensive way of buying food. I buy the packs of 6 chicken breasts and divide them into two lots of two and two lots of one breast. As it’s about £1.50 cheaper than buying 3 lots of 2 breasts. I live alone. The packs of two breasts I make a chicken pasta meal which the other portion I eat 4-5 days later and is in the fridge.

I have friends that have money and space for store cupboard items. They buy what they need for that night’s meal plus around 2-3 items you buy weekly, monthly etc. such as milk, jar of coffee, breakfast cereals. They didn’t learn from Covid and still buy daily. There is very little in food outside what they eat for their evening meal

OP posts:
DyslexicPoster · 10/01/2026 18:42

I bet most people have a turkey size space in the freezer right now. I freeze bread and milk but don't need to right now nor did I stock up. We eat what we buy, I don't go out in the snow. I don't rush for the shops when snow is predicted either. I have cartons of long life milk always and I have yet to see snow cut our area off for more than a week in my adult life. I'm lucky that we aren't buying day to day to live. I can live of what I have at any given time. Not everyone does.

hohahagogo · 10/01/2026 18:43

I bought no additional food because I’m aware that I live in a town in England with supermarkets and those supermarkets will be stocked with food for the single reason that is profits, supermarkets exist to sell food for profits. My in laws live rurally in Scotland, they have a chest freezer and always have extra bread, uht milk and ingredients to bake bread in because they do get cut off, they also have a diesel guzzling landrover that they only tax through the winter for said occasions. The people who now are throwing stuff away obviously didn’t need to worry!

yorkshiretoffee · 10/01/2026 18:45

I don't understand this at all. If people bought extra, surely that was to see them through a few days of snow?

If it didn't snow, they can still drink the milk and eat the bread in the same amount of time but without the snow.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 10/01/2026 18:49

JamesClyman · 10/01/2026 18:33

Who are these people who binge buy bread and milk? I've never met one.

I’ve also never met one. I have, however met older people who are unsteady on their feet and nervous about driving in snow/icy conditions, who when the weather forecast predicts snow/ice, go get enough stocked up so they don’t need to go outside for a few days.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 10/01/2026 18:51

I’m happy that it’s nearly clear near you. It’s still thick snow and ice near me with no cars going up and down the road.

carolina55 · 10/01/2026 19:43

Bread and butter pudding coming up

scalt · 10/01/2026 20:10

All this reminds me of this passage from the Famous Five book "Five Go Adventuring Again":

"If this carries on, we shall be completely snowed in, like we were once before. We couldn't get out of the house for five days then. The milkman couldn't get to us, nor the baker. Fortunately we had plenty of tinned milk, and I can bake my own bread."

And in the same book, when they are indeed snowed in, the police arrive on skis!

Clefable · 10/01/2026 20:13

Terrribletwos · 10/01/2026 14:58

Agree. Where i am the empty shelves are because the deliveries are late due to the weather.

Same here. Disrupted deliveries and people having to change their shopping habits because they can’t get to their usual shop or get an online order. It only takes a small change in shopping habits to disrupt supply chain as supermarkets run a very lean stock model to minimise waste.

sprigatito · 10/01/2026 20:16

What a fucking bizarre thing to get exercised about 😂 other people’s grocery shopping

Next time I come home with my shopping bags full of bread and milk (because we don’t drive for medical reasons and I don’t like skidding on ice with arthritic knees) I’ll be sure to look out for vengeful neighbours crouching behind their net curtains and hoiking their bosoms about my probable lack of freezer space!

HeddaGarbled · 10/01/2026 20:18

Alright, judgy knickers - if only everyone was as perfect as you.

Alltheyellowbirds · 10/01/2026 20:27

It is indeed a bizarre thing to feel superior about, but I’ve seen a lot of it on Mumsnet. Not preparing for bad weather seems to be a badge of honour.

FuzzyWolf · 10/01/2026 20:29

Most people have freezer space. I’m also not sure most people stockpile for it to be an issue and I would have thought the minority who did and who don’t have freezer space would have the thought process of eating or drinking it so it’s not wasted.

WhineAndWine1 · 10/01/2026 20:29

@Fomm why are so concerned about what people do with stuff they buy with their own money ?

Cat1504 · 10/01/2026 20:32

Fomm · 10/01/2026 16:44

I have only a freezer as part of a fridge freezer. Never I have room for bread and milk. It’s full of meat, vegetarian stuff. I don’t have frozen veg as I’m not keen on the texture of cooked frozen veg. Got tinned carrots, sweetcorn, peas etc

Not everyone has sheds, garages, outbuildings etc with a freezer

Most people have a bigger freezer than you….even single people

Scottishskifun · 10/01/2026 20:32

We are on day 10 of yellow and Amber warnings.

You may only have to scrape the car meanwhile NE Scotland is a different story. We keep milk, bread and a winter store of dried and tinned goods for a very good reason. Usually its storms in my area rather then deep snow but same applies.

Most people will freeze it!

OldGothsFadeToGrey · 10/01/2026 20:33

You would hate my pantry. If ww3 breaks out I’m good for a few months.

Although I’m short on bread and milk. Better buy some and freeze it.

Chinsupmeloves · 10/01/2026 20:36

We freeze it or give to the birds, no waste, not that we binge bought anyway. Xxx

SixDozen · 10/01/2026 20:46

Fomm · 10/01/2026 16:44

I have only a freezer as part of a fridge freezer. Never I have room for bread and milk. It’s full of meat, vegetarian stuff. I don’t have frozen veg as I’m not keen on the texture of cooked frozen veg. Got tinned carrots, sweetcorn, peas etc

Not everyone has sheds, garages, outbuildings etc with a freezer

Well, if you don't have freezer space for anything else then you probably shouldn't buy anything else that may need to be put in the freezer.

I'm going to assume that those who bought an extra loaf of bread and/or bottle of milk are probably going to consume them before buying any more because they bought enough to see them through an extra couple of days in case the snow prevented them getting to a shop.
I'm also going to assume that other people are just as aware as you are of how much freezer space they do or don't have, and buy groceries accordingly.

Mossstitch · 10/01/2026 20:47

Don't need freezer space.........just stick it outside🥶🤣.

singthing · 10/01/2026 20:54

Am I missing something? It just gets eaten and drunk doesn't it?

If you bought more than usual to last you in case you are stuck at home, then you just...don't buy more till what you have runs out? It's not like you are forced to buy xyz item regardless of what you already have?

Or do some people really buy more than they can physically consume before it goes off (with no way to freeze or preserve it)? If so, why are they shopping alone because they must be very stupid.

AffableApple · 10/01/2026 20:56

Fomm · 10/01/2026 18:41

Those people who have the space and money to buy and store a week’s shopping plus topping up store cupboard items but decide to buy every two days. That’s a more expensive way of buying food. I buy the packs of 6 chicken breasts and divide them into two lots of two and two lots of one breast. As it’s about £1.50 cheaper than buying 3 lots of 2 breasts. I live alone. The packs of two breasts I make a chicken pasta meal which the other portion I eat 4-5 days later and is in the fridge.

I have friends that have money and space for store cupboard items. They buy what they need for that night’s meal plus around 2-3 items you buy weekly, monthly etc. such as milk, jar of coffee, breakfast cereals. They didn’t learn from Covid and still buy daily. There is very little in food outside what they eat for their evening meal

This whole thread is very bizarre.

You seem to think you've cracked shopping. Got news for you, not everyone will save money shopping like you do. People will even *gasp *save more than you doing the opposite.

Some people have more freezer space than you. Some less. You say you didn't buy extra bread and milk? So... maybe people without room didn't buy extra? Or they deliberately used them up quicker? White sauces, sandwiches, cereal for breakfast, bread and butter pudding? Or they didn't buy all those chicken breasts and had ample room?

GalaxyJam · 10/01/2026 21:02

Who bought extra bread and milk? I saw a thread about preparing for the storm but they were just talking about getting things in that they would have bought anyway, just earlier so they didn’t have to go out in the storm. Sounds sensible?
We had quite a lot of snow, then it was -4 overnight last night so the ice is treacherous. I’m glad I didn’t have to drive to the shops today, I saw a few cars skid down our hill.

Laserwho · 10/01/2026 21:15

Health wise I carnt walk in the snow and ice. I bought extras like bread, milk etc. They will be eaten. Id rather buy extra then risk an a@e visit by risking the walk in bad weather. Now pull you neck in.