online v manual shopping

Imelda

Hi all,

I am a recent convert to online food shopping

It started when I moved house and decided to do a "one off" stock up shop, taking advantage of an Ocado voucher. Well I haven't looked back.....

I definitely think it has saved me time and money, I do not sway from my shopping list, take items off if the total is looking a bit expensive and impulse buys are virtually zero. I can shop from my mobile, so rarely forget anything, and don't have the hassle of lugging the bags from the car (can't always park outside my house).

As a couple we have gone from approx £100/ week :eek: to £70 max and we hardly waste a thing anymore.

Downsides: delivery charge- this peeves me but I have signed up to Ocado delivery pass when discounted to £40 for the year.
Not being able to get offers from different supermarkets- previously I would go to Sainsbury/ Tesco depending on offers, but now I am limited to one store.
I actually liked browsing the aisles for new things, it's easy to get stuck in a rut buying the same thing each week online.

What is your preferred method of shopping?

Lilium

I prefer online.

It saves us time, is easier on us physically for a start...DH and I currently work full time and I don't fancy trudging round a supermarket for a couple hours every weekend. Shopping online, we get a 1 hour slot and can do bits round the house whilst we wait for it. I'm also pregnant and have a toddler...carrying heavy bags, pushing heavy trolleys and even walking too far makes me ache. Definitely prefer pottering round the house or playing with my son and getting someone else to do the lifting.

But then the other big bonus is that we spend less because I can see the total, take bits out if needed, see all the offers and swap things we'd normally buy for something cheaper, etc...sooooo much easier when trying to stick to a budget.

I still do shop around...though not so much for food, never really have done that to be honest. But I shop around for household things and nappies/wipes etc...stuff that's more expensive and I can stock up on when there's a good offer.

lch_2

I too am an online convert. I work full time and have a nearly 1 year old. I think i first tried online shopping about 4 or 5 months ago and was very impressed.

I shop with Tesco and haven't yet tried any others, but i would normally shop at Tesco anyway. I love the favourites function as i do stick to certain regular cheapies like tesco value tissues and creamfields milk. But also the special offers are easier to see than in store, i can compare easier and i will quite often pick something on special, i.e. a loaf of bread, and if they replace it, you get something or equal or better value, but for that price. So far all my substitions have been fine and sensible, although i have heard of others getting some weird and wonderful things, but you don't have to accept the substitution.

I too am a bit put off by the delivery charge, but i've worked out that Tuesday evenings work out fine for me and thats one of the cheapest delivery slots. Plus the other week we did a shop in store and took so long that little man needed a snack and a bottle so we popped to the cafe to sit down. which of course meant we bought a cup of tea each, which cost far more than the £3 delivery charge i usually pay!

I got a leaflet through with a discount code for ocado the other day. I don't know if they deliver to me, but i thought i'd give them a try. Was rather impressed by the mention that they price match Tesco on branded items, so if i shop right and get things that i usually buy branded like nappies (just get which ever is on special), it could work out a good deal.

lucylucky

Instore for food shopping.

I get to see what is on offer and what is reduced because of the proximity to a "sell by" or "use by" date.
You get some excellent bargains that way.

I also only buy what I need for example today I bought one grapefruit and two apples as I passed the fruit shop.

I should add I don't get meat, fish or fruit from supermarkets that often as I prefer to shop at local shops so that probably influences my choice.

Never do a "weekly" shop either.

Middy

I don't do a weekly, monthly shop. I just buy things as I need them. Working at a supermarket helps if I need milk, some fruit and yoghurt, I buy them afterwork.

countingthepennies

Definately online shopping, for all the reasons you have mentioned. Plus I dont drive and the nearest decent supermarket is two bus journeys away, and I dont fancy trying to carry a 'big shop' home like that. The delivery cost is cheaper than my bus fare would be, and depending on the day I choose for delivery its sometimes only £3.00.

I always go through 'mysupermarket' which makes sure I am getting the best deal possible.

The only downsides would be that it is more time consuming than you might think as I like to check out every special offer, and also there is never any chance of getting anything reduced at the end of the day like you would if you popped into asda or tesco on the way home.

uolypool

Online all the way.I have no car so would be so much of a hassle getting it all back.However, my sons and daughter regularly pop into tesco whilst they are out and about and come home ladened with yellow stickered goodies .So really we get the best of both worlds.

Mangoose

I've tried online once with ASDA, and it was very good.

My only worry though was that I would end up with meat with really short sell by dates, but mostly all were fine apart from a joint of lamb. The delivery was at 8.30pm, the sell by date on the joint was for tomorrow

The delivery man said that normally he could refund me on the doorstep, but his scanner thing was broken, but if I call ASDA they can sort me out. So I called them the next day, and they refunded me £4 (even though it was in a 3 for £10 deal) and I froze the joint!

Would definitely do again :money:

Miss_Laid

I prefer to shop in store, I have tried online shopping with Tesco Sainsburys and Asda and found they all missed things off and/or gave very odd substitutions I ordered 3 packets of slice meats for o/h lunches for the week when they arrived they all had a use by date of the next day, ok you can ring up and get a refund but then you still have to go shopping anyway

Orrin

I definitely prefer to shop in store. We don't do a weekly shop and I like being able to take advantage of what's on offer from day to day and the flexibility of not having to plan out meals far in advance. But I can only really do this as I have the time to shop regularly so if circumstances were different I'd probably use online shopping. You also have to be more disciplined when it comes to impulse buying and extras when you shop several times a week.

Sublime_2

I prefer online. I spend a fortune at the local shops otherwise. Its much easier to spot bargains, and stick to your budget when not sidetracked by shop displays.