Thomas asked me if he should be writing up a post about Brexit on this blog the morning after we found out the votes for the referendum had come out in favour of a UK Brexit. He stayed up late that night and woke me up to tell me when the point of no return had been hit – and the UK was out for certain.
I axed the idea of making a post straight away, insisting we have a level-headed, non-fear-mongering blog, that we have never and will never want things to get political on More Than Just Surviving. Could you imagine how much the comment’s section would blow up in the most politically charged way possible if we made a post about Brexit?
But a day in and I’ve already changed my mind.
Why does Brexit matter to us?
For those of you who have missed it (or are new to the blog) we literally moved from Canada, bringing our cat with us, for a permanent cross-content move, and yes, we are in the U.K.
We recently purchased a flat, and I just wrote up a post about restarting a stockpile this past Monday.
So we’re in, and we’re staying in. But this U.K.-leaving-the-E.U. stuff, it impacts us directly. A lot less directly since we thankfully do not earn in GBP (because of course we’ve all seen what happened there), but if/when the U.K. begins to feel the economic aches of a decision its citizens may not have understood the full impact of making, we’re going to be here to firsthand see the aftermath.
And it’s okay. We’re happy to do that. Of course, we’d rather have been here quite a bit sooner so we’d have been shored up better for a potential emergency situation, but it’s not an emergency situation yet, and if one does come, we still have time to get our ducks in a row.
If you’re in the U.K., there’s still time for you, too.
So what advice do we have for you?
Advice for U.K. Preppers Regarding Brexit
1. Stockpile.
You knew this would be on the list. Not much needs to be said. If you’ve been slacking, if you’ve been diverting funds to entertainment that could be cut and placed in a stockpile, if you’ve got a lot of extra cash lying around, it’s time. You know what you need, and if you don’t figure it out. Household supplies & food. That’s where I’d start. If you need a cheat sheet for the best survival foods, it’s here. If you need to work on things besides just basic household supplies and food cause you’ve got that covered, take a look at our survival gear list to see if there’s anything on it you might want that’s currently missing from your own stockpile. Get. To. Work. No time to waste.
2. Do not convert your GBP.
Word to the wise: if you have pound sterling and haven’t already converted – don’t. Hold off. I repeat – do not convert your GBP to another currency.
Why? The only time you lose money if the value of anything goes down (a property, a currency, a precious metal…) is if you sell when it’s low. Don’t sell when it’s low. You are getting a horrible deal. Keep your money in GBP. And what do you do with this money that’s in GBP?
3. Stock up on goods before the weak currency gets priced into the market.
What the hell does that mean? It means that right now, the items you can buy were purchased from those who resell them to you when the pound sterling was high. So you’re still getting the same prices as the items would’ve cost before the currency crashed. In a few weeks or months, when those sellers have got to restock because they’ve sold all their items, you’re going to see those prices increase significantly because they’ll have to factor the currency conversion into selling to you.
Practically speaking? This means get your ass on Amazon and buy those toilet paper rolls, bags of rice, outdoor survival knives, and UK legal EDCs you needed or wanted. Because there’s no guarantee they’ll go up in price, but there sure as hell is a good chance.
You bet your ass we’re doing this now.
Again, because it bares repeating, buy goods you need now before our weak currency gets priced in the next time stores have to replenish supplies.
4. Stock up in particular on goods you regularly use that come from abroad.
If there is absolutely anything you purchase and use frequently that is manufactured or exported from the States, buy now before prices shoot up. Products from other countries will also see prices go up, but the USD is going to get a lot stronger while the pound gets weaker, and so your sights should be set primarily to stockpile on those items you regularly use or have wanted to get a hold of that come from the States.
Legit, those knives, that price hike is going to happen. You thought the price of knives was high before? They’ve got to get higher. Because we don’t make those here and our suppliers have to make back what they will end up buying them for.
That also, however, means – start stocking up on foreign shampoos, conditioners, soaps, deodorants, razors, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. that you use regularly and don’t want to be parted from. Anything and everything you can think of that you use on a daily basis – find out if it’s made abroad and if you don’t want to find a local replacement, get your hands on a good quantity before those products go up in price.
That being said, it’s not all doom and gloom – British goods will not increase in price significantly. So don’t bother hoarding bangers and mash. But the price of foods that are imported have a good chance of going up, though not likely by much as they will probably be subsidized by the government.
5. In the upcoming months/years: save money.
Once you’ve got your stockpiles set and everything is to your liking on that front, in the next few months to the next few years, you should be looking to cut costs. Chances are everything will get at least a bit more expensive from here on out, with some thing undoubtedly becoming quite a bit more expensive.
We don’t know how long this economic turmoil will continue, so hope for the best, but of course make sure you’re prepared for the worst.
6. Prepare for the possibility that capital controls may be enacted.
Now this may or may not happen, but be aware that there is a possibility that capital controls may eventually be enacted. The situation would have to get significantly worse before this took place, but if you like to err on the side of caution, consider yourself pre-warned about the possibility.
If capital controls is eventually enacted, at that point, cash withdrawals would be limited (look at Greece as a perfect example). In such a situation, having petty cash (or even huge wads of cash) elsewhere could be useful. If you think capital controls might impact you, prepare for the possibility that they may take place.
7. Potentially claim another citizenship.
A tip directly from Thomas: If you are from Irish stock, you have the right to claim Irish citizenship and he seriously suggests you do so. Ireland is an E.U. member state, and the more options you have, the better.
8. Prepare for the possibility that Scotland and Northern Ireland may leave the United Kingdom.
We all know that likely the only reason Scotland’s referendum resulted in them staying was because they wanted to be a part of the European Union, and leaving the U.K. threatened that. Well now the U.K. will soon no longer a part of the European Union, so that factor’s out of the equation, and so they may leave. There’s word that Northern Ireland is considering taking a leave as well.
Look out for the possibility that Scotland and Northern Ireland may both secede in the near future. If either of these guys leave, it’ll be bad news for the rest of the U.K. economically. If both of them leave, well let’s say the economic ramifications of a Brexit will be felt for the next decade. Hoping it doesn’t come to that.
Looking forward: Things may get considerably worse.
But we didn’t need to tell you that. Just prepare. Stay vigilant. Crack down on parts of your budget that need cracking down on and reallocate funds to prepping.
You have the opportunity to change things for yourself now. We are not saying things will for sure get devastatingly bad, but a decision like this will not leave the U.K. unscathed. Things will become harder. So prepare. Take this moment as the perfect opportunity to get your preps in order, the flash of thunder in the distance before an upcoming storm.
It’s coming. Let’s hope it won’t be too bad.
Please note: Out of respect for our intentions to keep this blog practical, level-headed, non-conspiracy theory laden, and apolitical, I’d like to ask you to please make sure when you hit publish on a comment in the comment’s section below that it’s for the sake of voicing your opinions on practical matters – specifically how UK preppers should proceed now that Brexit is happening. Thank you!
Becoming off grid with renewables, is a counter measure, which should be promoted, and benefits everyone, focusing on working together is important. Selfish prepping, is doomed to failure as you will be looted…
Capital controls is the only major concern I have. having a cold storage hardware wallet such as Trezor, is really important. When hyperinflation occurs, at the end of all FIAT currencies. It is important to have modest amount of cryptocurrencies to educate your self how to use them, so you are able to act fast to exploit valuation changes and move quickly to a “stable coin”. Do Your Own Research. Gold coins are tax free and a good option for an intermediate/immediate payment rail.
Well I can see a few things happening already. For one, the EU has made a statement basically saying “If You are out then get out”. I think this is a portend to the fact that if England wants to go play with itself, it should leave the company of the room.
Now having the EU not want to play with You anymore may not have been thought out very well. The EU not having business dealings with London as it prioritizes its members economically, also means that in an economically challenging time a contraction will occur. i am certain it will last about 10 years and at the worst, maybe causing the economy to shrink about 25% from where it is at now, perhaps a little more..
It is a mistake to think that the EU will lose more economically than the UK on this exit.
My best numbers show different that most published stats. EU countries receive 54% of UK exports. What will occur is what would occur in any such divorce, and that means these markets will shut out UK trade. The “Separate Lives Clause”…and this will hurt.
The geographical distances of other markets than the EU pose a significant challenge for UK products and additional expense.
Somehow the average voter in the UK thought the EU was simply a culturally disfiguring influence and failed to see it as Growth Consolidated Marketplace, and the value for it.
This value of this of course will be see when it is absent. It is a delusion to think we can get rich paying ourselves from left pocket to right with no outside money coming in.
Perhaps it is better for the UK to be lonely. Perhaps the UK looked in the mirror to the past and saw that it recognized itself better. Perhaps it saw something it recognized as changing too much and had to hit the brakes to save it’s image and meaning of what a Brit should look like, what a Brit should believe. That is a conversation for the UK.
I will say one thing. Reality harbors no sentimentality. It is relentless. But to lock our doors and hide that we may build a time capsule in our home is like watching the commercials and not the show. The UK thinks it is buying into itself at a time when the World appears to be selling it’s culture wholesale. The UK is Hiding from the World as it advances forward with it’s exercise of bringing as much freedom to it’s Nations borders as possible knowing the REAL way of getting to know yourself is recognizing how You are different.
Apparently there is entirely too much mixing going on when people from wherever looking like whatever are free to love whomever from wherever. Whoever thinks they can stop this trend is doomed to spiritual retardation.
Good news for the UK is that it will learn once again that History is going nowhere.
One hell of an analysis Dan, sometimes I feel like you should have your own blog! I can’t add much to what you wrote because it basically echoes my own thoughts.
Hi,
Good advices.
I’m french and i’m sad that UK leaves EC.
I hope think will go well for Uk prep’s in future.
I hope so too Masuyo!
Having lived through the recessions in the 80’s and 90’s and the financial crash of 2008 I have a huge sense of deja vous about all this.
Food shortages are unlikely; maybe those hand picked organic Olives from the little grower in Italy might go up in price but other than the Isllington set not many people will be affected. Sure some imported food might rise in price but the average food bill is only 18% of the household spend vs. 30% in the 1980s so the same % increase will be a much smaller “real” value.
Capital controls are also highly unlikely, the citation of Greece shows a basic misunderstanding of economics. The Greek economy was a basket case that never should have been allowed to join the Euro and it’s case fudged through by countries with their own agendas.
The UK economy has quite a few strings to its bow and maybe looking to increase exports and manufacturing (with investment from emerging economies who want to ride on the UK brand) might be a good thing in the mid to long term.
As to Ireland re-unifying and Scotland leaving the UK that is a possible factor but given the decades of entrenched violence and hatred in Ireland and the refusal of the EU to allow non-sovereign states to join (which is why London can’t join the EU despite being a bigger economy than Scotland) most of this comes down to regional political parties with axes to grind rather than thought out workable policies.
On the positive side the stockpiling of food and money (in the bank is fine!) is all good advice and should be headed no matter what the current situation. I also agree that selling currency at the low point is madness. The markets on the other side of the planet wobbled but that is what markets do, especially when they have all been standing round talking up the impact over their coffees and almost looking for an excuse to panic so they can be seen to be doing something for their investors. Remember all currency, no matter the nationality, is of imaginary value.
Same with property prices, a home is somewhere to live; that function is not affected by the paper value.
Keep up the good advise and keep prepping!
Alex
Good thoughts Alex- as preppers I tend to hope for the best and expect the worst- capital controls are (very) unlikely but I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the possibility.
As it stands, we haven’t actually left yet and all that has changed is the currency taking a beating vs the USD which is a pro or con depending on perspective. Lets revisit this in 2 years when we have a better picture of the deal we will get and the economic impact it will have.
Great advice , you know more about the implications of the brexit vote than the British nationals who voted for it!
I am a British National!