Life without supermarkets....is it possible?

the_cat

Inspired by all the closures on the high street, the empty shops and the greed of the big corporations squeezing ut the competition, I reremembered a thread I loved way back when and have been reading it through it......
It got me thinking. That was 12 years ago and some of the info will be out of date but has the high street degraded so much that it isn't now possible? Does anyone shop like this now?
I really want to support local businesses but not sure my budget will stand the strain or that time for shopping around will make it prohibitive. Any tips?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/369405/a-month-without-supermarket-new-challenge-for-2011-starts-at-post-1013#topofpage

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

THIRZAH

I took part in zero waste week this year and did all my shopping on our local High street where I could buy food without plastic packaging. It was enjoyable and I have carried on using local shops as much as possible. It does take me more time to do the shopping so I do still use the supermarket if in a hurry.

Blue_Doggy

It would be interesting. In my village, the C**p has pushed out all the other food shops, and is of course a (rather expensive) supermarket. There’s a very limited selection of veg at the poultry farm.

In the nearest town, there’s a butcher and a greengrocer, other than that it’s all supermarkets. Nothing else accessible on foot or by bus (without changing at least once).

PasturesNew

For most, especially those working full-time, small shops are closed way too early. Typically a local butcher, greengrocer, bakery will be closed by 4pm, which isn't much good if it's dark/raining/6.30pm and your boss has been an 4rsehole all day.... you just want to drive to one spot, park outside, go indoors, find food, go home.

Owain_Moneysaver

I think "local" shopping (which means a Premier, a Nisa and a Co-op) would cost about three times a supermarket budget. And would get very boring very quickly.

THIRZAH

We are lucky as we have a bakers, two butchers, a greengrocers and a wholefood shop which sells rice, beans etc loose. They also do refills of washing up liquid.


It does work out more expensive than the supermarket but I do find I am less likely to buy things on impulse and only buy what I need.

the_cat

Similar position here. Choice of bakers,butcher,fruit n veg shops, refill shop (eye wateringly expensive), corner shops etc etc so in theory it would be possible, although a bit limiting AND much more expensive at first glance.
Am really tempted to try just to see if it's doable. I probably have the time if I'm organised but it seems very complicated!

Sadly it appears we have passed the point of choice for the vast majority.........

littlegreenparrot

I guess it depends how many independent shops are left where you live.

I try to, but work full time and don't want to spend Saturday mornings traipsing round the shops.

I use a local veg box company who I love, and make the effort to buy books from shops rather than online.

thriftwizard

I'm lucky enough to have both a 3-day market and a number of good local specialist shops nearby; a butcher, a baker, (no candlestick maker that I'm aware of) a greengrocer, a health-food shop and a number of deli-type shops selling local produce. There are 3 farm shops within easy striking distance too. But being self-employed, I can pick & choose when I shop, and can work it round other errands.

I do use the supermarkets (locally, w8rose & c00p) for some things, and do a monthly run to L!dls for non-perishables, but if there was an Arkwright-type grocers, I'd probably use them instead, if the price difference wasn't too great! (I drive an elderly van - needed for my little business - so fuel costs down into the city are an issue.) There are a couple of wonderful ironmongers not too far away, as well.

So yes, it is still possible, in the right place & if you have the time, and can work well.

pickledonionspaceraider

Things have changed a lot in my lifetime

When I was little, larger mega sized supermarkets that we take as standard these days, were a rarity...and they were out of town. The poorer folk didn't have cars to get to them. The largest supermarket within walking distance for us was the size of a tesco express is, these days...although it was a Bejam or Belco

Local shopping greengrocers, hardware shop, butchers etc - was not more expensive, as they didn't have to compete as much as they do now, and losing customers hand over fist they are now. Visits to several shops to get products required.

But back then, Mother didn't work (or worked part time) , as her Mother before her. She had more time on her hands to do it - plus local products were not more expensive

These days, woman are meant to do it all. And I don't think the way we treat ourselves is sustainable. I think we expect too much from ourselves. Throw in everything my Mother did plus a 50 hour a week job? I'm not saying things are easy for men either but IMO women have had a huge role change in one or two generations - WELL i say role change, I should say role addition

No wonder mental health issues on rising

No I don't think local shopping is tenable these days - it is time consuming and more expensive.

I know it is very sad to see our high-street die, but supermarkets have killed it, by lowering prices and increasing convenience. Nobody is going to go out of their way to spend more time and money

Blue_Doggy

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

I know it is very sad to see our high-street die, but supermarkets have killed it, by lowering prices and increasing convenience. Nobody is going to go out of their way to spend more time and money

It’s not entirely the fault of the supermarkets, though. The small shop-keepers were also in part to blame. I remember, as a twenty-something shopping for one, regularly queuing for half an hour in the butcher’s while he chatted to the older women shopping for families. They were spending more than I was, and my custom was worth much less to him. I was working full-time, and I would think few if any of the older women worked at all (1970s, a different world!). Other shops were similar.

I’d like to think that those which have survived have better skills at dealing with people. And these days I’d probably walk out if I felt I was being kept waiting, with or without a comment.

Also, wholesalers offer bigger discounts to the supermarkets than to the corner shops, so it’s impossible for the smaller shops to compete on price in many cases.