The Big Christmas Eve Reduced Shop
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Christmas Eve is one of the best nights of the year to go yellow sticker hunting. As every big supermarket closes for Christmas Day there should be loads of bargains to be had, especially on fresh produce – you could bag yourself a cut-price turkey or cheap Christmas desserts.
Here are some tips for the big Christmas Eve Reduced Shop.
Christmas Eve Reduced Shop
Would you be brave enough to leave all your Christmas this late? You could save a fortune if you did – but you could also end up not finding anything much at all, so it’s definitely worth having a backup plan!
If it is something you are planning on trying this year, here are my top tips for yellow sticker shopping on Christmas Eve.
1. Check Supermarket Opening Times Before You Go
Turning up at the supermarket all ready to do your reduced shop to find they’re closed would be very disappointing.
Most supermarkets do close earlier than usual on Christmas Eve so make sure you know when to go before heading out.
While you can Google the hours, these aren’t always updated to cover the Christmas holidays so it’s worth checking in-store a few days before and maybe grabbing a picture to refer back to later on.
The best yellow sticker bargains can usually be had around an hour before closing time. Most of the Supermarkets near me either close at 6 pm or 7 pm on Christmas Eve but may well close earlier where you are.
Reductions on Christmas Eve usually start at around midday and continue until closing.
2. Make A list
Sounds obvious but if there is stuff you need or really want it’s good to have a list.
I can be terrible for forgetting things at the supermarket especially when I get distracted by all the yellow sticker bargains!
Be sure to grab things like milk and cereal if this is your main shop and items like gravy and stuffing if this is also your big Christmas food shop.
Sometimes I also take a list of things I already have to the supermarket with me, just so I’m not buying duplicates.
3. Don’t Overbuy
Christmas is a time of excess and it’s really easy to go overboard and buy everything you find, especially if it’s reduced.
Make sure that everything you buy is actually food that you and your family will eat. It’s not a bargain if it gets thrown in the bin!
Here are some of the yellow sticker items I would be looking out for on Christmas Eve:
- Joints of meat such as Turkey and Beef. These can be frozen and will provide cheap meals throughout January when money is often tight after splurging at Christmas.
- Cheap Veggies – most years see supermarket wars on the price of vegetables and they often end up at 20p or less per bag. These are likely to be even cheaper on Christmas Eve or supermarkets might even be giving them away for free. These can be prepped and frozen or made into soup. January lunches sorted.
- Ready To Eat Buffet Foods – these are often yellow stickered on Christmas Eve and can be great for seeing you through boxing day and the week after if you have lots of family coming over. Find these in the chilled section and look out for things like mini pies, chicken skewers, cheese platters etc.
- Desserts – I love looking at all the fancy desserts in the run-up to Christmas but can’t always justify the cost, I might just grab them if they have a good yellow sticker discount though.
- Fancy Starters – Serving a starter with Christmas Dinner can definitely up the cost but if it’s reduced then it could be an option. I once saw eight crab cocktails in Morrisons reduced to £1 from £10 between Christmas and New Year.
4. Christmas Eve Reduced Shop – Prepare Before You Go
If you plan to buy a lot of reduced goodies on Christmas Eve make sure you have space for them before you go. It’s no good having lots of cheap food if you have nowhere to store it. Once the food is home I will often take it out of bulky packaging and pop into plastic containers or food bags to save space in the freezer. Try not to overfill your fridge. This can prevent it from working properly and food will get too warm.
5. Look Out For Non-Perishables Too
As well as fresh produce keep an eye out for bargain Christmas wrapping paper and cards and decorations. These should have been reduced right down by Christmas Eve. Put them away to save money next Christmas.
Christmas Eve Yellow Sticker Shopping FAQ
What Is The Best Time To Yellow Sticker Shop On Christmas Eve?
Supermarkets typically start their reductions around 12 pm on Christmas Eve and these will continue throughout the afternoon.
Many supermarkets will close early on Christmas Eve – usually at 7 or 8 pm so two hours before this is usually the best time to find yellow sticker bargains.
How Much Will Food Be Reduced By On Christmas Eve?
The size of reductions depends on several factors including how busy the store is predicted to be and how much stock they have remaining that isn’t likely to sell unless reduced in price.
Expect reductions anywhere from 10% to 90% – it will depend on the supermarket and other factors such as whether or not they are open on boxing day.
Can I Donate Yellow Sticker Food On Christmas Eve?
Most food banks don’t accept non-perishable foods and may well be closed by the time you’ve done a Christmas eve yellow sticker shop. However, if you’ve found lots of cheap food and want to share (it is the season of giving after all!) you could try advertising it for free on an app such as Olio.
Another option could be to purchase some non-perishables that are reduced to donate to the food bank after Christmas such as Christmas Puddings and Christmas-themed chocolates, both of which should have a reasonable date on them.
One final idea could be to check whether any local community kitchens would appreciate some donations as they often have fridges to store food, unlike food banks.
Are you planning a Christmas Eve reduced shop?
I’d love to hear how you get on! These tips could also be applied to New Year’s Eve as many big Supermarkets shut early and then too and are closed on New Years Day.
