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 Out of date, in the bin.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 Out of date, in the bin.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.

[ChonkyChook]

Just wondering what your "belief" that those who had prepped had binned food was based on. Preppers tend to be rather organised as a group.

It's relevant as you seemed to struggle to imagine someone choosing dinner from tins. You never used a foodstuff that stores well?

[ChonkyChook]

Honestly, if there is a war, tins or Tesco?

[ChonkyChook]

Actually, mate. Never mind. You do you.

I stopped posting here for a reason. Mad love to all the preppers who continue to post amazing advice and support.

[popsly]

Just wondering what your "belief" that those who had prepped had binned food was based on.

I've seen posts about out of date food. Are you saying no one has thrown any food out, what's your belief based on?

Preppers tend to be rather organised as a group.

Some are no doubt.

It's relevant as you seemed to struggle to imagine someone choosing dinner from tins.

No the point was if zombies or a asteroid were approaching you're not going to be thinking about food. Tins weren't particularly relevant just a short word to use.

Actually, mate. Never mind. You do you.

I'm not your mate but yes I already do do me.

[popsly]

I stopped posting here for a reason.

Big loss no doubt 😁

[Purplerayhan]

Listening to the Y&Y prob this week about the situation in Ireland and their difficulties with getting steak and fresh veg there was a prediction that things would be worse in April when more restrictions come in unless ministers listened to their pleas to extend some deadlines (missed this bit though so not sure what they werr) made me think that maybe we aren't out of the woods yet

[K9medic]

A friend of mine runs the local food bank, he gets a lot of tins that are coming up to their best before date. We kind of think yhese are from preppers rotating stock.

[Sideorderofchips]

It's funny. Pre covid times this board was seen as a conspiracy hot spot for those of us who were regulars. We were seen as the weirdos, it will never happen, tin foil hat etc etc.

Then suddenly when covid hit people came here for advise... What was likely to go out of stock, what lasted a long time, what to get in incase it went really nasty. And regulars helped out those that needed it with advice

Now it all seems to be getting better it's back to ridicule.

Preppers rotate their stocks. They don't just plan for wars or shtf or end of world scenarios. If you want that go on YouTube or watch doomsday preppers.

We prep for simple things. Bad weather. Look at texas. Unprecedented weather there meaning that people had no power, had no water etc. (or in the case of a twitter thread about a posters brother who fancied himself as a prepper... Without a non electric tin opener)

If you do not agree with preppers, then don't bother coming here. Hide the topic.

But proper preppers don't throw out food. They use it in rotation and only store what they will use.

[gigity]

But proper preppers don't throw out food.

What is a proper prepper? I was always confused by the difference between panic buyers & preppers.

[gigity]

Lots of people on the boards in Oct/Nov talking about stocking up for another lockdown/Brexit. Surely they are panic buyers as we already know there were some shortages. I find the entire thing pretty fascinating.

[gigity]

We prep for simple things. Bad weather. That makes sense but that's not why the boards have been so busy the last yr is it?

[Sideorderofchips]

Preppers don't panic buy. They don't need to because they are already prepared

For example. During the great toilet paper famine of last year, I didn't need to panic as I already had 45 rolls I buy on a regular basis from amazon. So therefore I was prepared. Running to the shop at the first sign of lockdown to buy everything that I could have got my hands on would have made me a panic buyer

[Sideorderofchips]

No bad weather isn't the reason. Covid is. If you go all the way back to the first pages of this board, it was created for like minded people who wanted to be prepared for different situations. These vary from sudden job loss, to a power outrage, to a global catastrophe.

Covid this time last year when declared a pandemic probably came under the last one.

Preppers prepare so that they don't have to rely on what might be left on the shelves. This board became alot busier around the announcement that a no deal brexit would happen as people started to realise that shit might very well hit the fan.

[gigity]

Running to the shop at the first sign of lockdown to buy everything that I could have got my hands on would have made me a panic buyer

See I think that "person" is a myth. Who actually runs to the shop buying whatever they can regardless if they want it or eat it in the first place?
I was getting short on toilet roll during the famine so signed up for a subscription service & bought a huge box. Is that prepping or panic buying/stockpiling or whatever you call it? I bought extra because I was running short in case of another shortage.

[Sideorderofchips]

Stocking up takes many forms.

Some buy in bulk
Some buy a bit extra when they go to the shop. Maybe an extra bag of pasta for the cupboard
Some make a list and buy something off it each month.


Panic buying is more emptying it all off the shelf into a trolley. Those were the wasteful ones thst didn't consider shelf life, storage life etc. Hence the media pictures of bins overflowing with bread and meat etc

[gigity]

These vary from sudden job loss, to a power outrage, to a global catastrophe.

I understand the budgeting part but not a global catastrophe. Would lots of toilet paper help in a global catastrophe? I guess if you start crapping yourself when the looting starts.

[Sideorderofchips]

@gigity

Running to the shop at the first sign of lockdown to buy everything that I could have got my hands on would have made me a panic buyer

See I think that "person" is a myth. Who actually runs to the shop buying whatever they can regardless if they want it or eat it in the first place?
I was getting short on toilet roll during the famine so signed up for a subscription service & bought a huge box. Is that prepping or panic buying/stockpiling or whatever you call it? I bought extra because I was running short in case of another shortage.

I assume you did not see the pictures of people queueing in the first stages of pandemic and lockdown with trolleys overflowing with toilet paper and flour etc?

There is a reason that there were limits out on the sales of some items.

[Sideorderofchips]

In your case I would have said that it was sensible. You didn't set up a subscription for several households worth, just your own.

[gigity]

I thought the shortages of toilet roll & pasta was caused by everyone buying a bit extra as opposed to a few clearing the shelves?

[Sideorderofchips]

A prepper mindset.

Using texas as an example. If you were in the situation of a family in texas where is is sub zero temperature and you have no electric. What would you wish you had bought?

A camping stove and gas?
Torches?
Lanterns?
Food you didn't need to cook?

So you get a few things in in case there is ever a power cut.

[gigity]

In your case I would have said that it was sensible. You didn't set up a subscription for several households worth, just your ow

Like I said I find it fascinating & think it says a lot about anxiety & the need for control (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). Interestingly the subscription service became overwhelmed & stopped taking on new customers. I think I was sensible but also part of the problem if that makes sense.

[KleineDracheKokosnuss]

@Sideorderofchips

Having been a prepper for a long time it's peace of mind. When people were panic buying in the shops I was able to stay at home and not worry

^^this

I have stocks of food and necessities that mean I don’t have to go shopping for well over a month. If I get snowed in - I’ll be fine. If supermarket logistics go to hell, I’ll be fine. If the much threatened but never seen blackouts and failure of the grid occur - I’ll be fine.

And because I prep, my dad and other family will be fine too.

[Sideorderofchips]

No itt was definitely more down to panic buying.

Problem with panic buying is this

Several people buy some extra so they don't need to go to the shop

Suddenly the shelf looks emptier than it usually would

So the next people think oh shit there's a shortage. I best make sure I have plenty

Each time the shelf gets emptier ubtjl there is none left

Then some people panic. Go on social media and say there is a shortage. More people panic and rush to their local shop to get as much as they can.


Then it becomes a shortage.

[gigity]

I assume you did not see the pictures of people queueing in the first stages of pandemic and lockdown with trolleys overflowing with toilet paper and flour etc?

I did but it wasn't representative of my area of London except for toilet roll for a few days. And I've seen similar images over the years.

[gigity]

I always have random stuff in my cupboard or freezer that I don't particularly want to eat so if I was snowed in I would cope. Although I'm very unlikely to be snowed in where I live & it certainly wouldn't be for weeks on end.