I haven’t done my Christmas food shop yet. How worried should I be?

[RUOKHon]

Until earlier this week I had no idea what our plans were for Christmas. We were going to go to MIL, then she was coming to us, my dad and brother and SIL were going to come to us, now they’re not, etc.

Anyway, now plans are finally decided I need to do my food shop. Obviously there are no delivery slots available now so I was just going to brave the supermarket on Tuesday or Wednesday. Am I mad?

Fine unless you develop covid symptoms and have to isolate! Which happened to us Thursday. I have bought most things ahead and frozen them as I was concerned about this, but we are missing bits that either had too short dates and couldn't freeze, or I hadn't thought of.

A lot of the fresh stuff only comes in a few days before Christmas anyway.

We always do Marks and Spencer for our nice bits on 23rd. It’s always been fine in previous years though who knows what it’ll be like this year?!

I usually go late evening on 23rd and have always got what I've needed. Though if you want prawns or smoked salmon buy them now and chuck them in the freezer as they will sell out!

I never do ours until morning of the 23rd or 24th. Going 6am on the 24th this year. It's fine. There's always plenty.

Other than ordering the meat from the butchers we've don't done it yet either. It'll be fine.

I haven't done mine either. There's only 4 of us at home, no visitors this year. I'll just do a slightly bigger weekly shop on Monday. I'm thinking if I go early or late it'll be ok. It's usually fine in our local supermarket if you go either before 8am or after about 7pm. Other supermarkets seem to be rammed the whole time though, so it depends on your shopping options.

My mum and dad are buying the turkey, cooking it and bringing it to mines. But I don’t get paid till Wednesday, so will need to wait till then. I have a Tesco delivery coming on Wednesday. But fingers crossed things eg pigs in blankets, Xmas pudding isn’t sold out.

I've always left my Christmas food shop to around the 23rd December. Never had any problems before.
I do go at around 7am though

We got all of ours yesterday. Iceland had loads of delivery slots and we picked the last available click & collect slot from tesco. There were no subs or missing items.

I haven't either, won't have the money until Xmas Eve. It is what is it.

I live alone and am not going anywhere for Christmas. I'm worried about Covid and have too many family members to choose from so am not going there.
Plus I'm expecting a rough year so I will go on Xmas eve. I've done it before and have got some great bargains. The only thing is dessert, there is rarely anything left but that doesn't bother me because I can make better. This will be my first Christmas alone ever but I think I'm okay with that. I may feel differently on the day but I might feel compensated in January with good health.

I’d suggest going sooner rather than later, just in case. I planned to go this week, and then my DH came up positive yesterday on one of the home tests he has to do twice weekly. So here we are, trapped at home, no goose (or Turkey/beef joint...) for Xmas dinner.
On a serious note, it’s put things in perspective, and I’m far more worried about him becoming seriously ill than I am about missing a “proper” Christmas dinner.

I've got the main things and a click and collect booked for Monday for cheese, milk, fruit & veg, party food and last minute bits.

I don't think you need to worry too much, but go at a sensible time and be prepared for a bit of headache...I had to go to Tesco yesterday and it was heaving already.

Surely no one has bought their veggies yet - they won't last! I've got a Christmas pud, a bottle of Baileys and ordered my meat. That's it - same as every year I plan on shopping earlyish on 23rd. Always been fine.

I'm going Sainsbury's Tuesday. No point buying veg yet, because it'll start to 'turn' if you buy it too early. Don't panic.

Not me....going Tuesday
Taking my kindle to read if I have to queue !!!

Go as early a possible I've found shop starts getting busy around 11ish

We have a load of stuff in the freezer - turkey, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, stuffing - plenty of cheese and a Christmas pudding in the fridge, and a Sainsbury’s order coming on Monday. I have the hairdresser on Wednesday so will go to M&S for last bits after that. It’s just me and DP this year, so no real drama if we don’t get everything we want.

I will go Tuesday or Wednesday. Early in the morning or late at night.

I was in M&S earlier and 90% of the Christmas food was use by 19th-23rd Dec so if you're limited on freezer space it's not worth bothering yet.

We finished our non perishable shopping at the end of November, partly to spread the cost and partly so we didn’t have to spend longer in a packed supermarket and lug loads of stuff home closer to the date.
Home made stuffing & pigs in blankets were made & in the freezer by November, so the sausages I like didn’t sell out. We ordered our turkey in November and will be picking that up on 23rd, when we get the rest of our fresh stuff.

DH and I went last night- around 9pm so there was no one around and plenty of stock! Got everything off the list and back in the car in 40 minutes! Our turkey arrives this afternoon. Try to go early in the morning or late at night to avoid crowds.

@Snowpatrolling

I’m doing mine Tuesday! It’s only me and the kids so whatever we don’t have so be it!!! May end up with chicken instead of beef but I’m not worried!

Same here. I have meat, a Christmas pudding and a couple of boxes of mince pies. I will get some fresh veg and that'll do us.

In the past I've bought up to 3 different deserts and makings for starters
We always end up with WAY to much food that we are all sick of, don't eat and end up giving away.
So maybe a scaled back Christmas food wise is a good thing.

What exactly are you worried about? I've been shopping today and I'm sure my area isn't unique, there was mountains of food and less busy than a normal Saturday morning.