Prepping: the new world...

thriftwizard

I usually do have cash in the house, not because of prepping but because I'm a market trader so always have a small "float" on hand. I also need to keep some cash-on-hand to pick up stock at car boot sales & the like; very few sellers will have card payment options. I also have a separate bank account & card, with a different bank (who offered the best deal for my tiny business) and scarcely use the "wallet" on my phone, except for parking. (With the best will in the world, on a hectic trading or "hunting" day I'd struggle to keep track of spending & would be in trouble in no time at all!) In some of the places we trade, mobile signal is very flaky & wifi not necessarily an option; if the banks & PTB get their way and abolish cash altogether, we're basically out of business. And society in general is out of options...

Toonie

I always have a bit of cash in the back of a notebook that lives in my handbag and I have current accounts with a couple of different banks/building societies in case I lose access to one of them (one card stays at home). It just feels like a sensible thing to do.

DigForVictory

Colleague is lurching from one yikes to another - bank sorted (chase account opened) but the DWP has moved the date of the direct debit for child maintenance & he hasn't got a store cupboard. After I got over boggling - he's not even got a cardboard box with tins, I unleashed the lateral thinking & came up with an onlyfans page (lateral but I'm told it can pay well), visiting a mosque (its Ramadan, they're superbly generous about communal meals & charitable giving) and if all else fails crime. Which (rightly) earned me a Very Sideways Look, but somehow saying "look, call your GP & ask about temporary access to a foodbank" seemed a much more ruthless punch to the ego. Which I have now suggested by easily deniable message.

goldfinches

Just popping my head round the door to say that when I was in the Indian grocer the other day I noticed that Tropical Sun powdered milk tins were all covered in branded special offer price stickers so I bought 900g for £8.99 to try and see what I thought. It seems to be identical to Nido at a much better price, even down to the tin and lid.
The tin I have has an expiry date in 2028 so I thought of this thread immediately. I've noticed Tropical Sun seem to do this with their range of products quite often so I always keep an eye out to see what might be worth using my bulk buy budget for.

DigForVictory

Wow - a Nido analogue - triggering massive @Si_Clist flashbacks from earlier prepping threads! It is the business for milk without fuss.

weenancyinAmerica

Got the Nido, also started adding the Long-life Milk. Even have the powdered peanut butter from Aldis. Working on our tinned food supply. 

Nonnadiluca

How are people feeling about/preparing for the uncertain times upon us? I've started slowing increasing stocks of things with long dates that I know I'll use such as bread flour, yeast, tinned stuff; partly because I think things will increase in price and, if they do, I won't be competing with those who need things more than I do if there are shortages, and if everything is fine then I'll use it anyway. Any thoughts?

RAS

DigForVictory said:

Colleague is lurching from one yikes to another - bank sorted (chase account opened) but the DWP has moved the date of the direct debit for child maintenance & he hasn't got a store cupboard. After I got over boggling - he's not even got a cardboard box with tins, I unleashed the lateral thinking & came up with an onlyfans page (lateral but I'm told it can pay well), visiting a mosque (its Ramadan, they're superbly generous about communal meals & charitable giving) and if all else fails crime. Which (rightly) earned me a Very Sideways Look, but somehow saying "look, call your GP & ask about temporary access to a foodbank" seemed a much more ruthless punch to the ego. Which I have now suggested by easily deniable message.

The other essentials in his situation are:

langar, offered by Sikh temples. Try and wear decent socks as shoes have to be taken off at the door. Offering to help wash up or shift stuff afterwards is a good idea.

community pantries, or community cafes that offer Pay As You Feel. Many cafes will allow you to eat free, and may even offer a takeaway as well if you are really strapped for food.

Although a few tins and cheap pasta would go a way. 

MayDogsandCoffee

At work we used to have a 'why did I buy this !!!!!!' cupboard.  It was a help yourself space mainly started for when people forgot to bring lunch, they could check the cupboard for a tin of soup or such,  The donations started from people's hampers / bought 6 and hated it after 2 tins etc.  It was a bit of a swop shop but also helped out a few that needed a bit extra now and again.  

MrsCD

Expensive week last week. We filled in, paid and posted our LPAs for both of us, then renewed our passports!
This week I'm stocktaking. I need to rewrite my lists of what I have in the cupboard under the stairs and do some stock rotation. The problem is that there is stuff in front of the door and nowhere else to put it so it's a bit of a nuisance to go in there! I know more or less what's in the freezers because I've  been running them down to use stuff up.
My plan is to sort the cupboard and throw out old ice cream tubs etc, you know the things you hang on to, just in case..., and old shoes that haven't been worn for ages, etc etc...
I need to find a space for the Kelly kettle and the Trangia that I got for Christmas. I like a plan B or C if the power goes out!