Stocking up

[Floris]

Right now I'm trying to build up enough stock that I can get by without shopping for a month. With planning I could probably do it now, but I have to factor the cat in too, so he's not quite got enough for a month. Might be around 3 weeks worth currently.

I've got plenty of candles, the power bar thing is charged, but I might look into getting another as I gave my dad my spare.

Just be safe, dont burn the house down, dont put petrol in plastic bottles, etc.

 

[Joan]

Kinda wish I had stocked up on crisps, now there's a shortage I fancy some!

 

[Floris]

Not a shortage here. Amazon still has family packs on amazon co uk i see.

 

[Floris]

Okay, just to double check, can we name 5 things we HAVE TO HAVE this winter, that we can get 'now' before winter starts, lockdown happens, shortages happen? Just in case my mind is like 'oh i have that', but I probably realise i am now out of or didn't actually get.

I need a double check

 

[Joan]

I need to get new insoles for my boots. Have you checked coats, boots etc are all in good condition?

Toiletries? I do need to get another conditioner bar, but otherwise fully stocked.

I need to do a check on my baking supplies, flour, oats, golden syrup, sugar etc, plus any spices I might use.

 

[Floris]

Have you checked coats, boots etc are all in good condition?

They 100% are not.

I have old shoes, my coat is not a winter coat.

Okay, fair point, time to look into that for sure.

I will also double check bathroom/toilet stuff, and baking things. I know i got a few things, but through the year i also used a bit

 

[Nix]

Booked next 3 weeks of shopping slots just incase Boris changes his mind...

 

[Floris]

Booked next 3 weeks of shopping slots just incase Boris changes his mind...

We can't book anything, we just have to pick a date and by the time we order it has to be available.

I am sure it's not that terrible, it hasn't been an issue for two years now.

 

[Joan]

Well electric is going up by 50% in April, so I want to get prepared for that
Bought a dehumidifier for drying the clothes instead of the more expensive radiator. I have a slow cooker which is cheaper to run than oven.

 

[Nix]

Yer Gas and Elec bills are guna hurt big time very soon

 

[Joan]

Yer Gas and Elec bills are guna hurt big time very soon

I don't have gas at least, but I can't see how I can cut back on electric, I already barely put the heating on

 

[Floris]

Well electric is going up by 50% in April, so I want to get prepared for that
Bought a dehumidifier for drying the clothes instead of the more expensive radiator. I have a slow cooker which is cheaper to run than oven.

Yer Gas and Elec bills are guna hurt big time very soon

Mine went up by 100 a month. I am basically going to be in debt now. I won't be able to recover from the difference and have to give up on some hobbies and i guess i can stop eating. The end year bill will also be terrible this january and then june for the other company. So yeh.. fun

Best of luck everybody.

 

[Nix]

Best of luck everybody.

Yup gunna need it...

 

[Joan]

Well I'm stocking up on food this month before the bills go up next month, plus food prices rising and I expect it'll just get worse.

 

[Floris]

I spend another 50 euro probably on just stocking up some canned foods and things that last a bit longer. It's crazy how little we get for 50 euro these days.

 

[Joan]

Looks like this year could also be one of shortages too, however currently I feel good with the stocks I have, but always room for improvement and I wish I could grow a few bits myself so I knew at least I could have something fresh

 

[Floris]

Even with shortages in 2020/2021, i really didn't actually notice it. I don't have a car, so gas didn't impact me. I just noticed prices going up - but even if something was out of stock, a few days later it was in all the stores again.

To be honest, i am not that worried. i want to take preventive actions and try to be smart about it without it hurting my wallet, but i don't want to be paranoid about it either.

i will keep adding a few things here and there when i do groceries, stuff that lasts a while, and i have enough of things like pasta and rice to last me - and i have flower for bread. What i still want through is safe drinking water that's bigger than a few litters downstairs in cool storage - knowing it won't leak, nor go bad after a year (yes, some do have pretty short expiration dates, something to keep an eye on).

i have some lights i can turn on in case of power cuts, and i have reflective stuff i can put in front of windows that's really tiny but unwraps and covers a large area. so i can keep heat in as well. but spring, summer, fall is ahead of us and i am not too worried.

 

[Joan]

I need to set an alarm to remind me to do meter readings every month, I usually do anyway but I think it's going to be more important now that they don't estimate it and I end up paying more.
I've gone through the cupboards and know what's in there now, still have the freezer to go through and sort out.

 

[Floris]

I need to set an alarm to remind me to do meter readings every month, I usually do anyway but I think it's going to be more important now that they don't estimate it and I end up paying more.
I've gone through the cupboards and know what's in there now, still have the freezer to go through and sort out.

Great idea, I was going to do it twice a year, but wanted to change it to once a season. I think keeping an yee on it monthly isn't a terrible thing based on what we are going to pay.

 

[Joan]

Trying to figure out what has to be left switched on while I'm at work, fridge, freezer, washing machine, just because getting to the plug is awkward. I think thats it, I'll just have to remember in the morning to turn the rest off. Non work days will be more expensive though.

 

[Floris]

Trying to figure out what has to be left switched on while I'm at work, fridge, freezer, washing machine, just because getting to the plug is awkward. I think thats it, I'll just have to remember in the morning to turn the rest off. Non work days will be more expensive though.

I might actually get a philips hue style smart plug for kitchen and bathroom equipment, waiting for their reply back what is suitable. Might be a little investment now, but knowing i auto turn off things during hours i will 100% never use it, and control over my phone.. solves the awkward positions and downtimes costing money.

 

[Joan]

I might actually get a philips hue style smart plug for kitchen and bathroom equipment, waiting for their reply back what is suitable. Might be a little investment now, but knowing i auto turn off things during hours i will 100% never use it, and control over my phone.. solves the awkward positions and downtimes costing money.

Doesn't that mean everything is essentially left on stand by? Not actually switched off?

 

[Floris]

Doesn't that mean everything is essentially left on stand by? Not actually switched off?

I'd have to google which devices still draw power when not in use. I know the tv for example still pulls electricity when turned off (the old ones). but yeah, some devices do. I haven't had time to dive into it yet. But instead of taking power out and then plugging back in, etc. creating wear/tear and awkwward bending over angles that can hurt ya lower back sometimes, i rather just say 'hey siri, turn everything off in the bathroom'

 

[Joan]

And here we go, April is here and the bills are all going up this month, so time to switch everything off and cancel what I can