Food shopping.......

[janeyo]

I am jealous of you lot. We have a Tesco and Waitrose in the nearest town (6 miles). Co-op is 10 miles the other way but I shop there once a fortnight and Tescos only when I have to.
No Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Morisons, Costco etc within 20 miles.

Bread is made here, and fruit and veg got on a thursday off the market. Other perishables from the local OneStop. Meat is normally from the village butchers.

I hate giving those tescos b******* my money. It's like living on the flaming moon round here.

[quark1]

I have tried out approved food - they specialise in knocking heaps off the price of bbe dates and short dated products - they even have many long dated procucts available. There's another similar online company but the prices are nowhere near as good.

You'll not be able to do a complete shop but if you don't mind stocking up on tins, jarred/bottled, dry products - then this is an ideal place to save BIG cash on RRPs.

Ideal for some heavy items such as pet food - got 2 enormous bags of dry stuff for my Jack Russell - its her preferred choice - perhaps 6-9mths supply for a tenner!

Take a look on

Welcome to Approved Food | The biggest online seller of clearance food and drinks

Dan who runs it always has the weird and wonderful available on this site and you have to grab it quick or it WILL be gone - as well as lots of good standard items which will get used by most families. Ideal for students living on a budget and the rest of us in these hard times. He even gives stuff away on a regular basis - very generous rather than send to landfill. Sign-up to the newsletter and you'll never miss a bargain.

Postage 'seems' hefty - but even when added to cost of items - believe me its a steal!

Delivery, prices vary, to most areas of UK and even offshore islands and now Europe!

As someone has already mentioned the ONLY caveat to obey is USE BY dates, unless sent straight away to your freezer facility - bbe etc usually means not so great falvour, colour, fizziness etc - but still very edible and usable - and if its completely substandard in your eyes 'honest' refunds usually available without argument and done quickly too!

I hovered/lurked for a while before taking a chance - I'd certainly recommend - but do watch some prices - not all are lower than high street but normally no worse than equal, but that's how you would shop around anyway - and hey - you don't have to struggle with the load yourself!

[Scottishnewbie]

found this thread really interesting as we are in the same position as everyone else and looking for cheaper ways to grocery shop. However, in my post this morning came:
2 trips for 4 to the cinema
meal vouchers totalling £120
and 3 family days out at various theme parks

all 'bought' with tesco clubcard vouchers.

so i know i have actually 'paid' for these, but with the 4x the value offer i do think it brings down the actual cost of shopping. we are on holiday in a couple of weeks and these vouchers have changed what will be a frugal week into one that allows us to do much more than we normally would.

so i suppose the question is "if i'd shopped elsewhere during the year, would i have saved enough to cover the cost of these days out?" not sure how i'd work that one out!!

[quark1]

Scottish - now obviously if shopping at the supermarket - usually A**a - I always look for bogof, reduced, bargains promos etc - just like the rest of us.

Wherever I buy I NEVER buy anything - no matter how cheap that I wouldn't use myself or make a gift of.

On that basis my last shop - including many top branded products - at AF was £49.97 including delivery against a RRP £322.37 saving £285.65. Obviously they're going to max the savings on paper but as with anything - is the price you pay a good one for you today? If you feel so then carry on and buy.

I'm sure that clubcard points/vouchers are nowhere as near expensive to 'give away' given that they will also use 'highest' possible 'value' of the presents - and people thru the gates will generate further sales for the attrcations. I think my single purchase saving would have just about covered your lovely days out - but you can always get 2 for 1 offers on many theme parks etc.

Not trying to put you off and I'm sure your family will love the treats this summer - but as with everything - was it good value for money and are you still happy with the result? - if so carry on (and don't panic!). Just remember Tesco are still paying their shareholders divvis, as are many of the rest, and if they can also give away freebies who do you think is paying for this privilege? Sorry I'm just a wee bit cynical. But as with anything in life - we all have free choices - thank goodness!

Too grumpy and too old!

[Two_Sheds]

Oh, this looks good, thanks for the tip off: Life After Money

[jojo2910]

We do most of our shopping at Cost Co. It generally saves a third or so brand prices, but their own brand (Kirkland) seems to save a bit more. For example, we bought washing powder a year ago for £12, the tub is so large we've only used about a quarter, so that's £3 a year for washing powder for the next four years. Only thing is that you have to buy in large amounts, so need storage for it all. But their fresh food esp meat and cakes are really good.

We go about once avery 6 months and top up from various supermarkets in between.