food shopping cutting down

Butterfliesarepretty

How does everyone shop.:rolleyes: I have said goodbye to tesco and now shop at asda, and aldi and netto. Hopefully it will save me money!:D

Butterfliesarepretty

sorry meant to put this thread in debt-free wannabee. can it be moved please?

mae

Really you need to be over on the old style board. They have loads of threads on how to reduce your shopping bill.

jessicamb

I'll move your thread over to the old style board where you should get more replies.

Olliebeak

Try Asda for whoopsies - lots of them can be frozen on the day bought. Same with the whoopsie bread!

Some of their smartprice stuff is quite good but some not so good - very much trial and error. You need to work out exactly what you are prepared to cut back on quality of and what items you HAVE to have the one that you really prefer.

Personally I refuse to compromise on Coffee - I don't drink tea so coffee really matters to me. But I use smartprice long-life skimmed milk (the cheapest!). I know that the grandchildren won't drink that one, so when I know that they're coming, I just buy 2 litres of fresh semi-skimmed.

When it comes to things like eggs - you need to think if you want the cheapest or will your conscience get the better of you and insist that you buy 'free range'. If things are really DESPERATE then your purse just has to win - conscience can be appeased another day when the finances are in better shape.

When you go to the deli counter, check out if any of the meats are on special offer BEFORE asking for what you want. That can make quite a difference.

Good Luck

Waxy_Bean

I tend to set myself maximums for what I will pay for some things and then shop around the big shops (Asda, Sainsburys, Tesco) buying these things in bulk when they are below my maximum i.e. I will not pay more than 30p per toilet roll, £1 per packet of sausages, 25p for a tin of beans.

I also buy the reduced almost out-of-date stuff and freeze it - I often pop into Somerfield as I walk past it on the way home from the station at the time they reduce food and pick up the bargains. Today I got 3 packs of posh rolls, 6 tiramisus, loads of fresh fruit all with 75% off and bought some washing powder to stock up on as it was on BOGOF.

As Mr T says - every little helps!

miserly_mum

Asda is the best, i'm on their Xmas card list

newlywed

I try and take a basket (except at lidl and aldi obviously). I find I spend far far more when I get a trolley (even the half size trolley). If I have to carry it all and balance it all in a basket then I don't put any extras in Although if I'm trying to buy potatoes, washing powder and lots of tins it becomes a bit of a struggle!!

I try not to go shopping when hungry and I never take OH or the kids (or I give in to the "can we have this" and spend lots more).

I have this week started a "price book". I have a small notebook and have gone back through my receipts at various supermarkets and compared prices but only written down ones that vary greatly. Eg 500g lean steak mince at Co-op (which is the nearest to me) is £1.20 more than Aldi - and Aldi's is nice too with no gristle. Lean bacon is 75p cheaper at Aldi. Large packs of thin cut ham are also over £1 cheaper at Aldi and Lidl (and this is the no added water versions). I have lots more things to add as I check but think just over 6 or 7 items we buy each month I can save about £10+ a month without changing the food we eat or the quality.

teedy23

Hi shaw, I,m a regular on the grocery challenge on the the oldstyle thread and suggest you pay that a visit. As for dumping Tesco, I have just started going out of my way to shop there as they take all manner of money off coupons without having to by the specific product, this can really reduce your shopping bill. There are so many helpful threads on here to help you, Discounts codes and vouchers is a blessing and has gotten me through some tough times, also logon to www.paidtoshop.com for ideas and help, you,ll soon get into all thse and be saving everywhere, good luck

Raspberry_Swirl

Olliebeak wrote: »

When it comes to things like eggs - you need to think if you want the cheapest or will your conscience get the better of you and insist that you buy 'free range'. If things are really DESPERATE then your purse just has to win - conscience can be appeased another day when the finances are in better shape.

this is exactly the place i am in at the moment. i just can't afford to eat with a conscience at the moment. i buy value eggs and cheap meat (though i avoid value meat if poss as it doesn't have the decent taste) and don't feel bad about it as to be honest the savings i make in my purse far outweigh the moral issues for me at the moment.

myato

Tesco. value range. and use lots of coupons. quids in.