Hoarding Vs Panic Buying Vs Prepper/Prepping: Which Am I?

This is what my semi-local big chain grocery store (water aisle) shelves looked like back on March 13 (ten days before our governor issued our stay at home/shelter in place executive order). Normally these shelves are stocked to the brim with gallons of water while cases of bottled water filled up every square inch on the floor below.


water.jpg

On the day I was the store back then, I didn't buy any bottled water (as we had 43 gallons already in my food and supply storage at home), but I walked down this aisle to get to another area of the store I needed to purchase items; and I just thought... WOW! Are people really this unprepared for chaos of epic proportions as to swarm in and buy up as much as they can?

SIDE NOTE- I do plan on buying a Berkey Water Filter system hopefully this year. As I don't like to have to buy these plastic jugs for water storage.

Further into the store, I went down the paper products' aisle on my way to the dairy section of the store, and this is what greeted me there.


tp.jpg

Again, under normal circumstances this is where a mountain of toilet paper would be readily available for purchase. Over half the regular supply had been bought up.

And again, I did not buy any toilet paper as I purchase ours in a case (96 rolls) through a restaurant supply store. This case of TP will last us normally for about six months or more; and I had just bought some on January 3 (right before my surgery), so we were all set- heck we still have 17 rolls left in the bathrooms now.

Although I will be heading down that way perhaps next week and will grab another case. The owner messages me when a new shipment has arrived (it's nice to have the inside line to restocking) and every Wednesday I get the message.

These two aisles piqued my interest so I went down a few more and saw the cereal aisle was demolished! The canned meats (SPAM, tuna) was empty. The canned goods (fruit, vegetables, soups) were void. Even the prepared meats (bacon, sausage, kielbasa) was slim pickings. Frozen foods freezers were getting bare. The meat section? And the baking aisle?Oh Lord! Don't get me started!

I was amazed! Speechless is more like it.

My dad, who worked for Krogers' management for five decades, said it will take about 6 months for the stores to restock their shelves to normal.

So... the people who had been buying up these crucial supplies... Are they hoarders, panic buyers or preppers?

Power House Creatives Logos FINAL.png

Let's start with each definition first to determine which you are...


Hoarding defintion:

A mental disorder
Withholding information, files, or physical objects that others desire greatly

Panic Buying:

A situation in which many people suddenly buy as much food, fuel, etc. as they can because they are worried about something bad that may happen

Prepper:

A person who prepares something or prepares for something
A person who gathers materials and makes plans in preparation for surviving a major disaster or cataclysm (such as worldwide economic collapse or war)

According to the media, and even other social network platforms, these people are hoarders. But by the definitions above, unless they have been clinically diagnosed with a mental disorder... they are NOT hoarders. Panic buying is what I would classify those people as.

But as for me... I am a prepper. I plan ahead; always have. My parents taught me, as well as my siblings, to be prepared. Never let your car's gas tank get below half full. Always have enough toilet paper on hand for at least a week. And when I lived more rural than I do now, winter storms were known to barricade you in your home for days on end.

I was also taught to keep a full pantry just like my maternal grandmother did. She had a large garden and preserved every ounce of food she grew in it.

So how about you? Which person are you? Were you prepared for this pandemic and shelter in place orders? Or did you rush to the stores to stock up?

Power House Creatives Logos FINAL.png


Powerhousecreatives Exclusive Member's Signature made by @zord189

luvbug.png



0
0
0.000
3 comments
avatar

Jeez, supplies out there are 👀👀. I think I'd consider them "panic buyers" too. Thankfully, the stocks here are not as depleted. We shop as usual (quantity-wise) but of course, there are now new safety protocols to follow that make it inconvenient.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I agree some of the safety precautions are, and can be, time consuming and a hassle. I do wear a mask when I go to stores (maybe once a week) and gloves. I keep a spray bottle of homemade hand sanitizer in my purse and in the car... Even though they do spray the grocery carts with sanitizer, I use mine as well. Gives me peace of mind I suppose knowing I did it too.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Ahhh those empty racks...I saw in news channel, and it was very chaotic scene the moment people get to know of lockdown...glad you had all ready arangement 👍

In India, I think the shop owners (not the big super market) are the big hoarders. They are everywhere and in each locality they have maximum reach to consumer...and they know how to make profit even at crucial time...
.....as far as I am concerned, I say myself a prepper...I bought items which can be use efficiently..like rice/wheat those are part of our staple food and then the pulses which is also an integral part of our daily food...and easily made...obviously in this time we all must be liking simple home made food rather than unhealthy junkies..

0
0
0.000