Supermarkets: As Much As Possible For As Little As Possible

wannabestudent

Hello,

I realise this is a daft question as everyone has different favourites for different reasons but I'm after a general consensus.

I'm on an especially limited budget and I'd like to get as much as possible for as little as possible.

We have a fridge, freezer and microwave but we don't have a cooker and the grill is not amazing on the microwave on occasion. We don't have a slow cooker or anything like that - just fridge/freezer/microwave/toaster/kettle. We also don't have the money to buy any of them and I'm not allowed to ask for a cooker on freecycle (it's automatically vetoed and causes an argument everytime I bring it up - apparently we don't want other peoples junk because it can't be guarenteed to work and we can't afford the money to scrap it if it doesn't work)

We're pretty lucky to have all the big ones:

Asda
Tesco
Sainsburys
Aldi
Lidl
Somerfield
Morrisons (bus ride there and taxi back as it is quite a distance away)
Iceland
Ramsdens (think this is a northern thing?)
Netto
Farmfoods

reasonably close, especially the big three and lidl, netto and farmfoods.

I've looked on my supermarket and identified a few reasonable offers but I'm not in the best health to actually wander around lots and walk for miles so it needs to be condensed down to the best all round value for a supermarket shop (Around £100 for a fortnight's worth of food) at one supermarket.

Nettos and farmfoods we did for £60 (£30 in each) but we didn't get any actual MEAL type meals, it was more the various drinks of pop that were on offer (:o I know, bad but when you don't eat a lot but drink a bucket load...!) and we're living off the ready meals/wedges/bacon (I know, it's not healthy but we do have fruit in too and until we can get a cooker we're a bit stuck) we have in the freezer for when Sainsburys had their offer on and we stocked up as much as we could.


So, what I'm trying to say.... which of the supermarkets is your favourite for offers/all round shopping/value range etc?

I'm all for paying a bit extra for something we'll actually eat (not go somewhere and get 5 meals for a £1 and not actually like them and end up paying twice, tesco microwavable ready meals are disgusting for us aside from the cheeseburgers and then it's only me who likes those!) And I'm a bit against the BASIC basic ready meals (ie - lasagne for 50p basic range) as they really do look like they will taste of cardboard and aren't at all appetising

... not a hard job then

It's for two adults, 2 dogs (who are fed iams and iams only as one of them is allergic (he gets spots and lethargic and is sick) when we tried him on other diets until we found iams through the vets so we're not swapping that even if we have to skip meals) and a parrot who we buy huge bagfuls for sort of... 4 times a year so he's alright.


Thank you so much guys, I really do appreciate all your help.

Smidster

Youe best bet is to look at the 'Old Style' Board

They have all sort of tips and tricks!

MrsBartolozzi

I'm having a look on the Oldstyle threads for one about cooking without a cooker, I'll get back to you when I find it.:D
But one thing really sticks out to me, if you are paying £50 a week on food for 2 people, it would be worth your while spending the £15 (argos have one for less than a tenner too) or so on a slow cooker to drop your food costs. You can easily make chili, bolognaise, stews,casseroles, curries, roasts, soups, and even puddings much cheaper than ready meals, (and better for you) with extra leftover portions for the freezer too Home Made ready meals!

It will make back it's costs in a week or two, and then you save money all the time!

MrsBartolozzi

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1814965
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1603551
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=976745
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=53177

Here are a few threads on cooking without a kitchen (when renovating) or without a cooker. Hope they are of some use to you.

jordylass

You can possibly find a slow cooker in a second hand shop or they may let you look for one on freecycle.

nonoz

where do you buy your dog food? I know you dont want to swap the brand, but my dog also on a special diet has to have a particular type of food. Buying her food through the vet cost £76 for a 15kg bag (that lasts around 5 weeks so gets expensive). I did a bit of research and the best place was pet planet (google it, i dont think i can add links). Her food was £56 from there and it was free delivery, which is handy because the food is very heavy!

clairehi

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4231930/Trail/searchtext%3EBOILING+RING.htm

I bought one of these above (a double boiling ring = hotplate that plugs into a standard electric socket) when having my kitchen done.

you can cook anything on it that you would on a normal hob although it is a little slow to heat up.

I got mine for 15 quid in the sale, ok its 30 quid now but will save you money/aggro in the longer run. you could also ask for one on freecycle or check ebay. or if you are near Hertfordshire you can have mine

mgardner

Asda is my favourite all round shop.When I didnt have a cooker I bought a George Forman
Grill from there for about 12 pounds, marvellous for bacon Sausages,chops etc and the money I saved on ready meals paid for it. Its a marvellous little tool and even though I now have a cooker I use it most days as saves on electric as well. Hope you get sorted soon
Best wishes

buxtonrabbitgreen

I know you say you can't buy anything to cook on but where my sister lives there is a shop run by the council with things like cookers and washing machines etc for about £50. She can't afford one either. I got her an electric steamer from Amazon for £15 inc postage. She has been so pleased with it. It means she has a much greater range of cooking options. Ie she can boil potatoes, eggs, steak puddings etc as well as 3 diff veg at the same time. hth

Also sign up to a different freecycle group. Ours allows the sale of cookers.

debtfreein4years

second the george forman and steamer options. i use mainly them and the microwave and dont bother much with the oven and hob. frozen veg gets done in the steamer and a bit of meat/burger/fish fingers etc all gets cooked on the george forman. scrambled eggs in the microwave with a splash of milk etc.

ive just got a new george forman, so if your in the durham area my old one is going spare. its still usable i just wanted one with removable plates for easier cleaning.

debtfreein4years

also wanted to say i spend 120 a month on food and booze for 2 of us and we eat really well on that and mainly shop at sainsburys (we do drink lots of fizz, but buy it when its on offer and stock up). if you are going to do a big shop then maybe do it online and get it delivered if your spending 200 a month on food you should be able to do your main shop for say 100 for the month getting possible free delivery and then use the extra 100 that is left to invest in some kitchen gadgets or put some of it towards a cooker once you've got the pet food.