How much of the extra 16 pints of milk and 5 loaves of bread bought just in case are actually consumed

You don’t know what will be wasted but yes people do buy far more than they need which will therefore - in most cases - be wasted

although I suspect it’s mince pies rather than milk and turkey that people can’t be bothered to strip and freeze

I wouldn't buy that much but if I am feeding ten people 3 meals a day for a few days then it is a lot more needed than normal. I definitely don't want to have to be going shopping over the Christmas period as spoils our fun and stresses me out as chief cook. People that say this usually are not those who host a crowd. I am fine overbuying on non perishables as everything gets used in the end.

When we’re at home DP and I drink a lot of tea and coffee and the DC are always asking for hot chocolate so we do buy a lot more milk than normal. Also you need milk for custard and bread sauce. Sandwiches are a staple for a buffet tea and I can use a whole loaf making up a mixture of ham and cheese sandwiches. Well put some in the freezer for New Year if necessary, none of it goes in the bin.

How on earth do you know it will be wasted?, i hope you didn't do that sucked a lemon look as you saw it

20 odd guests. Tea, coffee, breakfasts, Yorkshire puddings, bread sauce, cauliflower cheese sauce, creamed leeks, soup with the leftovers - all use pints and pints of milk.

I get through gallons of milk over Christmas. Just because some people have no guests or just do a bit of frozen veg and turkey for lunch doesn’t mean every family does the same.

Easily frozen, therefore zero waste.

Wer hosting for 22. 3 being starving teenagers. I don’t want to go to the shops Xmas ever or Boxing Day. We definitely have more than usually in our shop for the 23rd. Different families different reasons

Why would it be wasted? 5 loaves of bread and 16 pints of milk is hardly a ridiculous amount

I get through over 12 pints of milk a week easy… I tend to buy bread from my local shop as we tend to eat a loaf in two days or 10! I might buy two and freeze one Tbf in my Xmas shop!

It’s surely simply because they want to spend all their time enjoying their families and not shopping with the same frequency.

Why would it be wasted? As a family of just three we get through about 12 pints on a normal week when everyone is out at work or school. We will use more when all at home. People buying bread are probably freezing some and using some for things like bread sauce etc.

I have two boys home from university and their friends in and out I’d the house. My mother is visiting.

I have done a big shop every three days this week.

I love it.

Like another pp I don't understand why people don't understand this.
Extra family plus kids off school. I have 4 off from school, that's 4 bowls of cereal, 4 cups of milk, 4 extra lunch to make
That's without adding extra guests.
I go back to work on the 27th so definitely not wanting to do a shop on top of that

I haven’t noticed when I’ve been shopping to be honest. But people will have more food in the cupboards this year because a) they want to stay home and enjoy Christmas with their families and b) people often eat more / host others over Christmas.

Honestly I’ve seen so many festive rage posts like this one on here and Facebook and it’s starting to feel like people just want to have a dig at Christmas.

I don't see why you think it will be wasted? People are perfectly capable of planning what they will need, especially if hosting a lot of people. I shop weekly as I can't be arsed 'popping to the shop' mid week. Sorry if that's offensive. 😂

We use a lot of milk anyway as we are huge tea drinkers so ordered maybe 4 extra pints as will be off work a few extra days. We don't eat much bread but I buy bake at home baguettes and rolls instead in case we fancy, they last a lot longer and I freeze what I don't use.

The children are not at school eating school dinners and drinking from the water fountains. They are at home demanding endless toast and milk.

I also like to do as little shopping as possible between Christmas and new year. I want a break.

Agreed. It seems like a really strange question to ask, it's common sense surely. Having extra people stay will obviously increase the amount of basics you need such as milk for hot drinks/breakfast and bread for breakfast, cooking or the leftover sandwiches.

Just because shops are only shut for one day doesn't mean everyone wants to go shopping on boxing day when they could just buy extra when they are already at the shop. I don't understand why you don't understand?

I use it. Kids will be off school and so we get through four pints a day. I just chuck the extras in the freezer. Id normally just shop when I’m passing but am off as of today so don’t plan on wasting the petrol with my fully stocked fridge. I’ve got a delivery on the 28th so need to last till then.

Normally go through 4 pints of milk every couple of days. A loaf of bread every few days. Will get enough in on Christmas eve. Did buy loads of veg yesterday at 5 pence a bag but its in the shed so will keep for a few weeks

My family of 5 goes through 20-24 pints of milk per week. Probably only 1-2 loaves of bread. I won't be buying extra for xmas.

But don't you make extra things and in larger quantities? I've bought more milk to make bread sauce and ice creams. I'll need extra bread for stuffing for 7 to have with dinner and then making sure there is bread or rolls to make sandwiches with leftovers. I know the supermarkets are open on boxing day but I don't want to go!

I haven’t bought any extra bread as we don’t have visitors who’ll be here for breakfast etc but I usually buy three loaves a week and keep two in the freezer so they don’t go stale. We get through 2.5 loaves a week. I did buy extra milk which I have also frozen as don’t want to be going to the shop for milk over Christmas and occasionally bad weather means the milkman doesn’t finish delivery to us. I did stock up on sugar/flour/butter/eggs as we do a lot of baking over Christmas but I don’t expect it will go to waste. Perhaps they are really getting through that amount?

I stock up for Christmas because I can't be arsed nipping out to the shops. I have a second fridge in the garage and milk easily lasts a week or two. If there's any left over I just buy less the following week.