Who doesn't have a stock cupboard

elona

floss2

If you are paying off the mortgage then that is a sort of "financial storecupboard" in a way.

Everyone has their own view depending on their circumstances but I feel happier having some loaves and milk frozen so i do not have to go out if weather is bad or someone is ill and have enough ingredients in to make different meals if dds bring friend home etc.

I still end up popping out for a few things but that is then my choice. I hated slipping round on snow and ice two winters ago so managed for the days weather was bad by using what I had and dd would bring me an extra loaf or milk on their way back from work.

Good luck with reducing the mortgage, ours will greatly underperform too so we did similar to you and are so glad we did.

GreyQueen

Kittie, if you would be willing to share, I would also like more information about an investment cupboard. Is it a physical storecupboard or a metaphor for managing your investments?

floss2 I think your points are very valid and that it is an excellent idea to direct your resources into your mortgage. That will free up your money longer-term and bring great peace of mind. We're unlikely to have exactly the same set of circumstances, never mind the same mindset, but we can all learn from each other.

Because I don't have a car, getting heavy items like tinned goods and cleaning materials in can be a problem for me. What I tend to do is take advantage of trips to visit my parents (which happen on average every 6-8 weeks) and combine my shopping trip with theirs, for non-perishables which are proportionally heavy and can wait around until they are coming up with their car to visit me. I only shop for items like these if they are on offer, of course. If things aren't on offer, I buy an alternate or do without until they come around again.

Re what brands to stockpile, I just use my regular stuff, which is probably own-brand anyway. The storecupboard is meant to be used, not reserved for famine, so I'm running a larger inventory than is needed, not holding back stuff which will eventually be junked.

My brother is self-employed and runs an online business and banks with NatWest. It's sorted now but the crisis did cause him to have a cash-flow problem. He has another bank account, too, and is considering splitting his money so that if one freezes up, he can still operate on the other.

Interesting times that we are living in.

Popperwell

Floss 2 to some extent you have a stock cupboard in a way and if your freezer is well stocked that's fine(unless there's a power cut)and you have some essentials under the stairs.

Perhaps we'll have to PM Kittie if she doesn't return...

As you say Grey Queen interesting times...but for the wrong reasons...

floss2

Popperwell wrote: »

Floss 2 to some extent you have a stock cupboard in a way and if your freezer is well stocked that's fine(unless there's a power cut)and you have some essentials under the stairs....

Stewed Dyson with tomato chutney, chilli jam and brandied figs anyone?!

BugglyB

For those of you who have water supplies and months of food supplies, I do wonder...do you have a gun as well? Because the idea that you and your families will be eating and drinking water while those around you starve and die of thirst is not very realistic. Its something I muse on from time to time. I do know a couple that have a farm/smallholding and they have an allotment and animals and a good stock cupboard but they also have a cellar with weapons and they do have a gun (licensed of course) - theres no point sitting on your laurels thinking I have all this stuff when you know as soon as it comes to it someone will just come in your house and take it all from you.

Obviously I'm just musing here and not saying we should all get tooled up! But just pointing out the reality of an 'end of the world' type failure in society.

Popperwell

I suppose it depends how bad it gets and how many people you tell:)

Almo

I just saw two adverts for an American show called Doomsday Preppers. I am in Australia but the Discovery Channel is screening it so perhaps some of you may already have seen it?

Wikipedia says:

The series interviews people who are preparing to survive the various circumstances though which life as we know it might come to an end, including: economic collapse, electromagnetic pulse, terrorist acts, fuel shortages, war, pandemics, etc. The interviews detail the actions that the preppers have taken, and end with an expert analysis and recommendations for improvements.

It hasn't started yet so I can't give you much info but if anyone has seen it I'd love to hear about it.

LameWolf

freezspirit wrote: »

Been reading this thread and wondering, do you stock extra of the normal brands you usually get or supermarket own valve brands or the emergency supply being luxury brands?

My stores are exactly the same items as I usually buy, because I use the stored items and replace them with the new ones, iyswim. As to whether I buy ordinary or value - it depends what the item is; we actually prefer the value version of some things.

I also use three different supermarkets, and buy certain items in each, iyswim - for instance, I get soya mince in either Mr T or Mr M, tomato puree in Mr T, cream crackers in Mr M, and drinking chocolate (value version) in Mr W. And so forth....:D

We don't have a 6-month supply because we simply don't have the storage space (our bungalow is tiny, and we don't have a garage). Tbh, I like to have a "buffer" against being unable to shop because I have lupus, and can be very poorly with this; also I no longer have my own car, so can only shop when Mr LW is around to help me (I also need him to push my wheelchair).

Agree wholeheartedly with the poster - I think it was Floss2 - who is concentrating on getting the mortgage sorted; we are mortgage-free, as I used my share of the proceeds from the sale of my previous house (on my divorce) to pay off the mortgage on the bungalow.

I guess I'm also due for a kick in the teeth from the gov't - I was retired from work on medical grounds over a decade ago, and tbh, I struggle just to do the housework now, so going out and getting a job isn't realistically possible. As I don't know what's to happen re DLA, I'm making myself put it away in savings while I still get it, and just use it for "major" one-off purchases - for instance, the bath-lift was paid for from my DLA; and I pay my share of the household expenses from my pension.

BugglyB

Almo wrote: »

I just saw two adverts for an American show called Doomsday Preppers. I am in Australia but the Discovery Channel is screening it so perhaps some of you may already have seen it?

Wikipedia says:

The series interviews people who are preparing to survive the various circumstances though which life as we know it might come to an end, including: economic collapse, electromagnetic pulse, terrorist acts, fuel shortages, war, pandemics, etc. The interviews detail the actions that the preppers have taken, and end with an expert analysis and recommendations for improvements.

It hasn't started yet so I can't give you much info but if anyone has seen it I'd love to hear about it.

Interesting, I would love to see that but don't have a telly unfortunately. I am really interested in that kind of thing, really love zombie films for instance.

GreyQueen

BugglyB wrote: »

Interesting, I would love to see that but don't have a telly unfortunately. I am really interested in that kind of thing, really love zombie films for instance.

A true prepper would be observing strict "Op Sec" (operational security) and keeping schtumm about what provisions are on their premises, shopping for supplies by cash (to avoid leaving a trail which a government agency might follow with intent-to-confiscate) and generally being very, very secretive.

US prepper sites are very heavy on the weaponry, what little I've seen of them, but given the prevalence of guns in civilian hands in that country, they are right to be concerned IMO. One of my pals works in a gun shop but I don't intend to be doing business with him unless the zombies start getting really bad here in Provincial City. I'm a rubbish shot, anyway.

If you visited my home you wouldn't see anything unusual. If you raised the valance and looked under the bed, you'd see tinned goods but not more than would fit into a more normally-sized kitchen than the one I happen to be saddled with. I could also put my hands on a bug-out bag and an ultralight technical tent (proof against the most exteme weather) in about 10 seconds but lots of normal people have camping gear.

Not that I'd necessarily describe myself as normal, y'unnerstand. Just saying......