Preppers Paradise: Pickled Turnips and Sovereignty Spam

[RedToothBrush]

Despite all the accusations of hysteria for those saying they intend to prep, today Theresa May said households were going to be given guidelines in August and September on how to prepare in the event of No Deal.

Robert Peston@Peston
@theresa_may says 70 "technical notices" for businesses and households will be published in Aug and Sept setting out how we can all prepare for a no-deal Brexit (should that be what happens). Yikes

Arla are already warning that milk product may be scare and baby formula will be 'an occasional luxury' even if we do get a deal
Dairy products 'may become luxuries' after UK leaves EU

Whilst we wait for the government to advise us on what action we all need to consider taking, this is a thread dedicated for those people who wish to share tips, advice and what they plan to do rather than clogging up other threads.

Grabbed 12 boxes of formula from Bookers last night, which should get DS to the one year mark. Wondering if growing up milk might be an idea if cows milk is going to become an issue.

Going to sit and make a list today and grab bits and pieces over the next week. Going to tell my opticians that I'm going abroad for a year and hope they'll give me my contact lenses in advance.

Another thing I'd think about if it hasn't been mentioned is spare glasses for those who need them. Now will be the time to get them. Not all lenses are produced in the U.K, and most frames are China. The last thing you want is to be struggling with broken glasses and unable to see properly.

In my quiet grumbly moments (and often on here) I blame everyone who voted Leave. More than I blame our incompetent government.
But that only gets me so far. I'm a practical person and have been a prepper for a while.
Let's hope I am wrong. Really hope I prep for nothing.

Spare specs is a good idea. As is thinking about dentist stuff.
Forget drama llama preppers like me, what if money starts to run low for you.

Grabbed 12 boxes of formula from Bookers last night, which should get DS to the one year mark. Wondering if growing up milk might be an idea if cows milk is going to become an issue.

I’ve been thinking about this. I am currently pregnant and I hope breast feeding works out but who knows for how long? I’d love to get some formula in but a couple of my DC have been fussy with what they take and I don’t want to waste a load of milk but equally don’t want to be left without any.

Misti's idea of inviting her Mum over to France raises another important idea:

Anyone frail & elderly and / or dependent on medications might be best moving to stay with a relative in the EU, where applicable, for the worst period
I'd include March too, as panic might set in the month preceeding Brexit

So, start thinking of a 3 month visit March to May with further plans based on what actually happens

Some of,my medication has to be ordered in each time I get a repeat as the pharmacist doesn't keep a stock of it. I'll be really unwell without it.

I can't just leave the country for three months though.

The point of prepping is so that those who actually need help/resources can get it. If you can take care of yourself, you should. So that any emergency programme can focus on the people who need it.

Another one with a diabetic child here, deeply worried about next year! I can't believe I'm actually having to think like this! I'm going from blind panic and feeling constantly anxious, to disbelief and feeling stupid for worrying and "of course they wouldn't let it get that bad"!

I've always been a slight prepper, certainly with food anyway, and always have a few weeks worth of tins, general supplies in, but will try and slowly build up to a 3 month stock. This video here is quite good for those new to this:

I was considering growing some stuff out the back, and would love to get some chickens but honestly, around here, they'd just get nicked! Which brings me to my main worry - civil unrest.

If things do get as bad as predicted, I will be prepared with food, water, cooking supplies, torches etc, but how do we deal with looting, rioting, crime etc? It's all very well stocking up, but as soon as our neighbours suspect that we're doing ok, what's to stop them coming after us??

I sometimes read this blog about the collapse of Argentina, and I'm terrified that this is going to be life in the UK in the next few years!

ferfal.blogspot.com/

I grew up fairly poor in a [then] "third-world" country. I know how to be frugal and eke things out. And now we are in the fortunate position that we can afford to stockpile, and absorb any increased costs, and nobody in our household have any long-term illnesses of the sort that require medication.

But yes I am filled with horror that we are even facing the possibility of doing this to a whole country. And for what??

I'm going to suggest to DB that he opens a euro bank account. Some of his payments are in euros so it makes sense.

Not so much for me as I don't earn enough to save and would be paying conversion charges all the time. I am considering building a euro stash as well as sterling but it's going to be really hard to manage both.

But could we get to the point where the shops want euros or dollars, not sterling??

Or would I find it hard to convert my euros into sterling post Brexit as there's been a run on the bureaux and everyone is doing the same thing?

Theresa May herself is type 1 diabetic. And regardless of that I would think that medicines for common conditions like diabetes and asthma will get a lot of attention and priority because it would be such a headline grabbing thing for it to go wrong - most people would know someone affected. It seems more likely that people on unusual drugs, especially those made by smaller companies, would be at risk

A mix of £€$ sounds sensible. I will not go that far, I have little money, so it's not a concern for me.

Cash for transport and basics for a week will be set aside along with a few weeks prepping.

Cash is good but think instead (or as well) of barter. Miniatures, fags, chocolate. Again, don't go crazy but might be something to think about. Let's hope (as with all prepping) it is insurance you never need.

My bank doesn't seem to have the facility to open a Euro bank account unless you can deposit 75K pa . So sorry to be dim about this but what are my other options?

I’ve just added 4 jars of pickling vinegar to my supermarket shop!

If you do worry about looting, try to spread your stash around the house (behind books or create a faux coffee table from it) if it does kick off and then leave an obvious looking pile of food on the kitchen table. Hopefully that would be enough to keep them from going through the rest of the house.

I am also buying some birthday gifts to stash away for spring/summer next year in case things are tight. I do tend to stock gifts in advance but not quite this far. Just small things like books but really I do want to have as minimal distribution for the DC as possible.

Disruption*

Place marking.

Useful thread.

I'm also thinking cat food and litter. Luckily I live in a flat with plenty of storage space.

Sanitary products. It's grim when you run out of Always Ultra as I've discovered in the past.

I'll be on the lookout for a Boots Double Points promotion or a good voucher, then I'll stock up.

HSBC had a currency account. Easy to open with no limit

HSBC had a currency account. Easy to open with no limit

are there quarterly/annual fees Hermione?

If you don’t know where to start, it is worth taking a week or even just a day where you note down everything you use from food (including flavourings and conditments) and drink for your whole family and everything else down to the details.

For instance so far today (1:15pm) in my house we have used

Breakfast:
A loaf of bread (8 people for breakfast and a couple of sandwiches for lunch)
Butter
Honey
Marmite
Milk
Tea
Coffee
Orange juice
Oats
Jam
Grapefruit

Hygiene:
Soap
Shampoo
Razor
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Mouthwash
Hand soap
SPF
Cleanser
Toner
Face cream
Ear buds
Tissues
Loo roll
Plasters
Antiseptic
Hair dye
Contact solution

Lunch:
Pasta
Pesto
Pine nut
Spinach
(Sandwiches for the older DC who are at activities - cheese, spring onions and tomatoes)
Salt
Pepper
Parmesan
EVOO

Home:
Batteries for smoke alarm
Washing up liquid
Dishwasher tablets
Dishwasher salt
Rinse aid
Cream cleaner
Cleaning sponge
White vinegar
Washing powder
Replacement lightbulb for bathroom (v expensive)
Bin bags

We have slowly been adding one extra item per week to our shop since the referendum.
It is worth knowing the brass tacks of what it actually takes to feed and run your household for the day and how to replace that with non-fresh alternatives.
This obviously completely fucks over anyone who doesn’t have the extra cash to spare on buying tins of tuna.