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

Spendless

I've been in town today and picked up some 'grocery' items from homebargains and a chain of freezer shops (i think they are a regional chain). Homebargains was selling a 380g supercook bicarb of soda for 15p and 4 tins of branston beans for 99p.

I also bought an iceburg lettuce for 60p. The price ranged from 30p-70p on the market stalls, but I avoided the cheapest stall as I've had fruit and veg from them before and it goes off very quickly compared to the others. Did buy 11 satsumas for 50p from them though.

Got home and I have my next problem. DS has to make something edible for beavers tonight and has his heart set on a non-alcoholic punch. If I'd remembered I could have picked up something up whilst I was out, now I'm back home I'm limited without going to the supermarket.

sandieb

Excellent thread.

Have you considered starting a food co-operative and ordering essential stuff such as flour, etc in bulk and sharing the cost with neighbours/friends?

lil_me

http://tescno.blogspot.com/ I thik it was that one, just heard as was on TV when I was in kitchen, several campaigns have been done before. IF you search on Google for Say No To Tescos you will find it. They reckon that it's about the only place without one left in England.

I have ordered from https://www.summernaturals.co.uk several times for cleaning things, oils etc (postage isn't cheap so I bulk order) but have yet to try goodness direct, but will do soon. Found https://www.yoghurtdirect.co.uk for Easyio stuff today.

Sandieb if I had neighbours in same frame of mind I would, noone bakes etc as much as I do, only one I sort of share with is next door, I get her F&V from lady who delivers if she won't be in, supporting local suppliers without being tied in.

sandieb

This link might be useful to someone - I haven't tried it. But when my present flour stocks have diminished, I might give it a go.

http://www.wrightsflour.co.uk/

Free delivery on 3 boxes or more (but this equates to 15 x 1.5Kg flour). This works out at £12.

Good value or not - not sure price of flour at the moment?

recovering_spendaholic

I have been toying with the idea of making yoghurt for some time and this challenge as got me thinking that I will start now, however I have just looked at the easyo stuff on yoghurt direct and lakeland and it seems to be really expensive - 10 sachets of stuff for £18:eek: But it doesn't say how much yoghurt a sachet makes, but I am assuming that it is 1 litre so that works out at £1.89 a litre - is this cheap? I currently buy the Mullerlite on offer for 5 for £2 but it isn't very nice - very artifical tasting and the kids hate it. Is the easyyo stuff nice tasting? Do you need to add sugar. I just went to the local grocers and managed to get alot of things as cheap as the supermarket, but generally nicer as they were all made by independents - local jam, local bread, longley farm cottage cheese - none of which you can get in my Tescos. So far I have spent £16 but some of that was on Pringles and sate sticks for DD1 to take on the coach tomorrow when she goes to Prague with the school and so is not what I would normally buy.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hi.. li_me... i was reading on the grocery thread that you are finding it difficult to stay in budget .. by buying local etc...... if you need to go to a supermarket to stay in budget.....do so...just . keep an eye out at the local stores etc. for the prices....... and work with the both.....which ever is the cheaper for you....

i know at the end of the month... i feel as though i would not be able to bouycot tescos all together... but now i know that my pet food is cheaper than mr t... and money is going into a local traders pocket....

my bread that i used to buy at tescos was 88p a loaf.. kingsmill.. i found the cheaper bread too dry and not very nice and didnt last..... the bread at the bakers is £1.05 so 17p more expensive..... so i will still buy from them...until i am more confident in making bread myself to feed the family on a regular basis....and will see how much their flour is......

my butcher will now have me buying meat every week....

plus i have found out that on fridays there is market in the village about 4 miles away..... so will go there tomorrow to see what the quality is like......

still got a problem with milk.. as by the looks of it its only that one person that delivers in my area..... and the milk does not last.... so no good for me.....

so my 4 main food areas are covered......

pet food.......meat....... fruit/veg..........bread......

if i can find a happy balance......whick it looks as though i have with the above..... i feel as though i have acheived something..... and doing my bit for local buisness ....with out going over my weekly budget...

lil_me

Well my fruit and veg delivery just been so need to add that to total so far £15.50 to add. The stuff lasts ages and is fairly priced too. Have been buying from her since last summer, lovely local young lass (lives in village next to mine) and the kids (who are about 8 and 10) always help with the bags to the door. Delivering my dog food next week, with eggs etc, she does all kinds, unfortunately it's gone up to £6.80 a sack but that is for 15kg! Much cheaper than other shop stuff. Meat I don't need yet, will be a trip up the farm shop next Friday I think. Going over my sisters tomorrow and she has some little shops near her which sometimes have some bargains that are not supermarkets etc, so going to have a look in there.

Ordered some breakmaking stuff from eBay, another smallish trader, haddn't thought of that before. Found some cleaning stuff on there too. Some things like malt extract etc ordered from small non chain pharmacy to make malt loaf myself it's cooking now.

Easiyo makes 1kg, but they are better for you than shop bought, you can add sweetner/sugar. I know there are some members who make their own heaper versions to use in Easiyo maker, with skimmed milk powder etc, just about to look for the posts myself. I haven't tried mine yet, it's just in there now doing it's thing and won't be ready until tomorrow. Everyone seems to say it's fab though.

With the milk you can freeze it aswell, just a thought.

I am trying to do both stay in budget and shop local, a lot of things I have had to buy in larger amounts to make savings (inc on fuel etc) but they will last a while. I suppose it's all about finding the balance that works for me. I was buying meat from farm and latter of fruit and veg local anyway, aswell as having milk delivered, it's just the other things working on now. Breads, cakes etc making most myself now. I'll have a look at that flour site, as flour has started to increase in price in the supermarkets anyway.

taurusgb

recovering_spendaholic wrote:

I have been toying with the idea of making yoghurt for some time and this challenge as got me thinking that I will start now, however I have just looked at the easyo stuff on yoghurt direct and lakeland and it seems to be really expensive - 10 sachets of stuff for £18:eek: But it doesn't say how much yoghurt a sachet makes, but I am assuming that it is 1 litre so that works out at £1.89 a litre - is this cheap? I currently buy the Mullerlite on offer for 5 for £2 but it isn't very nice - very artifical tasting and the kids hate it. Is the easyyo stuff nice tasting? Do you need to add sugar.

Hello

I have an Easiyo yogurt maker and make my own yogurt without the expensive sachets. All you need to do is this:-

buy a carton of good quality bio live yogurt (Rachels or Yeo Valley) add 1 tablespoon of yogurt to the Easiyo tub (freeze the rest of the yogurt in ice cube trays - and use when needed to make next batch)

Add a couple of tablespoons of dried skimmed milk (make sure this is proper dried milk - not 5 pints or stuff with additives) and stir in a carton of UHT skimmed milk.

Place in Easiyo yogurt maker, as per instructions as if using their packet mix, and leave 6 to 8 hours (my kitchen is quite cold so I need to leave it at least this long, but you may not need as long)...then VOILA - yogurt!

Also see this excellent post by Folio for flavouring ideas:-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=371135

Enjoy!:beer:

Also wanted to say how interested I am in this thread - I too am trying to avoid spending any more than is necessary with the big supermarkets - Tesco most of all!

more_money_for_me

We buy food, cleaning products etc in bulk as part of a buying group. We use Suma, although there are probably others. Have lots of larger sizes and they deliver.

millionaire_in_training

Nearly went to ASDA out of habit today but remembered at the last minute that I had signed up for this challenge. I went to local shop instead and was pleasantly surprised. Got 'cant believe it's not butter 'for BOGOF, bought milk and potatoes. Wasn't tempted to buy anything else as the same temptation isn't there. Stillwaiting on my veggie box. Getting a wee bit annoyed now as ordered it 8 days ago and no contact yet. Really need veggies and fruit now :mad: