To get annoyed with people who say the supermarkets are only closed for one day?

[BrieAndChilli]

People keep moaning about how busy the supermarkets are and how people are buying as if the shops are closed for a month etc etc

Yes the supermarkets are busier because people DONT want to be going food shopping xmas eve/Boxing Day, next few days as maybe they want to relax, drink all day and so not drive, have lots of guests over that they want to spend time with!!
Plus the shops are busier because all the people that would normally do thier weekly shop on a Sunday/Monday are doing it earlier and those that would do it on a tue/wed are leaving it a day or so later so they can last over xmas.

Ive just been shopping and have brought enough to last a week plus the extras for Christmas which took 3/4 of a large trolley so had to go in twice- we are catering for 12 Xmas day and boxing day so with booze, Christmas dinner bits, breakfast for both days and boxing day dinner its logical. I also had to buy 4x4 pints of milk as my parents, brother and grandmother drink tea by the gallon full. Plus six loaves of bread

Not competitive austerity at all

A necessity for those who can't afford food

And before you or anyone else suggests it, I'm not out with the begging bowl,

I have just got back from Waitrose and the shelves are stripped. It had a whole pending Siege of Leningrad (ok, without the added horror) vibe to it. For some reason I felt oddly calm, quite zen, so it wasn't so bad. I was only getting a few bits though and left the thick end of £50 lighter.

It still makes no sense. If it's a necessity that people with no money go without Christmas food HOW IS THAT RELATED TO THOSE WHO DO HAVE THE MONEY?!!! And breathe

It's the general overindulge that gets to me and many others

We hate to see it while so many other people have very little or nothing

What about some of us who live miles away from shops? I also have no intention of going anywhere near a supermarket til at least the end of next week, and preferably the New Year! I also have 8 for lunch on Christmas Day, and 15 for sit down lunch in Boxing Day!

My local supermarket is only shut on Christmas day (but the small shop down the road will be open) so I can go to the shop any day if I need more food but I expect we'll be living off the Christmas leftovers for a few days anyway.

I've just bought 2 trolley's full but only 1 for me the other is for the local soup kitchen with funds raised by my youth group. Didn't stop me getting dagger eyes at the check out though

I do most of my shopping on the way to work at 7am - hardly anyone there!

Wow, normally threads I start die a death after a couple of responses!!!!

It is a fact that the supermarkets are only closed for 1 day but the moaners don't seem to get that people don't WANT to go back to a supermarket so rightly as is thier choice are stocking up! Plus a lot of extra treats.

I'm dreading my big shop tomorrow, I'm taking 3 children under the age of 4 with me. I need enough for 5 on Christmas day, 11 on boxing day and enough so I don't have to go shopping for a week... Wish me luck!

We've got 8 coming tomorrow for 4 nights/days - family from all over. That's 3 x meals a day, drink, snacks, chocolates etc.

On top of that, family party on Xmas Eve for 20, another 4 for Xmas day and 1 other on Boxing Day. Also need shed loads of toilet roll, cleaning stuff etc and it adds up to a hell of a lot of shopping and I'm not popping out on any of those days to get bits. I'll do a normal family shop on new year weekend.

I went on 7am Tuesday morning to avoid car park rage and it was quiet. Spent more than twice my usual weekly budget but the turkey alone will allow for Christmas Day, Boxing Day bubble and squeak and several stir fries etc and the leg of lamb will do several meals too. Menu for the week will be planned around use by dates so no waste. It's nice to treat yourself at Christmas! This year I bought saving stamps throughout the year to soften the blow but next year, I will try and put £ coins by and not dip into it for non uniform days etc and then spread out the 'big' shop over a few weeks instead.

I know what you mean zukie.

I try and put a bit extra in the food banks at this time of year.

brie

Just clocked your user name

We are having brie and cranberry sauce quesiladas for tea tomorrow...normally a boxing day favourite

My local supermarket closes early on Xmas Eve and doesn't open again until later than normal on the 27th. So not just closed for one day at all.

I don't know why people are giving out about people with trolley fulls? I had two huge ones last year, I was hosting a party for 40 people, plus 2 meals for nearly 20. And half of one trolley was for the food bank.
We're good for the economy as well, the big spenders

The vast, vast majority of food needed /wanted for Christmas can be bought in advance. Lots of things will be just fine in the freezer. Even most veg is good for a week in the cool weather, with the exception of perhaps lettuce. Cream and milk will last for several days. Turkeys can be ordered and collected.

I really don't understand why anyone needs to be buying up whole trolley loads of stuff two or three days before Christmas.

i will be sitting with my sad dinner as theres only two of us

well just me most of the day

We'll be shopping to our normal schedule (fortunate timing) but I bought extra.

And had exactly this comment from the checkout lady, not criticising me but just commenting generally.

I said I was buying extra because everyone was going to be at home - two children who normally have school dinners plus a DH who picks something up while he's out. That's fifteen extra plates to fill in the week - about 10-15% extra food. Extra drinks and so on. And that's before you even overindulge for the season.

It's the general overindulge that gets to me and many others

Why are you assuming it is overindulging? Some of it maybe, some of it may not be

Maybe because as you say the stuff will keep?

We used to go through and buy 3+ trolleys of food in the states, right before Christmas, using all the coupons/vouchers and offers we could to maximise the purchases - the most we could buy for the least amount of money.

Then we donated the entire lot to the food bank.

You never know what people are doing with everything they buy.

Thanks blackheartsgirl

I try and put something into the food bank collection too

I've used a foodbank in the past, and believe me it's very much appreciated

I really don't understand why anyone needs to be buying up whole trolley loads of stuff two or three days before Christmas

It will keep a week or so, so you want us to what? Shop several times in the week so you don't get annoyed by us doing a big shop? If you need a certain amount you need it, why does it matter if its bought a few days ago, or in a few days, or in 5 different trips?
What difference does it make to you wha, when or why other people shop?

I did a big online shop last week but dithered too much to grab a delivery slot for this week. Waitrose has been busy for a couple of weeks so I'm giving it a wide berth until January.

By some miracle our local Lidl was virtually deserted last night at 8pm AND the shelves were fairly well stocked. (so maybe it is a good idea to go out during the soaps/Masterchef?)

Feeling a bit too smug as I just need to keep us topped up with milk and bread now