wheres best place to do xmas shop?

gailey_2

We need to do small top up shop lidls tommorow as running very low on food.

Dont get paid until 20th.

wheres best place to do xmas shop.

we normally do lidls as thats nearby

went aldis other day and thourght that was impressive.

we have local butchers whos cheap go there once amonth.

sainsburys nearby is hell on earth at xmas.

we have morrisions nearby-cant really spend £40 a week there for 4weeks.

we hate asda and our local asda is hell

have discount code for ocado.

large co-op which we just go to for reductions and offer.s

its kind of tiring doing so many but prepared to do a few to keep costs down.

I notice foods rising everywhere and its hard to find best deals.

reductions are becoming a scrum these days very competative.

xmas eve im prepared to do 4differnet stores.

hoping leaving it to last min mean some nice stuff left.

hilstep2000

Lidl and Aldi have some lovely things at the moment. I've been getting them over the past few weeks, adding them to my normal shop.

gailey_2

Thanks hillstep i guess im worried shopping at one place cost me more.

most months on normal month i shop around.

lidls is nearer

aldis had fab selction but dont get paid iuntil 20th might be bit late and all good stuff gone.

have no idea what meat to eat xmas day havent had turkey in last few years due to expense.

will do great reduced hunt xmas eve/boxing day to try feed us through jan.

farmfoods is ok but last few farm shops havent lasted us long.
Think its costing more.

will try poundshop for few things

making hm mince pies and gingerbread men
cutting back on chocs but love nuts/satsumas.
will make my own ham.
mini xmas pud as only hubby likes it.

value smoked salmon trimmings
reduced bread stockpiled in freezer.
will do my own ham as slipper joint £6 in bucthers could maybe talk him into 2 for £10.

DCFC79

Can you not try getting early to the shops eg just after opening, i know how busy it can get, by going early you might beat the majority of the rush.

gailey_2

yes will try get as early as possible minus the kids.

free papers come through with

co-op leaflet offers until 1st jan not much appeals o will just stick to reductions in there.

farmfoods with vouchers so £5 off £50 spend think will go there for

milk
frozen veg
oven chips
ice creams
any other good offers.

will do maybe £50 lidls and £50 aldis
butchers separate

morrisons just look online some possible ok deals might try one evening and see if can get offers and some reductions.

got to be strict and write huge list
meal plan
as think most people at xmas get tempted and normal shopping patterns go out the window.

will try tesco for reductions and anything cant get elsewhere send hubby to sainsburys.

Wont be going mad but want to get best value.

tessie_bear

umm i think if you shop in a lot of shops you have to have an iron will and only buy offers/reduction/what you went in for...this doesnt work for me as i have a will made from cotton wool and wander around chucking things into my trolley...on iona (mean queens) blog she talks a bit about cherry picking offers from a lot of shops...works well for her

i go to one shop at the moment i like aldi but it changes...i also go to coop and only look in the reduced cabinet....do u like farm foods ?? im not keen as seems to sell a lot of rubbish imo...could you buy a sack of potatoes and make your own chips/mash/jackets/wedges...might save a bit

i have written a list of all the meals we are having over christmas and then written a shopping list and added a few treats/snacks...not many as iam sick of using up christmas food until the next easter

i noticed on a flier that aldi has fresh christmas meats in on 19th december so would fit your payday well

i read somewhere u saying u needed to get a tree...could you go out and get some sticks and add some greenery from the garden....u could decorate with light and chocolate bits....might save a few bob

take care tess

Edwardia

My tips would be

1. Like Frenchwomen plan meals around what's cheap in the market, plan meals around special offers at supermarkets.
2. Most of the time it is cheaper to cook from scratch
3. YS junk food is still junk food and not much cop nutritionally so you're better off going for YS food you can cook.
4. Eggs are a relatively cheap source of protein and can be cooked in a zillion ways see Poundland, Iceland and 99p Stores for cheap eggs
5. Watch the weights on branded cans in discount stores they way be same size but contain less food
6. Frozen veg can be cheaper and more nutritious than fresh veg with less waste.
7. Lidl, Aldi and ASDA can be way cheaper than Tesco etc
8. If you get codes for free delivery, take the opportunity to bulk buy heavier/awkward special offers if you can.
9. Milk, butter and cheese on YS/offer can be frozen.
10. If you have to spend more money on fares/fuel to get offers then you're not saving money unless the offers more than cover the fares/extra fuel.
11. If you can visit a store on your way to/from somewhere you have to go then you can call in without it costing more.
12. If you check websites of Costcutter, One Stop, Budgens, Co-op, Spar etc you can pick up some good offers locally too.
13. If you live near a Farmers market/market you may pick up bargains here too
14. If you live near the sea, you don't need a licence to go sea-fishing with a rod (you may need day ticket to fish on a pier)
15. A foraging course can be a smart idea so you can identify free food eg wild garlic, nettles, blackberries, elderberries, wild strawberries, sorrel, chestnuts etc

Rebel_Hedgehog

Anyone think I'll be ok getting fresh veg on Saturday 22nd or will that be too early?

lindseykim13

Rebel_Hedgehog wrote: »

Anyone think I'll be ok getting fresh veg on Saturday 22nd or will that be too early?

I get my xmas shop a whole week before the big day and i've had carrots ect happily sitting in my fridge for over 2 weeks that were perfectly eddible. I won't be going near a shop in the few days before xmas except maybe for milk at the local.

Although tempted to go hunting for a ys turkey on xmas eve.

Rebel_Hedgehog

Ok, sounds like 22nd should be ok. I have no intention at all in going to any shop or supermarket on 23rd and 24th

A._Badger

I must congratulate Edwardia for her practical suggestions.

The only thing I'd add is that Morrisons could well go on the list of 'cheaper than Tesco/Sainsbury.' .

I can't say I actually enjoy shopping there, but Morrison's meat is considerably better than either Tesco's and Sainsbury's and its prices are consistently keener across the board I find, than either of those two.

Also, street markets can be far, far better value for fruit and veg.