THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

DigForVictory

Another prepping bonus is those who have determinedly social family members. Son who went on that hike yesterday? Was texted & asked to bring milk back & did.

Resupplied with no additional risk to existing household although I think a minor civil war over the Bourbon biscuits is about to break out.

[Deleted User]

Prices of houses here in south Hants are ludicrously high and the council here has just passed planning for the first 400 new homes of the 1,000 they are planning to build in this village alone and not one of them will be affordable for the young folk who were born here as they will continue to build 4 and 5 bedroomed (some even bigger) 'executive' houses with minute gardens and the only folk who will be able to pay the prices are those from larger cities, particularly London it appears, whose homes are worth even more ludicrous sums than ours. I would so love to see homes built that my girls school friends now all in their 30's could afford here in the village but the developers aren't interested in communities and serving their needs for the future, just the huge profits they can make by building bigger and more expensive houses. The young continue to be forced away to other areas.

Our house hunting venture to be closer to the girls has effectively ground to a halt at present. The market is so very slow in our chosen area that nothing new seems to be worth looking at and just before half term we had a discussion with DD1 who is possibly going to relocate with James and until we know where we will stick here.

[Deleted User]

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

The market is so very slow in our chosen area that nothing new seems to be worth looking at and just before half term we had a discussion with DD1 who is possibly going to relocate with James and until we know where we will stick here.

similar here, DD2 and her husband have said that they will be selling and moving to very rural in the future, I know not when and neither do they. One plan was to go a little further east but that would be further from DD1. I am hedging my bets and only looking very close to home now. I always knew that I would not be trailing from house to house following the children. I must make my own way and am aware of it but it makes the prospect of moving even more `lonely` knowing this. Many many people in the same boat and one relative, 8 years older, cannot move because of a poor decision made many years ago re equity release. They are trapped, loving where they live but very many miles from either child

Witless

Made an elementary mistake today: I normally withdraw cash on a Tuesday only but needed a top up of a few quid as I wasn't making the main withdrawal until Thursday for a variety of reasons.

ATM beeped at me, and like a prat I stood and listened, then watched as the card disappeared into the bowels of the machine. (Got my money OK though.)

Bank was closed as it was after 16:30. Rang, but it'll take 5 working days (or 7 to 10 calendar days) until the card is retrieved* & returned or a new one issued.

* it was a supermarket ATM, not a bank branch one (parking is non existent at the branch)

Now - here's where the prepping comes in.

Because I'm [STRIKE]cynical[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]don't trust banks[/STRIKE] sensible I keep a fair portion of my money in our local Credit Union, with a modest amount in a secondary account in a different bank (working on the principle they won't both have simultaneous IT failures) for online purchasing, mobile phone etc.

I also keep some** cash here in notes & coins and some in my mate's house.***

** about 6 weeks(ish) spending money, plus whatever the coin stash is - about £110 at the moment (I stick £100 in the CU every time I get to £200 IYSWIM)

*** They do the same (for the same reasons) - we each have sealed envelopes in each other's safes: not massive amounts, but the sort that could come in handy in a "I'm stuck, come & get me ... and bring the envelope" situation. Also - no point in having money you can't get at (hospital admission etc)

So

Option A (non prepper) panic, no card for up to 10 days ~ try & get to bank to take out cash over the counter

Option B (prepper) relax, either use own stash, secondary card, coins, or the 'emergency' envelope to spend / live normally or go to the CU if something major crops up then refill stash when card arrives.

I know which option I prefer.

mardatha

This is why I never ever use cash machines. Too easy to get stuffed lol

Karmacat

Well done witless!

I only use cash machines inside the bank - then I have a member of staff on call right away if there's a problem. But yes to the stashes in other places and other accounts. Don't have any stashed with anyone else, thats something to think about.

[Deleted User]

Me too Karma, I won't use an outside one in a public place since someone cloned my card. Luckily it was all sorted out and restitution made but it leaves a sour taste doesn't it? I don't just use the inside cash machines, I wait until the separate one situated next to the deposits machine is free, right inside the bank building and right away from anyone standing behind you. I don't think many folks know it's there BUT I DO!!!

Witless

I'd prefer one inside a bank lobby too but it's a Catch 22 - if I could get to a bank during opening hours I wouldn't need to use the ATM.:rotfl:

At the moment I'm involved in a project at work which has meant working 33 out of the last 35 days* so I just can't get to the bank during opening hours.

* Prepping of a sort - the extra money is destined for various stashes.

I'm very wary of giving card details to the 'unknown', hence our 'bring the envelope' scenarios - for example I wouldn't give a breakdown recovery card details: I'm sure they wouldn't take more than agreed but why take the chance? Also, in the case of a minor 'at fault' driving nudge I imagine it'd be handy to have the 'full settlement' paid by a third party.

I was in hospital for a couple of weeks in 2016 - much simpler saying "use the envelope for ......" rather than trying to secure cards or cash in a hospital ward: again I'm sure the staff and patients are perfectly trustworthy but why take the chance?

Grandfather Witless disagreed with the axiom "Treat every man as honest until he proves himself a rogue" preferring instead "Treat every man as a rogue until he proves himself honest: that way you won't be disappointed".

mardatha

I was hauled into hospital early on Thurs morning without even my shoes. I had in my bag a half-charged mobile, a £10 note, and thank god a stash of my essential pills.
I couldn't use the hospital phones as they were fancy things requiring a card payment - as with the tv. I haven't got my card details in my head, even if my head had been working which it wasn't : I have got the family mobile numbers written in a wee notebook, but without a phone it would have been kind of hard to call them ... So new preps right now is a stash of coins to live in my bag, and I'm going to get a spare phone charger.

Witless

mardatha wrote: »

... So new preps right now is a stash of coins to live in my bag, and I'm going to get a spare phone charger.

Keep an eye out for one of these - https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/mobile-phone/best-power-banks-2018-3534490/

I have a couple: one in my daysack, one in the car and a small one for my pocket when away on a long day. The small one was £6.99 from L!dl.