Shopping-Monthly vs Weekly or daily (merged)

Linda32

I go once a week to either Tesco or Sainsburys, simply depending on which one I fancy. They are both as near to me.

I always make a list and mostly stick to it. The only time I change is lets say if these a better offer that I can make something else with. I wouldn't buy the item I wanted and the offer IYSWIM

For instance I bought two Youngs Fish Pies from the freezers as these were on offer at 63p each or there abouts, couldn't resist that.

We generally need a few extra bits during the week, which we get from the Co-Op. This is abit annoying as the amount added together deffently takes us over £50.00 for the week and I've usually got a till spit offer for an extra 200 nectar points which I could have used at Sainsburys if I'de spent over £50.00 in the first place. :mad:

Lindy_-_Loo

We online shop at tesco once a month and then use netto for fresh food top ups, yoghurts, cooked meat etc and farmfoods for milk and bread as the hovis is still the cheapest weve seen at 2 for £1.25. This month there was probably less bought from tesco as netto have had really good offers so its cheaper to use there

griffam

i hope this makes sense but we take our shopping back a process step. I have a planning book!! As things get low in stock I record them in the book as an ongoing shopping list. (Never run out or it will cost)

I regularly check approved foods and use my approximatly monthly order to stock up on lunch box things, drinks, and any other good buys. I regularly watch the forums for deals on high price items ( washing powder, toilet rolls, meat etc)
Once a month I travel to Birmingham to the market and buy in bulk...apples, potatos, carrots, onions etc plus meat, cheese etc from the chilled stalls. On this journey I also visit poundland and home and bargain etc for toiletries and cleaning products. This has reduced the need to do a weekly big shop with all the usual impulse buys etc.

My planning book allows me to plan meals for the following week by checking cupboards and freezer etc then writing a short list of any essentials. then it is a case of where will be cheapest to buy.

May sound complicated but is now just routine and works well for us. I suppose the absence of ready made and convenience foods also helps .

alec_eiffel

But isn't the point of a shop to get you to buy more things and spend more money? It's all people are doing when they go for a "top up" shop.

(Not inspired by the adverts) DH and I decided to ditch the weekly shop and just nip out for things we need as and when, I have to say it's been brilliant. No waste, no stress, just a quick wander for anything we need and then home within about 15 minutes. In the past we've tried all manner of methods - monthly online with top ups, weekly, fortnightly but this has been far and away the cheapest and most relaxing. Probably wouldn't be as simple for a family, but no one idea will suit everyone.

rachbc

alec_eiffel wrote: »

But isn't the point of a shop to get you to buy more things and spend more money? It's all people are doing when they go for a "top up" shop.

(Not inspired by the adverts) DH and I decided to ditch the weekly shop and just nip out for things we need as and when, I have to say it's been brilliant. No waste, no stress, just a quick wander for anything we need and then home within about 15 minutes. In the past we've tried all manner of methods - monthly online with top ups, weekly, fortnightly but this has been far and away the cheapest and most relaxing. Probably wouldn't be as simple for a family, but no one idea will suit everyone.

Sorry for me top up was a misnomer - I mean getting fresh fruit and veg, bread etc that woudln't keep for a month from either local market or aldi. I go to aldi for cooked meat etc as its better quality and cheaper than asda. Its still equally planned and costed. To me the idea of having to find the time and energy to shop everyday doesn't appeal - and if I go on the way home I KNOW I'd get more junk/ treats/ snacks as I'm tired!

Hermia

Julie67 wrote: »

I've noticed the adds for the Co @p recently talking about not doing a big weekly shop.

I wonder how many people will find that idea attractive? I'd much rather do a weekly shop than having to drive to the supermarket after work several times a week. Plus a lot of my friends don't live within walking distance of any shops so it would be expensive to drive or take the bus several times a week.

I do a big online shop once a month (tins, dried stuff, laundry stuff etc). I then do a medium-sized shop once a week and go to the greengrocers when I have a day off work.

kitschkitty

I used to go to Asda fortnightly, now I tend to go a little less regularly. We never pick up bits from local shops as I refuse to pay the prices, so we go without! We normally get bread, milk & loo roll from Farm foods and try not to run out! If I'm out and pass a supermarket I may pop in to grab a few bits but I still stick to a budget and "try" not to give into buying too many treat or snack foods.

soozywooz

This is what we do at the moment:

I buy a 12.5 kg sack of spuds from a farm shop that we pass on our way somewhere else every other week and this gives us enough potatoes for 2 weeks.

I then spend one afternoon a month at the local town and try and bulk buy everything I need from 2 supermarkets, iceland and some local specialist shops (ds is dairy free so need some things from a health food shop - particularly df cheese). This then will get things like flour, meat, tinned goods, meat, frozen veg, sugar, golden syrup, cocoa, cheese, fruit juice etc. etc. sorted plus we buy from the local weigh and save spices that I am running short of and large bottles of things like soy sauce, chilli sauce etc if we are running low.

The we top up with extra fruit and veg (although we have some tinned and dried fruit and frozen veg so we can have these if going shopping isn't convenient) and milk and bread in between from either lidl or local shops.

This works well as long as I find the time/energy to do the big afternoon shop.

However I am finding that a bit hard to fit in and so I'm thinking of instead swapping it for a supermarket delivery once a month and then still topping up in between in the same way.

beemuzed

When we were both working it was a big shop every Saturday morning. Now we have more time it's much more as and when we need things. We do always have a list tho' so as not to buy extra things we don't actually need. We have a board in the kitchen where we write things about to run out, so when we do go shopping we always take a look at that first and add to the list.

LandyAndy

Waitrose on Friday evenings for groceries.
Local butcher, fishmonger and greengrocer on Saturday morning for meat, fish and fruit/veg for Saturday - Tuesday. Repeat on Wednesday for rest of week.