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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:
Sceptre86 · 22/12/2020 07:57

We went to Aldi at 12.30pm on a Saturday afternoon and it was not busy like I expected. That however, could have been due to the fact that it was the last Saturday before Xmas and people were shopping for gifts rather than food. I would either go earlier eg. 8am or after 8pm.

Lochroy · 22/12/2020 08:00

Well it seems like it was only my Tesco and M&S which were queuing round the block yesterday :(

I daren't even go back today as I think it will be full of everyone like me who drove in and out again yesterday!

Anotherdayanothernewname · 22/12/2020 08:13

I went to Asda last night about 8pm and it was really quiet, LOADS of food and fresh veg, most of the standard Xmas veg was 20p and dated after Xmas, they're open til midnight too so doubt it will be packed the whole time. Good luck!

BringPizza · 22/12/2020 08:15

@JillofTrades

Why can't your dh go after work instead of you dragging kids around ?
This with jingle bells on. Or he can go in after he's had his dinner.

I did ours last night at Aldi, it was stocked up and busier than usual but not crazy. Ive got a butcher order to collect tomorrow do no meat, but they had it all there if I had wanted it. I wouldn't touch our local Waitrose with a barge pole, it's full of ignorant types at the best of times, let alone in Christmas food shopping week.

Aprilx · 22/12/2020 08:17

DH always does our shopping, he has mentioned minor queues to get in again but otherwise pretty normal.

Polestar50 · 22/12/2020 08:18

In some Waitrose stores, you can pre-book a shopping slot. Means you get to walk straight in when you arrive.
There are tons of shopping slots left for our local Waitrose. Not many people seem to know about it

The booking link is a little way down on this page.

https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/help-information/customer-service/how-to-shop?wrint=1-Sitewide--covid-1992--3-1335618

Coasterfan · 22/12/2020 08:19

I only ever do the Xmas food shop at 10pm or 6am. Obviously not as easy for you having to take the little ones but it’s quiet then. Early morning may be better for you as I assume with small children you are up pretty early and the shelves are fuller.

MillieVanilla · 22/12/2020 08:22

Not sure where you are but I went to Morrisons yesterday around 2.30pm expecting carnage and people twatting each other over carrots on a par with the twatting over loo roll in March (not an exaggeration).
It was really quite quiet. Lots of goods in store stacked high. Staff carefully replenishing stuff running out.
I do wonder if Tier 4 had made people think sod it. I only needed my veg anyway.
I do need booze though but am trying to persuade DP to go and get that on Christmas Eve

Kumquatsquash · 22/12/2020 08:24

I went to Aldi, Tesco, and Marks and Spencer yesterday around lunch time and all were fine. The usual Christmas rush but no queues or panic buying.

BigRedBoat · 22/12/2020 08:26

I went to Lidl at about 6 yesterday and it was really quiet, it was also raining which I think puts people off. Early or late will be quietest otherwise you might just have to endure the business.

TheAnswerIsCake · 22/12/2020 08:28

@Polestar50

In some Waitrose stores, you can pre-book a shopping slot. Means you get to walk straight in when you arrive. There are tons of shopping slots left for our local Waitrose. Not many people seem to know about it

The booking link is a little way down on this page.

[[https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/help-information/customer-service/how-to-shop?wrint=1-Sitewide-]]-covid-1992--3-1335618

I came to say this. No one seems to know about it. Means you don’t have to queue, which would really help with kids.
60sbird · 22/12/2020 08:30

PreRaphaeliteMotherhood
Try Amazon fresh, they deliver alcohol and other foodstuffs, I got my delivery within 2 hours on Friday night

Dinky2004 · 22/12/2020 08:30

I got to Aldi at 7.30am this morning and there were about 10 people in there, I was only in there about half hr but by the time I left it was really getting busy.

MrsBobBlackadder · 22/12/2020 08:37

I've just got back our big (London) Sainsburys. It was fine - fairly busy but not stressful at all. Everyone was very polite and the shelves were full. All good Xmas Smile

CorianderBlues · 22/12/2020 08:41

If you have them nearby, farm shops are the least stressful for fruit and veg. It's a scrum in most supermarkets at the moment.

Tins and store-cupboard stuff, get yourself down to Asda at first knockings, in and out in 20 minutes, job done. Good luck!

NoSquirrels · 22/12/2020 08:41

Budgens for what you immediately need today.

Comprehensive list to DH to pick up after work. If he’s not up for it you go later on.

I went to Morrison’s last night at 6pm, it was absolutely fine, no issues.

Rosebel · 22/12/2020 08:45

Our Asda was busy today but no queues at the checkout. However I went to Aldi yesterday and that was queuing around the car park (first time since May).
I think the earlier you go the better, Asda is quiet after about 7 but not usually much stock left.

gummygator · 22/12/2020 08:46

Does your asda have an express collection slot available? You pay £3 for the slot, have to spend £25 or more but can usually collect it within a few hours x

Nowaynothappening · 22/12/2020 08:47

I would avoid asda personally but then I avoid it at the best of times Grin. Waitrose let less people in at a time so probably less busy. All shops are hectic at this time of the year though so good luck!

Powerplant · 22/12/2020 08:49

I went to Tesco’s this morning at 07.00 and it was busier than normal and well stocked so it wasn’t too bad.

Thedarknightsaredrawingin · 22/12/2020 08:59

I went at 6pm last night. It was busy but not crazy, almost everything in stock too.

FearlessSwiftie · 22/12/2020 09:02

I wouldn't go to Asda, a С option looks uch better to me.

NotMeekNotObedient · 22/12/2020 09:02

I went to our local tesco superstore last night at 8.30pm. I couldn't belive how busy it was, all the veg aisles were bare - I did manage to get the last bag of parsnips, but there were no carrots. There was no queue outside or at the tills though the aisles were quite busy. It was horrible, worst Xmas shop I've done in years. By the time I left about 9.30-10 it was quieting down and staff were refilling shelves with salad etc. But still no carrots. Also got the last bag of frozen peas. There were joints of meat left.

I dont normally shop there (usually Aldi) but needed some specific bits. We are in tier 4 and I can only assume people are panic buying, plus Xmas shop.

The staff said it had been mad all day. Can't see it getting any better. I think first thing or early hours the way to go.

Gobbeldegook · 22/12/2020 09:03

Drop the kids off at your parents and go do do the cheap shop at Asda

Chewbecca · 22/12/2020 09:05

Either you go to Waitrose (or anywhere!) when DH gets home or he goes on his way home.

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