Alun Newman: Turkey down payment
Did anyone else reserve their supermarket food delivery online with one large item? I go for a bottle of ridiculous champagne. That’s enough to reserve the slot, then I make the adjustments in the build-up. One of my friends used the same tactic and instead of fizz put in a whopping fresh turkey.
He didn’t need a turkey this year as they were going to the pub for Christmas dinner. The clock was ticking on the reserved shop so he jumped online to swap turkey out for milk and eggs etc.
Sadly, when he went to remove it from the online basket, a message appeared saying it was too late. It was some special order that couldn’t be cancelled with under 24 hours’ notice. I found out about this mishap when I got a message asking if I wanted to buy a discounted turkey. This beast is now clogging up his fridge.
Apart from Christmas, it’s quite a commitment to cook a massive turkey just for a normal Sunday roast with four people. I passed on the option to buy it from him at a “bargain” price.
Every year I make the same veg-related mistake and this year was no different. The supermarkets have this strange new tradition where all the veg drops down to five pence or around that mark. I forgot about this and bought veg, only to then see the super-cheap stuff. A
fter being heavily influenced by online ideas, I thought I could still capitalise on the situation by buying more vegetables, prepping them, and freezing them. Cheap veg into 2026 what’s not to love? Well, on reflection, I now have loads of carrots, parsnips and swede clogging up a reasonably small freezer. I didn’t really think it through. I also could have simply kept them unfrozen in a cool, dark place. Isn’t that what people do with apples and potatoes, and they last for months?
I also think that in reality I saved about five pounds. Which is a saving, but now I’ve got no space left for ice cream, pizza and garlic bread in the freezer. I’m not sure it was really worth it. I think my mental state is perfect for people who are easily seduced by something simply being a bargain or a deal. All it takes is one yellow sticker in a shop and my radar locks on.
I’ve even bought things in the past that I didn’t really like just because they were on offer. I think I have issues. Still, all the cheap veg is healthy.
I like to spend most of the Christmas holidays buying food that is largely considered junk, crisps, chocolate and mince pies. Then I go around telling everyone in the house to eat healthily and not just eat junk food. They always ask why I buy it all. The thing is, I love the buffet. If it’s beige and crispy, it’s going on the plate, with unlimited carrot sticks.