How can I avoid buying too much extra food without panicking?

[BatForCashes]

I know this sounds ridiculous but every year there’s so much excess. I’m a typical panic buyer which doesn’t help.

I think there’s probably some system to it that would help, ie, like treating Christmas dinner as just one single shop and buying only what’s absolutely necessary for that in isolation to a wider Christmas time shop.

My problem is all the extras - sweets, crisps, picky bits, drinks, chutneys. I’m a sucker for deals like 3 for 2s also which doesn’t help.

How can I be more disciplined???

I sort of sidle around the issue by mostly buying food that will either freeze or will keep anyway (like biscuits). I limit the amount of fresh stuff I buy because that is the stuff that might get thrown out if it's not used. Everything else can either sit in the freezer for later meals or occupy a cupboard and get used up gradually.

I order Christmas Day and Boxing Day food on a separate shop . Order for numbers needed and everything else is a normal food order.
i do the same for for new year.
never have mountains of food that’s not needed.

I book our usual Sunday delivery with Tesco and stick with it for all meals bar the meat I need on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I stick to it simply because I have panic bought in previous years and I have seen the waste that goes in the bin. I don’t over order veg, bar potatoes as you can never have enough roasties. Pigs n blankets are already in the freezer. I am just firm with myself in what realistically will be eaten. We do have some nice treats but I try not to go daft. It’s taken time but I do make a list each year on my phone with what was eaten, not eaten and binned or given away. I used to be really bad with chocolate and cheese. I have these under control now but I find the list very helpful.

Write your list with pencil and paper. Write the date, write your meals/other events, decide on your menu for every one, check recipes and then start writing lists.

I go should go through this week (but I am away for unexpected family stuff) with my Tupperware containers and measure out all the flour, sugar etc for all my cakes. Store them out of the way. I write down my milk, butter and egg requirements, add them up and check my stock. Then I know what to shop for. When it comes to baking day, it’s just a matter of taking each container, sifting and creaming butter and egg etc.

And you need to be ruthless. If it isn’t on your list, it doesn’t get bought.

I’ve got no idea, OP - I’m one of those people who panics if I can see space in my fridge on Christmas Eve.

I had party food in my freezer at Easter last year but have I ordered loads again this year? Absolutely!

I’ve been ordering crisps, snacks etc that are on offer for weeks now!

Thanks everyone, seems like I just need to be ruthless and make a list and stick to it!

Ive been a bit better this year and haven’t bought any sweets or crisps or other treats yet, in years gone by I’ve started in early October 🙈

I try to avoid food shopping when it's really busy as it's easy to get caught up with buying stuff you don't really need when you see other people with loaded trolleys. I tend to make lists and stick to them. Non perishable items I buy in the months leading up to Christmas as they are usually cheaper and means I don't have to worry whether or not they will be in stock Christmas week.

If you over buy vegetables, just cut them up and freeze them. Ideal for casseroles and soups.

I am a big panic buyer of cheese, which is bad because I do not want tons of it in January (well I do, but I need to stay away from it)

I think it's make a list and stick to a budget, and if you can't resist the 'oh but what if.. ' then make sure any extras are practical and easy to use later.

I also try and lay of anything novelty (known as twinky in my house) - so fancy chuckles or interesting liquors that are not on the list of things people generally eat.

I find 3 for 1 deals hard to resist but they are bullshit so only buy if it's stuff you use all year and genuinely a deal.

I had this problem years ago but then I drummed it into my head that the shops are open again the day after Boxing Day, so if we ran out of anything I could top up.

So far I've never had to.

I meal plan and stick to the list. Then for snacks everyone chooses something that it wouldn’t be Christmas to them without and I add that. We like savoury nibbles in the evenings so I get those too.

I found it really helpful last year to keep a list of what we ate (everything each day) and what we did/didn’t like so I know what to get or avoid next year. I wrote down the turkey weight, how long we were eating it and how much was leftover so I knew what size to get next year. It helps you to gauge how much you need and should help stop any waste.

Don’t forget to use recipe sites for ideas on using up fresh leftovers. Jamie Oliver is particularly good at this. His turkey pie, turkey salad and his desserts using leftover panettone are great.

The shops are only shut for one day so shop for the basic Xmas lunch, and then whatever you are planning for supper. You can shop for any extras when needed.

I've bought a large chicken, a piece of ham, a Xmas pudding and some smoked salmon. Two bottles of fizz.

Breakfast will be smoked salmon & scrambled eggs, then roast chicken with all the trimmings for lunch, Xmas pud & cream for dessert, then ham, salad, pickles and fresh baked bread for supper.

On the 23rd, I'll shop for veggies, eggs, cream, milk and pickles, and make some bread.