3 x corner shop trips per week vs 1 big supermarket shop

[Scatterbrainbox]

I am a lone parent, no support, can't get a delivery slot or click and collect for love nor money.
My kids are 12,11 and 6. I have been pickng essentials up from the corner shop, but they only let you have 1 of each item (eg only selling loo rolls ìn packs of 2, only 1 pack each, only sell 2pt cartons of milk, 1 each) Because there are 4 of us I'm having to go every 2-3 days. By the time I've collected meds from the pharmacy, I've been to a shop 4 times this week, which seems a lot with the lockdown... a lot of chances to pick up the virus.

I can't help wondering if I'd be better doing 1 big asda shop. Asda is a 10 min drive away and I could probably get 7-10 days' food in 1 go, but I believe there are hefty queues to get in . So I could potentially be gone 1-2 hours, and I'm worried about leaving the kids alone for that long. I could leave then in the car, but would prefer to be able to clean the things I've bought with dettol before they come into contact, which is what I've done with things from the corner shop.

Am I massively overthinking this? What would you do? Kids are pretty sensible and eldest has his own phone.

Sorry, I meant to post in aibu. Will repost there .

Our corner shop is much better stocked than the local supermarket.

I queued at Tesco for 45 mins today - to find no tinned tomatoes, no pasta, no rice, no peppers (fresh or frozen) amongst other things. I ended up abandoning it. The one thing we're not short of is meat in the freezer, so I've decided I'll visit the corner shop every few days.

Ah really. I might not bother with asda then. Thanks

I got nearly everything I needed from Tesco on Thursday when I went at about about 11am. Still no rice, pasta, flour or toilet rolls or hand gel and soap. They did have plenty of microwave rice though. But plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of fresh fruit and veg (couldn’t get ginger but could get everything else). Loads of milk and bread, fish and meat. Full up.

the pasta and rice etc will start to come back soon as people consume their stash.

I was pleasantly surprised, id expected to see empty shelves in the whole shop but I got everything i needed to not have to go out for the next 10 days or so. I’ll be doing a full roast dinner tomorrow.

There is no food shortage, there is no need to start planting veg patches etc. But you might have to be patient for pasta, or make your own. Plenty of potatoes though, including sweet potatoes!

A 16 year old should easily be put in charge of babysitting the younger ones I would have thought.

Mixed experiences then.

Eldest is 12, not 16

A 16 year old should easily be put in charge of babysitting the younger ones I would have thought.

Just a random one from anywhere? The OP’s oldest is 12!

I went to lidl today and a lot of the tinned and dried food was still sold out but they had fresh veg and meat! I have never been so excited. Our local sainsbos and Tesco have been out of both for two weeks. I smiled like a loon all the way round. And as Lidl is only small I was only in there 20 mins.

In your shoes I would get the Morrisons box delivered by DPD.

Sorry forgot linky to the thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3858558-To-tell-you-about-Morrisons-food-boxes?msgid=95035462

Must be a different mission set in Spain. No shortages. I'd do the one big shop with kids in car. Take the phone obviously, and bribe to be good. Hope they have stock, if not stop at the local shop

How do you organise the Morrison's box?

Ah I've just googled it. Their slots are gone for today, might set an early alarm and try and get one in the morning. Looks like they renew them daily.

Risk wise, it makes sense to me to stay local, using the same shop which other locals use. The further and bigger you go, the greater the risk of spread as it will be used by people whom you would not ordinarily come into contact with...

a 12 and 11 year old ought to be able to look after 6 year old for an hour or two, you need to explain how they need to step up and be responsible and help the family and that being responsible will earn privileges as you will learn you can trust them to do the right thing by each other and their younger sibling
however using the corner shop might be more expensive but if ASDA uses more fuel getting there and then doesn't have everything on the list are you any worse off?

Could you leave the 12 & 11 yo and home and take the youngest with you? In your position I would do 1 big shop rather than 3 small ones as it limits the amount of exposure (and it's what the government has advised isn't it?)

I don't think the little one will be allowed in the supermarket.

”A 16 year old should easily be put in charge of babysitting the younger ones I would have thought.”

Just a random one from anywhere? The OP’s oldest is 12! grin

Sorry. OP, I misread that! Read too fast! I see your dilemma.

Frogfairy thanks!! I have managed to order 2 of the Morrison's 'essentials boxes', coming on tuesday. We'll be ok until then.