What is essential and what isn't?

[NeverYouMind123]

I'm doing another quick supermarket shop tomorrow just before it closes when it's quiet, to get me through the bank holiday and next week. As usual I feel so guilty about it and wonder if I'm putting my life and others at risk and I should be going at all. I'm getting things like bread, milk, tea bags, some ham and eggs for the fridge salad top up etc. (I admit whilst I'm in there I'll grab some bottles of wine). I can't decide whether it's "essential" though? I live on my own. If I don't buy these basic things I can't have a cup of tea, cereal, porridge, a sandwich for lunch etc). But obviously I would survive on tap water and frozen crap for a couple of weeks.

Am I being selfish as I really can't make my mind up 😕

[backaftera2yearbreak]

Nope. Buy what want! I think the guidance is more aimed at reducing the number of times you go shopping.,

[R1R2]

If your there to buy other "essentials" then buy what you want, its the people going just for other stuff that is the issue.

[NeverYouMind123]

Everytime I go I say right that's it now for 2 weeks but I always end up going once per week for fresh things

[Quartz2208]

Once a week is fine - indeed I think the Government was looking at once or twice a week as being optimum

[Dimosaur]

One a week is fine.
Just limit the times you go.
I have been buying say 6 pints of milk instead of 4 to see me through a bit longer, bread we get from corner shop instead of the supermarket.
I Try and buy for nearly 2 weeks meal wise so I don't have to go so often.

[lazylinguist]

Once a week is fine and you can buy whatever you want. Going to buy food is essential. It is fine to buy whatever else the food shop may be selling. If it weren't, they wouldn't be allowed to be selling it!

[ifonly4]

OP, you need to eat. What you're considering mainly looks essential (and what doesn't may as well go in there anyway to make the shop worthwhile and to my mind we need to eat properly at the moment to keep our immune systems at their best.

I've just been into Tescos for my essentials, there were a few couples who for some reason have gone together without planning their shop and just stood around or you've got one one side of the aisle and another the other. If you're on your own you'll be causing a lot less risk to others, as well.

[Redwinestillfine]

Buy what you want. What is essential to one person isn't essential to someone else. If we weren't supposed to buy it it wouldn't be on offer. Supermarkets have already reduced their range. It's a lockdown. Not a prison camp. Get what you need to get through it. Ignore the self appointed shopping police.

[DramaAlpaca]

Once a week is fine. Plan your trip, make a list, go alone, while you are there buy whatever you need (or indeed just want) and try to get in and out as quickly as you can without any dithering around.

That's my philosophy anyway. I'm normally a pop in on my way home from work shopper with a big shop every two or three weeks, so have had to adapt my routine.

[ChipotleBlessing]

Everything you’re buying is fine. Surely you know that? When the government say ‘essential’ they mean don’t go browsing department stores for cushions and make up, not to try and out martyr each other with how basic the foods we buy are. Buy whatever food you want. This should be obvious.

[Hornets]

If they're selling it, you can buy it.

The point is whether your journey to the supermarket essential (because you need to stock up) not what items you are buying there.

[mynameiscalypso]

Once a week is fine. I'm planning my weekly trip tomorrow and my list includes all sorts of non-essential bits for the weekend and to make meals with stuff we already have. Can I survive without creme fraiche and avocados? Yes, of course. But I'll be in the supermarket anyway so I might as well get stuff I want to eat!

[itmusthavebeencoffee]

You're not being selfish! As long as you're going shopping as little as possible you might as well do your normal shop – yes things like blue cheese and chocolate aren't 'essential' (although they are to me..), but if no one buys them then they're just going to waste –plus you're likely supporting a business/livelihood that's really going to be struggling at the moment.

[ThisIsNotARealAvo]

All non essential shops are shut so if it's open then it's selling essentials. They are talking about people leaving the house for essential reasons. Food shopping is essential so you can buy anything in the food shops. I have bought plants, hair dye, body lotion, Easter chocolate and many other things which have not been seen as essential on here.

I have only been to the supermarket once per week since lockdown but when I've been in there I have bough whatever I like. Queue has been moving very quickly so I don't feel like I'm holding people up or anything like that.

[fruitpastille]

I try to only go once a week but I'll buy whatever is on sale without any guilt!

[Mrsjayy]

Once aweek for a top up ofbread milk wine is normal isn't it ? Just go get what you need /want.

[user1635896324685367]

Basic necessities such as food. That's what the rules say you can go out to do. We're trying to reduce transmission below 1, not expecting to eliminate any transmission.

If they wanted to restrict people's diets they would have specified permitted foodstuffs. Instead they legislated that trips to buy "food" are allowed.

Are you genuinely asking if we think you should live on "tap water and frozen crap"?

Unless you're going out with symptoms or when you know you should be isolating in case you imminently develop symptoms and cough all over people then going out to buy food with all due caution is fine.

[BurgerQuean]

My list for tomorrow includes Easter eggs and rose wine. It’s not about what you buy when you’re in the shop, it’s about reducing the number of times you have to go. It’s trying to stop people from nipping out every day for bits and pieces. Just get what you need and don’t worry about it.

[ilovecakeandwine]

You shouldn't feel guilty, there are no time limits on shopping currently.
It's not a pleasurable experience anyway what with queuing etc why would anyone go if they didn't need to .
If you need to shop shop just follow the advice to shop infrequent as possible.

[Imapotato]

I try and only go to the shop once a week, but once I’m there I’ll buy whatever I fancy, including wine and chocolate.

I think it’s more about reducing the number of trip than policing what you’re actually buying.

[Srslydontgiveacrap]

Nobody cares. Just buy whatever the fuck you want. Ignore the curtain twitching neighbourhood watch types. Bottle of gin? In it goes. Chocolate? Lots! Hot Cross Buns. Definitely!

[NeverYouMind123]

Thanks all. I just meant well... it's not really essential if I have actually got a freezer full of stuff and tins in the cupboard. I just "want" to have bread so I can make a sandwich for lunch instead of a tin of soup etc. Essential to me, would mean absolutely crucial as in there is no food in the house and I am starving.

[anyoneforbingo]

My DH has been doing the big weekly shop so I've not had to go to a supermarket.. I'm still going out to work full time.

I've only got winter boots that are suitable for work in my wardrobe at the minute and my feet have been so hot this week.. I really need to go to supermarket to buy a pair of shoes for work. I know I'm going to get filthy looks when I go in and just buy a pair of shoes. But then everyone can just fuck off because they don't know my situation. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Jollitwiglet]

Once a week is normal isn't it? We find we can't buy more than one weeks worth of fresh fruit and salad stuff, otherwise it goes manky by the time we go to use it. So getting these things weekly means it's always fresh and we don't waste anything.

They way I perceive it is that they don't want people nipping to the shops just for a chocolate bar and a bottle of wine. Those things are fine when bought with food shopping, but it's not worth an extra trip to the shops to get those things alone

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

We have been going to the corner shop once a week for milk and eggs, sometimes twice if we haven't been able to buy enough for a week. While we're there we've bought lager, chocolate, biscuits etc. and I really don't feel guilty, it's there to be bought!