Food Shop Hell

[PreRaphaeliteMotherhood]

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?

My husband goes to work first thing, 5/6am and I won't take my children into supermarkets at the moment so I just go in the evening. I went tonight around 7/8pm and it was a little busy but no queues

Tesco extra today had a long queue but it went down quickly and wasn't any worse than usual Christmas week rush.
I had daughter in electric wheelchair and anti shopping partner in tow

Anywhere but ASBO.

I did Aldi and Lidl today. Aldi was too busy, had too many couples fannying about the meat aisle, and no sprouts or double cream. Lidl was quiet and had plenty sprouts and cream AND foot long pigs in blankets. May go to Waitrose for posh snacks late tomorrow.

I went to Sainsburys today and it was fine.
I'd try the Asda first, and if it looks rammed, then go with plan B or C.

Or if it's a 24 hour Asda, apparently (according to my friend who works in one) 2-4am is the best time to go. Obviously might be location specific.

Aldi was dreadful at 2 this afternoon, I couldn’t even park. Tesco was busy but I got everything on my list. Apparently Morrisons was deserted at 7.30 this morning.

If you look up the shop on google it tells you how busy it is before you leave

We swerved Morrison's today and got all of our Xmas food in a co op (tier 4 area) and it was relatively stress-free. Managed to get everything we needed.

I bimbled down to Lidl to get a few bits about 10pm this evening and it was well stocked and totally empty - only staff shopping. If I'd needed to I could have bought everything for a full Christmas dinner. That is in zone 3 London. Definitely agree with everyone saying go in antisocial hours if you can.

I went today about 5pm to do the big shop , was busy as usual for Xmas week but fine ( I was dreading it ) stock levels fine , one person ahead of me at the checkout . Spent a fortune on god knows what but that’s standard for the Xmas shop!

I’ve done all of my Christmas shopping today and actually it wasn’t as busy as I feared. Took forever but not terribly crowded. A lot of shops have extended their opening hours to avoid queues. Have you looked to see what time they are open till in your area?

I went to Aldi today. Apparently it was like the last days of Saigon at 08:00, but by the time I went around 15:00, it was fine; even good. It had another delivery around 14:00, and pretty much all the shelves were more than 50% full. Good luck.

Asda was pretty quiet at 6PM. A few things out of stock though so I will have to go in for round 2. I'd just brave it to be honest. At least they are ages where you can bung them in the trolley seats.

Wondering if OP's OH can do the shop by himself before he comes home from work. Seems like simplest solution.

Go to Waitrose.

ASDA was a blinking nightmare tonight. 9.30 pm and I was not expecting to be stood outside in the rain wearing just a thin cardy in a queue that went right round the back
Wish I'd taken the advice I've just given you.

OP, can you do click and collect? This way you do the shop and your OH will pick it up?

I only last week discovered you can get same day delivery from morrisons, if you have amazon prime. That might be an option. Still have slots available (seem to be unlimited tbh) even though most supermarets are now booked for the next fortnight! Not sure who much you will get though with the vultures panic buyig. Seems daft, to panic buy fresh goods but it seems to be going on so next week, there will be LOADS of stuff chucked out I think. Not getting why you would do this with fresh stuff really. I kind of got it with loo rolls as they last forever, but veg..

Jesus its a couple of extra people In the shop its not like you're being sent to storm the beaches

Get your DH to go on his way home from work.

There's usually a Co-op around - I have two within walking distance and jolly nice they are too. Co-op deliveries are also generally pretty quick, probably less so at the moment but you can often receive goods within two hours of ordering.

Whatever you decide, I hope you manage to buy what you need and have a good time.

Tesco is 24 hours at the moment.

I went to Waitrose at 10pm tonight, it was really quiet. Then I popped into Morrison’s on the way home, pretty much deserted.

I did Tescos at 2pm, it was christmas busy

I think op lives rurally and sadly Morrison’s prime delivery doesn’t cover rural areas. I think going in the evening once your husband is home is the best option. Also given that Christmas is Friday this week hopefully the panic will abate and you manage to get everything you need. Budgens won’t be double the cost but I would go to Waitrose. All Christmas food is already in the supermarkets and so there should be plenty to go around whenever you shop. Merry Christmas🥂

Can you book a click and collect for your husband to pick up on the way he from work. Or ask someone from a local Facebook community mutual aid group to pick up a few basics for you.