When do you start buying all your Christmas food?

[Starlight40]

Just that reallly, when do you start buying your cupboard items and drinks? Last year I bought a bit every week but found the weeks leading up to Christmas I was spending about £30 more each week. This year I was in Tesco’s Christmas savers so I’ve spent over £100 on Coke, J20, party food which is in the freezer and biscuits and tubs of chocolates. I’ve also brought some extra cat food as our new year food delivery was cancelled last year and they only eat Tesco’s cat food. Previous years I think I had a fear of running out of food so I would buy too much but in reality there is only 5 of us and there is a Co op less than a minutes walk away.

I'm starting next week, but trying to get all cupboard items then. I've just started my lists

Around this time of year I start adding a couple of Christmas bits to the food shop. Crackers for cheese, tub of sweets etc.

Not too soon as I tend to eat it all early then have to buy more!

Usually 2/3 weeks before for non perishables.

I get a few things from now-ish - particular Christmas pudding my dad likes, crackers (for cheese), condiments. Other than that, nothing else really, I don't have a houseful anymore and other than Christmas day and leftovers on Boxing Day, we just have regular food the rest of the time.

I do it in one big shop just before I break up from work, so about 5 days before Christmas.

On 23rd when our gigantic Christmas delivery comes! Dh spends a few days prepping in the kitchen watching old films and drinking tea all day until 5 when he switches to beer 🤣 that’s when we know it’s Christmas!

It’ll just come as part of our regular food delivery that week. We’ll pop into town to get a couple of things they don’t sell and anything that was missed off the order. Not much storage space here!

Food shop booked for the 23rd, leaves me Xmas eve to nip out if there's subs

I do a chocolate order from a Scottish chocolatier in November and any baking gets done then and frozen.

Small meat order from the butchers arrives on the 22nd.

We bought Stollen, Lebkuchen and Spekelatius from Lidl last week, that last from 1st Advent to Christmas

Chocolates I buy in the next couple of weeks.

Crisps and nuts - sometime in December, we aren't big eaters and it's only 3 of us.

About now. I bought a bottle of Prosecco last weekend. This weekend I have a whole two days with no plans so will make the list.

If I’m hosting I do a big long life shop 2nd week December then the perishables on 24th, no point filling up my house any earlier

Wine was 25% off six bottles a couple weeks ago so bought some. I’m not drinking at the moment so it’ll keep. Tesco releases its Xmas slots next week so I’ll make an order. My son has ordered a turkey crown and a ham for Boxing Day from his butchers a couple weeks ago. I have to remember the shop is not just for two days I’ll need other food too! It’s amazing how expensive a couple days can be (and there’s only three of us). At least the turkey is one third the cost it normally is!

Christmas Eve usually

My mum is making a hamper for me and my partner so I'm not gonna go nuts on the snacks.

I might put in one or two bits in the weekly shop of the frozen party nibbles stuff as and when on Xmas eve and boxing day evening or try and get friends over at some point to hang out.

I already have our main, dessert and a starter in the freezer. Closer to the time I'll get the veg and sides (usually the Tesco prepared stuff to just bung in oven or microwave).

I like to buy a few cupboard bits every week, it makes me feel festive. I have an old A5 filofax that I repurposed for my Christmas folder and I keep a running grocery list in there. I note down things we didn't eat every year (notes like too much cheese! Just buy one dip! didn't eat the smoked salmon - don't buy it etc.) Then I always want to buy it again because... it's Christmas. 😂The fresh items are always more problematic - am I the only one who worries they will run out of pigs in blankets or something? Last year I didn't get any sage delivered so this year I'll probably buy a growing pot to be sure I've got it. One year Tesco messed up my pre ordered turkey order (I had a houseful and had ordered a big turkey). They said it hadn't come (yeah right) and gave me a small turkey and a turkey crown. Couldn't get both in the oven so I had to be measly with my portions. Now I order from a local farm shop that never let me down.

Giving you a turkey crown and a small turkey instead of one big turkey is really crap - I’d be raging.

I was but not much I could do at the time. I voted with my feet though. 😁

We don’t really buy cupboard stuff extra for Christmas. Just the dinner stuff so I get it a day or 2 before usually.

I went to Sainsbury’s this evening for something random and saw that they have Bollinger on offer for £45 and in the buy six save 25%, so saved £150 on six bottles. That’s us sorted for Christmas and New Year!

Other than that I have mince pies and stollen so far.

The week before/Christmas week. I’m not feeling like doing it any sooner this year.

Do a big shop the week of Christmas.

2 weeks ago

This ⬆️ Start adding bits from September onwards