Preparedness for when

simmed

D&#8517 wrote: »

Yikes thanks Grandma have edited my post to note this

I've just emptied my £1/£2 coin jar to add to the emergency fund as the pots now full and I have £158 in there :j
I started it after xmas last year and just threw the odd coin in when I remembered it but chuffed to bits with that.

You could easily buy 1 year's food for 2 people with that

pineapple

meme30 wrote: »

Pineapple:- Yes I think this new Governor of the Bank of England is going to be a worry. A 'new broom' seeing to be doing something and all that! I'm really concerned about interest rates, because if you think prices are high now they are going to be shocking when interest rates start to move again.

He once worked for Goldman Sachs and reportedly is looked on as a bankers man. So enough cause for concern there - seeing as we are (imo) being screwed over for bankers greed and a rotten financial system. It's us who are paying for these bail outs boys and gals! But don't get me started :rotfl:
According to Max Keiser something has to give - so either devaluation or a rise in interest rates.
Whatever - it's frightening. Just as frightening is that recent bank computer failure when there were people with no food because the cash machines went down. Hopefully none of us will get caught out at least in that respect .
Plus I keep some cash on hand too.

Popperwell

Well, not knowing whether power will be on in an emergency, I have a store of food that is in tins and packets. Items that can be eaten cold or could be heated on a camping stove.

My cupboards and pantry is full as is my fridge/freezer but I will have to accept that what is in the fridge/freezer would be lost if a pwer cut lasts too long.

I'd be sorry to lose photo's but there are very few of myself and TBH once I leave this world there is no one who would want photo of my parents or me. So if they were lost I would be sad but in another way I have my memories.

Document wise I only have contents insurance and a will(but the solicitor always has duplicate)even my Birth Certificate is a copy I had done. So there is not much documentation to take with me.

Not much in the way of personal possessions either(Books, CD's, clothes)and I couldn't take them with me if I was evacuated.

So my preperation is mainly just in the hope that I can stay put and ride out the problem until the electric and gas is restored. If it was due to flooding, fire or gas explosion well, I would have to depend on the emergency services even if I have taken measures.

My food store is mainly to try and head off changes in the benfit I am entitled, price rises on food and increases on rent, council taxes and the introduction of the bedroom tax.

It allows me more choice regarding my meals and means I can spend less in the shops. There's a lot of own brand or food on offer but it is still reasonably good quality.

I eat less too and portion certain items out so it goes further but I try to make certain I still get a good diet and a variety of food.

Popperwell

The new Governor was interviewed on The BBC World Service some time ago and asked if he was offered the position would he want it/accept it and he said that he was not interested and that his work for the Canadian bank was his priority.

How things change...

pineapple

Popperwell wrote: »

Well, not knowing whether power will be on in an emergency, I have a store of food that is in tins and packets. Items that can be eaten cold or could be heated on a camping stove.

I recently got requainted with semolina. It makes an almost instant pudding . I know some people hate it but I actually like it.
But also you can make a quick 'emergency flat bread' with plain or SR flour (plus a bit of salt) and water. If you have a heavy frying pan so much the better. Just mix to a dryish dough so that it all sticks together. Then flatten out and lightly fry.
I make the SR version slightly thicker plus it puffs out in the pan.
I roll out the plain flour version so that it is quite thin and gets crispy.
You can use for dipping, serve with stew, bacon and eggs whatever.
I sometimes season mine with chilli powder or cumin seeds.

Popperwell

Thanks Pineapple,
Such ideas are always welcome. I've had rice and custard. Never semolina, tapioca or sago. I'm not sure why...

Really when the SHTF all you can take is what you have on your back. Unless you can access your own transport to take items away and have somewhere to go(such as friends or family)if things were really bad, you would have to start from scratch and make a claim if you have insurance.

I guess I would have to take my medication with me. At a push I prbably could take some underwear, a spare pair of trousers and some jumers but the services would probably help and kind people/charities.

[Deleted User]

[QUOTE=fuddle;57609737
I'm fed up of being wound up so tightly about what might happen, sat on the PC day after day talking about what might happen that I'm not at all enjoying my here and now.)[/QUOTE]

I like what you say here fuddle and I wholeheartedly agree with you. I had to make myself come off the pc because mse sucked me in. Yes we should be living in the moment but knowing that we have a backup safety net, which I think you already have and which I know I have. My prepping is all round and basic but I have too much of some things, although I know I will save lots just by using my toothpaste and cleaning stores. I eventually would like to have just one in use and a spare, lol but maybe the country will be in better shape by the time I get through them all

I saw a statement a couple of days ago about vat going up to 25% so that plus devaluation does make sense of buying stuff now. Oh what a dilemma, its always a toss up between saving pennies or gaining space in the house and improving energy flow and good feng shui. Which one gives us most peace of mind? I am not sure

2tonsils

Hello everyone, enjoyed reading all your comments. We had a good night as although it was windy the storms stayed East of us and I slept like a log. Lots of gravel and rocks on the road and some flooded fields this morning but we actually got some sunshine till about 2pm.

The weather has closed in on us again and its now cooler and raining heavily. It's expected to deteriorate this evening with the storms and high winds coming back. Great joy...

So the shutters are closed and locked again and we have enough dry wood in to last a couple of days. Olive wood is awful to light if its damp! Not planning on going out anywhere tonight. Have spent most of the day at the gym helping out and doing my own workout as well to save me going tomorrow morning if the weather is bad.

I have been posting the warnings on our local forum about the weather and I am amazed how selfish some people are...one woman put a comment this morning that ''the worse that happened was my washing got wet on the line''....I was really annoyed at her since many people had damage and some lost their roof and chimney so I put that on there after her comment. She has since taken it off. Thoughtless...

I really wonder how much people would help each other out if the SHTF big style. I think it might quickly degenerate into a dog eat dog situation and it would be every man/woman for themselves.

Just read something scary.....the Greek government department that pays out unemployment and pensions here has declared that they are well in the red and do not have the money needed to pay pensions and unemployment money till the end of the year. What on earth are all those families and pensioners going to do with no money ? My heart goes out to them all , its bad enough trying to manage on the small amount they pay out but to give them none at all is horrendous and cruel.

Popperwell

I don't worry too much about natural disasters more people struggling financially or possibly unrest caused by what is happening. I try to live in the day.

I don't look to far ahead or live in the past if I can help it. Because usually plans that are made often change at short notice. These days many of the things that were seen as being secure aren't. Or has it always been that way?

I'm glad I have my food store and clothes, I don't need much else. There are things I'd like but that is not the same as needing.

pineapple

2tonsils wrote: »

Just read something scary.....the Greek government department that pays out unemployment and pensions here has declared that they are well in the red and do not have the money needed to pay pensions and unemployment money till the end of the year. What on earth are all those families and pensioners going to do with no money ?

That's terrifying. It's also my own biggest worry as I need my pension income
People are going to need food banks and the generosity of others. But would there ever be enough?
It must surely mean more people pushed over the edge as well as more civil unrest. Be careful over there..