2019 Brexit Preps

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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

Simpson's golden syrup ones? I am now on a mission.

So far I've stashed:

Beans
Tuna
Tomatoes
Peas
Fruit
Rice pudding
Coconut milk
Stir fry sauces
Curry sauces
Stir in pasta sauces
Flours
Yeast
Crumpets (essential)
Tea
Washing liquid
Toothpaste
Wet wipes
Hand wash
Toiletries
Birthday presents
Frozen fish
Paracetamol
Skincare stuff
Christmas puddings and snacks
Oils
Squash
Ready roll pastry

I need a lot more food and including sanpro, tinned veg, meat, quorn, tofu, condiments, dog food, cleaning products, wine, chicken food and straw.

I rely on meds but I can't get hold of those though I do have a years supply of the pill...

We intend to grow a lot more veg this year in our allotment and greenhouse, and we get plenty of eggs from our rescue chickens.

I have enough clothes to keep me going for years. Even pants.

So, these are quite good. Bought yesterday, use by date Oct 2019. Nice with cream...

Those look amazing. Takes me back to my student days. I'm actually pondering buying a microwave specifically so I can heat things like that quickly...

I've had the Aunty's puddings from Waitrose, they are nice. I will be getting some in plus individual pots of Ambrosia custard.

State of the Pantry
I have been following offers round the supermarket for the last few months and have got in stocks of:
Tea (but still need redbush tea which is ok without milk)
Instant coffee
Olive oil
Tomato puree
Cooking chocolate
Jam
Fairy liquid
Laundry capsules
Multi surface cleaner
Toilet Duck (5 bottles! Kept buying them on offer and forgetting I had them)
Rubber gloves
Toothpaste
Femfresh - bought in bulk from Amazon
Medicated shampoo - on subscription from Amazon
Contact lenses - on subscription and I kept moving dates forward so I have about 3 months' supply now, but more wouldn't hurt.
Cotton wool pads
Lipstick - have about 40
I also have a large beauty stash left over from a beauty box subscription but I really need to go through this and see what I actually have
Cleanser - stocked up around Black Friday

What I need more of:
Pasta
Pesto and pasta sauces
Canned vegetables and fruit, corned beef, tuna, sardines
Mayonnaise
Flour
Treats - puddings, chocolate, wine, biscuits
Bottled water
Toilet roll
Kitchen towel
Brillo pads
Various descaling products
Soap - takes up less space than handwash
Micellar water
Cotton wool buds
Sanpro - I do have a mooncup but it's not ideal for heavy days. Currently considering cloth pads
Fairly well provided with prescription medicines but I need to stock up on OTC stuff

I've Kon Maried the kitchen and am now a lot more organised but still need to get rid of a few things I never use in order to free up space for smaller items. Bulkier stuff like toilet roll will probably have to go on top of the kitchen cupboards or inside the bath panels.

Thinking of doing a spreadsheet so I know exactly what I have and where but it won't be this weekend as I have yet to complete my tax return.

I've got a spreadsheet, with quantities and use by dates.

That’s very organised OYBBK!

I chuck my stuff in the larder, but in year order. That’s about it.

I have been buying extra bits we use every week, such as passata, tomato puree, tin peas, loo rolls etc.
I have not bought any flour as i have been worried about the wee beasties it seems to attract (i live in a very old house!) I saw a comment about storing it in plastic boxes, but what chance of it bringing wee beasties with it from the shop?
Would popping it in the freezer work, as it does if you have cloth moths?
Many thanks x

Freezing flour for a few days kills the wee beasties. Then store in a plastic container, away from other stuff. So we have three boxes wheat based flour, pasta and wheat based bikkies, gluten free stuff (DD is a coeliac).

And grow stuff, we are probably one third self sufficient. This year I have not weeded out the jack in the hedge as it is quite edible. My DC are used to weed quiche. Did people not plant extra beans last year?

Thank you Pesty, I have some tubs that will work really well for the flour, and I shall also put pasta and rice in as well.
As for growing stuff, my aunt had a tomato glut last year! and we preserved loads of them using Nigellas Moonblush tomato recipe. They were super, we got them prepped and when other things were cooking in oven we used up space to cook them, and then left in overnight, then sterilised jam jars, put the toms in and topped up with olive oil.

The only infestation we have had for years was some dried fava beans. Managed to catch it before it spread, but was a good reminder to exercise food hygiene.

On a side note we.always had weevils in things growing up.. My mum told me they were only made of what we had been eating and they were fine.... I always just sieves flour for cake and threw them out. I'm not sure if anyone knows this is really true or if it makes it less nutritious or something?

extra protein...

Are you my DM cloudtree ? Exactly what she would say.

Just topped up the heating oil (we have biomass heating but also a back up oil boiler) after reading an article last night about anticipated issues. prices are ok at the moment and so it certainly doesn't hurt to have a full tank.

I need to find somewhere to stash loo rolls. It may have to be in the loft. I intend to buy a pack or two everytime I go to Aldi. Ds gets through a lot of loo roll.

I hope they are both back to school this week so I can do a top up shop.

Anyone got a short cut to work out how much food per person per week?

I've done my inventory. Lots of condiments and bits and bobs, but not a lot of actual food food.

So I need to do a secret big shop of bulk buys like pasta, tinned veg etc.

My freezer is very small. So not sure about tinned meats etc. I can't fit a lot of frozen meat, fish and quorn in our freezer.

@PootlesBobbleHat , think about shelf stable vegan or vegetarian alternatives. I have dried soya mince and silken tofu as well as bits in my freezer. Tbe idea being to stick it in a pasta sauce or curry sauce (homemade or from a jar) and serve with rice or pasta or whatever.

I'm predominantly veggie and eat tons of tofu so I'm hoping to get some packs of it in water as it freezes well in a small space, but I might try that silken type too then.

I've never eaten tinned meat so don't know where to begin with that.

I used to eat a lot of dried soya mince when I was young (so, 20 years ago ha), and it was cheap, I'm going to try to get some but it's not very readily available here. Maybe online. We used to make a chilli costing 27p per portion when we were students!

DS has SEN so will only eat certain textures. I'm not sure he'd go for it.

Or do something more sophisticated but you'll need another poster for that. Or my dh who is a great cook.

I've got a few curry sauce jars as back up! But I make a lot of my own food. Until recently I never ate pre-made food but then DS came along...

Me neither, @PootlesBobbleHat .

I actually feel lucky I grew up poor with steadfastedly 1950s parents. All my prepping reminds me of them. I'm good at ekeing food out and using leftovers.

My DH is a child of baby boomers who had everything in, all the time. He wont eat leftovers and if I batch cook he'll eat the lot because we can 'buy more'. I've just spent the afternoon hiding the stash ;-)

I used to eat a lot of dried soya mince when I was young (so, 20 years ago ha), and it was cheap, I'm going to try to get some but it's not very readily available here.

Beanfeast Tesco £1 a pack