Prepping for Brexit thread

[Deleted User]

HWK says I have 'piggy bank mentality' because I save for things weekly in jars until I've got enough to get whatever it is. It works for me!

My tin stocks are being added to weekly or if I see something well priced when I shop in the week. This morning I put in a large tin of rhubarb, a tin of macaroni cheese and a tin of evaporated milk. I usually invest anything left of the housekeeping at the end of the week too so I found an offer in Nisa of 2 x packs of their own brand biscuits for £1 and got digestives, shortbread biscuits, gingernuts and oaty biscuits to go in the store too. Cheer up food for days when life is grey, worrysome and uncomfortable.

Primrose

It has occurred to me that IF there are any food shortages in the immediate aftermath of Brexit, the people who will suffer the most will be those who are strongly dependent on food banks and the help they provide.

I do hope that anybody who can afford to donate a few extra tins or packets into the Food Bank collecting boxes in supermarkets or wherever will do so over the next few weeks because their clients will be the people who can least able to afford to accumulate items in advance for a rainy day.

DryTheRain

You're right Primrose, it's a horrible situation, and I totally agree about putting extra aside, but only if you can afford it. People just starting out, on limited budgets, definitely shouldn't worry about this until they've built their own reserves up a bit.

The thing that's also bothering me, is when would be best to donate. My carer currently takes stuff to his work's collection point every other week, but I wonder whether it'd be better to save it til the last week of october, when it might be needed more?

unrecordings

DryTheRain wrote: »

You're right Primrose, it's a horrible situation, and I totally agree about putting extra aside, but only if you can afford it. People just starting out, on limited budgets, definitely shouldn't worry about this until they've built their own reserves up a bit.

The thing that's also bothering me, is when would be best to donate. My carer currently takes stuff to his work's collection point every other week, but I wonder whether it'd be better to save it til the last week of october, when it might be needed more?

My personal thought at the moment is that most of the 'damage' will be caused by last minute panic buying, but that said I understand that small institutions like hospices, care homes & food banks are really worried, and probably don't have the means to brexit proof themselves too early.
You would hope that when the dust settles, there'll be a surplus of good stock for the food banks at least, it'll probably take a bit of a social media campaign to get it back out of people's cupboards and into the right hands but the timing & strategy is anyone's guess at the moment (though I assume 'right now please' is among the most desired donation options)

Living_proof

Primrose wrote: »

It has occurred to me that IF there are any food shortages in the immediate aftermath of Brexit, the people who will suffer the most will be those who are strongly dependent on food banks and the help they provide.

I do hope that anybody who can afford to donate a few extra tins or packets into the Food Bank collecting boxes in supermarkets or wherever will do so over the next few weeks because their clients will be the people who can least able to afford to accumulate items in advance for a rainy day.

I remember posting about this many months ago when March was the target date. Most responders were of the opinion that one should simply look after oneself and one's own. I was rather disappointed that there seemed to be a lack of concern for those least able to cope frankly. Maybe people will have had a little longer to reflect on the situation and become a little more caring.

unrecordings

Living_proof wrote: »

I remember posting about this many months ago when March was the target date. Most responders were of the opinion that one should simply look after oneself and one's own. I was rather disappointed that there seemed to be a lack of concern for those least able to cope frankly. Maybe people will have had a little longer to reflect on the situation and become a little more caring.

I think it's a difficult call, especially when the goalposts keep moving. For example, I need a good supply of paracetamol, but my demand ebbs & flows from the full eight per day down to zero for weeks on end. I'd been gently doubling up on buying since October, so in March when chatting with my visiting nurse from the local hospice joked that they could have a big chunk of my stash if needed - which is probably not allowed, but if push came to shove, then I would love my day in court for giving away my surplus prescription meds. As for foodstuffs, that's why it's called panic buying - it defies logic

gfplux

Another item for my list that I had completely missed.
Sticking plasters. No one needs many but a couple of packs of those you cut to size will be in the shopping basket this weekend.

GreyQueen

I think the gentle increase in shopping over a number of months/ weeks is the best way to allow current supply chains to accomodate increased demand. Also, those who are well-stocked can dine from those reserves if/ when there are glitches in supply chains post-Brexit. That frees up other grocery items to be bought in real time. All of this is, of course, the very opposite of panic buying, it is reasoned, thoughtful, measured etc.


Most of my food falls into the fresh category and some of that I grow myself. Of tinned foods, some are coming in from EU countries and it is those I am stocking up on.There are only a handful of these (sweetcorn, olives, sardines, tomatoes).



I would expect transport and supply problems post-Brexit to be deliberately manufactured for the purposes of causing annoyance and inconvenience, and that the perpetrators of that would foriegn customs points, under political direction from the top.

Jazee

I think the shops have latched on to people already stocking up and that is why prices are rising now even though there are no supply problems yet.

fuddle

All of us who have prepped for events, not just for Brexit, won't be in amongst the rush for buying food. We can take preppers out of the demand equation. That's the whole point. People who need the food at a crunch time won't be competing against any prepper.

While the prepper has the capacity to continue to donate to food banks at a crunch point, will the non prepper who could well be panicking?

I just think sometimes Preppers get a bad press. I've been squirreling food for years now, well before Brexit was even a word. I've also been donating to food banks and another big collection is coming next month in aid of celebrating Harvest, just in time for my local community. My habits haven't changed. My preparedness allows me to continue as is when my back is against the wall. That's the point.