No panic sensible prepping for second lockdown

[Etinox]

This is not an alarmist thread, I hope there’s not a second lockdown & I’m not planning anything which will involve waste or depriving others. It’s more an accountability and planning thread. Whatever happens I’m very likely to woh and live in central London with 2 adults (last time 2 more adults returned- this is unlikely to happen this time until christmas). Lots of what others are doing (basics like milk pasta loo roll, I don’t need) not navigating school closures, nappies & baby milk etc. Last time bumbling DH accompanied me, standing too close to other people in busy town centre and buying a big bag of smelly rice which were still working through. Today I’m leaving him at home and planning on getting the following in, I’m not going to queue for anything- I’ll do without.
Clear out freezer, we have a tiny one but I reckon I could make space for better supplies. We also have garage space- buy another freezer?
Coal it’s cold this time round and having a warm fire/ glowing ritual will make the evenings better
Cash out particularly lots of £2 coins to tip amazon delivery
Eyebrows/ pedicure not sure whether this is justifiable but I want to support my local traders and it’d be a treat
Baking cook up last of windfalls for crumble for next door and fil who we’ll visit tomorrow and sit in his garden.
Find and wash all the lovely reusable
masks I bought a month ago and have 2 left
Spend £20 in Poundland if there’s not a queue last lockdown I was visiting fortnightly for £5 of materials for work needs but I could get ahead.
Buy solpadeine not for covid but I get through a packet a fortnight
Check household goods we’re running low on. Nothing obvious, I’d like to get a big bag of potatoes in but that would involve asking fil to get them as village shop shut tomorrow- keep an eye out for stores locally with big bags outside
Other prep I've done is car full of petrol, we have food in, but maybe book supermarket delivery for 10 days time? Have stamps.
Please add your own suggestions and/ or use this as your accountability thread.

1. spread out your shopping, so you are not suddenly putting huge and unusual demand on the supply chain

2. consider your non-food requirements, and consider having one extra of dishwasher tabs, bin bags, washing up liquid, toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand soap, washing power/tabs and fabric conditioner, a general purpose cleaning spray, sanpro, deodorant.

3. add one or two longlife versions of foods you use anyhow per shop.

4. get any routine appointments booked - especially optician

5. if you spot something that you think would be a good Xmas pressie, get it now

Definitely see the dentist too.

If you dye your hair buy one of the funny little hair dye paint brushes.

I have been doing everything I couldn't do in lockdown since things reopened including all niggling health problems being sorted.

Today is doing a long drive to see my mum and best friend.

I have also started to add my Christmas nibbles one item at a time to my weekly shop. If I buy one item a week I wont need to do a big Christmas shop at all this year. I most definitely do not want to be doing a £100 plus shop in store in December.

But my main priority is mental health prepping now

Moisturiser, I forgot last time and it took ages to get a nice one.

Thank you so much
•dentist. Harrumph. I have a cracked back tooth and first available appointment, in late November. I have clove oil and dental hospital details to hand.
*hair. I’m ahead on you there! I bought dye last time and haven’t used it but am keeping a close eye on it- I think I’ve passed the roots stage. I’ve also started to cut my hair with scissors bought last time. Toiletries etc. Tell dd to use less lashes of conditioner or buy her own.
•glasses. Irreparably broke a pair with steamy sweaty mask face so already on back up. I have another back up too.
@Legoandloldolls
I work in MH. Personally I’m balancing supporting relatives including dc not at home and my needs (I have a few horrible and enormous deadlines coming up)
Thanks all.

I am more worried about the need to suddenly self isolate so trying to make sure we could get through two weeks if necessary.

We now have a milk delivery twice a week, barely scratches the surface of the milk we use but if necessary we could up it.

Managed to get the DC to the opticians, so sorted there.

Last time it was mainly garden things I needed which obviously won't be an issue this time.

People tip amazon delivery drivers?
I'm all set up for two weeks isolation for necessary, and should allow me to space out proper shopping trips as much as possible.
I am worried about mental health. My children aren't seeing their friends at the weekdn, we aren't seeing family and I can't see that changing until next spring. That's a long time.

You tip amazon drivers?

We're carrying on as normal.

The preparation we have made was we have had haircuts. No space to store food here, and close to moving but wasn't an issue with supplies last time

I’ve got in extra lightbulbs. I seem to have a different type in every room. They’ll all get used eventually and it’s one less thing to have to queue in the drizzle for.

I'm in Liverpool and very likely going to be facing stronger lockdowns next week.

My biggest concern right now is supporting local businesses. I'm going to buy friends gift vouchers for local coffee shops for Christmas and look at buying as many other presents from local businesses too. This might mean my money doesn't spread as far but at least it might mean another family get some sort of Christmas this year.

Isn't doing it now panic buying? Since shops already have put in limits & some stocks are low.

startaler I really like that idea.

We've been more stocked up than before anyway so I'll continue my current method. We have one in use and a spare of things like soap, toilet roll, bin bags. When I'm about to open the spare, I buy another. This is how my mum has always been and I've always made fun of her but not anymore!

Have also got some tinned fruit - I have kids and we eat a lot of fruit! So trying to be prepared for 2 weeks isolation, which I feel is inevitable at some point (we're isolating awaiting a test result now).

Last time bumbling DH accompanied me, standing too close to other people in busy town centre and buying a big bag of smelly rice which were still working through

What smelly rice was it?

@pilort

Isn't doing it now panic buying? Since shops already have put in limits & some stocks are low.

Not buying one hairbrush and one extra packs of crisps a week is classed as panic buying.

I have four kids, two are disabled so not willing to take them shopping. Tesco limit is 90? Items for click and collect so no way of getting Christmas sorted with just 90 items for six people to feed.

I think there needs to be more tolerance that not every family is the same. I dont want to get dirty judgey looks for buying what I need for the week so have been to scared to do so since March. People presume I'm.stockpilling. I'm not. I just survive on food for four people. But people judge anyway. No one else is going to feed my kids and we have no one to deliver food we go into isolation. I know the honorable thing would let the kids starve but the responsible thing is to be prepared.

Mind you that doesnt look as good on FB does it?

I think as we go into winter, empathis also on medication. Throat sprays, lozenges etc. Tissues... Manuka honey!
Vit c, zinc... Alcohol gels...

You tip Amazon drivers?

@Autumngoldleaf

I think as we go into winter, empathis also on medication. Throat sprays, lozenges etc. Tissues... Manuka honey! Vit c, zinc... Alcohol gels...

Pretty sure all of these will be available even in lockdown...

If you do buy a freezer for the garage have a look at Which? reviews. They reckon only Beko make ones which are suitable for the garage. Many switch themselves off because the garage gets too cold for them.

I don't buy gift vouchers anymore as it's too unpredictible which shops are sadly closing.

We ars on local restrictions and I've thought about what we might need if we couldn't get out.
The thing we run out of most seems to be pet food, so have stocked up.

@Legoandloldolls I genuinely get confused by this as I was told on another thread I was a panic buyer because I bought a huge bag of pasta & subscribe to a toilet roll service.

Plus my response was to the OP where she discussed clearing out her freezer & potentially buying another one. Not sure why a hairbrush is relevant?

@Itsabeautifuldayheyhey

You tip Amazon drivers?

Yes since I watched Ken Loach film

@TwentyViginti

Last time bumbling DH accompanied me, standing too close to other people in busy town centre and buying a big bag of smelly rice which were still working through

What smelly rice was it?

I liedexaggerated for comic effect. I bought the rice, but he was bumbly. I’ve decided to swerve town centre/ freezer/ Poundland as seeing elderly relatives tomorrow and can do the busy stuff on Monday when I have to go there for work.

Ah, thanks OP! you painted such a comic picture!

Poundland online is good. Minimum spend £30 though.

@Legoandloldolls

what are you doing for mental health prepping?

Well I'm in a lockdown area and all the shops are open as normal (as they were in the first lockdown). I wouldn't have needed to do any prepping. If we suddenly had to isolate for 2 weeks we'd survive. I'm a mum so always have at least 5 days worth of food knocking around. I don't have loads of friends but the ones I do have would be happy to bring us some food if we couldn't get a supermarket delivery.