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

sausagefans

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

it would be nice as i said earlier... if martin.. or ther peeps... make it known to the masses.... that a lot of products are cheaper than the supermarkets....

nearly all of us have found that our fruit and veg is cheaper in local markets...... overall meat from the butchers.. works out better value and some cuts are cheapers....

same as my bread from the bakers....i now only get bread on mon-wed-fri..... ok the bread is about 18p more expensive than sliced bread in a supermarket.. but its more filling plus more slices in the loaf...
so it is better value...

I have written on this subject at some length for professional trade journals such as Speciality Food Magazine. I 100% agree with you that Tesco are a dangerous animal with all their vertical and horizontal integration, they own so much of the retail space now that they have too much power. They can make a group of the market (estate agents for example) quake by saying they are going to come and play in their space.

However, I don't think Martin et al telling his audiences would make the whole world of difference. In the course of my work with my sausage website (which I am probably not allowed to mention on here) I have come across many many consumers who want passionately NOT to shop at supermarkets. However, they work from 9-5 or 9-5.30. There are no little shops open outside these hours! In my real job, for example, I can't leave the premesis during the day at all. There is a butchers in the village where I work but it is always closed when I get there!

We need people's awareness to be increased but also we need the small shop keepers to evolve their proposition to offer more deliveries, different (not longer) hours etc etc.

Only then will we be able to get back to local, seasonal shopping.

Icemaiden

Afternoon all,

Well just back from town after getting the last of the groceries to see us till next friday when our new month starts and I'm happy to report that I have come under my budget of £200 by £7.91:T making a total spend of £192.09 for 2 adults, 1 teenager and 1 little-un.
Not only have we eaten better quality food for less but the taste is beyond comparison, especially the cheeses from a little deli I've discovered.;)

I've also noticed my teenage son is less grumpy and seems to have more energy as the only in-between snacks that are now available is fruit or items that I've made myself.

Overall I'm really pleased at the outcome, yes it has been hard work finding alternative shops for some things but now the ground work has been done April should be a breeze. I'll keep you posted.

Ice
x

sausagefans

Icemaiden wrote: »

Afternoon all,

Well just back from town after getting the last of the groceries to see us till next friday when our new month starts and I'm happy to report that I have come under my budget of £200 by £7.91:T making a total spend of £192.09 for 2 adults, 1 teenager and 1 little-un.
Not only have we eaten better quality food for less but the taste is beyond comparison, especially the cheeses from a little deli I've discovered.;)

I've also noticed my teenage son is less grumpy and seems to have more energy as the only in-between snacks that are now available is fruit or items that I've made myself.

Overall I'm really pleased at the outcome, yes it has been hard work finding alternative shops for some things but now the ground work has been done April should be a breeze. I'll keep you posted.

Ice
x

Well done, this is a real result and will ultimately even probably improve your children's performance at school!

Good luck with April.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

well even though my month is well over.....i still read the thread.... as the post really motovate me....

as i have said in earlier posts..... i have now adapted my shopping basket ....to what i can get in my local shops....

i still make very similar meals..... but with slight diff in ingredients.....

the organic shop in ammanford.... offers a refil policy....where i you take back the washing up liquid bottle they will refil it for you.. and that saves about
20p.... plus saves an extra bottle being thrown out.....

dont get me wrong i am not looking to buy all organic.... but its an independant shop was has only opened a few month.....and the shop is located in the town where my mother has her shop.. and where i store some of my vintage clothing etc....

they also deliver on a tuesday if i cant get there.....

this week i have bought 3 caulis for £1.20 and they are huge ones....so will blanch them up and put them in the freezer.....

i have now done a bit more to the garden.....so hopefully will be planting this week.... plus i want to kick butt with the allotment this year..

with all the talk with me not going to supermarkets... and how much nicer the food is etc.... my mam actually went to the organic shop to buy some veg instead
of mr t:T :T :T baby steps.....i think i am slowly brain washing her .....lol......

kscour...... havent heard from you in a while..... hope everything ok......

competitionscafe

For those who missed it when it was shown on daytime TV BBC 1 is repeating the series 'Shopping the Supermarkets' on Monday evenings at 8:30pm starting tommorrow night:

Shopping the Supermarkets BBC1
Mon 26 Mar, 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm 30mins

Sally Magnusson presents a series about Britain's supermarkets.
VIDEO Plus+: 959

little_miss_thrifty

competitionscafe wrote: »

For those who missed it when it was shown on daytime TV BBC 1 is repeating the series 'Shopping the Supermarkets' on Monday evenings at &;30pm starting tommorrow night:

Shopping the Supermarkets
Mon 26 Mar, 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm 30mins

Sally Magnusson presents a series about Britain's supermarkets.
VIDEO Plus+: 959

Thats good, hopefully a few more million will see it and decide to make some changes - i watched them in the morning after dropping DS off at Nursery.

catznine

:mad: Why is it that most of the food slimming world recommend can only be found in Mr T's or Sainsburys? I would love to find some babybel extra light,fry light and other low fat items but not available at the local shops! I am adapting diet as much as poss until Easter but do find this frustrating. I only have 6 weeks until hols and might have to venture into Sainsburys for these items, please forgive me as I really have avoided the place since Ash Weds.

hazzie123

Dont worry about going to Sainsburys for those things you cant get locally.We all need a back up for certain things,just dont get ya weeks shopping in their or we`d have to stone you!LOL.

[Deleted User]

I saw the programme last night and it was really eye-opening. How they put products attractive to children on the bottom shelf to encourage pester power. The bogofs that make you buy more than you need. It was all about how they suck the customer into buying more. Grhhh I was so angry

I cycled a round trip of 11 miles this morning, to get 1 chicken breast and 1 punnet of blueberries and 4 big and gorgeous oranges at 30p each. The sun is shining and I got the feel-good factor. The complete opposite of the energy-sucking experience that is called shopping at tesco and I didn`t save a little, I saved a lot and a lot helps more than a little

rach

catznine wrote: »

:mad: Why is it that most of the food slimming world recommend can only be found in Mr T's or Sainsburys? I would love to find some babybel extra light,fry light and other low fat items but not available at the local shops! I am adapting diet as much as poss until Easter but do find this frustrating. I only have 6 weeks until hols and might have to venture into Sainsburys for these items, please forgive me as I really have avoided the place since Ash Weds.

i ran out of fry light recently and just rinsed out the spray bottle and added a bit of olive oil and filled it up with water, give it a good shake and it works every time!