Shopping ‘ infrequently’ during lockdown

There are plenty of shops other than supermarkets you know. Why
Not take a look around and support our smaller shops - many are more than happy to get whatever it is you want when they go to their cash and carry every few days. Just ask. Just help them to help You.

I haven't been able to get on line delivery slots or click and collect with Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose or Morrisons.

We are living out of the freezer which was fortunately quite full and topping up with fresh things about every 10 days from a very small local Co-op.

I've not been out for well over a month now, I have deliveries from Ocado every week to ten days and we seem to be managing well.

I go once a week to the local small Tesco; attempted to order once but no slots available so abandoned attempt as although I am over 70 I have no underlying health issues.
Found out why last night in a zoom 'meeting' with several well-heeled acquaintances, all of whom under 70 and with no health issues. They all have deliveries from at least two different supermarkets, or drive over 50 miles to click and collect.
The smug middle classes looking after themselves.

I had to go to our bank on Tuesday travelsafar because there was a problem with a standing order and we don't bank on line.

There was a safe distancing queue of about 6 and they weren't allowing more than 2 people in at a time. Well organised but I felt a little anxious just having to go, it was OK though; hope that helps.

We go to Aldi once a week and have a small local Premier supermarket just down the road in case something's needed.

As others have said, I prefer not to go but have never done online shopping and wouldn't want to take a delivery on line that would mean someone who really needs one, would miss out.

I went to Tesco last evening, (no queuing). It was the first time I had been out of the village for four weeks. DH has been before and got two weeks worth of food. He has made a master list of requirements, aisle by aisle, so whoever goes can whiz round quickly. We sat down before I went and wrote the menu list for two weeks, then adjusted the shopping list. I got nearly everything but still no bread flour. I wore a home made mask and plastic gloves but no one else did.

Newspaper delivered daily and paid by direct debit. Prescriptions ordered online ( as and when ) through the surgery and delivered from local chemist.

Travelsafar, I did some banking business over the phone nearly 4 weeks ago. Do this if you're able to unless it's withdrawing of course.

Not been out to anywhere for nearly 5 weeks. I get Sainsbury's deliveries once every 10 days or so; like dragonfly I tend to overbuy as I am worried I won't get another one.
My paper is delivered, just worrying about paying my bill, think I will ask DS to go in.
DS also picks up my prescription.

I've just been shopping locally for the past 6/7 weeks now and have bought as I needed, about every other or every two days.
There's a butcher, greengrocer and grocery shop. Safer than supermarkets right now.

I already had a stocked freezer before all this so everything eked out. I have to do this being alone and because I'm able to of course. I'm not shielded or anything so wouldn't ask anyone to do anything. I've not been given any orders !

I actually have to venture beyond the local shops to the surgery next month for the usual INR, last time being March, no alternative.

We have tried in vain to get a delivery slot, so despite us both being classed as vulnerable DH walks the mile and a half to the supermarket as his permitted exercise via a route where he sees only one or two otger people, he wears mask and gloves in the shop. He then rings when he is out and I go and pick him up in the car (he dosen't drive).
We do this once a week. He walks every day to the local shop for his paper and picks up any extras such as milk.

I haven't been out for over 10 days now and am desperate to go to the bank to do some business but i am scared. My neighbours assure me that i will be ok as they are observing the social distances ruling in the banks. Anyone else confirm this please??

We shop once a week, either at a large Waitrose or a small Sainsbury. We go in the middle of the week late morning, and they're both pretty quiet then. If we get to Waitrose and there is a long queue we divert to the nearby Sainsbury. Both shops restrict the number of customers with a strict one in one out policy and have well marked queues outside.

We have a BP garage nearby with M&S foods, if we run out of milk or bread or eggs we take a walk over there. That's usually quite quiet too.

We don't buy anything we wouldn't normally buy and we don't even try for online delivery because we think other people need it more.

We are over 70 but with no underlying medical conditions. I go to the supermarket once a week to shop. I go to Waitrose because they give the first hour of the day, when the shop will be at it's cleanest and the air likewise to the over 70s.

I can see no advantage in going to special hours for the elderly, if the general public have already been using the store for several hours before groups that need to be protected gain access.

Yesterday, I needed some headphones for some quasi-medical equipment I use so went to Wilkinson's as the local most likely source which would be open. When we got in the first thing we saw was shelves of Hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial handwash. Both things I have been unable to source in my local supermarket.

I am now trying to balance the dangers of visiting more than one store against the dangers of running out of hand sanitising products.

I haven’t been into a shop for a month, I got a Tesco delivery 11 days ago. My daughter has brought me milk and fresh fruit once or twice a week but I’ve decided I’ll go to Tesco next Wed during their 9 to 10 session for older people. I miss my Saturday newspaper though lol.

We’ve had one click and collect and one delivery from Waitrose, over the past 4 weeks.
We’re also getting fresh dairy products from our milkman and fresh meat and veg on click and collect from our local farm shop.
We’re avoiding shops which means there’s more space for others, who can’t.

I am "fit enough" Calendargirl but would rather not go shopping if at all possible. I haven't noticed any "encouragement" to go to the store but have had to do so once in the last month. I do not want to go again even though if was very organised.

Do a Tesco shop once a week, it opens at 8, I joined the queue yesterday at 7.20 and was 3rd in the queue.
If you go at 8, you are maybe waiting an hour to get in to shop as the one way system makes it slower, and I prefer to go early and get home.
I walk down to the butchers a couple of times a week as part of my exercise.
As another poster says, if we all tried to get online deliveries, well it just wouldn’t happen, and if you’re fit enough, you are encouraged to physically go to the store.

I live on my own, but don't have a car. So I go to the small supermarket nearby once or twice a week - but just add it on when I finish my three mile walk which I take every other day.

I hope most people would go as little as possible, but everybody does still need to eat. Also, if everyone relied on delivery slots it would be unworkable.

We are unable to get online slots so have to make the trip to the larger supermarket in the next town as late at night as we can in the hope it will be quieter. Husband sits in the car although last night I was told at checkout that they are now allowing couples in together. I would normally pop to the local shops on most days by foot but daren't do this now sadly.

I have been getting deliveries as I am shielded so I tend to overbuy as I am frightened I will never get another one.

It will vary, won’t it, according to a number of things - the size of your family, health, whether you are able to get a delivery slot for online shopping, how near your shops are, etc. Some folks will only be able to carry a small amount and may shop daily, using the walk to the shop as exercise. We have a weekly online shop, getting food for a neighbour at the same time. I have not been inside a shop for about a month.

I’ve been shopping twice since lockdown.