Shopping is much less simple than it once was, with queues often stretching around the block outside your favourite supermarkets. For some people, particularly those who don't drive, their options are limited and so they simply have to use their local store.
However, there is a way you can find out what the busiest time is at your local supermarket, so you can avoid the rush hour.
After all, no one really wants to spend an hour queueing up outside a supermarket during lockdown, even if the weather is nice in Edinburgh at the moment.
You can check the 'popular times' data for each local store using Google - and it will analyse the best time of day to visit.
This data changes regularly during the coronavirus pandemic, so we've crunched the numbers for the largest stores again now lockdown has been eased in the capital. Here's all the info as we heard into June:
Lidl
Dalry Road: The quietest time to shop in this Lidl is between 11am and 12pm. The busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Westside Plaza: The quietest time is between 8pm and 9pm, the busiest is between 2pm and 3pm.
Newkirkgate: The quietest time is between 8pm and 9pm, the busiest time is between 3pm and 4pm.
Nicolson Street: The quietest time is between 9am and 10am, the busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Logie Green Road: The quietest time is between 9pm and 10pm, the busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Slateford Road: The quietest time is between 9pm and 10pm, the busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Easter Road: The quietest time is between 9am and 10am, the busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Sainsbury's
Inglis Green Road: The quietest time to shop is between 9pm and 10pm. The busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Westfield Road: The quietest time is between 8am and 9am, the busiest is between 5pm and 6pm.
Meadowbank: The quietest time is between 9pm and 10pm, the busiest time is between 4pm and 6pm.
Craigleith Retail Park: The quietest time is between 9am and 10am, the busiest time is between 12pm and 2pm.
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Morrisons
Gilmerton Road: The quietest time to shop is between 9pm and 10pm. The busiest time is between 4pm and 5pm.
Piersfield Terrace: The quietest time is between 8am and 9am, the busiest is between 12pm and 2pm.
The Gyle: The quietest time is between 9pm and 10pm, the busiest time is between 12pm and 1pm.
Pilton Drive: The quietest time is between 7am and 8am, the busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Waterfront Broadway, Granton: The quietest time is between 9am and 10am, the busiest time is between 4pm and 5pm.
Aldi
Gilmerton Road: The quietest time to shop is between 9pm and 10pm. The busiest time is between 4pm and 5pm.
Piersfield Terrace: The quietest time is between 8am and 9am, the busiest is between 12pm and 2pm.
The Gyle: The quietest time is between 9pm and 10pm, the busiest time is between 12pm and 1pm.
Pilton Drive: The quietest time is between 7am and 8am, the busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Waterfront Broadway, Granton: The quietest time is between 9am and 10am, the busiest time is between 4pm and 5pm.
Asda
Leith superstore: The quietest time to shop is between 7am and 8am, the busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Chesser superstore: The quietest time is between 7am and 8am, the busiest is between 3pm and 5pm.
The Jewel: The quietest time is between 7am and 8am, the busiest time is between 2pm and 4pm.
Straiton superstore: The quietest time is between 9pm and 10pm, the busiest time is between 4pm and 5pm.
Tesco
Broughton Road: The quietest time to shop is between 7am and 8am, the busiest time is between 5pm and 6pm.
Duke Street: The quietest time is between 6am and 7am, the busiest is between 5pm and 6pm.
Corstorphine: The quietest time is between 9pm and 10pm, the busiest time is between 4pm and 5pm.
Colinton: The quietest time is between 12pm and 1pm, the busiest time is between 4pm and 5pm.
Cultins Road: The quietest time is between 9pm and 10pm, the busiest time is between 3pm and 4pm.
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If your store isn't mentioned above, you can see the busiest and quietest times by simply typing the name of the store into Google and clicking on its name. The footfall data is displayed as a graph.
