The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

pineapple

Thriftygifty said:

MingVase said:

Please know that this whole year is going to be awful. Food supply and then a recession/depression. Start now being careful, make the food last, make savings everywhere you can, prep hard. It won't end either as in Jan we will have the B word and things will once again turn to custard. Take care of yourselves xx

We've also been having the same convo, we're battening down the hatches now and not spending anything if we can help it, the thing is with the whole delivery/CC your forced to pay the prices rather than the luxury of shopping around, we have spent so much money on supplies lately I actually feel sick however my theory is it should even itself out in the long run, we've bought a cotbed mattress which we wont use for another 5 months time but DH theory was that the company might not still be there in 5 months time etc its the second guessing its awful. 

Agree with all of this. I can't shop around and end up spending more or having to make do with something I wouldn't ordinarily have chosen. I'm also getting stuff now that may not be in production or available months down the line. Plus wondering about the eventual impact on the value of savings etc. Maybe better convert spare cash into items we need?

MingVase

I tried to contact my bank today - RBS. Only to alter a S/O for the rent because it went up £2 a week. No way can I get hold of anybody. Digital banking website won't let me do it, Telephone banking made me hold on for AN HOUR then cut me off, and when I tried my branch it kept ringing for 5 mins then cutting me off. Their hours seem to be 10-1 now, only open 3 hours. I'd get some money out Pineapple, I'm getting twitchy now. I'll go into a branch tomorrow and grab some more money, under the mattress feels safer.

greenbee

Mar - lots of places aren't taking cash though. They're doing contactless or chip and pin only to try to reduce the risk of germs being transferred. Cash is unhygenic!

jk0

greenbee said:

Mar - lots of places aren't taking cash though. They're doing contactless or chip and pin only to try to reduce the risk of germs being transferred. Cash is unhygenic!

Presumably, now we've got plastic £5, £10 & £20 notes, they can be washed?

DigForVictory

We may manage to get over the anxiety about money - the WHO had to clarify they are Not good vectors (& coins even worse)
have a read here? Frankly, soap & water for me & possibly the banknotes (just do not iron dry) but miword clean your phones!

Thriftygifty

greenbee said:

Mar - lots of places aren't taking cash though. They're doing contactless or chip and pin only to try to reduce the risk of germs being transferred. Cash is unhygenic!

Pretty much all of the local small companies here are taking telephone orders paid by card then either collected at shop doorway or dropped off, bakeries etc.  I think also the issue with smaller companies in particular is what do they do with the cash, they can only hold so much due to insurance and they will need to go to the bank or post office to pay it in which isn't ideal, granted you can use automated machines in the bank to pay in but still requires people in the banks to count/sort the other side and with reduction in staff could be an issue.  Also our local post office has reduced their hours and are getting frustrated with people they said they don't get paid to be a post office and they only get paid for each post office service used/offered (They are small) and they said it's getting ridiculous now as they don't think the financial reward is worth the risk to their health as people are still coming in for one second class stamp or to pay in very low value cheques which are valid for 6m but are happy to be there for actual important services needed. 

greenbee

DigForVictory said:

We may manage to get over the anxiety about money - the WHO had to clarify they are Not good vectors (& coins even worse)
have a read here? Frankly, soap & water for me & possibly the banknotes (just do not iron dry) but miword clean your phones!

I already wash my phones regularly with soap and water and have been nagging everyone else about it for the last month! I'd still rather use contactless than anything else - passing cash back and forth isn't ideal.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Apologies Thriftygifty, I think cheques are only valid for 3 months now. 

However, I fully agree that there are some very inconsiderate people around - who on earth thinks it is a good idea to buy a single stamp 😡 Hopefully your local Post Office workers can stay safe.
TPTB seem to be falling short in quite a few areas & keeping small businesses afloat seems to be a major failing. They really need to be planning for when the worst is over & getting the country back on its feet. 

I am currently watching the daily update & stressing but mostly getting annoyed so I will sign off & go for my first walk in 20 days. 

Please keep safe

MrsSD

MingVase

There's always situations where cash is needed, IT in shops can fail, has happened often. I pay my coalman in cash and my windowcleaner in cash. I would never ever be caught without actual money.

Thriftygifty

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said:

Apologies Thriftygifty, I think cheques are only valid for 3 months now. 

However, I fully agree that there are some very inconsiderate people around - who on earth thinks it is a good idea to buy a single stamp 😡 Hopefully your local Post Office workers can stay safe.
TPTB seem to be falling short in quite a few areas & keeping small businesses afloat seems to be a major failing. They really need to be planning for when the worst is over & getting the country back on its feet. 

I am currently watching the daily update & stressing but mostly getting annoyed so I will sign off & go for my first walk in 20 days. 

Please keep safe

MrsSD

No not at all, I was relaying what the post office had posted on their fb page, they are a very tiny post office situated in a local shop. They are in a well to do village with alot of well off and older generations I dont think some of them are adjusting very well and are enjoying the village to themselves without the tourists and going about their business as usual, I think the novelty will wear off soon though.