Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Not done the Christmas food shop yet. Any advice on the best tactics for tomorrow?

82 replies

auntyemaily · 23/12/2016 22:35

Just that really. I'll need to do a budget supermarket and at least one other store. Do I rock up for opening time, or is that what everyone else will do?

OP posts:

Original poster

auntyemaily · 23/12/2016 22:59

Take children absolutely not.
If I didn't need aldi I think I would have womaned up and gone tonight.
Ok. Weapon. List. Go solo. Check check check.

OP posts:

MillieMoodle · 23/12/2016 23:01

Choco I see you've had a Christmas Eve shopping experience too

belleandsnowwhite · 23/12/2016 23:02

Last year we went tesco at 7am on Christmas Eve and it was fine. I went at 10am a couple of days ago and it was rammed..So I would go early.

BroomstickOfLove · 23/12/2016 23:04

Go early, be flexible about substituting things on your list, and be relentlessly cheerful and smile at everyone as you get trapped in a trolley jam for the fifth time. Chat to strangers, that sort of thing. That way, everyone around you calms down a bit and there less huffing, which is nicer for everyone.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 23/12/2016 23:06

I do wonder what shops people on mumsnet go to around Christmas. Yeah, they're very busy and a bit chaotic but it's not like the shelves are empty and people are fighting over the last turkey. Unless Edinburgh is just an exception.

clumsyduck · 23/12/2016 23:08

I went food shopping once Christmas Eve morning soon as it opened and it was fine average amount of people you'd find on a normal day at a later so busier than it would normally be for the time but not to busy iyswim the only reason I don't now is because I want to relax Xmas eve morning

ElornaElephant · 23/12/2016 23:11

I went to Tesco tonight (only for last minute bits, not even my full shop which I did yday) and it mostly definitely raised my blood pressure. There are lots of really manic and rude people that suddenly appear at Christmas time. Good luck, you're gonna need it.

Lemoncurd · 23/12/2016 23:12

Love Christmas Eve shopping, tends to be much quieter than the week before. I've been seeing how long I can hold my nerve before buying a turkey so hopefully it won't backfire this year! Also noticed that Waitrose tends to be the quietest supermarket and usually has some super bargains on Christmas dinner essentials if you leave it late enough.

OhStuffingBalls · 23/12/2016 23:13

Dont stress. Last year I did my food shop on Xmas Eve at Waitrose when it opened, and then went on to Sainsburys for other bits a couple of hours later. There was loads of stuff left. It was busy but fine.

(This year I had a leisurely stroll around a half empty M&S for the meat yesterday - took me 20 ins - and DH went to a chaotic Aldi for the other stuff today...tok about 2.5 hours ).

gillybeanz · 23/12/2016 23:16

I'm sending mine tomorrow, but only for bits and pieces.
if you need veg get it sooner than later, booze you can leave until last.
Any buffet food you'll need earlier unless you aren't bothered about choice.
best advice is get your fresh stuff first.
Good luck
You may be lucky as most people have done big shops and will be going for the odd thing. I don't think the checkouts will be any busier than usual.

sugarplumnight · 23/12/2016 23:17

we always do our christmas shop at opening on xmas eve, quiet but not dead

if you can travel to a smaller supermarket rather than huge superstore

Ohdearducks · 23/12/2016 23:20

My tip is don't get in to an argument with another shopper, leading to a racially abusive spat and physical altercation in the carpark like I witnessed in my local Lidl store this evening.

People are fucking loopy at this time of year, be careful, don't make eye contact with anyone they will more than likely savage you where you stand.

HemanOrSheRa · 23/12/2016 23:22

Write a list. The List. Make sure you have a pen/pencil with you. For crossing off items on The List. Not stabbing other shoppers. Make sure you have a pound coin or token doodad for your trolley and bags. Do some 4-7-8 breathing tonight and tomorrow morning to put yourself in a zen like state.

And may the force be with you .

MLGs · 23/12/2016 23:24

I think you will be fine early tomorrow. They've all been today

hoddtastic · 23/12/2016 23:26

i haven't done mine either, I feel weirdly relaxed about it.

If i end up having to defrost a chicken out of the freezer I can live with that (as long as we've got pigs in blankets)

We got wine in the Summer in France, have got odds of veg, can have selection boxes for pudding. shrugs

I need milk, bread, some meat of some sort ideally, a cheese cake, some cheese, croissants, that's it I think?

Sn0tnose · 23/12/2016 23:26

Apart from this year, when we did it yesterday, I've only ever done my fresh food shopping Christmas Eve. Go for opening time, have a list, a pound for the trolley and loads of bags for life. Get your game face on, head down, elbows out, deep breath and in you go. And be ready to queue!

QueenLizIII · 23/12/2016 23:31

What is with the oh my godding?

it is a fucking roast. a turkey, potatoes and veg.

Do you need 6 weeks prep to buy that.

Idiotxit · 23/12/2016 23:33

I went to a huge Tesco three Christmases ago, at 5.00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, braced for awfulness, and it was bloody deserted. Shelves were full, it was a really calm shopping experience. So don't panic OP. It'll be fine.

Blumkin · 23/12/2016 23:33

I'm going against the start early consensus here - I tend to pop to Waitrose at around 3 o'clock ish and then grab a reduced price turkey, veg and some ready made roast potatoes (also reduced last year).

Everything for the last 2 years has been heavily discounted about an hour before the shop shuts (think £80 turkeys being sold for £15). So our Christmas dinner last year came to around £30, including veg, roast potatoes, pudding and a bottle of bubbles.

LottieDoubtie · 23/12/2016 23:33

Do not leave the alcohol to last.

I didn't get the (admittedly niche) spirit I wanted tonight...

AND there was nearly a fight over the fact there was only one 'tiny' bottle of baileys left on the shelf.

NormaSmuff · 23/12/2016 23:34

my advice would be ear plugs and lists.
so you cant hear the muzzac.

tesco was fairly quiet at 5 pm tonight, if its any consolation. but the muzaac, not quiet.

hoddtastic · 23/12/2016 23:34

our local marks and sparks had nothing in earlier in the meat bit

I suspect they'll be ramming it full of meaty goodness tomorrow. If they don't, i have time to defrost a chicken, grab some bacon and snossidge

all good.

NormaSmuff · 23/12/2016 23:35

blumkin, i bow down to you, what a star, brave, but still a star.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 23/12/2016 23:35

Ours will have to be done tomorrow as we've just got back from
Holiday. Already got the meat in the freezer but I need veg, breakfast stuff and salads for Boxkng Day. And alcohol. And cream and custard. Oh god, thaf's nearly everything isn't it? But I've been three times a week for several weeks and picked stuff up every time! It's all this bastard fresh stuff that has to be left until last minute. One day I'll have it all blanched and frozen from mid-December.

BiscuitCapitalOfTheWorld · 23/12/2016 23:36

Go to Marks and Spencer's a couple of hours before they close.

All it takes is a flexible attitude to what your main protein will be.

Year I did that I got two organic turkeys for £5 each.

Flip

1 2 3 4