Food bargains

Bananabrain

I've been lurking here for a while and must have read literally hundreds of posts [all fab by the way, this forum has given me some brill ideas, thanks to all]
Have recently been reading about all you lovely people and the amazing food bargains you seem to be getting. Like most people, things are tight with ever increasing prices and we need to make some cutbacks.
This is what I have done so far this year:

Been trawling the supermarkets just before closing on xmas eve.
Been to the local charity shop thinking eveyone has a good clearout just before xmas, there will be some great bargains. Only to be told they had a half price sale the day before and have pretty much sold everything!!!
Just got back from Wa****se, again just before closing on a Sat eve.
So far I have got: a couple of rolls of xmas paper 25p each
a packet alfalfa sprouts 19p [I am one of those weird veggie people]
Not very impressive so far, I'm sure you would agree?
What am I doing wrong? Is my timing just pants or am I destined to be eating baked beans for the rest of my life because I can't budget properly?:rotfl:

kingfisherblue

My local Tesco doesn't have much in the way of bargains, but reductions are done about two hours before they close. Could you be leaving your shopping trip too late in the day?

Also, I buy quite a bit from Home Bargains as it is much cheaper for some items. A large B&M has just opened up in the next town to me (I live on the border, so it is only as far as the smaller one in my town), and there are loads of food bargains there.

Be aware of dates if buying from cheaper shops - you might have to use within a few weeks.

kippers

It really is down to luck.

Supermarkets all start reducing at different times and just when you think you have figured out what time your local supermarket starts to reduce things , then they change it.

Xmas eve is a different kettle of fish....they reduce far earlier in the day and I have never managed to get a Turkey on xmas eve that is dirt cheap unfortunately, but I have managed to get loads of fruit and veg approx 11am, though this year wasn't so good.

Keep trying and don't give up. Keep your eye on 'Quick! Grabbit while you can' board, as there are loads of really good offers on there and don't forget to look out for any codes you can use when you buy on-line, to get money off.

After a while you will learn to sniff out a bargain from a mile off lol

TESCO_R+R_RAIDER

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=273350403
i got this for 1p instore my local tesco the other night.lol
most reduction in my area are about 6-8pm you have to wait around a lot but it does pay off. pork chops was £4.00 on the pack or 3 for £10 . i got 3 laqst night reduced to 60p each at the till it too £2 off for then do free chops and 20p off my other reduced stuff. £12 for over a hundred pounds of food.

harrybear_1988

It's not you, it's them
All stores are different, all days are different.
Eventually you will find the right store/time to go scouting for those magical yellow stickers.
Even better, you might find yourself a particularly poorly managed store like the Mr.T's near me - I have no idea what their stock managment do but it's keeping me in YS for months on end! :rotfl:

Something I have noticed in Sainsbobs is that often the best YS bargains are on the shelves, not in the reduced cabinet. I suppose this is becuase the people doing the reductions go around with the magic moneysaving gun first, and then put them all in the cabinet later. Not sure if all branches do this but worth a look.
Don't mistake the yellow security protection stickers on the meat from a distance for the reduction ones though! Many times my excitement has been short lived haha. xxx

Edit - oops just realised you are veggie, so maybe no meat scouting lol

Edwardia

At ASDA they have a bad habit of taking reduced chilled food out of the cabinet and leaving it on the metal cabinet edge. No idea whether this is food waiting to be moved to the reduced price chiller.

I know that at least one other supermarket has a rules that chilled food cannot be sold if it's been out of a chiller for more than 20 minutes.

The metal cabinet edges can actually be quite warm on some models and having had food poisoning after eating ASDA reduced price sausages I regard it as an unsafe practice.

I have seen ASDA colleagues barricade themselves behind pricing trolleys while they reduce food, so they don't get bothered by the hordes who gather.

My advice re: Chavda (as Mumsnet calls it) would be to wear protective body armour before engaging in the rugby scrums

TravellingAbuela

No matter how meticulous your plans are, quite often it's just a matter of luck at being in the right place at the right time for the magic yellow stickers!

My Sainsbury's are now dire at big reductions, and I can't remember the last time I got anything even remotely near half price! Asda are better but I hate Asda with a vengeance and refuse to shop there anymore! If you are very lucky in M & S, usually between 3.00 - 4.00 pm in my local store, there are some pretty good reductions but you have to beat the regulars waiting for the ys to be put out at the end of the freezer aisle! According to my DS Morrisons do pretty good reductions too but I never shop there - it's just too big and busy for my liking!

Definitely look in such as Home Bargains, Fulton Foods and B & M at cereals, tins, jars and bottles but do check the sell-by dates. I have been buying Kraft Light Garlic & Herb dressing at 29p a bottle in B & M (as opposed to £1.29 in Sainsbo) but only because short dated.

Suzexxx

I agree with all the other posters, its usually about timing it right. Sometimes you'll go in and see nothing, other times you'll arrive just when they are reducing things.

I only ever go on a Sunday as i know what time the supermarkets reduce and always come away with a few bargains. Bad thing is everyone knows this on a Sunday so i have to sharpen my elbows before going as it can be quite a scrum. It helps being 8 months pregnant as people tend to feel sorry for me and offer me bargains

chesky

You just have to find out what your local shops do in the way of reductions.

My local Sainsburys only ever seems to reduce its bread and cakes - I've never seen anything else, like vegetables or meat. I'm presuming (hoping) they give to local charities instead.

My local M&S reduces twice a day - once about 11am and then afterwards at around 3pm. Waitrose reduces first thing and you do best to get there around 10am.

I think each store varies on the whim of the local manager, since other branches seem to have different rules.