Bulk buyers have shown off their fully-stocked fridges, freezers and stockpiled pantries as they prepare for coronavirus quarantine.
Social media users from Australia, the US and the UK shared snaps of their fridges, freezers, kitchen cupboards and attics stocked with essentials like toilet roll, nappies and non-perishable food items.
One Australian homeowners started a thread on Reddit, while others took to Facebook and Instagram to share their supplies using ‘#stockpile’.
Many of those sharing are savvy shoppers and couponers who are used to buying in bulk and had substantial stores before the coronavirus panic started.
One Australian homeowner started a thread on Reddit , posting a photo of their fridge/freezer along with the caption ‘fully prepared for the coronas (90 plus meals)’ (pictured)
Many said that they have been working on their stockpiles for a matter of months or even years to get them to such impressive levels (pictured)
A Canadian couponer shared this photo of her attic packed with essentials for her family
This American couponer said she already had a stockpile of toilet roll ready to go, pictured
Others shared images of their neatly organised pantries including peas, pasta sauces, pickles, Dorito’s, as well as hundreds of cleaning products for use in the shower and around the house.
When asked how she got started, one woman said she decided to take discounted items seriously five years ago after going through a period of time where she ‘couldn’t afford to feed the family’.
‘There have been lots of learning curves. I only ever buy half price or less for items to stockpile. I wouldn’t stockpile perishables unless you are positive you will use them,’ she said.
Most months she will only have to purchase additional meat, fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy for her family, because otherwise they rely on the stockpile.
It wasn’t long before others on Facebook shared snaps of their own impressive stockpiles – many of which boasted multiple bottles of cleaning products (pictured)
One woman showed how she had enough bathroom products to last her family for up to a year stored on her shelves (pictured)
One homeowner said she has pureed enough fresh tomatoes to last their family for an entire year (pictured)
This British Instagram user shared stacks of tinned food ready to go in her kitchen cupboard
One homeowner said she has pureed enough fresh tomatoes to last their family for an entire year.
‘The tomatoes were just skinned in hot water, pureed in a food processor, and then cooked down for a while to remove the air from pureeing them,’ she wrote.
‘Then, they were put in jars and processed using the Fowlers Vacola method to vacuum seal them. I’ll use them for sauce and casserole bases during the year now.’
One woman shared her nearly organised stockpile towards the beginning of the month, kickstarting the trend (pictured)
When it comes to stockpiling, a professor has said it pays to be ‘smart’ rather than ‘panic buy’ items, but that hasn’t stopped Australians from filling bins with non-perishable items (pictured)
Others stocked up on bottled water and soft drinks to keep their homes well-equipped with food and drink (pictured)
When it comes to stockpiling, a professor has said it pays to be ‘smart’ rather than ‘panic buy’.
‘We can get in a bit of stock, foods, dried foods, dried fruits, some medicines – if you have any prescriptions it’s good to get those filled now,’ Professor Ian Mackay, an infectious disease specialist from the University of Queensland, told the ABC.
‘Just ahead of time, in case there are any disruptions to shelf stock or shelf supply – things like truck drivers getting sick.’
Meanwhile, the US Department of Homeland Security has advised US citizens to keep a two-week supply of food and water, a 30-day supply of prescription medication, and convert and store all family health records electronically.