To not get the Christmas supermarket shopping frenzy?

[rogersmellyonthetelly]

I mean the bloody shops are only shut for 24 hours these days? Why all the panic?

Because the last thing i want to do for the next five days is supermarket shopping - i hate it at the best of times, but over xmas i want to live a life of relaxation, eating, drinking, and long winter walks... pretending that the cupboards just replenish themselves by magic

Because the stuff we're buying is for the 24 hours they're closed

There is actually not much panicking going on though is there, just people all trying to get their shopping done. Unfortunately, the 25th December seems to be a popular day for having a bit of a feast and a get together with loads of people. It needs to be shopped for doesn't it?

I'm not cooking at home for 3 evenings in the next week but I'll still need a normal weekly shop in before boxing day.

It isn't that the shops are shut, it's that most people with a house full of guests wold rather enjoy the holiday than have to keep disappearing to top things up.

So people buy more than they usually would, and buy things that they might not bother with at other times of the year.

It's rather nice to sit back on Christmas Eve, knowing that for the next week or so the house is full of delicious food, and that the supermarket need not figure at all.

because my mum, who lives 300 miles away is coming to.visit for a week and I don't want to spend any of that time shopping.

because we live sufficiently rurally that we can't just 'pop to the shops".

because all four of us + mum wil be at home all day for 10 days, rather than having lunch, snacks etc at school or work canteen.

because it's the time of year when there's a good reason to eat more/different food to usual.

because it wouldn't be Christmas without tackling Tesco's at 6am with a pea shooter and a piece of 2 x 4.

I don't go out for 2 weeks - being able to do that is utter bliss.

In order to do that I need a very large shop delivered on the 23rd.

Just me then :0) bah humbug! Can't work out why if people are just doing their weekly shop with some extras why does my local asda look like the last shop on earth during Armageddon?

It's not because people are panicking about the shops being shut, it's eating more, drinking more, entertaining, people are in all day and eating more.

Because Christmas day is a feast and we're all planning for it?
I only go to town every couple of weeks as I'm very rural, so if you saw me in the supermarket during the rest of the year you'd be looking at me like this., I always have a huge trolley.
It's thinking ahead for most people so they can have a lovely relaxed holiday.
'Tis all done now though, I've an order at the village shop and our mobile butcher will deliver on Monday.
Sorted.

I was thinking about this yesterday. I think some of it is a leftover from when the shops were shut for 3 days. It wasn't that long ago! And because, as people have said, you're trying to make sure you're covered for several days worth of food, often for extra guests, that lasts. I was stunned yesterday at how many of the special 'Christmas' desserts had BB dates of the 23rd!

Its CRAZY out there!!
I work in a huge supermarket and yesterday we took £1.3million..Bloody hell.

also people need to shop for the weekend. as it is not until Tues I want to get the stuff in ready and then not have a nightmare on christmas eve which may be even worse. It is a bit stupid I agree and everywhere is horrible and busy.

You buy things you wouldn't normally buy and just in case as it is such a pain to have to go again. saying that I may go tomorrow as I forgot some normal items as I was focussed on the christmas stuff.

Narked I was noticing the self-by dates on milk too at the supermarket. I do buy extra, because we are all here, I want to have some special meals together, I don't want to waste time shopping when I can be with the people I love most in the whole world.

I am going to the supermarket tomorrow just as i always do on a Sunday and i am getting food to do me through to Thursday - again as i usually do. Just this shop will contain more treats and fancy food as i will be catering for more people.

where on earth does everyone keep all the extra food? Do you all have walk in fridges? I've just done a relatively small shop and can barely squeeze everything in the fridge. We go to family for christmas, much cheaper! I do take pudding though.

I think its stupid. There are only the same number of people, regardless of whose house they are at. I went to the supermarket earlier for a few things and was disgusted at some of the gluttonous shopping behavious I saw, families with 2 trolleys packed full of junk food.

Well I did a shop to last us all week, we are all home so extra lunches plus an extra 4 people on Christmas Day and an extra 20 on Boxing Day. So it would be lovely if it was just shopping for one day but I like to eat on the other days too

No panic here. Just an online shop which is how I normally shop, and I normally shop for a week at a time anyway. Just more expensive and more stuff than normal as we have a bigger than normal meal on Christmas Day, plus we have a fair few people coming round on Boxing Day plus visitors on other days - so need more drinks and nibbles in than ordinarily too.

There is also no way I intend going food shopping mid week either.

yanbu

I agree. If half the country is staying with half of the rest of the country then why are there many times more than the usual number of customers in them?

Both Waitrose and M&S today in my town were no busier than a normal saturday, if anything slightly quieter, so I think it depends a bit on where you are.

It's not because the shops are closed though - it's because most people don't want to shop between the 24th and 27th - and will be consuming more at home than normal (as they're not at work and are less likely to be going out to restaurants/pub etc.) So they need more, and also the people who normally shop on monday/tuesday/wednesday have to get it done before.

There's no frenzy, just people need to shop before they start enjoying themselves.

I never go shopping I had mine delivered yesterday! But we dont cook on christmas or boxing day so its not much more than usual with a few mince pies thrown in.

But I like popping out for topups - gives me a bit of peace from the house LOL