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Christmas

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Original poster

Things that are difficult to find once the Christmas stock hits the shops

14 replies

OMGitsnotgood · 26/07/2023 18:51

We have a number of relatives' and friends' birthdays in November and December. I got so fed up of not having much choice in birthday cards that last year put a reminder in my diary to buy those cards in October - only to find that that was also too late. So i've already bought them for this year! I'll probably stock up on birthday wrap and ribbon too.

i don't usually start my Christmas shopping til November, and buy a lot on line. But i do enjoy a good browse in the local independents and shopping centre for ideas. So much is Christmas themed though that I'm thinking I'm going to have to do my browsing early too, as I'm not a big fan of Christmas themed presents (unless requested).

What non-Christmas items have you found it difficult to buy once Christmas stock is in store? (increasingly early it seems) so i can add to my list.

Thank you,

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JusthereforXmas · 26/07/2023 19:09

Non really that I can think of, I always keep a stock pile of birthday cards at home anyway.

Wrapping paper is super easy to find at xmas and not all of it is snowflake and santa hats, you can get plainer ones with stars or hearts or plain colours etc... all year round.

PumpkinSpicedTea · 27/07/2023 07:48

My DH has a December birthday and every November when I buy his card I tell myself I'll buy it earlier the following year but I always forget 🙃 I'm going to set a reminder on my shopping list!

Original poster
OMGitsnotgood · 27/07/2023 07:58

Non really that I can think of, I always keep a stock pile of birthday cards at home anyway.
I like to buy cards that are specific to the recipient, but it's ok i know now to buy earlier.

Wrapping paper is super easy to find at xmas and not all of it is snowflake and santa hats, you can get plainer ones with stars or hearts or plain colours etc... all year round.
Well of course you can get wrapping paper, but much less choice as a lot of the space given over to Christmas stock. It's the limited choice rather than not being able to buy at all that I was getting at.

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cavebaby · 31/07/2023 21:25

Relatively niche but my local Aldi ditched evaporated milk in favour of mincemeat last year which sent me out hunting so I could make Nigella's luxe macaroni cheese for our Boxing Day buffet. I seem to recall bbq sauce being taken off the shelves too to make way for festive bits.

orangegato · 31/07/2023 21:28

Other way round but cranberry sauce only stocked half the year, the other half it’s mint sauce in my Aldi. They’ve got room for plenty of shite though just not those two condiments at once??

Original poster
OMGitsnotgood · 01/08/2023 00:16

cavebaby · 31/07/2023 21:25

Relatively niche but my local Aldi ditched evaporated milk in favour of mincemeat last year which sent me out hunting so I could make Nigella's luxe macaroni cheese for our Boxing Day buffet. I seem to recall bbq sauce being taken off the shelves too to make way for festive bits.

my MIL always made custard with evaporated milk and it is gorgeous. I usually make a white sauce with milk for the Christmas pudding, but my DD said last year she prefers custard - will add evaporated milk to my 'buy early' list - thank you!

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Original poster
OMGitsnotgood · 01/08/2023 00:18

orangegato · 31/07/2023 21:28

Other way round but cranberry sauce only stocked half the year, the other half it’s mint sauce in my Aldi. They’ve got room for plenty of shite though just not those two condiments at once??

That's interesting - we always have cranberry sauce in the fridge as we frequently have roast chicken. It seems to be in store all year round in Tesco if you have one nearby.

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Wallawallakoala · 01/08/2023 00:23

Big jugs! 😂 genuinely though, after bbq season they disappear.

Jadegreentee · 01/08/2023 09:25

We struggle finding birthday wrapping paper! Last year Sainsburys had none and only stocked glittery crap for Christmas. The best we could do was a tartan print with glittery streaks.

Tesco, WH Smiths and Wilko did the same! Hobbycraft had plain brown paper but it was extortionate. I even went to Clintons for the first time since the 90s and I remember they barely had anything other than cards and huge silver bows.

Stocking up for Winter birthdays this year!

Thank you for the reminder 😊

pontipinemum · 01/08/2023 12:03

@PumpkinSpicedTea moonpig is great! Do it on your phone and have the card the next day.

I can't really think of anything apart from batteries. I have a reminder in my phone to buy batteries every November 1st

PumpkinSpicedTea · 01/08/2023 17:13

@pontipinemum honestly why didn't I think of that!

hattie43 · 01/08/2023 19:29

I've struggled to find Brie cheese very close to Xmas

Original poster
OMGitsnotgood · 01/08/2023 23:00

I've struggled to find Brie cheese very close to Xmas
I'm guessing that's because the supermarkets bring in lots of different cheeses that aren't available the rest of the year, truckles, cheese selection boxes etc so somethings have to go to make room.
Exactly the point of this thread, thank you.

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