Keeping your preps stocked due to cost of living

[jennyjj01]

Unless you’ve been told by a dietitian/medical professional, taking multivitamins is just making expensive piss.

I don't disagree that multivits are poor value in normal times, but as a prepper, I see good value in having some set aside for a future eventuality where quality food might not be readily available.

[NBK2000]

Unless you’ve been told by a dietitian/medical professional, taking multivitamins is just making expensive piss.

I don't disagree that multivits are poor value in normal times, but as a prepper, I see good value in having some set aside for a future eventuality where quality food might not be readily available.

For sure, in dire needs you won’t be able to get a full balanced diet and they will certainly help.

[Arzosah]

And even today, there are plenty of medical professionals who really aren't very skilled at helping with chronic or low level conditions. For an infection, or a broken bone, or cancer, of course, but I've been to a doctor plenty of times feeling absolutely terrible, and they've said my tests have all come back fine, I'm really well, when I'm in tears at how unwell I feel.

[diamond lil]

That's very much the reality of life with M.E isn't it arzosah. I've just been told today after a lot of time wasting, that I've got narrowing of the arteries into the heart, causing my exhaustion and breathlessness. Got loads of wee bits of paper with tests to get and referred through the fast track clinic (?) to the local hospital. One bloody thing after another here now

[NBK2000]

Found some noodles that I like so bulk bought. Ten in a box and ten boxes purchased. That’ll do.

[jennyjj01]

I focus on the basics first: rice, beans, oats, flour, oil. Everything else is “nice to have” but not essential when budgets are tight.

I just thrashed out my thinking about relative spending on 'Survival' rations and rations for 'Living'
viewtopic.php?p=243737#p243737

My conclusions:
Only buy foods of acceptable quality that you would rotate into regular diet
.
Lay down a basic reserve of 'survival' food (E.g. Cheap rice, pasta, flour, oil. tinned beans and tomatoes )

Augment by spending the same £££ on nicer food for living, even if the cost means you only get 10th as much quantity.

I've spent a week on absolute subsistence food and it's tough.

[grenfell]

Looking at this from a different angle we could probably view it as a portent of a future. We prep for when things go tits up but in reality that brown smelly stuff is nowhere near the big spinney thing yet. Ok so some prices have gone up a bit but pretty much everything is still available and relatively abundant.. If we are struggling now try to imagine just how bad it might be should something serious and long term happen...
As to what to do , anything free or freeish for certain such as trying to grow ones own food for instance , learning to repair things and not worrying about wearing a,pair of trousers with a patch on it ( I mention that because I use a picture of a builder with patched trousers as a work logo) . Buy in bulk if possible , differentiate between needs and luxuries , it might be less pleasant but needs must and all that.

[Medusa]

And even today, there are plenty of medical professionals who really aren't very skilled at helping with chronic or low level conditions. For an infection, or a broken bone, or cancer, of course, but I've been to a doctor plenty of times feeling absolutely terrible, and they've said my tests have all come back fine, I'm really well, when I'm in tears at how unwell I feel.

I'm sorry you are feeling so unwell and have an unsympathetic GP I had one of these, he was very unpleasant so I changed to a new surgery with a much more pleasant bedside manner. It may be worth changing if this is an option as a new GP may be willing to carry out more tests or have better knowledge or extpertise. Regarding your earlier post about cooking rice consider one of these (if you have a microwave) well cooked rice in about 15 minutes for about 4 portions https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sistema-Microw ... r=8-5&th=1 I think they do smaller ones too. one cup of rice to two cups of water and it doesnt risk burning like in a pan.

[jennyjj01]

Looking at this from a different angle we could probably view it as a portent of a future. We prep for when things go tits up but in reality that brown smelly stuff is nowhere near the big spinney thing yet. Ok so some prices have gone up a bit but pretty much everything is still available and relatively abundant.. If we are struggling now try to imagine just how bad it might be should something serious and long term happen...
As to what to do , anything free or freeish for certain such as trying to grow ones own food for instance , learning to repair things and not worrying about wearing a,pair of trousers with a patch on it ( I mention that because I use a picture of a builder with patched trousers as a work logo) . Buy in bulk if possible , differentiate between needs and luxuries , it might be less pleasant but needs must and all that.

Indeed. Simple inflation and slow impoverishment of families might be the inevitable fate that we all suffer, rather than some SHTF 'crisis'. But our current and day to day prepping mentality puts us at an enormous advantage to our non-prepping peers.

I'm confident that we preppers are more intrinsically careful/frugal/savvy and that we are better able than most non-preppers to cope with such grinding impoverishment. We already cut back and make do and mend, while many of our non-prepping peers confidently stretch their spending to match their income.

We suffer a bit today, in preparation for worse time. If / when a depression arrives, we'd have already done our share of suffering and we will need to be ready to look as badly off as everyone else.... Lest they get jealous.
If things never do go bad, the joke might be on us... But I'll accept that risk.

[jennyjj01]

Regarding your earlier post about cooking rice consider one of these (if you have a microwave) well cooked rice in about 15 minutes for about 4 portions https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sistema-Microw ... r=8-5&th=1 I think they do smaller ones too. one cup of rice to two cups of water and it doesnt risk burning like in a pan.

Thanks! I must get one of these. My boiled rice is very inconsistently done on the stove.