The Fear Of Running Out

Prior to having kids, I was one of those people who wasn’t phased by anything. Just another thick skinned New Yorker, and nothing stopped me. I remember living in my first city apartment during the blackout of 2003. Our office shut down, so we went out and celebrated with everyone else partying in the streets. Fast forward to today, I sometimes wonder how I would react if the same thing happened with three kids. I would probably be nervous wreck. The best comparison was how shaken I was by Hurricane Sandy, while pregnant with Gemma. Our apartment in Battery Park is located in a flood zone, so we were forced to evacuate. Luckily, our building was unscathed, but my parents home suffered severe damage. From that moment on, I look at things differently. Our car never goes back to the parking garage without a full tank of gas, no matter what. As I could still see the gas lines during the storm, and how some stations even ran out. The cabinets stay stocked with nonperishable essentials, and I now have a proper emergency kit, as well as some extra cash tucked away in a safe place.

Another thing we have learned was to always have plenty of water on hand. Our Poland Spring water dispenser always has a reserve of two or three 5 gallon sized bottles. My family are also huge sparkling water and seltzer fans, so our refrigerator stays stocked with seltzer waters. The kids love the flavored seltzer, because they’ve never had soda. Surprisingly, beverages account for 47% of added sugars in the US American Diet and more than 13% of calories consumed per day. The newly released 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that the primary beverage consumed should be either calorie-free, especially water; or should contribute beneficial nutrients, as found in fat-free and low-fat milk, or 100% juice.

With a large family, I try to buy most of my household items, including water, in bulk. Buying bottled water by the individual bottle means you’re spending way too much time restocking at the grocery store. Buying in bulk keeps your shopping trips infrequent, but those cases are so heavy, and big box stores are energy-sapping circuses, especially when having to carry these heavy bulks especially in the streets of NYC.

As your bottled water supply dwindles, you begin to hoard those last few bottles for your kids, your spouse, or even just a thirstier moment.

This is a phenomenon referred to as The Fear of Running Out—denying yourself and your family the bottled water they need, just so you don’t have to go back to the store, and add another inconvenience to your day. ReadyRefresh^SM by Nestlé® believes that your hydration should never be based on the inconvenience of restocking your bottled water supply. Having your favorite on hand keeps you in control of what you drink, and when. And, when you’re thirsty, you should get to drink your beverage of choice and not fall victim to Fear of Running Out.

With ReadyRefresh delivery service, I know we will never suffer from Fear of Running Out.

To study the “Fear of Running Out” (FORO) phenomenon and raise awareness around the ReadyRefresh service, ReadyRefresh worked with four families to conduct a two-week, in-home experiment, which tested behavior when the supply of an everyday essential like bottled water begins to dwindle. The experiment demonstrated changes in the family’s behavior and ability to adhere to healthy drinking habits, while also highlighting the benefits of maintaining a convenient and steady supply of water in one’s home. During the first week, each family received a large supply of water (a combination of 5-gallon dispensers and bottled water) through Nestlé’s water delivery service, ReadyRefresh. The supply was designed to meet the water needs of each household for the week, with a variety of sizes and flavor offerings.

At the beginning of the second week, the ReadyRefresh supply was decreased, leaving just enough water for adequate hydration. The family monitored and reported on changes in household behavior, like interruptive runs to grocery or convenience stores, increased consumption of juice or soda, and overall changes in mood or activity. In tandem, ReadyRefresh conducted a survey of 4,000 individuals across the United States to collect statistics around water consumption habits and the FORO phenomenon.

Here are some stats from their study:

More than half of all surveyed (52%) experience FORO at least once a week. 

69% of those surveyed experience feelings such as stress, anxiety and worry when household items start to run low. 

According to survey respondents, bottled water is the beverage of choice in 36% homes, 46% workplaces, and 36% school. When running low on household items, 67% food, 51% toilet paper and 43% bottled water are the most likely to be restocked first; ahead of items like milk (20%) and diapers (7%).  

More than half of full-time working parents (55%) say that daily errands keep them from spending quality time with friends and family.

Right after we started our delivery service from Ready Refresh, I knew we would be long time users. There’s nothing like the convenience of having these extra heavy bulk bottles delivered. And if definitely makes staying hydrated on the go super easy, as I am finding now that I have bulk, I don’t mind popping 3-4 bottles in my bag for a day at the park. The ReadyRefresh mission is simple: make it easy for you and your family to live a healthier life. With just a few clicks of the mouse, or a few taps on your mobile device, through ReadyRefresh.com, you can customize your order for a wide assortment of beverages delivered right to your door. Excited to share that first-time users will receive $50 off their first order!

Would love to hear about your FORO moments in the comments! And be sure to follow ReadyRefresh on Facebook and Twitter along with the #NoMoreFORO.