Playing the supermarkets - anyone do this?

jennyd1975

Yes I do!!

I don't go out of my way but have all supermarkets in my town or on my way home from work so rotate my visits to cover most of them. I check the flyers I get through the post and if something is on offer I make it my next stop!

I kind of begrudge paying for coffee/biscuits/shower gel etc that is full price when morrisons quite freqently rotate Dowe Egberts/Gold Blend Imperial Leather/mint source (My Favs!) to being BOGOF. In fact so much so and I am clean out at the moment so drinking tea until the next deal comes up..!!

beyond_skint

I try to do this, but end up spending twice the amount I can actually afford.

So I try and write a list and then stick to it.

Peartree

Like Jennyd1975, I pop into three local supermarkets on a rotation basis on the way home from work, without going out of my way, and pick up the best of the offers when I can, stocking up when I see something good. It's bit like the shopping equivalent of 'grazing' rather than 'three square meals' if that makes sense?!

However, from a personal point of view, I think you need to take your time into account as well as travel costs. I work full time and am renovating a house and garden so spare time to do 'nice' things is very precious - as I'm sure it is for everyone. Therefore, I like to place a nominal value on my time. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't waste my money, but I'll balance a saving with the time it would take me to go somewhere else - ie, is it worth an extra couple of quid to me NOT to have to spend another hour of my time going somewhere else? Like work/life balance, I think there is a moneysaving/life balance! And there is nothing as life-draining as traipsing around a large supermarket when the one thing you really want is in the farthest corner (through the clothes, through the lampshades, throught the gardening products, through the books, etc). AND, then you end up buying the one thing you wanted, plus the clothes, plus the lampshade, plus the gardening product, plus the etc...!

PS Of course, I rarely pay full price for any of those things...!

almar_2

Since finding MSE in June 08 (thank goodness) I have personally found it much cheaper to shop on line these days.

I shop every two weeks to save on delivery charges and pick the cheapest deivery slot. Sometimes deliveries arrive at 7-9pm on a week night but I dont mind if its cheaper.

I always shop at Tescos, because I like the brands and they give me great rewards, I now get double points back with a clubcard plus card which provides deals for clubcard points such as holidays, days and meals out. This is not a credit card. I just put my shopping money onto the card at Customer services before I shop in store for a few things or on-line for a major shop and then collect the double points.

We always use voucher codes availabe from this forum and use mysupermarket.co.uk and sometimes make use of the suggestions for further savings on money and calories.

We also now check the latest offers with the www. compare supermarket prices.co.uk website (join the words up in a google search to find - because it wont let me put a link in here for you) and then we adjust our shop slightly for the best offers - and its good fun to try out new products which are on offer and even nicer when its a bogoff or half price.

I am delighted that this week I have saved £26 just with a few bogoff offers and a £13 off voucher code from this forum at (tesco voucher codes). But amazingly I have halved the cost of our fortnightly shop by using the above methods and by spending a little while in planning meals, making lists and checking the cupboards and freezer before buying.

We do not buy value goods but buy quality branded items unless they are for cleaning etc. Some people may like value items but what I mean is that we are not buying items of a poorer quality to save money.

I now thoroughly enjoy my shopping and the savings made are brilliant. I have opened a seperate high interest savings account and put all my fortnightly savings from shopping into it and its really adding up to provide some nice treats.:beer:

HTH

almar

gamadison5

i tend to use http://www.supermarketspecialoffers.com/ to check what's on offer as it has a section that covers BOGOFs and 1/2 price offers. Does seem to keep up to date too.

almar_2

CompareSupermarketPrices has about 50,000 up to date items from different supermarkets and tells you all the offers too - no need to waste time and petrol travelling from shop to shop anymore.

If you click on prices, it lists them all from 1p upwards.

Make_do_and_mend

For certain items with a reasonably long shelf life, like tinned tomato's, salmon, tea, coffee, crisps etc, I do a quick scan on the internet to see what is on offer. I plan my shop around this and then I have a cupboard set aside to store the extra from any buy one get one free offers. I make sure this way that I don't pay full price for these branded products. You need to semi forget the stuff is there or you just end up eating more!!

rchddap1

I go to the websites of the supermarkets that are in my little town to check out the deals. If there is something interesting pricewise that I might usually buy (lower in price than my usual per item) I will go and get it and then stock up. Eg, I spotted some pork loin yesterday, but don't have room in the freezer at the moment. So early next week when I will have some room I will go and get a pack or two for the freezer.

joshtbh

bizzylizzy wrote: »

I recently heard of someone who shops by going to the 4 main supermarkets each week/month and only buys the BOGOFs and special offers at each one. I presume she then plans her meals around the things she's bought.
I have been thinking about doing this with Tesco and Asda, both of which are 1-2 miles away from me.
Does anyone else do this? Is it cheaper than buying everything in one place? And what about staples like milk, sugar etc which aren't usually on offers?
I know you have to factor in the petrol use as well. I have switched to Tesco as it's nearer (and had a petrol deal going too) but I could do a round trip and include Lidl too.
I always shop with a list, I suppose you would still need to or you could find yourself without some essentials (like loo rolls :eek:) and have to go out again......
Sorry for rambling, I'm thinking while I type, but I'm really trying to find ways of reducing the shopping bill and thought this was an interesting idea........

who doesn't play them?

I play them, I play them real good.

C_Ronaldo

buyitall wrote: »

The only trouble is that many of the offers are on the more unhealthy, processed foods so you might not be getting the ideal diet!

this is the problem,