How much of the extra 16 pints of milk and 5 loaves of bread bought just in case are actually consumed

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Will be celebrating Xmas Day with my parents and a couple of their friends. Our milk and bread consumption is less than normal as drink Buck’s Fizz instead of coffee.

I see shoppers buying ridiculous amounts of milk and bread.

I reckon the extra 16 pints of milk and 5 loaves of bread, bought just in case - of what? Most will be binned.

I’ve never got it either. But we live over the road from a corner shop who would still be trading in the event of nuclear Armageddon, so theres no need. They will still be open on Christmas Day, as usual.

Seriously though, I’m 46 and have had my own home and family since I was 21. I’ve never even done a “Christmas shop.” It’s a fucking roast dinner.

Milk and bread both freeze.
Plus some people have large family gatherings and may not want to spend time shopping.
Some people have cereal and toast daily.
Some families go big on hot chocolate, plus bread sauce of course!

Shops and adverts feed into the idea that we have to "stock up" for Christmas but unless you are catering for a huge group (which some are of course) it's really not needed. And it really is just a fancy roast dinner!

I have a couple of friends who book their Xmas delivery shop in about October and then talk incessantly about it, this year has been the same but one is only catering for a family of four and the other isn't even hosting Xmas this year so I just don't get what the fuss is about.

We get through 16 pints of milk in 3 days in our house. Probably 2 loaves of bread in that time too. I always see people side eyeing my trolley (especially during COVID times) thinking I'm stock piling but I'm not even getting a week's worth!

Once I hosted the extended family for Christmas.

we had sixteen at every meal for three days.

that really was a hell of a shop. I had it all organised by meal and used the outside as a fridge.

Agreed. The shops close for one day and to be honest some small shops actually open in many towns and cities, I know our local corner shop always does so things like milk and bread wouldn’t be an issue. Plus you’re right, I have no idea how many people are even consuming bread on Xmas day.

I've never really understood why people don't understand this. Plenty of people have large family groups, often staying for several days, over the Christmas break, so of course they get through a lot of the basics. Those that don't, likely just don't want to spend their holidays popping to the shops every couple of days to top up. They want to be at home resting and relaxing and spending time with family. I don't think it's that hard to understand.

I stock up for Christmas because I can't be arsed nipping out to the shops. I have a second fridge in the garage and milk easily lasts a week or two. If there's any left over I just buy less the following week.

I haven’t bought any extra bread as we don’t have visitors who’ll be here for breakfast etc but I usually buy three loaves a week and keep two in the freezer so they don’t go stale. We get through 2.5 loaves a week. I did buy extra milk which I have also frozen as don’t want to be going to the shop for milk over Christmas and occasionally bad weather means the milkman doesn’t finish delivery to us. I did stock up on sugar/flour/butter/eggs as we do a lot of baking over Christmas but I don’t expect it will go to waste. Perhaps they are really getting through that amount?

But don't you make extra things and in larger quantities? I've bought more milk to make bread sauce and ice creams. I'll need extra bread for stuffing for 7 to have with dinner and then making sure there is bread or rolls to make sandwiches with leftovers. I know the supermarkets are open on boxing day but I don't want to go!

My family of 5 goes through 20-24 pints of milk per week. Probably only 1-2 loaves of bread. I won't be buying extra for xmas.

Normally go through 4 pints of milk every couple of days. A loaf of bread every few days. Will get enough in on Christmas eve. Did buy loads of veg yesterday at 5 pence a bag but its in the shed so will keep for a few weeks

I use it. Kids will be off school and so we get through four pints a day. I just chuck the extras in the freezer. Id normally just shop when I’m passing but am off as of today so don’t plan on wasting the petrol with my fully stocked fridge. I’ve got a delivery on the 28th so need to last till then.

Agreed. It seems like a really strange question to ask, it's common sense surely. Having extra people stay will obviously increase the amount of basics you need such as milk for hot drinks/breakfast and bread for breakfast, cooking or the leftover sandwiches.

Just because shops are only shut for one day doesn't mean everyone wants to go shopping on boxing day when they could just buy extra when they are already at the shop. I don't understand why you don't understand?

I also like to do as little shopping as possible between Christmas and new year. I want a break.

The children are not at school eating school dinners and drinking from the water fountains. They are at home demanding endless toast and milk.

We use a lot of milk anyway as we are huge tea drinkers so ordered maybe 4 extra pints as will be off work a few extra days. We don't eat much bread but I buy bake at home baguettes and rolls instead in case we fancy, they last a lot longer and I freeze what I don't use.

I don't see why you think it will be wasted? People are perfectly capable of planning what they will need, especially if hosting a lot of people. I shop weekly as I can't be arsed 'popping to the shop' mid week. Sorry if that's offensive. 😂

I haven’t noticed when I’ve been shopping to be honest. But people will have more food in the cupboards this year because a) they want to stay home and enjoy Christmas with their families and b) people often eat more / host others over Christmas.

Honestly I’ve seen so many festive rage posts like this one on here and Facebook and it’s starting to feel like people just want to have a dig at Christmas.

Like another pp I don't understand why people don't understand this.
Extra family plus kids off school. I have 4 off from school, that's 4 bowls of cereal, 4 cups of milk, 4 extra lunch to make
That's without adding extra guests.
I go back to work on the 27th so definitely not wanting to do a shop on top of that

I have two boys home from university and their friends in and out I’d the house. My mother is visiting.

I have done a big shop every three days this week.

I love it.

Why would it be wasted? As a family of just three we get through about 12 pints on a normal week when everyone is out at work or school. We will use more when all at home. People buying bread are probably freezing some and using some for things like bread sauce etc.

It’s surely simply because they want to spend all their time enjoying their families and not shopping with the same frequency.

I get through over 12 pints of milk a week easy… I tend to buy bread from my local shop as we tend to eat a loaf in two days or 10! I might buy two and freeze one Tbf in my Xmas shop!

Why would it be wasted? 5 loaves of bread and 16 pints of milk is hardly a ridiculous amount