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

thriftlady_2

Thanks Gers, that is an interesting article. I'm feeling even more inspired to try this. I've been kidding myself that Waitrose doesn't really count as a supermarket- ie it's not Tesco :rotfl:

Interesting that people said they saved money because there was less choice available to them -eg toast instead of croissants and bagels. That's how supermarkets win isn't it ? They make you think you need something you don't.

I still have to do a lot of driving to reach a good butcher and farmshop which the people in the article didn't.

I have a Spar within walking distance which I hadn't really considered before but I think deserves investigation. Do other people use Spars ?

My butcher (15 min drive away ) is truly excellent but there's no way I'd be able to buy all the meat Rosie Millard bought for £22 - £62 more like :eek: He does do excellent freezer deals and things like wild rabbits for £4 (not in season at the mo).

Thanks again :T

dianadors

Can I say a big thank you to COOLTRIKERCHICK for this thread - it really has changed the way I think and shop (not quite there yet, but trying). I have been really concerned by campaign in Country Living Magazine that basically statesd that if we dont pay our farmers a fair price for the milk we produce, we shall soon start to lose the sight of cows grazing in fields. Several dairy farmers EACH WEEK are selling up because supermarkets pay less than the milk costs to produce!!! I hate the way that supermarkets have changed our high streets and I dont want them to change the way the whole countryside looks too. I thought it was great when supermarkets started opening on Sundays - now I hate to see cars full of people wasting precious family time shopping. I refuse to do it anymore. We don walking boots and go for lovely long walks in all weathers, creating wonderful memories for the kids.

Bargain_Rzl

I have a confession to make. In advance.

Although Saturday is the last day of Lent, and although from Easter onwards I will continue to shop at Tesco/Morrisons/Asda principally for items which are not easy to get elsewhere, I am considering breaking the "no supermarkets" rule, along with my "I am not going to buy any more wine until Lent is over" rule, a day early.

Because:
1) Tesco is shut on Easter Sunday. I have no wine in the house at all. I have a whole sheet of Tesco Wine Club vouchers which all expire on Sunday.
2) Because Tesco is shut on Easter Sunday, this means there will be rich pickings for low prices in the "yellow sticker fridge" on Saturday. I will not be loading my trolley up willy nilly with huge quantities of rubbish meat (as I have been known to do in the past) but if they have certain things - e.g. Tesco Finest sausages are worth having if they are reduced to silly money.

I'll get me coat

thriftlady_2

thriftlady wrote: »

I have a Spar within walking distance which I hadn't really considered before but I think deserves investigation. Do other people use Spars ?

Just been to Spar. Very expensive - own brand plain flour (1.5kg) 99p, they had MacDougall's for 49p. I needed Demerara sugar but they only had tiny bags for 82p. It's going to be difficult to get used to buying things like baking ingredients in small and expensive quantities. On the plus side it's only a 15 minute walk and there's a hardware shop, a butcher (full of frozen NZ lamb and pappy looking sausages:rolleyes: ), a baker, a chemist, a greengrocer (which sells mostly packets of crisps) and the library.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hi thriftlady......why dont you ask your baker if they sell flour..... this is where i get my flour from now......

some things i buy are more expensive than the supermarket..... but it evens out in the end.... and my shopping bill is now lower.....

bargin rzl... well done.....:T .... only a few hours short..... but the main thing is you have now found other places where you could get some shopping.. whether you only use one independant from now on.....you are taking some business away from the supermarkets ...and helping an independant survive......

diandors.......i just started the thread..... but a lot of peeps think and feel the same way.....not only mser's...... as you can see by newspaper and tv articles.......

i heard on the news last night that tescos are now going to pay some of the dairy farmers directly so they will get more money per ltre of milk........

i wonder if this is due to all the publicity lately..... and they can see people buying more in farmers markets.... and from independants... and they are trying to be seen doing something ethical..... to keep more people buying away from their stores......

dianadors

I think you are right about Tesco's. The milk thing is probably due to the publicity. In CL magazine they said that only Waitrose and 1 other supermarket paid a fair price to farmers (cant remember which one but it wsnt a big one).
I can't help feeling a bit sorry for big supermarkets (but I'm not caving in!) they give us what we want(ie convenience, cheaper prices, longer opening hours etc) , then we dont like it! I hate the long term implecations of large supermarkets and it isnt something that I had ever thought about before. We have a battle in a small Pennine town near where I live where MR T is wanting to come to town. Its the only town for miles around that still has a decent high street with butchers, bakers, florists, fishmongers, delicatessen, market etc selling local produce. How long before all these shops become charity shops if Mr T wins?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

the good old saying springs to mind...

you dont know what you got until its gone ( or something like that )

we have got sooo used to using supermarkets.... when we do want to go and shop at a specialist shop.. butcher/ baker...etc...... we find that most of the ones we can remember from a few years ago.. have all closed down.....

little_miss_thrifty

Hi all
Am still continuing with the challenge even though my month is up - i have been to another local farm shop today to try their chicken as the place i was getting mine from was looking a bit pale... I also bought a hemp bag to replace the plastic bags.
I have (unfortunately) used Co-op a few times in the last couple of weeks as i have started a new part time job - and no, not for any ready meals - i have still used what is in the cupboards or fridge and have surprised myself. I just haven't got round to making my new workmates a cake yet (they are all men and keep hounding me!).

Gers

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

hi thriftlady......why dont you ask your baker if they sell flour..... this is where i get my flour from now......

I get my flour direct from the mill and buy in bulk - they deliver really quickly too and will even try to arrange it to suit. I'm not sure it's money saving but it's time saving.. and time IS money!


http://www.fwpmatthews.co.uk/default.asp?ID=21

I get organic white and cotswold crunch and mix the two when baking.

thriftlady_2

Useful link , but as with all the online flour suppliers I've explored they are expensive. It works out at over £1 a kilo and I'm afraid Tesco's bread flour is 48p for 1.5 kilos. I get through a lot.