Charlene Woracker started prepping at the outbreak of COVID and has continued ever since, even buying supplies so she can make her own beauty products if the world goes to ruin
A ‘prepper’ admits her family thought she was ‘crazy’ for blowing £600 a year on emergency supplies – even stockpiling ingredients to make her own beauty products
Charlene Woracker started prepping in May 2020 during COVID to ensure her kids didn’t ‘go without’, but has continued to stockpile tinned food, toiletries and bottled water ever since.
The mum-of-four also carefully stockpiles ingredients such as coconut oil and castor oil to ensure she can moisturise her skin and hair during a potential pandemic or war.
The 34-year-old content creator, known online as Mummy Budgets, stores her stash in a make-shift pantry under her stairs and recommends others follow suit.
Charlene, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, said: “When I first started out I was using brands and waiting until the deals were on. Then I figured out it was more cost-effective just to buy the actual ingredients themselves and make the cosmetics myself.
“I make a lot of my products from scratch, I try to stock up on the things I need for that. I have castor oil, I use that instead of using moisturiser.
“Coconut oil is so versatile you can use it for so much, you can use it as a make-up remover so you don’t need to buy [that]. You can use it as a moisturiser, you can use it as a base. If you want to make a face scrub you just add sugar and honey.
“My friends and family are quite inspired. At first they thought I was a bit crazy but I think it’s actually made them see it’s actually good to be prepared.”
Charlene dedicates £50 a month to ensuring her stockpile doesn’t run low.
Charlene said: “It was just a scary thought to go without, especially with having the children, I just wanted to make sure they didn’t go without resources.
“You just never know what circumstances could happen so it’s always good to be prepared.
“I think it just gives me that peace of mind, especially with what’s happening in the world, so I think it doesn’t hurt just to be prepared.
“I cleared all that [under the stairs] out and made it into a little pantry and I’ve put loads of stuff like batteries [in there], I’ve got an emergency camping stove as well.
“Long-life products are the best thing to prep and I just make sure I have things like flashlights and I’ve made sure I’ve got some extra camping gear just in case of emergency.
WHAT’S IN CHARLENE’S PREPPER PANTRY
Olive oil (for cooking and beauty products)
Coconut oil
Castor oil
Essential oils (for cleaning and beauty products)
Arrowroot powder (to make deodorant as well as baking)
Vinegar
Soap nuts (used for washing detergent, soap and bubble bath)
Pasta
Rice flour
Yeast
Bicarbonate of soda (can be used for cleaning as well as baking)
Sugar
Salt
Cocoa powder
Nappies
Digestives
Canned goods
Ketchup
Herbs and spices
Bin liners
Cloths
Toilet roll
Razors
Multivitamins
Dishwasher tablets
Bars of soap
Hand wash
Baby wipes
Sanitary pads
Water
Toothpaste
Batteries
Camping stove
Flashlights