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

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hi......lelc...... you are rebel no ....14..... welocme aboard....


you will be supprised at some of the things you can get.... in your butchers etc....

what alot of peeps are doing.. is using a supermarket at last resort.... until they can find somewhere to get what they want.....

over the last few weeks..... i have slowly....found places where i can get my store cupboard items from...... i was also suprised at the amount of independant traders... who actually deliver as well........so also cutting down on the petrol cost.....

everyone on this thread is here to help and incourage...and also help you try to stick within a realistic budget as well.....

looks as though the rebels are rebelling:D

the_optimist

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote:

looks as though the rebels are rebelling:D

:T Yeah, I've never been a rebel, not even as a teenager. So I am now catching up... as a 40ish.....(nearly 50 ) rebel :j

catznine

Well I survived the dentist, just a clean up not treatment this time (phew!) anyway my hygenist is also rebelling against Tesco!

Popped into Poundland and for £5 picked up:-
lg Bisto gravy granules,
3 small tins pineapple chunks,
175g tub marvel dried milk,
lg coffee mate and
100 tetley t bags.

Vitamins were also in there for £1.

Off to the farmshop this weekend to explore their shelves.

the_optimist

catznine wrote:

anyway my hygenist is also rebelling against Tesco!

What? You've managed to talk to him/ her? While s/he was messing about in your mouth?
I'm impressed :T

vivw_2

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote:

what alot of peeps are doing.. is using a supermarket at last resort.... until they can find somewhere to get what they want.....

Was reluctant to commit myself but if you will be easy with me and let me take baby steps, I'd also like to join. Can I have a number, please

After thinking about all the advice on here so far, it would seem that milk will be our biggest problem....any suggestions [ only have about a pint a week]

kscour

haven't been able to get on line for 2 days and spent a good 10 mins catching up!
Didn't go to Makros on Tuesday after all just spent a lovely day indulging in OH's company! Stopped off at a good butchers though!:D
Passed a tescos extra and was suprised to find I felt quite relieved that I would "never" have to go in one again - strange as I've never felt the impulse that I HAD to go in one either so why feel the relief? - but I think perhaps I hated shopping in Mr T's more than I realised!
Had a bit of a panic attack this morning that I would HAVE to go get some food, not organized enough, starvation possible!:eek: Just opened the cupboards and there was all the food looking at me. Felt very stupid!:o but I think I've become programed to going out and doing a big shop, to be honest apart from the fact we're nearly out of tomato sauce (might do DD's some good to do without) and we'll need spuds & lemonade tomorrow (I can buy both at local shop) I don't think there's anything that I actually need.
so main problems:-
freshly squeezed orange juice - I thought I might squeeze some oranges. why didn't I think of that before I tried one out today (yummy) and I think if I can still get the bags of oranges in greengrocer then it'll cost roughly £2 a litre which is more than what I was paying but then I may waste less
Hi- Juice orange squash - DD likes robinsons and that is like gold dust but I'm going to keep looking
toilet roll/kitchen towels - Going to look at the cheap shop in town, the bulk of them was putting me off but I've decided not to be such a wimp! Anyway I can also take one lot of shopping back to the car and go back to the shop
lemonade & edam - DD's loved Lidls versions so I may go there until I can find an alternative that they like but I'd much rather lidls that MR T's or Asda
Distilled Vinegar - still not found anywhere which comes close to matching Asdas price but I'll keep looking
I think once I get into a routine then this will become much easier. And it already seems much easier than when I started:D

rach

vivw wrote:

Was reluctant to commit myself but if you will be easy with me and let me take baby steps, I'd also like to join. Can I have a number, please
After thinking about all the advice on here so far, it would seem that milk will be our biggest problem....any suggestions [ only have about a pint a week]

most newsagents sell milk, if you only want a pint a week that may be possible? from where i am i can walk to independant 4 shops selling milk (one is the post office) in about 3 minutes!

rach

kscour - i found a deli today if i walk to the other local high street, you may be able to find similar for an edam source? also, i think some butchers sell cheese

vinegar - i think my chinese 'supermarket' sells it in big packs, but i have to check.

rach

me again!!

wanted to report that i went and did a recci of southbourne (another high street near me, about 10 mins walk) today.

my friend had said that would be a good place to look for delis and independant shops. i found:

2 butchers
2 fruit shop (one has loads of organic stuff)
a deli
a pie type shop
a pattisserie
a bakers (bake on premises)
an independant discount store (loo rolls, bleach etc)

so was very pleased. main thing will be not buying it for the sake of it!!!

also found rolser trolleys in a shop there, but not the funky ones (though i think they may be persuaded to order me one in!

i'm a happy bunny. everyone i've told about this being a lent thing is well impressed and lots of people have said they will try to use supermarkets less too

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hi.. vivw...... you are now rebel no 15..... welcome aboard....:T

each one of us have got diff..... shopping needs.....so we dont expect anyone to instantly know where to get everything........ baby steps..... start off with getting one type of food/item from an independant....trader......lets say meat or fruit/veg..... as i think this might be the easiest........you might find that these might stock other things...... butter.. cheese..... pickles.. ..chutneys etc...

start asking.... relatives/friends.... about local shops....or if you go to town/village which is fairly near to you.. but you have never really taken a look at the shops..... go there with no shopping in mind.... and just take in what shops are there......

it will all come...... i will still have to go to the co-op for high juice......this week again.....as i like kscour cant find a shop which stock it aprt form the supermarkets...... even though i did see juicee squash in a £1.. shop.... i will not buy that type as its got to many additives.....

kscour...... i also passed tescos today..... and felt proud that i didnt go in.. normally every tesco i used to pass i had to go in to see if i could find an r&r... or womble for points......tables have totally changed now.....

as for the vinegar...... have a look in the yellow pages under fruit and veg wholesalers...... and phone up and ask if they stock white vinegar......most of the wholesalers in swansea.... allow the general public to buy off them as well

optimist...... its a great feeling being a rebel:D

rach..... well done sounds as though.... you had a very successfull day.....