Oh God. I just realized I forgot to buy those chocolate eggs my nephew specifically requested. The one with the stupid dinosaur toy inside that he'll probably break within 24 hours. And now it's Easter Saturday 2025, and I'm staring down the barrel of crowded aisles and picked-over holiday displays.
The Easter shopping scramble begins
If you're anything like me, you've left your Easter shopping until teh last possible moment. Again. I swore after last year's debacle (three stores and still no decent ham) that I'd be more organized. Spoiler alert: I wasn't.
The good news? Most major supermarkets are operating normal hours today. Asda, Aldi, and Tesco are all open, though I'd recommend checking your local store's exact times before making the trip. I learned this lesson the hard way back in 2022 when I showed up at my local Tesco at 9:30pm only to find they'd closed early. My sister still brings that up at family gatherings.
Sunday shutdown - with a few exceptions
Tomorrow's a different story entirely. Most shops will pull down their shutters for Easter Sunday, giving their staff a well-deserved break. I actually respect this policy, even though it once left me serving beans on toast for Easter lunch when I miscalculated my shopping needs.
A handful of select stores will remain open Sunday, though. These are typically smaller convenience formats or shops in certain locations. Worth checking if you're truly desperate.
What about those Amazon packages you're waiting for?
Listen. We've all been there. Ordering something last-minute and praying to the delivery gods it arrives in time.
While Royal Mail takes a break on Bank Holidays, Amazon operates to its own mysterious schedule. Packages might still show up, depending on delivery method and your location. My editor bet me £15 that her Easter gifts would arrive Sunday, despite the holiday. I'm taking that bet - easy money.
My personal Easter shopping nightmare (you've been warned)
Back in 2018, I made the catastrophic error of visiting Morrisons at 4pm on Easter Saturday. The scene resembled something between a zombie apocalypse and a clearance sale. No trolleys available. Shelves decimated. And the poor staff... I still remember one exhausted employee's face when I asked if there were "any more of those chocolate bunnies in the back." His response: "I've been asked that 47 times in the last hour."
I spent $75 on what should have been a $40 shop because I panic-bought whatever was left. Including a bizarre cheese shaped like a carrot that nobody would eat.
So... when can you actually shop?
Saturday (today): Normal hours at most supermarkets
Sunday: Most closed, with limited exceptions
Monday: Bank Holiday hours - typically reduced
Tuesday: Back to normal operations
If you're truly desperate on Sunday, petrol stations and some convenience stores might save you. Though expect to pay premium prices for that emergency milk.
The weird psychology of holiday shopping
Ever noticed how we all lose our minds slightly during holiday periods? It's like we're preparing for a three-month siege rather than a one-day closure. I watched a woman buy SEVEN loaves of bread yesterday. SEVEN. As if the apocalypse was coming, not a single day of closed shops.
I'm guilty too. Last Easter I bought enough chocolate to put myself into a sugar coma until June. And for what? Most of it ended up melting in my car when that unexpected April heatwave hit.
Anyway. You've been warned about the madness. Good luck out there, fellow last-minute shoppers. We're all in this together.
(And yes, I'll be updating this throughout the day as I battle the crowds myself. Someone's gotta get that dinosaur egg...)
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