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With Christmas just a fortnight away, the frenzy at supermarkets like Asda , Tesco , Morrisons , Aldi and Lidl can feel akin to a real-life Supermarket Sweep. It's no surprise that many dread the 'big shop' in the run-up to the festive season.

Timing it right ensures that shelves are well-stocked and items don't spoil before they're needed. Given that one in three Brits feel financially worse off than last year, and over 40% plan to dip into savings or use credit cards to cover holiday expenses, nailing the timing of the big food shop could be very important.

The date chosen for shopping becomes a balancing act between finding a convenient hour or two in the middle of daily life and going early enough to secure the freshest quality products. S

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