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In this current difficult world situation are you thinking of changing how you run your life?

(125 Posts)
PamelaJ1 Thu 19-Mar-26 08:44:52

Is it time to think of this ongoing situation as having a long sell by date?
I’ve been hoping that it will all be over by next winter but reading an article in the paper today and scanning the readers responses I’m wondering of I’m wrong.

I and a few others on this site have probably had experience of heating only one room so we know that it’s possible but many other things have changed enormously over the years.
Food prices may go up, we certainly aren’t self sufficient any more.
I wonder if the spare allotments in our village will be snapped up. We grow a lot of veg anyway and perhaps people will want our surplus apples this year?

I am already planning my trips to use as little fuel as possible.
Should I be phoning up the solar power installers ASAP?
My family and I have lived through riots (Mao) water shortages during our lives so think it’s a good idea to hope for the best but do a bit of planning, just in case.
Any great ideas, not stockpiling- that just leads to more problems.

PamelaJ1 Fri 20-Mar-26 07:29:03

petra that’s one thing that definitely is good. My DH worked in farming and we knew the danger these posed to domestic and wildlife. I have never bought one!
Keep the helium for the important things.

BlueBelle Fri 20-Mar-26 07:41:32

petra

For all I know this could be my last day on earth. I’m certainly not going to worry about events that might/ might not happen.

But I worry for my children and mostly my grandchildren who travel all over the world for work, (or pleasure) not for myself I won’t know anything much about it if it drags on and on but I don’t want them involved in a most unsettling, upsetting era.

I know you shouldn’t worry about things you can’t changed but you d be made of stone if you didn’t

MartavTaurus Fri 20-Mar-26 07:57:04

The thing is, that once this current situation is over and done with, there'll always be another one waiting round the corner. So what's the point in worrying, and going to any lengths to change our lives?

I thought I'd be clever and book one very long stay abroad this year to save money and fuel, and repeat dog certificates, as we usually go back and forth 3 or 4 times. Job done. But then I sneakily squeezed in some additional trips to different places with the money I'd saved! It's hard to change a lifestyle, and I agree with the comment that life's too short not to get out there and enjoy.

sixandahalf Fri 20-Mar-26 08:15:32

BlueBelle

petra

For all I know this could be my last day on earth. I’m certainly not going to worry about events that might/ might not happen.

But I worry for my children and mostly my grandchildren who travel all over the world for work, (or pleasure) not for myself I won’t know anything much about it if it drags on and on but I don’t want them involved in a most unsettling, upsetting era.

I know you shouldn’t worry about things you can’t changed but you d be made of stone if you didn’t

It's so easy to say, don't worry and I might be gone tomorrow.

Not so easy to put into practice.

Certain things can assist but I feel battered by Covid, by grief and loss, by change, by uncertainty.

sixandahalf Fri 20-Mar-26 08:16:47

I thought I'd be clever and book one very long stay abroad this year

Clever indeed and fortunate.

petra Fri 20-Mar-26 08:20:08

BlueBelle
You know that I’m not made of stone.
I was trying to think of a time when I was really worried. It was many years ago when my ex husband was sacked on the spot.
We had a mortgage and a young child.

Casdon Fri 20-Mar-26 08:30:35

I don’t think you need to stop planning and put your life on hold if you prepare for something that might happen, the two aren’t mutually exclusive?

Oreo Fri 20-Mar-26 10:19:17

Worrying about global possibilities is a waste of time.

Casdon Fri 20-Mar-26 10:36:15

Making sensible contingency plans is not a waste of time. It takes minimum effort to make sure you have the essentials to manage for at least a week in the event of internet shut down, power outage, water supply being cut off or whatever. It’s what the government recommends we do.

Allira Fri 20-Mar-26 10:40:14

Casdon

Making sensible contingency plans is not a waste of time. It takes minimum effort to make sure you have the essentials to manage for at least a week in the event of internet shut down, power outage, water supply being cut off or whatever. It’s what the government recommends we do.

We always knew about this during the Cold War. The Government always seemed to have Civil Defence contingency plans in place but I'm not sure if they are so organised now.

Casdon Fri 20-Mar-26 10:44:03

There is one, but how good it would be I don’t know? Every time there is a major issue it seems that the planning is lacking - the NHS was perilously close to collapse in the Covid crisis as revealed yesterday in the Inquiry.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-national-contingency-plan

Allira Fri 20-Mar-26 10:45:50

Yes.
And it's worse still now.

Casdon Fri 20-Mar-26 10:54:22

At least we aren’t in a situation now where all waiting list activity is completely cancelled and additional beds are opened in non NHS facilities to cope with emergency demand. I think that could very easily happen again though if there is another major outbreak. At the root of it is too few funded beds in acute hospitals to meet spikes in demand.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 20-Mar-26 11:00:02

Going back to the ME. Keep listening and reading that we may very well in the not too distant future have a 1970s situation.

Well, we all lived through and survived that, so no doubt we will do the same.

The only worry I have is that I don’t think that the U.K. is in such a good place economically to deal with the shocks.

imaround Fri 20-Mar-26 13:06:02

I have spent the last week getting my garden ready so that I can ensure I have fresh vegetables this summer. I was unable to afford beef during my weekly grocery trip this week and I know it is all going to get worse as the effects of prices on gas and fertilizer continue as time goes on.

I just want to be able to have food to eat.

PamelaJ1 Fri 20-Mar-26 16:55:37

loopyloo has suggested something that I hadn’t thought of. A solar powered phone charger.
We no longer have a landline or at least one that works when the power goes off so that could be very useful.
We are just avoiding filling up our oil tank , it’s nearly summer now and walking round the corner to use the bus a bit more. Just little things that don’t pile on more pressure to the system just at the moment.
DH is still mowing the lawn though and he wasn’t accused of hoarding when he was filling up the petrol can at the service station!

David49 Fri 20-Mar-26 17:37:26

Whitewavemark2

Going back to the ME. Keep listening and reading that we may very well in the not too distant future have a 1970s situation.

Well, we all lived through and survived that, so no doubt we will do the same.

The only worry I have is that I don’t think that the U.K. is in such a good place economically to deal with the shocks.

Im expecting reduced speed limits, probably not power cuts, maybe oil rationing in some form, we are better place than many in Europe that depend much more on imported gas and oil

Cossy Fri 20-Mar-26 18:30:16

GrannyGravy13

I am a glass half full, not a glass half empty person.

I will worry about things in my control when the time arises that worry is needed.

None of us know when our time on earth will be up, I intend to live my allotted days to the best of my ability

Great attitude!! X

Allira Fri 20-Mar-26 18:33:44

David49

Whitewavemark2

Going back to the ME. Keep listening and reading that we may very well in the not too distant future have a 1970s situation.

Well, we all lived through and survived that, so no doubt we will do the same.

The only worry I have is that I don’t think that the U.K. is in such a good place economically to deal with the shocks.

Im expecting reduced speed limits, probably not power cuts, maybe oil rationing in some form, we are better place than many in Europe that depend much more on imported gas and oil

Im expecting reduced speed limits

We'll be going at 10mph on many roads and 30mph on motorways here then!

Maremia Fri 20-Mar-26 18:35:40

Interesting article in BBC online just now, about Preppers in Wales.
Might be of interest to some of you.

sixandahalf Fri 20-Mar-26 18:46:44

Cossy

GrannyGravy13

I am a glass half full, not a glass half empty person.

I will worry about things in my control when the time arises that worry is needed.

None of us know when our time on earth will be up, I intend to live my allotted days to the best of my ability

Great attitude!! X

It is one possible attitude and can be learnt/ applied.
It is also alright to be struggling and say so and ask for help.

MaizieD Fri 20-Mar-26 18:49:54

Allira

David49

Whitewavemark2

Going back to the ME. Keep listening and reading that we may very well in the not too distant future have a 1970s situation.

Well, we all lived through and survived that, so no doubt we will do the same.

The only worry I have is that I don’t think that the U.K. is in such a good place economically to deal with the shocks.

Im expecting reduced speed limits, probably not power cuts, maybe oil rationing in some form, we are better place than many in Europe that depend much more on imported gas and oil

Im expecting reduced speed limits

We'll be going at 10mph on many roads and 30mph on motorways here then!

When the oil price rocketed in, IIRC, 1973 the government introduced a 50 mph speed limit on motorways and a 60mph limit on major roads (which looks a bit strange to me now). The public complied very well with these but I can't see the same compliance happening if they tried it today..

BlueBelle Fri 20-Mar-26 19:19:41

Petra I apologise I wasn’t meaning to infer you were made of stone it was a general reply to your post.

Nicolenet Sat 21-Mar-26 13:44:18

Bought a couple of tins of soup.

Sadie5803 Sat 21-Mar-26 13:45:55

At the end of the day we have very little control over this awfull mess brought on by unaccountable governments, i just take each day as it comes , i make sure my family are ok, after that and just hope for the best