oh god please tell me it willbe ok?

[jojane]

thought DH was getting paid today but checked bank and no wages, turns out will be getting paid on monday. i was planning on going food shopping tonight after work but obviously wont be able to go until first thing xmas eve. i have the meat and pigs and sauces etc and also have some picky bits - crisps etc as well as the xmas pud. am now freaking out that the shelves will be bare xmas eve, will need milk and cream and potatoes and veg and salad and dips etc oh and wine and a bottle of baileys, fruit and bread rolls etc
someone please tell me it till be fine if i get there for when supermarket opens? also would it be better to go to my local town tesco (medium sized) or go to nearby city to sainsburys superstore?

must add have about £5 until monday so no chance of even getting essentials and cupboard is bare :-(

this has happened to me. Was due 2 weeks holiday pay as on maternity leave n they 'forgot'

won't be paid for 10 working days and got my mortgage coming out on 27th

Oh dear, I'm sorry. There will certainly be food on xmas eve but it will be busy. Do you know when your money will be cleared into the bank? As the supermarket will likely open very early - our Tesco is open midnight until 7pm on xmas eve.

It will be fine as long as you get there as early as you can. It will be busy as all get out but there will be food on the shelves

If you can get into your local town centre, they're likely to have a market on, and it'll be better tasting fruit and veg and less cramped than a supermarket. Places like Iceland and farm foods sell rolls, milk, cream etc.

just checked out tesco opens at midnight so will probably stay up and go after midnight, pretty sure money clears at midnight as last year went shopping at 5.30am on day wages went into bank. then if not able to get anything important can try lidl/waitrose later in the morning when they open.

What bank are you with? Mine (barclays) credits payments due on a Monday on a Saturday for some reason, Dp's doesn't though (santander).

Ooh actually I think that has happened before with a cheque. Will definitely check bank when I finish work tonight (will be after midnight) OKay maybe it will all be OK!

Disclaimer : I realise this is a very trivial problem in the grand scheme of things and it doesn't really matter if we eat beans on toast on Xmas day

An with nationwide and a Monday pay clears a sat morning at 0200 if that helps. Fingers crossed.

We always do the shopping on Xmas eve, it's packed but still able to get everything. Only problem would be if you needed a turkey and didn't want a really expensive turkey. Good luck, hope the money goes in tonight.

Monday payments also clear on Saturday with Natwest.

Last year I got all my fresh stuff plus a few other bits and pieces on Christmas eve. I was stressed about leaving it until then but actually it was fine - plenty of stuff on the shelves, busy but not painfully so. In fact if I recall correctly the only thing I wasn't ably to get was celery for some reason! Hardly a Christmas essential

I often go Christmas Eve. They fill the shelves overnight. If you want to get everything without the hassle make sure you are OUT of the shop by 7am (you know you are in trouble when there are no trollies left!)
If I have done most of the shopping before I sometimes hit Waitrose about 11:30am when they start to reduce everything like large stiltons and big pre-prepared puds and fancy breads. helps at this stage if you know you have freezer room at home

Am thinking of going at about 4 am, that way all the people who stayed up to go at midnight will have gone home and all the people getting up early at 6 am won't have made it in yet!

I have shopped on Christmas eve in the past.
Usually in our local medium sized supermarket and it has been fine....most regulars heading into the bigger city supermarkets I think.
Just do your list
Go without children
Dress for it (no heavy coats etc)
Take a drink with you (water or an energy drink for when you finish)
It's not the end of the world if you can't get something either....it's just one day despite what Sainsburys tell us.
Good luck

I' a bit doom and gloom. Got dd on own until Xmas eve night, no food in!!! Lots of food to buy. Money but no time :-S

It'll be fine, the only thing they really tend to run low on is turkey crowns but you've already got meat, you definitely won't be eating beans on toast!

Ok, money went in at 11.30pm so I went on my merry way to Tesco, was first one there but quickly became the head of a queue of about 50 people. Tescos couldn't find the key to open the front door!! Eventually thy did and got let in, managed to get everything on my list (plus a bit more, hae no idea how that bottle of baileys got in the trolley!) did forget toothpaste though. Am now not Leaving house until Thursday!

Glad all sorted... Merry Christmas

You might even be better off with all the reduced bargains but don't know if I'd be brave enough to wait .

Wow, forgot how hectic it all is in the uk, merry Christmas x

Great news!

It's not so much that we panic but because the shop will be shut for a day or two but rather we don't want to be going out to the shops for a few days an want to be stuffing ourselves and drinking!