2012 no supermarket shop challenge

COOLTRIKERCHICK

If supermarkets are 'monitoring' all proceedures and chemicals used... why are they importing food from countries where chemicals are freely used which are banned in our country?

I might not know all the tech terms and the ins and outs of chemicals etc... but all i know the supermarkets have producers by the short and curlies when it comes to pricing etc.. so are more or less forcing growers into a corner to use more and more chemicals to minimise their losses and to guarentee certain growths etc..

bring back wonky carrots i say:T

davenport151

I will follow this thread with interest and begin (slowly) to adhere to this. I agree with the idea of it. The big 4 have had our loyalty for too long, its time we returned to basics. I think thats what alot of people realize. Although i'm lucky in that I work part- time and its easier for me to achieve.

dobsoncrew

Good luck see how long it lasts

lynzpower

I was thinking about this in general the other day so its nice to see a thread on it.

I wondered whether it might be possible to avoid chains of any sort altogether for all spending outside of utilities. OH said I was probably taking the idea too far!

We live in a rented house so we dont need to buy anything to decorate or repair it with. We dont drive. We dont have children.

I would say at least 75-80% of our food shopping is done from independents with a massive market, loads of independent grocers, and the like. I know trying to buy fairtrade decaf tea would be tricky along with mushrooms ( no one other than the chains sell them around here)

In terms of other household and clothes stuff Id say its about 50% with footwear stationary+ office supplies and electric stuff the things we tend to buy from a chain. I do like to buy clothes from markets if I can and some have some great stuff, but its rubbish for trousers as theres nowhere to try on. I recently found a petshop so I can buy dogs food from there instead of PAH the good thing is they are 1p cheaper than PAH per tray at the mo and I dont have to payany delivery charges or anything.

For me I am lucky as I can almost totally avoid the big 4 for food. I already avoid tescos. I cant afford waitrose we dont have a Mr M that close. Asda I get a few bits from ( usually cereal, mushrooms biscuits) and I use Farmfoods as well as Iceland for milk & bread. I usually buy meat in M&S or the butchers.

we are def guilty of buying takeaway + sandwiches from chains and Im going to try to do better at this this next year and use more independents for this in 2012.

miss_edith

I haven't shopped in any of the big 4 for a couple of years now. I don't eat meat so that cuts my costs down but all my shopping is done in town in Waitrose, B&M, the market and some bits and pieces on the High Street.
Waitrose support the town and people who shop there tend to use the High Street shops more so I have no problem doing the majority of my weekly shop in there.

luvabargain

I'm with you on this and am trying to change my shopping habits. Working full time i find the biggest obstacle is time! Over the last few months I've got into a routine with a local butcher and yes repeated visits has made it a habit! It is a little more costly but MUCH better quality, usually visit every 2-3 weeks and stock freezer up as he's about 3 miles away. Bought a breadmaker, its fantastic, rarely buy bread now, supermarket tastes yuk once you've had homemade. Using it is the easiest thing ever, put ingredients in switch on wait for beeps, we aren't going to recoup initial outlay but we know it's not got preservatives and suchlike Local green grocer...Mmm.. Not impressed, as someone else mentioned. Ours isnt great quality and goes off quickly, tried a veg box delivery and way too expensive...going to have to work on this one! In new year going to use local wilko for household/ toiletry stuff, already shop there just need to get everything I can instead of supermarket. I also agree if everyone just spent a fraction of their weekly spend in local shops they would be in a much better position to meet our needs. Will continue my aim to spend more locally and read this thread with interest

rising_from_the_ashes

Looter wrote: »

Yes, my main aim is just to avoid the big 4. Having said that, it's not my intention to do my weekly shop at Aldi or Lidl, I'm going to use small independent shops wherever I can that specialise in the items they sell, that have passion for what they do and who will appreciate my custom.

Good Luck Looter & everyone else trying.

For me, it's unfortunately not an option - the only place I can get "my milk" is at Mr T or Mr A so I have to go there. :mad:

Will be popping in to see how it's going!:D

Happy_Hermit

Delurking so that I can join this thread

I'm in. I've been thinking about this for a while and I'm quite sure that we should be able to change our shopping habits so that we can avoid the 'big four'

We live in a rural area but we have a small market town a couple of miles in one direction and a small village in the other. The village offers a co-op and the town has a Budgens, plus there's always Approved Foods online to bulk buy from. We also have a farm shop a mile or so away that sells a lot of own grown produce by the sack, a large garden where I hope to grow some veg this year, several hens for eggs and our milk is already delivered by the milkman.

I can see that, for us, it should be quite easy to use local shops. I've got into the habit of buying from supermarkets as it is so easy with all the items under one roof / on one website and delivered to the door. I've been saying for ages that we should use the local shops more and this is the kick up the bum that I needed to actually stop talking and actually do it!

luvabargain

Happy_Hermit wrote: »

Delurking so that I can join this thread

Welcome Happy Hermit :beer:

mymerrywidow

definatly not for me, but good luck.