Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

earthgirl

I suppose everyone has their different ideas about what's important but Ijust can't seem to get any supermarket to come out as cheap and easy as aldi/lidl, even with vouchers.

I get paid to drive all over my area and can shop anywhere, I choose aldi due to the ease and freshness. It's so quick too as there isn't loads of choice/offers etc and I have got it down to £35/week for our family of four.

Having a veg patch helps too!

Sun_Addict

The only reason I shop online with Mr M is the 10% staff discount courtesy of DD working there. I get most of my shopping from Aldi/Lidl.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Glad the mammogram is done, they're never as bad as you think. It's the smears I hate - the nurse always tells me to relax, I mean honestly how can you relax :eek:

Online shop wise, I have no choice without transport but find I spend less as if I go over budget I look at what can wait until next week and take it out of my basket. I do small top up shops in real supermarkets and that's where the danger is for me. I tend to get all the heavy stuff online and then buy the fresh stuff as and when I need it. I also get sent a lot of money off vouchers for online supermarkets if I don't shop with them for a few weeks.

Mammograms and smears are equally horrid I think :eek: but I make myself go to them.

The top up shops are the ones to look out for. I'm only supposed to buy fruit and milk on top up shops, but sometimes end up buying other things :mad:.

HairyHandofDartmoor

teafor2 wrote: »

Evening HHD Glad you've had a nice day, weather has been gorgeous hasn't it.

I'm not over keen on physical examinations these days either. They never used to bother me, but the older I get the more anxious I seem to be. I had an appointment this morning with the nurse and all being well, because of my age I won't need to go again for 5 years thank goodness.

Is your tutor usually quick at marking your assignments and getting back to you?

Good luck with the £20 challenge. I always think a bit of healthy competition is a good thing. Have a lovely evening. xx

Thanks TF2 . I think I've always hated the examinations, but I think it's more important to go as you get older because you're more likely to have something wrong with you statistically.

My tutor marked it the very next day after I emailed it to her last time, but it's been three weeks since I sent it to her, so I'm wondering if she's forgotten.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Noella wrote: »

I get the same too, SA:j. That's one of the reasons I like to switch between online supermarkets. If they miss my business they try to encourage me back with vouchers:rotfl:. It's not as if I spend a lot on each 'shop' either but I suppose in these cut-throat times every customer is valuable to them. Sainsburys in particular but Morrisons too are brilliant for money-off vouchers. . Sadly, Asda never send me any but their stuff tends to be cheaper anyway and I don't suppose they can afford to.

Mr T never send me any vouchers but then I always shop there. Maybe I should try Asda some time just for a change. But I've spend ages researching which cheap foods are edible in Mr T so it would take ages to do the same anywhere else.

beanielou wrote: »

For me the Morrisons vouchewrs you have to spend way too much.

I hate Morrison as the one near us is awful :mad:.

earthgirl wrote: »

I suppose everyone has their different ideas about what's important but Ijust can't seem to get any supermarket to come out as cheap and easy as aldi/lidl, even with vouchers.

I get paid to drive all over my area and can shop anywhere, I choose aldi due to the ease and freshness. It's so quick too as there isn't loads of choice/offers etc and I have got it down to £35/week for our family of four.

Having a veg patch helps too!

£35 is amazing Earthgirl :T. How on earth do you manage to spend that little? I spend £60 for 4/5 adults on a good week. My bill includes cleaning products and basic toiletries (deodorant, shampoo, face wipes, etc).

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sun_Addict wrote: »

The only reason I shop online with Mr M is the 10% staff discount courtesy of DD working there. I get most of my shopping from Aldi/Lidl.

That discount is useful SA. But don't you find there are some things you can't get in Lidl/Aldi?

teafor2

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Thanks TF2
My tutor marked it the very next day after I emailed it to her last time, but it's been three weeks since I sent it to her, so I'm wondering if she's forgotten.

In that case then I'd probably leave it until Friday afternoon and then give her a gentle nudge. xx

in_need_of_direction

Maybe you could mention how you’d like to factor any feedback into your next assignment

elizabethhull

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

That discount is useful SA. But don't you find there are some things you can't get in Lidl/Aldi?

I shop online at Asda these days, as can't comfortably walk round a supermarket. But before that, I always shopped at Aldi. I went to Sainsburys for special things at Xmas, but otherwise if Aldi didn't sell it then we didn't eat it - quite simple really !! And you save loads of time because there are rarely more than 2 sorts of anything, so you don't waste time dithering over infinite choice.

[Deleted User]

Lots of lovely talk about supermarkets and grocery shopping. really useful:T. I love your diary, HH:beer:

I'm a big Lidl fan but there isn't one within about 25 miles of us and after I've factored in the cost of the petrol I wouldn't be saving anything by shopping there, including time. I do like the limited choice in places like that actually, once I've worked out what we like. Sometimes the shelves full of options in the massive supermarkets are mind-blowing and always makes a real-life shop in one full of anxiety for me somehow. Never tried an Aldi so must see if there's one anywhere nearer than the Lidl.


The vouchers I get are usually £x off a £40 or £50 shop. Morrisons usually send 4000 or 5000 More Points (worth £4 or £5 each time). Sainsburys often send £8 or £9 off a £50 shop:j. Easy for me to spend that much if it's a main 'shop', beanielou, especially if I stock up on laundry stuff which seems to be a major drain on my money wherever I shop:(. Wilkos often have that sort of thing cheaper but if the supermarkets have an 'event' on it often works out the same and saves me having to go out to get it anyway.


Why don't you try the Morrison's home delivery, HH? But, if you haven't tried the products anyway you won't know whether you'll like them or not. I love Morrison's own brands, much nicer than those of the other supermarkets IMO. Our local Morrisons store is quite small, although the staff and everything about it are brilliant but the online orders come from a depot or larger store somewhere and I can get the full range of items that I can't when I shop in person.