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Original poster

Food Shop Hell

143 replies

PreRaphaeliteMotherhood · 21/12/2020 23:08

The fridge is empty, I have barely anything in the freezer, and only the basics in the cupboards. We are going to my parents’ for Christmas (tier 2, support bubble blah blah blah) but need to do a shop to get us through until our next delivery on the 28th. I also said I’d buy the alcohol for Christmas. It has just dawned on me that supermarkets on the 22nd are probably hell on earth, let alone with all the concerns about food shortages. And I’m going to have to take a 2 year old and a newborn with me.

Do I...
A) Go to the big Asda (our normal supermarket) and hope I survive?
B) Go to the much smaller and more expensive village ‘supermarket’ (Budgens) and hope I can do something that resembles a weekly shop but probably spend double what I usually would in the process?
C) Go to the slightly further away Waitrose because for some reason I feel like it might be less awful than Asda?

OP posts:
snackarella · 21/12/2020 23:10

Either b or c. We went to Waitrose early abs got straight in but there was a queue when we left.
Is actually go to budgens because any supermarket with two little ones isn't fun

Stilllivinginazoo · 21/12/2020 23:11

In my experience our local Waitrose let's in less customers at a time,so whilst you queue outside it's less of a free for all in there!good luck no matter what you decide🍀

EmmaGrundyForPM · 21/12/2020 23:11

Do you have a partner? If so, get them.to have the DC and take yourself off to Asda very early.

Alternatively, use the local Budgens which probably isnt that much more expensive.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 21/12/2020 23:12

Obviously it depends very much on the area, but I live within walking distance of a Waitrose and there’s always a queue to go in.

Literallynoidea · 21/12/2020 23:12

Don't go to Asda. I'd do B or C. Our local Waitrose was fine tonight - I walked straight in at 5.30pm

MrDarcyismines · 21/12/2020 23:13

Go at 6am. I did it this morning. I was out by half 7!

Muffinbutton · 21/12/2020 23:14

We went to Lidl at 7.30pm today. It was fairly quiet. A few things missing/short shelf life so finished shop in M&S. That was even quieter by then and was about 8.30pm.

Milkshake54 · 21/12/2020 23:15

If you can get someone to look after the children, I just went to Tesco at 9pm tonight - I got everything on our list, but bread and some veg looked a bit sparse.
My husband attempted to go at 12.30 today.... got to the car park and turned around!

ScottishStottie · 21/12/2020 23:17

I went to my local big tesco today at around 10, it was xmas busy, but no extra panic buying. Got everything i needed, had plenty of tills open so no big queues etc. Was remarkably pain free!

PerfectionistProcrastinator · 21/12/2020 23:18

I go late at night. I went Saturday after the government announcement at 9pm and there was hardly anyone there. It was bliss. Though I appreciate you might not be able to do this with little ones.

They are constantly restocking this time of year too so was still well stocked for everything.

Saisong · 21/12/2020 23:18

I went to our smallish in town Sainsbos today just after lunchtime - got everything I needed, including potatoes, pastry and cream. There was loads of stock of most things (low on sprouts and salad). No queue to get in, or for checkouts. So based on that experience if say go for smaller shops and that there is plenty of stock.

Original poster
PreRaphaeliteMotherhood · 21/12/2020 23:18

@EmmaGrundyForPM Sadly DH is working from 5.30 tomorrow. I would have gone today whilst DS was at nursery but the runaround car had yet ANOTHER puncture (the fourth this year, it just isn’t up to our country lane) so DH had to take the family car.

OP posts:
m0therofdragons · 21/12/2020 23:21

I went to Asda for click and collect and had to wait 15 mins but I was amazed how quiet it was in there.

quarentini · 21/12/2020 23:21

I went to Tesco at 1 minute past midnight.
I had the store to myself.
Easiest shop ever!

tulippa · 21/12/2020 23:22

Go wherever you prefer but as early or late as possible. Either before 7am or after 9pm. Earlier is better as there will be higher stock levels. Appreciate this might be tricky with young children though.

m0therofdragons · 21/12/2020 23:22

That said, I’d go at night once dh is home. I’m not taking dc into shops right now. They’re open late so why would you put them at risk? Toddlers touch everything.

HermosaMain · 21/12/2020 23:24

We went to Sainsbury's this evening and it wasn't that bad

StrawberrySquash · 21/12/2020 23:24

I was in a biggish Asda today and there were too many people in there. I'd go with Waitrose as I think they let fewer people in.

Sparklesocks · 21/12/2020 23:24

I often think these things are worse in theory than in practice. Always Asda/Waitrose really seems to vary in busy levels depending on the area. We have a big Tesco that’s generally fine most of the time as it has a lot of parking, but almost every lunchtime without fail it gets absolutely packed out as people seem drive to drop in to get lunch (even in lockdowns etc) - but the other local supermarkets don’t seem to get that same rush.

Best of luck OP - just make a list of exactly what you need and whatever you decide try and get in and out as quickly as you can! But I do think we often build it up.

2bazookas · 21/12/2020 23:25

tesco opens at 5am and is almost deserted then. Leave the kids with DH and go early.

TW2013 · 21/12/2020 23:25

Get dh to stop somewhere on the way home from work.

Wanderdust · 21/12/2020 23:26

I was dreading shopping tonight but then realised a lot of shops are now opened late so I went to Aldi, Tesco and M&S after 8pm - it was fine! Plenty of food and not too busy, go later if you can.

Lochroy · 21/12/2020 23:29

I drove into the car park of a huge Tesco/M&S near me and straight out again at 9.30 this morning and again at 8.30 this evening. Ridiculous queues outside in the rain. We have enough to manage (I hope) and short of going at 3am I can't see when it won't be busy.

UndertheCedartree · 21/12/2020 23:30

I shopped in Sainsburys earlier - it was really busy but I did the self scan thing as I went around and put food straight into bags which takes out the queuing for a till and packing at the end so much more manageable.

F19283 · 21/12/2020 23:30

Went to Asda at 4pm it was absolutely I shouldn’t of Been worried

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