Christmas Eve often marks the start of festivities – or a mad dash around the supermarket to pick up all those las minute bits, but shoppers need to be savvy.
Supermarkets start yellow-tagging items on Christmas Eve, but there are specific times when you’ll see items reduced. That’s according to vouchercodes.co.uk which has listed every major UK supermarket and the predicted times they will slash the prices of their stock.
Voucher Codes says Christmas Eve is actually the best day to bag a bargain in the supermarket in the run up to Christmas – so disorganisation could actually work in your favour. It says items such as perishables and festive-themed food will be all for the taking, as bosses aim to catch the eye of last minute dashers.
Anita Naik, savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, says: “Timing is everything when it comes to bagging these unbelievable deals. Shop at the right moment, and you can save a fortune, enjoy luxury products for less, and stop good food from going to waste.”
Lidl
Lidl are predicted to reduce prices between 4pm and 5pm on Christmas Eve. Lidl’s yellow sticker markdowns usually happen in two waves: one early in the morning when stores open at 8am, and another in the evening before closing. For the deepest discounts, plan your Christmas Eve visit around 5pm.
Anita says: “Staff at Lidl have been known to apply extra reductions between 4pm and 5pm, just before doors close at 6pm.”
Aldi
Aldi are set to slash prices at 5pm – but shoppers will have just one hour to make the most of these deals, as the shop shuts at 6pm and is understandably closed on Christmas Day. Anita says staff will roll out two markdowns on the day. She added: “Aldi also has a two-round system for markdowns – first thing in the morning (from 8am) and again later in the evening. However, unlike Lidl, Aldi uses red stickers to highlight its discounted products. Head there by 5pm on Christmas Eve for the best bargains before stores close at 6pm.
“Red-sticker items are scattered across the store, so keep your eyes peeled. From meat to packaged goods, Aldi tends to mark down items by up to 75% on their final day of sale.”
Asda
Asda will start reducing items at 6pm – and shoppers will have until 10pm to make the most of those. Anita says: “Asda’s reductions follow a three-tier system: the first in the morning, a second midday, and a final round of markdowns around 7pm. On Christmas Eve, plan your shop for 6pm to catch the best deals, especially on fresh fruit and veg, which can drop as low as 10p.”
M&S
M&S will be one of the early birds, slashing prices from 3pm and its stores are set to remain open until 4pm. Anita says: “M&S keeps it simple but strategic, with stores reducing items about an hour before closing. On Christmas Eve, that means arriving at 3pm to snag the best bargains before stores close at 4pm. If you can’t make it earlier, some M&S stores often apply last-minute reductions in the final 30 minutes before closing time. If you’re willing to risk it all, here is when you’ll find the mega bargains.”
Tesco
Tesco staff will start yellow-tagging from 6pm to 7pm – but you’ll need to be quick as most stores shut at 7pm. According to Anita’s research, Tesco’s yellow stickers roll out in three waves – around 10am, 2pm, and 7pm. For the biggest bargains, head to Tesco an hour before closing. Depending on your local store, on Christmas Eve, this will be 6pm or 7pm.
Morrisons
Morrisons will start reducing items from 3pm with stores shutting at 4pm. Anita says: “Morrisons usually applies its first reductions as soon as stores open, and saves a final further markdown for the evening. With Christmas Eve hours closing at 4pm, the best deals are likely to pop up around 3pm.”
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s will start knocking money off produce at 6pm with just an hour left until closing at 7pm. Anita says: “At Sainsbury’s, yellow stickers appear around 2pm and again at 6pm. With stores closing at 7pm on Christmas Eve, arriving at 6pm will give you the best chance to bag festive treats for less.”
