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Original poster

Food shopping Christmas Eve?

40 replies

Harrykanesrightsock · 02/12/2020 12:18

Does anyone do this? I'm on long shifts the days before and have a free day on 24th so would rather not cram shopping into the days I'm working, i will be out the house 14 hours. DH could go but I enjoy shopping myself and usually have to go for something that he has forgotten.

So does anyone Christmas Eve shop with Success, not bothered where as have most supermarkets within reasonable driving distance.

OP posts:
Spacerader · 02/12/2020 12:27

Usually I would go early christmas eve to pick up frehs bread and fresh breakfast stuff.

This year I dont know when us best to shop, the shops are already crazy, and I think with the harsher restriction in Wales starting this Friday it will lead to supermarkets going even crazier with people stocking up on party supplies to celebrate at home and keep everyone entertained.

I'm already finding moat christmas flotation aisle have been stripped bare.

So my plan is to buy all the nice non perishable stuff 8ver the next two week. Then get up and go to the shops first thing christmas eve for fresh food and meats.

freddiethegreat · 02/12/2020 12:32

I often do. Or late on 23rd. My concern this year is if someone is symptomatic in my household or I (teacher) need to self-isolate. It will be miserable enough in that case, I want my nice food!! So I might be more in advance to cover all bases!

Lilac95 · 02/12/2020 12:33

I wouldn’t. Worked in Sainsburys for year’s Christmas, did 5 Christmas eves and whilst you can get basic all the Christmas treats are gone or just the odds and sods left. You’d get veg etc but meat would be slim pickings as they have a very small delivery to cover the 24th and get a big one Christmas Day evening to reopen. I know supermarkets have warned this year they don’t have usual stock levels and to shop early to avoid disappointment

TeenPlusTwenties · 02/12/2020 12:36

I go to Waitrose first thing to collect pre-ordered turkey, broccoli and anything else I've forgotten. I wouldn't want to be dependent on doing the whole shop then though.

Deelish75 · 02/12/2020 12:43

For the last two years on Christmas Eve morning I’ve gone into my local Tesco. It’s been quiet and relaxed. I’ve found the store is stocked well with fresh foods - fruit, veg, salad, dairy and bakery foods, not sure about meats especially turkey (I always pre order so never looked) but Christmas cake and puddings and mince pies and other non perishables are pretty much gone.

Lovemusic33 · 02/12/2020 12:48

I think I’m going to do mine on the 23rd but at night when it’s quite. I hate christmas food shopping, mainly because of the amount of people, screaming kids and illnesses. I’m probably going to stick to smaller shops and late night shopping.

NewMumma1819 · 02/12/2020 13:02

I've been at 7.30am on the 24th and yes there's been a few people but (less than I'd thought there would be though!) all shelves where still full. I've also been at 3pm on the 24th and couldn't actually get a trolley through the shop and abandoned the lot! Well, what was left anyway... I plan to leave DP and DS at home at around 6.30am if we need anything this year and do a quick run around.

WishingHopingThinkingPraying · 02/12/2020 13:10

I usually go at about 6.30am on Christmas Eve.

Hadn't thought about what would happen if we have to isolate😳

MynephewR · 02/12/2020 13:17

I usually go on the 22nd or 23rd to get the fresh stuff (I'll get all the long date stuff over the next couple of weeks, turkey is already in the freezer). I have to find a time when DH is not at work so that I don't have to take the kids with me though which can make it tricky to find a time. I would never go near a supermarket on Christmas eve 😱 too stressful for me.

Original poster
Harrykanesrightsock · 02/12/2020 13:20

Hmm I hadn’t thought of isolating either. I would guess I would have to call on favours from friend and family and spread the load.

I think I’ll order meat to collect, I’m sure DH can cope with that. Non consumables I can get the weekend before then Christmas Eve for Veg. Like I said there are multiple supermarkets and a local garden shop. Already bought pigs in blankets and par baked rolls from Costco so they are nestled in the freezer so if nothing else sandwiches with cranberry sauce will have to do.

OP posts:
HmmSureJan · 02/12/2020 13:25

I would do but only if I am there as the doors open. The thought of fighting through the crowds later makes me shudder. Personally I like to get every last thing done and then CE, CD and BD are a lovely three day chill out.

Mochudubh · 02/12/2020 13:56

Consider ease of exit when you choose a supermarket.

I once got "trapped" in Tesco's car park for 2 hours on Christmas Eve, about 3 pm. It was fine going in but when I came out of the shop there must have been about 100 cars trying to leave, they were backed up every aisle of the car park. The access road has traffic lights and only about 5 cars were getting out each change as the main road was choked as well.

I went back in to the cafe till it calmed down.

chipsandpeas · 02/12/2020 13:59

im starting to pick up stuff just now that can be frozen as i dont fancy having to do a big shop on xmas eve - i will only nip in and get fresh stuff like bread and milk and veg and i will be trying to get these early
i dont even want to take the chance will click and collect incase stuff gets missed off

MotherOfCrocodiles · 02/12/2020 14:02

I think the problem is - lots of people do this - expect people rushing around looking desperate as things have sold out and bashing you with their trolley. Plus the car park exit jam.

LuckyAmy1986 · 02/12/2020 14:02

We usually do this. But it's just the four of us so it's not the end of the world if we can't get something deemed necessary for Christmas Dinner. We have never not got what we wanted though - and often there are bargains to be had!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/12/2020 18:47

A friend of mine used to go late on Christmas Eve, in order to pick up a cheap, much-reduced turkey or two.
She’d put them in the freezer and later cook and feed them to her dogs - 4 enormous shaggy Newfoundlands. They would be very happy.😄

Sunfl0wer20 · 02/12/2020 19:11

Nope definitely not!
I seem in the minority here but I have rule in this house that I do not enter a single shop on Christmas Eve. If I have forgotten something, I have to go without. This being said I hate shopping at the best of times.
Could also be something to do with the fact that one year my mil demanded my partner and I go to Tesco for her to pick a bed sheet in Christmas Eve. It took most of the morning with traffic and queuing - never again

PrincessBuggerPants · 02/12/2020 19:57

I was thinking it might depend where you are.

I'm in London (zone 4) and think it will empty out on 23rd December so it might be ok to brave the supermarket then.

But who knows…

I'm going to order my meat from the butcher, my beer from the micro pub and cheese from the cheese shop and get my non-perishables ahead of time. So I'm just going to need veg, the odd bit of smoked salmon and some pate...

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 02/12/2020 20:01

We did it once several years ago. Went to a big supermarket at 11PM and just picked stuff from all the bargain reductions. It was great and we really enjoyed having the whole place pretty much to ourselves, plus also the fun of not knowing what we were going to go home with.

Zofloratheexplora · 02/12/2020 20:05

Yes, I go to Asda every Christmas Eve morning and most years with my DC's (now 5 and 2). I get there at 8.30/9.00 am, it's always fine. Should be even easier this year with the scanning app. However, I only buy bread, desert and buffet type stuff.

ChristmasSlayRide · 02/12/2020 20:06

I've got everything we need apart from cheeses. I'll get them once the dates are up to 2nd Jan for the Christmas Cheese Boards.

If I can get fresh veg and stuff nearer Christmas I will, but if we have isolate or if there's queues out the door we'll have frozen veg and like it.

Today I picked up the streaky bacon which is now in the freezer, the crisps, the nuts, the biscuits and crackers. Plus pepsi and lemonade. I got the chocolates and turkey in September.

I want a relaxing Christmas this year.

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 02/12/2020 20:11

We don’t routinely leave it til the last minute - i am a big planner and like to have absolutely everything sorted good & early so I can relax in December. Turkey and gammon are on order from the farm shop, we’ve got a veg and dairy delivery on the 20th. Specialist foods have also been ordered, so I’m pretty much set.

But it was fun the one time we did it, and we had a great dinner out of it (although I can’t actually remember what we had!).

PrincessBuggerPants · 02/12/2020 20:28

You might have to be quite happy to have something a bit out there like goose followed by a bonkers chocolate, orange, caramel concoction. But if you are happy with that it could be fine!

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 02/12/2020 20:30

Surely goose isn’t out there? Shock — that’s what we have most years, and it’s more traditional than turkey, really!

cracracatlady · 02/12/2020 20:48

I managed to get a delivery slot for the 22nd. Long dates already bought. Anything that can freeze nicely already in the freezer. With corona Christmas will be miserable enough, not seeing family or going out so like hell am I going without Christmas food if we have to isolate.