Village living on a budget what NO ALDI!

onlyroz

Get in a monthly online order from Tesco/ASDA/Sainsbury's (delete as appropriate) making sure you look for voucher codes to cover the delivery costs. This is to cover any stuff that can be stored in a cupboard or freezer. Then find out where your local farm shops, markets, butchers, grocers are to pick up fresh items during the week.

We found that if we go to our butcher shortly before closing time on saturday, he will give us any off-cuts at a reduced price - because they're closed on sunday and he doesn't want to keep the left over bits to sell on monday.

The local market in the town where I work is great for fresh fruit and veg, and is cheaper and better quality than the supermarket. There are also monthly farmers markets for more speciality items. We also intend to check out local farm shops, to "cut out the middle man".

pinkshoes

I buy all my fruit and veg from the local market 5 miles away, then eggs from butcher or neighbours who have chickens.

Local shops often have very good deals, so meal plan and try to incorporate what's on offer!

For everything else, I then do online shopping with Tesco every 3 weeks.

rachbc

Aswell as getting stocks in make sure you have an alternative source of power in the winter - my parents were without electricity for 5 days last winter - they cooked on their woodburner til dad could get out to buy a generator

[Deleted User]

no shop of any sort in our village so all cupboards are stuffed full. Breadmaker lots of flour and a large freezer brimful as we start winter. Re power cuts: several wind ups ie radio, lanterns candles etc also a barbie and fuel for alternative cooking and a plug in telephone

Internet shopping rules in this house and I get a free waitrose delivery from time to time. You learn to do without newspapers and read the freebies on the net

We were suddenly cut off for 6 weeks last winter, the snowplough went through but it made the lane more dangerous, so lots of time in the house. Kindle and ds are charged and I have a stash of chocolate

mardatha

We're the same, 20 miles to nearest big shop, 12 miles to nearest shop of any kind (village postoffice/general store). Practically cut off for 5 weeks last year. I find online shopping is brilliant, costs less than the petrol would to go yourself - get one big order to fill all the cupboards in case of snow. Get UHT milk. Get a farm shop for sacks of tatties instead of fiddly wee bags. Always have a plan B for heating and lighting.
And enjoy a better way of life

magenta22

I go to the local farmers market and stock up on meat or if don't go there stock up with the 3 for £10 offers.

In the summer months grow your own vegetables, much cheaper and tastes better. I find buying the loose veg in the shops is cheaper than the pre-packed veg a lot of the time. Try and grow things that will store well too.

brunettegirl

WOW!! thank you everyone, some fab ideas
I need to do some more research I think
No idea where my nearest farm/village shop is, Thirsk is about 18 miles away so not too bad, but will need to be more organised, no popping down the road to the shop thats for sure
Which reminds me I best get looking for candles at the carboot this weekend - I only have tealighters, no good for the new house
And batteries for my torches!

RAS

brunettegirl wrote: »

And batteries for my torches!

Buy windup/solar/squeeze powered torches, radio, mini-lamp. When they run out of juice the power supply is on hand.

Seanymph

we have moved last Summer and now have a woodburner, solar power fitted and chickens - with the main part of the garden intended for veggie production!

I have bought a breadmaker too (£34.99 at LIdl) - and we make and use at least one loaf a day - but we never run out

Welshwoofs

As others have said - buy a big freezer! In rural areas you'll usually have people selling eggs direct and often have farms who'll sell half a pig or lamb, generally for less than you'd get in a supermarket for the same amount of meat jointed up. If you have a garden in your new place, start growing your own veg - otherwise you may find local box schemes. Obviously there's also independent shops.

I'd also add that a day's foraging course is a very good investment.