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?

Don’t talk your children, goin the evening when DH back from work and shops quieter.

We did all our shopping at local shops yesterday but nut roasts seems to be an endangered species (instead the vegetarian section is full of mysterious 'parcels' and 'wellingtons') so I had to do a ninja run to the big Sainsburys at 7.15 this morning.

No queue either outside or at the self serve tills, but the shop was busy - though a quarter of that seemed to be Sainsbury's staff who were approaching stocking the shelves like a military manoeuvre.

I am feeling especially appreciative of all the staff working in supermarkets this year. Thank you!

If I were you, I'd see what time your ASDA closes or find the nearest 24h supermarket and go very, very late or very, very early, leave DP minding the DC.

I could only get a C&C slot. It's mine and parents combined to keep them safe at home & I'm not looking forward to collecting it because I want DP to come in with me to help pack the trolley & take it to the car whilst I do a last sweep for any missing items or replacements and save me pushing the whole kit n caboodle complete with heavy cat litter back round Waitrose. I don't like more than one of us in the supermarket usually. Anything really buggered & it's a late night trip to 24h ASDA.

I agree with people who say pick your time and go either very early, or later, although that is much harder with little ones.
We turned up at the big big tescos yesterday (Monday). Its near a motorway and I think it must just be extra busy as the queue to get in was massive. I stupidly freaked out decided to go home instead, so we went this morning (tuesday) at 7.15 am instead.
Even then the big car park was already busy, bt no queue to get in. Inside was busy, but by 8.15 it was noticeably getting much much busier and we sped up to get out. Eg big non distanced crowd around the herbs.
Having said that it was all operating very efficiently, everyone wearing masks and we got through the tills quickly.
There was a similar thread yesterday which lots of people found things really weren't that crowded where they were. I think maybe the superstores are a bit of a magnet.
No problems with any fresh veg supplies today etc.
Best of luck!

Just out of interest, OP, which one is the single-person household in your support bubble?

I just went at 7.30 for our Christmas shop, not a problem, quieter than it has been for a while and loads and loads of food. Think there'll be a lot of carrots go to waste!

@FamilyOfAliens

Just out of interest, OP, which one is the single-person household in your support bubble?

The rules have changed. A household with a child under one can bubble with another household

@FamilyOfAliens

Just out of interest, OP, which one is the single-person household in your support bubble?

Perhaps you might want to read up on support bubble rules before posting arsey comments?

@FamilyOfAliens

Just out of interest, OP, which one is the single-person household in your support bubble?

She has a newborn and is perfectly allowed to create a support bubble as she’s in possession of a child under 1.

Do try not to shame people.

@snackarella

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

It's funny; the Waitrose in the centre of Brighton always has a long queue, but I can get straight in to the one in Lewes. (Smaller town, but still busy)

Went to my local big Sainsbury’s last night at 11pm - not a sole in the place - got everything I needed - was the dream shop! It’s open til midnight in the lead up to Xmas - check the opening hours of your shops

Have you got an Iceland ? They were fully stocked yesterday when we popped in for a couple of bits of party food

The rules have changed. A household with a child under one can bubble with another household

Great - thanks for clarifying

I've given up doing a mig supermarket shop. My local Co-op has been amazing, well stocked, good social distancing and no waiting. That said just go on a local facebook group and ask which supermarket is best. In my local area the Tesco and Sainsburys apparently are absolute anarchy but asda is fine. The late evening is apparently better too.

@itsgettingweird

Too late for today! But if DH working or leaving at work at 5.30am he can get up an hour/2 earlier and do the shop (if 24hr opening)

Bring it home and leave you to unpack whilst he goes to work.

I get up stupid early as rule (for work). If I had to get up at 2.00 - 3.00am to go fucking shopping, I would be a danger to myself and others, as I'd be either running on about 2 and bit hours' sleep or I wouldn't have slept at all - and then having to do a full day's work on top?

Not sure it will help in this particular case but if you have Deliveroo in your area it also delivers from smaller supermarkets like Co-op and BP Garages. I've used this to get fresh fruit and veg, but it also has bacon / eggs / sausages / cheese / milk, some ready meals and sandwiches. And drinks! Crisps, snacks, cereal, toothpaste etc.

An example from one near me in Greenwich deliveroo.co.uk/menu/london/greenwich-peninsula/co-op-greenwich-banning-street

I discovered, at the start of lockdown, that you can create and manage an account with Deliveroo (or UberEats) using a web browser - no need for a smartphone app if you prefer web stuff, or don't have a phone.

Jo

Braved it, went to Waitrose with both kids mid-morning. Only had to queue for 5 minutes to get in. Littlest slept in the sling the whole time, toddler sat in the trolley like an angel (because I bribed him with chocolate buttons and a CBeebies magazine). It was no busier than I’d expect it to be on a Saturday really. No queue to pay and lovely staff packed my bags for me. It was totally worth going to Waitrose rather than Asda as it was definitely being much better managed.

DH went to the butcher on his break at work and got loads of meat for the freezer so we’re fully stocked now! (Still only have one functional car and DH cycled to work so no way he could do a big shop!)

Well done! Hopefully you can relax a bit more knowing it’s sorted.