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Covid

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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Coronavirus Shopping

263 replies

Clarepwheatley · 28/02/2020 21:04

Is anyone stock piling yet for coronavirus. I got a few bottles of Calpol this afternoon and some ibuprofen but wondering if I should stock kitchen cupboards. Daily Mail is getting me into a panic !!

OP posts:
alittleprivacy · 29/02/2020 12:51

I’m a single parent so stocked up with a few things today in case we need to self isolate. Tinned soup/ pasta/ beans/ tinned fruit , pasta, dried noodles and rice, part baked rolls/‘long life wraps, long life milk, pasta sauces, biscuits (of course!) and a few other bits and pieces. I’ll get some freezer stuff another day. I’m not a worrier but I just want to have a small stockpile in a self isolate situation. If it comes to nothing then there’s nothing I wouldn’t use anyway so nothing will go to waste.

Same here. I had flu in January and was mostly bed-ridden for 5 days. It really is a good idea to have a couple of weeks worth of food in the house. I've bought lots of tins of fruit, beans, tomatoes, soup, rice pudding, spaghetti hoops, tuna, lentils etc. Extra packs of pasta, noodles, couscous, oats, tea & coffee, including those latte sachets in case I can't get milk. I'm picking up paracetamol every time I'm in a shop. I'm planning to grab a case of Coca Cola, I never normally drink it but when I'm sick it settles my stomach while staving off any caffeine withdrawal. I've picked up some iron, vit C, D and B complex supplements. I've a stash of nice chocolate. I have a lot of bags of frozen fruit in the freezer already and I'm planning to get some more freezer stuff like pizzas and breaded chicken breasts on Monday. I also need to stock up on potatoes, some long life dairy, juice and dog food.

I have some new books and games for DS to keep him happy if we're stuck at home for an extended period. A few plans for exercise if we have to isolate while well. Lots of little projects we've been meaning to do for ages but haven't gotten around to ready to go. I've a few ways to exercise the dog in the garden planned if necessary. And who knows, maybe I'll finally get around to doing all the jobs I've been ignoring around the house. I've even bought a few nice beauty treatments and epsom salt bath soaks in the optimistic hope of taking advantage of a bit of me time. Or making myself feel more human as I recover if I get sick.

I just don't see any drawback to being ready for an enforced stay at home while potentially ill. All of the food will be eaten over time if we never have to stay home. One of the things that's becoming more and more clear in recent days is that with a virus like this we have to be 50% selfish and plan to avoid or minimise or own infections risk and the severity of how it affects us. And 50% selfless as we avoid posing a risk to others in case we are infected. Being ready to hole up if necessary is both of those things. I'm ready to make my life as easy as possible while protecting DS, myself and everyone we'd otherwise be in contact with.

Willow2017 · 29/02/2020 14:04

Its basically taking responsibility for yourself not relying on someone else to bail you out in any life event where you can't do your normal shop for any reason.

KahlanRahl · 29/02/2020 14:11

Remember swine flu? I worked in a hospital abroad at that time. It wasn't a problem in the patients. The problem was that so many staff got the flu that we dodn't have enough staff and had to turn away sick people, sick children, labouring women and cancelling operations. It was a huge problem for the city that I was in because not all sick people could get help anymore. This virus is not just about you, it can severely disrupt society in other ways.

glueandstick · 29/02/2020 14:15

I forgot the fucking bourbons.

If I’m being forced to be in close closed contact with my 4 year old for two whole weeks I’ll need more biscuits.

unchienandalusia · 29/02/2020 14:22

Just added gin and tonic to the weekly online shop. Phew. Now I feel ready for anything.

Fr0g · 29/02/2020 14:43

Ordered a litre of rubbing alcohol from Amazon so that I can refill the hand spray that I have already.
Have a stock of catfood that I built up pre-brexit.

ManonBlackbeak · 29/02/2020 14:48

Jesus Christ. Now the DM are comparing it to 'a medieval plague' (sic).

I think I've heard it all now. Utter bloody madness. Im just waiting them to mention the Spanish Flu now..

Fr0g · 29/02/2020 14:57

@glueandstick - bourbons?

Forced to be in close closed contact with my 4 year old for two whole weeks I’ll need more biscuits No - go for bourboninstead.

bellinisurge · 29/02/2020 14:59

I actually had the same lightbulb moment yesterday about bourbonsGrinGrin

joffreyscoffees · 29/02/2020 15:25

Well we've spent £50 today on top of our normal shop on things like pasta, rice, long life milk, soup, beans, pasta sauces, biscuits..

I hope we don't need it because, frankly, even a day trapped inside with 19 month old DD would be tortuous, but it's there if we need it and we'll eat it all eventually.

vhs95 · 29/02/2020 15:56

I've stocked up on my favourite wine (on offer in Tescos) and chocolate..... how long it will last, who can tell?

Milkwith1sugar44 · 29/02/2020 16:24

Tesco was heaving today. Some wearing masks.

HasaDigaEebowai · 29/02/2020 16:25

Lots doing stock up shops in Lidl this afternoon. One family had two trollies, the first was filled with tinned tomatoes and pasta, the next had long life milk and water

LeggyLinda · 29/02/2020 16:34

Not really classed as stockpiling, but I did buy some suntan lotion I don’t need in anticipation of flights and holidays becoming cheaper. I already noticed that you can get 7 days all inclusive in Cyprus with BA for less than £100 and DH has seen a weekend in Venice for £39.99 total (flights and hotel!!). Totally tempted to book summer hols now while they’re “giving” them away. But holding out for even better deals as the panic escalates.

I am a little annoyed that shop shelves seem to be a bit bare at the moment. But that just encourages me even more to visit another (preferably warm) country that uses facts instead of scaremongering when it comes to coronaflu

Oysterbabe · 29/02/2020 16:34

Looking at my tesco app, a lot of the things like multipacks of tinned beans and tomatoes are showing as unavailable.

DesLynamsMoustache · 29/02/2020 16:50

Surely buying some extra bits and bobs now is the very opposite of panic-buying? Panic-buying is what happens when people aren't prepared and something happens to disrupt the supply chain, so people panic and rush to clear shelves because they think they won't be refilled and they haven't got anything saved at home.

In this case, the sensible thing to do, if you do want to take precautions, is to buy some extra bits and bobs with your weekly shop while the supply chain is fine.

user127819 · 29/02/2020 16:53

Lidl was hectic today. It always is on a Saturday but today was worse. The food cupboard aisles were emptying fast too.

MarshaBradyo · 29/02/2020 16:58

People are stocking up. Sainsbury’s was very busy today and some empty shelves.

Hahaha88 · 29/02/2020 17:06

I don't know where you guys with manic Shops and empty shelves live, but apart from basic paracetamol (I had to pay for more expensive ones grrr) my Aldi had fully stocked shelves. Which is surprising for a Saturday afternoon as it is

Snowdropdelight · 29/02/2020 17:07

I think people facing the public should be issued masks and gloves, handling money, people sneezing, spitting at them and so on its not fair.

Mummyoftwo91 · 29/02/2020 17:10

@HasaDigaEebowai you quoted part of my post that's why, also I think your very paranoid, dont most on a public forum if you don't want it to end up on the daily mail, it comes hand in hand with being on here, sad but true, telling them to fuck off wont deter them lol anyway go back to your fort made of tins of soup Grin

Mummyoftwo91 · 29/02/2020 17:12

I work frontline nhs so I wouldn't say I'm overly concerned but I don't think prepping does any harm, but I do worry should the worst happen what would happen to people in society who couldn't afford to prep, didn't have any extra money too ect

MarshaBradyo · 29/02/2020 17:13

Not a huge amount of empty shelves I should say, just a few items out of stock. That would normally be there.

catsandlavender · 29/02/2020 17:52

Never thought I’d see the day but I have actually done a larger than usual Asda online shop with a lot of tinned and non perishable food, along with bleach, disinfectant and hand sanitiser. I work in a school so I’m in contact with a lot of people every day.
I hope I don’t need any of the stuff but I’ll use it all anyway. It’s probably the cost of a normal food shop for a lot of people but DP and I are very frugal with food and usually only spend around £20 - £25 every week for the two of us.

Doginahat · 29/02/2020 19:55

I would like to point out that you can get gin on prescription, so you don't have to leave the house for it! Always good...

I have a code for £20 for the first box so feel free to PM me if you want it Wink

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