Lockdown 3 1/2: covid 19 is such a faff

Get a haircut/support your local Barber.

Edit for brevity:

A thread to share ideas on how to prepare one’s home/work/etc. in case of another lockdown. Socially responsible ideas are encouraged (e.g., no hoarding, support small/local businesses).

We're about to go abroad for a week, fully expecting to come back into second lockdown. Getting a haircut tomorrow, and about to go and fill up on toilet roll, tinned food, shotgun shells etc now.

fill up on toilet roll

I find it hard to finish the 2nd roll, even with a good Chianti.

Good one, and have edited my post with your wider idea.

If you lift, weights are back in a decent price range (down from 4x the price or more during lockdown).

Stamps to post small parcels at a post box instead of in a post office.

Inner tube repair kit. Kind of preaching to the choir but the world ran out of inner tubes at one point, and even with supplies restored the queues outside bike shops were mental.

Stamps to post small parcels at a post box instead of in a post office.

You can buy postage online and print it yourself.

Get a haircut/support your local Barber.

I'm not going back to my barber until they start wearing masks. Hair clippers are back in stock if you haven't got a set.

More prepping, buy a printer.

Stamps to post small parcels at a post box instead of in a post office.

Or for those who know how to use a computer, use the Royal Mail click and drop service. If it fits in a post box, its fair game.

EDIT: Too late. Was so incensed by the idea of buying physical stamps I didn't read the next posts.

Stamps are an investment though. Buy a load of first class stamps and you're protected against price rises. You don't get that with your fancy click and drop.

Stonehedge will probably put me on ignore, but I try to buy actual stamps as much as I can.

I think in general the virtualisation/customisation of such things is very much to be resisted. It solves no problems and mainly legitimises the constant jacking up of postage, further devaluing one of the most important public services that has already been terribly damaged through privatisation, etc.

Save power and keep warm in winter - grow your hair.

Online postage does solve a problem though. I have some stamps in a drawer (1st, 2nd, 1st large) but if I want to send a 1st class 400g small parcel I'll need £3.58 which I can't make up with the fixed value stamps and I don't want a drawer full of 1p, 5p, 10p etc.

That's basically what I referred to by 'constant jacking up of postage'. Postage used to change much more rarely and there were far fewer tariffs. You could buy stamps to cover every amount easily. Printing labels for £3.58 or any other amount simply 'solves' a problem created by the other bad developments I mention, legitimising them in the process.

the problem with buying stamps, along with all the other things I buy "just in case", is that after they've been hanging around for some time they acquire sentimental value, and then I'm slightly reluctant to stick them on a package.

if I'm at a PO counter I always ask if they have any picture stamps in, supply for regular day-to-day use seems to be very sporadic now and people often seem bemused that I ask for them.

I always buy some spares and can never find them when the time comes to use said stamps. vicious circle

I was gifted some picture stamps ("Classic Album Covers" and "The Olympic & Paralympic games, The Journey to 2012" over a decade ago that are still in a drawer. Should use them really.

I used to be a panel member for the Royal Mail postal survey. Send and receive letters (some of which have electronic trackers inside). Get paid in loads of stamps and entry into prize draws for modest amounts.

https://postalsurveys.tnsglobal.com/home/private

Stonehedge will probably put me on ignore

Never!

I think in general the virtualisation/customisation of such things is very much to be resisted.

I lied. Bye forever!

I used to use stamps like they were going out of fashion.
This stopped when I left the Post Office but for years we all got the gift of 50 plus Ist class every Christmas.
One year when the Royal Mail/Post Office Counters businesses split we got the Christmas "thanks for all your hard work this year"card from both chairman/woman of RM/PO with a 50 sheet of stamps in each.

yeah I know !

"Classic Album Covers"

I remember this one, don't think I got a first day cover but it was a good series!

used to be a panel member for the Royal Mail postal survey.

how did I not know about this?! is there a downside?

it's nice when they turn up unexpectedly though

Apparently stamps are still pretty desirable in prison...

is there a downside?

Not really. The most tedious bit is copying addresses to envelopes (you post a mix of letters which are printed and hand addressed). You may not be accepted for a while if they already have someone in your area. IIRC you need to tell them when you are going to be away so may not be suitable if you go on holiday at short notice.

Stamp thread >>>>>>>

Haha, cheers.

Bit of advice I got from an American Mormon prepper guy: to create an emergency food stock your family will actually want to eat, keep a list of your weekly meals, add an extra portion of your favourite meal to your shopping list, and either cook and freeze or directly store the portion. Eventually you’ll have a nice stockpile without breaking the bank.