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Original poster

So all the 'non essential moaners' what do you class as non essential

477 replies

HoppingOnSteppingStones · 13/01/2021 09:42

Because I've just been to tesco and brought a kettle. I've just had a bloke when I was stood in front to pay. Mumble about an 'essential kettle'

Did he know why I had to buy it. Did he plums!
It's not so I can go home and have a relaxing cuppa. Its so I can make formula for my baby. Because last night our kettle went bang!
We had to get hot water off the neighbour for this mornings bottle so I could then run to grab one.

What's essential to some isn't to others.

Yes I think there's prob a fine line but I wish people wouldn't judge

OP posts:
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Original poster
HoppingOnSteppingStones · 13/01/2021 14:17

@AliceMcK we had a prep with the others but we were told not to use it for the soy formula. We did at first and he was still poorly. So stopped. He drinks it warmer than the prep by a tad.
I miss the prep.

And I rang my neighbour by time I got shoes and went round the kettle was boiled.
Either way that's what did because it worked for me and my baby at the time

OP posts:
donewithitalltodayandxmas · 13/01/2021 14:18

@AliceMcK the making in advance I mean , the prep machines I have friends who say there a god send. But another added expense that many don't need I would imagine.

Elcantador · 13/01/2021 14:18

I would never tell anyone what is essential and what is not. If it is available to buy then people cant be told off for buying them..
Im very confused why you need to borrow hot water from a neighbourgh.. you can boil water in the microwave or on the hob.
Kettles are considered essential by a lot of people in the UK i guess.
I would think that calling it essential is streching it a bit unless you live in a bedsit ir something with no access to the microwave /hob.

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 13/01/2021 14:19

@HoppingOnSteppingStones did your neighbour make you a cuppa as well ?
At least you have nice neighours , ours borrow constantly and 6 months later not returned my mixer.
( shows how often I cook )

EmmaGrundyForPM · 13/01/2021 14:20

This morning, on a suggested food bank donation list was... Tin openers. As a lot of food they give out needs one.

Yes a tin opener is essential. I'd never thought of buying one for food bank parcels but will add two to my next Tesco order. Thanks for the suggestion

Springersrock · 13/01/2021 14:21

Or did you just think "She likes polos. I'll try peppermint tea."

Grin pretty much that.

Given choices, she’d have gone for Bute in a jam sandwich but she’s rotund enough as it is so peppermint tea it was.

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 13/01/2021 14:23

@potentpangolin I knew what you meant hospitality/ hospital
A lot work outside home , my dh works in other peoples houses all day ( essential) and he may pop and get a coffee if he forgets a flask so grateful they are open as he is not allowed to accept tea/coffee from someone in house
Also I suppose goverment need some income coming in , its all just people being sensible.
Having a takeaway here and there that might deviate you a little , or travelling 50 miles for one is very different

RetailGail · 13/01/2021 14:32

is there no way to add items to the food bank via online shopping?

I used to donate regularly but haven't been inside a supermarket for months now!

MrsMiaWallis · 13/01/2021 14:35

@RetailGail

is there no way to add items to the food bank via online shopping?

I used to donate regularly but haven't been inside a supermarket for months now!

You can donate money.
MrsMiaWallis · 13/01/2021 14:36

I do a 20 a month standing order.

ragged · 13/01/2021 14:36

Donate cash to the foodbank. They always need cash. They have lots of expenses (fuel, premises, heating, lights, computers...)

FKATondelayo · 13/01/2021 14:38

I went to the shop solely to buy Angostura bitters the other day.

Mydogisagentleman · 13/01/2021 14:39

I certainly hope that ciggies are essential.
I do a bit weekly shop. Alone, then invariably have to go alone again to Tesco for the weekly shop for the house that I work in.
Most days I call in at Tesco express for 20 cigs

LiverColouredBitchPointer · 13/01/2021 15:10

@FKATondelayo

I went to the shop solely to buy Angostura bitters the other day.
Now, I think they're only classed as an essential if you're the Queen Mother..

Not likely!

IcedPurple · 13/01/2021 15:11

@FKATondelayo

I went to the shop solely to buy Angostura bitters the other day.
I'll drink to that!
LiverColouredBitchPointer · 13/01/2021 15:13

@Almostslimjim

Someone on here told another poster that a child's toothbrush and laundry detergent were not essential!
Confused ok, that is seriously silly.
sueelleker · 13/01/2021 15:19

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@Orlania well then she should if bought one with her shopping
Who doesn't have a pan that has a baby , or a microwave and bowl
[/quote]
I had a sudden vision of her putting the baby in the pan or the microwave then!

AlecTrevelyan006 · 13/01/2021 15:21

There are lots of things between ‘essentials’ and frivolous luxuries.

Even if we take the much mentioned kettle - I drink a lot of coffee but I could live without a kettle for a day, or a week... but at some point there has to be an acceptance that it’s not unreasonable for someone living in 21st century Britain to have access to a kettle

Just yesterday I boroughs an Ethernet cable adapter from curry’s pc world using click and collect. Was it essential? Maybe not but I’ve been finding that I’ve been losing Wi-fi connection on some of work Teams calls. So I bought a cable and adapter so I can plug my laptop in the old fashioned way - already seems to be better but I could possibly have soldiered on without it

HOS8595 · 13/01/2021 15:23

@Cattasaurus

A kettle is not essential if you have a saucepan and hob
Jesus Christ.
Orlania · 13/01/2021 15:23

I had a sudden vision of her putting the baby in the pan or the microwave then!

Fortunately none of my pans have a baby in them. Imagine the shock after getting up one morning and going to the kitchen, only to be confronted by wailing hungry babies sitting in the saucepans. 😲🍼

HOS8595 · 13/01/2021 15:24

@FKATondelayo

I went to the shop solely to buy Angostura bitters the other day.
I went to the shop today solely to buy some lego. Grin
verticality · 13/01/2021 15:28

I wouldn't class a kettle as essential personally. Anything you can buy in a supermarket, you can get delivered from an online store the next day.You can boil water in a saucepan until a kettle arrives the next day.

The only thing I can think that's essential is stuff that you'd need to fix things going majorly wrong in the house - like a big water leak or something like that.

I haven't been inside any building that isn't my house since March. It hasn't been difficult to do that. I donate £40/month to the local foodbank via direct debit.

Orlania · 13/01/2021 15:32

I haven't been inside any building that isn't my house since March. It hasn't been difficult to do that. I donate £40/month to the local foodbank

Presumably someone in your household has been in a building to collect food? And why are you telling people how much money you donate?

puffinkoala · 13/01/2021 15:35

I drink coffee and have a coffee machine, I only drink tea if my husband makes it for me, so I probably could do without a kettle. But I know I am definitely in the minority in the UK!

marshmallowfluffy · 13/01/2021 15:37

Kettles are definitely essential. I hope that you didn't make him a cuppa with your new kettle Angry

My teen dd is a Barista at a beauty spot. She thinks that her job is not essential and takeaway coffees should be limited to hospitals, drive thrus and petrol/service stations.