Help me overhaul my shopping experience!

Coedy

I hate shopping... Usually because everything takes 5x longer than what it should take if I went on my own. (My Fiancee loves to stand and stare at things she has no intention of buying, I make a list, go in, get those things and leave if I'm on my own.)

I'm sure what we currently do isn't the best way to do things so am after some advice.

Currently:
Every week we go to the supermarket (whichever we pass at the time).
We wander about trying to remember what we need to get. We buy a few offers which normally just sit in the fridge/cupboard.
We pay.
We go home, we eat some of it and then do the same the next week (the other stuff isn't wasted. Just longer life things)

I think:
We should use MySupermarket to knock up a list of what we buy every week (just use it as a list app for now), do our main shop at lidls (Fiancee always says "It doesn't taste the same, it doesn't last as long..") to save money initially (and we wont buy special offers as we don't know what most of the food is like!).
I know we wont be able to get EVERYTHING at lidls. So we can then use the MySupermarket app for its intended use and get the remaining bits from the cheapest place on the way back from the gym etc.

I also want to set up a meal plan for the both of us for the week, but that's a whole other argument that she isn't up for....:j:o

Forgot to add:-
We usually buy from Asda or Morrisons and very rarely - Tesco.

Money_maker

Yes, meal plan and shopping list. Must admit, I've fallen by the wayside on meal planning and need to get back on track. It does mean that you only buy the items you put on your list and can save a fortune.

Money_maker

Why is she against meal planning?

Coedy

She argues we don't need it (I think she thinks its a bit silly), and sometimes we plan to have something and by the time shes come home from work she doesn't feel like it anymore and has something else.

I even said that because I get back from work earlier than her I could get food on (or at least ready to go on) meaning she wouldn't even cook, but no dice...

Piggywiggy

Why don't you try doing the shopping online, I find I'm much less likely to be tempted by offers on the end of aisles and sweet treats.

wdah

Your way sounds like a lot of faff to me, I can see why your fiancee is reluctant. Could you suggest a one or two week trial, and present it as though it's something you want to do because you'd enjoy it, rather than because it's practical?

Coedy

Piggywiggy wrote: »

Why don't you try doing the shopping online, I find I'm much less likely to be tempted by offers on the end of aisles and sweet treats.

I've also tried that... "I don't like how many substitutions you get, If I went to get it myself I could choose a better alternative"

kathrynha

If full meal planning is too much, and there is a chance she will get home and can't be bothered, maybe you could try planning just a few meals in the week.

The weekend meals should be reasonable easy to plan for. Then have other meals planned bit not set against specific nights. Things that don't have really short shelf lives, or don't require meat defrosting are good for these meals. Chorizo risotto, carbonara, stir fry if you use frozen stir fry mix are all good.

Coedy

wdah wrote: »

Your way sounds like a lot of faff to me, I can see why your fiancee is reluctant. Could you suggest a one or two week trial, and present it as though it's something you want to do because you'd enjoy it, rather than because it's practical?

I hadn't even told her about my idea yet

Yeah I plan on trialing it for a month and see how it goes (only 4 weeks).

I asked in case anyone could see a way that would make it less "faffy" because even while I was tying it I was thinking "Urgh, if I hate it now, I'll definitely hate it after this.."

Coedy

kathrynha wrote: »

If full meal planning is too much, and there is a chance she will get home and can't be bothered, maybe you could try planning just a few meals in the week.

The weekend meals should be reasonable easy to plan for. Then have other meals planned bit not set against specific nights. Things that don't have really short shelf lives, or don't require meat defrosting are good for these meals. Chorizo risotto, carbonara, stir fry if you use frozen stir fry mix are all good.

A very good idea! Easing it in rather than just throwing it out there. :money:

missbiggles1

Why waste time going shopping together? Do it on alternate weeks then each can do it his/her own way.