Panic buying or common sense stocking up?

Until COVID, I did one big shop every 5 weeks and just topped up in between. I have always had 'an heir and a spare' with almost everything I buy. So having, for example, a packet of cornflour in use and a spare on the top shelf is my normal way of life.

My tin of cornflour is another ‘elderly’ one.

Just checked the date November 2017!

It’ll be fine.

Obviously don’t use much.

My fridge, freezer and cupboards are relatively empty - and I never go to supermarkets. It's an interesting read, though, as I don't buy most of the 'essentials' mentioned above. I get regular deliveries of bread and oat milk (milkman), an Oddbox of assorted mystery fruit and veg, 72 loo rolls, raw pet food, 5 litres white vinegar (as a cleaner, rinse aid and hair/fabric conditioner), laundry egg refills, flour, rice and tinned food. I buy washing up liquid but bicarbonate of soda replaces shampoo, body wash, dishwasher tabs, etc. That's most of it, really. When I run out of things like mustard or ketchup I just pop into the local convenience store (where I'm welcome with the dog carried) as I pass by on my walks. Eggs for the grandchildren are free, from a neighbour. Still, there's never a shortage of takeaways around here!

I stocked up a lot throughout the lockdown & pandemic, ie loo rolls, flour to make bread, eggs etc, yes when it was the petrol shortage I kept the fuel tank full at all times, Running around from garage to garage.
Now it seems to be eggs, I’m telling myself not to bother stocking up, if I run out of eggs so be it. I’m not putting myself through all the unnecessary panic.

downtoearth

Callestemon
Delores is quite funky,I have even used her to travel to visit a friend she is quite smart

Has she got a motor? 😲

I can see you zipping along on Delores!

Our egg farm (which had free range chickens until avian flu) sells large eggs for £2.35 per dozen. Or that was the price last week.

AreWeThereYet

Our dried foods are always fairly well stocked. We restock what we use as we use it. We eat quite a lot of eggs, probably buy about two dozen a week but so far haven't noticed any shortages. Fresh/chilled foods we buy as and when we want it.

If everyone just keeps buying what they normally buy hopefully there won't be too much of a problem even if there is a bit of a shortage for a while.

No eggs at all in my branch of Sainsbury yesterday.
I got some in Waitrose. The cheapest were Duchy at £2.15 for six. The most expensive being £3.25 or thereabouts.

kircubbin2000

If there is a shortage of eggs it's because the supermarkets do not want to pay for the price rise caused by energy crisis.They will buy cheaper foreign eggs and our farmers will produce less.

Bird flu (Avian flu) is responsible for the shortage of eggs we were told yesterday, in Sainsbury's.

Even before COVID I liked to have plenty of essentials in stock or as a daughter once remarked, "You will be all set up should there be a Zombie Apocalypse" . I like to have at least enough for a couple of week's meals, coffee, milk, condiments etc plus loo rolls, washing powder, shampoo and bath gels. The freezers are always stocked and the cupboards have plenty of tins, pasta and other long life stuff. If we get snowed in or all the shops close again or I am incapacitated in any way, we won't be stuck. we do have a large shed which is used to store the larger bulkier items. In some ways it is an extravagance but I don't enjoy grocery shopping and this way has suited me for many years.

When I tidied the cupboards once I found I had 21 tins of chopped tomatoes !!

I am almost out of cornflour, so will buy one packet when I next go shopping, but no more.

Callestemon
Delores is quite funky,I have even used her to travel to visit a friend she is quite smart

I’ve stocked up only on my must haves, which are coffee, dog food, dishwasher tablets and washing powder. All are expensive when you buy them, so I’ve got two reserves of each (6 of coffee) in case they go into short supply, but also because any price rises will be felt more on more expensive items. The freezer is also kept full, and we will adapt what we eat otherwise to what’s available.

I really try not to give in to panic. If I don't have something, I'll use something else and try to be 'creative'.

Our dried foods are always fairly well stocked. We restock what we use as we use it. We eat quite a lot of eggs, probably buy about two dozen a week but so far haven't noticed any shortages. Fresh/chilled foods we buy as and when we want it.

If everyone just keeps buying what they normally buy hopefully there won't be too much of a problem even if there is a bit of a shortage for a while.

I think the baby milk thing was caused by people buying to send abroad where there was a genuine shortage.

I remember a shortage of baby milk because people were buying in bulk to send to relatives in China where there was a health and safety scare with baby milk.
The shelves in Australia were cleared of baby formula too.

kircubbin2000

If there is a shortage of eggs it's because the supermarkets do not want to pay for the price rise caused by energy crisis.They will buy cheaper foreign eggs and our farmers will produce less.

It's because of bird flu I think, kircubbin.

There may be other factors too.

I can manage with Delores my faithful shopping trolley.

They seem to be the height of fashion now as well as practical, downtoearth. We saw several young people leaving a supermarket with their smart shopping trolleys last week.

If there is a shortage of eggs it's because the supermarkets do not want to pay for the price rise caused by energy crisis.They will buy cheaper foreign eggs and our farmers will produce less.

Son complained that I had 6 packets of coffee in the cupboard. The reason was that they are on offer and we use quite a lot.

It's sensible.

Cornflower is used 3-4 times week, in our kitchen - necessity. I'll buy many extra packets when available to me.

Gas? I don't care, I won't be sitting in line to top up.

It's all down to personal needs and preferences.

I have not got any cornflour and seldom use any as I rarely cook. However now it has been mentioned I was going to add it to my shopping list today and have told my daughter who does a lot of cooking.

I wonder how many others on here will do the same. Then it is mentioned to friends and neighbours who put it on social media themselves. When a few people start buying it leaves spaces on the shelves, others notice the spaces and worry it means there is a shortage so buy more than they need to stock up.

Are you ready Maw to be blamed for a world shortage of cornflour.

One person's panic buying is another's prudent stocking. I keep a full cupboard. I gather Mormons keep a year's supply of food in the house against some sort of Armageddon.

I always keep a good stock in my larder, and every now and again I don't buy anything and run it down to low levels, mainly to stop stuff going out of date. One person's stocking up is another person's panic buying. For example, I like a particular ground coffee available in Aldi, so when they have it, I buy half a dozen packets.

I do everything from lists so I always check the fridge/freezer and cupboard before I do my tesco online update and then order a new item before the old one runs out. Some things I do keep one or two "in stock" but I only have a small freezer. My nephew has a huge chest freezer and lives near a big Azda so I occasionally ask him to buy and store stuff for me.