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Original poster

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

133 replies

BrieAndChilli · 22/12/2016 10:54

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.

OP posts:
MycatsaPirate · 22/12/2016 21:09

We have been buying things on a weekly basis for the last six weeks so drinks, snacks and chocolates etc are all stashed away.

Meat is on order at the butchers.

I bought a party platter for Christmas Eve today and some veg. I spent £17 in total. Asda was like armageddon was coming. Even the cashier on the lobby counter was swearing under her breath which is really not like her but to be fair the man she was trying to serve was exceptionally rude to other customers and was holding everyone up (plus he nearly ran someone over in his mobility scooter).

I may buy some milk and bread locally on Saturday while I'm at the butchers.

But agree that yes, I don't want to shop next week but will probably have too, freezer and fridge space is at a minimum.

But the shops ARE only shut for one day. Where are people storing all this stuff? I don't mean cupboard stuff but all this milk and fresh food or food that needs to be frozen? How big are their fridge freezers?

We have switched on the camping fridge to store meat and milk in but I can't imagine how on earth we could fit anything else in!

Squiff85 · 22/12/2016 21:10

Fully agree. I HATE with a passion people who say "they're only shut for a day" etc. I don't want to go shopping between Christmas and NYE, which is why I stock up! :)

YANBU! xxx

Empress13 · 22/12/2016 21:12

Aldi have got veg on at 19p at mo yes 19p !!! Women were buying it like there's no tomorrow - wTF it's going to be off by Sun !!

No people are bloody stupid OP they stockpile like the world is coming to an end all for one flamin day - it's called panic buying.

honeyroar · 22/12/2016 21:47

But lots of people DO go food shopping right after Xmas! I avoid supermarkets like the plague after the 10th Dec, and regularly have to work away for Xmas. I usually get home the 27th and call at the supermarket and it's heaving! Thank goodness for Waitrose and M&S on the motorway, hopefully I can stock up on basics to last til everyone goes back to normality.

hollinhurst84 · 22/12/2016 22:38

I am dreading going tomorrow! Only need a normal shop, no Christmas food as am having McDonald's on Christmas Day GrinGrin but I don't get paid until tomorrow

zukiecat · 22/12/2016 22:38

HerBluebiro

Actually no, I've never had a birthday cake, I don't like them and even if I did, then no I would neither buy one or expect anyone to buy one for me, as I do see that as a needless extravagance, I would buy small ones for my DDS when they were little, but never for myself

A special meal, we have maybe a couple of times a year, and by special I mean a small roast chicken and we have it for tea, never just because

No heating here to turn up! Can't afford that either
People will say I'm a right misery, but with health issues and a small part time wage there just isn't the money for these things

DD2 helps out when she can, and DD1 has moved out now, and we just can't afford luxuries

JaceLancs · 22/12/2016 22:40

I spent £70 in morrisons tonight
Will collect meat ordered and fresh extras like milk on Xmas eve from local farm shop
I've bought drinks over last few months when there has been a good offer on - alcohol is my main Xmas luxury and will last well into January/February
I will probably do a mini shop of fresh fruit and veg before new year - everything else should last as I always have a well stocked freezer
However I'm only catering for 5 of us and am back at work next week

melj1213 · 22/12/2016 22:47

Aldi have got veg on at 19p at mo yes 19p !!! Women were buying it like there's no tomorrow - wTF it's going to be off by Sun !!

Not necessarily ... my Asda have had bags of veg at 20p all week and it's all fine through till after Xmas.

But lots of people DO go food shopping right after Xmas!

If only they wouldn't then I might get to have some time off! I am in work every day doing 10/12 hr shifts until 7pm Christmas Eve (providing everyone leaves and we get out on time, which I am not holding my breath for) and then back in at 9am on Boxing Day for a 9-6 shift then back to normal hours of being open from 6am to midnight from the 27th

MrsHathaway · 22/12/2016 22:59

Asda vegetables may well last five days but Aldi just don't.

CharleyDavidson · 22/12/2016 23:58

People buy more because they are hosting.

They buy more because they have treats they wouldn't normally have.
They buy more because they don't want to go shopping soon after Christmas day.

The people who would normally have shopped spread out over the several days/week end up buying more closely timed together as the shops are shut on some days and they put off buying until they know all the dates will be good for Christmas Eve/Day/Boxing day etc.

Lots of reasons culminating in a really busy few days for the shops.

BigGrannyPants · 23/12/2016 01:48

I'm sure there are lotcs of people doing normal shopping or stocking up for over Christmas but there are a lot of people who panics buy. Suppose we are so used to 24/7 now, for some people the thought of the supermarket being closed, even for a day, starts them thinking about what if I run out etc where as usually they could just pop down the shop if they ran out. People do stockpile when the supermarkets shut and it's annoying as it's busy enough as it is!

user1480946351 · 23/12/2016 02:51

Aldi have got veg on at 19p at mo yes 19p !!! Women were buying it like there's no tomorrow - wTF it's going to be off by Sun

Why would vegetables bought on Thursday be gone off by Sunday? I don't care where you bought them, you must be doing something pretty odd to them to manage that.

user1480946351 · 23/12/2016 02:53

I HATE with a passion people who say "they're only shut for a day" etc. I don't want to go shopping between Christmas and NYE, which is why I stock up!

You hate with a passion when people say they would rather not do supermarket shopping in the holidays?

Bizarre. Up next, loathing with the heat of a thousand suns when people say they don't like rain.

Manumission · 23/12/2016 02:54

Bastards! Roaming around the place remarking on the brevity of the shop closures! They deserve everything they get and a bit on top Angry

MiscellaneousAssortment · 23/12/2016 03:11

I too like to hunker down and avoid going shopping for a few days.

It's one of the things that makes Christmas a special time of year for me. Although I get there's a certain amount of irony in buying loads pre-Xmas to not buy things over Christmas. Especially if you add the present buying into the pre-Xmas splurge. However I'm not one of those who have big Xmas celebrations to host or go to, just me, my DS and my annoying and dysfunctional mother (joy oh joy, grrrr!).

WomanScorned · 23/12/2016 04:00

natsku (and anyone else),

Our Boy's/Girl's Brigade recently had a guest speaker in, from the local foodbank.
They desperately need cash for things like heating and lighting the building, and fuel for collecting and delivering the parcels.

So, even if you don't have a collection point locally, you could donate online.

kmc1111 · 23/12/2016 04:18

As someone else said, if it was just about food for Christmas, the shops wouldn't be nearly so packed as everyone who's being hosted has at least a day or two where they'll be catered for, maybe a week if they're travelling to family. If anything you should have fewer people than usual, just with fuller trolley's, but instead you get that plus a huge increase in all shoppers.

When I used to work in a supermarket there was always a major uptick in the amount of non-perishable food plus basics we sold over Christmas (and Easter and bank holidays). Lot's of cans, UHT milk, frozen meals, ridiculous amounts of bread etc. This is in addition to the normal Christmas supplies. Some people truly do panic and start stocking up like it's the apocalypse at the thought of not being able to run to the shops.

CrazyCavalierLady · 23/12/2016 05:03

I'm having 16 for Xmas day. In a holiday house rental on the beach. (Aust) The fridge is full of fruit and vege (mostly mangos), cheese and dips, alcohol and mixers. Friends are brining various meats. I have made the pudding. I NEED to shop for condiments, various ingredients for sauces for salads and meats, ice cream, cream and custard for the desserts ... but I'm sitting on the verandah drinking Pimms and lemonade and really CBA. I will be the lunatic rushing around on Christmas Eve looking for brandy custard and double cream when it's all sold out Xmas Grin

AwaywiththePixies27 · 23/12/2016 05:42

Crazy that sounds lovely. The beach and the veranda part. Not the hosting for 16 Xmas Grin

JigokuShojou · 23/12/2016 11:35

"My annoyance is that it is only shut for one day a year. I supported the petition to close shops on Boxing Day, and would welcome a few more days a year with shops closed."

Presumably you'd also support the workers of those shops going without pay for the days concerned?

Thingiebob · 23/12/2016 12:24

I haven't done my food shop. I'm doing it tomorrow on Christmas Eve.

Poole5 · 23/12/2016 12:30

Asda vegetables may well last five days but Aldi just don't

My Aldi veg last more than 5 days

BarbaraofSeville · 23/12/2016 12:39

I've been a regular Aldi shopper for over 20 years and never have any problems with their veg going off. It's exactly the same as other supermarkets. I think some people might have one rare incidence of something going off and use it to justify 'Aldi is cheap crap' even though it is far from the truth.

I have some of their carrots and onions in the fridge now that have been there nearly a month and the onions are fine and carrots are just starting to look slightly soft so will be made into soup for lunch tomorrow and any leftovers will go into the freezer.

BarbaraofSeville · 23/12/2016 12:45

A question for people who go at the busy times. Is that the only time you can go, or do you just go at what feels like a normal time to you and don't think about whether it will be busy?

I hate shopping anyway and almost never go at busy times, only very early morning or late at night. Otherwise I would probably rather do without, use the local Co-op, make do with what we have in or get a takeaway.

I did the bulk of our Christmas food shop on the way to work at 6.30 am yesterday morning (cold weather so everything just left in the car), and apart from a milk trip to the local Co-op on Saturday, I won't go again until Thursday or Friday next week, which will probably be a dawn raid to Aldi.

If we need bread, we have part baked rolls or I will put the breadmaker on.

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 23/12/2016 13:21

I am just pissed off that i have no quorn scotch eggs Sad

And someone bought the christmas decoration i wanted in the village Sad Sad

And i didnt have enough money to buy myself a bun in the bakers for my lunch Sad Sad Sad

Christmas is ruined