2019 Brexit Preps

[OVAgroundWOMBlingfree]

I thought it would be useful to have a thread as we head into the new year where we can discuss our Brexit preps.

Today I picked up all gift wrap and cards I will need for next Christmas which I would normally do anyway but I added some neutral gift wrap which could be used for birthdays. I also stashed a few toys in the sale which can be used for birthdays. The thought of the DC going without birthday presents is too sad.

I’ve also just stashed some lightbulbs, candles, lights and matches.

Going into 2019 I’m focusing on:
Solar chargers
Camping gas
Protein
Medicines
Box hair dye
Skincare
Loo roll and tissues + hankies
Cleaning products
Home brew kits
Books on self reliance

I’m interested in this. After lots of snow in the village last year affecting supplies to the shops I have stocked up tinned goods which would be enough for a couple of weeks disruption.
It’s useful to consider other non food items too. I will be watching with interest.

What kind of tinned food have you gone for?

I’ve just nipped to the shop to buy a fuse and bought some sunflower oil and two tins of tuna to stash. Useful stuff I wouldn’t like to be without with a house full of DC.

I have a delivery arriving shortly of various household supplies enough to last six months. Its partly prepping and partly just household management (so that we don't run out of anything)
washing powder
dishwasher tablets
dishwasher salt
toilet cleaner
soap
handwash
cleaning sprays
dishcloths
matches
tealights
lightbulbs
bin liners
toilet roll
kitchen roll
tin foil
shampoo
conditioner
cooking oil
batteries
sanitary products
toothpaste
toothbrushes
pet food
and various other bits and pieces like rubber gloves etc

I'd like to think my food preps are pretty good - I'm a prepper anyway regardless of Brexit.

However, I've already started looking at what bargains I can pick up for Christmas and dd birthday 2019. I want to keep things cheerful.

The Morrisons savers washing powder is 3.33kg for £2.75 and decent quality if anyone is looking to stock up on something that isn’t too expensive.

I will be getting my sons coat and a few clothes for next autumn/winter in the sales (he’s a toddler, I did the same last year and it’s worked well as I haven’t really had to buy him anything for the last few months!).

I’m focusing on sorting out stuff that’s more long term: new glasses, flu jab, dentist, thermal curtains for the big windows.

Food/supplies are as good as they are going to be: but I’m not a full-on kelly-kettle prepper, more a “have 3 of everything” prepper! I also focus more on stuff I really need than stuff I want: so washing up liquid is stocked up, but I only keep one pack of dishwasher supplies at a time as I view it as a “luxury”. Same with shampoo - I have loads of that, but only one spare conditioner. It’s not just about the money, it’s about the space too.

I haven’t, and don’t intend, to prep for things like presents, but my son isn’t at the age where he’s consumed by consumerism yet thankfully

I also have the next size up coat ready for the DC.

I know I've said this a load of times in other threads but here's a plan if you are overwhelmed and new to the idea:
Just think about 3 days stuck in the house , say, "snowed in" to keep the politics out of it. What food would you like to have stored for breakfast dinner and tea for those three days? Shelf stable versions of what you already have if your freezer can't handle it. Focus on what you actually eat. Also think about toothpaste, soap and hygiene stuff generally. Think about snacks and treats. Think about tea and coffee. Think about entertainment for the house. Think about your pets. Think about first aid.
If you do no more than three days you will be already doing well.
Three days will give you a bit of time and space to feed everyone if things get squirrelly. Time to think and learn about your area.
Do more if you want. Loads of advice on this topic.
You don't have to Be a Prepper to do a bit of prepping.

Our Christmas gifts featured lots of board games this year along with crafts sets and colouring books. We’ve been playing them over the last few days and I think they have legs enough for entertaining us.

Yes we also got a few new board games and loads of books. Could easily entertain ourselves if necessary to hunker down (although I don't think it will be necessary)

Having done my duty to put some ideas down for those new to the concept of prepping, here's some other stuff.
A brilliant thing to do for late winter/spring is plan to grow some veggies, even in pots. Depends where you are for actual planting out because of frost.Spuds, spinach (which works well as lettuce with young leaves and cherry tomatoes are great for people new to it with not much space and even less experience. No, you won't be self sufficient but the sense of satisfaction is pretty nice and kids can be involved.
Ideally, Preppers go for heritage seeds which you can collect from what you've grown. More sustainable. The Real Seed Company are very good. Project Diaries and Huws Nursery are good YouTube channels.

I've just purchased an Easiyo starter set and and a cheap dehydrator

My focus is currently on those things that I consider (nearly) essential but the government would not in times of shortage, particularly pet food and other pet necessities, and make up. I'm also looking at ways to substitute fresh dairy - I'm a vegetarian and don't want to be vegan - so I'm experimenting with freezing eggs, freezing cheese (do that anyway), testing Easiyo and getting to grips with powdered milk.

I’m doing absolutely nothing .

I've just purchased an Easiyo starter set

I’d be interested to hear more about this when you have tried it out.

Eggs freeze and you don't need to do anything special to them. I freeze them all the time since we have chickens and are often overrun with eggs. Some say to whisk them first but I don't and they're fine. I wouldn't use them for something like scrambled egg but they're perfectly good for baking.

Yep we freeze eggs too. I usually separate them first because I tend to use them for ice cream or meringue.

Easiyo works well but is quite expensive and can be pretty sweet.
You can make yogurt using a small carton of live natural yogurt as your starter and fresh, powdered or canned evaporated milk. Then take part of your batch to use as the starter for the next lot.
Only works if you eat a lot of yogurt, though!
Although dried culture and dried milk would be cheaper than easiyo.
You can make a simple labneh cheese from the yoghurt too, or paneer from milk and acid ( lemon juice, vinegar, citric acid, anything to make it curdle).
The whey that drips off can be used in bread and cakes, so it's not wasted.

Thanks for the yoghurt information, that’s really useful.

I’ve just been checking through our seeds in the garage and I’ve made a list of what to stock up on. I received some garden centre vouchers for Christmas, so I’m going to stock up over the next week or so.

I stocked up on cat food as it was on offer. Fairly safe bet as he's restricted himself to one brand and one flavour of food for nearly three years. He doesn't like it now!

Cat food and prepping is always a lottery. I tend to work on the basis that if my overlord is hungry she'll eat it.
Or you could donate it

@OVA Tried it for the first time using half of the strawberry flavour yoghurt it came with. Didn't set properly first time round so ended up adding more boiling water against the instructions, which did the trick. Result is a bit sweet and artificial strawberry flavour for my liking, but kids would probably like it and I suspect I'll get on better with the natural flavoured one, perhaps with a bit of jam (like a muller corner really).

I'm not raving about it yet as I think I need to get the hang of it first but I think it will be a good option in times of shortages, and to reduce single use plastic.

Pumpkins and butternut squashes can keep fresh for a year providing the skins are not damaged, that they are kept cool and have space for air flow around them.

Dehydrating veg and fruit, i make up jars of various types, kale, tomatoes, parsnips, carrots, anything. They will keep for ages as long as they are in sealed containers.

Thanks for the review Avocados.

Razor so when you dehydrate food do you just keep it in say, a sterilised jam jar?

I just stick dehydrated food in a sterilised jam jar usually with an oxygen absorber. Or I vacuum seal.
My dd keeps raiding my stash of dehydrated water melon. Sounds weird but the melon flavour is more intense and yummy.