Monthly Shopping vs Weekly

GC1987

Hi all,
Currently spending £30 - £35 a week on groceries for two adults, a baby and a cat. I research where everything is cheapest, meal plan etc and have been content that we are getting good value for money. However as my best deals involve shopping around from various shops (on foot with my baby in pram) and we live in a top floor apartment (no lift), it's becoming increasingly difficult for me to get out on a weekly basis and get all the groceries up the stairs. I was considering doing a main monthly shop and then just smaller top ups each week for the fresh stuff. We have a monzo card and were going to use that exclusively for groceries. But is it going to work out dearer in the long run? Any advice or tips from your own experience would be useful. Thank you!

evangeline

Sounds like you are doing exceptionally well already , don’t know if it could be bettered. Do you have sufficient storage space for a months supply of dry goods/freezer space etc?

VfM4meplse

OP - I think you're doing really well but this is better suited to the OS board where you will get loads of tips. Mods?

Also - and this is nothing to do with saving on groceries - in your position I'd be planning on a move to a home with more child-friendly facilities. I have no idea how you manage atm but babies grow fast and it's only going to get harder to get up those stairs over the next couple of years!

GC1987

100% agree - it's a real slog as it is, we are looking into getting moved ASAP.

GC1987

evangeline wrote: »

Sounds like you are doing exceptionally well already , don’t know if it could be bettered. Do you have sufficient storage space for a months supply of dry goods/freezer space etc?

We have a decent sized freezer and I've been trying to use up what's left to make more space but wouldn't have enough room for bread and milk to freeze, thinking of trying to make my own bread.

alanq

If you are having problems carrying the weekly shop up the stairs how will you manage with a monthly shop? Are you considering getting groceries delivered? The cheapest shops may not deliver. If getting a monthly delivery from one supermarket then it will not be as cheap as buying each item at the store where it is cheapest. Some forum members report problems with delivery drivers delivering only to the ground floor especially where there is no lift.

Before going out on your shopping trips you could find which major grocers are cheapest for any given item by first looking at www.mysupermarket.co.uk.

maman

I think you're doing fairly well on how much you're spending. Shopping around does help a bit but generally the best value is to be found in Aldi and Lidl.


I find that doing my main weekly shop in Aldi is great value and then I buy a few storecupboard things in places like £ shops, Iceland or Farmfoods. I'll only go to the big supermarkets if I really can't get what I want elsewhere.


In your position I'd stick with a weekly main shop but make sure it came from Aldi or Lidl.


You said there are two adults to feed. Could the other adult help with the main shop or, at least, time it so he/she's there to help carry it up the stairs?


There will be days when you're buying a few bits from other shops or just getting milk or bread. I'd carry on doing this as surely you'll want to take the baby out for a walk most days?


One thing I have noticed recently is that some parents seem to have enormous prams. They can be great for carrying a lot of shopping:D but I'd also suggest a cheap, lightweight buggy for when you just want a quick walk to the shops or getting on and off buses.

GC1987

maman wrote: »

I think you're doing fairly well on how much you're spending. Shopping around does help a bit but generally the best value is to be found in Aldi and Lidl.


I find that doing my main weekly shop in Aldi is great value and then I buy a few storecupboard things in places like £ shops, Iceland or Farmfoods. I'll only go to the big supermarkets if I really can't get what I want elsewhere.


In your position I'd stick with a weekly main shop but make sure it came from Aldi or Lidl.


You said there are two adults to feed. Could the other adult help with the main shop or, at least, time it so he/she's there to help carry it up the stairs?


There will be days when you're buying a few bits from other shops or just getting milk or bread. I'd carry on doing this as surely you'll want to take the baby out for a walk most days?


One thing I have noticed recently is that some parents seem to have enormous prams. They can be great for carrying a lot of shopping:D but I'd also suggest a cheap, lightweight buggy for when you just want a quick walk to the shops or getting on and off buses.

Thanks for your reply! Yeah I'm out nearly every day as my little man only seems to nap during the day in the pram and I need to keep on the move 'cos if I get home and try and lift him out up the stairs he wakes up :rotfl: My pram is fairly lightweight and as such I feel it struggles with the weight of bags on mummy clip and the other items in the basket.

Our nearest ALDI is 30 min drive away but we're going this weekend with money we had put aside as we go once a month to stock up on nappies from there :j I will have a look at what groceries I could get while there. I think you're right I'm going to have to stick with main weekly shops for best value. Hubby does carry up what I've abandoned on pram when he gets in from work, just as well I trust my neighbours to not nick my eggs, bread and pasta :rotfl:

GC1987

alanq wrote: »

If you are having problems carrying the weekly shop up the stairs how will you manage with a monthly shop? Are you considering getting groceries delivered? The cheapest shops may not deliver. If getting a monthly delivery from one supermarket then it will not be as cheap as buying each item at the store where it is cheapest. Some forum members report problems with delivery drivers delivering only to the ground floor especially where there is no lift.

Before going out on your shopping trips you could find which major grocers are cheapest for any given item by first looking at www.mysupermarket.co.uk.

Oh yes good point about delivery drivers not carrying up the stairs! Never thought of that, thank you!