Has anyone started stocking up on Christmas food?

[SummerBlueskies]

So today I bought a tub of quality street and some pigs in blankets. I like to try and buy extra bits weekly so it’s not a massive outgoing nearer Christmas. Only thing now is having to avoid the quality street until Christmas 😂
Anyone else started the Christmas food shop?

An awful lot of the pre buying seems be those plastic tubs of 'chocolates' (chocolate content arguable). Probably a bit unusual but we don't really have sweets like that at Christmas or any other time. I will pick up a wider selection of crackers for cheese and some share bags of crisps for games night. Other than that we just eat regular food really with things slightly more effort and fancier than normal for Christmas day . I will be precooking a bit though.

Not really. Someone gave us a tub of quality street this weekend so I’ll probably save those. Honestly the ones we acquired somehow last year were so rank I don’t think I’ll have any issue resisting them, I’m not a chocolate snob and still enjoy dairy milk etc, but I really didn’t like the QS last time. Torn between donating or maybe saving for when we have a family party over Christmas- I know DD and her cousins will still enjoy them.

Next time I’m near an M&S I’ll pick up their big mix tin, maybe 2! I really enjoyed those last year so I do want to make sure we have them in.

Ive also added a big box of coke zeros to our weekly shop order as they are on a good offer at the moment - we got one last week (same offer) which really went down at a family party we had over the weekend, so this next box we’ll save for the Christmas get together. We never really have soft drinks in apart from a bit of juice occasionally, for some reason having cans of pop in makes it feel like Christmas!

Ive also put the stuff to make the Christmas cake on this week’s order.

Nothing more than that yet. What was my Christmas cupboard last year has become my dog food and treats cupboard since we rehomed a dog a few weeks back, so I’m going to have to do some shuffling and make some space.

We go on holiday every October half term and it feels weird to start buying in Christmas food before then, but I have ordered my meats and a couple of desserts from M&S food to order.
The first big food shop of November will have the kids chocolate advent calendars and selection boxes. By the end of November I like to have all of the chocolate, biscuits and alcohol for Christmas also usually have in shop bought Christmas cake (DP and I are the only ones who eats it so it’s just a small one) a couple of mini Christmas puddings and ingredients for mince pies. Plus any spices for slow cooking the gammon in.
December I’ll buy all the freezable foods.
Contrary to my username I don’t really drink alcohol (only at Christmas) I also get a bottle of baileys in October. It’s nice having a glass when I’m doing my Sainsbury’s order on a Saturday night especially when I’m getting stuff in for Christmas. A litre bottle will last me up to New Year.

Yep, bought £50 ish of my special December chocolates as they were on special (Bendicks, plus two of the big tubs of M and S big tin)

Yes, bought some terrys chocolate oranges and white chocolate oranges as they were on offer.
Ate them.
So replaced them.
Ate them.
Not going to buy any more until December.
I'm usually so good and have a christmas cupboard that gets filled gradually, but just couldn't resist.

I have done my Sainsburys christmas shop though (thankfully dont pick yp til christmas eve so that won't get eaten.)

Not yet, getting a Tesco order next week so will probably stock up the nuts and crisps. Going to bookers and will buy the vol au vents coz it’s the only place I managed to find them last year, also will pick up the gammon. Choc tubs will get bought wherever I find them the cheapest. All the fresh food will be from co-op 2 days before, we will probs buy the meat end of November and freeze it. Any Buffet bits will be about the week before Christmas and frozen until needed.

No stocking up in this house, it all gets eaten no matter how I try to hide it. They are like sniffer dogs 🤣 Has anyone seen the cracker- shaped box of quality street strawberry dreams? Really hope they are out again this year 🍓 Normally get them in Asda & B&M but I haven't come across them this year yet.

Same!

Update: hubby has noticed the quality street but is under strict instructions not to eat them, he’s on a health kick at the moment so I don’t think he will.
Today I’ve added mince pies, heroes and a box of biscuits to my stash. Also purchased an advent calendar for dd

I've ordered a few things from Ocado to put away. I managed to get the Hotel chocolat advent calendar, A box of the big mix chocolates (not sure if I will like them so got the box instead of the tin), Hotel chocolate everything box and some Lebkuchen Milk Chocolate Hearts with Apricot Filling.

Me too, not for me, but a gift. Packaging was damaged, so i will have a moan, to Ocado

Yes! I’ve cleared out a shelf in our kitchen and it’s the designated “Christmas cupboard”. Everyone knows they can’t go in until it’s officially declared open. We are not a household that buys snacks unless it’s a special occasion so it adds more to the excitement.

I let myself spend around £5 a week alongside the Xmas shop. It doesn’t sound like a lot but it really does add up, takes a load off the shop just before Christmas and it’s fun! I love how excited everyone gets when the cupboard is declared open.

I added some m&s sticky toffee dunkers and some gingerbread whips to it today. There’s a few big bags of festive flavour crisps, nuts, some crackers and some jars of chutney in there too. Not much but I’ve only just started!

Yes, I bought two ducks, reduced in August. Much more flavour than turkey, a quarter of the price and now in my freezer. Plus 200gm of smoked salmon on offer. 😋

I've just made 6 jars of plum & russet mincemeat, for mince pies, and I have a bottle of hazel liqueur from last year. I bought a christmas pudding at a county show last week.

I'll add a few xmas things to my list each week, next are two large bars of 70% cocoa dark chocolate for making cakes, and some chutneys/pickles.

I love watching my stock of goodies build up during October & November. 😊 DS is away at uni until Dec 12th so no-one to start eating things early.

That mincemeat sounds lovely. Do you have a recipe please?

How do you all.know what you'll be doing/where you'll be at Christmas? I haven't got a clue!

Once I know if we will be hosting, and how many, then I might start buying some bits and bobs

I host both sets of in-laws each year, alternating Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and then assorted others will come to eat with us across the whole 10 days or so. We have a very traditional Christmas so it’s easy to plan this far out some of what we will need.

Can I ask why you never buy snacks unless for an occasion? Isn't life dull without nice bits to eat?

It is the same here. It is mainly fresh savory food we may have extra. In my job I am gifted more chocolates than we can eat (I still have in date boxes from last year).

I admit though that Christmas is Christmas eve to Boxing Day in our house.

I’ve made a food list and will start this week I think. Probably get the pigs in blankets this week and pop in the freezer

I’ve bought a packet of sour cream and chive pretzels and the kids advent calendar’s. Will buy a couple of bits each week now to spread the cost

We’ll be at home as we have been since DD was born. Our Christmases have followed pretty much the same pattern ever since really. I know we’re hosting my aunt again as she’s already booked her flight. Normally host my parents in law but they’re going abroad to their other son this year - as this is a big journey for them and expensive it’s been planned in advance and flights booked etc.

We might or might not go to my sister’s in the evening, and there’s still a chance I might end up hosting a few more for Christmas dinner but we know we’ll be at home so can stock up a few bits on that basis. We also always do a family party one of the days and last time we were all together we booked the date in for that. All the stuff around Christmas Day and the in between is still up for debate but the main stuff we know.

No. I've finished present shopping but will probably wait another month or so before buying food. I don't have enough willpower. 🫣

Got the beef joint and the rolled turkey in the freezer, bought from the butcher. I'd rather buy it now when I have the money, rather than nearer Xmas when money gets tight.

No because we do eat nice things. We just don’t eat shop bought snacks.

No because I d struggle not to eat it and I don’t want to end up the size of Santa by November!