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

Ada3050

Count me in, have done a month already! Haven't been to tesco since 21/12/10!

I went today to stock up on cat food as it was on offer, so decided to start this challenge proper from today. I only bought essentials this time, mainly cleaning products and a few tins.

All my fresh and frozen food will now be bought in local shops for the next four weeks.

Gigervamp

Meat from farmers markets will be more expensive as they are small businesses and the meat is often free range or organic, but the quality is far superior to the meat sold in supermarkets.

tryingtobethrifty

We had our chicken from the local butchers last night. It was £9 for around 2kg, I wouldn't have bought it at that price except I have meal planned, knew it would cover 3 dinners and a lunch and it would've meant I had to go to Mr Ts to get a cheaper one. But, it was delicious and actually so much meat I think I could get another lunch or maybe a pie out of it.

What kind of prices are free range chickens elsewhere? I think this one was £4.45/kg. I think when you buy more expensive meat you're a bit stingier with it and so have smaller portion sizes and so it lasts longer. I'm sure we were eating too much in one go before this challenge.

I didn't know what to do with myself this morning after I dropped little one to nursery, normally I do a big shop but I now don't need too, and I realise I was food shopping as a bit of a hobby (hangs head in shame).

On with the challenge......

pennyjar56

We found that our butcher chicken was so much nicer and it was 5.18 instead of the morrisons £5. It looks so much nicer and comes from a farm locally. We're really enjoying the taste which is making up for the rather small amount we're paying extra each week. I'm shopping more day to day to ensure i'm not relying on pre pack long' in date 'fresh foods- if that makes sense?!
So far the butcher is the winner for us- tastier, competitive prices and supporting local farmers!

lil_me

Hex I'm not quite sure what percentage it was, it is nice but I've ended up with the 'end' as it's very small slices. I've written it in here now so next butchers I go to I can compare.

Caterina you must do what is right for you. As I danced on ice from the shop today with a rather heavy bag of juice etc I did wonder if I was going mad sometimes.

This talking of prices has made me think a little, I do need to get an updated price list for my regular farm shop butcher (they do odd other things like eggs, local cheese, some veg/apples from the farm) It's been about a year since I last had one. Maybe we could compare on here/inform others?

Due to budget cuts and mainly central venues being free I've not got many meetings elsewhere as I really wanted to pop to the farm in Knitsley but I'm not driving more than 10 miles without having another reason to be there. I have a meeting on Thursday where I am sure if I drove 1 mile the other way there was a farm shop sign so I shall investigate. Only downside around here is the less 'trendy' (and less expensive!) are hard to find/not advertised as widely

I did need to pop to the coop today, well it was more out of convenience as I needed a few things but still only spent £5.14 in there

[Deleted User]

10 days so far and I haven't bought anything yet,from a supermarket or otherwise as I am still ploughing through the stuff I have.I spoke to my DDs ma-in-law earler this evening and she said that where she lives in Bexleyheath the 'half price bargains' from after Christmas have all gone now, and the prices are going up in leaps and bounds.She said she was shocked at how quickly the prices have risen.a lot probably due to the increase in petrol and diesel I expect apart from VAT as well.

mama67

had to drop DS1 for refereeing at a footy match last night and Mr M is literally up the road, as it was just gone 7pm and they close at 8pm thought I'd see if there were any bargain whoopsies etc, which would extend the time to my main shop later in the month, and we needed cheese.

got
6 x 300ml dble cream @ 9p ea (will make ice cream)
5 x 4pk english muffins @ 9p ea ( i make my own mcmuff!ns)
massive piece of gala pie @ 29p (will go in dh packups 3 days)
2 x 4pk the best cookies @15p ea (suppertime treat)

also the red leicester cheese we like is on offer at £5/kg so got kg of that to split/grate/freeze.

anguk

lil_me - if you do end up going to Knitsley (I was there today getting my meat) there's also New Close farm shop nearby between Witton Gilbert & Sacriston. They're all organic and most produce is either theirs or local. They don't have a "fresh" butchery bit but they do have a fridge with all their own vac packed meat, it's a bit hit & miss on what they stock as it's their own livestock. I do like their veg though and it's normally pretty cheap compared to other farm shops as they're not as "trendy" as some, the shop is just a hut really.
http://www.newclosefarmshop.co.uk/

elisamoose

Lily-Lu wrote: »

I've only been to a couple of farmers markets, but did find them quite expensive; especially the meat, which for us was seen more like a treat/luxury, because it was too expensive to eat it on a regular basis. We had some lovely eggs from one a couple of months ago and although they sounded pricey (£1.60 for a half dozen) they were really big; tasted lovely and one was even a double-yolker:D

As for potatoes, for us, buying a big sack works out much cheaper than buying them loose. I can't get ours directly from a farm, because none of us drive; but the local greengrocer's sell 25kg sacks for somewhere between £9.50 - £11, depending which sort, and only charge 50p extra for local delivery:)
If you have a local greengrocer's, perhaps you could look into buying a sack instead?

One advantage to living in the fens then......potatoes are £3 for 12.5kg in a shed next to the farmhouse. Drive in pick up sack and money in the box!

hex2

elisamoose wrote: »

One advantage to living in the fens then......potatoes are £3 for 12.5kg in a shed next to the farmhouse. Drive in pick up sack and money in the box!

green with envy - and you get some nice varieties that way.

£9.49 for 25kg delivered from milk&more

Very impressed with the whole milk delivery thing. Realised we were running low last night, ordered some at 8.45pm, which came this morning. Normally I would have gone to the co-op and spent less on the actual milk but also bought junk at the same time.

Just waiting to see what the fruit &veg box from them is like on friday. The local organic box scheme was good in terms of quantity and tatse but it has all gone off very quickly - the tomatoes rotted overnight, and the three cucumbers went too.