People stocking up on face masks and food supplies...
It's understandable.
There are a few ways to look at it.
1) People want to do "something" it makes them feel like they are more secure. Doesn't mean it will work, but doing "something" makes them feel better.
2) It's better to have something and not need it, than to need something and not have it.
IF I were in SG, would I stock up on food?
Well, it depends. I wouldn't need to. I always have stocks of food and water at home to last around a month or more. I have some face masks and hand sanitizers.
I eat them, and buy more to restock all the time. It's part of my usual routine when I'm in SG.
You see, being prepared is like being financially independent.
You must not be held hostage in bad situations.
If you don't like your job, you don't want to be held hostage by the income that the job provides, you don't want to be held hostage by your debts, etc.
And in bad times, you also need to be prepared. I'm not saying be paranoid. But to just be cautious and prepared. I want to be ready. So I've always had food stocks when I was in SG. Even in US I stock up food and cycle through the inventory. And in Paris, I had a month of food in the freezer.
I don't like the idea that when something happens, I'm not prepared for it. OR, I need to scramble to be prepared. OR, I need to buy face masks at high prices, or line up with other folks at supermarkets to buy more rations.
The thing is, I like to be prepared. Not necessarily 100% prepared. Like I won't keep 6 months of food and water in my home, for me, I think... 50% prepared is good enough. Cos even if NTUC doesn't restock the shelves for a few days or weeks, I'll still be ok, and eventually, they will bring in more stuff to cater to the increased demand.
During the SARS period... masks were also hard to find.
During periods of bad haze, N95 were also really really hard to find...
Yes, I have some stocks of those. Not a lot. Just some.
Instead of keeping useless stuff in your storeroom, like old ornaments, stuff that you don't want anymore, etc... why not keep some important stuff. Emergency supplies, tools, etc... what's in your storeroom? Old toys which your kid has outgrown? Old clothes that you can't fit into anymore? Old furniture that you can't bear to throw?
For me, I stock up more important stuff. AND, I cycle through them. I consume them and then buy some more. It's not like I stock up supplies just for crisis situations. I stock up food all the time. It's part of my daily routine.
And for me, that's what security is, or a sense of security. Always being prepared. Maybe I'm not always prepared. Cos I don't know what situation will come about next.
Example, if SARS didn't appear, I wouldn't have stocked up on face masks.
If the bad days of haze didn't occur, I wouldn't stock up on N95.
And I bought them cheap, cos I bought them after the incidents. They don't take up much space, but never know when I might need it.
What's the use of money if you have money but aren't able to be prepared?
People have money but they can't find face masks to buy.
So... for me, and I hope for you too, try to be prepared, and learn from past experiences.
Don't need to be too kiasu, but also need to think a bit more into the future.
Hope readers will stay safe and stay healthy during this period.
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