a month without supermarket - new challenge for 2011 starts at post 1013

mineallmine

This is going to be tricky - just shows how dependent we are on the big supermarkets. I think the general categories for me are:-
Fruit/Veg
Meat
Drink/pop/squash
Tinned/dried
Breads
Dairy
Pets

So starting with the easiest one for encouragement this week:-
:DI will buy cat food (ie Iams) and treats at the local garden centre in bulk. Whilst I'm there I will see if they are selling sacks of spuds. Usually buy at Asda.

Kimitatsu

Caterina wrote: »

Hi all,

Second day of the challenge and am already wondering where to get toilet paper! Family of 4 adults (of which two are son and daughter of the family and not exactly renowned for their frugal ways!) and toilet paper goes faster than hot cakes, so buying it in two-roll packets at the local shop is NOT sustainable (although has happened in emergencies).

Iceland, Aldi and Lidl, do they class as "supermarket"? I read posts saying that the Co-op is acceptable because of its ethical ways, and then I read the post below from Kimitatsu, which gives me some hope, also because Waitrose is run as a co-op and it is in effect owned by its employees.



Could someone offer some guidance please? I really want to take part in this challenge at the best of my ability and would hate it if a bit of fluffy paper spoiled it. If I lived by myself, I would do it by cutting the free delivered newpapers in strips, use these and then compost the used strips (:eek: I know, I know, not many people agree with this extreme stance, including the rest of my family!) but the others in my home would have me committed if I went that far!

Thank you all in advance for any suggestions.

Hi Caterina, I think the aim is to support local businesses where possible, but as cooltrikerchick said it has to be done in baby steps. For me I buy my basic in Supermarkets, so I buy toilet roll in Netto when it is on offer, I buy washing powder in bulk when on offer. But I intend to support my local greengrocer more (I already get a box delivery and will grow more of our own this year) and local butcher. I may try the milk man again, they may have woken up a little bit now! The aim of the challenge really is to use more high street stores where practical, and unfortunately cost does come into that! So before your family goes on strike - I know mine would if I suggested a complete ban - then bit at a time.

Then you can gradually increase changes in, and it wont seem so drastic.

Pitlanepiglet we have tried the other versions of milk, but he has geographical tongue where the surface of the tongue does not renew itself uniformly and so his sense of taste is quite different to ours, some make it quite sore and being honest some are just revolting! We call him lucky naturally as he is lactose/gluten/soya intolerant and has geographical tongue :rotfl: but to be honest he copes really well with it. We just cook from scratch and he knows what makes him feel rubbish so steers clear of it in school. I will look into it though!

[Deleted User]

parsonswife8 wrote: »

I don't see it as cheating. What you have previously bought, has to be used up and the challenge is not to buy anything more from supermarkets for the month of January.

I don't see it as applying to your previous purchases.

Spot on parsonswife8.I too don't see it as 'cheating' but as using up the stuff I have to the best of my ability.Afterall it was bought to use in the first place so if I can get through the month by just getting essentials from my greengrocer rather than one of the big 4( I only have MrT's and Sainsbobs close to me anyway) then I will.
I don't think of Wilkinsons as a very big supermarkets as there is a smallish one near to where I live where I can buy toilet rolls or cleaning stuff if I have to.I seem to have quite a bit of washing powder/liquid under my sink at the moment owing to using some really good money off coupons in November and stocking up so I won't be needing anything like that at all,In fact this afternoon I have been doing an inventory of my supplies and I seem to have a lot more in store than I thought.It will only be fresh fruit and veg to buy .I still have about 8 1 litre cartons of long life milk in the cupboard to use up before I need to buy any fresh stuff. I also have quite a bit of bread in 4 slice portions in my freezer.four slices do me at least 2-3 days as I'm not big bread eater.So I think I will be using a whole lot more this month if I can instead of going to the shops to buy stuff in.
Good luck everyone
P.S. I had a huge amount of soap,shampoo,talc and conditioner as Christmas presents and a few tins of biscuits as well so I think I have most things covered

Spiggle

greenbee wrote: »

I buy my loo paper either online from ethical superstore/natural collection ... For me the brand is important - either traidcraft or ecoleaf. ...

Thanks greenbee for the mention of the ethical superstore. I'll probably use that for certain things such as loo roll when I start proper later on.

I had a look through the products on there and certainly some things are more expensive and so it may well be useful for me (limited budget) to price compare with Coop for some things e.g Dove's Farm flour - still an ethical product and buying it from the most ethical place my budget will allow.

When I searched for ethical superstore on g**gle I found a couple of articles which were quite interesting. I think they're probably a year or more old now but someone may want to have a read:

Article 'Which is the most ethical supermarket?' http://makewealthhistory.org/2009/03/10/which-is-the-most-ethical-supermarket/
Ethical Consumer report (al the references are 2006-2008 so probably been superceded by now) http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/FreeBuyersGuides/miscellaneous/supermarkets.aspx

Ok, good luck everyone.

Take care,
Spigs

Lily-Lu

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

rachbc...
So its also about supporting other busiensses not only food shops too for me anyway.

For me too. Non food shops are having a hard time of it, as well.
I only buy from the chains, or internet, if I really can't find what I want locally.
Early last year I found a little local treasure trove of a shop. As well as crockery, it sold lots of basic o/s items for the kitchen. Tin plate and enamel baking equipment, biscuit cutters, jam thermometers, piping bags, cooker -top kettles and a good selection of ceramic pudding basins and mixing bowls etc
They also had lovely old fashioned wooden sweeping and scrubbing brushes, along with the old fashioned metal shovel. For me, this shop couldn't have been more perfect.
I started popping in regularly and bought quite a few things over the months. Then about 6 weeks ago, I needed a jam thermometer; trotted down there and was met with nothing but newspaper over the windows - it's yet another independent shop in a long line that's had to close down:(

Re: Iceland, Lidl, Netto etc For me personally, I see them as fairly large chains, so wouldn't use them unless I really had no other choice. I will only be using the local co-op for my absolute basics and that's only if I can't find them at local independent shops.

For people that normally buy their whole food shop in a supermarket, but want to change to shopping locally for good, I'd consider doing as Cooltrikerchick suggests and start small, because if it's too daunting initially, there's a good chance you'll give-up the idea completely and revert to the supermarket again.
I took the bull by the horns when I decided that I was only going to buy my absolute basics from the supermarket and although the thought was daunting, everything did fall into place quickly, and now, I know exactly which local shops sell what I need:)

Whether you're trying it for a month, or determined to do a permanent switch; good luck to everyone

greenbee

Spiggle wrote: »

Ethical Consumer report (al the references are 2006-2008 so probably been superceded by now) http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/FreeBuyersGuides/miscellaneous/supermarkets.aspx

You're right... they have a new supermarket report in the current edition. You can download it for £3 I think if you don't want to sign up for a years' subscription.

Well done to everyone who is giving this a go, and best of luck to you.

Patchwork_Quilt

I have enjoyed reading all these posts very much. I think the problem for me is not the supermarkets as such but the fact that they don't sell British produce. I always buy British meat because I believe the welfare here is well regulated but it makes me incredibly annoyed to find that there aren't any British apples in our big supermarket in Autumn and that there aren't any British cabbages now. There are one or two token bags of Lincolnshire sprouts but where did the rest come from?

My challenge might therefore be to grit my teeth and go to a local chain of supermarkets that sell much more local and British produce. I know I can trust them but the prices are much higher. More ethical and supportive of our economy but not very MSE.

Caterina

I have just been at a coffee afternoon at a friend's, who is one of the customers in my wholefood purchase group and she had invited a couple of friends who also order stuff with us. I asked them if they wanted me to put an order together (minimum spend £250) and they said yes, they need a few bits and pieces. So my toilet paper problem is completely resolved now, as I shall buy 40 rolls on a bulk order from an ethical wholesaler. No doubt there will be other things I shall need to order, which are going to be very useful especially during a supermarket boycott.

I have also told my family in no uncertain terms that this is how January is going, because of an economy drive after overspending at Christmas (including presents for them, in goods AND cash) and they are all ok with it. Not that they would have any choice, as I am the main shopper and I hold the purse strings.

They like it, anyway, when I cook from scratch, the kids often pester me to make homemade baked beans for breakfast, as they like them much more than the tinned stuff. Same with home baked goods, pizzas etc. I used to find this a bit time-consuming but now that I am no longer working there is no reason why I should not start doing all these things again, save money and eat better. To keep them sweet I do offer treats, but these can be purchased in an ethical manner, e.g. organic beer or chocolate at the local newsagents/minimarket (yes we are very lucky to have one that stocks organic stuff!). After all, I do not want these young adults (my kids) to perceive this as a sacrifice, but much more as a positive, ethical and life-affirming lifestyle choice.

parsonswife8

Caterina wrote: »

I have just been at a coffee afternoon at a friend's, who is one of the customers in my wholefood purchase group and she had invited a couple of friends who also order stuff with us. I asked them if they wanted me to put an order together (minimum spend £250) and they said yes, they need a few bits and pieces. So my toilet paper problem is completely resolved now, as I shall buy 40 rolls on a bulk order from an ethical wholesaler. No doubt there will be other things I shall need to order, which are going to be very useful especially during a supermarket boycott.

I have also told my family in no uncertain terms that this is how January is going, because of an economy drive after overspending at Christmas (including presents for them, in goods AND cash) and they are all ok with it. Not that they would have any choice, as I am the main shopper and I hold the purse strings.

They like it, anyway, when I cook from scratch, the kids often pester me to make homemade baked beans for breakfast, as they like them much more than the tinned stuff. Same with home baked goods, pizzas etc. I used to find this a bit time-consuming but now that I am no longer working there is no reason why I should not start doing all these things again, save money and eat better. To keep them sweet I do offer treats, but these can be purchased in an ethical manner, e.g. organic beer or chocolate at the local newsagents/minimarket (yes we are very lucky to have one that stocks organic stuff!). After all, I do not want these young adults (my kids) to perceive this as a sacrifice, but much more as a positive, ethical and life-affirming lifestyle choice.

It is so easy to knock up a home made pizza. I can't understand why someone would phone a takeaway and pay £8 and more.:eek:

I often buy sauces and chocolate from Oxfam (when they have been reduced):o Otherwise, I find them too expensive.:(

COOLTRIKERCHICK

to me lidle, aldi, etc are all chain stores, and the ones i have mentioned arnt even british....

Same with the frozen food stores...

I feel that farmfoods is trying to alure you into a sense that all their produce is from british farms, and gives you the sense of farm markets etc, but if you look on most of the packaging, especially the frozen chicken products its mostly produced in Thailand and packed in britain:eek: