Christmas food shopping experts, when's my best time to go?

[woodenbatandball]

I need to do a normal food shop/get some Christmas bits in (nibbles/smoked salmon/croissants etc)! We're actually eating out on Christmas Day but still want some bits about the house.

Im child free most of tomorrow and Sunday morning and Christmas Eve. When would you go? I'm thinking tomorrow evening, but wondering if all the shelves will be empty? (Thinking Aldi/Sainsburys)

I’m not an expert 😂 but I am going to be at Tesco at 7am tomorrow morning. Figured they would have re stocked over night. Not sure about the evening and it all being picked over during the day.

3pm on Christmas Eve.

We are going on Sunday. I don't want to go too early, but I think Monday or Christmas Eve in Tesco would knock my Christmas spirit 😆

Middle of the night at a 24 hour tesco

Whichever supermarket you go to, I agree a 7 am start is by far the best option.

I don’t think they exist anymore do they? Since covid they all shut at midnight or at least any within a 50 mile radius of me do

FYI tesco opens at 5am Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. Depending where you are Sunday is normal 10-4 or 11-5 I believe. Earlier the better imo.

The only morning I'd be able to do is Sunday and they all open too late haha! Today was bad enough in M&S! I also feel this mad panic to buy enough food for a year even though it's technically only two days! Plus I'm a single mum, so not loads of us haha

I’m going tomorrow evening but I’m not an expert, I just can’t face going when it’s busy and I’m not a morning person, I think tomorrow evening will probably be better than 23rd or 24th and it will also still give me time to go again if they don’t have something I decide is vital.

8 am Sunday morning, lots of people will still be in bed but the shelves should be fully stocked from the night shift.

I went to M&S yesterday at 11 all the shelves had gaps, empty freezers too. DH went early today and they had loads. They open at 9

I'm going on Monday afternoon I think. Went out today and it wasn't too busy.

I always go on Christmas Eve, in the morning... no one is there, it's lovely.

@Gymmum82 you're right, I've just cgecked and my local big Tesco is open 5am-1am. I remember going there at 3am to buy baby bottles back when it was opn 24 hours.

I'm going to Aldi Sunday morning
My local one has the browsing time and everyone seems to forget that
I usually get there at 9.30, at the till for 10 just as everyone is piling in!

I'm going Monday morning about 6:15am. I live near a huge Tesco so can be there minutes after getting up, I usually go early and then get back into bed for an hour when I get home. The actual shop might not be that bad later but the car park gets chaotic, it's not uncommon for people to be waiting 90 minutes to exit at Christmas and Easter.

I'm an early bird too. I'm off to Aldi in the morning as our local one opens at 7am. Need a dessert or two. Getting Ocado delivery on Sunday but all the nice desserts were sold out.

Got to love Scottish Sunday trading.

I once got stuck in our local Tesco Extra car park for 2 hours on Christmas Eve it was so busy, never again!

@Pineapplewaves where opens at 8am on Sunday? X

I'm going 6am on Monday before work. I popped to our local Sainsbury's after school pick up today and it was bedlam! Took me 45 to get out of the car park. So, go early doors or very late!

When the children (four of them) were very little and Christmas was still magical for them and us, I used to go to our nearest supermarket which was Morrisons on Christmas Eve daytime to try and get some bargains. Two children in the trolley and one holding on either side. Their Dad my DH worked on a farm and only got Christmas Day off. It was always chaos, queues for the tills all the way down the isles, lots of trolley rage etc. I loved it and must have been absolutely bonkers. These days I am a Ba Humbug and if I havent got anything by 23rd we either do without or I send DH who no longer works on a farm.

Oops sorry, I live in Scotland where our supermarkets are open 6 am to midnight everyday of the week. I only visit England two weeks of the year, I forget about the annoying shopping hours!

I had mine delivered this year but usually I get up at 5am on Xmas Eve and do it then.

I went to M&S today at 9am - busy, but not unreasonable. I will not go in a shop again until 27th. We don't have traditional Xmas dinner, but we still have to eat. If you plan carefully, and buy items with enough shelf life, a few days in advance is very doable.