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

CoD_2

I try my hardest to not buy any meat from the supermarket, i've bought half a lamb online before which was much cheaper and i knew where it had come from. there is a farm near my husbands work which does homemade sausages 60-80p for 4-6 and it's all free range meat, they also sell gorgeous steaks, mince 500g for 2.50 etc. they don't sell chicken but i buy that freerange from another butcher, 1.8kg for 4.80 which is cheaper than supermarket again. i buy bacon from there too.

the freezer is certainly my friend as i tend to buy once a month or once every 2 months, portion and freeze. I only buy happy meat and just couldn't afford it from a supermarket.

Penelope_Penguin

katelu wrote: »

Okay, so I have been thinking about totally changing my shopping habits as every attempt at cutting down in Mr T's isn't working for me! So a few months ago a farm shop opened locally and I went for a nosy today - they sell fruit and veg, meat, bread and fish. All a bit pricier than Mr T's of course, but no other temptations and supporting local farmers/local produce. Anyone else do this? How does it work out? Is it worth a trial do you reckon? Thanks in advance:D

COOLTRIKERCHICK and others gave up supermarkets for a month and more - stories here.

I'll add this thread to that one later.

Penny. x

katelu

Thanks Penny

EmptyPurse

Recently I've been doing a lot of my shopping at village shops. I've found a great butcher, grocer and hardware store (for cleaning supplies, dishwasher tablets etc). The only thing I find it impossible to buy locally is storecupboard supplies: tinned tomatoes, chickpeas, dried herbs etc. If I could solve that dilemma I'd happily join this challenge.

Icemaiden

Its great to see new people trying this challenge:j When I first started I did it slowly to begin with as I didn't have a clue what I could buy or where to buy anything other than in the supermarket which had been my best friend for so long:o Every time I went out I made sure I had a good look at the local shops to see what they sold and made a note of the prices. I did find my butcher through the Bigbarn website and now wouldn't get my meat from anywhere else, the quality is fab and I can stick my head round the door tell Rodger what I want and it will be ready and waiting for me on the way back down from picking DD up from school. The only thing I have problems buying are flour and other baking stuff, I still get these on-line from Asda:o every few months or so.
It has taken me quite along time to get to the stage I'm at, but boy its so worth it....

Ice
x

mary43

Finances are more than stretched at the moment so we've decided to give the weekly shop a miss........looked at what we'd got in the freezer and larder and we've enough stuff to feed ourselved for a week.
We've bought stuff when its been on offer or BOGOF and there's ample to keep us going even with son and girlfriend and baby coming up next week for three days. We're off to see MIL the following weekend for a week so another week with no shopping to do.
Will still need to buy fresh veg and cat food but other than that no sense in spending what we haven't got when the food is already there.

moggitymog

Hi all,
I'm hoping to join this thread too, avoided mr T all week so far although having to use wilkinsons and herons due to no farm shops locally. The local village shop has agreed to order me skimmed milk and as they have just lost their post office i am hoping the selection of goods they stock will increase. will try the farmers market but only have it once per month and this month i will be at work all day so no opportunity to get there, so, so far so good until, partner just phoned and said he will pick up some wine on his way home from work, i thought that would be lovely but finally dawned he is going to tescos!
we have bought a home brew wine kit so partner will put that on tomorrow and waiting for my brother to bring us some rhubarb to make proper homemade wine yummy

OrkneyStar

Well I am very happy this week. Was originally thinking of going to Lidls, mainly cos its cheap and has ok stuff, however yesterday decided I would try to go local. Ended up getting a huge bag of steak mince, big bag chuck steak for stew, some tins and loads of nice fruit and veg (some will be cooked up and stored as meals) from local butcher. Also treated us to some of their home made coleslwaw. Spent £25 in there. Only did a small top up shop in Coop and local garage shop (great selection of juice and not expensive). I feel I have almost made up for last weeks ding ding lol I need some Cravendale and am thinking of popping locally to get that too instead of the Coop. I need to keep doing this as it feels good to buy locally and not line the pockets of the big supermarkets.

The mince will make at least 4 meals for us and the stew hopefully two- we like our mince here lol and as it is local it tastes yummy!

Added on later- just to say I managed to get my Cravendale and some yummy but expensive yoghurts locally :T , my marg from Lidls :eek: , juice from Woolies :rolleyes: , and loo rolls and peaches from COOP . Not too bad, also treated me and DS to lunch from local bakery- scrummmmmmyy.

katelu

Well my first week on my no supermarket trial and it has been a roaring success!! I spent £22 in the farm shop (pork joint, bacon, potatoes, cheese,butter, bread, brocolli, apples, oranges and wine), £14 in Netto (cat food, cordial and beer). On top of this I baked 2 cakes and some biscuits for the kids. The pork joint didn't shrink a bit so have loads left for at least another 2 meals and I have saved at least £40 by just not going to Mr. T's :T Admittedly next week will be tougher because I had quite a bit in the freezer/cupboards this week to fall back on but very happy with my 1st week trial.

OrkneyStar

Well, I have decided against a 'big' shop from the supermarket again this week, spent £13 in our local delicatessen, on seeds/nuts for making hm bread a bit more exciting, dried pears for DS's porridge, Bombay mix and some gram flour to make some Indian foods. Also got some stuff from local small COOP, ok so it is part of a supermarket chain, but only spent £8 and lots of the stuff was reduced price. I have noticed that our local £ shop, not part of a chain, also sells cleaning stuff, loo rolls, etc- had been before but forgotten about it as it is kind of hidden round a corner lol, so can go there as an alternative to Lidl. Got to say I am planning still to go to Lidl, Coop, and Tesco when it comes, for some stuff, but also planning to get as much as I can locally. Might be harder when we do need more store cupboard stuff. Am finding also that getting things down the local town is better for me as I walk there- saving diesel, keeping me fit, and getting DS out and about!
Ok, thats me for now.