Do you get all groceries in one shop? [merged]

hermum

I had been doing most of my shopping in sainsburys. I've not yet found the best time to get reduced meat, have had good bargains at different times of the day, although 7pm ish seems good reductions. Since coming on & finding my way round this forum I started trying more of their basics & found lots as good as top brands. There are threads about the best basics in different supermarkets. In the last couple of weeks I've discovered approved foods, as long as you don't mind short dates or out of best before dates, they have some brilliant offers, especially if you can order either cases or at least larger amounts. I'm trying to get a buying group togethrt locally.
M0rrisons have some good offers but I don't like the shop itself, it's too busy & noisy. A few of their basics I've tried haven't been that good.
Tesco is ok, again not so keen on their basics.
Aldi & Lidl I like for their fruit & veg. Cheeses are quite good there as well.
If I only need a couple of things I tend to get them from my local spar, as I only buy what I go for.
Our market isn't that good & parking or bus fare makes it's more expensive.
If you can walk between the shops you may save some money but if you have to drive the few odd pence saved will go on petrol.
Enjoy your baby when he-she arrives.

MrsE_2

Mrs_Tradition wrote: »

Do you do all your shopping in one place? When do you go?

Thanks all
Take Care.....

Mrs_T

I get most of my fresh stuff in Waitrose, it offers great VFM as it stays fresh at LEAST a week:money: So I don't waste any.
I like waitrose for fruit, veg & salad. Ham, eggs, bacon, chickens & chicken fillets, mince, roast beef, & some stuff you just can't buy in other supermarkets. If I am buying shop bread I buy it from Waitrose.
Same with cooked chickens, they use "happy" chickens for their cooked chickens - & they are nice.

BUT I won't pay a premium for stuff I can get exactly the same elsewhere, branded stuff, like cereals, beans, tinned toms, tea bags, coffee, all that sort of stuff I will nip in to Tesco for. While I'm not a fan of Tesco meat in general I find their sirloin steak & fresh salmon good (& good value).

If I'm near an Asda, I pop in & stock up on Porky Whites sausages, they were doing them 3 for £5:money: So I used to go in & grab 9 or 12 packs (& freeze):p & their cheap loo brushes, I buy a few at at time & change every month - loo brushes are such disgusting things:eek:

I used to go to Sainsburys just for long life milk (just milk / candia) & cat litter (citycat), but lately I've been using that super filtered fresh milk & the Tesco long life milk (its because of the carton type, my fav is candia, if not Tescos is second best) & getting the Bob Martin cat litter.

Morrisons rarely go into, but if I do I use the salad bar, the only decent one;) & I grab some Galtee White pudding & stash it in the freezer (its the only place that stocks it).

I did pop into Lidl now & again for bread flour, but I've now discovered WRIGHTS so that will be where I get my flour from in future.

Sometimes I remeber to nip into the egg farm on the way home from work & grab a tray of eggs.
Occasionally I go to a nearby farm shop & buy potatos & other bits & bobs.

larmy16

Heavy stuff, tinned, washing powder, some frozen and store cupboard I get online from Tesco.

I have a local Waitrose which I use for fresh stuff, mainly vegetables and fruit and try to buy the reduced if I get lucky.

Godiva500

I shop in 2 shops - Waitrose for ourfood - MUCH better quality, and tesco for cat food ( they love it) and all household stuff. At tescos i only buy special offers so get the cheapest really.

[Deleted User]

I write a list add get the bulk of my shopping once a week at Tesco's. During the week I top up with fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and bread which are not much more locally and can even be cheaper in the market.

I think that you have to consider time as well as cost (comparing prices on everything is almost impossible) and perhaps just take advantage of any special offers that you see. The special offers are mostly on manufactured products not the perishable things.

On maternity leave it can be nice to get out for a stroll and even more so when you have a baby.

tomk123

I was wondering if anyone has shopped at a variety of the budget supermarkets (morrisons, lidl,aldi,netto,summerfiled) and which one they found to be the cheapest?

doelani

I currently ahev to go 20 mileas each way to go to either Tesco or Asda to get my weekly shop. I have also done online shopping as the cost of delivery usually makes up for not driving there.

BUT

next week Asda are opening new shop about 1 miles from me :j

Now thinking will it be better to shop small and often or still try a weekly shop? Even to get bread and milk Asda will be closest shop so will be calling anyway. Hubby is sooooooooo happy no more Tesco as he hates it , I am oppisite and love it but 40 miles round trip will not be happening any more.

Any advise?

FrugalFriend

Personally I think you're quids in there. You may love Tesco, but I think Asda are considered cheaper. Plus if its a new store opening, it'll probably be modern and bright with lots of choice, so good all round. I'd make the best of it. I hear Asda's mobile service is the best priced too, so lots of reasons to like Asda. Also you're saving 40 miles each week in petrol, add that up over a year, its a lot.

I have an Aldi about a mile away from me and instead of driving to shop I walk for the basics, and drive for extras about once every 2 weeks. It works well and has extra benefits; I get the exercise, the groceries and good prices. In time I plan to cut out the drive altogether, by getting a shopping trolley (to hell with the image!), so I can get more with each trip. I feel so lucky to have an Aldi within walking distance.

doelani

I am planning to walk over so more petrols saved lol

We currently have Co-op, Iceland, Lidl, Costcutters and a few small stores. To be honest could not do a weekly " shop" in any so looking forward to it.

I really think it will cut down on what I spend so starting new weekly budget check from next week lol

Ginger_Snap

I agree with FrugalFriend, I think you will save money shopping at Asda and be very glad it opened near you. My OH has always sworn by Asda but I preferrred Tesco and Sainsburys, liking the more pleaseant experience of shopping there. However, now we have a tighter budget and I have compared prices I can see he was right- we save about £20 to £30 a week by shopping in Asda over identical produce bought from Sainsbury etc.
Before I go out grocery shopping I look on MySupermarket.com and see what offers are on this week so I can adjust our meal plan around them/make sure I dont miss them.
I also pop into Aldi when i can to get a few bargains...