Time to start shopping?

[ohoneohtwo]

DH and I haven't left the house since roughly 14th March. DS had been doing all the shopping initially until delivery slots became easier to obtain!

Now I think with things moving in the right direction it is time for me to start going out - I have to do it sometime. DS has been working in retail throughout so we haven't been completely without risk anyway.

We both fit into the clinically vulnerable category and have done our level best to avoid COVID.

I appreciate we are incredibly fortunate to be in the position of not having to go outside at all and we have taken full advantage of it - we are low income but managing, DH is medically retired anyway.

Has anyone else simply not gone out at all the whole time. While not in the shielding category?

I'm quite excited at the idea of going to Tesco!

I haven’t been to the supermarket much over the last few months but I went Sainsbury’s end of last week, I think I arrived 10.30, and there was about 5/6 people in front of me. The queue took about 10mins and it’s manned by a member of staff. When I came out about 45 mins later the queue was really long, so from that experience I would say go mid morning.

My Sainsbury’s is inside a shopping centre with lots of non-essential shops, they seem really quiet, and I’ve heard that Bluewater in Kent is really quiet as well. I think most people went shopping on the first few days and now things are much calmer.

I have a few friends who, other than walks, have not gone to out at all, let alone shops. Their husbands have done the food shopping. They are not shielding for any reason, they just decided to. I found it a bit bizarre, but I am the only adult in my family so I do all the shopping, though in the first few weeks tried to limit it as much as possible.
Their first venture out they were very nervous - one in particular had to go to the post office and almost had a panic attack!
Do go out soon - do not build it up as a huge risk in your mind. Take precautions, follow the rules, and you will be fine!

It's great you want to go out but I just don't understand why so many people have not even left the house since March. The chances of catching it whilst going for a walk is practically non existent. I am seriously worried about the 1000s of people who have become so scared of the perceived threat. The effects of which could last a lifetime.

It's great you want to go out but I just don't understand why so many people have not even left the house since March.

I don't think it's particularly difficult to understand why people who can choose to stay at home with little to no disruption to life have chosen to do so.

The chances of catching it whilst going for a walk is practically non existent.

Unfortunately walking isn't possible for me or i would have been out every day. I spent 4 days exhausted in bed last week because I overdid it when clearing some of the garden.

I am seriously worried about the 1000s of people who have become so scared of the perceived threat. The effects of which could last a lifetime.

I haven't been scared in the slightest. I just stayed in because I could.

Do whatever you want but I haven't done a full weekly shop in a supermarket for over 10 years so I am not going to start now . I don't have the slightest desire to. I did sometimes go for a small top up shop before the lockdown but I have barely done that either since 24 March. Can't say I miss it much either

I have been into a few other non-food shops in the last couple of weeks as they have opened up. It felt a bit weird and there was no social distancing going on but it was actually fine in the end

I have a few friends who, other than walks, have not gone to out at all, let alone shops. Their husbands have done the food shopping. They are not shielding for any reason, they just decided to. I found it a bit bizarre, but I am the only adult in my family so I do all the shopping, though in the first few weeks tried to limit it as much as possible.

See we are not shielding, but we are clinically vulnerable. We were in the position of being able to stay at home so we did. Happily!

Their first venture out they were very nervous - one in particular had to go to the post office and almost had a panic attack!

Now this isn't good at all. I'm not nervous in the slightest about it. I wonder if there will be a lot of people badly affected like that?

Do go out soon - do not build it up as a huge risk in your mind. Take precautions, follow the rules, and you will be fine!

I'm positively excited about going

*I haven’t been to the supermarket much over the last few months but I went Sainsbury’s end of last week, I think I arrived 10.30, and there was about 5/6 people in front of me. The queue took about 10mins and it’s manned by a member of staff. When I came out about 45 mins later the queue was really long, so from that experience I would say go mid morning.
**
*Thanks. I am a late shopper so will probably wait until 5/6pm. I'm considering bringing DS with me so we can order Nando's and he can run in to collect it

My Sainsbury’s is inside a shopping centre with lots of non-essential shops, they seem really quiet, and I’ve heard that Bluewater in Kent is really quiet as well. I think most people went shopping on the first few days and now things are much calmer.

I'm actually in Scotland so most of our shops are still closed. I was pondering waiting until they open next week because the supermarkets will be much quieter when everyone is racing to Primark Not because of Covid worry; I always try to shop at quieter times.

Hi, If you live on the coast in North Wales where a long walk through the hills ends, I don’t suggest you visit the local Tesco. The SD is non existent and it’s a free-for-all. I’m not going back there anytime soon because it’s a bit scary and what’s worse is that the staff just watch and don’t try to keep things orderly. Nothing against Tesco, but if this is your first trip out I’d suggest another supermarket instead.

Do whatever you want but I haven't done a full weekly shop in a supermarket for over 10 years so I am not going to start now . I don't have the slightest desire to. I did sometimes go for a small top up shop before the lockdown but I have barely done that either since 24 March. Can't say I miss it much either

I used to pick things up every couple of days as and when so we have had to get used to doing a big shop. I much prefer little and often though.

I have been into a few other non-food shops in the last couple of weeks as they have opened up. It felt a bit weird and there was no social distancing going on but it was actually fine in the end

Ours are still closed but I'm not a fan of shops much anyway these days. I'm autistic and I find town really difficult so tend to avoid

Hi, If you live on the coast in North Wales where a long walk through the hills ends, I don’t suggest you visit the local Tesco. The SD is non existent and it’s a free-for-all. I’m not going back there anytime soon because it’s a bit scary and what’s worse is that the staff just watch and don’t try to keep things orderly. Nothing against Tesco, but if this is your first trip out I’d suggest another supermarket instead.

No I'm in Scotland and our Tesco have been doing it properly the whole time so I'm not worried about that. Sainsbury's has a longer queue as there is only one in our town whereas we have multiple Tesco so I tend to shop there as it's quieter anyway.

Our position sounds similar to yours. I've used our local chemist and post office every few weeks. I wear a face mask when inside, as a courtesy to others.

I have also been for a walk most days.

Shopping as an activity has never held any attraction for me and I have been a big fan of online shopping for some time (hence multiple visits to post office to return unwanted items).

Now I am hoping to avoid going to a shop for the rest of my natural. I appreciate that my life would be very different if shops did not deliver and if video conferencing and not yet been invented.

Op I was in the same boat as you, although admittedly it did then cause some anxieties when I decided I wanted to go shopping.
Now I get so excited to do the weekly shop (so lame I know!) I go in the evenings and never queue, I do wear a mask as I feel safer that way and to be fair in my area more people wear them shopping than not.
Enjoy!

I would prioritise a drive to the clifftop to admire the sea over a visit to Tescos. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your outing, whatever it needs to be.

Did you go shopping Ohone?

We still havent been to any shops but been out for fresh air and exercise every day throughout lockdown. No desire to go to any shops - very happy with online deliveries for everything. Certainly wouldnt want to queue to shop. Wouldnt do it unless we found it enjoyable which we dont.

I thought this was going to be stockpiling toilet paper for the second wave.