Buying in bulk / stockpiling ....is it really worth it?

[Deleted User]

some of us already made preparations re stockpiling plus water, medications etc. I have a storm kettle and a trangia, plus a good water filter and folded water carriers. Everything was tucked away out of sight and with a bit of luck will stay out of sight. However, being a qualified homeopath, I also prepared for avain flu some time ago, including notes. I actually prepared family boxes with medications plus instructions. Time to get more copies printed for my family, just in case of course, with adaptations for swine flu
ps I have retired and no longer practise. I just deal with family illnesses

puss14

I usually have a large stockpile just through habits my nan passed onto me but I had run it down substantially because of money problems. Today my OH was paid and he got s good pay so we went and brought a heap of tinned goods, toilet paper, long life milk etc just in case. Even if nothing eventuates it all can be used and we both work from home so if need be we will stay at home and ride it out with what we have. Hopefully this wont be necessary but if it gets crazy I am not taking any risks.

[Deleted User]

No I don't bother unless its a bog-off which I know I can share with my DD's.I am still trying to eat through my freezer ATM. Money sitting in there and on the shelf in tins is money thats not earning me anything. I have got into the habit of buying only fresh stuff and veggies in the hope of 'working down' my cupboards. I seem to have lots of stuff in there that I bought without thinking ,now I am more organised and only buy what's really wanted. I took loads away with me last week when I was on holiday up in the dales and seemed to have brought quite a bit back as well. So now I make sure that I only really need it before I buy.Unless its really cold and snowy then of course I would have a problem getting out to the shops as I have a mobility problem. I suppose it depends on the size of your family .As I live alone it seems a bit daft to have 3 dozen loo rolls

rosieben

I've built my stockpile up for several reasons, but not because of a pandemic. I've no car and I live a long way from any decent shops, banks etc. My store cupboard has been a godsend during the snow and serous health problems during the last year.

At the other extreme, my ex mil kept nothing in the house. If she had visitors she would have to run to the local shop to get the makings of a sandwich!

mardatha

That's how my own mum operated Rosie, so it's been hard for me to turn completely around and start storing. I always end up using it..

kunekune

That's why I was wondering: three or four months ago I had groaning freezers, full of meat and fish and other stuff. Now, I have some sausages, mince, chicken livers, fish fingers and not much else other than frozen veg and a few home made ready meals. That's with three freezer compartments (two f/f and an underbench f). Then I was trying to keep costs down and my daughter stopped (temporarily, it seems) eating meat, so I didn't buy any meat for about 2 months. So the idea wasn't so much panic shopping as the thouht that maybe there were good reasons for my traditional approach of having full cupboards/freezers!

It is a bit scary at the moment, difficult to work out whether this flu thing will just go the way of all the previous scares or turn out to be a serious thing.

Gigervamp

I think it would be prudent to get a few extra bits in. The level alert is now 5 (it goes up to 6) so they're expecting a lot of people to be hit by this. If that happens, it could affect deliveries to stores so things like bread will sell out very quickly.

kezlou

I bulk buy some things like rice, cat food, oats, lentils, potatoes, pasta, onions, washing powder, cereals as it works out cheaper for me. At the moment i have about 20 rolls toilet paper, got a bit over excited i know.
It depends really, as i tend to buy more reduced food at the moment then freeze it for a later date. Right now i am attempting to use up all the food in the freezer as we have so much, as i bulk make a mince dish which can be used for other meals.

I bulk buy not because of swine flu etc but simply because it is cheaper in the long run.
For instance 10kg of £13 from the asian food store lasts about 3months + but far cheaper than the supermarket.

This swine flu is quite scary but at the same time if we panic it makes thing worse. My children were convinced they could catch flu from my the stables near my MIL house. Poor things i had calm them down and say its all fine don't worry.
Worrying times we live in.

D&DD

I think re flu its probably wise if you don't store stuff to keep to hand a couple of weeks food etc in case of illness or disruption to the supply chain if a lot of people are not well.:D

Who alert is now at level 5 but this isn't a reason to panic,our UK alert system doesn't 'kick in' until we're at level 6.
The W.H.O alert is mainly to make governments aware they need to prepare in case of more widespread infection.
HTH
D XX
*not heading for the hills just yet* ;):D

Bunny200

I have to admit that although I'm not normally one to panic I have decided to stock up dried/tinned foods just in case. Mainly in case the supply chain slows down a bit. The only think I bought that I wouldn't normally is UHT Milk but I've doubled up on lentils, pasta, rice, pots etc and tinned beans, flour, frozen veg, dried fruit etc. I don't think we would have very lovely meals but I reckon we could get by for 2-3 weeks with what I've got (subject to Tesco delivery tomorrow!!!).

I don' t think it will hit Britain hard but if it hits other countries we might have difficulties getting supplies in. I also know that there is an element of irresponsibility in stock piling food at this time as it snow balls into real shortages (i.e. a run on a bank!) but I feel more secure knowing I have my own bodyweight in lentils:D:D