So torn between cheap V quality

beingfrugal

Financially crippled last year and just about getting on our feet. I have a budget every week to feed a family of four. It's not extravagant to say the least £40-£50 depending on household cleaners etc.

I am increasingly using more fruit and veg, I've learned to cook 'properly' with a store cupboard of essentials coming along nicely..

now what i'm wondering is should I take the leap into box schemes for better quality fruit and veg/meat diary etc or keep trekking to the supermarket weekly and buying things that i've drilled into myself to keep costs down.

So confused as to what to do for the best - seems silly to 'waste' money on more expensive producers but will it be better for us.

Very confused and airing here with the hope that someone will give me a shake into relising one way or another what to do..

LittleVoice

If you can aford what is best for you, buy it. But why would a box delivered to you be of better quality than what you might find at the market or supermarket? (I expect to get shot down now!)

beingfrugal

Thanks for that, not sure it would be any better than my supermarket..or would it?

pavlovs_dog

another option is to buy locally (be it free range/organic/ low food mile etc) but eat less of it to make it stretch further and help balance the books

kiwichick

Are you able to grow a few of your own? Its not too late to plant up a few pots (anything will do, I've even used buckets) and get a crop of something. Then f its something you are able to do/enjoy you can plan to grow more next year.

dander

I'm inclined to think a box scheme would be harder to deal with on a budget - because you won't know exactly what's in the box until it arrives, it will be harder to plan your meals and what else you'll need to buy, so you might be more likely to waste food.

fairtrade

It is the law of Dichotomy :-

If it isn't broken - don't fix it

If you don't like it - change it.

No-one on the forum will know your individual circumstances. If you are feeding your family and they are content, why would you need to make any changes? Yes, you may be able to get better quality produce, but is the time/effort/impact on the environment worthwhile - and would the recipients notice the difference?

brighthair

I think you have to look at what YOU can't compromise on
for me it's free range, British meat and free range eggs. If I can't afford the free range meat, I don't eat it. The upside is I don't eat cheap meat from takeaways etc, so today I had a veggie sub for £1.99 :-)
Everything else apart from that I can compromise on

elainemn

I buy a lot of my fruit & veg at the local green grocer. It is about half price of the supermarket. Luckily there are 2 at local shops & also Asda & Sainsburys. I have gone to supermarket own label smart price type for carrots / onions as only difference seems to be the size - usually smaller which suits us. I watch reduced for potatoes & never pay full price for them - they keep quite well if you store dry in news paper or in fridge. Then but childrens pears & apples as usually cheaper. I also watch for specials & visit local Aldi for super 6. By combining this, I half price fruit & veg.

pickledonionspaceraider

I have been thinking about those box schemes lately, but havent made the 'leap' as yet as would be worried about not using stuff in time, or having bits we dont like in the box. maybe I should just give it a go and see what happens lol

raphanius

i have recently decided to start having riverford boxes (prompted by a half price offer on here) after buying most of my fruit and veg at tesco and the local market plus some bits from m&s. yellow stickered fruit and veg are ok but they lack flavour and don't keep that long as they are already at the end of their shelf life when you buy them. having said that i have been 'money saving' for three years with this forum and have learnt to budget my food very well so i am now at the stage where i would rather buy better quality organic food and eat less - we are now 95% vegetarian because quorn is cheaper than organic meat. its not easy to choose whether to buy on price or quality but a canny shopper should be able to buy good quality food at a competative price plus if you are cooking from scratch then all box contents should get used with no waste.