A MAJOR supermarket has revealed the best time to pick up your pre-Christmas food shopping and avoid unwanted festive stress.
Many families find themselves stuck in the crowds when picking up their Christmas food shopping.
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But now Lidl has revealed the best times to shop in its stores to avoid the rush.
The retailer says the best times to head to its supermarkets are between 8am and 10am and from 6pm onwards.
The discounter based the timings on data compiled across the Christmas period in 2021 showing when people visited its stores.
The busiest time to shop at its stores was between 12pm and 2pm.
Of course, you should bear in mind that while this applies to Lidl it might not at other supermarkets.
But there are ways you can find out how busy your nearest supermarket is, whether that be Tesco, Sainsbury’s or Aldi.
You can use the Google tracker function which gives you an update on how busy a shop is in real-time.
You just have to type the name of your local store into Google and click on the location button.
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This will show a bar chart revealing when the busiest times to shop are.
Lidl customers looking to head out to their nearest store to pick up their Christmas shopping can get added help via the Lidl Plus app.
The app shows you how busy stores are in real-time.
If you don’t know where your nearest Lidl shop is you can use the store locator on its website.
Plus, shoppers using the Lidl Plus app can get access to weekly rewards and discounts for their next shop.
You just have to scan your digital card at the till.
You can download the app onto Apple iPhones and Android phones.
It comes as Lidl slashed the price of a number of veggies to 19p yesterday (December 15).
Sainsbury’s and Aldi are dropping their prices from Sunday, December 18 too.
How can I save on my supermarket shop this Christmas?
If you’re looking for ways to scrimp and save this festive period, there are a few things you can do.
Some supermarkets run schemes where they sell misshapen fruit and veg at a discounted price.
Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering customers 5kg of fruit and veg for just £1.50.
Morrisons and Sainsbury’s have similar schemes as well.
Try looking out for red or yellow stickers on products too – supermarket workers put these on items to show they’ve been reduced in price.
Bear in mind though, if the food is fresh you’ll have to eat it fast, or freeze it to have another time.
Many customers take part in the “downshift” challenge, which involves opting for supermarket’s own brand goods.
So that means choosing “own” or “value” type products instead of “finest” or luxury lines.
Consumer champion Martin Lewis says it could save you 30% on your yearly food bill too.
That means if you spend £1,000 on your food over the year, you’d be saving a whopping £300 just by making the simple switch.
In other news, Home Bargains shoppers have been rushing out to buy a festive essential that’s perfect for your Christmas table.
Plus, a major supermarket is selling 1litre bottles of Baileys for £9.99.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
