Are you a panic buyer?

[Insideimsprinting]

Just that really. I would Just like to know why. There are lots of threads about people finding it ridiculous and not being able to get their normal shop, we're being told there is no need so why have you done it? Can you explain your panic, fear? Especially since its not happening across the board with all food stuffs andjust certain items.
Why toilet roll and not washing up liquid, shower gel etc, why pasta but not pasta sauces c why beans but not tinned soup etc

"Someone posted on another thread about how her mum had been a “prepper” and what anxiety it had given her in later life. "
I'm a general prepper and am pretty confident to say that prepping is not about anxiety.
I shop as normal but don't need to because I have a fully stocked pantry and have had for well over a year. I built it up bit by bit.
I can now focus on important things like my family's emotional well-being because the logistical stuff is pretty much sorted and has been for months.
Only today, I was helping dh help his anxious Mum and Dad (both in their 70s). They have the buffer we bought them in case of No Deal Brexit and are generally self reliant types but are both upset things have come to this.

My parents were WW2 kids and we were a big family therefore a kitchen creaking with food is the norm - so I always have stacks of food. My BIL used to tease me when he would fall over bags of pasta and rice on the kitchen.

Panic buying/Stock Piling, either way it's selfish on others.

It certain is - the stuff people were buying! I don’t believe anyone usually buys so much in a week! Also the fact that fresh fruit and veg were still pretty ok tells you that people are getting storeable goods.

I changed my shopping habits when we got paid at the end of feb, knowing we would not get paid again until 31st March. I did a full month's shop up front, freezing the meats and fish I would usually buy weekly, and ensuring I had things like pasta and rice to last lo ng er than I usually buy it. At that time nobody was bulk buying and there was no shortage. Compared to yeaterday, immediately after Trump announced a national emergency. No meat, fish or most dairy to be seen, very little bread, rice or pasta and no loo roll or water etc. I completely understand people trying to ensure they have at least 2 weeks of stuff in, because if they are quarantined they won't be able to go and buy more. I couldn't afford to stockpile beyond what we would usually eat in a month, but I would have bought an extra $200 of supplies if I could have, getting tinned fruits and more freezable goods

I’m not a panic buyer, I’ve been watching events elsewhere and been topping up the cupboards and freezer over that time.
I have no more in than I’d get for over the Christmas period.
Panic buying was pretty predictable - even if it is undesirable. I wanted to make sure we had everything we needed before this set in.
If I’m ill or need to self isolate, I don’t want to worry about food and particularly medicine not being available.

The problem is that lots of people who aren’t panic buyers now have to be panic buyers because of selfish pricks running all the stock out.

I wanted to get calpol for my four year old as we barely have any left and it’s always good to have....can’t get any anywhere.

Technically yes. We went out today and topped up the cupboard/freezer supplies in case we have to self isolate.

Stuff I'd normally buy and buy lots of if it was on offer anyway, but wouldn't have otherwise bought at full price today.

Someone I know self isolated for a temperature last night and had to get someone else to do their big shop today, I'd rather be prepared. I didn't empty any selves or buy and shortage items.

You could see this coming about a week ago. Only had to look at Italy and think how the British public would behave.

I already had a tiny Brexit stash of basically loo roll and olive oil and tomatoes, paracetamol, etc.

I nipped out to buy a few extra bits in a measured way. Stuff it would be inconvenient to run out of - bin bags, washing power etc. Small amount of milk and pasta (one bag!). Paracetamol (two boxes).

My aim is to leave it all untouched and shop as normal. I have one eye on freezer stocks. I don’t think I’m a stockpiler, I think I’m just a planner.

I planned an increased in food in the cupboards over the last few months

When I panicked and felt the need to buy something I bought knitting wool... so I'm sorted for isolation!

Easter eggs, too. If I’m in isolation and can’t get the kids Easter eggs, I’ll be pissed off!

Do people really not get it? I’m not panic buying but I understand it. People are scared, there is a virus going round that is killing people and you catch it by going to heavily populated areas like supermarkets. So you buy a shit ton and you don’t have to go for a while. Everything is shut and you don’t know when you’re going to be able to buy stuff again. Everyone saying they’re not selfish is a liar too. Humans are selfish, especially when in a state of panic. If there was anything left on the shelves I’d be stockpiling too because I don’t want to catch this thing and I don’t want to give it to the people I love who could die from it. Think all the people getting angry on here need to wind their neck in and accept that people are different and they act in different ways when threatened. Is it annoying that I can’t get all the things I would like? Yea it is but I also understand that Debbie down the street doesn’t give a shit about my toilet paper needs because she’s taking care of her and her own. Boris seems to think that we should just accept that the weak and old are going to die in some Darwinian plan to save the economy. So it’s every person For them selves

I don't remember anything remotely similar during swine flu.

I just want my eggs😭

Daffodil yes. I got my kids Easter eggs earlier than normal for the same reasons as you, they only get one each but one has a milk allergy and those are hard enough to get if left too late, also made sure any birthdays in the next couple of months are covered too.

Everything is shut and you don’t know when you’re going to be able to buy stuff again

But that isn't the case and hasn't been for other countries. The intention of a shutdown is to reduce footfall not starve people.

If you have to self isolate then access to food will be there, you might just need others to go to the shops for you.

I'll hold my hands up and say I did an extra shop of cupboard stuff. I'm a single parent with absolutely no family in this country so no one to rely on if things get really bad.
I often run down to absolutely nothing and use up everything I have, which I'd done a few weeks ago. So I did an extra shop last week of all the long-lasting stuff to ensure I can feed myself and my kids if we need to isolate.
I don't trust this govt as far as I can throw them so BJ telling us not to buy more stuff is absurd to me.

Well there’s no online deliveries at Sainsbury’s for 3 weeks so I admit I went and bought enough food to last for possibly a month. Dd is high risk for being affected so as soon as my work shuts down which I suspect will be next week we’re not leaving the house. Not even to buy food. And it doesn’t look like we can rely on home delivery.

And I’m not sure we can have anyone who can help. No family. If I’m not prepared to go to the shop for fear of catching it I’m not sure it’s fair to ask a friend.

Asda has no slots here till saturday...

Noone on here wants to admit panic buying cos its obvious the OP is chomping at the bit to have a go at them!

Right on @SugarNyx!

I agree that rationing is necessary, but as a family of 5 we are allowed the same as a single person. I am not buying more than I usually would - less, because there is so much missing.

It's the food banks that I worry about - rationing means that people can't buy extra items for the food bank.

I have. Not necessarily through “panic” but I’ve been doubling up on pasta/ rice since January. I also bought toilet roll wholesale in January.
DH is self employed so his income has now started to drop hugely. I’m agency, so zero hours and with 4dc won’t be able to work much if schools shut. I needed to be confident I could feed us all if isolating/sick. I’ve bought some soup/ noodles/ pesto so if me and dh are sick my 12 and 13yo can make meals for them and the little ones. Also frozen bread and bought toilet roll so we can minimise contact. I don’t want to be shopping right now with hundreds of potentially contagious people. DH is immunosuppressed and one of the dc has an inhaler. I’ll do what’s needed to try to keep us safe. I also have a plan re educating and entertaining the dc.

Sent my dh to Asda on Friday morning after his night shift (finishes at 5). He came home with far too many toilet rolls (id imagine we could have built a small fort) and told me people were fighting over them straight out of the stock room. I was pretty pissed off with him until he explained he had bought extra for a few of our older neighbours and also took more than half to the food bank. Turns out he's not a complete idiot after all 🤪 we have what I'd call our normal amount of toilet rolls now !

Can't believe some people can't get deliveries for weeks ! We are about 4 days wait here.