Are You a food hoarder?

weenancyinAmerica

Probably a hoarder - I just gave three bags of food away and it doesn't look like it made a dent in the food cupboard. But there are five here on a regular basis and two who show up occasionally (one a couple of days a week). One of the five is autistic and goes on food-like days where she won't eat anything else - and I never know what it will be. But I try to be well stocked on everything. A couple of my roommates go overboard though so finding the space for things is the big problem.

JGB1955

There are only the 2 of us but, during lockdown, I started bulk buying from local butchers.  Suddenly 2 freezers weren't enough, and we now have 3.  I'm trying (VERY hard) to cut down to 'only' 2 freezers .... but the weekly 2 loaves of bread only fit in the chest freezer.... first world problems!

Slinky

I was buying stuff for the storecupboards before Brexit and since, now I'm keeping a fairly full set of cupboards due to inflation. If I see things that I know I'll use on offer, I'm stocking up more than previously to avoid the price increases for as long as possible.

London_1

I am slowly eating my way through my food mountain Because of shielding due to low immune system I seem to have accumulated an huge collection of stuff . amount of edible stuff.

But since the beginning of this year I called a halt to buying stuff quite so much, and now only shop once to twice a month. I went yesterday, and bought only essential stuff that I was running particularly low on, plus fresh fruit and veg, and only spent just over £25 for this month. last month I had around 311.00 to roll over onto this months £60.00 budget I now have £45 67 left in my purse and nothing to buy for a good fortnight at least, so fingers crossed I will have cash left to roll over to March.

My freezer has a bit more wriggle room at least, and hopefully eventually I will be able to defrost it, and the extra cash I have been saving will help to restock it afterwards.

JackieO x

snowbird20

i am also a 'hoarder'.  The pandemic showed me that we should always be prepared.   We purchased a summer holiday flat and we will be stocking it for emergencies when we go in June.   We have a house in Florida and it has too much food now.  We have to freezers to eat thru before we leave here.

candygirl

snowbird20 said:

i am also a 'hoarder'.  The pandemic showed me that we should always be prepared.   We purchased a summer holiday flat and we will be stocking it for emergencies when we go in June.   We have a house in Florida and it has too much food now.  We have to freezers to eat thru before we leave here.

Ooh you're making me so jealous! I'm craving sunshine right now 😉

helensbiggestfan

Great thread Candy. 

When I was little I used to laugh at my mum for her generous food stock. I once asked her "Are you preparing for  WW3". She said no, but once you've been hungry you don't forget.  

My mum was Belgian and had lived under the German occupation so as I got older I began to understand the reasons her "hoarding" mentality,  

Of course, some of that  rubbed off on me,  and whilst I'm wouldn't accuse myself of being a hoarder I do like  to keep a good supply of food, cleaning materials, toiletries etc.  i can get a bit "angsty" if supplies seem a bit low, especially in winter. So in autumn I become a bit like a squirrel and start stocking up for the winter.  

Actually I'm just back from Asda, and I did notice a lot of gaps in the shelves, same in Sainsbobs last week.  I still tend to do most of my shopping in Aldi and so far I can't say as I've noticed any empty shelves there. 

I think if you've got the space then stocking up is a good idea, especially at the moment with prices rising so steeply.  Its money in the bank.  😁. 

Happy_Sloth

helensbiggestfan said:

Great thread Candy. 

When I was little I used to laugh at my mum for her generous food stock. I once asked her "Are you preparing for  WW3". She said no, but once you've been hungry you don't forget.  

I totally agree with this sentiment,  when my kids where little we lived on benefits, there was a point in time around 2002  when they where swapping the systems over and we where without any benefits for about 3 months because the government made a pigs ear of it as usual.  

I had 2 toddlers at the time, it was horrific.. sometimes we didn't eat for days,  try telling a 2 year old there is no money to buy food?  and try and make 2 nappy's last a whole day!  it was awful!  I remember begging social services to take my kids because i couldn't afford to feed them.  

After that hoarding/prepping became a way of life.. i swore that would not happen to me again! things are super tight right now,  but at least i know i have a good 6 months food in my house.  It's one less worry.. i haven't bought anything other than bread and milk since Christmas and while paying the bills is a worry, at least i know my tummy will be full.  

They say you NEVER forget being hungry.... but you REALLY NEVER forget your children being hungry!

helensbiggestfan

Happy Sloth, how awful for you.  

Sorry to hear that things are tight right now, good that you have 6 months of stocks now. Hope things improve for you soon.  

TripleH

I am not a food hoarder now.

When we left ro go on honeymoon we gave a shoebox of herbs and spices away to our friends.

When we moved up to the NW we threw out a load of herbs and spices and donated unopened packets of dried food.

Then when we moved out the flat we were in in the city centre, we again donated tins of beans and tomatoes we'd picked up over lockdown. After our last move we had nothing to get rid of.

It has taken 7 years to sort ourselves out.

The worst thing is I am focused on minimising food waste and we throw very little fresh or cooked food away (that is to the recycle bin) but dried food is always our biggest weakness.

Lockdown did help a lot, mainly as we were  so unwell with covid we started a bottom up approach to improving our diet but also be more sensible with our food purchasing.