Decided thsi is all just a waste of my time

[Rightleftupdown]

NC. Have been on this board lots since the start of the pandemic and don't want posts linked. I started off in Feb getting really worried and came onto these boards for information, advice and ideas. All of which I got in a considered and measured way, and which for the time I was grateful for. I can't help think now though that it was such a load of bollocks though (the prepping, not aimed at any individuals on here). I got myself into a state, spent a fortune on stuff. Water purifying tablets? Out of date, in the bin. Medicine items? Out of date, in the bin. Oxymeter? Unused, waste of money. Nebulizer? Unused, fucking hundreds of pounds. I could weep when I think about how much I spent. Good wise, I bought very little I won't eat but I don't think I can look at another piece of bloody cous cous. I don't think any of this was helpful to a healthy state of mind for me, it just gave me a false sense of control despite contribiting to me being really fucking anxious. At least my shopping bills this month have been slim.

[MagicSummer]

I've always had what DH calls 'my shop' in the garage. There are loads of tinned foods, sugar, flour, cleaning materials and toiletries of all descriptions. As soon as I use one, I buy another to replace the item. We have 2 generators and the fuel for them. We also have 2 freezers full of food which I am beginning to use up now that (hopefully) we are past the worst. I get bread, cream and milk delivered and have a local farm shop which sells fruit and vegetables in the open air, so I am grateful that I am well-prepared!

[SittinOnTheDockOfTheBay]

I'm a prepper lite, mainly thanks to these boards. We had to use some of the stash when we had to self isolate last year - it meant that we could eat well from the freezer and not have to rely on anyone else to drop off shopping. I stocked up again at the end of last year and it's meant that we have been able to reduce our shopping trips to once a fortnight (for fresh stuff) while cases have been high.

DP and I are going to do a big shop each in a couple of weeks to get us through any border fuck ups coming on 1st April. Possibly the same again in the run up to 1st July and then possibly again in Autumn (depending on COVID mutations).

I will always keep a month's supply of food, toiletries, cleaning products and medicine from now on. It means that we can skip the supermarket run in bad weather, if we are ill or are short of money. We do hiking and camping so already have a battery operated radio, solar lights, camping stove, battery packs etc. I don't know if it is anxiety or if it's just because we've learned from the last year that all sorts of things can happen and it's useful to be at least a bit prepared.

[Chunkymenrock]

It's like absolutely everything in life. Extreme views one way or the other are never helpful and rarely correct. Taking the common sense middle view and doing what you can do within your own means and situation will serve you well.

[Sideorderofchips]

As pirate Pete says. Texas was not as a majority prepared for what happened. Its always useful to be prepared

[Rightleftupdown]

@K9medic food for thought there on your post and with other replies from PP. Thank you all.

[PiratePetespajamas]

Yes but there are always unexpected disasters of one sort or another. Look at Texas in recent days. Those who had a stock of groceries in, a supply of water, and maybe even an emergency generator, will have fared much better - and been much less scared - than those living day to day. And the supermarkets emptied out, just like here at the beginning of the pandemic, because people WEREN’T prepared and panicked. Okay, so generator is a bit far-fetched for most of us but I think having a few weeks of food and some other supplies for emergencies is not at all a bad idea - and I was not a prepper before.

Also: are you sure your medicines are out of date? All mine go until at least next year (bought last year).

[K9medic]

The real question here is was it or will it really be a waste of your time?

Let’s suppose we agree that you have not spent money to the stage you are in debt, that any food items you have bought will either be eaten eventually by your family or can be donated to the local food bank.

Hand sanitizer can be used post Covid19 and face masks will keep to next flu season.

Once my medical equipment becomes outdated (either it goes past the date or I find a “Shiny Thing” I really really need) it gets moved into the training kit box or donated to one of the many charities that send serviceable equipment and bandages abroad.

And what we are left with is time. If like most people you were furloughed / in locked down, did you neglect anything else to spend time preparing?

On a positive note did you learn any new skills or meet interesting people on these sites?

[Sceptre86]

You have to know where to draw the line and if you are anxious already then prepping for armageddon isn't going to reduce your anxiety. I prep as I don't drive, we live in a part of Scotland where we are getting more frequent snow over the winter months and dh could not get the car off the drive and frequently got stuck needing assistance from lovely passerbys. So my prepping involves having plenty of the basic ingredients I need to feed my family for at least a month, snow shovels, gloves, snow boots, hats, scarves, electric heaters and heavy duty quilts incase of issues with heating. I have two young children so always have calpol, ibuprofen, simple linctus and saline nasal spray in, we have a first aid kit in the house and car. The key is to only buy what you can afford and interms of food only what you will use.

[Sideorderofchips]

One to watch, it's on YouTube is 'blackout' BBC Docudrama is what I searched although I think it was actually channel 4.

Its worth it if you are prepping for blackouts

[haba]

DH has walkie talkies- in case we're separated while bugging out.
I do want a Kelly kettle though...just for when we're actually allowed to go somewhere!

[BlackeyedSusan]

I have stuff for keeping warm ( gloves, hats, wool blankets, hand warmers,and stuff for keeping cool mini fans, extra cream lining to the kitchen blind,

Stuff for the car, etc etc.

[BlackeyedSusan]

What "emergencies"

We have had power cuts here. A big chunk of the grid went out one August
A large chunk of our town was without water in the middle of a snowstorm.
Toilet and sewers have been out of action.
Snow and cancelled deliveries/ can't get to shops
Having to self isolate for ten days or so.
Pandemic... ( Started in Jan last year)
Brexit disruption. ( April and June deadlines)
Illness and disability.
Prepping is my "special interest." Probably slightly more useful than some of the other ones


so we have: lighting ( head torches, wind up, solar and battery lanterns)
Food: eat cold stuff, just add boiling water stuff, solar kettle just for fun really, solar oven, Kelly kettle, a couple of disposable BBQs and stand, spare charcoal. Flasks to store food in.
Water: bottled water, plus other drinks. ( Fruit juice, soya milk, pop etc)

I had a wind up solar radio but dropped it... Oops.

[BlackeyedSusan]

A large part of the grid went out last August, or possibly the August before, due to a lightning strike and a couple of other factors at the same time. I was texting home to see if our local area was out.

[haba]

Are you looking in my bedroom, @Bluntness100?

[Bluntness100]

@gigity

So if I always make sure I have extra toilet roll from now on does that make me a prepper? I don't see the lack of it as a threat though more inconvenience.

No, of course not. Not if it is say 12 extra toilet rolls. But if it’s 45 and you’ve tins of soup and packets of pasta hidden under your bed,, then yeah.

[InvincibleInvisibility]

One of the first the first things I learnt as a prepper was decide on your emergencies and work to that.

So I am prepared for:
Problems in food supply

Problems in water supply

For electricity Ive limited myself to light and heat. I have no way of using camping stoves etc. So didn't buy them. I do have food that doesn't need cooking.

Being evacuated from home in a hurry (fire/flood/other).

I have a decent first aid kit but havent bought oximeter etc.

I am not prepared for:
War (live in middle of a capital city, if the bombs start falling we re stuffed)

Bugging out in any meaningful way. Have bought a camping rucksack and various penknives/windup radios etc. But haven't done sleeping bags etc. I don't have space and DC were too little. Might rethink it as they get older and could carry their own bags. Although space is still an issue.

[gigity]

Fair enough

[Sideorderofchips]

In a way yes.

Anyone who has candles and torches incase of power cut is a prepper

Anyone who keeps a 5l bottle of water in case a water main bursts is a prepper

Prepper is just being prepared.

[gigity]

So if I always make sure I have extra toilet roll from now on does that make me a prepper? I don't see the lack of it as a threat though more inconvenience.

[Sideorderofchips]

Every prepper has a threat in their mind that they are preparing to protect their family against.

That's why we do it.

[gigity]

There is no need to defend yourself because I'm not attacking you. I agree that life will get more expensive. Rather than physically prepping for that I've just saved as much as possible & won't be spending it when "freedom is back".

[gigity]

No it was just because you specifically made the point about it depends what you think the real threat is. I was just interested to know, no projection.

[Thelnebriati]

Please dont feel you need to defend yourself Sideorderofchips.

[Sideorderofchips]

I'm intrigued as to why you want to know specifically what I prep for. Do you have it in your head I'm a bunker owning armageddon paranoid nut?

[Sideorderofchips]

What do I think personally a major threat is?

Well the global pandemic we are in for one. With a virus that mutates quite regularly.
Unemployment? My job is very secure however I can not account for future illness that would affect my ability to work. Cost of living rise? I live on a small island with a very high cost of living. Power cuts? Don't we all?