Signs of the Times

valk_scot

emmamed wrote: »

its fine if you have the money to do this in the first place

You kind of have to work up to having that emergency £10 or £20 availible in the food budget. If I come in under budget one week I put the money I have left aside, plus once every now and again I have a live out the freezer/larder week, and keep that money aside too. Then if I come across a particularly good deal, like last night's amazing Whoopsies haul or the time Tesco mispriced their washing powder at 98p a box...well, then I've got the money there to take advantage of the deal. Same with the B1G2F cheddar etc.

You do have to be quite firm with yourself about not spending any weekly change from the budget on "a wee treat" but after a while it becomes second nature. One more way to change your shopping habits, perhaps?

MaLarkin

valk_scot wrote: »

You kind of have to work up to having that emergency £10 or £20 availible in the food budget. If I come in under budget one week I put the money I have left aside, plus once every now and again I have a live out the freezer/larder week, and keep that money aside too. Then if I come across a particularly good deal, like last night's amazing Whoopsies haul or the time Tesco mispriced their washing powder at 98p a box...well, then I've got the money there to take advantage of the deal. Same with the B1G2F cheddar etc.

You do have to be quite firm with yourself about not spending any weekly change from the budget on "a wee treat" but after a while it becomes second nature. One more way to change your shopping habits, perhaps?

I did read somewhere on the forum where a poster had come up with a "two purse method" for just this sort of thing. When I first read it I thought it was a bit complex but once you get your head around it it makes sense. Lot like the poster aboves advice. No hope of me finding it I'm afraid I am a total klutz with searches so if anyone else finds it maybe put a link for others?

Thanks for all the replies, interesting stuff on here.

maman

I've noticed that Asda's reduced sections (f&v,chilled and packets/tins) are always really full of rubbish these days. I've stopped even looking as things are so little reduced that it's not worth buying such poor quality stuff for tiny savings. I think there are better bargains are to be had late at night but I have to put a value on my time as well.

I'm fortunate in that I have most large supermarkets nearby without needing to spend a fortune on petrol so I do shop around but I don't tour every shop, every week. I have noticed that as I buy very little processed food the 'price comparison' thing with Asda doesn't bring many vouchers as the price differences tend to be on branded goods which are often processed.