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

[auntyemaily]

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?

I'm going tomorrow as soon as the shop opens. I do it every year and it's never as bad an idea as it seems. It's always fairly quiet and everything is in stock. You'll be just fine I'm sure.

Thanks for the pep talk. I'm ready. I'm listed up. I've set my alarm. I'm going to be a grocery ninja.

Or might just come back with a roast in the bag chicken and 17 boxes of Florentines. Fuck it.

Make a list
Check it twice

Today was supposed to be the busiest day for grocery shopping so I think tomorrow will be fine. I was out today in two different supermarkets and both were feeding me chocolate so it seemed fine to me

Have some fun. When you see an unattended trolley add a couple of random items to it...

I was in Sainsbury's a couple of years ago late on Christmas Even and discovered they were flogging off the turkeys half price, which was quite annoying when I'd bought ours full price the day before. The trouble is, I just know that if I risked it and deliberately aimed to buy that late, I'd find they'd understocked and sold everything early.

We did ours on Christmas Eve a few years ago, it was quiet in Sainsbury's and they had everything we needed.

I would go early and head to the important bits first, turkey, pigs in blankets, stuffing balls and cream.... these seem to be the things that sell out more quickly, you can then go around and get the rest without so much panic!

We went to Aldi yesterday morning to get the turkey and a few bits. We got there at 8:30 (they open at 8) and there was only about a dozen of us in there.

I'd get there for when they open in the morning.

I would get there as early as you can. It will be busy all day but at least early means less chance of essential items being sold out.

I went looking for a bag of Brussel sprouts 2pm on Christmas Eve one year. Gone - all gone everywhere.
I had to buy frozen ones in a tiny co-op on the edge of nowhere.

I hope your local takeaway is open Xmas Day !

Are you hosting OP? If so feign sickness bug and tell em they can't come !

I've only once been on Xmas eve. Came off a night shift, loitered around before the doors opened, was about 3rd or 4th in the queue - I had a clear list, zipped round in about 20 mins. By time I was through the till, shop was very much busier. Go early as poss. Gut luck!

Same here, dreading it maybe go as early as possible and write a list

I've just sent DH to our local Asda for orange juice and nappies and it's heaving apparently, the car park is nearly full! He did say the shelves are well stocked at the moment

Hope you trip turns out better than mine. Supposed to be there now collecting our orders but the car won't start. So am now currently waiting for Green Flag to come and get it started. We can't push it off the drive as the power steering won't work!!
It is going to be packed when I finally get there isn't it? [fhmmm]

DH has just got back from Morrissons and it was rammed apparently.

He said as he was leaving they were queuing to get into the car park

I went to Asda on Thursday morning because like pp I've done the late night thing before and found lots of empty shelves. They opened at 6am, I was there by 6.18am! It was quiet and fully stocked. I'm planning on repeating next year!

Good luck OP, and anyone else shopping today, am sure it will be fiiine

Choose your supermarket carefully! My friend and I just did our shopping at Lidl at 9.30pm- was.almost empty and we got 80% of what we needed. Then we went to Asda at 10pm and it was much much busier. Both had good quantities of food though and everyone was behaving politely.

I hope you're there with your list, your sharp elbows and your prayers OP. Let us know how it went!

Just got back from an emergency dash to pick up some bits I forgot and no fresh herbs (which is what I went for!)and some of the veg already gone, but I live in the arse end of nowhere, so I suspect the mega Tesco s will be stocked better then our smallish one!

According to the news, yesterday was the busiest day for food shopping, so you should be OK. I went yesterday with DH and the kids and it was almost fun! We went into teamwork mode and I swear I've spoken to so many people whilst food shopping, it was a lovely atmosphere. Even DH said he'd come as close as he ever had to enjoying shopping. So go with a happy attitude!

OP, please update us as to how it went once you've recovered returned.

Dp has just returned and reported both Lidl and sainsburys were deserted ! Hasn't took him long so he's not making it up to be all "I told you so " after me moaning at him for being last minute

We live in a busy city so Hopefully this bodes well for op !

I did it
I was outside aldi when it opened at 8am and at the checkout at 8.40. They had plenty in and it wasn't much busier than a normal weekday. They even had turkeys. No one was arsey. There were a few things I couldn't find so I braved Morrisons which was also fine.

I did not stay on list . I have many boxes of unnecessary confectionary and probably too much booze.

Thank you for all the advice!

Ah yay, glad it worked out ok