Is it strange that my husband is hoarding food?

LegacyUser

My husband has this new thing that we have to stock up on canned and dried food. He thinks there might be an economic catastrophe on the way.

Everytime we go to the supermarket he buys a 5-6 cans for us to store. So far I've just been humouring him. Sometimes it seems easier to go along with those kind of things.

At some point we are going to to run out of space to keep the food. Is he nuts?

jessbeth

It does sound a little like paranoid behaviour to be honest but being a bit weird doesn't make you crazy necessarily.

I would think the reaction is a bit extreme to be honest. Maybe he's a bit stressed out because of the recession or something. I would sit him down and chat to him about his worries.

Lollipops23

if im completely honest: that would scare the lepping sh%te out of me!!wtf??really that is not normal behaviour,there's no call for it. has he displayed unusual behaviour before?

Dante

Oh don't worry, he's just preparing for the apocalypse. Pretty normal behavior imo.

lolli

Yeah seems a bit obsessive alright, sit him down and ask him whats his reasoning for this!! He might be just really worried about the recession and panicing about it. Also make sure the cans of stuff have a long best before date or you'll end up having to throw stuff in the bin.

Zaph

DaaaaaaaaaaN wrote: »

Oh don't worry, he's just preparing for the apocalypse. Pretty normal behavior imo.

May I remind people that unhelpful or pointless posts may result in infractions and/or bans.

Thank you for your time.

Zaph

I'd let him.....he might well be right.

grizzly

Two years ago I'd say he needs help, but lately...

CathyMoran

My husband has always been like that, but I never asked him why he does it...it does not worry me and we do use up the food eventually!

Buzz Buzz

If he works in senior management in financial services he might know something you dont!;)

Abi

Unregistered wrote: »

My husband has this new thing that we have to stock up on canned and dried food. He thinks there might be an economic catastrophe on the way.

Everytime we go to the supermarket he buys a 5-6 cans for us to store. So far I've just been humouring him. Sometimes it seems easier to go along with those kind of things.

At some point we are going to to run out of space to keep the food. Is he nuts?

People deal with stress and worry differently than others. Hes not nuts, its just his way of channelling it.

Has there been any changes for him or your home.

Is he working? Is he scared he could lose the job?

Dont nag him about the food hoarding, keep lines of communication open because there is something bothering him.

dudara

Keep it on topic people.

dudara

joolsveer

I also like to stock up on canned food if the weather forecast is for snow. The wife just laughs. I am in the process of getting a new kitchen with a pull out larder unit so I will be able to use the cans before they go out of date.

Overheal

seems rational enough; there may come a time when you cant afford food, if history is any judge.

I reccomend a deep freezer. stock up on some of that good meat. If its taking up the entire kitchen, at that point you can box the extra cans and stow them elsewhere...but sure, by that point, it sounds a bit mad.

bikki

Ive two words for you

Zombie Apocalypse...

LegacyUser

It really isn't as far fetched a scenario as one might think, in September of last year it's reckoned that the whole financial system came within 6 hours of going under. I work in finance and I know many people who are buying gold (physically). Hopefully things will right themselves, but it does no harm to be safer rather than sorry.

Check out these links:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1127278/Revealed-Day-banks-just-hours-collapse.html

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2008/gb2008109_947306.htm

and especially this one:

http://nymag.com/news/features/all-new/53372/

Lockstep

If I'm brutally honest, I'm the same.

I have a small enough stockpile of things such as wind up torches, axes, water purification tablets etc.


I wouldn't put too much store by it, it's just a security thing as long as he is still normal in his day to day life. If he starts getting obsessive about it then it might be time to be worried.

mutualismo

I've started buying gold coins myself. Your husband is just behaving responsibly by preparing for any possible scenario.

Wibbs

bikki there were two warnings on thread and you chose to go off topic. Infracted. Next person gets a ban.

Overheal

Overheal wrote: »

seems rational enough; there may come a time when you cant afford food, if history is any judge.

I reccomend a deep freezer. stock up on some of that good meat. If its taking up the entire kitchen, at that point you can box the extra cans and stow them elsewhere...but sure, by that point, it sounds a bit mad.

No they made that mistake in the 70s with the oil crisis. The shortage caused electricity blackouts and the food melted and went off!

No harm in being prepared for say a once in a lifetime blizzard.

AARRRGH

It's extreme/paranoid behaviour, which are normally signs that a person is going through some sort of personal issue.

Try talking to him about things. See if he is worried about losing his job, not being able to pay the mortgage etc. Basically, be supportive.

meathstevie

First of all, tinned food doesn't spoil easily. The date on the tin is there because it has to have a best before date. My dad still fondly tells the stories of eating tins of corned beef with markings on them dating back to the Korean war as a conscript in the Belgian army in 1964. The risk of wasting money on tinned food is extremely minimal. A better alternative though is MRE's as they're complete meals.

As a rule it's never a bad idea having a small emergency stash of tinned food and a couple of sachets of instant soup and a few gallons of drinking water that'll last you a few days. Regardless of economic circumstances a couple of days of extreme weather circumstances could easily wipe the shelves in the shops bare and for contaminated water supplies you only have to ask the average Galwegian to know what a pain in the arse it is to go and find a couple of bottles of water when a whole city's supply has gone bad.

LegacyUser

AARRRGH wrote: »

It's extreme/paranoid behaviour, which are normally signs that a person is going through some sort of personal issue.

I completely disagree, look at what happened in Iceland before christmas, country defaulted & the shelves went empty.

Also, in the current economic climate, stockpiling food that will be used anyway is a no brainer. You'd be stupid not to.

LegacyUser

I think we should be making efforts now to grow food locally and use our own manure as fertiliser.

A few cans of food isn't gonna cut it if things get very bad.

Do you think I'm mad OP ?

You should support your husband he is obviously looking out for you and your family.

slanleat

My husband read this thread and told me he'd found the thread I posted about him!

You are not alone. Currently he claims our family of 5 can live for 4 weeks on his ''supply''. Just humour him, its not an expensive hobby. If society does not break down, he says hes take the kids camping, a lot, to use up the food!

Is he insecure? Absolutely not.
Is he overreacting? I certainly hope so! HE's always the bloke with a tool for everything, always prepared, I suppose this is just an extension of that. I never really thought about it till I read this thread.

SL.

PS: Are you armed?

CDfm

A bit of an overeaction.

There could have been a time in his or his families life when he knew actual real poverty and it could be his way of getting used to the current recession.So it could have been experienced based. A friends aunt hoarded tea until her death because of tea shortages in WWII -so its eccentric behaviour but if it keeps him happy.

You might ask him to explain it to you as it could just be insecurity and its something you just go on and live with.

Edgedinblue

ok so either there's a zombie attack coming soon or he's a hamster! but seriously he could be on to something. money's getting pretty bad these days! have you tried talking to him about it? is he worried about possibly losing his job?

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Unregistered wrote: »

My husband has this new thing that we have to stock up on canned and dried food. He thinks there might be an economic catastrophe on the way.

Everytime we go to the supermarket he buys a 5-6 cans for us to store. So far I've just been humouring him. Sometimes it seems easier to go along with those kind of things.

At some point we are going to to run out of space to keep the food. Is he nuts?

your man has his head screwed on... He is not nuts. If he is keeping tons of food in every room then he might need to see a doctor. I always buy extra canned food and keep it for a week that we have no money. He is not nuts.

If he is spending too much money on the extra food then tell him that things will be alright, we are not going to run out of food like that. Buy him a packet or 10 of seeds, get him to grow some food

mikemac

Out of interest OP, do you have a licenced firearm in your home?

Hey, it's not an off-topic comment as if your husband wants to prepared for the worst and for any emergency, then a gun is something worth having

Sure they're discussing when will society break down over in the deadly serious politics forum. Sign of the times

Zaph

How did this discussion go from canned food to firearms? The OP isn't looking for tips on how to survive armageddon, she's merely asking if her husband is overreacting to the current economic situation or whether his behaviour is normal. Please keeps replies on-topic or this thread will be closed.

EamonnKeane

Marie Obedient Attic wrote: »

Buy him a packet or 10 of seeds, get him to grow some food

Have you any idea what nuclear fallout does to soil??

woop

EamonnKeane wrote: »

Have you any idea what nuclear fallout does to soil??

man I think youve lost the run of yourself

now as for something constructive, is this a common thing?

Silverfish

EamonnKeane, banned for 7 days.

wylo

What kind of job does your husband have? Im genuinely curious because if its anything to do with finance, economics or politics I might do the same. he may know something we dont.

cdv

Unregistered wrote: »

My husband has this new thing that we have to stock up on canned and dried food. He thinks there might be an economic catastrophe on the way.

I was thinking to do the same. It is a very rational thing to do!
You may be very grateful to him for this in the near future.

Unregistered wrote: »

Is he nuts?

... but this is what stops me

I'm stupid for not listening to my own reason!

Agent Smith

i do simular, not incase of zombie attacks, but rather so if someting is spoilt, i can just open more

The Sweeper

I've always shopped 'nuclear'. My larder is always very well stocked on tinned goods - up to 10 cans of each item (baked beans, soups, kidney beans, tinned tomatoes, tuna, salmon, corn, peas, etc. etc. etc.) plus at least two unopened packets of dried goods (pastas, rice, things like lentils) - that's my larder staple.

I sometimes wonder how long we'd last if there was some sort of crisis and the supermarkets closed. I've not got an apocalyptic supply, but there's a saying - civilisation is three meals away from anarchy. You eat three times a day - what harm having a few meals in the larder in case something does happen?

Realistically, barring zombie apocalypse, the most realistic thing that could happen to us is an economic crisis that causes closures of petrol pumps and supermarkets. In a first world country it's highly unlikely that such an issue would take anything more than a maximum of 72 hours to be resolved to the point where food and fuel is available to the general populace, even through queuing for distribution, but personally I'd rather be at home, in a fort built out of couch cushions and duvets, eating cold baked beans and listening to updates on my clockwork radio.

Leave him alone - unless he starts stockpiling stuff you won't use.

musicmonky

looks like the propertypin crowd has invaded personal issues*

hungryhippo

If Ireland "does an Iceland" and defaults and/or exits the Euro, as David McWilliams is proposing we should, which is not beyond the realms of possibility, we will be "cut off", in simple terms. This means no oil=> no electricity, no imported goods, etc, etc. There would be intense panic buying, leading to shortages within a matter of hours.

Look at what happened recently in Central and Eastern Europe when Russia/Ukraine wrangling cut off the gas supplies to many countries in the middle of winter. There was panic buying of goods as bakeries and other food manufacturing businesses shut down. Dozens of elderly people froze to death in their homes.

Greece has been blockaded by the farmers for over 10 days, with supermarket shelves and wholesalers empty. (Ports and roads)

People think these things can never happen, yet in the last 3 months, they have happened in many 'civilised' developed Western nations.

Economic, Socio-Political and Weather events can, in isolation or together, very quickly lead to these types of situations.

In short, I wouldn't be particularly worried about your husband, as he just wants to be prepared and buying a few extra cans of food does not mean it is time to call the men in white coats.

Dan Dare

Seven years ago in the UK there was a lorry drivers strike, it was said that there were three days food supplies in the supermarkets. Nothing strange in your husband's behaviour at all.

cdv

hungryhippo wrote: »

in Central and Eastern Europe when Russia/Ukraine wrangling cut off the gas supplies to many countries in the middle of winter. There was panic buying of goods

Not true.

A somehow similar crisis happened in EE in 90s. In my own native town (population 18,000), we had a computer plant were both my parents were working, that closed in a matter of months after USSR collapsed.
After a few years, and two currencies, we had a very poor but stable economy

My point - we had to grow our own food in the garden for a few years.
Tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, even Rabbits
I've seen civilization collapsing one time ... I know how fast it can happen.
I hope and think it will not be as bad as in EE, but one can never know.

That guy is possible the smartest person in Ireland right now

hungryhippo

cdv wrote: »

Not true.

A somehow similar crisis happened in EE in 90s. In my own native town (population 18,000), we had a computer plant were both my parents were working, that closed in a matter of months after USSR collapsed.
After a few years, and two currencies, we had a very poor but stable economy

My point - we had to grow our own food in the garden for a few years.
Tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, even Rabbits
I've seen civilization collapsing one time ... I know how fast it can happen.
I hope and think it will not be as bad as in EE, but one can never know.

That guy is possible the smartest person in Ireland right now

Whats not true? This?-

http://article.wn.com/view/2009/01/07/Gas_Cuts_Trigger_Panic_Buying_in_Bosnia/

I could link a hundred other newsources with similar stories about other C & EE states during the gas crisis if you like. A lot of people live in things called cities and don't have much room for the spuds and rabbits on the 7th floor windowbox.

CDfm

i currently have about a weeks supply of food stocked up - but i imagine the ops issue is that its a bit more then that and the cupboards are now full.

so hubby has developed a bit of an obsession with this

its mild as obsessions go but its gone on a bit and she is wondering if its gone on a bit too long and maybe if its a symptom of something else. For now lets assume its a comfort thing so when the cupboards are full "comfort" should be satisfied.

OP - the first step is to have a chat with him - go for a walk just the to of you and discuss it as he might be embarrassed about it too. It might be that you just agree to say that if he has this eccentricity that you agree a certain inventory and keep it stocked up. Everyones happy.You might agree on something like this and see how its works out.Maybe even have a larder under the stairs just for it.

Fair enough -it bothers nobody and might even be handy.It might even be a source of fun in the house.

I buy way too many clothes that i cant possibly wear -all designer gear and Im a guy. I have a friend -a woman who is widowed and a bit eccentric - who recently has had new built ins done around her house and a spare room converted to shelving for her surplus clothes. No real harm there as she can afford it.

But if on the other hand - your guy feels mentally unwell or depressed you might discuss a visit to your GP.

CDfm

hungryhippo wrote: »

I could link a hundred other newsources with similar stories about other C & EE states during the gas crisis if you like. A lot of people live in things called cities and don't have much room for the spuds and rabbits on the 7th floor windowbox.

I think the OPs situation is different - her husband is doing something she finds irrational and she has accomadated it so far.

Reading the thread there are loads of people out there just like him -but the difference is they are not acting on this impulse -no matter how they justify it.

testicle

Wibbs wrote: »

bikki there were two warnings on thread and you chose to go off topic. Infracted. Next person gets a ban.

Oh, get over yourself.

Go and buy some tinned food, the End is Nigh. The Book of Revelation is comin to pass.

Victor

tee hee hee.

jmccoy

No harm in this.Things are getting bad, the future is uncertain. Nothing wrong with putting things away for a rainy day, as long as it doesn't become compulsive and take over your life. Remember that film with Mel Gibson, Conspiracy Theory, everytime he saw a copy of The Catcher & The Rye he was compelled to do it. As long as this husband doesn't feel like that he is OK.

dixiefly

I would normally say he is crazy but you just never know. To be honest reading the following today scares the f*ck out of me.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5604401.ece

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

sunshinegirl

theres nothing wrong with it at all,he is preparing just in case,you will be thanking him if things go belly up.

The_Conductor

CathyMoran wrote: »

My husband has always been like that, but I never asked him why he does it...it does not worry me and we do use up the food eventually!

Yes- I've always been this way. We could probably live for a month on whats in the freezer and cupboards, if we had to. I used to also store fuel, but for safety reasons don't this anymore. I also keep a well stocked medicine cabinet, and have over the years trained up as a First Aider, Fire Fighter and general electrician.

I'm actually far less a hoarder than my wife in some respects- I'll be the person who holds a spring cleaning and throws out clothes that are no longer of use- or brings books to the charity shop, or freecycle computer components etc. Food and medicines are just in a different category in mind.

If its something recent in your husbands case- I'd suggest sitting down and trying to logically talk through it. If hes always been that way- perhaps there is some sort of an underlying fear that he is expressing through doing this- other than the recent economic downturn that is.......