AIBU to think my friend is overdoing emergency stockpiling?

[bagpuss90]

I get that we have been advised to stock up on essentials, though I think it will encourage panic buying. I will probably get a few days worth of stuff at some point . My friend however has, at least in my opinion gone ott about it. She’s stocking up a six month supply of food. She’s bought head torches, a camping gas stove and various other stuff. She thinks I’m being naive …Am I missing something here ?

Six months is excessive, imo. We're well prepared for approximately a month; a lot of stored water, gas stove and canisters, food, medications, wind up radio/charger, torches etc. But I haven't and couldn't afford to prep at that level for a full six months. The idea of being prepared is for an emergency of days, maximum possible a week or two, to ease burden on resources in an emergency. Anything beyond that and we would obviously be in a full war situation which most average households cannot prepare for.

I have head torches. So much better than hand torches.
6 months is tad too much for everything...

If it all goes to shit where 6 months food is needed, then those who have stockpiled will just be attacked and robbed by those who haven't.

She’s a rookie! The clever stockpilers keep it very quiet so no one else knows on the event of a societal breakdown!

If she’s got the space then why not? It provides security.

She's gone Full Prepper. Silly woman.

How many people in her family?

I have around 8 months supply of food and water and underground facilities off
-grid if needed. I think it's just being prudent and hope others prepare similarly. Good luck to everyone!

Just her!

My parents are Mormons and they always have a store cupboard for emergences but the church is ramped it up to the extreme. I think it was covid that changed it. So I know if there is ever an emergency I just need to find the nearest Mormon, or go visit my parents 😀I think it is a good idea to have a small stockpile just in case, but I will not be panic buying.

She's become a proper prepper.
Is she a happy human proper prepper, or a pesky paranoid proper prepper?
The former is fine, the latter is lamentable.

Oh right… so won’t be be a vast amount by any stretch of the imagination
Just smile and change the subject of it bothers you

She wouldn’t have broadcast it if she was a “proper prepper”

Take it you live quite rurally and have lots of storage space?

Very true. Whilst I'll post about it anonymously I don't actually tell anyone IRL...!

Well she's protecting herself financially here.

Food prices ARE going to go up over the next twelve months.

This year's harvests have been dreadful and the cost of fertiliser has skyrocketed so yields next year are going to be bad too.

Even if there's no disaster we might all be wishing we'd done the same!

Loving the alliteration here!

She's a proper prepper who's failed fantastically. 😂

I’d say the latter

I haven't a thing. This thread has made me think I should.

My husband is a bit of a conspiracy nut so Im surprised he hasn't mentioned doing this.

Yes certainly. We have been lucky in that aspect

I haven't got got enough food in to last this week, let alone months !

Well, it’s inevitable if governments start creating panic where none is needed. We are not going to starve to death - there might just be temporary shortages of some goods.

In the normal course of events, it makes sense to keep a supply of batteries, torches etc and a pretty full food cupboard. It’s pointless stocking up freezers, as they’re also warning of power outages. 🤷‍♀️

A week to 2 weeks worth is really sensible as long as you only buy things you use anyway, rotate and replace. Additionals such as gas stoves, purchase and usage of which have caused a bit of a stir on other similar MN threads, some of us already had and just bought extra canisters for. My store of food includes things we use or will use, eg tuna, sardines, pasta sauces, pasta, cereal bars, full cream milk powder, soups, tomatoes, potatoes etc. Extensive stock of normal pain relief, pet food etc. Water we have a large store.

If she has the capacity to do this, then where’s the harm? She should have kept it quiet though. A stove, torches and dry/tinned food makes sense.