Enough. We're walking away from supermarkets

dasophster

frugal_shopper wrote: »

It is getting more challenging to avoid the big supermarkets as the smaller shops keep closing. Rosspa recently closed so one of my sources of online shopping went, the local greengrocers went a few years ago as the owners retired but couldn't find anyone to take over, the markets get smaller every year. The local health food shop made national news this week as they closed last friday along with the cafe run by the same company which was always incredibly busy. The bakery is on the verge of closing.
If things carry on like this then I may end up being forced to shop at one of the big supermarkets which is something I haven't had to do for about 15 years.

Nooooooo I went there as a child and still remember it vividly, what a shame xx

dasophster

I live in a drought area for things like farm shops, health food shops and food co-ops, a few miles away there are loads but they are neither local nor accessible. However we have a big Turkish supermarket in the high street that has quite a lot of local fruit and veg, and they sell a lot of whole foods and health foods as well. I've also joined a mini food co-op of sorts but that's more for bulk purchases of stuff such as organic coconut oil, olive oil etc, so far I've had some fantastic deals from them xx

Edwardia

sam247 wish you all the best with the blog, hope you get better luck tgan me.

I started one last year when I went organic, using Blogger. Along came Chinese bots, copied chunks of my blog and perpetrated some sort of scam which made both my ISP and Google block it.

Started again on Wordpress, was going better than I could have imagined, with visitors from UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Norway, Iraq, Dubai, India, Australia, USA, New Zealand and Canada.

Account got suspended because under Wordpress regs, you cannot link to a commercial website as this is seen as directing traffic.

I bit the bullet, bought a domain and then the battery on my laptop packed up.

katep23

claz83 wrote: »

Some local places to try: Hare Hatch Sheeplands on the A4 has a fantastic farm shop.

I would second this, Hare Hatch is very good, you can buy meat in larger quantities (half a lamb, side of pork etc) and their gammon joints are lovely and always on BOGOF offer so good value.

lil.smartie

Big green smile is good for household stuff, quidco cashback too

Kate

sams247

We used to go on holiday to Machynlleth every year when the children were young, beautiful area and brilliant location. We used that cafe a lot so very sad to see it go. It was actually going to Mach that started us on this route, as one of the things I loved about being there was the little local shops, you bought your bread from the bakery and people spoke to you, the butcher knew where his meat was from that day, the market in town was bustling, and the cafe at Plas Talgarth supplied fresh salmon. I loved the difference from the busy busy supermarket life.

dasophster - the food co op sounds a really good idea, I have seen we have one in Reading but havent found time to get to it yet

Edwardia - what a nightmare! Do you think someone is trying to tell you something? My problem is time, I am so busy that although I have written several posts loosely nothing has actually appeared on my blog. Must do better.....must do better

I did like Hare Hatch, and we did a lot of good shopping with them, my only small moan is that I really try and see where my chickens come from and how they are 'harvested' and the butcher didnt know but he did say he'd find out, so maybe on my next visit I'll find out. Oddly I asked the same question about harvesting at the Farmers market and the farm guy couldnt tell me either, so I didnt buy any from him. If they dont know how the chickens die then what faith can I have in how they lived?

Trotting off to look at big green smile as we speak.

I am doing ok with local small pharmacies etc., doing ok on most food but I have learnt some lessons already - dont get carried away with all the amazing cheese and buy too much for one, and if you see a bargain buy a months worth not a weeks worth. But I am still stuck on a good source of fresh herbs and quorn

tattycath

I've just read this thread with interest-where do you get your laundry detergent?
We've just re-discovered local butchers. We've eaten eat from supermarkets for so long...We decided to have a joint of meat one day and as we were passing a butchers we bought it from there. We couldn't believe the difference in taste between supermarket and butchers. It was alot more expensive than the supermarket though...
We have since done some research and found a much cheaper butchers in the local area and their meat is great. So we've decided to get all of our meat from there-maybe go once a month and stock up and freeze it then defrost and use as necessary.

sams247

tattycath wrote: »

I've just read this thread with interest-where do you get your laundry detergent?
.

Up till now we have got all our laundry products from Costco as I have a work card for them. I am weighing up the rights and wrongs of staying with this method, but I am likely to as it does save me money and I dont class Costco as one of my enemy supermarkets We have also considered Ecover from Planet Organic.

We are also researching a site called WAE plus. I am comparing prices and looking for delivery options.

Have to agree on taste when it comes to comparing butchers with supermarkets, same applies to veg and fruit too we are discovering.

Today we had porridge for breakfast, toast and jam. Lunch was mozzarella and tomato pasta salad (take into work) with a yoghurt and an oat crunch biscuit. Tea will be Cheesy Veg bake (like cauliflower cheese but with broccoli, cauliflower, brussels and carrots) salmon fillets and potatoes. And nothing at all came from a supermarket. Yay!

lil.smartie

I like Ecover and Method household stuff, use mainly Method but they are owned by the same people

I use Ocado, not quite a supermarket But I will use Waitrose once they open later this year in town sick of Tesco, we had a Morrisons open at Christmas so getting some choice at long last!

Kate

melanzana

I am trying to shop local. Keep the jobs local too, most are my lovely neighbours. Suprmarkets use psychological ploys to make you spend more than you intended, on stuff that you don't actually NEED! Meh...

Anyhow, we are lucky to have a local little row of shops.

Bacon butcher
Beef butcher
Newsagent
Two hairdressers,
Hardware shop
Chemist
Green grocer and mini market
Coffee shop

I buy all meat at the butchers. A few things at the mini market (milk bread)
Veg and fruit at the greengrocers , great value, marked down hugely on a Saturday evening.

Use the local pharmacy, she knows us well. Great advice and we know its for us, if you get me.

Aldi is five mins away walking. Use my wheelie case for their cheese, yogurts, washing stuff, toilet rolls, and beer/wine. AND the specials!

I have not been in T or any other supermarket besides Aldi for about a year now.