..to say Homestead Prepping Lite is not Doomsday Survival Prepping. So here's some non-panicky ideas

[bellinisurge]

I'm a general prepper so I know about this stuff. It's my "hobby", if you like. Best case scenario is it all goes away and is nothing. We all want that but it might not be like that. Next best case scenario is two weeks boring self isolation. Yes, you can ask your pals to bring you food but this pal has their own stuff to deal with. I'll help you up to a point as long as I'm not required to self isolate too. Next best case scenario is a general lockdown in your area when nobody can bring anyone anything. No one in your house is poorly but there's only so much TV you can binge watch before you get hungry or need a wee or do other hygiene stuff. This is where homestead prepping lite comes in.
You don't need to worry about utilities going off etc but you do need to eat. You probably have stuff in your freezer and cupboards but enough for two weeks. Frozen sweetcorn and spaghetti for breakfast, anyone?
And bog roll? Yes, there are general prepper approaches but who's got time for that shit if you aren't a prepper? You need to get extra but where to store it? Get a hold-all. Take the bog roll out of its packaging, squash each roll down and pack it in there. Yes, you might lose some on the outside of the roll, they'll look a bit bumpy but it's better than a bog roll wall in your bedroom. Or rejig your drawers to make space.
I'm not a medic, I am over 50 with an underlying health problem so my situation is different to you regarding getting poorly. Follow general advice about good hand hygiene and eating well to boost your immune system.
I hope the worst that happens is you get bored. Don't beat yourself up about being concerned. And stop willy waving about how it's all nothing to you and everyone else is being silly. Take back control of this situation and don't give in to hype either way. There's loads of great advice on here.

Having a few cans of beans and cartons of uht milk in a stock cupboard is a little different to some of the utter batshit behaviour posted on preppers thread.
Not sure why the 'preppers' are at all worried about coronavirus, they've been stockpiling bog rolls and pain meds since Brexit was announced.

Fucking mental
But someone who seems to actively seek.out this kind of thread just to throw insults is a calm balanced individual?
Do you go on the xmas threads which start in January and throw insults at people who 'prep' in advance by buying things in the sales or on offer?
Do you slag off people spending £300 on xmas food in november to be prepared for any visitors?
Nothing on these threads affects you so why are you so invested in ridiculing them? I suppose it makes you feel smug in your little ivory tower?
Jog on.

Another person chuckling at the idea that while Poppy on MN is on lockdown decluttering the guest room Dave the delivery driver is still merrily delivering her organic asparagus and therefore the idea of chucking extra loo roll in your weekly shop is SO silly.
England's food delivery service is called 'just in time' for a reason.

I actually think it's fairly sensible to have some extra non-perishable stuff in at the moment. We've bought a bit extra of the stuff we usually buy, so it'll get eaten regardless, but just means that if we do struggle to get to a shop (we live fairly rurally) or are unwell, it makes life easier. I think it's generally a good idea to have a stocked store cupboard anyway, regardless of what's going on in the world (if you can afford it, obviously). Stuff like pasta and rice always gets used.

I'm retired, visually disabled - so can no longer drive - childfree and no family

So of course I prep for illness, not just COVID-19, or being snowed in etc
because I've noone else to rely on if I get ill or quarantined

For me, it's just about looking ahead to take responsibility for my own future welfare,
just like in the past I put aside money for pension and savings, which is benefitting me now
Or like I have house and bike insurance

As an Aspie, I'm very picky about what I eat and how it's mixed togather
When I'm ill or confined to my flat is the absolute last time I want to be trying foods I don't know or like

So, I'd normally have 2 weeks supplies of what I know I like to eat & use, which I've now extended to 6 weeks.

That avoids me struggling to the shops if I'm not well,
or competing with crowds of people who may be stripping the shelves

That's common sense, not doomsday prepping.

What did I miss? I was out doing fun family stuff because I don't need to worry about any short notice requirement to self isolate or to be in an Italy style lockdown?
Maybe I'm just fucking mental 😂😂

Not a 'prepper' here. Well, not as such, but I do have chronic health and mobility issues and am frequently housebound for long periods so do tend to make sure I have enough of certain stuff in, 'just in case' (my main worries will be around the lack of fresh fruit, and certain veg really).

Anyway, seeing the post by a pp upthread mentioning taking meat out of the packaging to free up freezer space, I'd just like to add that a cheap vacuum sealer is a godsend for freezing anything like meat, fish etc to make more space in the freezer, but also really useful for anything you make yourself, ie marinated meats, extra portions, breaded and seasoned fish/chicken. You can also use it for any pre/part prepared veg such as roasted root mash, roasted veg...anything really. Maybe apart from soup though, think they may end up being sucked into the machine and creating a very irritating mess to clean up 😁 Most people probably already do this, but pouring more liquidy sauces, soups, leftovers into freezer bags (bad for the environment, I know, but you can get reusable ones, or whatever your preferred alt to plastic bags is) whilst they are stood in any type of container before freezing in said receptacle, and then when frozen take it out of the container so that it's frozen into a handy shape that'll take up less room than storing in the container would.

Didn't realise this would be such a rambling post! Apologies! ☺️

For bread substitutes I've got cream crackers - the aldi version. They cost about 30p a pack & have a really long shelf life.

I bought some pre-brexit to see if the kids liked them in packed lunches etc & they have been really sucessful. Spread with peanut butter, marmite, cheese, soft cheese, jam etc.

I've buying extra of things like dishwasher tablets in case food prices rise & I have to prioritise sensible stuff!

Oh, and obviously vacuum packing will also extend the freezer life of your food too. Lidl/aldi often have the vacuum packets in for about £20, probably could find them cheaper if you scour the internet/amazon. If you have any straws still leftover in the house, if you don't have a vacuum packet you can always use a straw to suck the air out of ziplock type bags as a normal too bad' alt to a machine.

*packers, sorry.

@PhantomErik - excellent idea.
@Whatwaswrongwiththatusername - I have a vacuum sealer and actually never thought of doing that. Thanks.
@Allmyfavouritepeople that tickled me

Nah, bellini
Most other MN preppers seem sensible enough too

Strange that it infuriates a few pp though, that some folk prefer to plan ahead

@Snoopdogsbitch Why are you so angry?

BigFrenzy no infuriating, where did you see that? Amusement.

Des I'm not angry at all. Really, I'm just amused. Willow was rude so I answered.

@BigChocFrenzy , some people do seem very triggered by the idea that maybe the world doesn't revolve around them. Hey ho.

@Snoopdogsbitch , I think calling someone's suggestion "fucking mental" is the dictionary definition of rude.

It's stuff I'll use anyway, so no downside for me in prepping

but if I'm ever confined to the house, I'll be grateful of it

Last Spring, I had bad hay fever - trees, grass & Rhine just outside my door - but prepping meant I was able to recover indoors for 10 days because I had everything I needed

Nobody is saying you can't have an opinion but coming on a thread you obviously have nothing in common with and telling people they are all fucking mental isn't much of an informed opinion.
its just slagging people off for the sake of it.

Nothing on this thread is fucking mental. No mention of aliens or Armageddon just normal people doing normal things. Just because you dont do it doesnt make it wrong. It has no affect on you whatsoever so why all the aggro?

Me too trying. Reminds me of some of the Brexit threads where there was always one who was like, why prep, just go to the takeaway.

I'm with @Snoopdogsbitch on this one. I really am that people are stocking up on stuff. In my little world it is quite crazy.

Crack on though if it makes you feel better. Whatever floats your boat!

Dipshit bingo, anyone? We've already had people who buy extra tins are causing panic and nobody I know is prepping because obviously I'd be the first to know if they did. Any bets on the next one?

I actually think this is pretty sensible to be honest. I’ve never thought about buying extra for anything before - didn’t have a Brexit stockpile, for example - but my shop this weekend is definitely going to include some extra bits like pasta, tinned soup, cat food, etc, so tips from this thread are quite helpful!
I only really started to think about this yesterday - my company banned international travel a couple of weeks ago and yesterday extended that ban to travel within the UK. I don’t think there’s any harm at all in being prepared for the country going on lock-down, no matter how unlikely you think that eventuality is.

Snoopdog
I live in London, I travel by crowded public transport regularly, I have two children in school who also travel by public transport etc. DH is often dropping and collecting friends from the airport.
How likely to you think it is that we can avoid all exposure to Covid 19. I think there is a reasonable probability that we will get it at some point.
Buying a bit of extra bog roll and some tins is hardly running around in a tin foil hat.