Preparing for the future

The future is up in the air at the moment. I think we should be aware that we may not be able to buy the food we normally buy. The cost of living is going up, everything is more expensive now. Best to buy in a few extra food items just in case things become really desperate.

[@frugalitystartsathome4889]

I have food stashed away and have been doing this since before the pandemic was even heard of. I’ve been through recession, depressions, unemployment, being skint and having days of plenty, so I’m well aware of how quickly personal situations can change, and I’m never going to be caught out by politics, plague, or anything else. I take absolutely no notice whatsoever of sell by or use by dates - if it’s not green and doesn’t smell it’s edible, is my motto - and if the worst came to the absolute worst my family could live on my stores for quite some time. It gives me a great sense of comfort in these absurd times to know that I’m in a position to manage, despite rising costs and stupid politicians - I feel so sorry for those who can’t.

[@kaycee625]

I too joined the dots a long time ago!! It was easy for me as I live in 3 different countries so I noticed very quickly that the identical news and “emergencies” were being declared at exactly the same time, in almost identical wording. No coincidence!! That woke me up very early in the game.

[@LovingLifeOnLess]

The more people that join the dots the better. If people haven't heard of the World Economic Forum and their agenda for the world, it is a good place to start researching. Your video is fab and as informative as usual. Be prepared, keep smiling, we will get through this. ❤

[@laetitialogan2017]

Yes indeed the WEF and the Rothchilds are pushing all governments towards "sustainability " ( poverty in otherwords) knowing full well the cold of the northern hemisphere

[@kerryneylan7978]

I think their agenda isn't going to plan. The African countries resisted the WHO plans to control lockdowns and vaccines and now Putin and Meloni are throwing curve balls. I stopped to pet somebody's dog last week and the conversation turned to the handling of the scandemic.. As soon as I mentioned the WEF the guy referred to Klaus Schwarb. I was passing by an 'enough is enough' demo yesterday and the people I spoke to there had heard of the WEF. People are waking up.

[@moonspirit6555]

I can't believe the amount of my friends who have never heard of the WEF

[@lb4256]

Looks as though the "You will own nothing, and be happy" plan has been accelerated! X

[@jenmb.]

I've been stocking up for a while, but I am on my own too, so I can control things. It's already difficult for families. One thing I've discovered is using a small head torch when I move around, saves me switching lights on and leave me hands free.

[@Daisyandchlo]

If cooking rice, boil it until about 5 minutes before it's meant to be cooked, turn it off and leave it in it's boiling water for about 7 or 8 minutes. The heat alone will finish cooking it and save you a few pennies.

[@fedupbin]

Great tip

[@claireslattery7]

It’s not a recession, it’s a robbery.

[@hitchjack]

It’s neither

[@ASmileAdayful]

It's a plan!

[@janeburke147]

@@ASmileAdayful definitely planned 👍🏻

[@marybee4694]

I agree it's totally planned they are all the same they definitely don't give a dam about ordinary working people

[@junemarshall6680]

It's something sinister from the government or the rich.

[@thefloatingapothecaryroman16]

Glad to see so many of you have received money? I live on a boat and even though gas, coal and diesel has quadrupled I and other boates haven't received and cash help with increased cost of living. Ended up on a boat as I lost my job due to lockdown, so no free money for me. Prior to that I had to live in a van, as I don't meet the criteria for housing. I've been buying dried beans and lentils to cook on my stove. I've also started to forage wild veg (mostly nettles) and mushrooms.

[@karen4you]

I've done this so when I have a lean month there's something to eat without going shopping. I've been wearing layers as nights done to 38F. Good advice. My cat gets under the covers with me this time of year to stay warm. Also use hot water bottles. I have vintage metal ones. And wool tall boots to keep my feet warmer rather than heat the house excessively. Just have to go back to some of the old ways of living.

[@veemcg3682]

Thank you for taking the trouble to present this video. My brother and I are used to eating mostly whatever is ready in the garden so need to start shopping and getting food into our cupboards. It has been a struggle this year anyway as I've been in hospital for many months and very little got sown or planted. I am grateful to be home and recovering slowly. I will now check what's in the house and start a shopping list and then William and I can shop and write the dates on like you have done. I think I will feel better once I have started somewhere. Your new top is lovely and I wish you health to wear. Like you I've been wearing the same things since I retired and will now need to invest in some warm cosy things. So far we've bought extra hot water bottles and bedsocks! Love Vera in Northern Ireland

[@janrogers8352]

I've always had a stock of commonly used store cupboard items going back to when I moved into my first home over 45 years ago. I keep my oats, pasta and rice in airtight containers once the packet is open, I have never bothered about the date. If I have extra money once the weekly shop is done, I get extra tins or jars of things we eat regularly, or things that are on offer, always putting new items to the back of the shelf so the oldest items are used first.

[@thorsmalletgaming5462]

nice to see you also are very awake to whats really going on

[@lucyjane103]

I turn 71 in 3 days. I totally love watching you and your COMMON SENSE..... I relate to you.....Brenda from Portland Oregon...... Best Wishes, keep making your videos !

[@veemcg3682]

Hello Brenda just wishing you a very happy birthday from Vera in the North of Ireland. I'm not cold tonight for my Springer spaniel Barney is cuddled up here beside me! We are very fortunate here that we don't usually have extremes of weather. God bless everyone in more inclement climates. Look after yourself and have a nice birthday. V

[@lucyjane103]

@@veemcg3682 you are sweet. I am one of Jehovahs Witnesses . I do not celebrate my birthday...

[@lucyjane103]

I have no interest to celebrate myself ..... But you are very kind to think of me Vera. I am thinking and hoping you are doing well for yourself...I lived in Dublin for a month or so... in 2000.....Long time ago......Love to you.....

[@lucyjane103]

Wish we could talk on our own....

[@melpage302]

Suggestion for folks at home. During the day visit the library, leisure centre or walk around the shopping mall. These places are always kept warm. Save on your heating during the daytime and use your free bus pass to get to them if you are lucky enough to have one. Also you can chat to folks there if you wish or not if you so choose. Communal council operated areas are always kept warm and often house a cafe area too for a treat to yourself. Just some thoughts. Swimming and leisure centres provide free showers so save on your own hot water too. Charity shops are good for a warm , a chat and are interesting. Think how to go out to save on your own energy bills. On the subject of food. Use a slow cooker as much as possible to cook wholesome meals. Freeze meals for future in your freezer and never put the oven on for one meal or item. Always use the oven to cook several days meals together and then freeze them. Cook too much at once always and freeze. Apples are prolific at moment. Stew down and freeze as many as you can for future puddings. Great with nutmeg on a cold day. It’s fun thinking how to save money frugally and beat the system. Light by candle light at night. Cosy. Hot water bottle to snuggle with. Crochet/ knit a huge wool blanket with wool from the charity shop then wrap up in the armchair to watch your favourite tv or with a good book. Hot drinks chocolate, coffee, tea all keep us warm. Scarves. Balaclavas. All layers to keep cosy. Remember as children we didn’t have central heating at home and we kept warm. We know how to enjoy life without spending as we grew up without loads of money and gadgets so let’s get creative. I really enjoy your positive videos. Thank you.

[@meanqueensuperscrimper8908]

Thank you for your tips. Beating the system is indeed the way to tackle what is going on. Best wishes. ilona

[@cherylT321]

Wonderful ideas! Thank you!

[@atristram54316]

Love the fluffy jacket Lona! i picked up similar one from a car boot for £1 over summer, still being sold in mountain warehouse for £35, will wear it to death also got a Joules coat today from a car boot sale for £3 that QVC are currently selling for £106 - saves a fortune bargain hunting :D

[@bernieozzie7480]

Good buy for the coming weather. Good advice. Cheers from Queensland

[@bernadettenightingale4495]

I joined the dots 3 years ago. Love your videos. So happy i found you😊

[@bettygraham818]

You did make me laugh with your slip of tongue about walking around with no clothes on!! My granddaughter aged 15 was nagging her Mum to put the heating on. She had thin trousers and a T shirt on. Where is your cardigan, I asked. I don't have one. The next day, I found a beautiful fisherman's rib cardi in a charity shop in a fashionable beige. It had a stain on the front so I paid 75p. gave it a good wash and it came up beautifully. I presented it to her along with another warm sweater in pale pink costing a £1.She looked lovely and really cosy in both garments.Whether she will wear them I don't know ! I sometimes think that young people would rather suffer from hypothermia than look 'uncool'. As you say, it's a lot easier living on your own.

[@pamelacourtney8998]

That's a very nice jacket. Looks so warm plus it has a hood. I find if I wear a scarf of some sort around my neck I'll stay warm all over. Take it off and my body temp drops rapidly. So I keep several of them handy. Thanks for sharing and blessings to all 🧡

[@tmarie7463]

What a very informative video. It is very nerve wracking when you don`t know when or if the price increases of everything will finally stabilize. Thanks for your great tips!

[@besstonbridge8803]

Great advice, instant mash and dried milk powder are also good to have in your cupboard. A little tip for dry pasta and rice, is to soak it in water the day before, then it only takes 2 mins to cook. your jacket looks very cosy. ❤❤

[@meanqueensuperscrimper8908]

Great tip, thank you.

[@kamaldeepjohal9372]

😊

[@asmith9140]

We bought sacks of rice from the ethnic shop and was advised to put the sack in the freezer to kill any possible mites before we stashed it

[@leederham4811]

Hello lovely 'They' must think us all silly if they think we don't know where'the dots' are leading. Great video Take care x

[@jacwindsor5552]

Most of our 150 went towards the energy bill but I did buy some hot flasks, an oversized blanket hoodie, more socks and a long hot water bottle. You will receive a Winter Fuel too in the autumn too which is pretty good. We were lucky to have a small house Council band D to get the discount. It is certainly important to wear decent warm clothes.

[@christinephillips3435]

The same with me where did you buy the flasks please.

[@deborahhw8030]

Love your new jacket it looks like the type you could wear inside and outside. I have been putting a few extra tins in my trolley. I don't worry too much about things but if we ever have a tough month I know my cupboards are full. It takes the stress out of life to be prepared.

[@sukigrice1841]

Hi and thank you for your vid. I have been busy bottling up apples and plums which we have had in abundance from the garden this year. Will be great for topping porridge. I have also been stocking up on shelf stable foods and I am quite happy to make up my own concoctions with whatever is available. I have a good sack of potatoes from my allotment and tinned and dried beans. All stocked up and ready for whatever life throws at me as it were. Invested in some new thermal leggings to go with what I already had. All getting a bit worn now so needed new. Busy knitting wrist warmers as per Prime of midlife utube ideas. Will hopefully be ok. Keep prepping and keep warm. You are always so cheerful and upbeat and I love watching you for that.

[@mssdn8976]

Most of those sell by dates don’t mean a lot, we don’t worry about the dates on dried or tinned goods

[@grandpahickory613]

BEAUTIFUL JACKET !

[@happydodson6920]

Very encouraging and motivating video -- thank you! Great find with your new jacket.

[@rickiwinter1587]

A great video ,Ilona, you put a really positive spin on the difficult situation that we are all in. Great strait forward advice. Love the new top, looks so cosy. I live alone too and am doing many of the same things as you to take care and get through the winter months . My dog curls up at the end of my bed and I keep my feet warm by putting them next to her.

[@geoffreyboyling615]

Thanks Ilona, good advice and enthusiasm! Just one point ....... if you're going to be eating a lot of canned & packet food, you could do with getting some multivitamin tablets They tend to be fairly large torpedoes; I cut them in half and take one half now & again.

[@candyisforgirls]

Your are always positive, encouraging, great adviser, joyful, wise, thankyou

[@bettecannavino4047]

Love your new jacket! Good for you! Watching dates as well. What about growing sprouts in a jar. Loads of nutrients!

[@jacwindsor5552]

I have been stocking up since Covid. Loads of canned foods, cold foods, water, batteries. I have noticed that in some of our supermarkets food has run out, perhaps due to lack of staff so having some spare canned food means you will always have a back up. I go to ASDA now and have stocked on on basic essentials. The 19p dried custard packs are great.

[@BeFree-BeFrugal]

New jacket looks really warm, I’ve been getting outdoor stuff. Love to walk in cold weather

[@yvonneevie5926]

nice haul 😄and im not too worried as yet..i can only do my best with the money ive got and yep i will layer up more this winter and heating wont be on as much 😁

[@picking4profit]

I already have a few years of food put away. I am eating at 2020 price right now. Currently adding more toiletries to fill in my gaps of what I have bought. I saw the inflation coming a few years ago when they were paying people to stay at home and printing money; it all has to be paid for. They are now printing more money and that is going to increase inflation even more

[@meanqueensuperscrimper8908]

I can see you're up to speed with the real news. Check out Neil Oliver, The Coast Guy, on GB News. He explains it perfectly.

[@picking4profit]

@@meanqueensuperscrimper8908 thank-you he is a treasure and has helped me get through the last few years!

[@yvonnethorpe5224]

You definitely won’t starve IIona😀 You have managed to do really well with long dates on your shopping items. I have started doing this too and have accrued a decent larder that will hopefully see me through any potential hard times this winter. Like you, I am also layering up with clothes and trying to conserve the Credit I have accrued with my energy supplier until the weather turns a lot colder. 1st of October marks the time for me to start wearing my woolly tights and thick woolly socks. I know we will all get through this winter with a little forward planning. Thank you for all the examples you share with us on how to save money and prepare for challenging times😀

[@pearl2910]

Love the new Jacket! I must confess I have put the heating on to take the chill off for my two elderly cats just for ten mins or so ! Thanks for the tips ! 💗

[@anoodono1841]

Thats a good idea cause u r slowly drying out hse n case damp has started t creep in. My heating is broken at the moment n i can manage without fir a little longer!

[@choochalah]

I will prepare hot water bottles for my kitties!❤ they love it!

[@janetlomax2295]

​@@choochalah my little dog just sleeps in the bed with me. We keep each other warm and cosy. 🥰

[@janepearson2450]

@@anoodono1841 by a dehumidifier. I had to throw 3 beds away as the damp cold air made them foisty smelling .

[@anoodono1841]

@@janepearson2450 Hve a dehumidifier -its whats keeping me going. Im getting my heating fixed this week but was just commenting that i am managing without central heating when i dont hve it t turn on. Kind regards!

[@WalkontheWildlifeSide]

Thanks for all the tips. You gave me some good ideas. I love your new top. Looks very cosy. 🌻

[@lorrainecox5368]

Great video as always, very inspiring. I have bought one of those very long fleeces with a hood, fantastic for keeping warm and has pockets in the front to keep hands warm. I'm stocking up on the food I know I will definitely eat and enjoy.

[@NOIRIST]

Always enjoy your advice videos! My partner and I just invested in a Jackery portable generator with solar panels. We had been thinking about buying one for months, but the price tag put us off. Well, events that have transpired just these past couple of weeks decided it for us. Take care, Ilona!

[@sukigrice1841]

Yes I have been thinking about s solar powered generator. They seem to be very popular in the states where some areas have frequent power outages. The utubers Hope and Larry at 'under the median' have several vids where they show their setup where they run kitchen appliances off their system. I invested in a small solar power pack and a pair of led camping lights to run off it. Very bright and useful if we get power cuts. Good luck with your prepping.

[@NOIRIST]

@@sukigrice1841 Thanks Suki. I'm 34. I am anxious that within my lifetime our NHS will either collapse or become fully privatised... and we will also experience planned blackouts. It never hurts to try and be as prepared, as we can. Take care!

[@cherylT321]

I just bought one a few months ago. I’ve been using it everyday to charge up my various devices!

[@pattycake8272]

Inspired..thank you. I like the idea of not grabbing a lot if freezer items also.

[@cherylparkinson6136]

Very good advice Ilona ! I’m going to Aldi next week to stock up my pantry with tinned goods . Aldi do some amazing tinned fruit too , the peaches are lovely & so is the tea bread

[@anoodono1841]

Luv the recommendations. Their Crispbread is ok too compared t Ryvita prices

[@christineconnor4413]

Good video . Yes mix and match food . As long as you like it who cares if it's not conventional ! Things like soup and sarnies make a good cheap meal. Broth and dumplings also filling . Jac Monroe has some good recipes for meals that don't cost the earth . She's an inspiration. Love your top ! Looks very posh ! 😁 Take care and keep safe X

[@leighwiseman8389]

Thank you Ilona for your great video. I love your warm fleece, I bought one for myself and my daughter, just doing my upmost not to put that heating on. Great food shop haul and great advice. Take care Ilona 🙂 xxx

[@giuliofish]

Thank your for this video. It's definitely time to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We started stock piling early this spring, when it became clear the grip of control is being tightened more and more. I keep thinking of everything people didn't have during the second world war, and making sure we have extra of whatever that may be. Even if it turns out to be the wrong things, it is a psychological comfort that I have a year's worth of tea in the cupboards (and plenty of off-grid fuel to boil the water).

[@ruthie2222]

Brilliant Ilona ….. your very aware with what’s going on and love your haul! 👏👏👏 #TheGreatReset 😉

[@Daisyandchlo]

Your jacket looks lovely and warm, Ilona. Yes, I've joined the dots as well. I have put off using the GCH until the 1st November, for about the last 15 years. I live in a cold, old 3 storey terraced house, so it does get pretty cold by then, but I just put several layers on. I'm knitting warm socks and I've even considered knitting some long legged knickers from 1940s patterns for warmth this year lol.

[@adamlittle8691]

Very informative video! Sat here with my layers on and a hot cup of coffee keeping warm im lucky i dont feel the cold too much. Like you our cupboards and freezer are well stocked and with us all working hopefully we'll be ok whatever lies ahead. Take care!

[@jacwindsor5552]

Sauerkraut is quite good, good hot or cold. I add it to soups. I have rice noodles in my pantry too. Lidl now stock dried veg.

[@kateleese9663]

Thanks for heads up about dried veg

[@lucydawson1344]

Jacket looks very cosy! I received £150 for each of my twins as they’re on DLA (they’re 9) and it’s useful to have that little extra bonus especially as they’re growing so quickly. I find that in the winter even if we layer up with jumpers etc we do need the heating on. If it’s just me I do try and avoid having it on when I’m home alone and the kids are at school etc but I really do layer right up!

[@mariamorgan6913]

Hello Ilona, glad to see you bought new clothes🥰

[@meanqueensuperscrimper8908]

Thank you Maria. The stalker comment has been removed.

[@dawnmorandin541]

lovely to hear that you are prepared, we too don't need anything else at our age except food. we eat simple food and I bake from scratch, it's a wake up call for many people right now but it will settle down eventually.

[@paulsaunders4146]

Hello Iona, very inspiring, we always follow you in your vlogs. Just a thought in your lovely garden have you thought of growing a couple of raised beds of veg. The ones we use our metal self assembly and take up a square metre. Here we grow our own spuds, onions, garlic,, Brussels and carrots, in large buckets we grow leeks and have strawbs and raspberries in our beds and pots. You can grow salad leaves in washing up bowls with holes drilled in the bottom, and have apple and pear trees bought as bare root in the autumn growing in ordinary metal dustbins. All the veg has either been grown from seed, or bought in seed spuds, onion sets, and garlic cloves. The raised beds could also be made from old pallets if you can scrounge them. You will need veg compost to grow veg but once set up this will keep you set up for a few years. We hope to inspire you and this could cut down your expenses over the long run and be totally organic and you can gather your crops without transporting and reliant on the supermarket. All the best Paul and Alexis on Anglesey.

[@meanqueensuperscrimper8908]

I used to grow veg, but my garden has a massive slug and snail problem. I gave up, changed the pallet raised beds to bricks, and started to grow plants and flowers. A blog post from 2013 meanqueen-lifeaftermoney.blogspot.com/2013/01/getting-beds-ready.html

[@dandelionwishes9842]

You are Sooo right about everything 🙀happy im not the only one who sees all that's going on and alls connected,hope other's wake up to everything,ty for this Absolutely Brilliant video,happy treat self new clothes,would love see rest if baught more,yes let's all use what have&don't wast and be strong don't trust some one just because they say you look smart&their being nice to you,alot of people now are playing on others feeling to get money out of them ,mostly lonely or mentally ill

[@meanqueensuperscrimper8908]

Check out The Coast Guy Neil on GB News.

[@heathercreighton9613]

Lovely to catch up with you Ilona. Have a great day, love from New Zealand.❤️

[@shirleywormald3197]

Thanks for taking the time to post your videos,all good sensible advice for everyone 😊

[@lynnhensley4326]

Hello from the USA! Just finished with Hurricane Ian having passed through my state. Good idea to have a small stockpile with long dates. Love your new jacket. The color looks nice on you. Beginning of fall where I am, so I've gotten out my warmer clothing, too.

[@anoodono1841]

Agree color suits really well

[@asmith9140]

Yes we do the pre cooked rice too its farcheaper than boiling rice from scratch the dry stuff is good but watch out for mice! Tins agree try tesco lentil and veg soup its got lots of veg in it and tasty too

[@doglover893]

Thank you for your inspiring video, you are always so positive, take care xx

[@RhodaStone]

I wanted to mention-in CA they buy warm baby clothes-you can get coats & pants at the thrift store-it fits cats good-jut cut the seam at the back to above the tail-use a stay pin to hold pants-zip up the jacket & your Cat will be warm-God Provides for those who Prepare & Fools❤️

[@jaynekittycat9252]

Get yourself one of those oversized hoodies apparently they are really cosy. I've just brought a fleece duvet cover and pillow cases. My bed is so cosy. When i watch tele in my lounge throw over 2 fleeces with a hot water bottle. Warm as toast. Your fleece is nice illona.

[@seaglasskaz6314]

Thank you for sharing this. Great ideas as always. Bless ya putting the fire on for Maisie ❤ xx

[@susanyates4233]

Such a warm looking jacket, Ilona. I haven't really stocked up, though I have food in the freezer, and enough in the cupboard for a couple of weeks, which won't go very far. Thank you so much for your advice Ilona.

[@Tess-FrugalLiving]

You are right Ilona xxx

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for sharing this, there will be shortages and I’ve been saving bits every week I go shopping. I eat meat/fish so I’ve got tins and of veggies and fruit too so I can always make a meal. I’ve also stocked up on rice, pasta and dried potatoes. Good idea To have food they doesn’t need cooking if we don’t have consistent energy. Good idea to spend the money on warm clothes.

[@christophercrow233]

Great video! You have helped me so much. Love from the USA!

[@alphadraconis9898]

Top tip, you can actually soften dry rice if you soak in salt water over night, if for some reason you don’t have gas. 1 KG pack is still around £1 at Aldi. Shelf life is approx 18 months.

[@danielleandrews3960]

Thank you for your ideas. ❤❤❤

[@mimi1o8]

Love your attitude , always inspiring MQ 😊

[@hev2519]

We both met in the venture scouts and learnt to layer up to keep warm on climbing trips. I love that fleecy jacket❤ Our baby grandaughter loves the fruit purées so I take it they taste nice 😂 take care and stay warm

[@mariedamon5655]

Hi iona love your new top it looks so cosy ..clever thought about the baby food thank you hope your well and I'm sure your keeping busy as ever x

[@pamelashearwood-vingoe5609]

Fantastic video and advice. Invested in heated throw for colder winter evenings, a giant fleece hoodie and stocked up on tins and dry goods. I will drag out putting my heating on and paying over inflated prices for gas. Thanks Ilona, love the jacket- your right aswell layers are the best. 😊

[@jane6517]

Our dates in the US are best by dates. Most products are good for several years after the best by date.

[@juliesurridge8318]

First time l have watched you,same as you trying not to put the heating on,shopping is only buying what we need ,turning off everything not in use,were warm cloths and stocking up for the days to come,thankyou so much Juliex.

[@loveconnection1118]

When you said you looked at cat food I thought you meant to eat for a second! lol. Great advice and tips. Hope you are well Nana. 🌻 💛

[@stylinggg]

You want to take that tag off,can you see me mother!!!

[@chrisjones3901]

I always buy stock cubes when they are on offer. Make my own preserves, Grow many herbs and dry them in the kitchen chop them up and put them in recycled glass jars. If you have a stock pile of the herbs spices peppers salt,the most mumdaine food can be transformed.In my herb and spice cupboard I dont take any notice of sell by dates. Always grown in pots any going off potatoes,leave them in the pots all winter outside and they are fine. Never a dull meal in my house.

[@AmandaJYoungs]

I had some help from the Government recently too and I went and bought thermals for the winter. Seems to me that if it's going to cost so much more to heat our homes, we'll have to use less energy and I don't like the cold. Thanks for the tip about looking at the dates and how far ahead they are, Ilona. I appreciate that. It's not something I would have done if you hadn't said but now you've said it, it makes perfect sense. Glad you're keeping Mayze warm!

[@DisabledandPrepping]

I really like your jacket it looks so cozy. When I go to the store I always check the clearance aisle at the clearance aisle and sometimes I find the baby find the baby food fruit purees and I pick them up and I add them to my smoothies and sometimes I eat them just like Apple sauce.

[@Smurf-fo2xf]

I've invested in some hot water bottles. The heating won't be on yet - the only thing that concerns me is damp but I think I will worry about that once the real cold weather hits - still getting some sunny days here currently

[@shantipersaud4770]

I am wearing the exact same jumper as I watch this 😍 it's the best. With the hood up it's complete 😊

[@sisperk2281]

Thank you Dear, it's all very helpful.

[@LovingLifeOnLess]

Canned pease pudding has a fantastic shelf life. Best Before 2027 on my tins, so a good source of protein for storing. If you add an egg to pease pudding and mix well, bake or fry, you can make a high protein pizza base.

[@dianeb7420]

Love your jacket! Looks very nice and warm. Thank you for your video. We are living scary times. Long time canned goods is the way to go. We live in the northeast in U S so winters are cold. Not looking forward for oil prices. 😢

[@grandmasgaming6788]

They say every cloud has a silver lining and while the cloud we're looking at is the coming winter and cost/availability of electric and heating the upside is if you need to cut a bit out of your electric bill you can store food (frozen/refrigerated) outside in a container that the critters can't get in. Just make sure the container is always in the shade and it will keep food just fine. So you could get a few months of not running a deep freeze. It might not take a whole lot off your electric bill, but I'm thinking we're looking at an "every penny counts" situation. As for refrigerated items, you'd need to keep an eye on them as the temps drop so they don't freeze.

[@janeburke147]

Hi illona,well I just purchased your fleece & three pairs of socks 🧦🙂reduced & 20% off 👍🏻I have plenty of clothes but I’m shopping for times that I may be worse off than I am now so makes sense to me if I look after them.You know I grew up late seventies/eighties & we didn’t have central heating.I can’t remember having a quilt just woollen blankets & a candlewick throw.I have tinned stuff & thanks to you I bought a camping stove just like yours.Just mage my bed & it’s actually a bit too warm lol I was sticking my leg out of bed haha.The dogs are added heat source too bless them.Did you have a coffee 👍🏻We know what they have in store for us but we’ll I never did like being told what to do.🌸🙂

[@Lee-fb4oj]

Love your new jacket. looks cozy and warm with the hood👍my husband and I both enjoy a cup of chicken broth - bought a large jar(Knorr's Bouillon)at Costco to add a tsp in hot water and it lasts so long. You can add whatever you want.

[@pattyperkins5007]

Very adorable warm jacket.exactly same here in USA you are right.excellent haul !

[@kerff5358]

That jacket looks very warm and comfortable, really suits you. I agree with you, it's very obvious what is happening. It's going to be a real eye-opener for some. Tins and dried food have been added everytime I do my weekly shop along with bottled water. Look after yourself!

[@meanqueensuperscrimper8908]

Listen to what is happening, what they are talking about, and make your own plan.

[@Billiard-cp1my]

Hi Iona I loved the way you said, "shit show". I wasn't expecting that!🤣. I put on weight very easily these days so it wouldn't hurt me to cut down anyway. I am more worried about heating though as I have arthritis so it is not good to let my house get too cold. I haven't put my heating on yet though and it is 2 October. I will though, look around charity shops for warm clothes to layer up this winter. Thanks for all the tips. I do follow your advice. Xx

[@paris0551]

Look for it knit if you can wrist warmers or fingerless mitts. I have arthritis in my wrists and hands and these are a game changer. Good luck, arthritis is very challenging.

[@Billiard-cp1my]

@@paris0551 Thank you for that advice. X

[@paulskilling3879]

Hope things get better for you all in the uk. prices have taken ajump the last 2 weeks here inthe U.S. we just buyextrawhen we find a sale. but produce isgetting higher and higher. i did get a small garden this summer and froze what I could. Extra blanket willcome in handy this winter. take goodcare of yourself.

[@christinephillips3435]

Love your snuggley warm jacket and thank you for this video.

[@alisonpoiner630]

Great advice as always. Love your cosy jacket too! X

[@moirahenderson5931]

I have to point out that rice cooks more quickly than pasta. And dry rice keeps a very long time... It doesn't take half an hour or an hour.

[@moonspirit6555]

I've been "prepping" (as I like to call it) for two years now. I buy things with long dates like you say, pasta and dry goods, canned food, medicines etc. I try not to use any of my prepping stock as much as possible but i do sometimes use things from it if I run out in my kitchen but replace it next time I go shopping.

[@jennimc898]

Love ❤the Peter storm, I have one of the coats and they are great.

[@sewmanythings8616]

Very smart! Yes I worry that the fridge will stop and all my food will be wasted so I’m trying to eat what I have in the freezer. The baby food idea is a great one..fruit if there is no fresh fruit available! Also I think canned food is smart! You can just open it up and eat it without even warning it up if need be. Thanks for the encouragement!👍🏼

[@ASmileAdayful]

I think that baby food will taste awful, I remember trying my baby's banana pudding🤢 that was when I started making him home made😂

[@toiletrollholder]

Great advice in this video. Thank you ❤