The Food Shopping Conundrum

With so few bargains available, maybe it is time to rethink my shopping habits.

[@lorettacarroll6015]

My problem with delivery is I can't pick what I want. A lot of the time the freshest is not selected or the substitute of a product not there isn't good. I want to pick my own stuff.

[@pheart2381]

I always get grapefruit sized cauliflower with my sainsburys delivery. Imagine my shock when I visited the store to find a display of HUGE cauliflowers that same week. Due to health problems I depend on deliveries,but sometimes the veg is very substandard. I can hand stuff back and get a refund but I don't like doing it and usually need all the items.

[@joannamorgan6911]

I agree with these comments. My last Sainsbury's online shop was disappointing...I felt as if I was given the stuff no customer in store would pick. The delivery drivers are the best. So kind and friendly they will make me give Sainsbury's another chance. Best wishes.

[@curlew-3592]

I am now a widow with grown up family left home. I’ve had to change my shopping habits, initially being on my own I found I wasted so much food as supermarkets cater mostly for families. Very luckily I now have a lovely local farm shop a 10 minute walk from my house where I can buy tiny amounts of good quality produce, including meat and can also snap up some bargains occasionally if I’m there at the right time. The absolutely perfect way to shop. 😁🇬🇧👍

[@butterflyj1967]

I've stopped looking for bargains, they just aren't in my local supermarkets any more. We've really started to get in touch with our hunger levels and if we aren't hungry we'll just have a sandwich instead of a dinner. Two days a week are something on toast dinners , beans or scrambled eggs etc. We only buy what we will eat instead of the big weekly shopping orders we used to do. It's scary how expensive food is getting.

[@maggiefriend2146]

Personally, and for me, there is an unseen value on your time and wellbeing. A small delivery charge not only saves you time but removes making journeys in dreadful weather (winter in Scotland will be worse than Yorkshire and it’s bad enough here). A few bargains, which you admit aren’t as good as they used to be seems to reap scant reward. Perhaps you could also consider doing a two weekly delivery. I find the vast majority of fresh stuff will last for two weeks. Stopping, warm and cosy by the wood stove must be a better option than going to Asda 😉

[@Hermit1903]

Absolutely agree.

[@catrinalumley6628]

Game changer love... I've commented a few times how much more convenient it is doing it online and having delivery... I got the unlimited pass, £70 for the year, that's about £1.35 a week... You'd spend more starting the car up... Also, the time you save, you might miss out on picking through the reduced section, but there's stuff reduced online... It's the time love... I save so much time... We just nip into town for a leisurely look around now on a weekend... I can buy big bulky stuff on offer now and just have it delivered x lol x

[@simonamimosa6160]

I have the asda delivery pass (weekdays) which is about £3.75 a month, it works out very economical seeing as I do 2-3 grocery orders a month. I would definitely recommend them, you can see all the special deals online and stops the impulse buying in the shops! Also, in-store food shopping is a massive chore I can do without and don't get me started on the lack of sticker items available and the queues! 😄

[@poppy6488]

I love delivery, apart from the fact that I am disabled and have to use online shopping. Shopping list of "favourites" or "usuals" saved on the site. No impulse buys, time to browse the offers. Super "3 for €10" etc in the fresh meat section. No lugging heavy trays of tinned cat food or detergents. Avoiding fuel costs/car parking/queues/screaming kids/people!! 😅 Loyalty points can still be used or saved for stocking up on "on offer" items. Put it all away and have a cuppa with a biscuit. Zero stress 🎉 I'm sure you'll find nicer things to do with your time and especially when the winter weather comes 😊 Oh, and with Tesco there's free delivery if over 65. Husband is 🎉

[@alyxayto8800]

Oh thank you I didn't realise delivery is free over 65 for Tesco, game changer! I do a Tesco every 2 weeks and a Sainsburys every 2 weeks-Stamford Street range is their value range but is very good. I normally do flexi-saver home delivery for both -Sainsburys £1 and Tesco £3

[@poppy6488]

Well it is in the Irish Republic anyway. ;-)​@alyxayto8800

[@bernm1948]

I’ve had my shopping home delivery since Covid…..March 2020. I alternate weekly shops now from Sainsburys and Ocado. It’s brilliant because I can see the offers at home without chasing around the aisles. Also, if I go over my weekly budget, before I checkout I remove items I could really do without that week..it really works well. I find that the fruit/ veg from Ocado are better quality and dates so I buy 2 weeks worth at a time from there. Online shopping cuts out much of the supermarket processes of shopping. We love it! xx😻

[@maggiefriend2146]

@@bernm1948 Ocardo is my weekly shop. I use Sainsbury for mid week top up - usually gin 🥂

[@Yorkshiregirl24]

I do online shopping this time of year just to avoid the busy stores. I would rather be in warm with a meal planner lol Am currently using Ocado lots of deals and discounted shopping to new customers 😊

[@Greenmanure62]

I do both. I get a delivery roughly every 2/3 weeks, plus a smaller shop from other stores to pick up cheaper products. The delivery is pretty much the same every time. I'm a no sugar, no carb person so predominantly just order meats, fish and household stuff. I have an autoimmune disorder so suits me. I get cheap tins and frozen veg etc for when family visit, and for emergencies.

[@northcotes4]

Tesco delivery saver here. Have had deliveries since before Covid. We live 25 mile round trip from the store so makes sense to me to have deliveries; can he doing other things whilst waiting for shopping. Substitutions are usually good and you still only pay price of your original product unless cheaper. I work the points vouchers and stock up on non perishables to maximise future savings.

[@comfycouch7088]

Hi from Dublin , noticed this week in Lidl reduced section, instead of the usual 50% off, its now 40% . x

[@pixie706]

Our lidl hasn't got a reduction section now, just a few things on shelves with stickers

[@frugalitystartsathome4889]

You might try buying in bulk. If you bought, say, a pack of 10 chicken breasts for £12, that would work out around the same price (or less) as your reduced chicken-in-whatever that you’re only buying because it’s reduced. One chicken breast makes a meal for the two of us if I use it for stir fry or curry or in a sauce of some kind (I just made a pan of Italian chicken using two pieces with some added veg, and it will easily feed five people.) Or maybe buying a cheaper cut of beef or pork and cooking it in the slow cooker then freezing it - in slices, or chunks, or shredded - which would give you several options for meals, rather than just “this bit of pork in Chinese glaze was reduced so I bought it.”

[@Hermit1903]

I have a delivery pass, (I have had for about 10 years) it saves me time, saves money on getting there and back and stops me impulse buying when in store. The produce has always been super fresh and great quality. Any items I didn't want or like I get immediate refund on. I would thoroughly recommend it.

[@CreamPuff-ek8fd]

I think trying out the delivery service with a few trips to your farm store now and again is the way to especially with the colder season upon us. Less likely to catch any germs while out in the store and like you said the petrol savings alone will take care of the cost of the pass and then some. U can see what offers are being featured and there are online offers as well as well as most probably some loyalty points. I use the delivery service much more in our winter season here in Canada.

[@TheShimmerwitch]

Trouble with delivery is the fresh food is very short date indeed

[@poppy6488]

I have phoned customer services in the past about this and have been refunded the money. I either freeze the goods if possible or use first.

[@deborahprkn]

I’ve found that problem to have gotten worse lately, I’ve stopped ordering some of it online. 🇬🇧

[@Hermit1903]

No I have not found that at all, mine all has good dates from Tesco.

[@ashleybosvik3031]

Food is getting expensive but I still manage to find bargains. Wright at home manages to get good bargains all the time .

[@maggiefriend2146]

Wright at home spends most of her time following the staff doing the reductions and would make a meal out of a cardboard box if it was cheap 😂

[@ashleybosvik3031]

​@@maggiefriend2146you got that one right.

[@debbieframpton3857]

I find food and other items reasonably priced but I try to stick with markdown and clearance been shopping this way for years

[@Hexxnature]

Maybe try and go in the evenings to get reduced products as I find evenings and late afternoons they are reducing more products. Hope you find a solution 😊 the food situation in the UK isn’t great though

[@lauraweiss7875]

On Friday, I look online to see if there are any weekly ad sales (“on offer” items) at the stores I usually shop. Then I sit down and plan my meals for the week. We don’t have a lot of clearance items (except for some meats) where I live in outer-ring suburban Chicago, so I’m not bothered with hoping for any of those. On Saturday, I go out, alternating weekly between the two best stores: Sam’s Club and Woodman’s Market, which is a phenomenal grocery store in the Illinois and Wisconsin areas. Together with my storage, I have enough ingredients at a good price to get all my meals prepped and in the freezer on Sunday.

[@juliamaitland7160]

I'm disabled and have to shop online. I have a Tescos delivery pass for £7.99 a month for as many deliveries as you want. This works out about £2 per delivery for me. It would cost me more than that in petrol to go to shop and I'd have to go more often because I can't carry much to and from the car. I do save quite a bit with the club card deals but my gripe with Tescos is that they often don't have stocks of basic things like eggs and Tescos butter hasn't been available for months. I have an uneasy feeling it's a cynical ploy to get you to buy dearer versions which I absolutely refuse to do.

[@MaggieTrudeau]

i do not have the delivery option as I live 25 miles out of town. But i HAVE re-organized my shopping list and when/how I shop. I have 3 levels of priority on the list: 1 Pantry stock to get within the month or so, 2 things to stock up on IF I see them cheap, 3 things I want sooner (eggs, fresh veg, something I am totally out of and use often). I hit my regular grocery route "in town" once every week or two and I stack other town errands with it. THen, since we travel to remote towns on work trips, a colleague and I agree that our lunch break is for hitting a major discount grocery if there is one nearby. It has helped, but food costs are just UP and discounted stock is down.

[@EdsCanineAcademy]

Tesco are currently doing a deal on brisket, £8 a kilo. Slow cooked it’s just one of the best low and slow cuts of meat. And usually £12 a kilo.

[@deniseguyton6595]

I do my shopping with Asda and pay for delivery pass best thing done 😊

[@PenniestoDollars]

I can drive 90 miles on $3 gas in my car and delivery requires a tip in the US.

[@Lee_Proffit]

Have a look to see if you have a local farm shop - good food and also helping out the farmers

[@geoffreyboyling615]

You could use up & empty most of your freezer space and Search around local butchers, wholesalers and similar suppliers or Online suppliers & deals for a larger bulk buy of meat such as half a sheep, various joints of pork, and so on; also find fish mongers & merchants if you eat a fair amount of fish Of course you'd have to price it up to see if it was worthwhile; you might get it delivered or your own journey for collection would be more cost effective I live on my own so I haven't really needed to do this, but a friend with a family buy their meat and other items this way Where I live there are still a few traditional butcher shops, and they often have signs advertising these sort of bulk deals

[@ruthadams2413]

I mostly go over the sale ads, pick out what I need and what I can use on sale and then I pick it up since it is free. This saves money for me since I don't get distracted and tempted to buy the stuff I really don't need. I live close to 5 different food stores so I do not think paying for delivery would be worth it, the delivery fee in here in Pennsylvania is much more expensive and different stores have different delivery companies. It sounds that would be a great choice for you

[@skyblue-df2od]

Find some supermarkets put their reduced food out on ad hoc basis

[@IngridWallace-ql9sq]

The only problem I've had with Asda online is the fresh stuff they always just grab anything off the top and personally I dont like black bananas, but everything else is ok 😊

[@maggiefriend2146]

Does Ocardo (M and S) deliver in your area? Everyone believes M and S food is expensive. My experience is their multi-buy (3 for £12 on meat, fish and poultry - buy on get one free - flash sales on sometimes totally free items) can save you a lot. All of their produce is high quality and fruit and veg is really fresh and lasts ages.

[@Yorkshiregirl24]

I always thought they was expensive till I tried them on a new customer deal and I love them 😊

[@maggiefriend2146]

@ They got me hooked very quickly too.

[@Yorkshiregirl24]

@@maggiefriend2146 yes I am definitely hooked now lol the recycle bags, the freebie codes in emails. I find what am buying isn't that much difference in price and I haven't had a sub yet were with asda was every order.

[@maggiefriend2146]

@@Yorkshiregirl24 I’ve never had a substitution in 2 years. I had a problem once. I dropped a prawn salad all over my foot. The delivery guy is my idea of heaven - just he doesn’t know. They are always on time.

[@Yorkshiregirl24]

@@maggiefriend2146 oups lol yes they are and the text there outside is great really can't fault them but am only 2 months in lol have even don't Christmas gifts with them.

[@babytailz]

With the way things are, I believe meal planning using existing ingredients and adding a couple of bits each shop is the way to go. I have been using the.company shop for cheaper deals but Edinburgh shuts on the 10th. The only way forward for my familynis now a strict meal plan

[@shirleystyrka9529]

Aww bless you getting to the shop that early at the weekend and then not getting the bargains . Try him one delivery or go shopping in the day in the week early part of the week seems quieter. Have your little lie in, pleased to see your subscribers are rising 😊xx

[@May-su8xv]

I don’t mid shopping I like to pick out my own fruit and veg. I get them home and rinse them in a solution of vinegar and water.It kills the bacteria and they last about 2 weeks.

[@juliawigger9796]

Im lucky being a carnivore. My local farm shop delivers for free . Because i buy in bulk he gives me a discount. The only thing i go shop for is sparkling water

[@marylynch2510]

❤❤

[@deborahslingsby2992]

Start your own greengrocers for your local area. If you are in this dilemma, then others will be, too. Take neighbours with you to shop and share the petrol costs and divvy up bulk purchases. Get a delivery from an independent farmer. Travel further but less often for better produce from independent producers. Do anything but put money into the pockets of greedy corporations who, in the case of food sellers, are providing substandard produce at inflated prices.

[@Dutch_Gonneke]

Love your out of the box mindset! 👊

[@tonette6592]

From the point of view of what I am seeing in the States is that there are also fewer 'marked-down' meats lately, and I said to my husband that we may have bought our last beef at the grocery store as far as prices go,(maybe what you call mince, although the price of that now is insane without a sale.) I see more and more people picking up their groceries or having them delivered. They have given incentives and special bargains and I think they are pushing people away from instore shopping; I think they are transitioning us into CBDCs and controlled purchases. It is now 76.27 GBP ($99.yearly) to have 'free' pickup or delivery at our big grocery store, otherwise it is 11.56GBP ($15 ) for one delivery. I may have to use it because my car is broken, but I do find in-store bargains, just not so much on beef now.

[@debbieframpton3857]

I have been buying only markdown meat for many years at my local Kroger in the states. I find all I need at a reasonable price. I've never done online or delivery and I don't plan on it unless it's absolutely necessary I like going to the store and picking out my own stuff

[@tonette6592]

​@@debbieframpton3857 Are we going to the same Kroger,Debbie? ARE YOU TAKING ALL THE MARKDOWN MEAT??? LOL! That is why I never want to do online; I find such in-store bargains at Kroger (in KY). Looks like I will be able to use the car after all. It would be fun to know if we go to the same store and here we meet in Scotland!

[@snowy5742]

Karen I have Sainsburys saver delivery every Sunday morning 6am - 10am and costs me just £1. I don't have a delivery pass. I spend over £40.

[@debbiesavage7107]

I can’t tell you the last time i found meat reduced, or reduced enough to make me buy it. Ten percent off isn’t a deal, in my opinion. I’ll go without. Meijer likes the 10% off stickers. No thanks!

[@Knit333]

To save on meat, I would say better to eat some quality meat a few times a week than a whole week of proceesed meat. Or mix some lentils with minced meat (so you can use less) for pasta or lasagna. It is really tasty. Or make an omelette filled with vegetables/potatoes once a week.

[@lumpycustard3433]

I think it might be worth buying better quality, healthier food. Meat, fish, eggs, veg and full fat dairy produce.

[@snowy5742]

Also Karen I get the freshest veg and fruit and meat at Sainsbury's delivered and very rare get subs.

[@mandyfortune7992]

Sainsburys has a fabulous online service .

[@robbieroo11]

Your timings all wrong ..... that’s only the first reduction your getting on a Sunday morning ..... the biggest reductions will be an hour to two hours before shutting ..... I worked for Tesco ( night shift ) for 10 years would arrive an hour before shift and regularly buy all that was in reductions ..... could get a full weeks shopping for a couple of pounds .... missed it when I left ..... every now and again they would change reduction times to catch people out ...... best one ever was a whole salmon full price £26 ..... 60 p it cost me ....... Friday was always a good night for roast chickens 6 large for 90 p ...... I saved a lot of money over those years .

[@grammamary7283]

There are really no markdowns here in my part of the US, Minneapolis St Paul suburb. The food banks have “food rescue crews” that go daily to the supermarkets and pick up what in the past was reduced. It helps the food banks but there are no more bargains for the shoppers other than a few weekly coupon items that can be good. Eggs were $1.88 a dozen last week at one store and you could get two. I have 9 large grocery stores within 5 miles, all pretty much one direction. Suburb of 60,000 people. Takes planning.

[@ashleybosvik3031]

Got eggs for a doz for 64p

[@mary-janejenkins9560]

I’ve got a Sainsbury’s pass £40 mid week for a year that plus’s nectar prices and the points are well worth it I saved £643 last year on my shopping

[@rebeccaramsden4777]

I get our shopping delivered. Would cost more to drive to Tesco and I have two little ones. I mostly buy the Aldi pricematch stuff. For meat I have watched utube videos on butchering. Best value is buying a really large whole chicken. Lots of breast meat chopped up, two legs and lots of carcass for stock in the slow cooker/pressure cooker. Also larger joints of pork and beef chopped up to make multiple meals.

[@millymaie]

Hi i was trying to find your friend Mandys cooking video with mince and macaroni pasta Please can you tell me how to locate it I cant find it Thank you

[@lucydawson1344]

I have noticed that the supermarkets are still increasing their prices massively. Unfortunately I can’t go when they reduce items and they don’t really reduce things by much the few occasions I do manage to! My twins are 12 next month (one of each) and my daughter is coeliac. We rarely bother getting her things like biscuits and cakes anyway as she also has type one diabetes but of course will be buying a few edible treats for her birthday. My husband doesn’t like doing online shops because of short dates and subs each time we’ve tried one. He also reckons we spend too much if we do an online delivery even though really one big online shop is still more cost effective then several smaller ones that involve a few bits in Lidl or Aldi’s. It’s hard though as we do have a golden retriever of 7 years old who has a dicky tummy sometimes and has harringtons dog food which although not the most expensive out there is still getting more and more pricey! Similarly my kids take packed lunches to school and my daughter just takes a small lunch with sandwich, crisps, a satsuma or similar and raisins. Sometimes rice cakes to have as a snack. Her sandwiches are the warburton gluten free square rolls which work out about 80p each so they add up but as I say just one a day of those gets used and her twin brother eats normal non gluten free bread. It’s terrible how expensive our food shopping is. I’m trying to diet but yet your salads and fruit and veg are so so pricey too. I think the rare things are going well end up forced to eat less anyway so food stretches further

[@heatherwatson9564]

My youngest son who's an adult now has type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. They sometimes coexist. Even back then gluten free foods tended to be expensive He generally avoided them and ate simply It was difficult when he was at school and social activities even harder.I don't envy your struggle in today's climate

[@LorrieAnne]

Are you expected to tip your delivery driver ?

[@poppy6488]

Never expected in Ireland. They are paid good wages and get a good discount on their shopping as well.

[@juliawigger9796]

Not in UK.

[@Hermit1903]

No

[@skyll4141]

your not looking too well mate and not sounding ok.. have you had covid or vaccines etc.. just an observation as I've followed you for ages on here.