so the madness begins

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I think it must be an inbuilt gene that stems back to when our parents/grandparents had to shop for a week, I can remember when the shops use to be close for the week...:rotfl:

I visit one of our local supermarkets every day about 1/2 hour before closing anyway. so will pick up bits then

Goldiegirl

FatVonD wrote: »

I like to have enough to be sure that I don't have to go anywhere near a supermarket during the mayhem that is the run up to Christmas!

But I drink a lot of tea

And enough to last to the new year, as well.

I don't like doing grocery shopping between Christmas and New Year, the food areas are still crazy with people stocking up for the new years eve party.

The only shopping I'll be doing is recreational sale shopping!

I_luv_cats

My First online Christmas grocery order this year.

Mostly ok. Some ordered products went unavailable midweek and a bit of a scout to find alternatives as too much was coming up in red as not available.

A relief not to have to brave the crowds and queues this year.

booter

Well, I was hoping someone would report back if they've been grocery shopping today! I don't have "the Christmas shop" to do as such, just my normal weekly shop (but probably with a few extras thrown in ) I was hoping to go to Morries tonight, but I'm loathe to go if it's gonna be bedlam, with empty shelves Anyone got any suggestions?

geri1965_2

We went to Sainsburys and we were in and out in 20 mins. Queues were not too bad at all (lunchtime).

frugal_shopper_2

booter wrote: »

Well, I was hoping someone would report back if they've been grocery shopping today! I don't have "the Christmas shop" to do as such, just my normal weekly shop (but probably with a few extras thrown in ) I was hoping to go to Morries tonight, but I'm loathe to go if it's gonna be bedlam, with empty shelves Anyone got any suggestions?

I went shopping yesterday just to various independent shops (butchers, greengrocers, tobacconist etc...) was going to go to iceland but there was a queue outside of people trying to get in there. Passed tesco they had about a dozen cars in the carpark so busier than usual (not a popular shop here). Ran into some people I know on the bus back home who had been to Morrisons they said it was an absolute nightmare they even considered leaving & going to tesco instead but couldn't get the trolley out & didn't want to lose their quid, solidly packed & took ages to get through checkout but stock levels were good.
Managed to forget to buy milk again (ran out about a fortnight ago so forced to continue using uht single cream in my coffee instead). No idea when I will get out to buy milk as my knee (which gives me a lot of problems) gave out when I went to get off the bus & I twisted my ankle as I fell over & spilled shopping everywhere so need to take it easy for a bit.

MysteryMe

Made a list of what I needed to get and went to the Aldi in Colchester at 5.30pm, not crowded at all and got everything on my list other than single cream (sold out lots of double cream available) and sprouting broccoli (which I don't think they sell). Loads of stock, including all the super 6 deal, plenty of 4 bird roasts. Didn't have to queue so a painless experience. I popped into the co op which was also quiet and got the cream and broccoli and picked up a medium chicken from the hot counter reduced to £1.25 so well pleased.

valk_scot

I went to our big Tesco yesterday at about 3.30pm, it was busy but not ridiculously so. Every checkout was manned so you only had to wait for one person in front of you. There was plenty of everything. I had only gone in for a ham, onions and milk because I don't really do the big multiple Christmas meal thing, we're going out for Christmas lunch so only need normal meals but a wee bit nicer. I've done my normal weekly shop and I've picked up a few extras for the freezer & storecupboard over the last few weeks so there's no big panic to buy at the last minute.

So I don't need to be one of the grim faced and frazzled women pushing a huge trolly round tomorrow. What I will do though is pop down to Tesco two hours before closing on Monday, I don't need anything but I like to pick up a few bargains for the freezer for January. Last Christmas Eve I bought one of these vast turkeys that won't fit in a normal domestic oven without radical surgery, it cost me £2. I turned it into two breast roasts, several curries worth of diced meat and a huge pan of jellied stock for the freezer. The cats got a big chunk of salmon between them for 50p as a Christmas treat, I picked up enough reduced veg to last us a fortnight and also some nice bits and bobs for a Boxing Day buffet, all for pennies. Well worth the extra trip, and it wasn't even that busy.

booter

Well, I've braved the hoards and actually, it was OK. Aldi was very quiet. Talking to the SA, it's been heaving all day, but was quiet when I got there (around 8pm) - but then, I suppose some people have a social life , and it was pouring with rain. Then on to Morries which was busier, but still not crazy so. Again some sparse shelves, but staff were busy re-stocking. And I even managed to get some mega reduced pies and rolls for the freezer :j.
In both places there were pork pie shortages! I dunno why people who never normally buy them suddenly feel the urge to stock up at Christmas!

I'm glad I've gone tonight - I suspect tomorrow will start getting silly and I'm done now :j

Sorry to hear about your ankle frugal_shopper - hope it gets better soon!

katylou6180

Hi all,

Went to local Morries today at about lunchtime, painless shopping experience really apart from the odd trolley clash and lack of cream on the shelves (the car park was rammed, but they obv did a good job of getting people out as the shop wasn't overly crowded). Me and DH work full time and are working Xmas eve, I'm guessing things might be worse tomorrow but all the staff we spoke to said things had been really quiet, we even braved Aldi after that for the stuff I forgot!! Quiet in there too, both stores had the sell bys out for after xmas, and in all honesty since Tesco decided they didn't favour me as an online customer (about two years ago, no priority delivery slot) it's the most chilled out year i've had, even the people in the trolley clash were smiling Merry Xmas Everyone xx