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

kezlou

Hello:)

I would love to join in with this challenge, but due to personal circumnstances i don't think i can.
I have been researching for the past couple of weeks about where i can bulk buy strong bread flour, cat food,yeast and fair trade items.

We have a local independent health store which i buy yeast form but it is stupidly expensive, i literally bawlked at the price and so did the sales assistant.
It turns out the sales assistant has also decided to do this for a month. But she has exclusions such as only buying flour/yeast, fair trade coffee, chocolate and tea from supermarkets.

So based on what we have locally, i could effectively shop locally,ethically (fingers crossed) without stepping foot in town. But apart from the above i cannot do it.

Here's my conundrum could i join in the challenge but with the following rules.

• buy cat food / cat litter from pets at home or at a push sainsbugs.
• buy fair trade tea, coffee, hot chocolate from sainsbugs if needed.
• buy flour and yeast form there if i cannot get it at a reaosnable price form anywhere else.
• buy cheese from a supermarket, no where sells it at a low price or in 400 grams plus.

I tend to buy meat and poultry from the local butchers as i know for a fact its freshly delivered and minced on a daily business. Its all halal and freshly prepares it meats in store.
Only problem with the above the shop does not sell bread flour, yeast pr big whacking chinks of cheese.
Fresh fruit and veg i can off the local market or wholesalers. Or if i feel the price right, an organic veg box.
eggs and milk i can get from the local independent shops and they cheaper than supermarkets.

I can't afford to have milk delivered as it far too expensive.
But i also have to source out where i can juice from.
The boys and us have water or juice for pack lunches so its mainly for after school.

What do you all think? I personally think i'm being unrealistic.:o

nopot2pin

JustKeepSwimming wrote: »

I'm going to have to be strong when I do my next recycling run though. All the recycling bins in my town are at supermarkets,which was great when I used them for shopping, but not so now. Glass milk bottles will help, but I still get through lots of plastic which our council won't collect kerb side. Must not just "pop in" for something...

Dont take any money/cards, or your purse with you, and you cant "pop in"

You are all very lucky with regards to milk and veg deliverys. I have tried to search on line for milk, but have been very unsuccessful. My local veg is very helpful however, but their prices are considerably more than the supermarket , and the other day when I went, quite a few bits of their produce was wrinkled, and not worth buying, I felt .
I did buy a few bits though, to tide me over another few days

I will have to go to the supermarket later though, for some bits and bobs for my parents. They like what they like, and thats certain bread ect from the supermarket
The only other thing I can see myself needing soon, is milk and yoghurt. But I think I will stock up on UHT milk when I go to the supermarket, to keep me going, and make yoghurt with that.
I am only taking ten pounds with me, so I wont be able to over spend, and that will include anything my parents need, minimising my spending even more

nopot2pin

kezlou wrote: »

What do you all think? I personally think i'm being unrealistic.:o

For me, I am not sure I can commit completely either. But the way I look at it, is a little bit is definately better than nothing. Small baby steps
I haven't been in a supermarket this year yet....
I know its only the 7th of Jan, but for me that really is quite good.
I have paid more for produce that I have bought locally. And I know I will have to go to a supermarket for certain items, until I have tried to find alternatives.
However, this is something I definatley want to try, and if its not possible over a sustained period of time, then at least I have tried.

flea72

nopot2pin wrote: »

You are all very lucky with regards to milk and veg deliverys. I have tried to search on line for milk, but have been very unsuccessful

have you seen any milkmen at all in your area that you could stop and ask? most are still delivering in my area til mid morning, so i do see them about occasionally

whereabouts are you, as there might be someone on here, who at least knows what dairies operate in your area, so you have a starting point

have you tried the milk and more website? i think they more or less have a stranglehold on the uk, as they have taken over all the dairies in my area

F

mama67

Had my delivery from the milkman today, he comes on a Monday and Friday, as not enough customers to warrant his fuel costs to come more than that. What used to be one very big round 3 times a week has been split down into 2 smaller rounds which he has split over the week

So I got organic milk in glass bottles, british butter, and fruit juice in glass bottles.

I also whilst out for work went to the farm 5 miles up the road and got a tray of eggs for £3.(can see the chickens running round the yard)

I have been resaerching some more brands etc online and have found that some manufacturers do sell direct to the public, 2 being Mornflake and Dr Oetker.

although this isn't supporting the independants it also isn't lining the pockets of the big 4.

nopot2pin

flea72 wrote: »

have you seen any milkmen at all in your area that you could stop and ask? most are still delivering in my area til mid morning, so i do see them about occasionally Unfortunatley no. One of my neighbours used to get thier milk delivered a couple of years ago. But I dont think they do anymore. I must ask them if they still have the details. Thanks

whereabouts are you, as there might be someone on here, who at least knows what dairies operate in your area, so you have a starting point
I have been buying milk from a local shop, because it is from a local dairy, and I am quite happy doing that for the moment. Also, as someone previously mentioned, the Co-op also sells localish produce.... its just more expensive sadly

have you tried the milk and more website? i think they more or less have a stranglehold on the uk, as they have taken over all the dairies in my area
Yes... I had a look on there the other day, as soon as I seen someone mentioned it on here, and they do not deliver in my area
F

Thanks for you response...
I will keep looking.
I also have a local egg farmer, so I may ask her if she has any ideas, about local produce.
Thanks again

HelenPie

Wow, was just pointed in the direction of this thread. I'm so impressed - what a fantastic idea

Not sure that I'm ready to take the plunge yet as am trying to get used to frugal living first. Will hopefully be back soon though.

Keep up the good work ladies and gents :T

Caterina

Hello, thank you all who replied to my post re. DS and expensive food!

Greenbee, the milkman's orange juice is cheaper (£2.09) but I needed the juice the next day and my milkman does not deliver every day. However, it is a matter of getting organised. I have now found that one of the organic delivery companies has a special offer on organic juices (ideal because organic even if more expensive at £2.49) so I ordered 6 while the offer is still on and will freeze 5, then defrost them one at a time.

Hex2, I have tried to make homemade peanut butter and it did not come as nice as the shop-bought, perhaps I did something wrong. Again it is a matter of getting organised, go down to the health food shop further away than my local one (which is very small and very pricey) and buy large bags of peanuts and try again. I have decided not to use Holland and Barret as they are very supermarket-like and will try as far as I can to use independent health food shops.

Lily-lu, your idea about me talking to my son again is so right, perhaps I need to explain things to him in more detail. Re. shopkeepers being helpful, you are right there too, another thing to organise.

It seems to me that the one month challenge is only a taster, then by the time everything is organised and in place, all the best shops and the cheapest ethical options are all lined up and everything is running smoothly, the month ends! But why not continue, depending on how it goes this January!

Having said all that, I had a small slip today, I had to be somewhere by 1:30 and by 1:10 I was famished and had had nothing to eat since breakfast. So I had to grab something quickly. The only place between me and the appointment at 1:30 was a M&S so I grabbed an egg and cress sandwich. I am not too upset about it as M&S, as supermarkets go, is not too bad. Memo to self: need to be more organised on this front, too! However, I was well organised for snacks, as I had with me a handful of nuts and raisins that I had packed from home (which was great but not enough for a lunch!).

The more I read other people's posts and the more I write about my experiences, the more I realise that it can be done, especially living in London, but it needs a bit of extra thinking and organisation. The challenge continues!

ginnyknit

I am really enjoying not shopping at supermarkets but am having trouble sourcing a few things as I don't have enough ready cash at the mo to buy in bulk! Also somethings cost more in petrol than it is worth, but am still trying. We have even stopped buying petrol from MR T as Im blowed if he will have my money. Found a petrol station nearby that gives points (can't remember which company it is) but thats a bonus. Store cupboard is still standing upto the challenge and its really nice to actually talk to shopkeepers in the local market.

greenbee

Caterina - you're right - January is the challenge month. By the end of it, you'll have found shops you like, and have got into the habit of avoiding supermarkets. You may have the odd slip (I find Oct/Nov when I'm travelling a lot for work very hard, but then I hardly need to buy anything either!), but you'll build up the habits - and when next January's challenge comes up you'll have a stronger base to build on!

Some health food shops have nut butter machines, where you can make your own fresh.

Well done everyone for all the effort you're putting in. If anyone is in the Newbury/Basingstoke/Winchester area, I can point you in the direction of a few good places (there's a new Asian shop open in Winchester on Parchment Street which I'm desparate to try when I have run down my stocks enough to be able to start shopping and cooking again!).