The Best Day To Christmas Food Shop: Charlotte

Christmas is getting so close, and that means only one thing: shopping. But while you can buy presents anytime you like, timing is everything when it comes to buying Christmas dinner. It's common sense that if you go too early, your food won’t be fresh by the time the big day rolls around, and go too late, and the crowds can be overwhelming.

There is a new study by Fred Harrington, CEO of Coupon Mister, which reveals the best times and days to do your Christmas food shopping this year. According to Fred, you should aim for the 16th, 17th, 19th, or 20th, and stick to early morning or late evening shopping to beat the crowds.

The evenings of Thursday the 19th and Friday the 20th are a sweet spot. It’s quiet, and the shelves are still stocked, so you won’t have to battle for the last packet of pigs in blankets.

If you prefer to plan way ahead, and skip the stress, the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas is your golden ticket. To make your shopping experience even less stressful, showing up as soon as the store opens is your best bet. The shelves are freshly stocked, and the crowds haven’t rolled in yet, so you’ll have first dibs on everything.

Another way to beat the crowds is to take advantage of a store’s evening hours. Stores often mark down their perishable goods, like vegetables and bakery items, in the evening to try and get them off the shelves, as they can’t be sold the next day.

Leaving things to the last minute is human nature, but not a good idea for holiday food. If you want to avoid the worst of the madness, steer clear of the final Saturday before Christmas (the 21st) and the midday rush on Christmas Eve. The aisles will be heaving, the shelves may look bare, and your festive spirit might take a hit.

Reviews are great for this Publix.

"Coming from Florida, Publix is a way of life. So, when I moved to Charlotte a few months ago, I was happy they have locations nearby. The actual store is very nice."

"Even though it was my first time in the store, I had an easy time navigating and found everything I needed in a reasonable amount of time. When I was ready to check out, I was pleasantly surprised that the lines were only two carts deep."

This Harris Teeter got four stars.

"This teet is as beautiful as it is nutritious: so much nicer than the little lopsided pair that I frequent."

"Recently introduced my wife to Taj-Ma-Teeter, and I've learned it's near impossible to not fall in love with this location."