Food shopping Christmas Eve?

[Harrykanesrightsock]

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.

Depends where you are. Here you're relying on the morning delivery which is not when the shop first opens and is gone in minutes even if you time it right. One year I queued to go in to find no delivery. I waited for two hours. Still no delivery - that was the year of cornflakes because even the tinned veg and meat was gone by then and I don't have a freezer. The staff had cracked open the big boxes of chocolates which they were handing out as a sorry.

I later learnt the delivery never made it.

This year I'm of the opinion of sod it, so I'm heading to the tinned aisle over the next two weeks, as late as possible!!

There are things which we only get here for Christmas which I'd love to have, literally just a couple of items and I really wanted to have a nice quiet Christmas this year given everything that's gone on (covid and no covid related), but having gone shopping yesterday it was dangerously bad - I live in a county where covid is hitting and businesses are being closed left, right and centre for breaches so people are panic buying for that reason as well.

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.

I think you're right. The thought of the traffic going out of London on 23rd and coming back on 27th is just 😱. The night before we went into lockdown this most recent time, West London was gridlocked up to Islington. Complete nightmare.

I’d prep what you can in advance and/or book a delivery. You can’t really expect others to go shopping for you on Christmas Eve if you have to isolate.

I think it would work best if you were prepared to be flexible about what you buy. Sticking to a list might well fail due to stock levels, but you might snap up some bargains if you think along "something to eat" lines.
Queues could be long and tempers short!

Yes, it’s usually fine. Go early and you should get veg, treats and maybe even meat you need - provided the shop is big enough they’ll still be very well stocked - you may even get a good reduction!

We are in similar situation- lots of supermarkets in a small radius from Waitrose to Aldi but I still would say it’s risky. The most popular stuff, cheap stuff and small simple stuff (e.g small pot of double cream) are often gone. One year we wanted to buy extra potato and our big M&S haven’t got any, fancy green vegs and carrot are often a problem So if you want something particular I would buy it in advance or have a back up plan. If you are spontaneous family who eat everything - you can do it. Parking definitely an issue we where affected by this quite a few times. So it’s rather hectic and stressed experience.

I have done charity bag packing on Christmas Eve, the morning was chaos altogether but people were getting what they wanted but early afternoon was much quieter (they were very stuck so I did 2 shifts).

Mostly it was a good atmosphere, staff doing their best to move things quickly, but lots of 2 trolley shops and very full trollies generally
so queues went all the way back to the back of the shop.

But there were plenty of turkeys, hams, big other roasts, smoked salmon, veggies, and other treats even into the afternoon trolley loads.

I tried in Waitrose last year, out of necessity could only go on the 23 and 24th, and there was no meat or nice veg left.

This year I've already frozen our favourite savoury seasonal nibbles (mini burgers, tempura prawns etc) and got the sweets (stollen, mince pies). I got long life custard and cream JIC. I have a delivery booked on the 22nd but the last 2 attempts have had the meat and veg subbed and missing, so I'm not sure what to do as I can't get in store.

Many times I've hit the supermarket about 6am, it's full of women with unkempt hair and a few toddlers in trolleys. I've also popped later circa 2pm for the things I forgot/out of stock and it's full of men ... go figure

No. I've started to pick up things everytime I go shopping now and put away. Obviously the fresh stuff I do a couple of days before. I love spending Christmas Eve preparing and watching movies. Same on Boxing day.

Mil used to finish work late evening Christmas Eve and rush to the supermarket to get everything before it shut. Very risky considering she would be hosting 12 the next day.

Most years now I would host (obviously not this year) and book my delivery slots mid October and dhs orders the turkey late November. Mil thinks we're mad for fussing over one meal. She's far too laid back.

Growing up for me it was always part of the Christmas excitement going to the supermarket early on Christmas eve (sad I know!) Last couple of years I've went about 7am and picked up fresh veg, fruit and anything last min things I'd forgotten. It's not dead but quiet enough to get round. Then that's you got the rest of the day to enjoy!

I've been on Christmas Eve before, but I've always gone as soon as the shop is open. I get most things the week before so I only have to do a "fresh produce" shop on Christmas Eve rather than a massive trolley full.

I used to, now I order online. I buy things over a few weeks so it’s really only the perishable food. My order is 23rd and if anything doesn’t arrive I’ll go to buy. Really can’t be stressed about it to be honest.

I usually go about 11pm on 23rd or 5am Christmas Eve to do my big food shop. I've never not been able to get what I need. A particular fail was the year I came out of Sainbury's at 5:30am to snow falling, with a full trolley and couldn't get into the car! I'd left the car lights on and had a flat battery so the central locking wouldn't work. Poor DH and the children had to come and rescue me with jump leads!