Prepping for Brexit thread

maryb

Indeed. A BIG chunk of the external tariffs we currently collect goes straight to Brussels. We are only allowed to retain 20%

[Deleted User]

I'm taking a little extra housekeeping this week, the budget will stand it and I'm going to buy some dried fruit, some more suet, some of tins of M&S minced beef and some more otc paracetamol and ibuprofen to go in the store. I'm also going to pick up toothpaste and shampoo from the pound shops. I shall get my dried fruit from the Grape Tree as they have a loyalty scheme and for each £1 you spend you accrue 2p to spend in the shop later on. I shall also review my spices cupboard and get in more of those we like and some onion and garlic granules which I'll use if fresh isn't available S'burys have both at £1 a jar and they keep for absolutely ages in store and stay good. Tea, leaf tea as well I'll see how much I can carry!

Vegastare

EachPenny wrote: »

Who collects the tariffs and where does the money end up?

If tariffs (i.e. taxes) on imports have to be imposed or increased the money is collected up by HMRC. We don't have to hand it over to anybody (unlike now) and the UK Government can decide how it is spent.

That could result in anything from VAT being reduced, business rates being cut, or corporation tax being lowered. Lower taxes on the supply chain and/or on sales means the potential for lower prices.

The imposition of tariffs under WTO rules is simply shuffling the tax take around a bit. If the UK Government take more tax off us as a result of Brexit then we just need to remember there is a General Election coming up in 2022.

Ahh VAT back in 2010 then Chancellor George Osborne announced that the standard rate of VAT would increase from 17.5% to 20% it was described by PM David Cameron as an "emergency budget The VAT rise is a tough but necessary step towards Britain’s economic recovery", said Osbourne - then in Oct 2018 Theresa May declared the government's eight-year programme of austerity is "over" as she used her Conservative Party conference speech to tell the public "there are better days ahead" oh thinks me they will drop vat back down to 17.5% again....yep I look out everyday and see pigs flying:rotfl:


On a serious note yesterday got even more teabags.........spoke with my friend in Canada and have instructed her to leave room in her luggage for an emergency supply of teabags should it be neccessary to bring them over when she visits in May


I am thinking of things to buy late March which would last a few weeks in cool place, possible lemons and oranges.

Shropshirelass

Any tax cut we get will no doubt be announced just before the next election, so as not to waste the 'feel good' effect.

Recent history is certainly educating the electorate as to how politics works, or doesn't work, you may think.

One of the things I'm doing, is building a good relationship with local providers, finding out where our food comes from, as I'm sure local will be best. And they will work hard to keep us fed, as their livelihoods depend on it.

I have noticed during the last few weeks that coffee, and paper goods (loopaper, tissues, kitchen paper) have already seriously gone up in price. Not to say they won't increase even more. I have invested in a number of cotton hankies, and I'm cutting up old towels to have plenty available for spills in the kitchen. In both cases it's greener, and i prefer the cotton. I've also started making pooch's food myself, having got a good doggy recipe book to ensure a healthy diet.

Finding life very interesting in my old age!

dreaming

There has seemed to be a lot of focus on specific food items in posts lately - eggs for a couple of days; apples; milk; lettuce; tomatoes etc. Obviously if you have a restricted diet and your particular foods aren't available then that will be cause for major concern but personally I am quite adaptable in what I eat so not too worried about any particular thing (except fish - the EU can have all the fish, all the time, as far as I'm concerned). The thing that struck me though was that it might prove to be a good thing if people continue (or learn) to adapt to what is available in the shops rather than going out to buy particular items. I do meal plan and base my shopping on that, but it is a fairly loose plan - e.g. meat/veg, and then I look to see what I fancy from what is available and/or cheapest. If no meat is available then I know that pulses are a good source of protein so I always have a few tins of those in. I find I have very little food waste because I try to use up or freeze any leftovers (either as they are, or recycled into something else). Maybe my way of life isn't for everyone - I know some find it boring to "plan" - but it suits me, and as I live on my own I only have myself to please. Much more tricky for those with other's tastes to consider.

It does seem to me that "Brexit" is being blamed for all sorts of things going on at the moment, when some things might have happened anyway due to other factors . Other countries, whether in or out of the EU, are experiencing various economic/political changes but the UK has Brexit on which it can focus its concerns. The point is, of course, is that we can never predict and control exactly what will happen - although it is natural to want to so do, So as others have said I plan for the worst and hope for the best. I haven't got the space to keep 2 years-worth of provisions (as some serious preppers do) and my freezer is quite small, but a few extra tins of tomatoes and beans etc. under the bed ease my mind. TBH I always have extra stock in anyway - especially in winter - so it's second nature to me to shop this way..
I also (maybe optimistically) believe there is a lot more "prepping" going on by the government and food suppliers/supermarkets than they would disclose (for security reasons), but I think we should all be doing our little bit for ourselves and those close to us if we are able.

cod3

I am making the most of the two month council tax holiday. A trip to Farmfoods and now my little freezer holds a load of berries and veg. New freezer is fab. So quiet and despite having a small footprint, holds loads. Also picked up a few long-dated bits in Tesco such as tomato paste and pesto (the kinds of foods that will always be used, especially if we have another courgetti glut this year)

Ages ago my friend was throwing out half a dozen very large kilner jars so I took them and they have been languishing under my stairs since. Ordered new seals for them today and will put them to good use. No point buying grains for the weevils to eat.

I enjoy all the sensible chat here about eating locally, scratch cooking, blitz spirit etc, but we have to remember we share grocery shops with people who only a year ago were losing their minds and calling 999 because KFC ran out of fast food for a few days. Yikes!

I just want a quiet life so will keep buying beans etc (btw, only £4.99 for 12 large cans of Heinz beans in Farmfoods. Cheapest I've seen)

stingey

Long time lurker here. I've been watching this thread since last year and boy am I glad I decided to have started stockpiling around November.

My husband found my stash and I've told him straight why I'm doing this:

1. We live in Scotland and are at the end of the supply chain.
2. I worked in Retail for a good number of years and know the effects of just 1 missed delivery with the 'just-in-time model' used by retailers. Even moving a delivery day from a Monday to a Friday can leave shortages. Weather like heavy snow has already shown how quickly stocks can run down. There's an assumption from customers that supermarkets have an alaadins cave in the rear, filled with stock. Stores are built for majority of floorspace at the front to be given to stock which the customer will pick up and buy. The rest is for staff facilities, loading bay and a small stock room which will hold excess replenishment stock, which is usually only enough for a promotion or until the next delivery.
3. Human nature: When the word shortage gets around people panic and do things they wouldn't normally do, like phone the police because KFC ran out of chicken!. During last year's Beast from the East I witnessed people buy multiple loaves of bread, then sell them for extortionate prices on social media. When the retailer began to ration the bread, staff were subjected to abuse. I would like to think that we've got a 'stiff upper lip' mentality but we're now several generations away from those who experienced rationing and to be quite frank, from working with the public, I doubt there is many who would cope (apart from you fab lot!) There's an expectation that others 'will fix it for me' and someone else is resonsible for making things happen. Very few people seem to take responsibility for their own and families lives.
4. We are currently in a No Deal situation. As much as we would like to think not, without a deal going through Parliament - we have No Deal, it is the default setting. There is literally no deal agreed on and we're less that 2 months away. I can't see one happening tbh.

So I've been prepping since last year. Tinned veg/tomatoes, tinned fish, tinned soup, pasta, dried sauce packets, cereal, porridge, tea bags, coffee, diluting juice, chocolate toilet roll, soap, toothpaste, first-aid kit, paracetamol, candles, matches, torch, batteries, plug in non-wireless phone for the landline.

I've bought double where I can afford to. I found Farmfoods and B&M to be great value for bulk-buying. Im now having to rotate my stock as time went on.

If it all does hit the fan then I've got my family in a better position than it would have been. I think there will be some confusion/shortage, but won't last long. I live in a village in the countryside and near a dairy, the village shop currently stocks eggs and farm produce. Over the next few weeks I'll be looking at growing my own fruit/veg in containers to start off with. I'm lucky enough to also have a bit of garden space also. If it gets really bad I can pull out my wartime cook books!

My only pain through all this is that I have had to reduce the amount I've been buying for my local Foodbank. I would buy extra on a monthly basis, I've had to instead convert some of this into stores for my family. If everything stays good I can donate it all, but I always remember the advice they give you on a plane if there is a loss in cabin pressure: Put your own mask on first, before assisting others.

I think this will be a game changer for people. It will make the public realise what they really 'need' in life.

[Deleted User]

Today we went exploring, new to us places included Tewkesbury where we found the market which is apparently held every Wednesday and Saturday. It gave me much reassurance for post Brexit as it was full of local producers selling locally produced produce including leeks, purple sprouting broccoli, finger carrots, locally shot pheasant and a gammon hock and then I found the traditional butcher in the high street and got a game pie and 2 x 2 butchers faggots for under £8. I talked man who had the gammon and pheasant on his stall and he also had home made pork pies, packs of bacon, local cheeses and eggs of all sizes and he said this is a very small market today compared to the number of local stalls we normally get and as the spring comes in there will be a much larger range of local things to buy, the producers come in seasonally! music to my ears and reassurance that the world will still turn and we'll be fed even if there are glitches in the supply chain. The PSB is a massive bunch so big I can't het two hands round it, it's not all woody stems like in the supermarket but beautiful purple heads on little fingers of deliciousness and it cost me £1.99p, will do the two of us at least 3 meals too! We grow wonderful stuff already!

GreyQueen

Oooh, MrsLW, suffering from PSB envy hear, yummy stuff.


Stingey, sounds like you're on it and then some, great going. I have got my FarmFoods flyer today and am poring over it planning my campaign and to make best use of the vouchers. It's a stretch for this singleton with no car to do a £25 shop, but I'm sure if I work it out, I can get good deals. I'm sure that many people don't have your insider's knowledge of retailing and are going to be a bit surprised when the shelves can't be re-stocked until the next wagon comes in.



Yestereve, I hit up Sainsbugs as planned and came out with 15 x £2.40 250 g loose leaf tea. I use approximately one of these a month but seldom shop at Sains, so having about 15 months' supply on hand will suit me very well. I will be adding some teabags (probably from FF) to the stash, don't drink coffee but have talked the mothership into stocking up the other week for her household.


I've found a local discount chain which is selling C0lgate toothpaste at 69p/100 ml tube, so plan to get some of them. Otherwise, I am stocked for bar soap, shampoo, crystal deodorant sticks etc for the foreseeable - my toiletry needs are pretty basic.

Vegastare

Well I guess the larder at Downing St will be stocked when Mrs M returns got to be bags of Brussel Sprouts, Mussels,Frites and waffles



...............combinatioan sounds like a possible case of flatulance ahh not to worry am sure someone will be sent out to find Gaviscon


Oh forget Belgium Beer:beer: