Help where to start (novice brexit prep)

[IsItCoffeeTimeYet]

I've been reading these prep threads for a while, and have managed to convince my wider family to start stockpiling, however I'm stuck where to start/what to prioritise.

My issues are:

• I live in a tiny, overcrowded flat. I've almost no space to store anything. Literally, it'd probably just have to be out in the already small lounge. (Obviously this means generators, water butts and growing my own food is not possible!) A fortnight's worth of loo roll and nappies will take up most of the available space.

• I'm due DC3 at the start of June. Do I need to prep for that or is it far enough away that things (ie availability/price of nappies) will have settled a bit?

• is it sensible to purposefully NOT stockpile crisps and chocolate junk food in the hopes that shortages/price hikes will kick start me into more healthy living? Or is it a) nice to have a treat if beans & rice get boring, and b) actually a good source of non perishable high calorie foods?

• I've read the "have enough to live off for 3 days" thing, but we generally have that buffer in the house anyway. What is a realistically a good period to stock for? (Remembering the afore mentioned lack of space)

• If I can't afford to stockpile now, I won't be able to afford any price hikes that may happen. Is it sensible to get a (0%) loan to buy extra now, in the hopes that I'll be paying less when I use it instead of buying when prices are higher?

Sorry for all the questions. I've made lists and lists but I'm still not quite getting my head around what's best for ME to stockpile.

Tl;dr

• I've got no storage space, what do I prioritise? And how much?
• Is it too early to stock (nappies etc) for baby due June 1st?
• Is it sensible to view shortages/higher prices as an incentive to ditch eating junk?
• Should I get a loan to pay for stocking up if I can't afford it right now?

Hmmm, I wouldn't take a loan out.
I'm a secret prepper and I don't do it earnestly but I have been adding to my stocks for Brexit.

The key advice is to buy things you'd ordinarily eat so they don't waste. So in the supermarket each week I'm adding the odd thing, like the cheap as chips pasta. I think it was 20p per bag. So I put 5 in. That's only a quid. And I'm doing it with long life juice, baked beans, rice, couscous. So it's not expensive. But then,Im not buying nappies, which are more expensive.

I saw in Aldi a huge box of baby wipes for cheap on Monday.

I've cleared a space in my wardrobe for my supplies. And on top of it. Do you have any under the stairs space or garage or even a shed?

The only thing I'd consider if I was due a baby would be cloth nappies and wipes. But it's quite an investment up front if you're not going to use them any way.

Can you clear a freezer drawer out? Because fresh (well frozen) fruit and veg will be a good thing to have in.

Journos fuck off

It might be time for a spot of Marie Kondo style decluttering.

Consider those places you can stash stuff that you might not have considered - on top of and at the bottom of wardrobes, behind the sofa, bookshelves (eg second hand Billy bookcase), storage crates. Some people even go so far as to use the space under the bath.

Journos fuck off

DC3 in June - honestly my crystal ball is broken and there's no way anyway can tell what it's going to look like in June. I would prep at least basic stuff, though presumably you still have much of the basic baby stuff from DC1/2.

Journos fuck off

It's nice to have a treat once in a while. As space is an issue stick to chocolate not crisps as they're denser. Get a pack of unpopped popcorn too.

Journos fuck off

Re time, I'm going for 3 months of food, but longer for those items I consider vital and the government will ignore - pet supplies, my favoured brand of shampoo and so on. Fit what you can in, but I think the principle of prepping for longer for items like pet supplies still applies.

Journos fuck off

I wouldn't be comfortable telling you to take out a loan; what would happen if you were made redundant for instance?

Yes., clearing out what you don’t need/use is a good tip and one I need to take on board too :)

Look at low space items: concentrated clothes conditioner, boxed wash power takes up less space than tablets (per wash - and cheaper!). Concentrated orange squash and washing up liquid.

Focus on essentials: forget the dishwasher (if you have one) as all the supplies for that are more expensive and take up more room than a bottle of concentrated washing up liquid. Same with shampoo: look for a 2-in-1 or forget conditioner. Multipurpose cleaner rather than loads of different bottles of cleaning stuff.

Top/bottom of the wardrobe, under the bed, behind books on a book shelf, hanging baskets for inside kitchen units. Take stuff out of packaging where possible - freezer stuff is an easy one to remove the size of, just cut out the cooking instructions and stick it on the front of the polythene/freezer bag.

Reuseable baby wipes and make up wipes are quite cheap and easy to manage: personally I couldn’t handle washable nappies but Aldi have them on offer at the moment.

If you are really stuck for space you could use boxes filled with stuff as coffee tables/bedside tables etc: either covered in a cloth or using actual nice boxes (quite cheap in The Range/Home Bargains etc).

Have some sweets/crisps/treats: you can usually pick them up cheap and they last for ages. Same with cheap fresh orange (although I use it and dilute it so it goes even further!).

If you have 3 days aim for a week, and then try and build up to 2 weeks and so on.

Don’t take out a loan though!

You need to ruthlessly declutter your entire flat. Ruthlessly!

All super helpful, thanks.

Most of the storage ideas are ones we do already! Take things out of packaging, buy concentrated, and powders instead of tablets. Under beds, inside & on top of wardrobes, already all occupied. We're seriously crammed in here already, I wasn't exaggerating. I've already done the Marie Condo method too!

I could live with having the kid's toys out and repurpose their toybox. That would work.

I'll definitely work on clearing the freezer. Good shout. 2 tubs of ice cream here I come!

The loan could possibly be from family, so not a risk as such.

I'd aim for three weeks of everything. If necessary just have a cardboard box in the corner of a room. I currently have one sitting on my landing. Its not pretty but hopefully its only relatively short term thing.

I'm not trying to be patronising or anything at all I am literally just really curious as to why some of the public genuinely think we need to do this? I haven't considered anything at all like this but am seeing people talking about prepping and I just can't myself understand why in modern Britain we would need to be stockpiling to such extremes as if we are going to be left as a nation to starve? I'm obviously completely missing something, could someone help me so I can have a bit of a further understanding on how necessary this will be and how quickly I should start prepping if so?

Behind your bath panel? Could always sling some bags of pasta behind there.

Its doing something you can do I think for a few people I've spoken to. We have no control over the government atm. It can give a bit or security to have a bit extra in just in case. Always the things you will eat anyway and of things don't go to shit then it's cheaper food bills for a few weeks.

It doesn't hurt to have a bit extra in I don't think.

Asking Preppers why they prep and suggesting it’s unnecessary on a Preppers board is getting a bit boring now.

I might go on to Motorcycle UK and ask them why they don’t just get cars

@ElyElyOy as explained I'm not trying to be patronising/start arguments what not I am genuinely wondering. And by saying how necessary it is, it might not be so much for me as it is for other people for example if people are worried about losing their jobs I can understand but I'm in a position where I'd never be without a job and therefore wouldn't ever be without ANY money so it's unlikely that I'd need to prep for that reason. That's not to brag it is literally just my circumstance and is one of the main reasons behind my interest in prepping. I hope that makes sense.

Do your kitchen kickboards come off OP? That’s a good space.

Spare sheets/towels can be stored under the mattress (between the box and mattress). Some sofas also have a zip on the back which I have known people use to put unneeded seasonal clothes in.

I take it you already have as much stuff as you can hanging off the walls? Or maybe one of those (French?) drainer shelves above the sink. Are you utilising all of your windowsills?

I store stuff on the worktop in boxes.

@canonlyhopexo it’s been covered repeatedly on here by people who explain it a lot better than me! most people “prep” (crap word) for health/financial/weather reasons, quite a few people are now also doing so because of Brexit. There are concerns that they may potentially be problems getting goods in to the country: this isn’t just food, it’s machine parts and ingredients that make our food and medication etc. This may cause prices to increases on what we have, as well as less food/products hitting the shelves. Some people living in city centre areas are also concerned about potential protests whatever the result (but that’s probably a lesser concern). There are also certain things that people worry will not be able to get through customs that they like rather than need (treats, favourite things etc) that people are stockpiling - just like when my friend comes back from Florida every year with a suitcase of twinkies

I'd never be without a job and therefore wouldn't ever be without ANY money so it's unlikely that I'd need to prep for that reason

Right but if you're tootling along going to do your shop with your plenty of money and are met with a load of people who also have money but have latched on to shit the shops have empty shelves and are panic buying everything they get their hands on.

Can you be bothered to do the elbows at the ready because I personally cant.?

People rang the police when KFC ran out of chicken. People are thick and combine thick with plenty cash.....

Just no.

I agree that journos can fuck off.
@IsItCoffeeTimeYet , if you are already ok on the three day front you are doing ok already. Totally get that space is an issue.
Can I tentatively suggest you think about reusable nappies? There are loads of online tutorials about making them and, if that is not something you can do, do you have a pal or a relative who would be up for making them for you. There might even be a scheme in your area (Council?) promoting it. I absolutely get that you wouldn't be in to it but you might want to roll the idea around in your head.

Thank you @ElyElyOy I can see a bit more now why people would "prep" as such and I didn't even think about machinery/car parts etc - just goes to show how little I am actually aware! I think I just had a vision of people panic buying all the food thinking they'd starve! I think any kind of compromise on supply of goods would be difficult to comprehend when most things are so readily available especially treats etc (even tootsie rolls!)

@gamerchick forgive me if I'm interpreting your post incorrectly but there isn't so much of a need to have an attitude. I won't be toddling or toodling or whatever it is you referred to it as to any shops with my "plenty" of money. I'll be trying to carry on my daily business as best as I can with my less than average wage, thank you. I am not trying to brag or boast or anything of the sort but very fortunately for me I am in a position where I cannot be made redundant is all and I do really feel for those who potentially could be due to Brexit. I'm not thick, and I'm certainly not the most cleverest of people either but I think personally I am doing the right thing for me by trying to educate myself on the various scenarios to get a more full idea of likely outcomes and why so many people do feel it necessary to prep so much. A lot of people can't be wrong so I'm just trying to understand, that's all.

You did, I wasn't having an attitude.

I was simply trying to create a scenario you may not have considered. Where people aren't worried about losing their jobs, more like they're worried there might now be much food on the shelves to buy full stop.

I wasn't saying you were thick either, but the collective you... Like those people who rang the police because KFC ran out of chicken... are and that's when shit gets scary if there is initial shortages.

Wouldn't it be better to have the choice of avoiding the supermarkets there for a couple of weeks if you need it?

If anyone wants a hand-me-down reusable nappies kit and is in the North East, let me know. It's all in good condition.

@INeedNewShoes , in case you get no response on that here, there's a thread I started ages ago for parents/carers of toddlers and babies that might get a taker if reactivated

Preparedness tips for anyone with a baby and/or toddler www.mumsnet.com/Talk/preppers/3458668-preparedness-tips-for-anyone-with-a-baby-and-or-toddler

PS @INeedNewShoes , that's a lovely offer

canonly I’m assuming you might be in the US with your reference to tootsie rolls and not being able to be made redundant. Over here anyone can potentially be made redundant if they are an employee. We don’t have the same concept of tenure. And lots of people, are very worried about the implications of brexit even those who are very well paid.

I think the most important thing for you to do is consider breastfeeding. Older children will be able to live on beans and pasta for a few days if they must, if it's difficult to get hold of formula that's a huge problem.