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

Penny-Pincher!!

In the last 2 days we have spent £25 roughly on:

Savoy Cabbage
Baking Pots
Apples
Bananas
Parsnips
Mushrooms
Lettuce
Cucumber
Onions x 4
Red Pepper
Spring Onions
Butter
Milk
Vinegar
2 x Chickens
Fruit Juice
Eggs
Yogurts
Sugar
Rolls
Ham
Bleach
Biscuits
Cake
Cream

OH went to M&S yesterday as he is doing a nice meal for me tonight but dont know what he spent as it came from his pocket money money:D

PP
xx

ti1980

PP, there are quite a few offers at M&S at the moment (I work there) so I'm sure he will get you something that is really tasty but doesn't cost the earth. Hope you like it.:)

kscour

Just returned from a lovely shopping trip - door to door 2 hrs same as used to take me to go to Mr T's.
Wondered around town, DD's took ages picking little craft bits & I found a nice present for poorly Auntie - worked out very enjoyable all round.
Stocked up on some goodies in greengrocers, butchers, and general shop too many to list but in town I spent on groceries & a couple of bottles of wine:D £32.82
I've compared it against Tescos which was awkward but I have kept it in favour of tescos all the way eg priced for their own brand olive oil when I got a much better quality one in town and Tescos would have come to £35.69
So a lovely trip out, no moaning kids, extra bits of shopping done in same time, been smiled at and talked to like I'm a member of the human race, didn't come home in a hormonal rage AND I saved £2.87:j

catznine

Really proud of oh as instead of heading for sainsburys (on automatic pilot) he went to local newagents for his weekend paper! He also avoided the "While I'm at Sainsburys what do we need/want?" scenario that always cost us lots of pennies. This weekend we actually don't need/want anything! :j

the_optimist

I, too had a lovely walk around town. Had to stock up on washing powder and meat mainly as I got all my fruit n veg on Thursday. Got washing powder in the health shop, more expensive but bought soda crystals too (from local hardware shop), so that should level itself out. Bought £10 worth of meat = 5 meals, not bad either and all local meat (I'm sure I saw that pig running around the field a while ago :rotfl: )

CTC, you started this thread nearly a month ago, and just see how we have changed! I didn't think I would join the challenge and now I hardly enter a supermarket, thanks for that :A

How about a new thread next week 'A Year without supermarkets'???

little_miss_thrifty

I have a load of birthdays to buy for in March, so HAD to go into the main town centre today ( i don't go if i can help it!). I bought amongst other things, Martin's Money Diet Book for a family member!!
I have been making all their cards in the evenings, so saved a fortune on cards.
I decided to leave town early and go back to the small market-town centre where i live to get some flowers for nan's birthday, as the children where getting tired (and it is continuing support for our 'mission'). I wanted a posy made for £15 but she only had a display one done which was £20...until she let me have it for £15!!! That's money saving! Supported a local trader and got £5 knocked off!!!:j

biglass

Just to add another organic meat producer,who are fab-their website price list is out of date:rolleyes: BUT they are still cheaper than all the others mentioned so far(I had latest price list posted to me -they are really friendly by phone or email)
Can't do link ,but here is website: www. whiteholmefarm.co.uk - near Carlisle .Hope that helps !!:D

kscour

the_optimist wrote:

How about a new thread next week 'A Year without supermarkets'???

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun!

Would it be possible for us all when our 4 weeks is done to put a brief summary of how we got on? We've all faced very different problems so it will be interesting to have a 4 week report from everyone (well I think so anyway but then I am a tad nosey:D )

I can't say that it's been 100% success for me but I am definately heading in the right direction and I don't ever want to be doing my main shop (& if possible any!) in Mr T's & friends again.

Oh and I have to say thanks to CTC and everyone else on this thread for opening my eyes and giving me such a great time shopping:T :T :T

lil_me

Me and DP now have upset tums, I really hope it isn't because of the sausages , but that evening the children had something different and they are both fine. Went back to the trusted farm shop today, think will stick with that for time being as DP isn't a happy bunny, feeling very poorly.

Today I learned never to battle high street shopping etc on Saturdays! Parking is a nightmare, queues are crazy etc! I did do a little shopping in home bargains for cleaning stuff and items for around the home. I have used the little local DIY type shop more lately, partly because I really feel for her and her hubby at the moment as because of ill health and reduced business he's had to give his other business up, lovely couple and was sad to see him so gutted the other day when I called in, he'd just sold his van and that was the last thing to go. She keeps telling me off for bringing her little dog treats in as she says he'll end up fat :rotfl: one of the joys of shopping more local has to be the people. It's one of those shops where it's so small but has lots of things, and sometimes I say can I have ***** and she says call back in 10 minutes and I'll find it :rotfl: She's starting to get bakeware, foil tins etc in next week as I asked and so did others.

Lady who took over the pet shop recently is much nicer than the old owner, she lets me pre order Woody's food (crickets so not supermarket item anyway) and keeps them for me, last owner wouldn't.

Bakers has gone downhill lately which is a shame, but now I have the BM and make cakes, biscuits etc not as bothered.

What's shocked me is the charity shop prices! Blimey, I called in to see about baking dishes etc, they are more expensive than they are new!

competitionscafe

biglass wrote:

Just to add another organic meat producer,who are fab-their website price list is out of date:rolleyes: BUT they are still cheaper than all the others mentioned so far(I had latest price list posted to me -they are really friendly by phone or email)
Can't do link ,but here is website: http://www.whiteholmefarm.co.uk/ - near Carlisle .Hope that helps !!:D

Never heard of that one but it looks good, thanks for that!

<"Situated on the River Lyne in north-east Cumbria, Whiteholme Farm is an organic livestock farm, run by Jon and Lynne Perkin. The farm covers 220 acres and includes the land of the neighbouring Low Luckens farmstead. Whiteholme produces organic beef, lamb and pork from traditional breeds, with Soil Association registration.

Livestock are kept to high animal welfare standards and enjoy stress-free conditions. Cattle, sheep and pigs are naturally healthy and have a good quality of life. The result is fine tasting organic meat which is prepared in the farm butchery. " >
http://www.whiteholmefarm.co.uk/

Looks like a nice place to stay too (they have accommodation) As you say though their price list is out of date (by 5 years! - it says Pork packs, Individual Cuts and pork sausages will be available from December 2002) - I will phone/email for an up to date one...

Won't need any meat just yet though as Saturday morning at Farmers Market I got 1 whole chicken, 4 chicken thighs, venison red wine & garlic sausages and 500g pork mince (all gone in freezer) as well as 1kg of Aberdeen Angus beef shin for a stew and 750g diced lamb shoulder for another stew (lamb, aubergine & cumin stew) so Sunday is stew cooking day