Which Supermarket?

HGLTsuperstar

Thank you i know what the minimum wage is, the point being £5.20 is not a lot more than the minimum, and isn't above the going rate for supermarkets. And its going up to £5.35 in October BTW

haveagoade

Ken68 wrote:

I like Lidl, because they don't accept credit cards, and they don't issue plastic bags, and the prices are cheaper than Tesco etc.
Not sure how ethical they are otherwise, tho staple foods at a low price are available, e.g. oat flakes at 25p for 500gr and long life milk at 35p per litre for those not using a fridge. And every so often they do half price veg and fruit, not on my list because I grow my own.
For meat eaters they also do half price events.

I thought Lidl DID take credit cards........?
And I think they are not as cheap as they like to think they are!

RichyRich

haveagoade wrote:

I thought Lidl DID take credit cards........?
And I think they are not as cheap as they like to think they are!

They used to only take debit cards, but I think some branches have started taking credit cards too. I find Lidl's prices on a par with Netto's prices, and Aldi slightly dearer, but depending what you buy this (very non scientific) evaluation may of course change.

C_Ronaldo

ill find out if aldi take credit cards

gromituk

Not surprised that Aldi is more expensive, as I see it's starting to advertise on television.

Luiz

Great thread - some really good ideas.

What is it that you need to buy from a supermarket ? I guess that is the question that will help you decide where to shop.

A good book to read is 'Shopped' - Joanna Blythman http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007158041/202-5485819-6495849 or from your local library - and also read Ethical Consumer magazine http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ for up-to-date info on products.

Getting your veg/fruit delivered as an organic box scheme is a great start - you'll get produce that is in season, and helps you develop into a creative cook !

Making a list of popular family meals and making sure you always keep in stock the staples that you require to make them is a good tip I picked up from Flylady http://www.flylady.net/

Milk from the milkman in returnable bottles... eggs from the organic box scheme or local shop ?

The Co-op is fine for most staples, and if you shop there regularly the manager may well get things in for you. Use it or lose it ! Think about the savings in petrol by using local shops.

Maybe do a once-a-month shop in a supermarket that you're not making a special trip to, with a list, and shop thoughtfully. I love deliberately not taking the 'directed route' around the supermarket, thereby avoiding 'shopper malaise' where you lose your rational mind and turn into an automatic shopper.

Avoiding shops is the best way to avoid spending in them !

Hope this helps :-)

Louise

HGLTsuperstar

Mine still wont take CC

Penelope_Penguin

tr3mor wrote:

They pay their staff more than a lot of places, I think their general staff have a starting wage of around £5.20, which I'm sure is more than most other supermarkets and local businesses.

Seeing as the National Minimum wage is currently £5.05 (rising to £5.35 in October 2006) this isn't really a big deal.

Ooooooooooooooops! Sorry - missed page 2 and the discussion about NMW!

Penny x

Penelope_Penguin

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOps!

Sorry, didn't spot page 2 and discussion about NMW!

Penny x

rackstar

tr3mor wrote:

They pay their staff more than a lot of places, I think their general staff have a starting wage of around £5.20, which I'm sure is more than most other supermarkets and local businesses.

I was refering to the way they minimize the number of staff for efficiency. It might save me a few pennies, but it means a huge ugly warehouse round the corner providing very few jobs for my community.

Returning to your comparisson on Lidl and Waitrose, I don't actually spend much more than you, but I get the option of free range, organic, British reared meat, or Fairtrade products, and the assurance that the products are sourced with ethics as a consideration, even if it is not the top priority. Also the staff are better paid, have share and training options. For people who think about our economy, society and environment and the constraints from globalisation, those are important things.

That's what I think anyway.