Reduced bargains and yellow stickers shopping

Wizzbang

Bornagainshopaholic wrote: »

Hi there - oh dear, that sounds like a bit of a problem! I have a few thoughts:
a) check your stuff hasn't gone off already before you put it in the freezer. My OH did that once, he put a loaf of mouldy bread in but luckily I spotted it the next day.
b) obviously still adhere to freezer guidelines e.g. bread for up to 3 months, milk for up to 1 month etc.
c) I had a freezer problem some years ago where the freezer was warming up and then going back to working properly. How often are you checking your freezer thermometer? Because it could be that it's been too warm for a week and then it starts working again, just before you check the temperature!!

I have been freezing yellow stickered items for years and haven't had any issues with items going off in the freezer. My OH even ate some salmon that had been in the freezer for a year and he was fine! (don't try it at home...)

Good luck!

I am 99.9% certain that you just get unlucky on a few items, as others have commented about mouldy bread. I am certain the hot weather had a lot to do with it. I mean, I know I can make a cake this time of the year and if it's a moist one it will be growing mould in about 3 days if left out in the normal room temp. But if stored in the fridge it lasts a week, as cakes do at room temp in the winter. Whenever I check my freezer thermometer, it is operating at well below -18 degrees C. I don't however have a fast freeze button which is what you really should have, when freezing fresh food. I think because the chicken was a large freezer pack, it didn't freezer as quickly as say a small joint and that may have contributed.

Wizzbang

not.rich.not.poor wrote: »

We all love a bargain, that's why we're on this site.

*Posting under a throwaway account. I'm a regular contributor here and I find this topic embarrassing to post under my regular username.

Don't know why you're so embarrassed about buying YS items. It sounds like you're not shy about your other MSing habits! Sure, I get the mickey taken out of me by both friends and family for my MSing ways. But, at the end of the day- I'm the one £5,000 better off every year and they come to me for advice!

As far as end of the day rushes on YS items goes, I am sadly never in the supermarket at that time of day (7pm ish). But there is often a scrabble in my local Tesco even around 4-6pm for reduced items. I find it hilarious because Tesco reductions are pitiful until the evening and their 'reduced' meat is more than I would pay full price in other stores. Still, the shelves for meat are usually cleared before 5pm round here. I have to conclude that it is the type of person who shops in Tesco because I never see it in other stores and my local Waitrose has better reductions. Plus in there, MOST people are too embarrassed to pick them up (esp in the town I currently have the misfortune to live in, very la de dah- loads of ex-Londoners) , so I have an absolute field day!

Agentmomo

Ok, so we all know that a bargain is only a bargain if you "need" it. Also that "beggars can't be choosers."
However I do love a bargain...
I'm not a weekly food shopper, I do not shop on a particular day at a particular time. I shop when I need to, and like most, I have a list..
My most recent bargains:
Coleslaw reduced to 15p.
Sliced ham, 6 slices reduced to 35p.
Hubby has recently started taking sandwiches to work, so this is a bargain buy, when sliced ham was on my list! Coleslaw wasn't but Ham and coleslaw sandwiches are nicer than plain ham!
A couple of weeks ago I found a huge Beef Brisket joint reduced to £3.70. This went in the freezer. Last night I defrosted it and tonight whilst shopping I found:
Mixed chilli's 10p
Double Cream 30p
Spring Onions 30p
Mushrooms:40p.
These ingredients don't nessacerily mix, but tonight I have diced up the defrosted Brisket and made:
Oriental Style beef using the Chilli's, ginger and Garlic(which I peel and freeze) again, when found on bargains.
This is now cooling and we shall have tomorrow night with rice and steamed broccoli.
Tonight we have had:
Beef Stroganoff made with the remaining beef, mushrooms and double cream. I also used onions, grated carrot, tomato puree and paprika which I had in already.


I feel that this style of shopping produces some inspiring, cheap meals. Just need to have an open mind and a base ingredient.


What are your thoughts?

prowla

It can be, if you happen on something which is a good deal.

But some of the offers are laughable, for instance an item reduced to the price of buying it on a 2-for-1 deal.

I've sometimes bought things and then not used them (maybe the kids went out or something), in which case they get wasted.

Lilyplonk

For me, it's a bargain when you know you're going to use it that evening - or are able to FREEZE and use it at a future date.

I often see 'coleslaw/potato salad/couscous' in the whoopsie cabinet and I WILL buy these and use them over a couple of days, but certainly not any longer than 3days. I'm just dubious about mayo-style dressings/pulses in dressings etc any longer than that.

PasturesNew

I never see bargains, just expensive stuff with 20p off.

moneyistooshorttomention

Too many other people after bargains

I've never yet come across anything that is more than marginally reduced, either in last (fairly wealthy) area or in current (good bit poorer) area.

The whole idea of bargains rests rather on being prepared to eat anything going...so I don't hold out any hopes in that direction personally...as I won't do that.

You have to be in the right part of the country to get bargains imo and be prepared to eat "whatever comes up" (ie rather than having decided what way you personally eat and hoping something will come up that comes within your personal limitations).

PlymouthMaid

So long as the really reduced stuff gets used then it is an amazing bargain. Like others above, I rarely see any great bargains just food on its last date with such a little reduction which doesn't seem worth it when you can buy a fresher, longer lasting version for 20p more.

Agentmomo

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Too many other people after bargains

I've never yet come across anything that is more than marginally reduced, either in last (fairly wealthy) area or in current (good bit poorer) area.

The whole idea of bargains rests rather on being prepared to eat anything going...so I don't hold out any hopes in that direction personally...as I won't do that.

You have to be in the right part of the country to get bargains imo and be prepared to eat "whatever comes up" (ie rather than having decided what way you personally eat and hoping something will come up that comes within your personal limitations).

I suppose it does depend on what you are prepared to eat and as I eluded to in previous post, do you really need it?
For me there are some things I don't buy, such as the meat pie / rotisserie counters. I won't eat pre made pies / sausage rolls / fruit pies, even at half or less price. However my eyes are always peeled and feet always head to the fresh meat (I am fortunate to have a large freezer) fruit and veg, what's not used immediately can and should be frozen. Deli / chilled areas of supermarkets are always good for cheeses, cooked meats, olives etc....

Working_and_Scheming

No bargains for me in my part of Essex but I suppose it does depend when you can shop. I rely on my OH taking me as I don't drive and he won't go anytime except mornings. Large uni near here so I guess the students get most of the bargains if they exist at all.