Cheapest Place to do Food Shopping?

kailey_3

Before i start i just want to say thank you i only joined hear yesterday and have got so many great tips, my partner and I only moved in 2gether in March after living with our parents all our lives, and we've been finding it hard finacially.
I ve been searching for recipes online to cook from scratch as i love cooking but i've found hundreds on here, and cheap ones too!!
Anyway...
Where does everyone shop? We used to go to Tesco cuz i found buying mostly value food was cheaper but then it costs us 10.00 to get there cuz we dont live that near and we dont drive. I tried Iceland which was ok but we ended up spending 47.00 jst for 2 of us and it was all mainly frozen stuff and we'd run out of things like milk etc by mid week.
Somerfield worked out expensive too, we spent about 20.00 and we didnt even get much, i found a green grocers stall and we bought all our veg from there i got loads and it only came to 10.00 when we buy it from the supermarket i find its more expensive and doesnt last as long, duno if im right or not
My OH's mum suggested farm foods, what does everyone else think cuz im worried it will just be like iceland and we wont have much fresh stuff like milk, cheese, bread etc.
There's only 2 of us here, we just need food for lunches and dinners so i dont want to be spending 47.00 a week when i am unemployed looking for work right now.

Thanks
Kay x

betterlife

hi there, i`d personnally advise against farmfoods as it pretty much the same as iceland mostly frozen ready meals. might be ok for deals on tinned food like beans etc. im trying to use more locally produced stuff from local markets and butchers, your best bet is to meal plan, should be easy enough with just the 2 of you, maybe do 2 weeks at a time especially if you also have time on your hands, say you buy some mince, cook it all and make a lasagna for this week and a cottage pie for next week. pack of sausages for sausage casserole or load in hole this week and sausage mash and veg, or in finger rolls or pasta bake for next week. your`ll probably find you can do this with most things you buy make them stretch for 2 meals. i have 2 adults 3 children to feed but never really have to buy double , we eat meat but not mega but fill up with rice, pasta, pots and veg.xx

Plum_Pie

If you want to get a handle on your grocery budget -why don't you join the grocery challenge - sticky at the top of the board. You'll pick up loads of tips of cutting you bills.

kailey_3

I really wanted to make a stew but i find the meat is expensive. Is meat cheaper from a butchers?

redruby

kailey wrote: »

Where does everyone shop? We used to go to Tesco cuz i found buying mostly value food was cheaper but then it costs us 10.00 to get there cuz we dont live that near and we dont drive.

Why don't you see if Tesco will deliver to you ? I use sainsbugs myself, but I am sure there is nearly always a code on here somewhere for money off at Mr T, might be worth seeing if they deliver in your area

vivw_2

My daughter is probably in the same sort of position as you. She shops at Tescos online once a month and uses a voucher code to get free delivery. She then gets fresh veg and fruit from the market

angchris

kailey wrote: »

I really wanted to make a stew but i find the meat is expensive. Is meat cheaper from a butchers?

meat is expensive, obviousely some cuts are more expensive than others. when making stews etc get braising steak or casserole beef (same stuff) and you can either make a small stew with just the beef/veg or you can (for the same amount of beef/veg and costs pennies more) really bulk it out by using a dried stew mix which has pearl barley and split lentils etc and then also make dumplings to go on top....this turns a meal for 4 into a meal for 8 for literally a few extra pennies.
i`d second doing online tesco shopping and getting it delivered, i havent paid for a delivery yet because the codes i find always cover the cost.

betterlife

hi again, if you do a sunday roast beef use any leftovers in your stew, i also uses things like braising steak, basic frying steak which i also mince myself , pasty beef, if you are going to use a supermarket some of them do packs of stewing steak i bought one recently from asda for 99p. but i normally use left over meat. i often make a nice large batch of chick and veg soup , chick left over from roast pick off any meat to go in soup and make stock from carcuss. x

betterlife

oh just thought why not watch river cottage tonight at 9, hugh has been showing you about different cuts of meat which is great for the novice.

sb44

kailey wrote: »

I really wanted to make a stew but i find the meat is expensive. Is meat cheaper from a butchers?

Do you have a Lidl nearby?

At the moment they have up to 40% off poultry and meat.

I bought some best stewing steak today which worked out at £1.49 for just under 1lb which should do you 2 meals if you are only using for a stew.

They also have some steak mince in there at the minute for £1.19 for 400g.