£1shop or value/alternative stores thread

gailey_2

lyra wrote: »

Ah nothing wrong with a few treats. I do find the cheap frozen stuff (think it's in poundland) fine for days I'm not well enough/too busy to cook. It's the balance, if most of your meals are homemade, then you're fine to have some crisps once in a while

Exactly its my armagedden collection if im poorly then hubby might have a fend for himself evening but least 5/7days a week hes a homecooked meal from scratch on table when he comes through the door:D

I must admit kids have 1 easy night with friozen chips/wedges,breaded fish or chicken with frozen veg.
the rest of time they have simple things like jacket potatoes, omlette, pasta, roast dinner.

I like baking but sadly im not very good at it.
find baking bits quite pricey in the big 4.
I can get the flour from lidls but its things like sprinkles and cake decor same thing in farmfoods sprinkle pot costs £1 costs £2.50 in sainsburys.

I buy a lot of icecream sundries as icecream goes further in a cone as ocasional after dinner treat.

poundshop does the posh seasalt in a grinder as well as the pepper in a grinder both £1 but they same price in farmfoods.

I would look out for things like bisto gravy, oxo stock granules my fave, paxo stuffing as its stuff I would buy in supermarkets anyway.

I find cost of lunchboxes really adding up these days and its finding something relativly healthy kids will enjoy.

normally eldest has a roll, 1small pack crisps, fruit, cereal bar insetad of choic biscuit.sometimes a homemade fairy cake.

Maman agree with you. Its hard to make a direct comparision with whats good value unless you know what people charge.
Hence idea for thread. genrally I like to pay £1 or under for mosth things love can go in poundshops and spend 20quid and come out with 3 bags.

I do buy a lot of non food as my 5year old has annoying habit of losing hairbands goes in wiith bunches comes out one bunch in one bunch out.:rotfl:

Some baby stuff like bottles/dummies cheaper than big 4 even on a baby event.

household-ditto.

original source bath/shower products a fave.

cheap presents for eldests freinds parties.

family bargains did have 2 3 cards for £1 really nice ones.

wish we had homebargains but unless im passing not worth it.

my advice is bargains come in the most unlikly of places check locally.

we have 2corner shops nearby ones booker premier and 1 is mace and both if selective have some selective deals and way cheaper than the spar.

Also the postoffice up high street is a Mmcols which has changed last couple of years mainly used to be newsagents now small grocery range with often

sugar under £1 for 1kg-its 89p in booker cheaper than big 4
milk £1 for 4oints handy when cant get to lidls and pay £1.50 in co-op.cereals £1.

havent really had chance to have good look at wilkos but from what I saw quite pricey.

ohh dont forget good old superdrug they have some really random offers in there mostly on non foods but some confectionary/drinks ect.

blackandwhitebunny

Our poundland has the bags of ocean spray cranberries which are £1.89 or so in the sm's. Poundworld also sometimes has soy/hoisin/plum sauce 2 for a £1 or 3 fo £2. I have noticed though that some of the products are in different sizes from usual so very difficult to compare.

rachbc

I occassionally get things like tortilla wraps in B&M, jar of pataks curry paste and random 'world food' stuff like sesame oil, rice vinegar, hot sauce at good prices. Got some lovley sharwoods plain ribbon noodles once whcih I have never seen anywhere else since.

HB has decent dried fruit and nuts and I know hubby feeds his 'secret' crisp habit there too! But as long as he keeps them at work and doesn't bring them home where the kids will natter for them I don't mind!

Always buy dishwasher stuff at B&M or HB

Gailey - re pack lunches what about making it either a packet of crisps or a treat bar - saves you money and makes it a bit healthier. Those cereal bars can be deceptive too - some of them have more sugar than a kitkat in!! Mine get a roll/ sarnie, piece of fruit, veg sticks (pepper, carrot or sugar snap peas if feeling flush) and a yogurt of some kind - usualy yeos tube things if they are on a deal. if not plain greek yog, fruit and a sprinkle of brown sugar in a little pot. They get a hm cake/ biscuit occassionally and crisps once or twice a term if I get brow beaten into buying a multi pack.

I find its not where you shop or even what you buy that saves most money - but what you don't buy - even cheap crisps, pop, biscuits etc are still money spent on things that just aren't a neccessary part of or diets. Cutting them out saves even more than buying cheap ones.