Should I be prepping for a Covid Christmas?

[Angbunnyboo]

We usually have Christmas with my immediate family (parents, sister & BIL), just the six of us.

But I have a nagging feeling that we're going to be in tighter lockdown by the big day, and it will be just me and OH.

Should I prep now (although all delivery slots seem to be gone!) and plan on just us for Christmas or shall I hold out hope that we'll still be able to get together?

I just dread the thought of all the shopping when the supermarkets are going to be rammed.

Any thoughts? TIA

You might as well. By which I mean anything you know you'll want or need, you might as well do or get now, assuming finances allow. Would you normally go to your parents' and therefore not buy stuff to have at home? I get that that makes it trickier to predict but even if there are things you would have pre or post the big day, such as chocolates/drinks/crackers for cheese/etc you could get them now. I'd look at it as at least trying to minimise what you might need to buy closer to the time, so for gammon, egg and chips get the frozen chips now if you have space in the freezer. Get presents now.

Only Ocado slots will be gone. The others will release their slots about 4 weeks before Xmas.

Morrison’s have not released any Christmas slots yet. Delivery Pass holder slots get released first, then to everyone else. Last year I got an e-mail on 6th November advising slots were open to Deliver Pass holders.
Think the other supermarkets will be a similar time (except Ocado & Waitrose which have already been released, & probably all gone).

I would say it wouldn't hurt as long as you can afford to do it. Best case scenario you get to spend Christmas with family, in which case you can cook the turkey in January and have that for every meal for a week! But I think realistically Christmas is going to be very different for most of us and if you've got the money (and space) to start getting stuff in now, that would be the sensible thing to do.

I've been planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

We normally spend Christmas at my parents, and have never had a Christmas home just the two of us. We're in tier 3, so have been unable to mix for about a month already.

I haven't stocked any main Christmas meal food yet as we don't have much freezer space, but have got some essential extra bits in (mainly lebkuchen ) , and also ordered an Aldi hamper so that it feels like Christmas is a bit special, rather than just another day of eating the food I shopped for and cooked. That's my big spend and should we be allowed to mix I will either bring it home or donate it.

I'm going all out on decorating this year. We have cats who would destroy a tree, and normally I get my tree fix at my parents, so will be stocking up on tree scented candles in Home Bargains and have finally treated myself to ordering a ceramic light up tree that can be brought put every year (and taste be damned!).

It's hard balancing wanting to make sure we still have a special Christmas alone, and not wanting to spend lots unnecessary., or risk creating lots of waste.

I’m planning on using local small shops for food rather than our usual online order, we have a farm shop near by and although it’s expensive if there only us to feed it will be nice to have posh food as a treat.

I have bought most of our gifts already and hoping to have bought the rest over the next few weeks. We are in a tier 1 so I’m not panicking too much at the moment. I think it’s worth buying what you can now.

I would definitely get stuff ahead, the shops are busy enough at this time of year let alone when covid is in full swing. Christmas is definitely going to be different and I suspect we will be iscolating.
We've already decided that we aren't having a roast dinner for Christmas we are going to have party food. We did it one year when ds didn't appreciate roast dinners and it was such a relief not spending all day in the kitchen. I've been picking up bits for it. I'm currently in the process of moving so can't get freezer food but I've stocked up on crisps, biscuits, nuts etc.

Ocado release slots throughout the lead up to Christmas. We missed 2 rounds of delivery slots last year and then booked one at around the 16th December.

I think I am going to shop local this year though and try to put money into the high street and not the big supermarkets.

yes. I am parboiling carrots and parsnips to roast then freezing them, buying brussels to freeze, bought stuffing and cranberry sauce last year, ( i really really like stuffing and have a little bit of chicken or turkey with my cranberry sauce at christmas) you can buy the booze, snacks that will keep, crackers, (to eat and to pull) anything that iwll make Christams at home more Christmassy. Get some easy heat up food as well in case you are ill.

I can’t bear shopping in December so I do this every year and I highly recommend it for a lovely, relaxed run in to Christmas.

I do it in stages - starting with things like tin foil and kitchen roll, moving on to the non perishable food (putting the wine and chocolate in a hard to access space), then anything that can be frozen.

I've been adding one or two Christmas items to the weekly shopping for about a month now - just to spread the cost. Usually one bottle of spirits or 'special' booze and then one other item like frozen sausage rolls, or cranberry sauce etc. We'll get the main meat closer to the time - I'm in Ireland, under lockdown at the moment, but hoping to be able to meet one or two other people for Christmas - we'll see - can't really plan for it but I know we're always going to be able to use the drinks!

I am not standing in queues for Christmas. If we can't travel we'll make the most of it at home.

I have presents, treats, fizzy pop, turkey and some sides.

If we do get to travel it'll either come with us or get eaten at New Year.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Op go at the really early or later on times. I've never been in a rammed shop, well a few times as a newb.. Never again...

Go late or early and have the entire shop to yourselves...

In short, yes, you should be prepping for a covid Christmas. Anything over and above is a bonus. Prepare for the worst, and all that you've ended up doing is being extra organised in advance. You can't lose anything by doing that.

Thank you all for your replies. I think I'll start menu planning and get the non perishable stuff now. As PPs have said, the shops will be crowded enough with "normal" Christmas prep!

We're in Tier 1 but I'm anticipating at least Tier 2 before Xmas. As its just the two of us I'll make a nice meal and get nice bits in but I won't do a turkey as it will just be too much.

Any recommendations on what "nice bits" to get?

It will either be two of us (tier 2 as at now) or 6 of us. Way back when it was meant to be 19 of us as me and my DP bought our first house together and he got overly excited!

I've never cooked Christmas dinner before and when the numbers were huge we were outsourcing a lot of the meal prepping (in law doing turkey, auntie doing desserts etc). But... how are people planning the turkey? Do I just buy a turkey crown in anticipation of two only or go bigger for six? Never bought a turkey before and I know you have to be prepared to buy early.

I'll be getting a turkey crown in as soon as I've got the freezer space (probably never) and then will start stocking up on the other bits we'll need for a Christmas dinner. If we do get to go elsewhere then it'll all get used at some point anyway

I bought a large turkey even though a crown would have done.

I've never cooked a turkey before so I'll try it now without a huge audience. Plus, leftovers are the best bit!

We're already in tier 2 so are planning christmas at home, just the 4 of us. I don't think we're far off being in tier 3 and I would put money on that being the case in the next few weeks.

I'll be accused of spreading negativity but I doubt much of the country will be left in tier 1 by Christmas judging by how quickly infections are rising.

We are starting with Christmas shopping now for presents. I like to be able to choose in shops and avoid delivery charges.

I always buy a couple of bits on the shop from around now, non perishables, so today I have the sauces being delivered, next week I might order peanuts etc. When I get to the Christmas shop, it's just really the fresh bits. I am currently in t1 though they have said that we are likely to move to t2 within 24 hours.... so I imagine we are going to end up just the 4 of us.