Have you converted your family to prepping?

[SeasonallySnowyPeasant]

OH: used to roll his eyes at my stash of Brexit supplies up in the loft. Now reminds me of we used something and need to keep it topped up.

Parents: got interested when I brought it up in conversation and put together a small Brexit stash that served them well through early lockdown.

Grandma: thanked me because if I hadn't said about my Brexit pile she wouldn't have started her own and might have run out of loo roll.

Anyone else got a slightly abashed OH who now picks up the odd tin and helps with stock rotation?

there is the most fabulous corner shop near to ex's house. it has nearly everything you could possibly want, mainly for the students and poorer families in the area as there is no big supermarket within walking distance. there is a small Nisa and small Co-op.

DH was very sceptical of my Brexit/general prepping for the last couple of years. He's a city boy, so never a planner, as he could always get anything he needed within a quick walk).

We had to self-isolate as soon as lockdown was announced, as did many ofbour closest friends, so would have been pretty 'stranded' if we didn't have a full (tiny) pantry and fridge/freezer.

Sadly he has now become a bit too accustomed to the idea that I can magically produce food he never knew existed

Bit like ex with the magical appearance of food,soap,bog roll..

Since this pandemic, yes! My son (18) used to deride my reserves until March when we were told to stay home. He got really anxious about people fighting in grocery stores and I told him do not worry, we wouldn’t have to leave the house for six months. I think he developed a quiet respect for me and my reserves then!

Mine is on board now! I started getting into the habit of stocking up when I was pregnant with dc3, 3 years ago. Experience had taught me that you don't want to be 'nipping out' for minor bits and bobs and nappies just after childbirth with a newborn in tow. Plus with a family of 5, things run out quite quickly and it's annoying to have to waste time making extra journeys or going without until you can get to the shops.

I kept the original brexit stash secret well, its name anyway because dp voted for brexit and I thought he'd think it was stupid. I just said it was my extra store. He didn't realise how much it had built up. DS didn't really know about it either as he'd probably think I was panicking, but dd1 knew and thought it was a good idea.

Didn't think my dp was a prepper but then, he had been following what was going on in China, right at the start of the pandemic and anticipated what was going to happen. Months before, he started ordering a few things in bulk, like loo roll, wipes and dust masks for work (he's a builder so would use them anyway). So I got on board with that! Much got used up during lockdown but it was really handy. So now it's just something we try and do. I just say it's for more lockdowns/disruption, but I expect we'll need it next year too!

DP is more on board than he was. I think at first he thought it ridiculous that I had supplies hidden in my wardrobe etc but he was reassured when the panic buying started that we did have a good supply of essentials.

Mum was extremely glad. I normally make sure she’s well provisioned against any eventuality as she’s elderly. I visited her in early March with a friend and we did a good Costco shop, I was so thankful afterwards!
She’s from a family who were regularly snowed up in winter when she was a girl so she has long experience.

I have always had a well stocked kitchen, but had never emerged beyond the space hidden on top of the cupboards near the ceiling until Jan/Feb this year when I got a few extra bits and stashed in the wardrobe (we may be impacted by Brexit but hope that would be minor, whereas Covid was looking quite potentially difficult). DH was slightly rolling eyes when he realised, but has been happy as time has gone on as I had ordered some masks for the family (from China so ordered mid-Feb but got delayed until early July) and picked up a large bottle of hand sanitiser from chemist 3 weeks before lockdown. I had checked my small bottles of sanitiser (lots for various bags for first aid kits, hiking, sailing, etc all often having no running water available) and medical gloves (first aider at home, work and Cubs).

Things like long-life alternatives to regular milk had been bought to try and see if they were acceptable in case supplies got interrupted - but are now part of everyday use here as well as cows milk. So that was an interesting good thing to come of it. (We are all concerned for global warming etc, and DD is getting very into healthy eating so no fat or sugar, although DH and I are more moderate and still eat some red meat etc).

And most of my stash is items that we had always used, so will definitely use at some point, rather than alternatives. Although some may take longer to use up than others both due to the amount in there and changes in what we are eating/drinking because of lockdown (DH and I) and hormonally/changing tastes etc (DD). And the fact that I am still working all the time and not getting the exercise I used to on my commute - meaning that both lack of time and growing girth have stopped me from baking at all let alone doing extra (and we had no issues with bread supplies) so my baking supplies are well intact still. But Christmas is coming and that tends to be my main baking portion of the year. (And I didn't buy extra yeast as I already had some because I sometimes make naan breads for proper Indian curry feast nights, and had breadsoda for making fluffy pancakes to be able to make soda bread).

One thing my stash really failed on was coffee (I had some, but VASTLY underestimated what DH and I are drinking now we're both home all day) - but have sourced online stocks from good local producers.

Oh my goodness, ex has agreed to buy extra stuff.