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Christmas

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Original poster

Anyone done a Christmas Eve 'yellow sticker' bargain shop?

39 replies

Whistle73 · 18/12/2019 13:48

I should make it clear that I'm not cooking Christmas dinner this year so not under any pressure, but I'm so tempted to go to M&S on Christmas Eve and try and get some bargains!

I need a ham, cheese board, turkey crown (for sandwiches and cold on Boxing Day), double cream, brandy sauce etc, smoked salmon and possibly ingredients for a trifle on the 27th.

Has anyone successfully done this, what are the best times to go to all the supermarkets and what bargains did you get?

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 18/12/2019 13:52

Yes we do every year you need nerve though but we usually get what we go for and some extra, we go to my mums Christmas day so it isn't like im cooking dinner for 10. Do it

Original poster
Whistle73 · 18/12/2019 13:53

Ooh, that's great. What time do you reckon, I was thinking about 4pm for M&S?

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 18/12/2019 13:54

We normally go to a Supermarket about 6 but you would probably need to go about 3ish to M&S

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 18/12/2019 13:57

dh like to go in Christmas Eve afternoon, it appeals to his inner HunterGatherer!

Sometime he comes home with a carrier bag of parsnips for 20p, sometimes it's a freerange prestuffed fancypants turkey crown for something equally ridiculous!

He likes to go in between Christmas and NY to bargain hunt too, it's a good job I have a giant freezer and an easy going nature :o

30to50FeralHogs · 18/12/2019 14:01

Yes! Got a free turkey one year as the barcode wouldn’t scan so they just said have it Grin. That was Sainsbury’s many years ago. None of us are that fussed about turkey so we went thinking we’d get a big chicken or beef, whatever really. As long as you’re not hung up on getting specific things, go for it!

Mrsjayy · 18/12/2019 14:07

We got a glazed ham£2.50 in sainsbury it was huge half in the freezer ! Dh is more into it than me must be that hunter gatherer gene Xmas Grin

wellthatwasthat · 18/12/2019 14:09

I've always wanted to do this, but either we are at the church Christingle service, or the fridge and freezer are already full to bursting.

I'm going to try and get oragnised this year!!

BiddyPop · 18/12/2019 14:11

M&S in the city centre is always starting to empty out by about noon, and has started yellow-stickering y 11am here.

The further out one (in a suburb with lots of houses) is much later to start (I saw it about 4pm one year.

I know we've done very well when there was massive snow one year, between Christmas and NY.

As long as you are either willing to eat whatever is there, or pay a higher price if they are running low enough to not need to reduce things, it can be a good strategy.

I am usually organised enough though and paranoid enough that I want to have things bought before 24th (apart from DD's birthday cake) and just get on with relaxing and enjoying family time at that stage (apart from whatever shopping we do in the morning after I finally get released from my desk at work.....we have to show up in the morning, some years I can leave shortly after 10, others it's 12.30 when they are closing the building).

There was a fresh organic turkey crown reduced from €70 to €30 this morning in M&S if you had freezer space (dated to be used today) - so could be worth a wander this week as well.

Original poster
Whistle73 · 18/12/2019 14:57

That's useful - have a big freezer! I might have a look tonight post- 7pm which is usually good for bargains.

OP posts:
Junobug · 18/12/2019 15:03

I did it with the Turkey a couple of years ago. It was a gamble but I got a huge turkey from the butcher for a third of the cost.

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 18/12/2019 21:55

it is a good idea to start looking sooner rather than later too...lots of the stores are getting in their "fresh" meat just about now and some of it will be out of date and I have often got early christmas bargains and then put them in my freezer.

RaiseaGlasstoFreedom · 18/12/2019 22:36

Yes I've done it, had some amazing bargains, m and s organic bronze turkey 13 pounds, waitrose goose a tenners etc.

It depends however on the etiquette of the people around you..if everyone stands back and is patient and kind everyone can get what they want but when a grab starts, everyone piles in then it's awful...

GrimDamnFanjo · 19/12/2019 02:43

I'd have a word with the staff for timings in advance!

PrettyPurpleFeather · 19/12/2019 05:42

Be mindful that most shops shut by 4pm on Christmas Eve, well they do near me, so you need to get there by 2pm.

PrettyPurpleFeather · 19/12/2019 05:44

My local M&S closes at 4pm on Christmas eve so check the timings of your local stores.

Original poster
Whistle73 · 19/12/2019 07:12

Thanks for the tips on opening hours! I think 2pm isa good shout for going along.

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hopeishere · 19/12/2019 07:17

We did it one year but I was pretty unimpressed with the "bargains".my local one is only closed for one day so if they get their timings right they have stuff that will last over a single day closure.

SmileyClare · 19/12/2019 07:36

I'm on a tight budget all year round so always time my big weekly shop at Tescos to get the yellow stickers. The best time is around 8pm on a Friday or Saturday.

For Christmas eve, as pps have said about 2pm but anytime in the afternoon will find you bargains. You have to hold your nerve and be prepared to get what they have rather than specific items.

The downside; be prepared for low stock and lots of popular items to be completely sold out. It's also a bit cut throat/every man for himself when it comes to getting the best reductions.
I saw a heated row break out when a man took all five boxes of cut price luxury crackers off the shelf for himself Shock
There are also the "trolley blockers" who will try to position their trolley across the reduced chiller section so that no one else can get to it. It's also just insanely busy and full of customers with a slight crazed look in their eyes, panicking about all their last minute shopping.
That said, perhaps M and S will have a slightly more civil customer demographic Grin

Mrsfussypants1 · 19/12/2019 08:47

Yes I have in Asda or Sainsbury's on Impulse if I've been in the shop and spotted them. But I don't go out looking for them. Last Christmas eve I had to pop in to our local M&S food hall to replace some pate DH had eaten and loved, i just happened to call in at the time the food reduction was starting. It wasn't a pleasant display of human behaviour, it was crowded and aggressive with members of staff being abused. The manager was being shouted at, members of staff were in tears and the local shopping centre security were called. I've never witnessed anything like it, it shook a few customers. I suggested they find a charity for it next year. I love a bargain, especially food related at this time of year, but I will be steering well clear of my small food hall this year.

Mrsfussypants1 · 19/12/2019 08:50

I forgot to mention, a staff member was slapped by a customer. I too thought the m&S bargain hunters would be civil. The bargain hunters in the Asda a stones throw away from the M&S food hall were much more relaxed.

SmileyClare · 19/12/2019 09:20

That's shocking Mrsfussypants Shock I thought Tesco was bad.

Brace yourself Whistle !

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 19/12/2019 09:23

I once went in on a whim, didn't need anything but had room in the freezer etc.

It was weird. Some people were like end of days demented, while others were shuffling about like zombies.

I saw a woman filling an entire trolley with bags of reduced sprouts.

I wouldn't make a special trip but if you are passing or in walking distance, go for a spectator sport as much as anything.

Madcats · 19/12/2019 09:39

I did a Christmas job at M&S one year. After the food hall closed on 24th staff were able to come in to purchase the food at a very very heavy discount (think it was either 10% or 20%).

Some did risk getting their Xmas meal in the sale (and presumably woe betide a seasonal staff member grabbing their turkey)!

FWIW my local Waitrose tends to do its first wave of discounts so they are there when the store opens (Tuesday always seems to have a lot).

Original poster
Whistle73 · 24/12/2019 16:07

A little update for you all! Marks and Spencer didn't reduce any meat this year - it was all going to a local charity.

Luckily they had some turkey left to buy full price so I bought a crown to cook for sandwiches and cold.

Sainsbury's were showing no signs of reducing at 3pm when I was in there and had lots of bare shelves - no brandy butter to be had!

Iceland had fresh turkey crowns half price at 4pm.

Overall though it was very very disappointing and I'm very glad I'm not cooking tomorrow Smile

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TiffanyTrot · 24/12/2019 16:10

Waitrose do not reduce their turkeys on Xmas eve as a rule. It's to stop people not buying them at full price and hanging around waiting waiting waiting