Never Go Holiday Shopping On These Days, According To Experts

Monday before Thanksgiving is the best day to shop for your groceries

If you’re planning to stock up for a turkey day feast, Monday is your best option for shopping, according to Google Maps data. Around 8 a.m. the Monday before Thanksgiving is typically when it’s the least busy, but if you can’t swing an early stop, an hour before the store closes on that very same day is another top-tier time.

Google also recommends the Saturday before Thanksgiving, right when the store opens or an hour before the store closes, or as a last resort, Tuesday or Wednesday, right when the store opens.

Don’t wait until Thanksgiving Day to shop…

Not only might your store be closed, but it’s risky to wait until the last minute to shop due to lines and inventory issues.

The Google Maps data lists Saturdays between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. as the busiest time to shop. And as for Thanksgiving week, Tuesday and Wednesday mid-morning, afternoon, and evening, as well as the Saturday before Thanksgiving during the afternoon are not recommended.

On Reddit, employees and customers alike warned against shopping on or before the holiday. One Kroger staffer said, “yes, it is going to be slammed from the minute you clock in to the minute you clock out” on Thanksgiving, while another chimed in that “it used to be dead. It’s gotten gradually busier every year.”

Sunday is the best and worst day to shop outside of Thanksgiving week

Outside of Thanksgiving week, the busiest time to visit the grocery store is typically 1 p.m. on Sundays. And the least busy is 8 a.m. that same day.

What’s the worst time to shop during Christmas?

According to research from Sensormatic Solutions, a retail traffic consulting and analytics group, the busiest shopping days of the holiday season are expected to be Black Friday, on November 29, Super Sunday on December 21, and the Monday before Christmas on December 23.

Sunday, December 22; Saturday, December 14; and Saturday, November 30 are all on the busy list as well.

So when should you shop for Christmas?

The best thing you can do for yourself around the holidays is utilize the Google Maps feature that lets you know how busy stores and supermarkets are in real time. According to previous data from Google Maps, you can expect Monday around 3 p.m. (outside of those the above dates) to be the quietest time to shop. Happy holidays and happy shopping!

Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.