1 big shop or pop to the shops daily?

onlyroz

Big supermarkets are designed to make you spend more than you'd intended. It just isn't possible to nip into Tesco for a loaf of bread and a packet of ham - you'll always pick up a basket of other stuff you never intended to buy as well. So a big monthly shop is the way to go - preferably online so you're not tempted by those bogoffs.

I've also started getting my fruit and veg from the local market, and my meat from the local butchers - so it's only really the packet and frozen stuff I need to buy from Tescos.

As an aside, I've recently found that Poundland sell 3 cans of HP beans for £1...

londoner1998

summer1982 wrote: »

How do you do your shopping?

I am currently on mat leave on a very tight budget and have been paid today, I was all set to do an on line shop but am thinking as I am around every day I could save wasting anything by popping out everyday and getting only what we need....but I wonder if I will be swayed by bargains and come back with things I wouldnt usually get, I guess its all about will power and sticking to the list!!!

How do you do yours?

I've done both and I can categorically say that I save money by doing a jumbo shopping either on-line or in store with delivery and a list once a month, just after I get paid. Fresh fruit and veg gets done in the market every saturday for the week. And that's it. After the first or second time you get to know what you need and for how long will things last. I plan, but not too strictly and then cook once or twice a week so that we can take pack lunch to work. I am also studying and this saves me precious time at the end of the day when I need to go home and do some reading (the extra half hour makes the difference between studying or not when I am tired). We do freeze things like meat on offer and stuff like that, and often milk too- and it is just fine- we pack up the freezer full with it and then we take as we go along. The only thing we might need halfway through is bread which often we just bake at home. It also forces us to use everything that is in the cupboard , and not just go to the shop because we don't have what we feel like that day- everything gets used!

I guess it depends, but I think once a month is much easier and saves you cash- there will always be somethign you don;t need that is on offer tempting you...

Egghi

I get my fruit and veg weekly from Abel and Cole and my milk from Milkandmore. I get my meat/fish monthty from Farmerschoice. All of the above delivered to my door.
I then go once a month, more or less, to the supermarket to stock up of non perishable items. Before to go I check on mysupermarket where are on offer most of the items on my list and I go to Tesco/Sainsburys accordingly to it.
This routine works perfectly for me as:
- it saves me lots of time
- it saves me from the temptation of buying things I don't need
- it pushes me to use up what I have in the cupboard/fridge/veg boxes
My providers are slightly more expensive than others (but good quality and there are also bargains/vouchers from time to time) but in the end I know I can stick to the plan.