Anyone up at 5.30am to go food shopping??

[MrsWhites]

Right I’m up! I’m about to brave Tesco...wish me luck!

Anyone else food shopping at this ungodly hour and regretting it already?

I went to Sainsbury's on Saturday evening. It was really quiet only about 20 people in the whole store. It was well stocked.

Then had a wander round M&S yesterday and picked up nice desserts. It was busy but ok.

Good luck everyone

I did asda, Lidl and m&s yesterday afternoon. They're all within walking distance so I'm not too crazy although i did have both kids in tow. All very civilized apart from asda and probably the least stressful Xmas shop I've ever done.

I went to Tesco at 2.30am this morning In my defence I couldn't sleep and my alarm was set for 6.30am to go first thing. I decided to just get up and do it then.

I feel very tired now though! Oven and bathroom to clean today!

Oh no I’m sorry I opened this thread. I need to go for some bits but wasn’t rushing! I might regret that strategy. Elbows out 😂

I was at Waitrose at 7:45 queuing with at least 50 other people (probably more like 100 if we count kids).

Very disappointed though, staff totally overwhelmed and dessert I wanted STILL hadn’t been delivered - 4 times I’ve been in last week/weekend after being told it would arrive. Very shoddy- I’d have gone to Sainsbury’s had I known.

Ocado delivery turned up this morning. A bit late and I was starting to panic, but it’s here!
Only three substitutions and they are like for like and totally fine.

Phew!

I did my Xmas food shop at the crack of dawn on Christmas Eve a few years ago and like many of you, got there before the shop opened expecting it to be peaceful. There were already about 50 people queuing with trolleys at the door when I pulled in to the car park .

Oh wow, lots of us up and out early this morning then. I got everything for Christmas lunch but they were missing a few of my baking ingredients that I need so I’m bracing myself to go back out! Good luck everyone still shopping!

Goodness reading this I feel as if I live on a different planet.. genuinely am not meaning to be rude. We order the meat from the butchers and will collect Christmas Eve. I have made christmas cake and pudding. We ordered non perishables a few weeks ago and I popped to my local Sainsbury’s yesterday afternoon for the veg etc. There was still plenty an hour before closing time and in date until the 26th/27th. It was so calm... however I do remember years of old nearly crying in the supermarket on Christmas Eve due to ridiculous queues and people. Good luck everyone.

I was at Lidl at 8am when it opens here. Got everything now (I think).
It was starting to get busy as I was leaving so I'm glad I went early.

I do the early morning shopping simply to miss the crowds and the queues. I remember shopping in the past when I have had to queue 10 deep at the checkout and it was awful.

From experience, the 23rd is when most people get their Christmas dinner groceries - the morning is usually really busy. I went looking for a nice organic chicken in Waitrose early in the morning one year, they had one with a short eat-by date so I got that. Managed to leave my wallet in the shop so popped back late afternoon and the shop was nearly empty and had loads of fresh chickens put out

This morning at 7.30 M&S was pretty busy but loads of things (pigs in blankets, veg etc) had today's date on! And not reduced. And nearly out of trifle!

Hope you all got what you needed!

My friend went to our Asda for 00.01 when it opened...only to find they weren’t expecting their delivery until between 2-3am so there was nothing fresh!

Just been to Waitrose. Was a breeze. Back in bed now!! Merry Xmas everyone

We got everything on the list except beef dripping and a vegetarian main that I liked the look of. Selection of pork pies was a bit shit, but I decided to make do, rather than stopping off at M&S on the way home.

We bought lard instead for the roast potatoes and I'll do without the vegetarian main, or pick something up next time I go to a shop (not vegetarian obviously, but it was some nut roast with squash thing in the Morrisons catalogue - I thought they'd have them in the shop, but must have been pre-order only.

Just had a cuppa after a trip to Sainsburys. We got there about 8.30. It was busier than normal but not too bad. Got everything we needed. Fridge is very full.

Good god no! I've sent dh instead 😂

@BarbaraofSeville

If you're looking for a veggie main and you do get the chance to pop by M&S, their vegetarian/vegan Christmas range is amazing. They have a nut roast tart thing with red wine and thyme gravy which I road tested last week and its to die for. We're having it for our veggie main.

I woke up for a wee at 4am and thought I might as well just nip to the 24hr Tesco's then. It was lovely and quiet!

I was at Sainsbury's earlier for a few last minute bits. Then came gone to discover that the sprouts and parsnips DH bought last Thursday (way too early to have bought the veg!) have started to go off so will need to go out and get replacements...

I did it first thing because I wake up at that time anyway. I can sometimes get back off again but can also cope if I don’t.
If I did it later DS7 would have to be dragged around with me but at that time he can stay at home as DH hasn’t left for work yet.
As I say it was very calm and lovely. Have the ham in the slow cooker and we have just done gingerbread biscuits. I am having a bath while they cool. DS happy with Lego and a Christmas film. More baking and crafts this afternoon followed by another film.

I was in Asda for 6 and leaving at 7 it was packed - glad it's done! Now I'm knackered and dd is tearing through the cupboards chucking everything I tidy back out on to the floor- roll on nap time!

Hope you all managed it. I finished mine Saturday but popped out to the local ASDA yesterday morning for some basics and people were arguing and ramming trolleys in to each other 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I’m back home now after a few different stops. I prefer to go earlier purely because the car parks are empty, it’s much easier to park and less queues/stressed out people in the shops. I must admit i’m tired now though, debating whether to have a nap in front of a movie or to crack on with my pre Christmas clean!!

Back now. Aldi opens at 8am. I got there at 8.05 and got one of the last two parking spaces.

Sainsburys at Dewsbury wasn't too bad.

This time last year I couldn't get to the shops at all. I couldn't get past the door, it was impossible, I would break down and cry and struggle to breathe. Now I've passed my test, and while I still can't walk down the street, no supermarket in West Yorkshire is safe. I plan to have a cruise around the big stores at around 4pm tomorrow to see what is yellow stickered.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 re the M&S Sticky Toffee Pudding Trifle - I am trying to resist it so can't tell you first hand but Good Housekeeping said it is the best shop-bought Christmas Dessert this year and it looks great if perhaps a bit sickly. They only have one a day in my nearest (quite big) M&S so if you do decide to get one you'll need to go early. It's £12 but gigantic.

Home-made tiramisu sounds wonderful too.