What to do??

[Takethebuscuitandthesink]

Hi all,

Following recent developments in brexit no deal seems the most likely outcome.

I would like to think we could make a success of it but then I don’t have a crystal ball so I want to be prepared. Should I start prepping? If so where should I start?

I’m in a fortunate position financially so (within reason) budget won’t be too much of an issue. Please tell me what I should do?

The general advice on here is to imagine a 3 day powercut. Think about your families food, water, medical and other needs and stock up on those. From there you can add:

Small bottles of spirits/tobacco to trade with neighbors.

Fuel

Spare parts for cars/home equipment.

Other things to consider are, how to conceal and protect your stash.

@Backwoodsgirl

Thanks it’s just all so daunting to know where to start. We are in a superb so wouldn’t want to publicise the fact I am stockpiling.

I will definitely take your advice on board

I also live in the suburbs. Low key, as suits your space and budget. Try not to replace anxiety about Brexit with anxiety about your buffer of supplies.
No one has the perfect amount. No one has a crystal ball on this.
You do what works for you and you are already ahead of those people who see doing anything proportionate and sensible about your home supplies as an act of betrayal (and other childish melodramatic outbursts).

@bellinisurge

Thanks a lot it’s great to have support like this without compromising my identity and letting people know where to come knocking if it all goes wrong. I don’t want to be all doom and gloom obviously I want brexit to be a huge success but I am also a realist and want to work on practical solutions.

The way I looked at it has been to buy more if what I normally buy. NOT buying stuff that we dont normally eat.
So unlike some posters in here, I haven’t bought canned potatoes because I’ve never used them and won’t unless I have no other choice. That means it would t get used unless th8ngs are getting really really shitty.
But I have bought canned beans (different types), sweet corn etc...
We have flour and yeast (because make all our bread in the bread maker anyway). Some jam from last year etc....

Some products aren’t perishable (eg soap) so I have bought some too.

Some we use anyway, eg we have a transit stove to go camping so we have made sure we have enough fuel for it.

As for quantities, as bellini said, we don’t know what’s going to happen. So. You can’t orepare for sure. See what you can financially afford to buy and how much space you have. The. Take it from there.

@QueenieInFrance

Thank you as I said in my op we are in a good position financially so money (within reason) isn’t too much of an issue

Look at your weekly shop and double up on the long life stuff like tins and packets, toiletries, cleaning supplies.

If fresh stuff was not available, what would you eat as an alternative? It could be something completely different or something similar.

Would gardening and growing your own veg be an option? ( Experience tells me that those with more money often have less time so maybe not)

You may want to replace fresh fruit with tinned for example. Or if a recipe you cook with fresh ingredients would be grim out of a tin, try a different meal entirely with long life ingredients.

I have a small baby so have just concentrated on having q months additional supply of milk and nappies as most of this is from Europe, I have some extra beans/ tuna / sweetcorn / pasta and rice in .... it won’t be yum but have a couple additional days supply of food but figured I can live if most food my baby can only drink milk so with a small budget I proritised him

Thank you all for the responses it has been beyond helpful. Yes i do have a garden so growing some things may be an option. I will definitely take everyone’s advice on board and try to get started.

I have got lots of loo roll and a good supply of cat food and litter.
The freezer is full of meat, fish, cheese, potato products, veg and fruit.
Otherwise I just have a very well stocked larder of pasta, rice, cereal, sauces, beans and a few tinned veg and meat/ fish.
It won’t feed us forever but should mean we don’t have to shop if it’s bad in April.

@backwoodsgirl if I have like 30 bottles of naice wine/spirits can I not prep altogether and just trade? I really need to get rid of it all.

Buy a crossbow and use it to encourage people to share their stash with you.

Op, I'm afraid this topic also attracts, how shall I put it, naysayers. You might need to include thick skin in your preps if they get to you.

Oh my goodness ... I am so glad I found this thread. We're currently spending all our spare time creating raised beds so we can grow fruit and veg post brexit with the assumption we're going to be looking at£2 icebergs again. I hadn't thought about general food shortages though. Medication we're stocked up on but I hadn't thought about tins and dry goods ... I'm going to be making a list. I like a good list, very reassuring.

Have a look on this topic and the Brexit topic @GhostBustersFavouriteMum , there are plenty of ideas for you to play with.

There's also this one @GhostBustersFavouriteMum which focuses on veg gardening
29th March "Grow your own" newcomers welcome here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/3504562-29th-March-Grow-your-own-newcomers-welcome-here

@GregoryPeckingDuck

I guess, if your neighbors A. Have what you want and B. Are willing

If money isn't an issue I would personally be storing enough food to last longer than 3 days. 3 days is a pure emergency buffer. 3-4 weeks is a more realistic time period for any problems to start getting resolved. I would aim for a month if money isn't an issue plus more of anything which you really wouldn't want to do without (I have extra cheese for example).

Buy what you use even if that means your food will be repetitive for a few weeks. Think about what will freeze as well as shelf stable stuff. Think about salt pepper, spices etc. Think about drinks, toiletries and other things you use in the home like toilet roll, washing up liquid and washing powder. Think about all meals and snacks including breakfast items, milk etc. Think about nice to haves like chocolate and wine.

Grown as much as possible since the likelihood is that prices will increase across the board.

I would also have some cash available. We also have spare diesel (not masses but enough for an emergency). Top up fuel if you rely on oil or wood or have a gas tank.

Ah, dont actually know my neighbours. If anyone is desperate for chateneuf du paper in the apocalypse (brexit or zombie both work for me) hit me up.

@Janedoe

*

Thank you all I am glad others have found support from this thread. Also I don’t think I’d be much good with a crossbow (I’m a rubbish shot)

I made a week's meal plan of stuff we eat regularly, then bought 6 lots of it. Added other fun food and toiletries once I'd sorted the 6 weeks out. Only started at Christmas, so doesn't take long. Freezer space is important I found for protein, dairy etc.

Oh, I included seeds, we've already got stuff in the ground (always do).