What isn’t produced in Britain that we need to stockpile?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

So, worst case scenario and we crash out with no deal as everyone seems keen to catastrophise, what would be useful to stock up on that isn’t produced here and would have to be imported. Any ideas?

Comically, SensiblePrepper on Youtube (a bit guns and ammo US channel) says that he's useless without his cup of coffee- which always makes me think how vulnerable he is .
But we've all been in a situation where we can't get our favourite cuppa and settle for something else. Sometimes that something else is better or, at least, more tolerable.

By the time you knock off all the food wasted and thrown away, the fact we’re probably about 10% overweight, that 31% figure we need is probably goes down to only about 15% we actually need to import, right?

I love this logic that overweight people will be able to live on their fat stories without eating

It's a prepper stand by that being overweight is not a prep. You need decent nutrition. Full stop.

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/public-to-be-warned-every-week-over-nodeal-brexit-d9wd3lwbk

Has anyone got a share token? The Brexit thread showed this as front page news.

At this point, focussing on your own situation is the best idea. Obviously people can lobby and debate as much as they like (I know i do now and again) but, from a prepping perspective, I think it's wiser to just get on with what is best for you and yours.

huel is a good, packable-downable food source. DH and I practised with it earlier this summer; we did 2 weeks on just Huel. You can add flavours and stuff. Not that expensive if that’s all you’re eating, and ticks all the boxes nutritionally. You don’t need to heat it.

I’ve got a couple of bags in the garage. Decent stuff and reasonable price point. You can get other brands too, btw I’ve jusy found them to be good on delivery etc.

Check it out.

this is all common sense, not prepping. although anyone buying antiseptic cream and burn cream badly needs a first aid course.

have some cash in the house ( yes, even in London) too. it does not need brexit for bank systems to fail.

Is this all serious?

I'm actually quite scared reading this.

I have 4 kids and am on ESA. Should I start stockpiling? Really?

galaxi I don’t know what ESA is, but with 4 children in the house, say your bank went down when you’re meant to be getting money in and you had to feed everyone for a few days, could you? Just get some extra cheap tins of food in to keep at the back of your cupboard just in case :)

You’ve got to remember that this is the Preppers board; some people on here are preparing for long term, post apocalyptic style environments... in that case I would be 100% dead 😁

However; I’m prepping for supply line disruption, this last winter was quite bad, and I think next winter has the potential to be the same, if not worse. If you can’t get to the shops for a few days, (or it would be really inconvenient or too slippery to go!) having those few extra tins in gives you the choice between being forced out, or staying cosy in your home.

@Galaxi The post on this thread by TheBrilloPad has some practical advice on how to approach stocking up while living on benefits/low income: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/a3313558-What-about-those-who-can-t-afford-to-stockpile (a lot of that thread is discussion that doesn't stick to the title)

Medicines are the obvious items to stockpile:

news.sky.com/story/pharmacists-preparing-to-stockpile-medicines-and-medical-supplies-for-no-deal-brexit-11441089

However, relatively few are in a position to do so.

Galaxi if you are on ESA then you have yet to be moved onto UC.
Quite a few people in your position are essentially prepping for the 5 week pay delay, (so food for you & your kids during that time etc...) so if you are already doing that, then you are already covered for any delays or price rises that might arise from Brexit.

If you are not, I would suggest you consider trying to prepare for the changeover to UC any way unless you have other funds coming in that mean you can support yourselves for a minimum of 5 weeks.

@Galaxi

Posted this on a previous thread but I'm on universal credits with young DC and started prepping a few months back. I started adding £2.50 per week worth of "prepping" stuff to my food shop, and have already got a solid supply.

Was basically something along the lines of
Week 1: Tinned fruit. 2 x tins of mandarin segments @ 35p each, 2 x tinned peaches @ 35p each, 1 x tinned pears @ 80p.

Week 2: Tinned veg. 3 x Tinned peas @ 20p each, 3 x Tinned carrots @ 20p each, 3 x Tinned sweet corn @ 35p each.

Week 3: pasta & rice. 1kg rice £1.50, 1kg value pasta 60p.

Without doing the full list, I have now got Tinned tuna, loads of beans, cereals, cereal bars, custard, jelly and value chocolate bars, water, long life milk and long life orange juice. Then toilet paper, bars of soap and toothpaste. I still have a lot more to get (going to do a few weeks of kids medicines/plasters etc) but literally £2.50 a week on this stuff goes so far and has done wonders for my peace of mind. If I never use it, I'll donate it to a food bank. No harm done.

For those who want to 'splash out' m&s do a good tinned chicken, and also 'naice ham'
Would break the monotony of tuna/corned beef/beans

Why would there be an issue with anything imported from outside the EU?

@caroldecker - it isn't food production, it's distribution that's the potential problem. Supermarkets only have 3 days worth of stock and operate a Just In Time method for ordering and supply. Basically this means a sort of "not until the moment we need it". It's common across a number of industries and saves on excess warehouse and storage costs - keeps the space free with regular rotation.
This system is vulnerable to any kind of interruption such as a weather related one. And any (even brief) slow down at a port for EU imported goods can snarl the whole thing up and affect everything.
It might only be short term but if you don't have your own e.g . three day supply of stuff, you will not be able to rely on a fully stocked supermarket that is experiencing a hiccup in supply.

@TheBrilloPad - really helpful.

Don't most people who have families and are not on the breadline always have enough to manage for more than 3 days anyway? Surely there would always be those things you don't use very often ?

Having totally empty cupboards wouldn't be surprising if people are broke, live in tiny flats, or for those in their twenties who live on takeaways and stuff they get from Tesco Metro on the way back from work

Is it this shift away from the big shop that I keep hearing about in the media but not among people I know?

I would hope so @pennycarbonara . But if you do your weekly shop and never get basic staples, I would be amazed. I know we do - and (sure you are all bored of hearing it) I'm a prepper. I have "shelf stable " alternatives to bread, milk, fruit, veg etc as well as toiletries, loo roll and so on. But I usually buy fresh food.

I've been working hard to shrink my mahoosive stock pile over the year... bloody typical!

What about prescription medication?

Near the start of this thread, I mentioned that I thought medication was the main worry. I have been hoping someone would come along with a solution. How can we stockpile medication. My surgery get arsey if you try to get your repeat prescription early because you are going to be away so there is no way they will allow me to start doubling up.

I am most concerned about my DDs epilepsy medication. She is an adult so I can’t interfere but how can she get a massive stock in place.

I don’t want to go don the black market route because you don’t know what you’re buying (although, worst-case scenario, it might be the only market that works post-Brexit).

Sorry for typos and lack of apostrophes - contact lenses not in. 😂

The best thing to do is speak to your GP and if they say "nothing to worry about " ask them to spell out the process for getting prescription medication when there is an interruption to supply.
This is one of the reasons I encourage people who don't need prescription medication to get food etc in now. Keep the way clear for people who genuinely need help if things get a bit tricky. Even for a few days.

If you are already convinced about prepping, and your meds don't need to be kept cool with a short shelf life, I would start to skim off from the current prescription and request more slightly earlier - going on holiday for example.

I've just had a horrible thought about medication - what about contraception? Regular pill/morning after pill/contraceptive devices if these are affected by supply chain issues. People don't stop having sex in crises... in fact it's the main form of entertainment when the lights & TV go out Put a few condoms away in your stash (they make good water carriers too)