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

Frugal_Fox

Evening CTC...

Can I join the gang too.

I gave up Tesco's about two years ago and switched to Waitrose - and unbelieveably I saved money!!! I believe they are better than Tesco's but still they aren't an independant and if we don't support them, we will lose them. I'm lucky that I have an account with the local butcher, a farm shop near me, and that I get my milk delivered. I have a co-op that I will continue to use - but only if I can not get it from the butcher etc and its an 'emergancy' as all the other shops I could use involve a car journey.

Can I have a number please?

rach

welcome Frugalfox

i've just remembered there's a new wholefood coop near me will go on thursday when its open and check it out (not that i need anything right now!)

katmad99

great thread, v informative and inspiring, and has really got me thinking.

as a skint student it is hard to resist the 'bargains' that supermarkets offer, but lately i have been tempted to join ur challenge, and seeing the crowds in tesco today, grabbing at 'cheap' produce, i started to wonder 'cheap, yes, but at what cost??'

so i'm gonna try it...a bit.....in that i'm going to avoid the big chains as much as possible. where i live there is a big food hall where local food producers sell meat, bread, veg and so forth, and i have always loved it there but it seems expensive to me (compared to supermarkets).I went in there today though, and bought some local apple juice in a glass bottle for £2. a friend of mine commented that it cost too much, but to be honest i think that in a supermarket most brand name juices can get to £2 or more (and will be in a plastic bottle, and lets face it will not taste anywhere near as good as the real deal) and it just seems expensive as it's not going in a trolley alongside all the other cheapo rubbish.

I think so long as i keep track of what i need and what i usually spend i can manage to buy food locally and ethically. there is also a wholefoods store that i can get most of my cupboard bits from, and i'm going to use Lidl if i get in trouble. I'm gonna give it a go!! woo!!!

rach

go for it Katmad99, we can all only try our best! i know i will trip up from time to time on the way, but i reckon i will make a massive difference! i've come to realise that i prefer smaller quantities of really nice stuff than piles of rubbish!

kimnhol

Milkman starts on Monday :j Has anybody else noticed there childrens behaviour since starting this, my ds's behaviour has improved so much since there hasnt been the extras coming in the house. :A (not quite an angel but getting there)

Can I also have a rebel number pretty please

competitionscafe

For some info on local shops there is a series of articles in the Telegraph by Rose Prince (author of the New English Kitchen) here is the one for Glasgow:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/wine/2007/01/27/edlocal127.xml&site=10&page=0

and Bristol:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/wine/2007/02/03/edshoplocal103.xml&site=10&page=0

If you search at http://www.telegraph.co.uk for shoplocal they have also done Bristol; Whitby; Liverpool and Birkenhead; Pimlico & Clerkenwell in London; Rye, East Sussex and Manchester. It's a weekly column so that list should grow.....

Also, if you are in Hampshire, Berkshire and surrounding areas I found this place: (they do meat, fish, fruit, veg)
http://www.pfo-shop.co.uk/

The Organic Farm Shop of Heckfield Hampshire supplies the counties of Hampshire, Berkshire and surrounding areas.

We supply the general public with organic meat, poultry, eggs, fruit, vegetables and much more. In addition to the Organic produce we also sell a large range of fish, dairy products, bread, cakes, groceries, homemade Organic sausages and burgers. This is all complimented by a deli counter where you can find Organic cheeses, homemade pies and scotch eggs.

Situated on the B3011, the farm shop is in an idyllic location and has plenty of parking spaces. We have a master butcher - Mr Roger David on site and has been butchering for over 40 years. For over the last 10 years he has been dealing with organic produce.

catznine

Day one of avoiding the supermarkets! I am in town today (dentist:eek: ) so will go into poundland and check out the tins. Not a market day today unfortunately so that will have to wait til Friday. Holland and Barrett stock soya mince which I use a lot of so will pop in there as well (will no longer buy it from Sainsburys!).

Need to do a menu plan for the week so I don't get caught out. I think that is where the supermarkets have got a hold on us all, by stocking such a variety of goods we now think we can't survive without them!:rolleyes: OH got in a bit of a tizz late on Sunday "Do we need anything from the supermarket before it shuts?" mentality (which I too am guilty of). Now it will be a case of checking supplies well in advance of the weekend (the way our Mums and Grans did).

Great thread! Good luck everyone!

Catz x

Peem

When this thread started I thought "Nah, they'll never manage it". But you've inspired me. I think if I can use waitrose and costco, then really I can do it too. (I do love waitrose, it's always quiet!)

I've got a great butcher, a deli, a green grocer, a fish place (5 miles away, but that's not bad) - so really I have no excuse. I also discovered a closer (5 miles away again, near the fish place) farm shop so I'm going to investigate there.

The big help for me is that I don't work mon/tues so I can get to these places then. I think it's a lot harder if you work full time (not impossible tho).Unfortunately our local shop is one of the "Sainsbury's at Bells" types. So I'm going to try not to go there.

Here I go - wish me luck. (Can I be a rebel too?)

thanks guys.

catznine

Welcome Peem! Sounds like you are halfway there already! Would love a fish shop but will investigate the Martins fish link.

I am sure Cooltrikerchick will give you a rebel number when she logs on.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hi.. guys........ went to bed early again last night... and missed everyone.....



frugal fox you are rebel no....9

katmad99 you are rebel no......10

kimnhol.....you are rebel no.....11

peem.....you are rebel..no ...12

welcome aboard...:j :j :j :j :j :j

the key to making it work is baby steps.....and dont panic if you cant find a certain brand or product you are used to......when you go to your local shops.. just dont look at what you need..... have a look at what they stock.....as you can also bare this in mind for future meal menus....

compitionscafe ..has given us some brilliant links:T

so take the time to have a look at them....as there might be a trader in your area that you didnt know about....