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[MSE Jenny]

This discussion relates to the Supermarket Shopping guide

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[MPwannasavemoney]

What absolutely superb advice and tips in this guide! We spend over £10,000 per year in the supermarket so our potential savings are higher.

Shame the OH doesn't have the time / is too distracted with the baby / is too tired from not sleeping / doesn't care as I should be earning more / etc to be able to put ANY of this into practise!

[scootw1]

Can't downshift any further as I have always bought the value stuff for most things ever since student days

[The Miser]

Excellent.
Carefully consider alternatives such as
- instead of buying plain and separate self raising flour get plain plus (tiny amounts of) the raising agents - bicarb mainly. That way you have less to go mouldy / out of date.
- some tinned goods come in the option of brine and oil; get the brine version, wash overnight and soak in oil for a few minutes if your recipe asks for that.

In each case you have both to hand and you have more space for BOGOFS

I didn't see it there but make up your menus for a few days in advance, make and go with a detailed shopping list and don't buy anything else unless it is a massive reduction (see reductions schedule).

Items like "wash-up liquid"; the hole in the top is sometimes larger than it need be; experiment with using less or even make your own cap (old one with the hole partially blocked).

"Downshift your supermarket too"; yes but do check your transport costs. It doesn't make sense to save £2 on the grocery bill if you pay £3 extra in petrol/diesel (been there, done that , got the tee shirt!). Also check different shops of the same chain; in my village we have a small branch of huge nationwide supermarket X; I am sure that they stock only the most expensive items of each range (certainly none of the cheapest cost) and I also an convinced that their prices are higher than the same item in the same chain's big supermarkets.

There is one chain, (not in groceries) which has supermarkets and hypermarkets; the prices in the hypermarkets are clearly lower than in the supermarkets even if the two seem to have the same floor area. Beware, beware and check again.

Best before / use by: IFAIR this concept has been foisted on us by Brussels but is a licence to make money. Scott (of the Antarctic)'s tinned supplies were examined nearly a century after they were prepared and found to be in perfect condition. If, in 2008, manufacturers cannot make their goods as safe as those then we are being conned. I am not saying that food IS safe after it's use by date but do not assume that it is bad. Check how to kill the common bugs (a certain temperature for so many minutes) (use Google) and your nearly prehistoric BOGOF could be perfectly safe to eat.

Otherwise, that original article should be compulsory reading in every household (and I have shares in one of the supermarkets named!).

[The Miser]

Beware of misleading labels.

At one major supermarket today they are selling seasonal vegetable selections at a claimed £1.98 per kilo. The bags are stated to be 450 grammes and cost £1.

Across the road I was looking at hooks and found a cheap looking one in a box marked £1.70 something whilst the nice looking ones were in a box marked £5 something. Fine, until I noticed that they were in the wrong boxes and indeed every one of the 20+ types of hook was in an incorrect box and therefore wrongly priced.

In another major supermarket a while back the bin containing root ginger had a price label of £2 something. I later noticed a smaller label for the same goods on the side of the box showing £4. On enquiry the assistant couldn't help but I found a senior supervisor (very annoyed with me) who confirmed that the higher price was correct and that was the only price they would charge. Next day the labels were unchanged.

[Copeland]

I find that tinned the cheapest tinned tomatoes the same as the most expensive give or take the odd green tomatoe and making a large chilli or spag bol will last for a couple of meals.
Also don't pick up packs of mushrooms loose ones work out much cheaper

[IsabelD]

First up - and for transparency - I am writing this as a representive of the magazine that wrote this story. But when I read it, I couldn't help thinking that is was something worth sharing with other people - because it might help save money.

I work for Farmers Weekly magazine and one of our journalists did a quick comparison of prices at a farm shop and Tesco. Contrary to what most people expect the farm shop was cheaper on quite a few products (particularly meat). I know it is not an option everywhere but it is worth considering.

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/1...rket-food.html

[Flickering Ember]

I never knew about the SupermarketOwnBrand website so that's very helpful. Thank you!!

My shopping habits are dictated by what is on special offer, where and also stalking the items with the yellow clearance stickers on them as well as visiting the shelf of bent cans. Buying in bulk is also helpful at times. Like a big sack of pasta, rice or potatoes works out cheaper.

[BedSox]

I bought an online shopping guide a year or so ago from ShoppersGuides.co.uk. I went back recently and I see that they have made all the information available online free of charge. It's updated and more extensive so I'm not too irked that I paid (only 99p!!!) for it last year. They recommend MySupermarket and have other online supermarket tips along with safer shopping tips. Handy.

[BB78]

I've used Approved Food a few times recently & can highly recommend them!!
The guy who runs it is called Dan & he is REALLY friendly & helpful. Delivery is quick & if you order enough weight wise its value for money.
The first order I placed was delivered 8am the next morning despite the fact that there had been a problem with Google checkout & my payment hadn't gone through!!
I'm not associated with Approved Food in any way other than as a customer & would definitely recommend you check them out!!

[noonootiger]

hi there, i hate the mysupermarket website, i can't help but feel asda has a grip over it.

does anybody know if there is a fair comparison to be found anywhwere?

one that includes all the good shopd like farmfoods, aldi, lidl, etc?

thanks,
noonoo

[keith99]

Th downshift idea was good a year ago but, as you will know if you read the thread about Tesco massive price rises, that prices have shot up on the value lines or disappeared because people have been downshifting.
In the case of Tesco, they replaced many value lines with the discounter brands at a greatly increased price, and i suspect the ever rising value gods are not just at Tesco.

[katylou6180]

What a fantastic site to show thing on, I am a working mother who cooks-freezes-gains bargains..I am unsure where to post the information where it would work best...

[Savvyshop]

I have saved at least40% on my weekly shop over the past 6 months. I use Sainsbury's and have downsized on many things - although some are really nasty! RAther than making a list, I have a list of the favourite meals in the household and I make for the reduced counter first. I sometimes get top of the range for the basic price. But the most important saving method is to buy a chest freezer - these start at just over £100. Not an upright - which may look classy but holds much less than the chest variety. you will save the cost in a couple of months and the chest can be stored in the garage, spare bedroom , hall or anywhyere else there is a plug. Then you go for BOGOFs, things reduced beacuse they are on the last date etc. Specially good is reduced meat. Put straight into the freezer and you can keep indefinitely. Almost everything freezes and much can be cooked from frozen or defrosted in the microwave.

Have to fly - it's thursday and mid-morning they start clearing for the weekend stuff!

[oldschool]

Save a fortune on food and clothes learn from your Granny! Check out a site called Love Food Hate Waste. Good ideas, as I am in my 60's lots of their ideas are things I learnt as I grew up, but for you younger people I am sure the tips and recipes will be helpful. Can't recall the full web address but google will find it I'm sure. I do all the usual things, cut up old cotton clothes for dusters, floor cloths etc., save bread bags for wrapping sandwiches or freezing bits and bobs i.e when I buy large trays of meat I break them down to enought for 2, or make enough mince for 2 meals etc. I shop in charity shops and am always getting complimented on my outfits, you soon learn to spot the quality stuff quickly, I have loads of Per Una which I love, my neighbour buys hers in M&s I get mine for a fraction of the cost in Oxfam etc and I look as good as her any day!There are always loads of beautiful baby clothes in them hardly worn as everyone gets so much bought for them.Or recycle amongst friends, pass on childrens clothes toys etc. It was always done in my family I used to long for my young aunty to grow out of her lovely clothes so I could have them. Just train yourself to think a bit differently, you will get a kick out of saving. good Luck!

[oldschool]

Just thought I'd remind you to keep your wits about you in that big supermarket that 'Tom' delivers for(and I'm sure they all do it). Make sure you are getting what the shelf ticket tells you. They recently had an offer on prawns stating a reduced price for 2x300grm bags, the bags were actually 250grm and yes the bar code checked out. They sent me a money card by way of an apology but I wonder how many times I have missed things like this over the many years I have shopped. If I had walked out with a 100grm bag of prawns without paying they would have prosecuted me yet in reality, they were stealing from me.

[aspiringgeekygirl]

Originally Posted by Copeland

I find that tinned the cheapest tinned tomatoes the same as the most expensive give or take the odd green tomatoe and making a large chilli or spag bol will last for a couple of meals.
Also don't pick up packs of mushrooms loose ones work out much cheaper

Good Food Magazine recommends using tomato Ketchup to soup up the taste. I haven't tried it. I shie away from Value lines but presently I am scouring the Forums with a view to get to know everybody and get my little teeth into the minutae of the Forums which I wish I had discovered before.
Last thing: Hi everyone!!!!

[aspiringgeekygirl]

Originally Posted by oldschool

Save a fortune on food and clothes learn from your Granny! Check out a site called Love Food Hate Waste. Good ideas, as I am in my 60's lots of their ideas are things I learnt as I grew up, but for you younger people I am sure the tips and recipes will be helpful. Can't recall the full web address but google will find it I'm sure. I do all the usual things, cut up old cotton clothes for dusters, floor cloths etc., save bread bags for wrapping sandwiches or freezing bits and bobs i.e when I buy large trays of meat I break them down to enought for 2, or make enough mince for 2 meals etc. I shop in charity shops and am always getting complimented on my outfits, you soon learn to spot the quality stuff quickly, I have loads of Per Una which I love, my neighbour buys hers in M&s I get mine for a fraction of the cost in Oxfam etc and I look as good as her any day!There are always loads of beautiful baby clothes in them hardly worn as everyone gets so much bought for them.Or recycle amongst friends, pass on childrens clothes toys etc. It was always done in my family I used to long for my young aunty to grow out of her lovely clothes so I could have them. Just train yourself to think a bit differently, you will get a kick out of saving. good Luck!

From what I understand our Granny's the young people in their day were a lot more in touch with their ingredients and before junk food emerged as a stereotypically working class problem- less well off families were eating well. (This is a story worth recovering IMHO)
I also think we could get back to proper paper bags that were reusable instead of the plastic bags and other things our forefathers did.
Dear Granny I love your chutzpah and sense of style I can just imagine you. I am a bit of a fashion fiend myself and refuse to be pidgeon holed into the frumpy clothes older women are so often lumped with. I think this makes us women more Trinny and Suzzana and less Nora Battye.
I hope I have been able to convey something of the importance of what has gone before whilst using this precious precious technology that makes Martins Money Saving Expert Forum Participation a living reality.
blessings!
nb all this uber bargain spotting and hunting and money saving is virgin territory for me and I need my hand holding whilst keeping the qaulity sky high as I believe it is better value for money than stuff you end up throwing away.

[Daisymay]

Originally Posted by BB78

I've used Approved Food a few times recently & can highly recommend them!!
The guy who runs it is called Dan & he is REALLY friendly & helpful. Delivery is quick & if you order enough weight wise its value for money.
The first order I placed was delivered 8am the next morning despite the fact that there had been a problem with Google checkout & my payment hadn't gone through!!
I'm not associated with Approved Food in any way other than as a customer & would definitely recommend you check them out!!

I put my first order in on Tues 11 Nov still haven't got it and they don't reply to e-mails, paid by PayPal so will be asking for a refund on Monday16th Nov.

I am not happy as I went back on their site to look for my order and they say there isn't one, funny I paid for it on Tuesday through Paypal! I had tried to e-mail through their site but with no luck so I e-mailed dan@approvedfoods.co.uk sent 2 now with no results!!