My war on waste!!!

GreyQueen

Nice bit of fabric salvaging, that woman!

There's something interesting about supermarkets; no clocks.

Seriously. Check it out next time you visit. If there is a timepiece anywhere that isn't on a customer's wrist or mobile, it will be over the customer services desk. Otherwise, no clocks. Ever.

Why is this, we might ponder? It's because once we slip into a supermarket, we start to go into a semi-trance state. This was observable by marketeers filming supermarket shoppers as long ago as the 1950s (in the States). The slow blink-rate betrays that we're in a zombiefied state. We mustn't be shocked out of the zone by anything as vulgar as a clock. We must drift about in a suggestible state so we browse like nibbling animals, sampling here and there.

One of the supermarkets I visit from time to time is a Liddly. It's a very small store. Sometimes I go into it for only 2-3 items. I'm brisk, I know where stuff is, I get what I want and staight out to the till. I pay cash and I pack like a demon. If you'd asked me, before I started clocking myself crossing the threshold going in and going out, I would have said I was in there 5 minutes, maximum, for my few bits. Would have sworn blind to it.

Interestingly, my subjective 5 minute shop turned out to actually be 15 minute shops. Each and every time. And that's not counting the times when there were mega-queues at the checkouts.

I'd like to inspire you to time your own shopping trips, if you'd like to play. If you drive, clock your time from entering the carpark to exiting the carpark. If you shop on foot, time yourself in and out over the store threshold. Don't change anything you do, just note the times, for a few visits.

I would be surprised if you're spending as little time supermarketing as you think. Based on my own shopping tactics (and I shop like a bloke, get in, get it, get out), I reckon you're probably spending thrice the amount of time than you think in the shop.

I like 5 mins' walk from a little T0sco. If I can get in and out of the store in 5 not 10 mins (unlikely) that still makes a round trip a 15 minute excursion. I can make bread rolls in less than 15 mins, park them for a couple of hours and then bake them at my leisure. It's actually more efficient for me to make bread than run to the shop for it.

Justamum

GreyQueen wrote: »

I know where stuff is, I get what I want and staight out to the till.

Just when you think you know where everything is, they decide to move things around. They do that at our local supermarket, and it really pees me off.

pm2326

It takes me 45 mins to do my 'quick' shop at aldi, I don't wander aimlessly, I have a list, know where everything is and I only take 2 cloth bags with me so its not like I buy a huge amount.....I only know the time as I have to get a bus home :rotfl:

All in it takes me about an hour and half round trip when you include time it takes me to get there and back on the bus

suki1964

Oh I can get in and out of a shop in 20 mins flat these days.

There was a time not so long ago when I had walked up and down every aisle in a 64 checkout superstore, think I didn't have enough in my trolley and do the store all over again

Now I shop in lidl and pop over to tesco/ JS or wherever I'm near to get the bits I need that lidl don't yet stock

armyknife

GreyQueen wrote: »

Nice bit of fabric salvaging, that woman!

There's something interesting about supermarkets; no clocks.

Seriously. Check it out next time you visit. If there is a timepiece anywhere that isn't on a customer's wrist or mobile, it will be over the customer services desk. Otherwise, no clocks. Ever.

Why is this, we might ponder? It's because once we slip into a supermarket, we start to go into a semi-trance state. This was observable by marketeers filming supermarket shoppers as long ago as the 1950s (in the States). The slow blink-rate betrays that we're in a zombiefied state. We mustn't be shocked out of the zone by anything as vulgar as a clock. We must drift about in a suggestible state so we browse like nibbling animals, sampling here and there.

One of the supermarkets I visit from time to time is a Liddly. It's a very small store. Sometimes I go into it for only 2-3 items. I'm brisk, I know where stuff is, I get what I want and staight out to the till. I pay cash and I pack like a demon. If you'd asked me, before I started clocking myself crossing the threshold going in and going out, I would have said I was in there 5 minutes, maximum, for my few bits. Would have sworn blind to it.

Interestingly, my subjective 5 minute shop turned out to actually be 15 minute shops. Each and every time. And that's not counting the times when there were mega-queues at the checkouts.

I'd like to inspire you to time your own shopping trips, if you'd like to play. If you drive, clock your time from entering the carpark to exiting the carpark. If you shop on foot, time yourself in and out over the store threshold. Don't change anything you do, just note the times, for a few visits.

I would be surprised if you're spending as little time supermarketing as you think. Based on my own shopping tactics (and I shop like a bloke, get in, get it, get out), I reckon you're probably spending thrice the amount of time than you think in the shop.
.
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GeQu, I once manage 49 seconds from crossing threshold*, running down isle to pick up item, to cashier, paid in cash and outta the door.


*In through the outdoor obviously.

GreyQueen

armyknife wrote: »

GeQu, I once manage 49 seconds from crossing threshold*, running down isle to pick up item, to cashier, paid in cash and outta the door.


*In through the outdoor obviously.

All I can say is RESPECT!:D

I sometimes walk throught the tills to get to the part of the store I want to reach in a hurry (few funny looks, no one official or un-official has ever called me on it). Or I circumnativate to store in the opposite direction to the layout's intention, because I want a particular thing which is three-quarters of the way around and don't want to go the long way and have to dodge around zombie shoppers in a trance. Or avoid those who are having phone consulations with others of their party either in the store or at home about what's needed.

Take a list, people, take a list.

[Deleted User]

I shall do that next time I shop I usually got to lidls at least once a month for my main shop and a shop at Waitrose once a month for stuff I can't get in Lidls.Both are car journeys away .Lidls is about 6 miles and w'rose about double that I know I take longer in W'rose as I actually enjoy the peace and quiet of the Allington store.It also usually has lots of the unusual things I can't get anywhere else.Its my treat to myself as I can wander around with my free coffee looking at all the different things ,very few children running around screaming as Mr Ts or Sainsbugs have which is a bonus for me.

Don't get me wrong I love kids ,but don't want to shop with them bellowing in my ear, or their harassed Mums bellowing after them.I am one of those people who like a bit of peace and quiet.

In Lidls I know exactly what I want as I have my list and stick to it like glue I can be in and out in under half an hour as I usually go later in the day when its quieter around 6-7 pm
W'Rose is sometimes mid afternoon on a Sunday and its usually for odds and ends and I only go once a month .The rest of my shopping I try to buy at the farm shop for the veg and Wilko's locally if I need cleaning stuff But I have honed my shopping down to twice a month now which is good and more than enough for me

Caterina

I have to confess that I quite like taking my time in the supermarkets! I don't often do big shoppings there because I have a milkman, local bread man and veg box delivery, but I go mostly when I have discount coupons - today I need a TOSCO trip for toilet roll restock for example and will maximise my trip as I have a £6 off £30 voucher.

When I go I take my time, looking for the best possible bargains, dry stuff that will last a long time, which I could not spot if I did a rush rush job. I love the ethnic aisles where I can get reasonably priced pulses and grains, I used to pick up cheap sauerkraut but I have now started making my own, cheaper tastier and healthier!

Overall I think if we shop with a frugal gourmet mindset, the odd lengthy visit to a supermarket has its place.

I totally agree with JackieO about the pleasure of ambling around in the w8rose aisles at off-peak times. The ones with a cafe are the best, even if you need to consume some food to get the free hot drink. The lowest priced item is a banana for 25p. But even if I get a rock cake for £1.30 I make the occasion into a mini event, a mini outing, sitting there with my posh teapot, in a quiet cafe (avoiding the busy lunchtime!), reading the free newspapers that they stock for customers. Sometimes I am there after my (free) keep fit and sauna that a lovely posh gym nearby offers twice a week for seniors (over 55). I can turn a whole morning or afternoon into a lovely outing for the grand price of £1.30, or if I am really splashing out, £2.30 (price of fancy fruit tart, only on special occasions). Not far from this W8rose there is also a local library where I can get free DVDs!

eandjsmum

GreyQueen wrote: »

Nice bit of fabric salvaging, that woman!






I would be surprised if you're spending as little time supermarketing as you think. Based on my own shopping tactics (and I shop like a bloke, get in, get it, get out), I reckon you're probably spending thrice the amount of time than you think in the shop.

I like 5 mins' walk from a little T0sco. If I can get in and out of the store in 5 not 10 mins (unlikely) that still makes a round trip a 15 minute excursion. I can make bread rolls in less than 15 mins, park them for a couple of hours and then bake them at my leisure. It's actually more efficient for me to make bread than run to the shop for it.

These super-markets are quite canny when it comes to separating us from our hard earned cash. They have made it a science from drawing you in with colourful fruit and veg to the wafting smells from the bakery. They are all competing for the same money so its about extending shopping times making it a more pleasurable experience, this encourages you to spend more time in the and consequently more money than you need to.

I too have the bloke mentality its dash, grab and pay with a quick look for YS goods especially if freezable.

The salvaged fabric has been washed and Ironed.

bmma

update on my war on waste--do not accept receipts at checkout-unless have used my debit card-have refused all requests 'do you need a bag'-have the heavy part of my shopping delivered-they take the plastic bags back-recycle them and for each one returned I get 5p back-anything that has to go in the black bin gets cut up into smaller pieces-the bin fills up slower-I have been making my own laundry detergent since being on MSE---make all my meals from scratch and bake --- live on my own except for 3 cats-still seems to be clutter--must be the cats!x