The Reduced section: Your best bargains

TurnaroundSue

Angelina-M wrote: »

I started doing this twenty years ago and its one of the reasons I was able to give up my job and stay at home with the kids. I had been taught that the way forward was to meal plan, everyone said this, books, parents, friends etc but I just turned it on its head and started making meals from what I could find in the reduced section.

This idea is one of the main reasons for doing my blog. I'm building up a picture of how I was able to live better and healthier with less money. I was able to save a fortune by planning meals around the food section. I changed my mortgage and switched bills onto better deal plans and soon I was saving more than I was earning at my job so I left and never went back!

I am comfortable now but I still go straight to the reduced section and grin like a cheshire cat driving home if I get a good haul!

Angelina - you are fab. Had a quick look at your blog and have put it in my favourites! Never heard of a dehydrator before for food - how great is that! Going to log on Tchibo right away. And the tip about the cream and lemons is brilliant!! I am sure there is loads I am going to learn from your blog, so thanks, thanks, and more thanks - I will be inspired I know for sure

Olliebeak

My DS2 used to refuse to go anywhere near the reduced shelves with me in the supermarket - called them the 'scav counter'! NOW it's his first stop in the shop . Amazing how our children change their opinions when it's THEY who pay for the shopping.

My best ever haul was middle of December one year - Turkey Crown for £4.00 (from £10.00), Extra Special Beef Wellington for £2.00 (from £6.00) and some Asda's fresh stuffing with cranberries 50p (from £2.00). I've had a few Turkey Crowns but that was the best bargain one! Needless to say, because it was reduced - it tasted all the better :j .


I have noticed recently in Asda, that since the whopping increase in price of bread, that there aren't as many bargains in the bread department.

TurnaroundSue

My best bargin was last year in Tesco. They had reduced Benecol Probiotic drink from £3.60 for 6 to 10p for 6 and they were on a BOGOF so had £7.20 worth of drink for 10p - what a bargin. Put about 20 packs in my trolley (didn't feel I could take anymore ) and put them in the freezer. Ideal for my DD's lunch box - in fact still think I have a few left!!!

Angelina-M

TurnaroundSue wrote: »

Angelina - you are fab. Had a quick look at your blog and have put it in my favourites! Never heard of a dehydrator before for food - how great is that! Going to log on Tchibo right away. And the tip about the cream and lemons is brilliant!! I am sure there is loads I am going to learn from your blog, so thanks, thanks, and more thanks - I will be inspired I know for sure

Thanks Sue :T

I've put it in rather simple terms on the paragraph above and of course there was more to it than that. For instance we were healthier because I had the time to prepare fresh meals (from the reduced section) with me leaving work. I hope to document everything in the coming months. I'm thrilled to have the support of Martin behind my blog too! :money:

dan1979

I think I need to start checking these out. The only time I've ever seen bargains in a supermarket was when I lived near a Budgens and they had a few Sunday bargains like organic bacon for 20p a pack.

Obviously close to closing time is the best but is there a particular evening that's generally slower for them?

Skint_Catt

In our local Tesco I can never get near the reduced shelves :mad: though I picked up a few good bargains last night in Morrisons - 2x2pints of organic milk and some shortcrust pastry (yes I know I should make my own, but useful for the freezer!). I'm guessing when supermarkets weren't open on a sunday better bargains were had on Saturdays?

Raspberry_Swirl

my local Tesco doesn't have decent reductions very often. they usually only take 20-40p off an item that might be £3 which isn't that great.

Angelina-M

Skint_Catt wrote: »

In our local Tesco I can never get near the reduced shelves :mad: though I picked up a few good bargains last night in Morrisons - 2x2pints of organic milk and some shortcrust pastry (yes I know I should make my own, but useful for the freezer!). I'm guessing when supermarkets weren't open on a sunday better bargains were had on Saturdays?

You've just reminded me of what it used to be like many years ago. Who else can remember when the shops closed for Christmas and didnt open again until the new year? Every years ritual was the same in our house. Hubby would have the kids while I set off about two hours before the store closed to do my 'supermarket sweet'

I would visit the two big stores in town and stock up with all the reduced items.... and there would be tons! I would get everything from the basics of bread and milk to whole turkeys and christmas crackers. I would buy things that I couldnt normally afford because they were reduced so much.

I would get home absolutely loaded down with bags and that signalled the start of Christmas in our house because no one else would go out after 'supermarket sweep' We would start preparing for Christmas morning...... such happy memories.

The only thing I didnt like in those days was that they never had any whole milk left, it was always 'that semi skimmed rubbish that nobody drank' How times change lol!:D

earthmother

I'm another Co-op lurker - mine always reduces by around 50%, and sometimes multibuy deductions still work, so I get some great deals.

I know that if we need bread or fruit and veg, it's normally there just after the morning school run, and if I need meat/chill, the afternoon run is better. I've been lucky lately that a fair few of our staples have appeared on the reduced counters, so, for example, I haven't paid full price for bread for almost 3 weeks now, and have another weeks worth in the freezer.

Tesco can be good pricewise, but rarely has much in that's useful to us, and Sainsburys think knocking 5p in the £ off is a good reduction, so not really worth the journey.

morwenna

Co-op lurker here too! And the staff know me well by now and will point out reductions, one girl swapped a full price pack of sausages for a RTC one she had reduced whilst I was shopping - I hadn't realised they were late reducing that night :rotfl: They also give me stuff that's been reduced twice - ie on its date at store closing time. (They have to throw it. :eek: ) Train your Co-op staff!! And get the membership card too - you get cashback twice a year.