Preparing for Winter V

maryb

We do tend to get similar weather to the US about a week later but it is nearly always not as extreme because it has passed over the Atlantic and it tends to affect the West of the country and Scotland more than the South east.  So 'orrible weather but unlikely to be life threatening

Cherryfudge

I know it's now the middle of winter, but I wonder how those who set aside foodstuffs and other supplies against winter emergencies are faring?

I only have a small cupboard of emergency supplies based on things I felt I might run short of in extremes of weather, power cuts or illness. So far I've dipped into it a few times but only because we'd forgotten something when shopping. Tins of fruit and cereals have been handy to have in. I will also admit to storing spare chocolate and crisps which was a mixture of misplaced bargain buying (crisps - not an essential and take up a lot of space for low nutritional return and an expanding waistline) and finding cream eggs I'd stored and lost!

So far I've learned I would probably regret it if I didn't have chocolate, crackers, cereal and tins of fruit and tuna. I've not needed tealights but I did need extra matches (once). Spare firelighters would probably be invaluable if the heating packed in. Bottles of water (preferably refilled glass bottles) could be essential.

Have others dipped into their supplies and of so, what was useful? Are you still adding to your stash with several weeks of winter ahead of us? When might you wind down the supplies or start to replace with fresh things?

Uniscots97

I've dipped into some of the stash, chocolate, tins but i too then realised I was short on paracetamol and a my favourite cordial etc. 

annieb64

I dipped in quite a bit when we both had a nasty virus before Christmas.  We got low on soup, baked beans and home made ready meals from the freezer. Now that we have eaten most of the Christmas leftovers I need to stock up again. 
It looks as if we may have DGS for some days if the teachers strike goes ahead so need to think about what to feed him. He's at the hollow legs stage so permanently hungry!

Primrose

We're trying to use up older cupboard stock whilst replacing the same items.  One of our most useful storecupboard items have been tins of butter beans.  They,re useful in boosting the contents of home made soups.  Also useful for one bowl meat casseroles of various kinds as they save the fuel cost of having to boil potatoes as a separate "filler".

Wednesday2000

I just topped up my tinned food with a Sainsbury's delivery the other day. We have a lot of frozen food that I want to try and eat down a bit before I buy more. I am making us a freezer meal tonight with added fresh salad from the fridge. I checked my medicine drawer yesterday and that is completely fine as we haven't had so much as a cold since all the Covid/flu jabs we have had.

I did buy some on sale brand new socks and two pairs of wellies from a chazzer at the weekend and I did buy some more thermal leggings from Amazon as thermal tops and thermal leggings have become my uniform during this winter. I wear the baggier tops in bed at night and then during the day I wear the close fitting thermal tops with a dress or tunic over it and then a jumper and coat etc...

Cherryfudge

What a good idea, @Primrose, I think I might add a couple of tins of butterbeans asap. Also count towards your five a day.

One of my staples, which goes really well and add loads of flavour to casseroles and pasta dishes, is chorizo. I peel and slice them then freeze so I can add a handful easily.

@Uniscots97, I'd forgotten about the paracetamol. I've had to replenish that too, and the ibuprofen (managed to injure a rotator cuff and apparently anti-inflammatories are the way to go).  DH has cough syrup in stash too.

Auntycaz

I already posted this last year but just a reminder to use door curtains (i've pinned an extra curtain behind each of mine to make them double thickness) and draught excluders {I made mine out of some old cord trousers and stuffed them with pieces of an old quilt I had cut up and rolled and hand stitched the ends but you could use velcro) to keep the heat in It's surprising how much difference it makes. 
I just saw them making some draught excluders on bbc morning program but the ones they made were way too small to fit my doors.
Also check the pressure on your central heating boilers. I woke up to a very cold house and an E1 code on my boiler this morning. It's sorted now but wish I had noticed before it went of as it's -5 outside.
I agree about the paracetamol. I also keep a supply of anti histamine tabs, plasters, antiseptic cream and a couple of elastic bandages and spare hot water bottles..
I also make sure I always have some spare milk in the freezer in case i can't get to the shops due to the weather.  Thanks for all the tips everyone. 

dreaming

I have always stocked up the cupboards for winter as I hate going out if it's icy (unsteady legs!), and hate shopping in any case. This winter it was even more needed as I have had to give up driving for health reasons then had a hysterectomy in November so having a good store cupboard was invaluable. Recovered well from that surgery but now waiting for eye operation in February so although I am eating out of the stores, I have also topped them up with an online delivery. I also had some microwave meals delivered but have also frozen portions of my own cooking to use up during recuperation. Next winter I will get more tinned fruit but think I got it just about right. Having said that I don't seem to have eaten any of the baked beans, and possibly went overboard on dried milk powder (Nido) when it was on offer but that will get used eventually. I did a full cupboard/freezer inventory the other week so have menu plans to start using things up but will always keep tinned tomatoes, a variety of pulses/beans (not baked!), and some spices/relishes in. Oh, and teabags! I also still have enough cleaning products, and shampoo/soap/first aid etc., and I think I can manage a no-spend year on clothes.

Primrose

I don't think many people really realise the benefit of a well stocked food store-cupboard until they become an older/frailer person in an icy winter.  You then start to fully appreciate the benefits of taking the stress off yourself in difficult conditions.

If only we could bank  the excess heat of our heatwave summers and release it in winter when it's badly needed!